Yes.  It's true what you heard.  Lady Gaga did worship here on Dec. 28, along with her boyfriend Taylor Kinney, of "Chicago Fire" fame.  They came to help celebrate a family member's baptism.  Some people who sat in the same pew with them only realized that they were here afterward, when the sighting got media attention.  There was no special announcement of their presence among us in worship.

Baptism is a reminder that we're all the same in God's eyes.  No one has celebrity status there.  The water of God's grace is available to anyone.  It's not something we earn or receive because of who we are or what we've done, but a free gift.

Still, it was cool to have someone famous here.  It certainly meant a lot to our musician, Liz Fulmer, who was thrilled to receive Gaga's word that she was "sensational" after she (Liz) played an original composition in worship.  Because we believe that the Holy Spirit is at work in our creativity, we love being a congregation that provides opportunity for artists to be heard and seen.

It was also fitting that Lady Gaga should worship at Grandview.  Her embrace of "outsiders" matches our own.  We're glad to be part of a network of "open and affirming" churches that have made a public, official statement of welcome to LGBTQ people.  We're always seeking to become a more welcoming place to more people.  After all, we are baptized people, recipients of God's unconditional grace ourselves.  You can read our welcome statement below.

We suppose another way to put it would be: All Little Monsters Always Welcome Here.

We wish you a blessed start to the New Year, and we invite you to worship with us.  You are guaranteed to meet some pretty amazing people here any week.  In fact, in God's eyes, you are already one of them.

Jesus Christ calls Grandview United Methodist Church to be a fully inclusive church, recognizing the sacred worth of all people, including those of every sexual orientation and gender identity.  We embrace those who are marginalized for any reason.  Grandview cultivates respectful discussion of differences among all who seek to love their neighbors.