On March 31, 2024, many Christians will celebrate both Easter and Transgender Day of Visibility. Both days are equally important to many of us, especially in a year when so many laws are being targeting the rights of transgender people and when bullying is becoming the norm in schools across the nation. If you worship in an affirming church, here are a few verses you can add to your favorite Easter hymns or some litanies you can use in your congregations. Credit for all writing goes to Chris Pepple, but these may be used without requesting permission.
Palm Sunday Litany
“Hosanna, loud hosanna!”
all the people called
as they stood together in joy
welcoming their friend, their teacher,
their Shepherd, their Way.
We were the ones who called
out to be saved
before we turned on others
and asked for their arrest.
We were the ones waving palms
before we began to wave fists
at any we deemed unworthy
of entering our places of worship.
Save us from our paths
that have led us away from
the words of welcome,
the words that cheered
the one who taught us to love.
Save us from our laws
that lead us to shout
“Segregate and crucify the ones
we consider different!”
Save us from our own
unwillingness to remember
the community Jesus built
when he looked past the mores
of the religion of his day and
instead looked into the eyes
of the people who had forgotten
they were loved.
Let us once again stand together
in this nation and in this world
and call out in celebration
as we embrace the love
that came into our midst
so long ago…
to embrace the person who taught love
and offered hope and spread joy
and flipped tables and fed the people
and healed the hurting.
Let us stop the cries to crucify
and the cries to divide.
Let us stop the fear of otherness
and see that we are
better together.
Let us learn from history
and see that our story
can end with beauty
and hope and love
leading the way.
And the children sang
their praises and said,
“Let hope come today!
Hosanna to the One
who taught us that
loves leads the way!”
***
Easter Litany
When Jesus rises
God also calls our names
and boldly proclaims
“Rise up!”
Rise above the lies
that try to strip you of
your dignity…
Rise above the hate
that tries to bind you to
their splintered crosses…
Rise above the fear
that tries to toss you
in their graves…
You are an Easter people
loved beyond understanding,
offered hope beyond worldly limits,
given community to build tables
for all to join…shared tables
that join us in conversations
that unite rather than divide,
that bring understanding
rather than a litany of someone’s
self-defined transgressions,
that bring healing to the brokenness
and love to the hurting
and peace to all in the land…
May we remember to echo
the Easter words of hope,
“Rise up! You are seen!
You are loved! You are worthy!
You belong!”
**
Rise Up
Rise up, rise up!
Because Jesus is risen,
you, too can, rise up!
Because Jesus loved,
we can love,
because Jesus overcame
the fear, the hatred
and the lies
that entombed him,
because he rose
from the dark room
they banished him to,
we, too, can overcome and rise up.
Rise up, rise up!
Because Jesus is risen,
you, too can, rise up!
Jesus rolled away the stone
meant to forever keep him
from the people he loved,
from the community of believers,
and he has given us his Spirit
to roll away all barriers
that divide us and try to keep us
from God’s people and God’s table.
Rise up, rise up!
Because Jesus is risen,
you, too can, rise up!
Rise up! Rise from the grief and sorrow
of the events meant to destroy us.
Rise up! Rise from the barriers meant
to separate us from the glory of Easter morning!
Rise up! Hear the community of believers
call your name as they run
to the garden to find you!
Rise up! This victory is yours to embrace!
Rise up! You are loved, you are worthy, and
you have a seat at the table Easter morning
and forevermore.
Amen.
**
Love Lives
I love so many people I meet along my way
I know that hope is living, whatever foes may say.
I see the hands of mercy, I see new hope again,
and just when all seems lost in life, I see love win.
Love lives, love lives, love lives today!
Hope walks with us and carries us along life’s broken way.
Love lives, love lives, equality is near!
You ask me how I know love lives—I see it in us here!
**
( for Christ the Lord is Risen Today)
All our hope is rising today
Al-le-lu-ia
Reconciling voices all can say
Al-le-lu-ia
Transgender people, we do see
Al-le-lu-ia
Standing together with love for thee
Al-le-lu-ia
***
(for Easter people, raise your voices)
Easter people, raise your voices
words of love worldwide should ring
God has shown us loving choices
reconciling words, let us sing
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Transgender ones, I hear your name!
**
(for The Strife is O’er, the Battle Done)
Strife is still with us, the battle isn’t done
Equality for all isn’t yet won
But the work of hope has surely begun…
The hands of bullies have done their worst
put the power of love has dispersed,
let shouts of hope and peace outburst
**
Transgender Day of Visibilty
Today let’s all rise up and
celebrate visibility for the ones braver than those
who deny you,
stronger than the ones
who want you to hide,
more loving than the ones who
seek their own self-interests…
I see you
I love you
I stand with you
I march for you and with you
because you are undeniably real,
you are co-creators of hope
and designers of joy
and light bearers in this world
as you carve the path for your
own belonging through the rock walls designed to deny you your rights,
but you go forward
with strength and with love
and I see you.
—Chris Pepple @2022
**
To be read by a transgender person or a group of transgender people:
This We Say
Yesterday, today, tomorrow…
we have been among you
we are with you now
we will always walk this Earth…
we are the engineers and architects
helping to build your world,
the artists adding beauty…
the teachers leading a new generation…
the visionaries creating
what tomorrow will need…
we are beloved children
thankful for all fighting for change…
we are the strong ones
finding a way forward through pain…
we are the financial wizards on Wall Street
and leading performers lighting up the screen…
we excel in our field,
earn our way into the boardroom
and medicine and law,
dance every Pride,
write our stories,
compose new operas
and the latest rap hit
and know how to rock the night away…
we design the latest fashions
and love
and cry
and experience joy
and feel the sting of your words
and love anyway…
This we say…
we are transgender
and we are here to stay…
—Chris Pepple ©2023
chrispepple 
You must be logged in to post a comment.