Upcoming Events
February 9, 2010
Lent is fast approaching
and Transmission has it covered. See below for our current plans for Lent, Holy Week, and Easter.
Wed Feb 17: host-Caleb, cook-Caleb, ritual-Katie. This Ash Wednesday, we will be making ashy soap for use throughout Lent. See our post from last year for more details.
Sat Feb 27: Planning meeting at a cafe TBA
Wed Mar 3: host-Mabel, cook-Katie, ritual-Johannes
Wed Mar 17: host-Elaine, cook-Dan, ritual-Isaac. We will be blessing Elaine’s new home and celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.
Sat Mar 27: Planning meeting at cafe TBA
Wed Mar 31: Planning meeting at cafe TBA
Thurs Apr 1: Maundy Thursday with St. Lydia’s?
маси и столовеFri Apr 2: Stations of the Cross around NYC?
Sat Apr 3 – Sun Apr 4: Easter Vigil? We had a very successful vigil last year, and we are searching for a space for our Easter ritual redux. Let us know if you have ideas about churches that might be willing to host an 8-hour Easter Vigil.
Wed Apr 7: game night, host-Mabel, cook TBA
Wed Apr 21: host, cook, ritual TBA
If you would like to come to any of these events, get on our mailing list by clicking on the Contact link. We hope to see you soon!
“The Perfect Getaway”: Winter Retreat ‘10 Recap
January 17, 2010
On Friday night, seven brave warriors from the Transmission church ventured far from the safety of New York City to the wild woods of Marlboro, NJ, otherwise known as “Spaciousville.” Staying with the lovely Godbehere family, (how can a believer go wrong staying with Godbeheres?) we seven entered a state of grace, joy, theological debate, sports, hiking and madcap tomfoolery that lasted long into Saturday morning until our departure Sunday back to the relatively mild environs of New York City.
The warriors: Ula, Johannes, Isaac, Sarah, Paul, Mabel, and me.
Highlights from the trip: Friday night ritual at First Presbyterian Church of Matawan. We explored the different uses of the church space, the narthex and entryway, the nave, chancel and sanctuary, all spaces for different ingredients of worship. We rocked to some music around the piano, and shared a holy communion of a more blue collar style, cranberry juice and Stroehmann’s Multi-Grain bread. (Photos to come.)
2.Holmdel Park On a gorgeous Saturday afternoon, this place seemed like heaven. Between the arboretum, the open fields, the ponds, hills, trails and farm animals, I felt the presence of God. As well as of the Von Trapp family. Who are always welcome.
In all seriousness, though, this was a wonderfully organized retreat thanks to everyone’s contributions. I know we say we’re a leaderless group, but Isaac and Sarah really stepped up to the plate in coordinating our work together. Our reflections on 1 Thessalonians, on the opening praise and closing appeal of Paul to the Church at Thessalonica, made for stirring discussions. We talked about our anger about the tragedy in Haiti and God’s perceived inaction, and the readings led to a great closing ritual for us on Saturday night.
We each stepped up to the pulpit and delivered what we were grateful for in Transmission, and what we would appeal to each other to do to strengthen and maintain our community. Then we praised God for each member of the group and what they have brought to us as part of our church. Sarah’s quiet steadiness. Isaac’s love and honesty. Johannes’ joyful curiosity. Paul’s outspokenness. My anger and determination. Ula’s fearlessness. We thanked God for the gift of each other and went home grateful partners in faith.
Finally, on Sunday morning, we led the Children’s Chat at First Presbyterian Church, the talk with the kids, mostly under 10 years old. The scripture reading was Jesus’ miracle at the Wedding in Cana, where he turned water into wine. We re-enacted the miracle for the kids by giving them water and pouring in instant Crystal Light packets turning it rapidly into a dark pink lemonade. Then we told them that God in their lives could be just like that powder, turning what seems ordinary into something precious. I think the kids got the idea, although some said the Crystal Light lacked flavor. Hey, we ain’t Jesus, li’l guys. So drink it and LIKE it!
Our next meeting is this Wednesday at Johannes’ house for dinner and a movie night. I’m not sure how theological or completely ridiculous the film will be: however, if you come, you will have a vote! Call Johannes if you have any questions, and see you then.
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!
Vigil at Varick St
July 8, 2009
Hey, Transmissioners!
This Friday, we’ll be joining a bunch of other emergenty, house-churchish people downtown for a vigil, witnessing for justice for non-documented immigrants and other marginalized people. Afterwards, we’ll probably go out for beer. You should come!
Join with others concerned with the plight of the immigrant as we stand in solidarity with immigrants and native-born during the monthly Vigil on Varick Street, located in front of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Detention Facility in lower Manhattan.
Members of the Catholic Worker, the New Sanctuary Movement, Families for Freedom, Radical Living, Justice For Our Neighbors, Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice, and various individuals and congregations throughout the city join together the second Friday of every month to pray, sing, and stand vigilant for our brothers and sisters who are behind bars, across the border, and who suffer under the weight of unjust immigration laws.
More than 400,000 people a year are detained by immigration officials in the United States – including undocumented immigrants, legal immigrants who run afoul of the law and asylum seekers who come fleeing persecution. Immigrants can be detained for months or years without any form of meaningful review of whether their detention is necessary, and 84% of detainees are unable to obtain the assistance necessary to present viable claims in an adversarial and complex court process.
Many members of Congress have called for Comprehensive Immigration Reform, and now is the time to be present and to call for a just immigration policy.
"’When foreigners reside among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigners residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God." Leviticus 19:33-34.
It’s a Ritual Revue
April 24, 2009
At our retreat on Holy Saturday, Transmissioners decided to begin having an organizational meeting once a month to review the rituals from the month. Tomorrow, Saturday, April 25, is our first meeting. If all goes well, we will be having this review and planning meeting on the last Saturday of every month from 2-4pm. Our Transmission rituals will remain on the first and third Friday of each month from 7-9pm.
If you’d like to take a look behind the scenes and learn more about planning rituals, reflect on your liturgical experiences, or debrief and decompress from the month, please join us. Email for directions! Hope to see you there.
Easter recovery tomorrow
April 16, 2009
Happy Easter! Most of our Transmissioners are all ritualed out after our 8 hour Easter vigil. We’re recovering with a movie night at Dan’s house tomorrow, April 17, at 7pm (email for directions).¬† Come for food and fun. See you there!
Featuring Emergent Church leaders Tony Jones, Doug Pagitt and Mark Scandrette
When: Friday, August 1 at 7:00pm
Where: Marble Collegiate Church, 5th Ave between 29th and 30th
Bowie is going and would love to see you there!
FACEBOOK Event – sign up and invite your friends!
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 15 May, 2008 — A biodiesel-fueled RV loaded with three of the most outspoken emergent church leaders and authors will crisscross the country this summer in “The Church Basement Roadshow: A Rollin’ Gospel Revival.“ The tour featuring Tony Jones, Doug Pagitt and Mark Scandrette will hit thirty-two cities across the U.S., with a message that combines old time revival flair with a 21st century gospel. They’ll preach, sing and sell healing balm in church basements from San Diego to New York.
Jones, author of The New Christians: Dispatches from the Emergent Frontier; Pagitt, author of A Christianity Worth Believing; and Scandrette, author of Soul Graffiti: Making a Life in the Way of Jesus, are part of the emergent movement, a decade-old phenomenon of pastors, missionaries, artists, theologians, authors and “regular people” who are rethinking church and Christianity for a globalized world. Controversial for their “nothing is too sacred to be questioned” doctrine, Jones, Pagitt, and Scandrette have acquired many fans and critics based on their writings.
“This summer will be a defining time,” says Pagitt, “As we take our invitation of hope and good news to people around the country. We’re preaching a fresh way of life and faith – one that is in rhythm with the life of God.”
Taking a page out of the Billy Sunday playbook, the authors will spread the emergent message of a generous, hope-filled Christian faith in the style and cadence of the tent revival preachers of a hundred years ago. They plan to have fun with it, wearing frock suits and selling “healing balm,” but the goal is, as in the revivals of yore, to preach the good news.
“This will be unlike any book tour people have seen,” said Jones. “We’ll be barnstorming the country, shaking the rafters with our ancient-future message of hope.”
“People will laugh and sing,” Scandrette added, “But they’ll also be challenged to join the Jesus Revolution.”
[text above from an Emergent Village newsletter, Emergent/C]