Today I'm writing about two of my great loves: words and Karen Carpenter. Yesterday I was listening to Christmas music, and though I usually keep the volume at a nice low background level, I turn it up when one of the great voices comes on. As I sat listening to "Merry Christmas, Darling" for the 79th time, a line caught my attention in a way it never had before:

...I can dream and in my dreams

I'm Christmasing with you.

"Wow," I thought, "Christmasing. Now that's a great verb!"

That hasn't always been my reaction to noun-to-verb transitions. It took me awhile to become comfortable with "office" as a verb. I warmed up a little more quickly to "text," but the past tense still makes me a little tongue-tied.

Christmasing. In the song, I guess it means "celebrating," or maybe even "snuggling," two very nice ideas. But what if we allowed the word to become more than a piece of poetic license? What if Christmasing became part of our vernacular? We could use it year around, and every time we used it, we'd be reminded of all the wonder of Christmas and the birth of Christ. (I'm ignoring the possibility that the word could become trite and meaningless.)

Exodus 3:7-15

Exodus 4:10-17

When you are asked by someone to tell them why you worship at Metropolitan Community Church, I wonder what you say that answers their question? Letʼs see how closely I can guess.

I believe you worship at MCC because you have heard your people cry. You know that MCC is not the only church that cares for your people, but you also know that MCC is the only church that cares for your people on the same level as you do, in the same way that you do.

Yes, you believe that God has raised up MCC within the Christian faith for just such a time as this. A time to change the status quo by giving a voice and acceptance in the church to your Christians brother and sisters. It is very easy to feel safe and secure here on South First Street, Austin, Texas, USA. So much so that it is too easy to pretend that your peopleʼs cry is just white noise. In your heart you know better. Millions of your people around the world long to be safe and secure on their street just as you are on South First Street, Austin, Texas, USA.

There are so many opportunities to be a part of this great movement. Is one approach more important than another? No, of course not, but I encourage you to consider the ministry of service as a member of the

Board of Directors. Certainly not every church member is a good match for such work, but you know that you are! Your people are crying out to you! 

Would your election to the MCC Austin Board of Directors contribute greatly to changing the outcast status of your people? No, Iʼm sorry to say it will not. While such social injustices do not change so easily, I am reminded of the ripples created when a small pebble is dropped into a pond.