​Rainbow Cross Walk Blessing

God of many names and boundless compassion, strengthen all who have come today. For some this is a time of victory, for others this is a time of healing, and for others, still, this is a time of struggle. 

Let this path be a sign of your realm, where each one is known by name, where no one is a stranger and all are welcome. 

As this connects the past location with the current one, help us to never forget the past as we live into the future.

Remind us that all that we have, we receive as gifts, and that we are stewards entrusted to each others care. Make us instruments of your grace and peace.
We thank you, God, for the gift of life, for the beauty and wonder of creation, and for our own life which comes from you.

​We thank you for the richness of our community: for the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgender, Intersexed, Queer, Questioning, Asexual, and Straight and the beautiful array of colors they bring to this world.
 
We thank you for lives of those who have come before, for the ones who would not be silenced. For their sacrifice and courage that paved the way for others to be honest and true.

​We pray for the ones who needlessly died.  Whether through violence, abuse, or AIDS, may their courage remind all that we must not allow our community to be seen as second class.
 
We thank you for the straight allies who helped to make equality a possibility, yet also know that the journey is not over.  We pray that we may all continue to name and address injustice wherever it is seen.
We thank you for the politicians who have passed the laws and given the protections so that we can live free and love whoever God has called us to love.

Blessed are you, living, loving God. As we stand before this path let it be a reminder of our past as well as a symbol of our future.  Let this always be a bold statement that the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgender, Intersexed, Queer, Questioning, Asexual, and Straight community is accepted and respected in San Jose.  Let those who walk this path be blessed knowing that they are loved by our creator and welcome in this community.
Let us boldly go forth into the world, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit and the Love we feel today. Amen.

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