October 12, 2014                                                                                                                        Coming Out Day

 

                                                               It is not our differences that divide us.

                                                               It is our inability to recognize, accept,

                                                         and celebrate those differences. -- Audre Lorde

 

*Gathering Hymn                                  Oh, we give thanks for this special day

                                                              For all gathered here, and those far away

                                                              For this time we share, with love and care

                                                             Oh, we give thanks for this special day.

 

Prelude                                                 Feels Like Home                                                              Randy Newman

                                                             Jennifer Leitham Trio

 

Welcome

 

Chalice Lighting

 

*Opening Hymn                                   #145 As Tranquil Streams

 

*Covenant                                            Love is the doctrine of this church.

                                                            The quest for truth is its sacrament,

                                                            and service is its prayer.

                                                            To dwell together in peace,

                                                             to seek knowledge in freedom,

                                                            To serve humankind in fellowship,

                                                            thus do we covenant with each other.

 

*Hymn of Praise                                 From all that dwell below the skies

                                                           Let songs of hope and faith arise

                                                           Let peace, goodwill on earth be sung

                                                           Through every land, by every tongue.

 

Offering for the Westside Food Bank and Turning Point

 

Story for All Ages                               The Adventures of Tulip, Birthday Wish Fairy

                                                           S. Bear Bergmann, read by Janet Goodwin

 

Song of Blessing                               Vision for humanity, all around the child.

                                                          Loving as one family, all around the child.

                                                          Life passages well understood, known and felt around the earth;

                                                          Light of love and joy extend all around the child.

 

Life Together

 

Offering                                             Future Christmas                                                                 Jennifer Leitham

                                                          Jennifer Leitham Trio

 

Devotional Time

 

Silence

 

Sung Response                                My foot carries days of the old into new,

                                                         Our dreaming shows us the way.

                                                         Wondrous our faith settles deep in the earth,

                                                         Rising green to bring a new day.

                                                         Rising green, rising green, rising green to bring a new day.

 

Music for the Morning                      The Altered Blues                                                                    Jennifer Leitham

                                                         Jennifer Leitham Trio

 

Conversation                                   Being Transgender                                               Janet Goodwin and Liam Mina

 

*Closing Hymn                                #1014 Standing on the Side of Love

 

*Benediction

 

Musical Response                          Split Brain                                                                                 Jennifer Leitham

                                                       Jennifer Leitham Trio

 

*Please stand in body or in spirit

 

 

                                                                         Service Notes

 

Thank you to our service participants: Nancy Babbitt, Steve DePaul, Roberta Frye,

Wendi Gladstone, Kris Langabeer, Katie Malich, Kit Shaw, Pam Teplitz, Linda van

Ligten, Jennifer Westbay.

 

Many thanks to Janet Goodwin, Liam Mina, and Interweave (LGBTQ and Allies) for their

leadership of our annual Coming Out Day service. To lend your support and join the

Interweave email list, please contact Janet at goodwin@ucla.edu.

 

Jennifer Leitham is considered by many to be be one of the finest Jazz bassists in the

world. She began life as John Leitham. In her professional life, she had played with

Woody Herman, George Shearing, Bob Cooper, Benny Carter, Bill Watrous, and Peggy Lee.

After many years of painful struggle, she transitioned publicly to her true self in 2001

while touring with Doc Severinsen. She has maintained a vigorous career and has

achieved much acclaim and acceptance in the years following her transition, including

completion of her premier trio CD, The Real Me (2006). Jennifer is also the subject of a

new documentary by filmmaker Andrea Meyerson, I Stand Corrected, winner of many film

festival Audience Choice and Jury Awards for best film. She is joined today by Andy

Langham on piano and Randy Drake on drums. More information at jenniferleitham.com.

 

Our Community Offering today will go to Camp Aranu’tiq for gender-variant and

transgender youth. Camp Aranu’tiq was founded in 2009 to build confidence, resilience,

and community for transgender and gender-variant youth and their families through camp experiences in New England and California: camparanutiq.org.