A Kaddish Prayer for International Transgender Day of Remembrance

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/h-adam-ackley-phd/a-kaddish-prayer-for-international-transgender-day-of-remembrance_b_4293087.html

H. Adam Ackley, Ph.D.
Ordained minister, Church of Brethren; professor of theology and philosophy; author

Posted: 11/20/2013 2:20 am


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When I first became a Christian as a very young adult, I was taught that Jesus' words in what Christians call the Lord's prayer in the Gospels of Matthew (6.9-13) and Luke (11:1-4) were based on a traditional Jewish prayer for the dead called the Kaddish. The practice of Jewish prayer became very meaningful to me, though I recognize that as a Christian I can only be an outsider and admirer and not any sort of expert. As we observe the International Transgender Day of Remembrance, my heart is drawn back to the Kaddish prayer, traditionally recited on the anniversary of the death of a loved one. Though those who were killed in transphobic acts of violence in the past year may not have been known to us personally, many of us hold their memories in our minds and hearts as fallen brothers and sisters, so the recitation of the Kaddish seems especially fitting. Some even believe that when the living recite this prayer together with others in community, this loving act of remembrance helps in some way to release a struggling soul to rise to meet God, dwelling at last in perfect peace. This can be a beautiful way to think of how the living tenderly think of our lost sisters and brothers at candlelit vigils held around the world on the Transgender Day of Remembrance.

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May God's great name grow and be blessed in this world, which is created as God willed.
May God reign in our lives, in these days, in the lives of all people, swiftly and soon. Amen.
May God, the Holy One, be blessed, praised, glorified, raised up and worshiped.
Blessed is God, beyond any blessing and song, beyond any praise, beyond any words of consolation that anyone in the world can ever speak. Amen.
May God grant abundant peace and life to us and to all. Amen.
May the One who creates peace make peace for us and for all people. Amen.

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