Holiday time is here. Let's put it all in perspective by looking at history's gay couples, mystical same-sex marriage and more.

Historical men who loved men, including some gay saints, are painted by artist Ryan Grant Long in his new "Fairy Tales" series.

Spanning more than 4,000 years, the series features 4th-century Christian martyrs Sergius and Bacchus, Biblical figures David and Jonathan, and a diverse mix of 10 other male couples. Long created "Fairy Tales" in a calendar format for his master's thesis at the University of Wisconsin. More info and interview

(Credit: "Saints Sergius and Bacchus" by Ryan Grant Long)

Newly beatified Bernardo Francisco de Hoyos is a 17th-century Spanish priest who wrote vividly of his mystical gay marriage to Jesus.  Bernardo (1711-1735) was 18 when he had a vision of marrying Jesus, with all the symbols of a human wedding. More info

(Credit: "The Mystical Marriage of Blessed Fr. Bernardo de Hoyos y Sena, SJ" by William Hart McNichols)

Create a LGBT manger scene and email a photo to us! Images will be posted in December at the Jesus in Love Blog. Let's reimagine the Holy Family in liberating new ways -- because, after all, love makes a family. More info

Visit our card shop for LGBT Nativity cards 

A rare glimpse of the newest LGBT religion scholarship is offered in our guide to the recent annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion (AAR) and the Society of Biblical Literature.  More info

On a personal note, my home and everyone in it is safe after a major windstorm on Dec. 1, but hundreds of big trees crashed in the Los Angeles-Pasadena area where I live.  This newsletter was delayed for a couple of days because we lost electricity and Internet service. Thank you for all your prayers and messages of support.

Click for more highlights from the Jesus in Love Blog this month:

Advent: We seek your Word embodied

Transgender Day of Remembrance: Celebrating trans spirituality

Happy Thanksgiving: LGBT pilgrims are everywhere

Feminism and Religion Blog features Kittredge Cherry on LGBT saints

99 Brattle (Episcopal Divinity School blog) covers Kitt's queer theology of sainthood

Jesus in Love Blog hits Kindle e-book reader

Happy 6th birthday to Jesus In Love!

I wish you a happy Hanukkah, delightful Solstice, merry Christmas, jolly Kwanzaa and joy throughout the coming New Year.

 

In Memory of  

 

Louis Strom (1925 - 2011) 

 

Lover of Jesus, Beloved of God

 

CAN GAYS AND LESBIANS BE TRUE CHRISTIANS? Welcome to the "Gay and Christian" website! It shows that a person can be both a true Christian and a loving, sexually-active gay man or lesbian.

Get a painting of your home or favorite scene! Artist Trudie Barreras will do a watercolor of your favorite place. All she asks is that you send a gift ($25) to Kitt for Jesus in Love. Contact us 

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