Shane Goldie, the youngest currently serving ordained minister in the United Church of Canada (UCCan), has spoken about his identity describing himself as a Two-Spirit and queer individual while pondering on his connection to McDougall United Church, where he was initially ordained about two and a half years ago.
During the gathering, Goldie went further to offered the audience what he described as a “queer glitter blessing,” which he alleged he brought from the Pride in Spruce Grove, Alberta. His alleged blessing focused mainly on love, joy, identity and acceptance, particularly for queer people who have or currently experiencing any form of rejection or pressure to hide who they truly are.
He as well prayed that those who had been made through any means to feel like mistakes or burdens would instead recognize themselves as sacred and wonderfully made. He also used glitter as a symbol of light, describing it as a reminder that even a small sparkle can brighten a weary world.
Goldie concluded by blessing diverse bodies, names, pronouns, identities, relationships, dreams and personal journeys, while celebrating both the love people give and receive.
In His Words
As the youngest current serving ordained minister in the United Church, as a Two-Spirit and queer individual, as someone who was ordained in this MacDougall United Church two and a half years ago, it feels quite a huge honor to be here in front of you all and seeing some familiar faces and friends.
One thing I get to do is offer a blessing.
This is a queer glitter blessing that I brought from our Pride in Spruce Grove, Alberta.
So Holy One, Creator of color, courage, laughter and light, bless us with a love that refuses to be hidden and a joy that cannot be contained.
Bless every queer heart that has ever been told to shrink, to soften, to apologize or disappear.
Remind us that we are not mistakes to be corrected, problems to be solved, or burdens to be carried.
We are sacred, and we are wonderfully made.
We are living reflections of your boundless creativity.
May glitter rest upon us like holy stardust, catching the light and reminding us that even the smallest sparkle can brighten a weary world.
May it cling to our clothes, our skin, our sanctuaries and our spirits as a joyful sign that your love cannot be washed away, silenced or confined.
Bless our bodies in all their diversity.
Bless our names, our pronouns, our identities, our relationships, our dreams and our becoming.
Bless the love we give and the love that we receive and the love we are still learning to offer ourselves.
