Then came the fun. Our theme for the night was “free gifts” and the free grace that we’ve been given through Christ. We don’t have to earn or pay for the love of God: salvation has been given to us through his son and our love for Him. So, in that spirit we brought each other gifts that cost us nothing and exchanged them. Each gift had its story, like Mabel’s Israeli soap (which she initially mistook for candy), Paul’s Bible Memory Match cards (random religious stuff- yay!) and Katie’s purple scarf (Who’d think Santa Claus would take the form of an Indian tailor?)

Afterwards, we held prayers for any of us who needed consolation and did a laying on of hands for personal healing.  My roommates came in just as we were laying our hands on top of people’s heads and praying: a few of us chuckled and then Paul, who was the one getting “layed on” started screaming out a chant and we all burst out laughing. Yup, we’re a weird bunch, but in all the good ways.

All of us are going through trials and changes. Though we know our blessings, we pray we can face our challenges with grace and faith, knowing that we have friends we can turn to along the way. 

Isaac announced that he’ll be hosting Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve get-togethers. So mark your calendars for those and keep reading the updates as they come in!

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Sing:
O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

Luke 1:5-25

Silence…

Sing:
O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

Luke 1:26-56

Watch:Blessed by Juli Allen and Jon Birch

Share Stories About Waiting

Sing:
O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

Luke 1:57-80

Waiting for the Miracle, by Leonard Cohen:

light candles while listening.

Sing:
O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

Mark 1:1-8

Postlude: Waiting in Vain by Bob Marley (performed by Annie Lenox):

A quiet, meditative evening to reflect on waiting… in silence and darkness, and waiting… for a miracle to come. ¬†We will read Luke Chapter 1 and selections from the Prophet Isaiah, interspersed with songs, silence, sharing, and activities.¬† Music ranging from O Come O Come Emmanuel to Coldplay.

Every year, we spend the three weeks of the advent season preparing for the birth of Jesus. For many of us, it’s three weeks in which all our demons ‚Äì loneliness, alienation, depression, financial hardship ‚Äì are amplified, felt all the more keenly, because many of them will follow us into the next year. The days get shorter, colder, and then‚Ķ December 25th, Jesus is born, just in time. We know the baby’s coming, bringing hope and joy, which makes the season more bearable. We also know that where all the hustle and bustle, terrible holiday music and pressure to buy gifts is concerned‚Ķ Well, as Jesus said, “This too shall pass.”

Today, I’d like to talk about some pre-Jesus depression, from when they didn’t know he was coming at all. Looking back, it’s easy to say that the signs were all there in what’s become the Old Testament, the stump and Jesse and whatnot, but it’s important to remember that the ‘shoot from the stump of Jesse’ in Isaiah 11 who would rule with righteousness had already been fulfilled in the kings Josiah and Hezekiah. Simply put, twas the time before Christians – no savior in sight.

Then came Jesus, more specifically Jesus Ben Sirach, who lived about two hundred years before Jesus of Nazareth (Jesus was a popular name, since the name ‘Yehoshua’ meant Joshua, the famous warlord who conquered twenty-one kingdoms ‚Äì this name would have risen in popularity as the Israelites themselves were conquered several times, and kept hoping that one of their offspring would rise up and start kicking some butt). Jesus Ben Sirach wrote the following passage about his blues:

Jesus Ben Sirach 51:7

They surrounded me on every side,
and there was no one to help me;
I looked for human assistance,
and there was none.
8 Then I remembered your mercy, O Lord,
and your kindness from of old,
for you rescue those who wait for you
and save them from the hand of their enemies.
9 And I sent up my prayer from the earth,
and begged for rescue from death.
10 I cried out, “Lord, you are my Father;
do not forsake me in the days of trouble,
when there is no help against the proud.
11 I will praise your name continually,
and will sing hymns of thanksgiving.”
My prayer was heard,
12 for you saved me from destruction
and rescued me in time of trouble.
For this reason I thank you and praise you,
and I bless the name of the Lord.

This may sound a bit like Jesus of Nazareth asking God why he’s been forsaken as he hangs from the cross. Unlike Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus ben Sirach was rescued by God, and lived long enough to write a book, which is in the Apocrypha section of the Bible.

The Apocrypha is a collection of non-canonical writings in the Old Testament. This basically means that when Israel fell under Greco-Roman rule, let’s say 4th century BCE, they were so concerned about Roman influence in their sacred scripture that they put a cap on it ‚Äì no more books allowed. Of course, books were still being written, including the Macabbees, a series chronicling how a group of Israelites actually did manage to kick out the Romans in 164BCE and keep them out for a century until 63BCE, when the Romans took over again.

One of the things the Romans did, when they’d returned to power, was to torture the Israelite leaders and holy-people. The following passage is from 4 Maccabees 6, the story of how the Romans tortured Eleazar. They set a piece of pork in front of him, and told him that if he would break the Jewish law by eating of it, he could go free, and become a good Roman citizen. Eleazar repeatedly refuses.

4 Maccabees 6:25-30 There they burned him with maliciously contrived instruments, threw him down, and poured stinking liquids into his nostrils. When he was now burned to his very bones and about to expire, he lifted up his eyes to God and said, “You know, O God, that though I might have saved myself, I am dying in burning torments for the sake of the law. Be merciful to your people, and let our punishment suffice for them. Make my blood their purification, and take my life in exchange for theirs.” After he said this, the holy man died nobly.

This was a very sad time for the Israelites, and the Romans were still in charge when Jesus of Nazareth came into the picture. What’s fascinating about this passage about Eleazar, is that this is the first time in Hebrew literature that someone would offer his life as a blood sacrifice to save others, another theme that would become very important when Jesus came around.

Lastly, one of the youngest Old Testament texts that actually did make it into the canon, although it was probably written at about the same time as Jesus Ben Sirach, was the book of Daniel.

Daniel 7: 9 “As I looked,
“thrones were set in place,
and the Ancient of Days took his seat.
His clothing was as white as snow;
the hair of his head was white like wool.
His throne was flaming with fire,
and its wheels were all ablaze.

10 A river of fire was flowing,
coming out from before him.
Thousands upon thousands attended him;
ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
The court was seated,
and the books were opened.

Daniel 7:13-14 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

What holds these three texts together is the sense of expectation. The feelings and expectations of the Israelites can tell us about what they were looking for in a savior. Of course, only a small group of Israelites actually thought that Jesus was the savior they’d been waiting for, but those who were versed in the literature would have recognized the signs: The son of man would come to earth with a new understanding of how to view God ‚Äì as a parent ‚Äì and would sacrifice himself to save others.

In this dark time in Israelite history, we can see the hope for something better, for a savior to come and help people out of their depression. As we prepare for the holidays, and deal with the stresses and depressions they bring, it’s important to remember that renewal is always just around the corner, and the child who brought hope then can still bring hope now.

Transmission, PONY, $pread, and friends teamed up this April to plan Easter at Avalon, which celebrated the role of Mary Magdalene in Christian and Sex Worker history. This Monday, we’ve been invited to stand together again.

“December 17th is the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers. Join $pread and SWANK (Sex Worker Action New york) on Monday for a candlelight vigil to honor and mourn the sex workers who have died this year and raise awareness of the violence faced by our community. Current and former sex workers, friends and allies all welcome.”

5-7 pm (Bowie will be there at 5). On the steps of Judson Memorial Church, 55 Washington Square South, New York, NY. Wear red or bring a red umbrella.

Wednesday, Dec 19th – Transmission: Lessons & Carols

Five days before Christmas, come sing carols and listen to lessons that tell us the story of Advent and Christmas! The service of ‘Lessons and Carols’ has been celebrated since the late 1800′s and we will be sure to include some processing around, incense, and a bidding prayer to add extra cheer.

There are nine lessons and nine carols. Please email bowie at epiphany.ny@gmail.com if you would like to read a lesson, re-write a lesson (or do some other creative rendition thereof), accompany a carol, or do a performance of one!

Cookies, treats, dinner items, beverages, plus your friends & loved ones are most welcome! Location TBA

BAZAAR – looking for Christmas gifts? Buy a subscription to $pread Magazine: Illuminating the Sex Industry. Or check out Thistle Farms. Thistle Farms products are made with the most natural products available whenever possible. Magdalene is a recovery community for women with a criminal history of prostitution and addiction. Thistle Farms is a non-profit business. All proceeds go directly to the program and the women.

In the spirit of Advent I thought do a little research on the topic of giving, beginning with a familiar scene ‚Äì three wise men, guided by a star, coming to give gifts to the newborn Jesus in a manger. Except that the three wise-men are in the Gospel of Matthew and the manger is in Luke. Matthew’s Jesus was born in a house.

And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh. Matthew 2:11

So in the spirit of giving, I decided this year I would “give-a-damn” about these treasures of the magi. I mean, Gold‚Ķ Gold‚Ķ The word “gold” appears in the Bible four hundred and thirty times. But I don’t think we need Biblical passages to tell us what makes gold so special. Suffice to say, Religion and Gold have had a long love-hate relationship, going back as far as anyone can remember.

But what about Frankincense and Myrrh? Nowhere does the Gospel say “they gave him gold‚Ķetcetera‚Ķ” or “gold‚Ķand various other substances.” No, we’ve got to assume that first century Christians knew exactly what was meant by Frankincense and Myrrh, probably from the Torah. And there they are in the book of Exodus.

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Take the following fine spices: 500 shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much of fragrant cinnamon, 250 shekels of fragrant cane, 500 shekels of cassia‚Äîall according to the sanctuary shekel‚Äîand a hin of olive oil. Make these into a sacred anointing oil‚Ķ Anoint Aaron and his sons and consecrate them so they may serve me as priests. Say to the Israelites, ‘This is to be my sacred anointing oil for the generations to come.’ Exodus 30:22-25;30-31

So Myrrh, it turns out, was the active ingredient in YHWH’s own secret sauce. And amazingly, the recipe can be found right there in Exodus, although most modern conversion charts do not list shekels and a hin.

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Take fragrant spices‚Ķand pure frankincense‚Ķ and make a fragrant blend of incense‚ĶIt shall be most holy to you. Do not make any incense with this formula for yourselves; consider it holy to the LORD. Exodus 30:34,35,37

So Frankincense and Myrrh were both ingredients of sacred incense. Myrrh was used to consecrate priests, and Frankincense to bless sacred spaces, which makes a lot of sense to have around when a righteous child is born (especially when that child is born in a barn).

by j. Snodgrass, December 2007

NARRATOR : Five blind-folded people are put in a room with an animal and asked to identify it, based on their sense of touch. One says it’s a donkey, for it has a donkey’s tail. One says it’s a snake, for what he holds is a long, writhing tube. Another says it’s a bat, not knowing what she holds is actually an ear. Others offer different answers, each is certain they’re right. But when the blindfolds come off, they realize that none were fully correct – they’ve been describing different parts of an elephant.

The elephant in question today is Jesus. More specifically, the birth of Jesus as described, or not described, in the four Canonical Gospels. And we’re very fortunate today to have the Gospel-writers with us. Admittedly, none were actually present at the birth of Jesus, nor did any of them know him personally. But perhaps they can shed some light on the great Nativity Mystery. They’ve asked to be called by their pen-names, since they’ve forgotten who they really were. So please allow me to introduce Mark…

MARK : Shalom.

NARRATOR : Matthew…

MATTHEW : Greetings in the name of Christ the king.

NARRATOR : Luke…

LUKE : Down with the system.

NARRATOR : And John…

JOHN : The Father is known to the Son who is known to the Father.

NARRATOR : Thank you. So, we’ve brought the four of you together today because we’re interested in learning about the birth of Jesus. Two of you have written different accounts of this, and two of you skipped it. To get us going, I’ll re-cap the story we usually use around this time of year. Wise-men were guided by a star to Bethlehem, and beneath the star they found a baby lying in a feeding-trough in a barn. Some shepherds were there with their flocks, and the wise-men gave gifts…

MATTHEW : Wait a minute. Let me get this straight. You’re telling me that Christ the king…was born in a barn? With shepherds around him? You’ve got to be joking! No. Jesus was born in a house – maybe not a castle, but definitely not a barn. And there were no shepherds. He was greeted by wise-men from afar bearing gifts worthy of a king!

LUKE : What? Get over yourself! Jesus was a prophet. He came to bring good news to the poor – he wasn’t concerned with kings. It was the lowly shepherds who came to honor him. And this nonsense about a star… It was a choir of angels that appeared to the shepherds!

MATTHEW : Sounds like someone here hasn’t been doing their homework. Great kings are ALWAYS born under a star.

LUKE : I didn’t say he was a king. I said he was a prophet sent to overthrow the system.

MATTHEW : But what about his ancestry? Joseph was descended from David, Solomon, Josiah – all the great kings!

LUKE : Says you. I agree that he was related to David, but not Solomon. No, Jesus came down from David’s other son, Nathan, through a line of workers, to Joseph.

NARRATOR : Um, if I may… I thought Joseph wasn’t the father.

MARK : And who cares anyway where he was born? Or who was there? The important thing was what he said. The message.

MATTHEW : Yeah, but he has to have been born. And that’s important to the story.

LUKE : I agree. The birth of a great man tells us a lot about who he’ll grow up to be.

MARK : It might, IF we actually knew anything about his birth. Which we don’t.

JOHN : You’re all fools.

NARRATOR : …Would you care to elaborate on that?

JOHN : Christ is the Word. THE WORD!

NARRATOR : The word..?

JOHN : The Word, who in the beginning was with God, and was God. Through the Word, the Christ, all things did come into being. You can ramble on about the earthly birth of some child, but you miss the whole point. The Christ is eternal, from beginning to end. His brief appearance in the flesh was just to clear up some of the confusion between people like you.

MARK : …You’re crazy.

JOHN : The end of time shall prove me right.

MARK : Yeah. In the meantime, if anybody sees some bananas lying around, I think they must have fell out of his tree.

NARRATOR : And so the confusion continues. There were many gospels circulating in the early years of Christianity. Manuscripts of about twenty have been found, and early Christian writers make references to others which are completely lost to us. Four were chosen for Canonization, probably by Irenaeus, who explained, as there are four corners of the Earth, so there shall be four gospels, no more and no less. The four he selected were chosen based on his belief that they were most likely eye-witness accounts, written by followers of Jesus.

Recent geographical studies have proven that the Earth does not, in fact, have four corners – it seems to be some sort of revolving ball. Recent scholarship has proven that none of the Gospels were written by first-hand witnesses of Jesus. In all likelihood, the earliest Gospel- the Gospel of Mark – was written over a generation later, meaning that everyone who’d been alive in Jesus’ time was dead, and everyone who had known them was getting old too, so it was time to set down some of the stories before they passed out of existence. Matthew and Luke were based on Mark, adding sayings from another source. The Gospel of John was probably set down a hundred years or more after the death of Jesus – three generations later, in a time when most people only lived to be thirty.

This does not mean, however, that there is no truth in the Gospels. We live in an age of facts and figures, which can make it difficult to find meaning in Truths from another time. But it’s important to remember that numbers can mislead, photographs have a point of view, and even eye-witness testimony won’t always tell what really went down. Five blindfolded people describing the elephant. The Gospels give us a view into the hopes and dreams, the glorious expectations of the early Christian community, as they took on the sacred task of putting the miraculous into words.

Practically speaking, I love how appropriate it is to the season of the year. A festival of light and dark in a time of death and expectation. A pregnant time of awaiting the birth and coming of Christ as the days dwindle and another year draws to an end.

What do we know of the baby-boy Jesus, the “reason for the season”? That he was humbly born in occupied Israel two thousand years ago. That he is with us still today and that each year we yearn anew for his return and reign of love and peace.

O come, thou Dayspring from on high, and cheers us by they drawing nigh; disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death’s dark shadow put to flight. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

This is also a time of going out into the world, of reaching out to loved ones and going visiting! I have spoken to family members this week on the phone, visited sick friends, and had my house church community over for dinner.

This week’s Transmission ritual that involved lots of arts and crafts. I’ve included two of our Advent calendars here. Other people made wreaths of fresh cut branches and crocheted string, chain-link calendars, and other inspired works with their hands.

Best of all, we gathered once again into a community, as we do week after week, year after year, believing that when two or three of us gather in your name, you are there. Jesus, our Christ, we are glad to travel with you through the year and to prepare for your return.

* Advent “Arts & Crafts” Stations.  Make Wreaths!  Calendars!  Collage!  And More.    
* Read a part in jSnodgrass’ short skit – “Nativity Mystery: The Elephant in Question”
* Come Sing “O Come O Come Emmanuel” (beautiful, ancient, haunting hymn…)

Please email if you need directions to Bowie’s apartment. 
Cookies, drinks, dinner side dishes, and RSVPs welcome!