@mattnightingale
Alejandro’s husband. Co-pastor of @wearethequest.bsky.social. Founder of @commonsanctuary.bsky.social. Spiritual director. TED talker. All Christian, all gay, all the time. #FaithfullyLGBT #BLM He/him
And on the opposite Mondays, the original, LGBTQ+ only group meets at the same time. Our next gathering is this coming Monday, March 16, from 6:30-8pm PT. You can register for either meeting here:
If you identify as LGBTQIA+ yourself, or if you're an ally, you're welcome to join us. We're here every two weeks, and our next gathering is Monday, March 23, from 6:30-8pm PT.
A gracious Sabbath stood here while they stood Who gave our rest a haven. Now fallen, they are given To labor and distress. These times we know much evil, little good To steady us in faith And comfort when our losses press Hard on us, and we choose, In panic or despair or both, To keep what we will lose. For we are fallen like the trees, our peace Broken, and so we must Love where we cannot trust, Trust where we cannot know, And must await the wayward-coming grace That joins living and dead, Taking us where we would not go-Into the boundless dark. When what was made has been unmade The Maker comes to His work.
And then for our lectio divina practice, we read "Sabbath 1985: II" by Wendell Berry. Thank you to @claytongladish.bsky.social for choosing the text and the song, creating the graphic, and reading so beautifully for us tonight. 🙏🏼❤️🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
After opening prayers, community guidelines, and check ins, we listened together to "Joy" by Page CXVI.
We come as we are; we experience God together through music, poetry or scripture, and the words of our friends; and we see what happens.
Sixteen of us gathered in our Monday night contemplative spirituality group for LGBTQ+ people and allies. Tonight we came from all over the US & Canada, and from as far away as Egypt. We welcomed a first-time guest who I met a few weekends back at the Ember Gathering.
You don’t have to worship where you’re not wanted.
I’m so excited to welcome The Many to @wearethequest.bsky.social this Saturday evening at 7:00 pm.
More than 40 people have already reserved tickets, and it’s shaping up to be a beautiful evening.
If you haven’t reserved your ticket yet, here’s your nudge. Pay what you can. All are welcome.
After decades in deconstruction spaces, it felt so good to be in a community focused on what’s next.
As some of you know, @commonsanctuary.bsky.social is hosting The Many at @wearethequest.bsky.social this Saturday evening. We just added a streaming option if anyone wants to join us virtually!
www.eventbrite.com/e/common-san...
Looking for something meaningful Saturday night? Join us at @wearethequest.bsky.social in Novato as we welcome The Many to Marin County! Streaming options available so you can watch from anywhere!
www.eventbrite.com/e/1981808737...
And if you aren't queer yourself but consider yourself an ally, you're welcome to join us on the opposite Mondays for the "allies welcome" version of the group. We'll be gathering next Monday, March 9, from 6:30-8pm PT. Register for the groups here:
If you identify as LGBTQIA+, we'd love to have you join us sometime. We meet every two weeks, and we'll be together again on Monday, March 16, from 6:30-8pm PT.
But be doers of the word and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing. If any think they are religious and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world. If you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well. But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. For the one who said, "You shall not commit adultery," also said, "You shall not murder." Now if you do not commit adultery but you murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment. What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Surely that faith cannot save, can it? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food and one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill," and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith apart from works, and I by my works will show you faith. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe-and shudder.
And then for our lectio divina practice, we read James 1:22-27 and 2:8-19. Thank you to our friend Luke for choosing the song and the reading tonight, and for reading so beautifully. 🙏🏼❤️🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
After opening prayers, community guidelines, and check ins, we listened together to Sierra Ferrell's "Praise You and Stand."
We come as we are; experience God together through music, readings and the words of our friends; and see what happens.
Fourteen of us gathered tonight in our Monday night contemplative spirituality group. We come from all over the US & Canada - and sometimes, like tonight, from as far away as Egypt! (Zoom makes the world so small.) We are queers of all kinds, from many backgrounds.
The Jesus freak movement was founded by Lonnie Frisbee, a closeted and troubled gay man who died in 1993 from HIV/AIDS. Before he died, he was suppressed and exiled by the movement.
Author: @mattnightingale.bsky.social
The Ember Gathering was wonderful. So cool connecting with online friends IRL. So happy to meet you, Lisa! 🙏🏼
You don’t have to worship where you’re not wanted.
You don’t have to worship where you’re not wanted.
New from pastor @mattnightingale.bsky.social on Substack.
New from @mattnightingale.bsky.social on Substack.
And if you aren't queer yourself but consider yourself an ally, you're welcome to join us on the opposite Mondays for the "allies welcome" version of the group. We'll be gathering next Monday, February 23, from 6:30-8pm PT.
If you identify as LGBTQIA+, we'd love to have you join us sometime. We meet every two weeks, and we'll be together again on Monday, March 2, from 6:30-8pm PT.
In you, O LORD, have I taken refuge; let me never be put to shame: deliver me in your righteousness. Incline your ear to me; make haste to deliver me. Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe, for you are my crag and my stronghold; for the sake of your Name, lead me and guide me. Take me out of the net that they have secretly set for me, for you are my tower of strength. Into your hands I commend my spirit, for you have redeemed me, O LORD, O God of truth. Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love's sake. O God, your unfailing providence sustains the world we live in and the life we live: Watch over those, both night and day, who work while others sleep, and grant that we may never forget that our common life depends upon each other's toil; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
And then for our lectio divina practice, we read Psalm 31:1-5 along with two prayers from the Book of Common Prayer. Thank you to @audnebula.bsky.social for choosing the text and the song, and for reading so beautifully for us tonight. 🙏🏼❤️🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
After opening prayers, community guidelines, and check ins, we listened together to @lindseystirling.bsky.social's "Where Do We Go" ft. @carahfaye.bsky.social.
