Patriot Day
September 3, 2010
I just learned that 9/11 is officially now called “Patriot Day” by the government. I’ve also been getting a lot of calls to participate in various 9/11 Service Day events, stuff like “Hey, 9/11 sucked and we shouldn’t forget it, so why don’t you come help paint the church library?”
Now I’m all for community service, but there’s a big part of me that still gets bitter when people co-opt the WTC tragedy. 9/11 was a huge red-letter date in my life – I was there when it happened and I spent a year working by the pile alongside the construction crews, the police, the USAR folks, the firemen, and all the volunteers. For my 20-year-old self, it was both formative and traumatizing.
Now, nine years later, I’m kind of surprised to find that I still have resentment built up around that day. I don’t want that chapter of my life to be co-opted for patriotism. I don’t want it co-opted for ecumenism. I don’t even want it co-opted for volunteerism – it just seems manipulative. When perky activists start talking to me about the 9/11 legacy, I just want to say, “You weren’t there. You didn’t smell it. You didn’t see the bodies. You weren’t even in New York. You don’t have the right to appropriate that day.”
It doesn’t take a genius to recognize that this isn’t the healthiest of attitudes. I don’t own 9/11 any more than any one else does, and 9/11 is as good a reason as any to get a bunch of people out volunteering in their communities; it’s certainly be better than everyone staying home and being mopey in their rooms, which is what I usually do. So I’m going to go out and volunteer with everyone else. If anyone wants to join me, I encourage you to.
I’m never, however, going to call it “Patriot Day.”
What would Jesus eat?
August 22, 2010
j. Snodgrass, a Transmission alum, is getting press for a course he’s teaching on gastrotheology down in North Carolina.
“Jesus is known to us today because he captured the hearts of first-century Galileans and the best way to the heart of a first-century Galilean was through his stomach,” Snodgrass told the group as they ate.
You can read the entire article here.
Food has always been an important part of Transmission – there’s something truly sacred about a group of people gathered around a table eat a home-cooked meal. I wonder if we could do a Transmission series on food in the bible and in our lives?
Thistle Farms
August 20, 2010
Back in the day, we used to be pretty proactive with our justice work within the sex worker community, but we’ve kind of fallen away from that recently. This video of our sisters down in Nashville reminded me of our roots.
Watch the full episode. See more Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly.
Transmission moves to Tuesdays
August 16, 2010
Here’s hoping everyone had an amazing weekend, there have been a few wonderful changes of late that we would like to announce. First off we will be moving the meetings to Tuesday for the rest of the year in order to accomodate a very active member of the community, Isaac, starting a new job in Boston this week. Also in the spirit of trying new things we wondered, what if we try changing the day of the week we meet? So mark your calendars & spread the word for the rest of the year Transmission will meet every 1st & 3rd Tuesday of the month 7-9 pm.
Another Genesis Post
August 16, 2010
This one a little bit less gorgeous than the one put out by the Lutherans, but worth it for:
“No way!”
“Yah-way!”
Radical Living in the New York Times
August 7, 2010
Hey, everyone – our sisters and brothers at Radical Living got a nice little write up in the NYT. Check it out!
APARTMENT hunters always have a wish list of things that will help them call a new place home — doormen, laundry rooms, southern exposures.
But for some people, faith guides real estate choices. Instead of bay windows and an in-house gym, their must-have may be a kosher kitchen, a short walk to church, room to roll out a prayer mat or like-minded roommates.
Community mattered to Jason Storbakken, 33, and his wife, Vonetta, 36, who wanted to share their lives with other followers of Christ, and not just for an hour on Sunday morning. So the couple started Radical Living, a Christian collective, in 2007 in a Brooklyn brownstone they bought in 2001 for $180,000, first rehabbing it to the tune of $80,000. To find members, they began “targeted marketing,” Mr. Storbakken said, advertising for roommates on Christian Web sites.
Genesis told in sand
August 5, 2010
Augsburg Fortress is releasing a new Bible Study plan, and they’re accompanied by videos like this one:
I found it surprisingly beautiful and for more interesting than what I’m used to seeing in Sunday School curricula. Way to go, Lutherans.
Maundy Thursday / April Fool’s
April 1, 2010
Isaac Everett: I’m trying to think of ways to combine Maundy Thursday with April Fool’s Day.
Eric Thompson: “And Peter said to him, ‘Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!’” ought to about cover it.
Rare: Thursday Transmission
September 21, 2009
I know we don’t usually have Transmission on Thursdays, but we’ve been invited to lead worship for the World Student Christian Federation this Thursday. Since there are five Wednesdays this month and our next service won’t be until October 7, we decided to do it!
So please stop by this Thursday at 7pm, when we’ll blend the ancient practice of labyrinth walking with the modern practice of sidewalk chalk graffiti. Food will be had by all, obviously.
If you want to attend, please send an email and we’ll get you specific directions.
Psalm 1 – Alan Cooper
September 18, 2009
Dr. Alan Cooper introduces the entire book of psalms. Then he concludes the entire book of psalms. No really. Dr. Cooper is the Elaine Ravich Professor of Jewish Studies at the Jewish Theological Seminary and Professor of Bible at Union Theological Seminary.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Download Sheet Music | Subscribe via iTunes | Subscribe via XML