We believe in a God who is fully inclusive in his own identity as Father, Son and Holy Spirit (often a feminine pronoun by the way), but also a God who welcomes and receives all.

And that’s timely reminder in these days as the world wrestles with the implications of George Floyd's death at the hands of white police men.  Underlying that disgraceful act, and underneath every act of racism is the same attitude, perhaps, of the Jewish leadership team in the churches of Galatia, that Paul seeks to correct, “be Jewish”… “be white” don’t be black. But I want to unequivocally say that racism is wrong, that black lives do matter, that the system is geared to provide the white middle class, middle aged man with success overall. And it’s wrong… we believe and follow a God who includes all and levels mountains and valleys to ensure a level playing field.

But it isn’t just black lives that matter. LGBTQ lives matter too. They’re part of God’s family, their lives matter too. And we remind ourselves what we read yesterday that Jesus loves us and gave his live for us – not just white folk, but black lives, and those LGBTQ lives too.

Jesus loves us, gave his life for us and in him there is no black or white, no straight nor gay, no able bodied or disabled for we are all one in Christ Jesus.

Grace and Peace, Darren