In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’ ” Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a lea…

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit o…

There was a certain man of Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham son of Elihu son of Tohu son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. He had two wives; the name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. Now this man used to go up year by year from…

After a long time the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned under their slavery and cried out. Their cry for help rose up to God from their slavery. God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God looked upon the Israelites, and God took notice of them. Exodus 2:23-25 (NRSVUE) Mapagpalang hapon sa …

Does God have a gender and if God does, what is God’s gender? Biblically speaking, God is anthropomorphically presented with both male and female attributes. Biblical verses that present God as Female or Feminine: Deuteronomy 32:11-12 – As mother eagle – As an eagle stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, as it spreads its wings, takes them up…

Are there “trans” or cross gendering saints and holy people in the history of the church? The Answer: Both Yes and No. Are there persons we can consider as saints or holy people FOR the transgender, fluid, and non-conforming Christians? The absolute and strictly male and female binary is mostly Western Christian Gender Construct and was imposed upo…

My name is Allie (or Brigs if you know me through the internet), pronouns They/Them. I have been part of the community for two years now; though I realized that I’m not fond of talking about myself and preferred to listen and follow along conversations. Trying to recount particular notable stories in my life can be a little challenging; maybe mostl…

I grew up in Los Angeles, Southern California. Not wealthy, but okay. My father worked at carpentry. He made cabinets and dressers and other similar things. I grew up with both my mother and father, and one sister who is two years younger than me. Also, a dog that was a pain in the butt. I grew up in church. My family was involved in a very traditi…

Hi everyone, I’m Mariz, ang tita nyong taga etivac na mapagmahal sa kawali! I am a cisgender female who identifies as pansexual – married to the love of my life, my wife Mikay. I’m a late bloomer— I was once just an ally of the LGBTQ+ community, unlike many of you na bata palang nagidentify na bilang sirena o diwata w/ glitters dahil lumilipad sa c…

When Pastor Joseph first approached me to do a testimonial preaching and share about my life and faith, my initial reaction was, “Meron bang matutunan sa story ko? Parang wala naman.” But let me try to summarize and unpack my 34 years of existence and see if there is anything that can be learned from it while keeping it as organized and as concise …

Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And [...] Read More... The post Laksamba: T…

For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let anyone accept this who can. Scripture ReadingMatthew 19:12 (NRSVUE) Our Parent God in heaven, our God [...] Read More... The post Potentials …

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in [...] Read More... The post Growth and Refinement appeared first on Open Table Me…

Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his work. He was the son (as was thought) of Joseph son of Heli, son of Matthat, son of Levi, son of Melchi, son of Jannai, son of Joseph, son of Mattathias, son of Amos, son of Nahum, son of Esli, son of Naggai, son of [...] Read More... The post Being Raised By Many appeared first on Open Table Metro…

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable; it keeps no record of wrongs; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, [...] Read More... The post A Coming Of Age appeared first …

Nang malapit na siya sa Betfage at Betania, sa lugar na tinatawag na Bundok ng mga Olibo, pinauna niya ang dalawa sa mga alagad. Sinabi niya sa kanila, “Pumunta kayo sa susunod na nayon. Sa pagpasok ninyo roo’y makikita ninyo ang isang batang asno na nakatali na hindi pa nasasakyan ng kahit sino. Kalagan ninyo [...] Read More... The post Pride Marc…

Bumalik si Jesus sa Galilea sa kapangyarihan ng Espiritu at sa buong lupain ay kumalat ang balita tungkol sa kanya. Nagturo siya sa kanilang mga sinagoga taglay ang papuri ng lahat. Dumating siya sa Nazareth na kanyang nilakhan. Gaya ng kanyang nakaugalian, pumasok siya sa sinagoga nang araw ng Sabbath at tumindig upang magbasa. Iniabot [...] Read …

Kayo ang ilaw ng sanlibutan. Hindi maikukubli ang isang lungsod na itinayo sa ibabaw ng isang burol. Hindi nagsisindi ng ilawan ang mga tao at ilalagay lamang sa ilalim ng isang takalan. Sa halip, ilalagay ito sa ibabaw ng isang patungan, nang sa gayo’y magbigay liwanag ito sa lahat ng nasa bahay. Sa gayunding paraan [...] Read More... The post Mag…

Matapos silang makapagpatotoo at maipahayag ang salita ng Panginoon, bumalik sina Pedro at Juan sa Jerusalem na ipinangangaral ang magandang balita sa maraming nayon ng Samaria. Matapos ang mga ito, inutusan ng isang anghel ng Panginoon si Felipe, “Tumindig ka at pumunta patungong timog, sa daang pababa mula sa Jerusalem patungong Gaza. Ito’y ilang…

Pagsapit ng Araw ng Pentecostes, nagtitipon silang lahat sa isang lugar. Biglang nagkaroon ng isang ugong mula sa langit, gaya ng isang napakalakas na hangin, at napuno nito ang bahay na kanilang kinaroroonan. May nakita silang tila mga dilang apoy na nahahati at lumapag sa bawat isa sa kanila. Napuspos silang lahat ng Banal na [...] Read More... T…