Dearly Beloved,
On this Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), here is a poem by the Rev. Maren Tirabassi. I hope to see many of you this evening at our TDOR worship service at 7:00 pm
With deep love and gratitude,
Thandiwe
Prayer for Transgender Remembrance Day, 2024
Posted on November 20, 2024 by Maren
God, we pray today in grief
but also in thanksgiving
for three hundred and fifty
transgender people around the world
ones who were called forth like Lazarus,
born again like Nicodemus,
like David, were freed of armor
that did not fit them,
like Esther, spent more than a year
caring for a beautiful body,
and, a person dressed as a man,
yet carrying a jar of water,
who led Jesus’ friends to the Upper Room,
and who, like Jesus himself,
were violently killed this year.
And we remember by name nineteen of those
who were murdered in the United States …
We remember África, Sasha and Kitty,
and pray for all who loved them.
We remember Reyna, Parrilla, Diamond,
each so precious in God’s sight.
We remember Nevaeh “River” and Tee,
Alex, Meraxes, and Kita,
and pray that their loss
will open the hearts of all who close doors.
We remember Starr,
and hope these lives brighten dark skies,
We remember Tayy, Jazzlyn and Pauly,
eighteen, seventeen and fourteen years old,
and grieve our children.
From Miami Beach, Kansas City, Minneapolis,
Andrea, Kita, and Liara remind us
that no place is safe.
We remember San, Honee, and Kassim
who loved and were loved,
Tai, Dylan, Monique, Shannon and Kenji,
who would have given many gifts,
Redd (also known as Barbie), and
Vanity (also known as Chanel)
whose names are written on God’s hand.
We remember,
and we pledge that in this time
of seeming permission
to harm transgender people,
legal violence,
hatred expressed by the powerful,
even elected officials,
we not only grieve their loss,
but protect their rights
and celebrate their presence,
for they are Your beloved children,
whose truth can never be taken away.
amen.
