“If you really knew me you would not love me”. I have heard this many times in my life, especially as a Pastor. And I think there are times that many people may feel this way. A young person said it to me recently as she made some career oriented decisions that upset her parents-and angered them. It is a feeling of “not enough” or even “not acceptable” or “self-doubt” or even self-hate or at least discomfort. Yet, because of the feedback often received by LGBTQIA folks the sentiment is sometimes hard for us to shake. We may doubt the goodness that we are and are meant to be as others, often religious others trying to quote the Bible, or even family members and friends struggle with our gayness.

When I first came out, as late as in my thirties, my best friend would not speak to me for over two years. Finally we talked and she was able to become her usual loving and loyal self again. My dear Mother was also hurt by the news and felt it may be “her fault”. Yet, assured nothing is wrong with me, she too went on to love me as she did before. I follow a Gay Chat list on Facebook and I am so often in pain by the stories of others who finally risked coming out and faced total rejection. And yet I am heartened as the many gatherings and shows on PBS, and parades, and the positive sharing of so many tells us that being who we are, being gay, is also a source of pride. Pride, not boasting- but Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Diversity and Excellence-PRIDE as our hallmark. And so I want to say as we come to the end of PRIDE month, God truly knows us and loves us- and that is all we, and our detractors, need to know. I will share here some of my favorite Scriptures affirming that our loving God knows and loves us fully.

Psalm 139

I remember my 16th summer, long before I connected with who I was, aside from being a Christian who was called to follow Jesus from my early years. The teens who attended Summer Church School taught the younger grades in the morning and had our own class in the afternoon. We studied Psalm 139 all summer with a faith filled man named Hugh Thomas. The words and the spirit of that Psalm filled our lives and made it possible for me to deal with difficult times to come in my early thirties when, after ten years of marriage, I discovered that I would love both men and women in my life.And, if there really is a continuum of sexual orientation and loving I would slide over to loving women with all my being. This earned me painful rejection from some of my fellow Christians, one, a beloved leader from my youth, who said to me that I could not love women and remain a Christian and definitely not be a Pastor. The Pastor we both loved told her strongly that she was wrong, but the hurt lingered on almost until she passed and thought better of what she said. And yet, I knew all along that she was wrong. I know the love of God in Christ and it has made all the difference. So I will share some of the words from the Scriptures that helped me to know this here. There are so many affirmations of God’s love and knowledge of us but I will share my favorites here: Psalm 139; Matthew 10: 28-32 and I John 4:7-8.

Psalm 139: 1: “Oh Lord, you have searched me and known me…” went the words of Psalm 139 in the King James Version we studied.

Or in The Inclusive Bible (TIB): “YHWH you’ve searched me and you know me….You are intimate with all my ways. A word is not even on my tongue, YHWH, before you know what it is….(you are) shielding me with your hand. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,a height my mind cannot reach!

“….You created my inmost being and stitched me together in my mother’s womb. For all these mysteries I thank you–for the wonder of myself,for the wonder of your works–my soul knows it well…. How precious your thoughts are to me, O,God! How impossible to number them!…but suppose I could, you would still be with me!…. guide me in the way that is eternal”.( 139:1,4,6,13-14, 17-18, 24).

How wonderful it is to know that our Creator God fashioned us and knows us from the womb -to the tomb! And, knowing us intimately, is with us to the very end- such is God’s love for us. ALL of us without exception.

And Jesus said:

” Are not the sparrows sold for pennies? Yet not a single sparrow falls to the ground without your Abba God’s knowledge. As for you, every hair of your head has been counted. So don’t be afraid of anything –you are worth more than an entire flock of sparrows”. Whoever acknowledges me before others,I will acknowledge before Abba God in heaven… (Matthew 10:29-32).

How wonderful it is to think God , the Creator of the cosmos and of us has even the hairs on our heads numbered-knows us that well..and loves us even more. I love sparrows, all birds and all creatures great and small. But as the love song says: “I love how you love me!” Dearest God, I love how you love me, and ALL of your children no matter how different each one is.

I John 4: 16-18,21- What is love? Who is love?

” We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God,and God in them….there is no fear in love, for perfect love drives out fear….anyone who is afraid is still imperfect in love. We love God because God first loved us. If you say you love God but hate your sister or brother, you are a liar….If we love God we should love our sisters and brothers as well- we have this Commandment from God. ”

Indeed Jesus said, summarizing the Law and the Prophets in Matthew 27:37-40- Love God with all of your being and love your neighbors as yourselves. And that is the commandment John is citing here.

Let us not be afraid– let us believe the Holy Scriptures and let us hear Jesus and affirm that our loving God knows who we are and loves us fully-we are KNOWN and LOVED. My brothers and sisters, gay and straight and anywhere in between, we are known and we are loved. If anyone has a problem with that it is indeed their problem. And, yes, we will love them too.

I am so happy that I have lived most of my life now with women of deep faith who loved me and served God with me. Such love is the most beautiful gift and I thank God for it, and for them and their love.

THANKS BE TO GOD!

Bless you as you grow in love,

HAPPY PRIDE MONTH !

Pastor Judy Lee, RCWP

Rev. Dr. Judith lee, Good Shepherd Ministries, Fort Myers, Florida

6/28/2023

On June 24, 2023, we congratulated Carmella Cicirelli who was ordained a Roman Catholic Priest in Westland, Michigan! She was a Deacon with the Great Waters Community and our blessings and prayers rest with her as she takes this step of faith and courage and responds to God’s call to serve as a Priest.

By July of 2023 Roman Catholic Women Priests will have ordained 5 new priests and 5 new deacons throughout the United States. All are well prepared and well educated for their duties. As of now, 3 priests and 5 deacons are already ordained this year. We are on a roll and nothing can stop us now. We have almost 290 members world wide since our beginning on the Danube river in 2002. ( Please see https://www.romancatholicwomenpriests.org/). More are on their way. Women are being chosen by their faith communities to serve them as ordained clergy. Women are called and women are ready,and women are being blessed with the support of their communities.

These are the women who have responded to God’s call and their community’s call thus far this year:

Priests: Eileen Mary Matley ordained on June 4, 2023 in Urbana, Illinois, and Carmella Cicirelli ordained today, June 24, 2023 in Westland, Michigan, both of the Great Waters Roman Catholic Woman Priest Community. Susan Russell also of Great Waters will be ordained a Priest on July 8, 2023. Bishop Mary Keldermans presiding.

Andrea Grace Weaver of the ARCWP Community will be ordained a Priest on July 22nd in Lincoln , Mass. Bishop Bridget Mary Meehan presiding. Amina Wolf of Northern California was incardinated on June 4, 2023, RCWP Bishop Jane Via Presiding. .

Deacons

Mary Pretorius Murphy was ordained Deacon on April 16, 2023 in Weston, Massachusetts. Bishop Jean Marchant of the Eastern Region of RCWP was presiding.

Karla Jenson was ordained a Deacon in Los Gatos , California of May 6th, 2023. Bishop Suz Thiel was presiding.

Susan Knapp and Adina Myer were ordained Deacons on June 4, 2023 in Northern California, Bishop Jane Via presiding. And Andrea Grace Weaver was ordained a deacon on June 10th in Lincoln, Mass with ARCWP Bishop Bridget Mary Meehan presiding.

We offer our deepest blessings and Congratulations to these courageous and called women who are now ordained clergy in the roman Catholic Church.

Saluting Some of Our Priests

We have the opportunity to recognize some of our priests each month. This month, we

wish to salute Rev. Josie Petermeier for her priestly service and for the financial services role she has so well and selflessly offered to RCWP. While this is a behind the scenes role, we could not function without it! And we also offer her love and prayers as she battles with cancer.

We recognize the years of faithful Priestly service of Rev. Marty Meyer-Gad and we join her in her hope that one day there will be no need for priests as the laity will carry on all tasks given our equal call to love and serve Christ Jesus.

We also recognize the priestly service and service as an ARCWP Bishop in Colombia, South America of Rev. Olga Lucia Alvarado. She has been a priest since 2010.

We especially thank + Rev. Suzanne Thiel, Bishop, for her careful record keeping and her passion for promoting RCWP over the years. I am indebted to her for this and for the information in this report though I am totally responsible for its content. I ask all of you who read it to pass it on- YES, there are women who are Roman Catholic Priests, and YES, we are growing and continue always to love and serve God’s people.

May our Loving God Bless and Keep you,

Pastor Judy Lee, RCWP

Rev. Dr. Judith Lee, Pastor The Good Shepherd Community in Fort Myers, Florida

June 24, 2023

On June 24, 2023, we congratulated Carmella Cicirelli as she was ordained a Roman Catholic Priest in Westland, Michigan! She was a Deacon with the Great Waters Community and our blessings and prayers rest with her as she takes this step of faith and courage and responds to God’s call to serve as a Priest.

By July of 2023 Roman Catholic Women Priests will have ordained 5 new priests and 5 new deacons throughout the United States. All are well prepared and well educated for their duties. As of now, 3 priests and 5 deacons are already ordained this year. We are on a roll and nothing can stop us now. We have almost 290 members world wide since our beginning on the Danube river in 2002. (See http://www.romancatholicwomenpriests.org ) More are on their way. Women are being chosen by their faith communities to serve them as ordained clergy. Women are called and women are ready,and women are being blessed with the support of their communities.

These are the women who have responded to God’s call and their community’s call thus far this year:

Priests: Eileen Mary Matley ordained on June 4, 2023 in Urbana, Illinois, and Carmella Cicirelli ordained today, June 24, 2023 in Westland, Michigan, both of the Great Waters Roman Catholic Woman Priest Community. Susan Russell also of Great Waters will be ordained a Priest on July 8, 2023. Bishop Mary Keldermans presiding.

Andrea Grace Weaver of the ARCWP Community will be ordained a Priest on July 22nd in Lincoln , Mass. Bishop Bridget Mary Meehan presiding. Amina Wolf of Northern California was incardinated on June 4, 2023, RCWP Bishop Jane Via Presiding. .

Deacons

Mary Pretorius Murphy was ordained Deacon on April 16, 2023 in Weston, Vermont. Bishop Jean Marchant of the Eastern Region of RCWP was presiding.

Karla Jenson was ordained a Deacon in Los Gatos , California of May 6th, 2023. Bishop Suz Thiel was presiding.

Susan Knapp and Adina Myer were ordained Deacons on June 4, 2023 in Northern California, Bishop Jane Via presiding. And Andrea Grace Weaver was ordained a deacon on June 10th in Lincoln, Mass with ARCWP Bishop Bridget Mary Meehan presiding.

We offer our deepest blessings and Congratulations to these courageous and called women who are now ordained clergy in the roman Catholic Church.

Saluting Some of Our Priests

We have the opportunity to recognize some of our priests each month. This month, we

wish to salute Rev. Josie Petermeier for her priestly service and for the financial services role she has so well and selflessly offered to RCWP. While this is a behind the scenes role, we could not function without it! And we also offer her love and prayers as she battles with cancer.

We recognize the years of faithful Priestly service of Rev. Marty Meyer-Gad and we join her in her hope that one day there will be no need for priests as the laity will carry on all tasks given our equal call to love and serve Christ Jesus.

We also recognize the priestly service and service as an ARCWP Bishop in Colombia, South America of Rev. Olga Lucia Alvarado. She has been a priest since 2010.

We especially thank + Rev. Suzanne Thiel, Bishop, for her careful record keeping and her passion for promoting RCWP over the years. I am indebted to her for this and for the information in this report though I am totally responsible for its content. I ask all of you who read it to pass it on- YES, there are women who are Roman Catholic Priests, and YES, we are growing and continue always to love and serve God’s people.

May our Loving God Bless and Keep you,

Pastor Judy Lee, RCWP

Rev. Dr. Judith Lee, Pastor the Good Shepherd Community in Fort Myers, Florida

June 24, 2023

As Christians- Christ followers- we ponder on what “being a Christian” and “loving justice” means in our lives and we know that those who follow Judaism and other religions also seek to live just lives. In following the commandments of Jesus, “to love God with all of our beings “and “to love our neighbors as ourselves” (Matthew 22: 37-39) there are two critical themes. One is to attend to justice-that if we truly love our neighbors- all of them everywhere- we will work to make sure that all are treated with full equality and justice. And, we also need to open to loving all of God’s marvelous creation. For God’s love is for all of creation-all living things and the total beauty of the earth. And, this brings us great joy!

The Psalms are wonderful as they often capture all of the themes that guide our lives.

Psalm 33 begins:

“Sing out your joy to YHWH, you who love justice-praise is fitting for loyal hearts….Sing God a new song….everything God does can be trusted. YHWH loves justice and right and fills the earth with love” (The Inclusive Bible TIB: the First Egalitarian Translation) .

We note that the Hebrew people were hesitant to call God by any proper name as doing so is so powerful that it is a “God-perogative” to call by name. So some older translations say “the Lord”-“Rejoice in the Lord…” while the one I used above uses YHWH, the Hebrew acronym for God. Still another translation by Nan C. Merrill “Psalms for Praying: An Invitation to Wholeness”, 2008, Continuum) uses the word Beloved or Love for God: “Rejoice in the Beloved, O you holy ones!” I do prefer to call God Beloved and Love and I recommend Merrill’s book of Psalms to you. But the important thing is not the name but the essence of the God who loves us, and what this God asks of us.

As Psalm 33 says above: “YHWH” 0ur God, loves justice and right and fills the earth with love.” How wonderful is that! Yet, we look around and also see injustice and evil. The King James says instead of “fills the earth with love” “the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord”. Indeed, we can see and feel goodness and love all around us and all around the world. But we also can see and feel the evil and injustice everywhere. We see that most of the world’s resources are still lodged firmly in the hands of a very wealthy few who do not really share it. And we see the greed of those who have and yet want more, but not to share with those who do not have. We see the poor blamed for being poor so the wealthy can feel justified in hoarding most of the wealth. We see nations where this is the rule and people escaping to go to where they can make a living, yet are sometimes stopped at the doors and not let in. We see so-called Christians and religious others keeping the wealth to themselves and not really addressing how to spread it around so all may eat, all may have shelter and all may live.

Indeed the first church discussed in Acts shared all goods and “no one was poor”(Acts 2:44-45). Not so these days, at least in the major and dominant Christian churches. Now we emphasize belief and not actions. When we do teach and preach on actions it is a nice Sunday Sermon- for we still do little to share the resources that we have-as churches and as individuals who attend them. When we do this, as individuals we are at least on the road of creating the kingdom of God that Jesus preached about here on earth. So, indeed if we all lived this truly sharing kind of love it could make a difference.

Take Care of God’s People

Psalm 33:12 says “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord”(KJV) or “Happy is the nation whose God is YHWH (TIB), or “Blessed are all people who respond to Love’s Way”( Merrill translation). Indeed this Psalm reminds us that to be happy in God as nations and as individuals we need to love and revere our loving God and also “respond to Love’s Way”. We need to LIVE the commandments of love. We need to LIVE Jesus and to Live Love’s Way. That is to work to make sure everyone has what they need to live, especially the basics of food and shelter, and clothing, and love. We are clearly to welcome the poor person and the immigrant and praise God with and next to him or her. That is our job as those who hear the words of God in the Psalms, the Scriptures, Hebrew and Christian ,and the words and life of Jesus.

Take Care of God’s Creation- Of all Living things

And, we are to also take care of God’s beautiful creation. In Genesis we are put in charge of the earth: “”God blessed humankind and said “…Fill the earth and be responsible for it!…Watch over all living things on the earth….” (Genesis 1:28 TIB). Psalm 33:6-9 (TIB) says ” By your word, Yhwh, the heavens were made, by the breath of your mouth all the stars. You gather the seas together and control them, putting the Deep into its vault. Let all the earth revere YHWH…” and “Through Love Consciousness the heavens and earth were created….All creation, from the distant stars to the depth of the seas, Is held together by the Oneness of Love” (Merrill Translation). Indeed then, we are to thank our God of love for this world and do all we can to care for all of God’s people and creation. We are to ask God to teach us to love as God loves.

There is so much pollution and lack of care for the environment that climate is changing as it never has before. We must attend to our air, our water, our forests and our seas that are becoming full of plastics. There are so many species that are in danger of disappearing from the face of the earth because of our greed. Once again elephants are in danger as we plunder them for their ivory, for example. And our animal shelters here are full of abused and neglected and unwanted pets. Yes, some are there because people who loved them died or became ill but so many more are there because no body cares. One of my friends , Carol Schauf, volunteers in an animal shelter. It is a good one where animals are lovingly cared for until they are adopted. Yet, there are other shelters nearby where animals are killed for overcrowding and for the least thing that justifies the word “unadoptable”. The same pet if sent to the no-kill shelter would be adoptable until adopted. Recently a local government official suggested money be diverted from shelters to parks and recreation as pets the shelter could become a kill shelter and save money. I was heartened to see the uproar about this and the plan was shelved. Indeed, this was a good example of caring for God’s creation. My cousin Jackie Marion gives a good part of her life to publicizing animal issues in shelters- if she could all would be adopted and she fights for this. Another good example of caring for God’s creation- to care for those who can not speak for themselves, right here in the USA and world-wide. Below is Pippa, adopted by my friend and neighbor Doris from our local shelter.

So our beautiful Psalm today tells us about God’s love for God’s precious people and God’s creation and it asks us to do the same. Perhaps you can look around your world and see how you can do this . Our Psalm asks us to sing a new song and to sing to God with joy. God loves justice and fills the earth with love. Let us do the same with joy. Let that joy be the joy of helping those who do not have, both human and animal and caring for the earth itself -for this is Love’s Way.

Love and blessings Pastor Judy Lee,RCWP

Good shepherd Ministries, Fort Myers,

June 23, 2023

Happy Father’s Day: Reflections of a Roman Catholic Woman Priest

Today I am thinking of all the wonderful and special men who have been fathers to me throughout the years. There are my Uncles, Jack, Warren and Jule who were my fathers as I was growing up. I lived in our family home with my Grandma and Mother and with Jack and Warren, and Jule visited regularly. I loved and looked up to each very different Uncle. My own Dad, Albert Carl Beach, left my Mom and me when I was two and I did not meet him until many years later. I will include a poem about him here from my book, The Flame Keeper And Other Poems (2007). So this is also written for those who were devoted fathers but not biologically and for those fathers, biological or not who made mistakes and did not parent until a later time. And especially for fathers who loved and did their jobs and inspire us-like Bobby Robinson (picture at end) Pete Lee, and Mike Marion and Mike Chester who exemplified the very fathering of God to their children and to us.

There are the Pastors of my youth in Brooklyn, New York- Pastor Dave Ver Nooy and Pastor Mel Williams who loved, friended and guided me from early years until my later years and Father Al Jaenicke, our priest in Hartford Connecticut who lived up to the name of “Father” for all of his varied congregation. Excerpts of their poems will be included here. I also had a wonderful male teacher in the fifth grade, Mr. Arnulfo Chisari who helped me discover my mind and my gifts and was the kindest of men. Mr. Eugene Shapiro in the eighth grade also served this important role. I was so blessed with all of these teachers and guides.

So this is for all men who fathered children not their own, the Uncles, Cousins, Pastors, Priests, teachers,coaches and friends who stepped in and filled the role better than anyone could, blood or not. And it is, of course, for all the women who had to be father and mother to their children, like my own beloved Mom who made me feel I could do anything for good in this world-and so I did!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

This is for my missing “dead-beat Dad” who came through in the end.

Below is an excerpt from a poem about Pastor Melvin G. Williams who was truly a most beloved “father in Christ” to me from my early teen years in the late 1950’s when we met until he passed in 2000 to spend the Millenium with his beloved Jesus. I was one of a few white and Asian kids in a mostly African American Bethany Methodist Episcopal Church where each one of us were treated by our Pastors, one white, Dave, and one black, Mel, and all of the church members as their precious children and youth. I am ever thankful for Bethany and all who touched my life there. I became Roman Catholic in the late 1980’s and will also include my poem about Father Al Jaenicke here. St. Michael’s Parish in Hartford, Connecticut was so much like the Bethany of my youth in all the ways that counted- in diverse caring people and in sound theology and its application that I was delighted to join that Congregation.

ON PASTOR MELVIN GARFIELD WILLIAMS

Pastor Mel

Across time and space. …….”

FATHER ALFRED JAENICKE

Father Al, as we called him, was the priest and Pastor for a large mostly African American and Hispanic Roman Catholic church in the North end of Hartford, Connecticut. His love and caring for his diverse congregation was the love a father has for his precious children- it showed what our loving God was like in human terms. Like the Pastors of my youth, he wore himself out serving his people. He was ill when he retired to go to Brazil and serve with a friend in the mid 1990’s and he went home to his loving Father a few years later and before my ordination to the priesthood in 2008. Yet, I know he would have encouraged me and my then life partner Judy Beaumont whom he loved as a sister when she became a priest many years later, in 2012. We served the people with him and were always inspired by him. The Shelter for the Homeless where Judy administered and served was on the same grounds as St. Michael’s Church. Before we got together Judy lived in the former convent on the grounds as well. Sadly, the Diocese has closed St. Michael’s down. There it still stands, empty except for the memories, a light to the community now darkened. But I will celebrate its humble and wise priest here. And so many will always remember the Christ-light we can still see through those windows.

I have been a priest for almost fifteen years now. The call and the road to answering it came later in my life. But, I often wish I could still talk to Father Al about our church. Yet I know he is smiling on us from heaven and still guiding me. When I grow up, I want to be like him!

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY TO ALL who love and serve God’s people and to all who have fathered us into life.

AND A SPECIAL Happy Father’s Day to my beloved Cousin Bobby Robinson, Jule’s son, who is father to our extended family now!

Love and blessings,

Pastor Judy Lee, RCWP

Good Shepherd Ministries, Fort Myers, Florida

June 18,2023

Summer Musings

Summer is a time for something different. The breezes blow, the sun shines, sometimes way too hot, and the rain falls, usually gently and refreshes the day. Here in Florida, summer is much longer, yet it also passes from us quickly as the years go by. It is often a free time for those who are students or teachers in academia. As a Professor of many years, and a student as well, I learned to cherish and love summer. Though my academic days are over, and my “pastoring” work and duties are never over, I still love summer. So I thought I would present a different kind of writing here: poetry–my own and that of others. There is a fleeting sometimes startling beauty in poetry, like that of summer. We must grasp it gently and firmly, or it is gone too soon.

The following poems are from my book The Flame Keeper and Other Poems, Judith A.B.Lee, PublishAmerica, Baltimore, 2007). It is out of print now and I will be sharing some of the poems on this blog this summer. The first poem is about keeping the flame of relationships alive over time. Relationships are precious. They change over time but do not lose their original shine in our lives. We are charged with keeping the flame alive.

May we all work at being flame keepers so cherished people in our lives are not forgotten or lost. Be the first one to mend any rifts-. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” asked Cain of God in Genesis 4:10. Indeed he was, and indeed we are charged to care lovingly for our brothers and sisters-all of them, ALL of them. People of all cultures, colors, incomes, sexual orientations and identifications, languages, politics, persuasions, and appearances. God loves all people deeply and fully, and we, too, are to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 29:39-40).

Welcome to Summer Dear Friends

This one was written in my twenties and that is a long time ago. Yet, I remember every exhilarating minute of these bike rides near Canarsie Bay in Brooklyn, New York. And now I cherish my trips to Fort Myers Beach only 20 minutes away where I can experience this joy all year, but especially in summer.

The picture below is at Coney Island, in Brooklyn, New York…always my home.

HAPPY SUMMER To ALL,

Bless you and keep you,

Pastor Judy Lee, RCWP

Rev. Dr. Judith Lee, Good Shepherd Ministries- Fort Myers, Florida

June 16, 2023