Statement of Hope

This statement was narrated by Rev. David Deerfeeder and Wanda Cook at The Vacaville Pride Interfaith Worship Service on June 23, 2024. My prayer is that you find a personal blessing as you read the statement.

Dear Friends,

Today, as we gather openly, our unity is a celebration of love, hope and solidarity for the dignity of all people. Our interfaith service is a declaration of our shared humanity, our spiritual thirst, and our unwavering belief in the divine intent for every person to flourish in their lives.

Each has within us, a deep spiritual need. It is a universal human experience expressed through how we grow in understanding of ourselves, others and the world around us.

From Paul’s Epistle to the Romans:

Since what may be known about God is plain to [us] because God has made it plain to [us].

For since the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities—

his eternal power and divine nature[of love] have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made.

Romans 1:19

We all seek connection, purpose, and understanding. We all yearn for acceptance and love. This spiritual longing is a testament to the divine spark within us all, a reflection of the image of God in which we are created.

The sacred texts of many faiths remind us of our inherent worth. In the Christian tradition, we read from Genesis that humanity is created in the image of God. God reveals himself as 3 distinct but unified persons in 1. Through this revelation, we learn of the richness of our diversity and the unity of love and purpose.

Later in Genesis, God establishes his divine intent for the world. In questioning Cain (the hate-filled and murderous brother of Abel) Cain replies with malice, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”. Six thousand years later, the revolutionary, Jesus Christ, declares the answer of God with a resounding  “YES!”.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart

and with all your soul

and with all your mind.'…

Love your neighbor as yourself.

Matthew 22:36

Divine Love is not limited by our differences; it is enriched by them. In Islam, the Quran teaches us that we are all part of a single community, diverse in our creation but united in our purpose. In Judaism, the Talmud reminds us that saving a single life is akin to saving an entire world, underscoring the infinite value of each individual.

Yet, despite these profound truths, we must acknowledge the painful reality that many religious communities have alienated, marginalized and traumatized the LGBTQAI+ population. 

Too often, doctrines of love and acceptance have been twisted into instruments of exclusion, judgment, and hate. This is not the way of the Divine. This is not the path of justice and love to which we are called.

The apostle John writes a condemnation of the church who fails to love: 

“Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first… Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.”  

Revelation 2:4-5

The error lies not in the teachings themselves, but in the failure to live out these teachings with the compassion and inclusivity that they demand. We who pursue the love of God, lament openly the trauma of exclusion experienced in the name of God. 

We are not called to exclude or judge. We are called to love our neighbors as ourselves, to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God. This call extends to everyone, without exception.

Today, as we stand together, let us commit to embodying this love in our actions.

Let us be the voices that affirm the dignity of all people, the hands that reach out in friendship, and the hearts that welcome without reservation. Let us work to create communities where everyone feels valued, respected, and loved for who they are.

An excerpt from Psalm 139 declares the dignity and hope of all humankind.

You have searched me, Lord, 

and you know me.

You know when I sit and when I rise; 

you perceive my thoughts from afar.

 You discern my going out and my lying down; 

you are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue

you, Lord, know it completely…

For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Search me, God, and know my heart;

test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting.

In this moment, let us recognize the courage and resilience of our LGBTQAI+ siblings. Your journey is a testament to the enduring power of the human spirit and the unbreakable bond of community. As the prophet Jeremiah proclaims in God's words:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Your presence here today is a beacon of hope and a powerful reminder that love always prevails. As we continue to celebrate, let us carry these truths with us.

May we be lights in the world, reflecting a divine love that knows no bounds. Let our words proclaim kindness, and our actions speak louder, affirming the dignity and worth of every person created in the image of God.

by, Wanda L. Cook