A paper fan landed on his head. “Do I ever lie, Paul? This girl’s gotfashionandstyle.What’s that you're wearing, hon? Ralph Lauren?”
Thelma glanced at her sundress. “I’m not sure,” she admitted. “It’s from a thrift store.”
“Well, you have a great eye for style. Your hair is fantastic.”
“Absolutely gorgeous,” Liz said. “How do you get your hair like that?”
Thelma didn’t think twice about getting sucked into this conversation. “Curlers. Big ones. The old-fashioned kind,” she quickly amended. “You have to sleep with them in.”
“Just like my Ma used to!” Paul exclaimed. He then demonstrated how his mother used to sit. “Cigarette in one hand and coffee in the other, as she sat in her big pink bathrobe at the kitchen table. Dad used to yell something fierce to see her in her mud mask, too!”
While the others laughed, Thelma perused the brochures and sign-up list advertising something called the “Evangelical Lutheran Church in America,” which she had never heard of before.
“What size are ya, hon?” Liz asked.
“Oh! I… don’t know. I don’t wear a lot of T-shirts, but…” She squared her shoulders and actively projected confidence. “I’d love one.”
“How about a medium?” Liz handed Thelma a shirt. “Always a good place to start.”
“Thank you.”
“Have you heard about us?” Paul pointed his pen toward the runner hanging from their table. “We’ve been a staple of the area for over forty years. We’re always looking for new members who might be looking to get back in touch with their Christian spirituality. Wetotallyunderstand that many members of the LGBT community have had bad experiences with other churches, but we’re…”
Thelma interrupted him. “I just can’t believe the Lutherans are here.”
The three members glanced at each other, the drag queen’s fan slowing its movements.
“Lots of people here, hon,” she said. “Got some Methodists behind us.”
“Episcopalian friends just a few booths down,” Liz said.
“And, of course, we can’t forget those silly billies at the Unitarian-Universalist church!” Paul exclaimed. “But of course they’re here. They’re one of the biggest church sponsors.”
“It’s just…” Thelma tucked one of her loose curls back over her shoulder as she picked up a pamphlet that focused more on the church’s community service than any depiction of Jesus. “The last Lutheran church I was a member of was much like the one I grew up in.” She flipped to the other side, which featured pictures of beautiful stained glass windows and a schedule of services, including in Spanish. “Not very welcoming of people not like them. Even though many of us were Democrats who believed in Christ’s teachings of not judging others and devoting ourselves to service toward our fellow men.”
“Oh, honey, I grew up in one of those, too,” the drag queen said with a hefty sigh. “Except they were Baptist. And in Texas.”
“There have been a few schisms over the years,” Paul gently explained. “But we follow the teachings set forth by ELCA, which isveryinclusive to those of all walks of life.”
“That’s right,” Liz continued in his stead. “We believe that God made you the way you are for a reason. And it’s not our duty to tell you that it’s wrong. Christ loved everyone. In our church, salvation is found through faith and service. The rest is between you and God. We’re just here to provide community and help you with any questions you might have.”
“She’s being modest,” Paul said. “Pastor Liz here has one of the biggest Lutheran congregations in the county!”
While Liz blushed and told him he was being too much, Thelma gaped at her, a new breeze fluttering both her hair and skirt.
“You’re the pastor?” she asked the person who was very clearly a woman.
“Yes! I am. But I try not to advertise that too much.” Liz pushed her shoulders up toward her ears. When Thelma looked closer, she saw some wrinkles on that brow and a little mole on Liz’s nose. “What can I say? It was a calling.”
“I’ve just… I’ve never met a female pas… I didn’t know it was poss…”
Was Thelma losing her breath? Or having a panic attack?
“There are more of us than you might think! What’s your name, sweetheart?”
Thelma folded the brochure back up and remembered her manners. “Thelma. Thelma Van der Graaf.” She held her hand out to Liz, who quickly applied some sanitizer to hers before shaking Thelma’s.
“I’m Liz, Thelma. It’s a wonderful pleasure to meet you.”
