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03/24/2025

Today’s blog

Lynn Murphy Mark

A bookend day 

One of the things I look forward to on Sundays is going to church. I have attended a series of wonderful spiritual communities, so going to services is really a self-care activity. Jan and I recently joined Parkway United Church of Christ, about 2 miles from our house. We have started going to church together, something that hasn’t happened for a number of years. 

Yesterday we set off to meet a friend who has attended with us a couple of times. She likes the friendly atmosphere and the message that comes from the pulpit. P.U.C.C. is a progressive congregation, not afraid to call out wrongdoing in our government. Our Pastor, Kevin, delivers a calm and concise message about living in the world as Jesus would have us live. He doesn’t name names. He doesn’t launch into a political diatribe. He merely reminds us what our obligations are to each other and to the world.

We met our friend in the foyer. As we were greeted warmly by congregants we found our way to seats in the sanctuary. I don’t know what we each expected from yesterday’s service, probably just to hear Kevin’s wisdom. What actually transpired had us transfixed. Yesterday was Transgender Visibility Day at church. In honor of that concept, four different parents went to the lectern and told us about their trans kids. They spoke of the challenges and the beauty of this life path. Tears were shed as each parent spoke of the process of loving acceptance that is required in order to support a child who is making these decisions. 

At the end of the service we sat quietly for a few minutes, absorbing the joy and pain that we had witnessed. In the foyer we sought out some of the parents who had spoken, telling them how moving and powerful their stories are. One Dad is a big guy who gave hugs to anyone who approached him. He had spoken so lovingly of his daughter, and how her 94 year old grandfather had immediately accepted her significant change. I cried as he spoke.

As if this wasn’t enough to fill up a day, I had made a decision to attend an “Indivisible” meeting that started at 4 o’clock. Indivisible is a grass roots organization of citizens who believe the following: “Our democracy is under threat. But we will not yield to fascism. We will stand together and we’ll fight back in defense of our rights, our communities, our values. Join us.”

A very friendly woman has opened her home to the usually weekly meetings. There were 20 of us sitting around her living room. As a new person I mostly listened as people talked about the activities so far. One couple has been going every Saturday morning to peacefully protest at the Tesla dealership. The part that concerned us all was when the wife talked about the need to be aware of our safety when we attend events. She said that if anyone stepped off the curb, there were cars driving slowly by that would suddenly pull towards the curb. No one was actually injured, but the intent of the drivers was clearly an effort to scare away the protesters.

There was also talk of a nationwide protest on April 5^th. It is a National Day of Action called “Hands off!” . That is a message to politicians: Hands Off our government! There are still details to be worked out but it seems that this will happen in downtown Saint Louis, near the arch. Next weekend’s meeting is a poster-making meeting. I will be out of town, but I will definitely take a new friend with me on April 5^th. I won’t have any trouble finding a place to park because my workplace is right by the arch and I have a park card into a secure garage. 

There is also an effort afoot to send postcards to voters in Florida and New York who are about to elect congress people to spots vacated by 47’s appointments. It’s a long shot that Democratic candidates will win, but why not encourage people to get out and vote? 

The meeting lasted over an hour, and I felt hopeful. After all, Bernie Sanders and AOC are sparking huge rallies around the country. There were 34,000 people in attendance in Denver this weekend. There is some talk of Bernie and AOC coming to Saint Louis. I hope that happens. I will be there if it does.