Of all the things that America claims for herself, the most oft asserted, and arguably the most prized, is Freedom. America sees herself as the land of the Free, and it is in pursuit and defense of that Freedom that almost everything we do as a nation is justified. When it comes time for holidays of national remembrance and rejoicing it is Freedom we are enjoined to be grateful for, and Freedom, we are told, is the ultimate cause of our celebration.

We worship a God that defies narrow categorization. Due to our human history being dominated by patriarchal cultures, the church has often described God in masculine terms, but there is ample Biblical justification for using feminine terms also. The prophets refer to God with feminine metaphors on many occasions - as an angry mother bear protecting her children, as a nursing mother caring for her young, as a feminine spirit of wisdom. There is even better theological reason to understand God as transcending human conceptions of gender - any God we can conceive of in such limited terms would not be God, but just an idol, another creation of human imagination, and not the creator of the universe. We can correctly say that God’s pronouns are they/them.

The start of May has long been associated with the height of spring and the libidinous, hopeful, riotous behavior appropriate thereto. In Celtic Cultures this is Beltane - a time for bonfires and drinking and dancing. In the 19th and early 20th centuries in America and Europe May Day was a labor movement focal point. On May Day we remind ourselves that in the righteous order of things everything belongs to everyone. There are no masters and kings. Workers deserve their bread, and their roses too.

Easter is the most important holiday in the Christian calendar. It has ancient roots, is layered up with many symbolic meanings, and of course is based on the most important stories of the New Testament. Today I’d like you to consider just one lesson of Easter, and that is: listen to the women.

This year for Lent I invite you to enjoy this devotional by Native and Indigenous writers. There are many excellent teachers here to carry you through the season. To begin I offer this reflection on Ash Wednesday by Jay Mercado:

All of American history is influenced by white supremacy and the resistance to white supremacy. Oregon is part of that story and it isn’t only a matter of the past, but of how it continues to echo in our present. It’s important that we increase our understanding of our history and as February is Black History Month, why not now?

It is that time of year when many people make resolutions. If the opportunity of a clean slate helps you and you find motivation to do something which enriches your life, then I wish you the best and I’m cheering for your success.

Advent marks the beginning of the liturgical year, which means an opportunity to reflect anew on important themes and to consider what sources we turn to for wisdom.