As a progressive Christian, I believe there are many names for God and many ways to a loving God; this article reflects one of those ways. Take from here what works for you. Celebrate life with joy and peace!
I’m grateful for the people who were there for our brothers caught in the ravages of AIDS in the early years. While many people declared, “AIDS is God’s punishment to gays!” I am here to affirm that statement is a lie. God is a God of love!
Rev. David Farrell, former pastor of The Metropolitan Community Church of San Diego (1975-1995), tells of how AIDS devastated a third of the membership in the 1980s.
Rev. David described AIDS as slipping into the vibrant, healthy congregation silently, as a shadow on a sunny day. He said, “This invisible predator moved swiftly among us … unseen, unnamed, unnoticed … smooth … like a warm knife moves through butter. It left in its wake a narrow corridor of disease and death at the heart of San Diego’s gay male community. We would learn to name it AIDS and to know it well as disease and death invaded our church and the community we served.”
“Only the men got sick and died. The example of women in our community rising heroically to minister to us is the proudest story of my generation. For many gay men, the strength and unselfish courage of women during the early years of AIDS dealt a death-blow to any lingering vestiges of male superiority. They were church-goers (or not), they were lesbians (or not); they were our friends, mothers, sisters, mentors, nurses, drivers, shoppers, housekeepers, nurses, cooks and caretakers … they were magnificent, and they were there for us!
“When I visited AIDS patients in the hospital or at home, they were glad to see me, but as death drew near, their thoughts turned to the churches of their childhood. The young men really wanted a priest, minister or rabbi from their own religious tradition. Most of them wanted a church burial. They wanted their lovers to be in charge of the arrangements. They wanted their relationships honored. They wanted their friendships and affiliations respected. And, they wanted the cause of their death acknowledged. How sad and disappointed I was to learn that, even in the face of suffering and death, young gay men were still being denied the comforts of faith.
“In San Diego, MCC stepped into the breach. Never before had our congregation been so challenged. For the first five years, with the help of God, a united community and a struggling group of home-grown, bootstrapped charities, we did it all … and we were glad to do it. Indeed, I believe God had raised us and strengthened us for ‘such a time as this.’
“Together, we searched for ways to acknowledge the diversity of lifestyles in our community because we had to. We learned a lot about illness and death and relationships because the learning was thrust upon us. We opened our minds and hearts to other faith traditions because we had no choice.
“In January 1985, I held a press conference to announce that MCC San Diego would be hosting a 50-hour AIDS Vigil of Prayer, beginning on a Friday evening and continuing uninterrupted for 50 hours. The Sanctuary would be open day and night with staff and volunteers in constant prayer.
“The weekend came, and male and female clergy from a kaleidoscope of religious traditions showed up in a bewildering assortment of vestments to participate in the various worship services. Prayers were offered; blessings were bestowed; resentments were spoken; confessions were made; apologies were offered and accepted; forgiveness was given …
“Media coverage before, during, and after the vigil, was massive and uniformly positive. One rabid fundamentalist congregation staged a loud and vulgar protest out in front of church on Sunday morning and received a scorching TV editorial for their efforts.
“In 1986, MCC San Diego led the MCC denomination in the very first International Aids Vigil of Prayer. We didn’t know how successful it might be, so imagine our surprise and joy when MCCs around the world embraced the idea wholeheartedly. When the final reports were sent in and the results were tabulated, we found that over five thousand (5,000+) churches worldwide had participated in the 50 hour International Vigil.
“Who ever dreamed that a Prayer Vigil could be voted Event of the Year? Well, that’s exactly what happened in San Diego, California in 1985. And we have taken enormous pleasure and satisfaction in seeing the weekend Vigil of Prayer evolve into the international World AIDS Day. We didn’t know any of this when we started out. We were just taking the next step…just trying to be authentic…just trying to be faithful. That’s all we’re called to do.”
— Rev. David Farrell
2016 World AIDS Day Prayer
God, known by many names,
You know me…You know about my HIV/AIDS.
Holy is Your name.
You are Peace in the storms of rejection,
Mighty in the times of my weakness,
Wonderful Counselor in the times of confusion,
Everlasting Comforter in the time of initial and eventual death.
We remember those loved ones who are no longer with us. God, I know you hear us as we take a moment to say their names right now…
Lead us from temptation to transformation…
A temptation of intolerance and indifference,
A temptation of ignorance and fear,
A temptation of exploitation and destruction,
A temptation of xenophobia and homophobia.
Provide us with the bounty of health,
Acceptance, accessibility and equality,
Love, hope and faith,
Compassion, justice and peace.
You deserve glory and honor…
For loving me with my HIV/AIDS,
For making medications possible through research and science,
For the experience of comfort from friends, family and caregivers,
For having prepared a place for me of safety and well-being.
Amen for the breath I breathe.
Amen and so it is.
