When I preached last Sunday I used Auburn’s resources to strengthen my message of God’s call to trouble the waters and heal the world. Here’s how the Auburn Web site helped me in my sermon and worship preparation.

To preach on the U.S. celebration of Juneteenth and the continued need to speak openly about racial justice and equality in all areas of life, I resourced Auburn’s Facebook and Twitter postings. This alerted me to the news of the week and how current events touch at a religious life of faith.
I watched Auburn’s recommended documentary clips on civil rights and heard personal stories that touched and inspired me. I’m still thinking about this new documentary about how the global church ended South African apartheid. I podcasted the StoryCorps story on segregation and reflected on how our faith calls us to risk, even in moments when we doubt that we are ready to create lasting change. I followed the links that Auburn recommended to outstanding Web sites that provided rich research into the history and mission of Juneteenth. All of these resource tools enriched my prayerful devotion of Luke’s Gospel text.
I created a sermon message and worship service that challenged the congregation to find their voice in their communities, offices and classrooms and let their faith guide them to respond to God more deeply and turn to their neighbor with love and mercy.

Resources for LGBT equality
June is officially recognized as Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month and the last Sunday in June is Gay Pride Day. Here are great resources on the Auburn Web site to help you plan. Experience the Stonewall Riot story from someone who was there by clicking here to this StoryCorps podcast. Are LGBT issues an underheard topic in your faith community?
Documentary film can invite in the other into a congregation and tell a story that might not have been heard any other way. Auburn Media recommends three documentaries that can help you learn more about being religious and being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered. Christian:  Fish Out of Water is a documentary teaching tool to engage Scripture that has been used to silence LGBT people of faith. Jewish: Trembling Before G-d tells the personal stories of Hasidic and Orthodox Jews who are gay or lesbian and how they reconcile their passionate love of Judaism and the Divine with the drastic Biblical prohibitions that forbid homosexuality. Islam: A Jihad for Love tells powerful stories of being a devout Muslim and being LGBT. Here are additional resources to help you in your planning.
Auburn recommends visiting these Web sites to learn the history of Gay Pride activities and how you can be a voice in activism in your community. Watch these clips of religious leaders who are forging bold new territory for in LGBT equality: Bishop Gene Robinson, Bishop Mary Glasspool and Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum here and here and Auburn's Religious Leader of the Week Bishop Yvette Flunder.  check out this blog from Rev. Irene Monroe.

Planning Ahead...
Looking ahead to next week: As our nation turns to July 4 Independence Day, how can we turn in gratitude to the freedoms we enjoy? How can we respond better to the freedoms still needed?

Don’t forget to follow Auburn on Twitter for religious news of the day and friend us on Facebook to track current events you want to know about. Looking for more ideas to help your religious community? Contact Auburn’s Associate for Media and Education, the Rev. Kellie Anderson-Picallo with any questions.