We put blinders on horses so they won’t be distracted and startled. What happens when we come to worship with blinders on? They might keep us comfortable, but whenever we close off other parts of God’s creation, we’re closing off parts of ourselves; we’re not open to the possibilities that God has for us.

We already have an existing connection with each other. We have in common our love of God and God’s love for us. Worship provides the context where we can celebrate that connection.

We can never be the whole church as long as we isolate our transgender and gay sisters and brothers. We can never see our whole selves until we welcome them.