Submitted by Rev. Durrell Watkins

World AIDS Day
December 1

As I look back over the history of AIDS, I am filled with pride to be part of Metropolitan Community Churches. MCC was there from the beginning to hold the hands of people others refused to touch. We offered pastoral care, prayer, hospital visits, and memorial services when other churches refused to acknowledge the crisis, or worse, when some dared to preach that a virus was actually divine retribution against same-gender loving people. MCC, through it all, affirmed the sacred value of all people, encouraged people to hold on to hope, and believed that divine Love was greater than AIDS.

Decades have passed, and there is still no cure. But we do have hope. We have treatments. And we have our memories of loved ones who died too soon of a disease that has taken too many.

Tonight, in the chapel at Sunshine Cathedral, we will honor those who bravely faced the worst days of the AIDS crisis. We will give thanks for the medical advances that have been made. We will be glad for those who can expect to live long, full lives even with HIV. We will express hope that AIDS will one day be cured.

AIDS isn’t over. But MCC is still here. And tonight, your MCC will pray once again for all who have and who ever have had HIV/AIDS.

Pastor Durrell+