Erasure
You can’t erase Queer
It doesn’t matter
How hard You try
With bullying
Hate
Guns
Bonfires
And bookbans
Shaming cultures
And evil gods
Can’t make People “Don’t say gay”
Evidence of “Roommates”
Hermaphrodites
Two Spirits (don’t appropriate)
Third genders
And Trans*
People
Go back
to the beginning
Of time
And Don’t
Get me started
On the Bible
With the Poly Trinity
David & Jonathan
Joseph’s Rainbow/Lady’s Coat
God’s pronouns
Revealed in flames
Ruth and Naomi
Song of Songs
The Eunuch
The Bible is Queer
You can’t erase
LGBTQIA
It Only
Gets clarified
As time Goes on
So YES
You have
To learn
New terms
#NotSorry
Yes we will
Have
No we will
Not shut up
Personhood
Is on the line
You can’t erase
People
It hasn’t worked
Yet
And it never
Will
I promise you
I will keep
Remembering
And Naming
And Believing
And Listening
And History shows me
I am not alone
QUEER are Beautifully
And Fiercely made
In the image
Of God
No one will
Ever erase
That
Feel free to share/adapt/use with credit to Katy Stenta
A Sacred Space
Does not mean pews or Prayer
It means safety
for one to be their full self
A Sanctuary, does not mean a Pastor
or a Sign that says “Everyone’s Welcome”
It is a place where the food is abundant
and the boundaries keep people safe
Church is not a building
Its the Community that its neighbors
God is not an authority or a shamemaster
They are a home to safely come to, at the end of the long journey
Safety is not straight heteronormativity ableism in middleclass suburbs
Its the freedom for everyone to dance in their club
in their beautiful and fierce incarnation
without being shot, or being hassled on the way home, or the cops being called
Sacred Spaces
Means a Space for everyone to be Sacred, no more, no less.
If there is one things all humans need–
its real and salient sacred spaces
Selah
Don’t break humans
Selah,
Don’t break the Sacred Spaces
Unfreezing Christmas Pageant
No Rehearsal Version
by Katy Stenta, feel free to Email me at Katyandtheword at gmail for a doc version
Feel free to Adapt (Really Adapt I know how these things are)/Use with credit to Katy Stenta
Please Support my Writing, I am Funding some of my Doctorate in Creative Writing as a Public Theologian through donationshttps://gofund.me/554d36e3 Thank you to all those who have donated, I have successfully completed 2 years thanks to your support.
Characters: Mr Tumnus, Lucy, Narrator (Can be Played By Lucy), Mrs Beaver (Can be played by Mr Tumnus) Two Friends, Mary (non-speaking), Other Nativity Characters (Optional), All reading parts can be read from lecterns.
Needed: 1 Stuffed Lion, 1 Babydoll, 1 Manger (optional), Nativity Costumes (optional)
Congregation says Merry Christmas and Aslan Unfreeze Christmas: Can be pompted by one of the Lead Characters without a script
Narrator: Here Are the Instructions everyone, when the music stops, please Freeze, when the music starts, you can unfreeze!
(Music Starts)
Mrs. Beaver Here in Narnia we are having a hard time. It is always winter; Always winter and never Christmas.
Mr. Tumnus: I am excited though, because I have invited my new friend Lucy from the Land of Spare Oom over to Tea—and the Queen has Not found out about our friendship.
(Music Stops)
For some reason the Queen hates humans. Oh no look everyone is Frozen You are all frozen out there.
Lucy: Oh no look, what happened?
Mr. Tumnus: They must have been celebrating without the Queen’s permission and she turned them into stone.
Aslan (Someone holding a Stuffed Lion walks on stage): Roar
Mr Tumnus & Lucy: Aslan Unfreezes Christmas
(Everyone Unfreezes, Music Starts)
(Aslan exits)
Mr Tumnus: Oh my gifts and packages! That must have been Aslan! Unfreezing their hearts for Christmas!
Lucy: Merry Christmas
Congregation: Merry Christmas
Scene 2
(Music Stops)
(Two People frozen back to back)
Mr Tumnus: Oh dear I do not like the look of this, this does not look of this, we must be following the Queen’s winter.
Aslan—(can be a different person playing Aslan—roars and unfreezing them Music Starts)
Congregation: Aslan Unfreezes Christmas
1st Friend—I’ve been looking for you everywhere
2nd Friend-I’m so glad I’ve found you
(the two people hug)
Scene 3
(Music Stops)
Girl Holding a Babydoll by a manger Frozen
(Other people can be other characters in a manger scene as is appropriate/easy or not or can come on to sing)
Ms. Beaver: I remember this story
Mr. Tumnus: Yes the White Witch really is preventing Christmas now, by freezing this one.
Aslan (again can be the same person or someone different) roars to unfreeze the girl Music Starts)
Congregation: Aslan Unfreezes Christmas
Girl puts the babydoll into the manger
Congreation: Merry Christmas
Everyone comes onstage: to sing (with the congregation if you choose)
Reader to close: Aslan has truly unfrozen Christmas, Look! For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders—and he is named, wonderful counsellor, mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace
Aslan: Roars One last Time
Silent Night or Away in the Manger or Your Favorite Christmas Hymn for Everyone to Sing
by Katy Stenta, feel free to Email me at Katyandtheword at gmail for a doc version
Feel free to Adapt (Really Adapt I know how these things are)/Use with credit to Katy Stenta
Please Support my Writing, I am Funding some of my Doctorate in Creative Writing as a Public Theologian through donations https://gofund.me/554d36e3 Thank you to all those who have donated, I have successfully completed 2 years thanks to your support.
An Easy Narnia Based Pageant
Unfreezing Christmas Pageant
Costume Suggestions: Ears & Hat for Mr. Tumnus, Red & Green for everyone else, Need: a table/picnic setup for scene 1, a Stuffed Lion for “Aslan” to Carry, need a manger and Babydoll for the end
Characters: Mr Tumnus, Lucy, End Narrators, Party Attendees, Two Friends, Mary (non-speaking)
Mr Tumnus: Here in Narnia we are having a hard time. It is always winter; Always winter and never Christmas. I am excited though, because I have invited my new friend Lucy from the Land of Spare Oom over to Tea—and the Queen has Not found out about our friendship. For some reason the Queen hates humans. Oh look here she comes now! (Can be read from a lectern)
(Lucy enters from the back and Mr Tumnus runs to escort her)
Scene 1
Mr. Tumnus and Lucy walk to the front: A bunch of people come and sit frozen)
Lucy: Oh no look, what happened?
Mr. Tumnus: They must have been celebrating without the Queen’s permission and she turned them into stone.
Aslan (Someone holding a Stuffed Lion walks on stage): Roar
Mr Tumnus & Lucy: Aslan Unfreezes Christmas
(Aslan exits)
Lead Partygoer: Aslan Unfroze us! It must be Christmas!
(The Party Starts with pantomimed eating and celebration, Christmas Music Starts) (I’d have the littles lay down til they hear the roar)
Partygoer 1: I love the food
Partygoer 2: I can’t believe its Christmas
Partygoer 3: I can see presents even
Partygoer 4: I saw a lion!
Partygoer 5: No I saw a Lion!
Mr Tumnus: Oh my gifts and packages! That must have been Aslan! Unfreezing their hearts for Christmas!
Lucy: Merry Christmas
PartyGoers: Merry Christmas
Mr. Tumnus: Let’s Go!
Scene 2
(Two People frozen back to back)
Mr Tumnus: Oh dear I do not like the look of this, this does not look of this, we must be following the Queen’s winter.
(Lucy sits next to the two)
Aslan—can be a different person playing Aslan—roars and unfreezing them
Mr Tumnus & Lucy: Aslan Unfreezes Christmas
1st Friend—I’ve been looking for you everywhere
2nd Friend-I’m so glad I’ve found you
(the two people hug)
Scene 3
Girl Holding a Babydoll by a manger Frozen
(Other people can be other characters in a manger scene as is appropriate/easy or not or can come on to sing)
Lucy: I remember this story
Mr. Tumnus: Yes the White Witch really is preventing Christmas now, by freezing this one.
Aslan (again can be the same person or someone different) roars to unfreeze the girl)
Mr Tumnus & Lucy: Aslan Unfreezes Christmas
Girl puts the babydoll into the manger
Everyone comes onstage: to sing (with the congregation if you choose)
Reader to close: Aslan has truly unfrozen Christmas, Look! For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders—and he is named, wonderful counsellor, mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace
Aslan: Roars One last Time
Silent Night or Away in the Manger
Please Support my Writing, I am Funding some of my Doctorate in Creative Writing as a Public Theologian through donations https://gofund.me/554d36e3 Thank you to all those who have donated, I have successfully completed 2 years thanks to your support.
Here’s a prayer for Charlottesville
Where the gunshots echo across
a million schools in the United States
A Prayer for Charlottesville
For the Black People
who tiptoe lightly across the land
While White Boys bluster loudly
with their guns and tiki torches, because they know who has rights
and who doesn’t, as they high five the police along the way
Here’s a prayer for Charlottesville
Where Heather Heyer was brutally run over
with a car filled with malice and fossil fuel
And now
Where football players, mere children, Black, Young and Gift
Have their lives too lost
Because America cannot
will not
in its obsession with power, colonialism and capitalism
is sinfully unable disarm itself
We are a death cult
Here’s a prayer for our children
brutalized by “Shooter drills”
I remember when I had thought that Columbine was a
historical rarity–Back in the day when I was in high school
I turn forty this year
I remember 9/11 when we cried no more
And gave blood and ate together
And then prayed to God and immediately brutalized
our black and brown neighbors
And bought bombs and guns
Here’s a prayer for America
obsessed with “Safety”
instead of loving our neighbors
Is love safe?
Here’s a prayer for love
Beautiful and fierce
May it renew us in ways we do not expect
Away from cars
and guns
and violence
May we let people rage
and cry
and lament
as needed
And then may we turn our words
Into actions
And to do what needs to get done
We Pray
Amen.
Feel free to use/share/adapt with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta
Register for a Writing Workshop
Do you want to learn how to write prayers and liturgy? Psalms and Calls to Worship? Confessions and Personal Prayers? This Zoom Workshop is designed for all levels and experiences for people to engage in prayer writing–using the scripture as your guide.
Sunday November 20th 4pm-6pm (Eastern) $40
Thursday Dec 1st 12pm-2pm
Led by Katy Stenta, Pastor, Writer and Educator
For more information to sign up, email Katyandtheword at gmail.com. Titled “Liturgy”
Katy Stenta is a regular contributor to Sermonsuite, RevGalBlogPals, and is published in Enfleshed, Presbyterian’s Today and Outlook. She received her undergraduate in English and History and Minor on Philosophy at Oberlin, her M. Div. and MA in Christian Formation at Princeton Theological Seminary. She is currently pursuing her D. Min. in Creative Writing as a Public Theologian at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. She also writes personal prayers regularly at katyandtheword.com.
Limited to 10 spots
Justice Mercy & Light Extended Advent
Jesus as Emmanuel
Matthew 1:18-25
Psalm 23:1-4 (or 23:4)
Psalm 42:1-2
Call to Worship
God, we long for you to be with us
God be with us
God we can almost taste your presence
Come let us celebrate the Prince of Peace Coming
Call to Confession: God knows us and loves us. Come let us confess ourselves to God.
Confession: God, sometimes it is hard to believe that you are with us. We confess that we are often more like Joseph than Mary. Ready to set things aside quietly, ready to avoid scandal, ready to believe to take the easiest path. Maybe Joseph was too ready to think that he was alone in the world. God remind us we are not alone, especially when we feel that way we pray. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon: God is for us. No matter what. No heights nor depths nor angels nor demons can get between us or God, so we know and proclaim the truth: In Jesus Christ we are Forgiven.
Prayer of the Day/Dedication: Love is love. God is with us not matter what. May we carry that in our pocket wherever we go we pray. Amen.
Hymns: Love that Wilt Not Let Me Go, O Come, O Come Emmanuel, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, God of Peace: To Silent Night,
With Children: Beauty and The Beast (probably any but check what happens to the sisters), Talk about how God transformed God’s very Self into a human being to be God with us, to turn us into even better versions of human–like Beauty loves the Beast
Please Support my Writing, I am Funding some of my Doctorate in Creative Writing as a Public Theologianthrough donations https://gofund.me/554d36e3 Thank you to all those who have donated, I have successfully completed 2 years thanks to your support.
Justice, Mercy & Light Extended Advent
Dec 11 Joy Candle
Light of Nations
Isaiah 42:1-9 Through Spirit bring Release to Prisoners
Matthew 12:15-21 Spirit of justice, fulfilling the prophecy
Psalm 146:1-10 Joy & Justice for All in Need
Luke 1:46-55 Magnificat
Call to Worship
God, what Joy is it when there is justice
God, your mercy is from everlasting to everlasting
Come let us worship Jesus, healer of nations
Come, let us worship our God
Call to Confession: How wonderful is it that we can bring everything to God? Come let us stand in the shadow of God’s care
Prayer of Confession: God, we confess that we do not understand your justice. It is foreign to us, completely different from human structures of justice and accounting. We confess that your mercy and healing and accounting makes no sense to us, and we spend far too much time trying to figure it out. When we could, instead, spend time sitting with Jesus. Why do we do that God? We confess we do not know. Teach us to spend time with you. Teach us to look for Jesus in unexpected places we pray. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon: Jesus forgives us, anytime, anywhere, always. Hear, feel, breathe the good news: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
Hymns: Live Into Hope, Lord I Wanna Be a Christian, I’ve Got Peace Like River, Blessed Assurance Jesus is Mine, Away in the Manger, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Magnify the Lord, To O Come All Ye Faithful
With Children: Aint’ Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around by Kirkwood, Kathlyn J. Or Justice Is by Preet Bhara Talk about Justice and What that really means.
Image Found Here
Please Support my Writing, I am Funding some of my Doctorate in Creative Writing as a Public Theologian through donationshttps://gofund.me/554d36e3 Thank you to all those who have donated, I have successfully completed 2 years thanks to your support.
Justice, Mercy & Light Extended Advent
Dec. 4
Esther Love Candle
Esther 4:1-17
For Such a Time as This, Esther was Made Queen
Matthew 5:13-16 Salt and Light
Psalm 89:1-13
Topical Prayer: Love, A Prayer for Such a Time as This
Call to Worship
God we need your justice
For such a time as this to light our way
When salt and light is not enough, Jesus we need you
Come, let us look for God
God we are looking for your love
Come, let us love God together
Call to Confession: God you call to your love in the good and the bad times. Come let ourselves to God
Prayer of Confession: God, we confess that it is hard to come to you in uncertain times. How can anything be worthy of love at such a time as this? Who can sort out there feelings in this mess? We want time, to clean up, to get things in order, to research, to know things. God, you remind us that you are the city on the hill, not us. You are the salt in our food, not us. Be our salt and light, and remind us that we are allowed to be a mess and still love we pray. Amen
Assurance of Pardon: Jesus comes in the midst of emergencies, full of grace, so we know the truth: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven, right now. Amen.
Prayer of the Day, Dedication: God, remind us the Grace does not wait, because we need its immediacy. Let us go forth full of grace we pray. Let it spill from our hands, our mouths and feet as we go, so that we may become the very embodiment of your love. May this be our prayer as we go about the world. Amen.
Hymns: We Are One In the Spirit, Here I am Lord, O Come O Come Emmanuel, I Love the Lord Who Heard My Cry, I Wonder as I Wander, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
With Children: Warm Fuzzies https://reenchantements.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/warm-fuzzy-tale.pdf Sharing Love vs. Hate in times of Trial
I feel its very important to note that we call Dandelion fuzz: Wishies in my family and also link “warm fuzzies” to dandelion seeds
Please Support my Writing, I am Funding some of my Doctorate in Creative Writing as a Public Theologianthrough donations https://gofund.me/554d36e3 Thank you to all those who have donated, I have successfully completed 2 years thanks to your support.
katyandtheword 
