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Essence in Abstract

Sarah — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 23:29:06 +0000

At our last planning meeting, we spent some time talking about the essential elements of Transmission. As our worship community continues to evolve, there are some aspects that are essential to its character; we don’t want to lose them. Here is our list. What are essential elements of your worship community? Let us know what you might add or take away from our list in the comments.

Creativity
User-Generated Content
Food
Un-Dogmatic
Defining Your Own Participation
Intimacy
Welcoming / Inclusion
Personal Spiritual Journey
Transmission Shows Up / Support
Music
Gender Inclusive Language for God
Christian-based
Free

Summer in the City

Sarah — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 23:18:46 +0000

Here is our list of upcoming Transmission events for the summer. We meet at 7pm on the first and third Wednesday of each month. Please click on Contact to join our email list and receive announcements with addresses and directions for our events.

Wed July 7: host-Isaac, cook-Isaac, Patrick, Violet, ritual-Dan and Amber – we will be blessing Katie, Issac, and Patrick’s new apartment
Wed July 21: host-Dan, cook-Dan, ritual-Bowie
Sat July 31: planning meeting, location TBD

Wed Aug 4: host-Mabel, cook-Isaac, ritual-Patrick
Wed Aug 18: host-Johannes, cook-Violet, ritual-Isaac
Sat Aug 28: planning meeting, location TBD

Wed Sept 1: host-Patrick, COOK AND RITUAL NEEDED
Wed Sept 15: host-Sarah, cook-Mabel, ritual-Johannes
Sat Sept 25: planning meeting, location TBD

Good Friday

Sarah — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 14:02:56 +0000

Transmission will be celebrating Good Friday this evening by remembering the seven last words of Jesus in seven different locations throughout lower Manhattan. All are welcome to join us. We will be meeting at 6pm at the Winter Garden and will begin the service shortly thereafter. If you would like to come, please bring headphones and, if possible, an mp3 player (such as an iPod, etc).

Passover vs. Holy Week

Dan — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 13:50:07 +0000

On 3/28, several Transmissioners attended the Interfaith Seder, sponsored by Faith House. It was quite a lovely event, well-attended and well-prepared. One thing came to me upon reflection that I wanted to discuss with you, a fundamental difference between the traditions that I hadn’t realized before. In the Jewish tradition, the Exodus is a story of the Jewish people, and it seems to unify as it reminds the people of their history, and of the God who delivers them. Holy Week varies in that we are not celebrating the history of our people. We are remembering the history of ONE person, and it is not a history that we can exactly share. When rabbis tell the story of the exodus at synagogues, they are telling the people their own story, but when priests get up at church this week, they’ll be telling the story of a far more enigmatic character. Although Christian, I don’t feel like Christ’s death is MY history.

So there seems to be a fundamental difference in the sentiments being created by these two remembrances. One tells a people their shared history of survival through the will of God. The other tells a people of the survival of their God, in SPITE of the will of the people. Strange, huh? Both reveal that God is more powerful a force than death and oppression, but in very different ways… Anybody else have any thoughts on the difference between these two?

Maundy Thursday / April Fool’s

Isaac — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 17:37:08 +0000

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.

Sunday Rituals

Sarah — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 16:12:24 +0000

Usually when we talk about ritual in Transmission, we take it pretty seriously. We talk about it in a formal sense, as a performance that transforms someone or something from one state to another, as a space that creates community, as a moment where the usual boundaries can break down. It’s big and dramatic. It’s a wedding, a communion, a house blessing. It isn’t brushing your teeth. That, we like to say, is a habit and not a ritual.

And yet, I find myself thinking a lot these days about that habitual kind of “ritual.” The small and homely kind. Brushing your teeth, reading the paper, kissing someone good night and good morning. It seems to me that these things that we repeat – week by week, month by month, year by year – transform us too. They give shape and order to our lives. They make us into the people that we are becoming.

As the calendar rolled over to 2010, my brother and his girlfriend stayed with me for a couple of days. On Sunday morning over a leisurely breakfast, they pulled up their Sunday websites to share with me: PostSecret and the New York Times Weddings & Celebrations. As we looked over shoulders, the silence was punctuated by sighs, laughter, and the occasional groan. I was moved and surprised. My brother and his girlfriend are completely secular people, and yet their Sunday rituals still carry a sense of setting time aside for something special, sacred even. They bear witness to other people’s secrets. They share in other couples’ joy.

It made me think about my own habitual rituals. Are mine transforming me into a person of empathy, compassion, and joy? Do they shape me into the person that I would like to become? I’ve joined my brother and his girlfriend in reading secrets over Sunday breakfast, and added a dose of dance and poetry. Then I go to church, for the healing of the ritual and the shaping of the habit.

Advent celebration tonight

Sarah — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:10:14 +0000

Transmission begins our celebration of Advent tonight. In this season of pregnant women, Isaac will be leading a ritual to explore our understanding of Mary, the mother of Jesus. We’ll be meeting at Patrick’s place and Mabel will be cooking. If you need directions, please contact us.

Rare: Thursday Transmission

Isaac — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 23:11:21 +0000

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

Isaac — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:35:26 +0000

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.

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Isaac — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 04:19:55 +0000

Hey, Transmissioners~

This week we’ll be joining up with our brothers and sisters at Radical Living, a very cool intentional living community in bed-stuy for food, worship, and fellowship.¬† Our worship will focus on transitions, callings, and mid-career crises of faith.¬† The folks at Radical Living are very cool, and seeing what they’re up to will be well worth your time.

We’ll meet at 7pm at 622 Marcy Avenue, Brooklyn, NY. The closest stop on the subway is probably Myrtle-Willoughby on the G train. For those of us who live in Upper Manhattan and other far-flung places, make sure to leave enough time to get there.

Finally, out of consideration for our hosts, please send me a note if you intend to come so I can give them an accurate headcount.

See you then!