因為，我們成為光照亮世界

同學的邀請，讓我有機會在這個艱難的時刻，參與了一場充滿力量的聚會。 上週五，聯合衛理公會(United Methodist Church, UMC)的教會法庭宣判，已婚女同志監督 Bishop Karen Oliveto ，因其公開的同志身份且未守獨身，違反教會戒規，將送至監督會議處置。 (見：UMC宣判同性戀主教違反教會法) 這個宣判雖然不意外，但是卻著實傷了許多人的心，也讓這個教派面臨分裂的危機。

我的同學們規畫了一場禮拜，就在圖書館的門口，在星期二下午1:30開始。原本可能設定會來參加的人數不多，尤其是在期末壓力正大的時候，但是，來的人超出預期，把整個大廳都佔據了，程序單也需要多人使用一份。

與主同桌。Anna Voinovich 攝。

● Prelude

We are a gentle, angry people. And we are singing, singing for our lives. x2

We are a land of many colors. And we are singing, singing for our lives. X2

We are queer and straight together And we are singing, singing for our lives. X2

We are cis and trans* together And we are singing, singing for our lives. X2

We are young and old together And we are singing, singing for our lives. X2

We are justice-seeking people And we are singing, singing for our lives. X2

We are a gentle, loving people And we are singing, singing for our lives. X2

開始的第一首歌，讓在場的許多人都落下了淚，我也是。

我受邀讀今天的經文，是馬太福音5:15-16。在讀之前，我向大家說：「請容許我先用我的母語，台灣話，來讀，以表示有許多人與今天在場的每一位一樣，堅定地站在一起。」

無人點燈hē tī斗下，就是hē tī燈台頂，就遍照厝內ê人。 Án-ni lín ê光tio̍h照tī人ê面前，hō͘ in看見lín ê好所行，來歸榮光hō͘ lín tī天裡ê父。(巴克禮漢羅) No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.(NRSV)

● Song

Draw the circle, draw the circle wide. Draw the circle, draw the circle wide.

No one stands alone, we’ll stand side by side. Draw the circle, draw the circle wide.

Draw the circle wide, draw it wider still. Let this be our song, no one stands alone.

Standing side by side, Draw the circle, draw the circle wide.

信息的分享，簡短，有力且感人。既然，光豈能放在斗底下，而不照亮世界，讓眾人歸榮耀給主！並且目前教會裡面，種種要打壓光的處境，陳述了出來，即便如此，我們 要成為作見證的光，持續在不同的地方，讓人看見。特別是，我們要在每個教會的前面，豎起彩虹的標示，讓人因為這個標示，感到好奇吸引，被歡迎，重新回到教會裡面來。

Garret-Evangelical Theological Semiary 的院長、教務長以及大部份的教授們，也都參與了這場禮拜。一如在上週，神學院的公開信件一般：本院將堅定地與監督以及LGBTQ的同學們，站在一起。Open and Affirming 的堅毅態度，吸引了眾人。

照片是由我的朋友： Jon Gilbert Martinez 所拍攝的。https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1826617427659509&set=a.1569008323420422.1073741845.100009338075624&type=3&theater

● Prayer of Confession

Merciful God,

We confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart. We have failed to be a compassionate church, living into your unconditional love. We have followed the law instead of your will. We have been quiet when our neighbor needed us. We have denied ourselves the right to live As you so beautifully and queerly created us.

Forgive us, we pray.

Free us for joyful liberation, Liberation that only occurs when all are free, Through Jesus Christ. Amen.

● Words of Assurance

Hear the good news: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven! In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!

我們一起分享了主為備他的人所預備的筳席，反覆吟唱著：

Come to the table of (grace, joy, love, peace) Come to the table of (grace, joy, love, peace) This is God’s table it’s not yours or mine. Come to the table of (grace, joy, love, peace)

一直到所有的人都領完了為止。每個人似乎都不害怕，也充滿著勇氣。

● Song

No matter, what people say. Say, or think about me. I am a child, I am a child of God.

No matter, what people say. Say, or think about you. You are a child, you are a child of God.

No matter what the world says, says or thinks about me. I am a child, I am a child of God.

No matter what the church says, decisions, pronouncements on you. You are a child, you are a child of God.

And there is no one, and nothing who can separate. They can’t separate you from the truth that:

You’re someone. You are family. You are meant to be a child, a child of God.

You are a child, a child of God.

我在這個團契裡，感受到深刻聖靈的同在。以及，彼此之間願意委身，彼此的陪伴。

下課前，Anderson教授再次感謝我今天的參與，讓他印象深刻。「我們院長一定會感到非常驚訝，怎麼有一位他從來沒有看過的學生在讀經文給大家聽。」

我的老師與同學，也都參與了這場禮拜。Biblical Laws and Ethic of Interpretation. Garret 2017. photo by Maddie Johnson.

＊程序單是由 Anna Voinovich 設計。