Welcome all you Lavender heathens who have separated yourselves from organized religion or from your spiritual roots due to discrimination or rejection because of your sexual preference. We are here for you! You are loved, accepted and not separate from God. Let us, together, reconnect and regain the lost part of us that lifts us and gives us hope. Let us again celebrate peace and joy, and our God given rights! Let no one or institution put us asunder, as we too, are worthy Children of God!

Scriptural Empowerment Focus for this Month: Peter was made head of the Church because he was one of the original 11 disciples to first see Jesus Christ after the crucifixion, or was he? Read Mark 16 or Matthew 28 or John 20:11-18. Mary Magdalene was the first, and she too was a close disciple of Christ:

Mary was with several other women, returning to the cave where Jesus Christ was quickly lain to rest for the Sabbath. A huge stone was placed in the mouth of the cave to protect Jesus Christ's body from being stolen by thieves. It was now first morning after the Sabbath and they were returning with herbs and wraps to properly bury him. They found the stone rolled away. And there sitting was an Angel. The Angel told them that Jesus had risen and no longer in the place where they had laid him. The Angel told them to go and tell the other disciples that Jesus had risen and would see him again in Galilee. As Mary was leaving, she saw a Gardner, who turned and spoke to her. At first she did not recognize him, but soon thereafter realized it was Jesus, her Master....

From Matthew 28:1 And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.8 And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.10 And she went and told them (the disciples) that she had been with him, as they mourned and wept.11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Women in the Bible - This Month's Focus: Mary Magdalene, who was she?

Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. Some say she was Jesus' mistress. Luke 18:2 tells us that Jesus came across Mary while healing the the infirm and those suffering from evil spirits; Jesus cast 7 devils out of Mary. She became a disciple of Jesus. She loved him dearly and went everywhere with him. In John 12:3, at the last supper, she washed his feet with expensive oil despite protests from the other disciples who don't want her to waste expensive oil. She stayed by his side, unto the end. Mark 15:40 tells us that Mary was one of the women who stayed near Jesus while he was nailed to the cross until he gave up the ghost. After Passover, she was the first to see and believe in the resurrected Jesus. Mary truly loved Jesus and was loyal to him, unto death and beyond. Mary demonstrates the power of unconditional love and faith in Christ.