Yesterday, Saturday, I helped organize a queer collective retreat at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Victoria on West Saanich Road. It was a new venture together with Broadview United and Church of the Cross. I had driven by the Unitarian church many times and many of you have likely seen it on the way to Durrance Lake and Gowlland Tod Regional Park. It was the first time I visited and the church building and grounds are beautiful. There is a 1970’s organic architecture with flowing lines, curved ceiling, and lots of beautiful views of the garden space with labyrinth and wetlands across the road. I saw lots of bike pelotons cycling by, some in preparation for the Half Ironman race today around
Elk Lake. Although they canceled the swim because algae in the lake. I hope Sasha Peron, has a good race, an Inigenous athlete Boston and I had on the podcast last Fall. In general it’s a great place for a retreat to be able to go outside and enjoy the beauty of creation.
This retreat was organized especially for queer people, inviting people to reflect on a sense of belonging. People who have been marginalized by church communities, who find themselves in-between. Yet there was a strong sense of calling and “creating of belonging” as one participant put it. After all where would the church be without queer people who have introduced art and fashion to churches for centuries? So much of the worship arts have benefited from the work of queer artists, vestment designers, and more. Perhaps that is why a queer friend from California likes to call chasubles Jesus mumus.
In today’s reading from Acts, Paul responds to a vision of a man calling him to come to Macedonia. And Paul reacts immediately to the vision and tries to cross to Macedonia. How many of us are like that today? Yesterday there was a participant from Chilliwack who heard about the retreat, and took the ferry across. When is the last time we were given a vision and we went over to Chilliwack to bring the good news? Maybe some of you have family over there and so you go to visit them. In Victoria if we’re told something is happening in Langford, we have to think about whether we’re going to make the effort. Yesterday at the retreat Pr. Shana thanked everyone repeatedly for making the effort to drive out to West Saanich Road. I don’t think anyone heard it, but I told her not to thank them for coming. At least not thank them for driving to the church. It was a blessing to attend the retreat. No need to apologize that it takes twenty minutes to get somewhere in Victoria. And people were grateful to make connections, to feel a sense of belonging.
We also had David Barrow from Australia, who joined the retreat, who works with Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) Pacific, who supports the work of Greater Victoria Acting Together (GVAT). As some of you may remember we had Izzy Adiache, coordinator of GVAT, speak at the church over a year ago. Izzy was at the retreat as well. David is in town just a few days and over lunch he talked to me about the importance of offering a Bible study for queer folks, students, and others with a justice focus. I was feeling a bit tired and wasn’t prepared for David’s enthusiasm. He reminded me of Paul going to Macedonia. Those of us in Victoria will complain about having to take the ferry to the lower mainland and then have to navigate getting from Tswassen to somewhere in Vancouver. The ferry is nice but it’s not a fun drive. David flew from Australia to Victoria to evangelize me to continue in my calling. To start organizing some Bible studies. To preach the good news. He really was the voice of Paul telling us to continue as followers of Jesus. And here I’m sharing what he said with all of you. David even booked himself on the podcast Boston and I have. I only said the word podcast and he told me he would be available to come on the show. I thought he meant via Zoom when he is back in Australia. But he said he had time before Monday night before he leaves for Portland. And he already has a meeting with some nuns on Monday late morning, so I’m going to meet him Monday morning at someone’s house from the United Church to record over there. That’s a true missionary, who travels far and wide to evangelize those who need encouragement, and then books a second meeting with you before he leaves town. I offered whether it was too much and he needed some down time, but he reiterated he’s here to work.
Consider the ways the Spirit is moving in us. The ways in which we are granted visions like Paul. Heeding the call to serve others. The Spirit is like that, a wind that is blowing in different directions, surprising us.
Consider Lydia who receives the word from Paul. She responds immediately and becomes a follower of Jesus. Here is a wealthy businesswoman in ancient times. And her entire household is baptized. There is a sense that the Spirit activates something within us. It’s not a passive experience.
I think about all the wild things that are happening all around us. That the authoritarianism in the US and in Europe continues to grow. God is giving us gifts to build community, to build responses and resistance to the threats in our midst. Building community is key. Building relationships in which we can trust one another and support one another through tough times.
As we were wrapping up the retreat, we were invited to share a word about the retreat. The person from Chilliwack suggested we all come on over, in true hospitality fashion. I offered we could form a Queer Convoy and head on the road. Someone else remarked, “what we are going to ride, our e-bikes?” There was a yellow school bus parked outside. We could get on the bus and evangelize Chilliwack. Knowing some of the whacky conservative Christians over there, they could use it.
The Spirit is granting each of us a vision for ministry, whether small or grand. Listen to that vision and live into the fullness of God’s love. Amen.
