There usually is a great irony to the miraculous happenings in our lives. The land on which the Metropolitan Community Church of Washington's ministry facility stands was once an empty and desolate lot -- much like the spiritual lives of many Lesbians, Gay men, Bisexuals and Transgendered people. Empty because we were never welcomed in traditional religious institutions without denying ourselves, desolate because we were told for so long that we were neither deserving nor worthy of God's grace and love.

Well, anyone who has been to a worship service at the Metropolitan Community Church of Washington has seen just how great God's love is for us. When we covenant with God by proclaiming Jesus Christ to be our Lord and Savior, when we love God, love our neighbors and love ourselves, we indeed are made aware that God's promises are as true and mighty today as when they were first proclaimed to humankind -- that if you will be my people, I will be your God.

As grateful as we are to God for blessing the patience, diligence and faithfulness of hundreds of people who worked and prayed for years to bring about the ministry facility at 5th and Ridge streets, the building itself is not the church. The church is made up of those men and women who nurture each other, who love and support one another, who proclaim in divergent, yet unified voice -- God's love for us and faith in us is great indeed!

You may have heard of MCC referred to as the "Gay Church." In fact, MCC is a Christian church based on the Holy Scriptures and the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. MCC has a special ministry to Gay men, Lesbians, Bisexuals, Transgendered people, and in fact anyone and everyone who seeks the truth of God's love for us. This is the good news of Scripture and the message of MCC's ministry -- that we stand in the presence of God just as we are, created by God, loved and accepted by God, our sins forgiven by the one and only Jesus Christ. None of us is without sin, but our sin is not our sexuality, and Christ is able to forgive our sin.

On any given Sunday morning, the sanctuary is filled not only with the beautiful light of God's day, but also the glorious voices of our choirs, both traditional and soul-shaking gospel. It is also filled with the true message of Holy Scripture spoken to us through the spiritual instruction of our Pastor. Most importantly, our sanctuary is filled with people like you and me, simple people seeking to know better our Creator, as well as our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.

If you have need in your life to know the bounteous love of God for you, the abundant life available to us all through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, or if you are simply curious as to what's going on in the rose building with all that glass on the corner of 5th and Ridge streets, come join us as we celebrate our love for one another and our love for God, the giver of all good and perfect gifts, our creator, redeemer and sustainer.

God bless you! Remember that God has called you by name -- beloved!