Throughout his teaching and ministry, we encounter Jesus as a vulnerable guest, a needy stranger, and a gracious host. Jesus both welcomes and needs to be welcomed. In this way, when we are hospitable to the needy stranger, we do so with the awareness that we may be showing hospitality to Christ. And when we receive hospitality from a stranger, they give it knowing that they may be showing hospitality to Christ too.

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In ancient times, hospitality was regarded as a pillar on which the world's moral structure rested. It is an important theme in scripture, central to the gospel story. In the New Testament, we encounter Jesus as a vulnerable guest, a needy stranger, and a gracious host. The teachings of Jesus enrich and challenge our modern definitions of hospitality, inviting us to see it as a spiritual practice.

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The Song of Mary and the Song of Hannah remind us that God's call to prophecy, service, and leadership is not limited to cisgender men. The songs of Elsa, a character whose story is decidedly queer, suggest something similar. Reading these stories together can help us understand how essential it is to respond to our calling.

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The Bible tells us that when Jesus was baptized, he heard a voice from heaven declare, "This is my Son whom I dearly love." In the story of Jesus' baptism and temptation, we see the triumph of vulnerability over toxic masculinity and the beginnings of a found family that can survive temptation and thrive as their authentic selves.

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Even before he was immortalized in musical theater for his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (TM), Joseph's story has so many points of connection with the experiences of Queer folx. Come "draw back the curtain" and hear his story again. Lofter and drag performer Elliot Handloser joins Pastor Molly this week for a second week of our Pride month "We Have Always Been Here" series.

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The way we read the Bible is filtered through the lens of our experience. Our interpretive lens determines what we do and what we do not see. This Sunday, we begin our Pride month sermon series by learning how a queer hermeneutic can help us to see what has always been there.

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Join us for a special Loft conversation with clergy women who have been connected to Westwood, including Bishop Dottie Escobedo-Frank, Bishop Mary Ann Swenson, Rev. Dr. Sharon Rhodes-Wickett, Rev. Jane Voigts, Rev. Dr. Natalie Houghtby-Haddon, Rev. Kathy Cannon, and Rev. Blair Stowe.

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What does it mean for us to grow in Christ-likeness? It is Pentecost Sunday, and we will end our series on the Holy Spirit by examining the third function of the Spirit - inspiring us to develop the mind of Christ. This Sunday, we are also celebrating Youth Sunday and Confirmation in The Loft! We will celebrate all of our young people who went through the confirmation process, and after worship, we will celebrate with a taco lunch just like the early Christians did.

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The Holy Spirit is the implanted hope that continually moves us to live the Christian life, the Way of Jesus. In addition to reconciliation, a section function of this movement is found in our vocation. This Sunday we will be joined by Reverend Rae Huang. She is a community organizer, ordained Presbyterian minister, and actively engaged in Los Angeles politics. We will discuss how her vocational path has always been in response to the Spirit.

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The Holy Spirit is the implanted hope that continuously moves us to practice living the Christian life, the Way of Jesus. One function of this movement towards God is that we are restored to a right relationship with God by grace and through faith. When we choose to go with, rather than against, the momentum of our souls, we step into the Divine flow of love that restores our love for our neighbors and ourselves.

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