Below is a prayer and benediction I shared tonight at the Transgender Day of Remembrance Ceremony in Boise. It was an honor to be a part of the evening. You can read more about the Day of Remembrance movement here.

Holy One, you created humankind in your own image.

Help us to move beyond the exclusiveness of an either/or mentality to the inclusiveness of an all and every way of thinking.

Move us beyond binary definitions and into the mystery and complexity of your infinite creative imagination.

We give you thanks for people who are willing to live with courage into who you have created and called them to be. May they inspire us to live more authentically in our own skin.

May we be strong voices of justice, so they may have the chance to live in safety and thrive in your abundance.

As we pause to remember those senselessly murdered for living into themselves,
give us hearts open to love,
souls filled with compassion,
and minds willing to learn,
so all will know your creative gifts will not be limited or restricted by our categories and understanding.

Amen.

Benediction
As you go into this night,
Go forth into the world
With compassion and justice in your heart
Give voice to the silent
Give strength to the weak
See one another
Hear one another
Love one another
It’s all that easy
And it’s all that hard

Now may the grace, love, and power of the God who created us
Be with us all, now and forever more
AMEN

Liturgy means ‘the work of the people’. And much of my liturgical work is adapted from other people’s liturgies. The benediction is adapted from my friend Bruce Reyes Chow. The prayer was 
adapted from A Prayer by Vickey Gibbs. I changed it enough that I wanted to also share the original beautiful prayer: 

God, of all the vast varieties of humankind,

Help us to move beyond the exclusiveness of an either / or mentality to the inclusiveness of an all and every way of thinking.

Move us beyond binary definitions to the mystery and complexity of Your infinite creativity and creation.

As we pause to remember those senselessly Murdered because of their
all encompassing humanity open hearts that need to hear souls that need to know
and minds that need to see that there are no limits to You nor Your creation.