I just came from a Church Christmas Party.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

The little Episcopal church, here in town, just had a Christmas party. I am their webmaster and great friends with the Priest and his SO(Gay Couple). The parish just so loves their priest and his SO.

Great food(potluck), Great desserts, banjo band playing Christmas, people dancing and singing...

Man, puts things in a wonderful perspective. Life will go on. Yes it will. The Right cannot do good people with good hearts in. They just do not have the chops. They are just so lame in comparison, their "power" so temporary, so feeble in comparison.

Good and happy folks, with love in their hearts, will always carry the day. Always.

[Erika]

1. What a wonderful post!

Christ's message was love, forgiveness, and peace. What a pleasure to spend some time with others expressing the common areas of agreement even with our individual differences. To me that is being Christian!

I wish all Americans shared this view. We could overcome through love and warmth. The Bush administration's policy of pre-emptive strike completely rejects Christ's Golden Rule. Thus, the state of our world.

[Pegleg Thd]

2. There won't be any celebrating

the holidays or anything else around here for the next year or more. Too much crap going on. No reason to celebrate!!

[Erika]

6. We aren't celebrating a commercial Xmas for the same reason

Our hearts are heavy with the needless deaths and deception caused by this "war" and this administration. Our hearts are heavy that Bush has deceived so many and is leading our country in the wrong direction on every front. Our hearts are heavy that he claims to be a Christian and behaves the opposite.

But we can enjoy the warmth of like-minded friends who have hope.

[Loki]

3. Thanks TS

I needed that. I've been feeling rather overwhelmed lately. My Episcopal priest down here in Texas is a remarkable man, but he is fighting an uphill battle. There is a message of hope and love out there. We can't let these haters win the day.

[NJCher]

4. that sounds like a heart-warming evening

I liked this sentence from your description:

The Right cannot do good people with good hearts in.

I'm glad you had a good time!


Cher

[FizzFuzz]

5. so good to be reminded of this

I always get such a good feeling from your posts, Tandalayo. Level headed, positive. I admire that.

I recently heard two Episcopal bishops, I think, being interviewed on NPR Fresh Air. One was gay and the other was head of the anti-gay Episcopal movement (wish I could remember their names) Guess which one carried the more spiritual message?

Terri Gross asked great questions, I thought. One of the questions got them talking about the "love the sinner, hate the sin" message touted now by anti-gay christians. I loved hearing the first bishop explain that being gay is such a part of one's identity, there is no separating it from the whole person. He made the point that it is so disingenuous to claim to hate only a sin while loving the person, a point I've wished would get publicized more. The human mind and heart pretty much doesn't work that way, seeking a hatred towards someone and yet loving them. Uh uh, nope I don't buy it.

The second bishop was pretty much defending tradition and the way we've always done things. It seemed he just did not "get" that he was furthering the cause of hate.
Sorry to say, I was not impressed. Terri questioned him well.

My local Buddhist group is led by a lesbian couple. I love that there is no judgement, and in fact, it's just a given. The group members are very diverse and there is no unusual, "isn't this special" feeling about it. The goal is to self-reflect and polish our lives, and that is certainly open to every human being as they are.

Happy Christmas, Merry New Year, Chappy Chanukkah, Enjoy Enlightenment! LOL! :D