Double Header! Drastic Monastics & Ian Mobsby
June 4, 2007
WED, June 6th
John, who is planning the ritual says, “At the half-way point of 2007, this Wednesday’s ritual will involve resolutions - whether adjusting the ones we made on New Year’s Eve (pesky reality, always getting in the way of our best intentions!) or making new ones. We’ll also be contemplating affiliations with some comical stories about over-zealous monks, and an original song by Everett & Snodgrass celebrating Saint Francis’ ‘Canticle to Brother Sun and Sister Moon.’”
We’ll be back at Bowie’s place after a long hiatus (please email if you need directions). There will be yummy food and some celebration for John (5/28), Isaac (6/4), and Bowie’s (6/6) birthdays. Please let us know if you are a gemini too!
Plus, Ian Mobsby, who hosted Bowie and Isaac at Greenbelt last year, will be coming from the airport to join us on Wednesday night - so get ready for a double-header because the next night…
THUR, June 7th
Hear an amazing and long-time Emerging leader in the UK, Ian Mobsby, talk about “Trinitarian Mysticism and Mission” at Trinity Wall Street. Just how can Rublev’s Icon and a Trinitarian ecclesiology enable us to be emerging, experimental, and do mission?
Ian is a founding member of Moot, an emerging church community in London, UK and has been doing emerging church stuff in the UK for the last 14 years, is sweet, and totally rad. Also, here’s an interview between Johnny Baker and Ian about his new book.
Refreshments and fellowship begin at 6:30 pm; the workshop begins at 7 pm – FREE – To sign up, please email us, Ali Lutz at alutz@trinitywallstreet.org or call 212-602-0800.
Flickr Photo of Skellig Michael, originally uploaded by Mixmaster.
War Tapes and Veteran Saints
June 1, 2007
After Wednesday night’s showing of The War Tapes at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine (see 2 posts down), I wrote an article that includes some questions I’ve been bouncing around for a while… about finding religious responses to this war, perhaps even from soldier saints of the past. It’s been posted to Episcopal Life Online as an Opinion piece.
Sabbath Poem (Howe)
May 31, 2007
I had thougth about posting this poem by Fanny Howe (who wrote a collection of essays that I included in a “Best Contemporary Theology” meme), but then hedged, doubted, waiting. Today, I checked into Faith House’s blog and saw their recent Sabbath Poem by Neruda and thought this must be a sign… these poems are cosmic kissing cousins.
Mad God, mad thought
Take me for a walk
Stalk me. Made God,
Wake me with your words.
Believe in what I said
Just Shadows
Shadows on sheets
Grass, seed . . .
Push my anguish down―
Coffee, smokes & creams―
Tongue-dainties
To scare compulsion away
Compulsion to die
–
from The Quietist (1992)
American Idolatry
May 26, 2007
My friend Lillit frequently writes for Beliefnet, and she just put up a story chronicling the Top Ten Religious Moments on American Idol. It’s pretty amusing.
My favorite part says:
Often when the group of Idols is rounded up and asked questions from the audience, one of the topics that comes up is how much training each singer has. The most common answer: “I learned to sing in church.”
And it’s true - the church is pretty much the only cultural institution in America which still fosters and nurtures amateur musicianship. Music forms identity, it forms community, and it forms culture. As fewer and fewer people explore music post-high school, I’m worried that American music will eventually be completely commercial. I’m suddenly very glad that we spent the last Transmission sitting around a coffee table, singing in harmony. We should do more of it.
Transmissions & Mobsby
May 25, 2007
WED, May 30th - Is the fifth Wednesday and we’ll be doing something fun or educational… but haven’t quite decided yet. Look out for more info in your inbox - or send us your suggestions!
WED, June 6th - John and Elizabeth are planning the ritual, which promises to include readings about “Drastic Monastics”, O my! We’ll be back at Bowie’s place after a long hiatus (please email us if you’d like directions). There will be yummy food and some celebration for John (5/28), Isaac (6/4), and Bowie’s (6/6) birthdays. Please let us know if you are a gemini too!
Plus, Ian Mobsby, a friend of Bowie and Isaac’s, who hosted us at Greenbelt last year, will be coming from the airport to join us on Wednesday night - so get ready for a double-header because the next night…
THUR, June 7th – Come hear an amazing and long-time Emerging leader in the UK, Ian Mobsby, talk about “Trinitarian Mysticism and Mission” at Trinity Wall Street. Just how can Rublev’s Icon and a Trinitarian ecclesiology enable us to be emerging, experimental, and do mission?
Ian is a founding member of Moot, an emerging church community in London, UK and has been doing emerging church stuff in the UK for the last 14 years, is sweet, and totally rad. Also, here’s an interview between Johnny Baker and Ian about his new book.
Refreshments and fellowship begin at 6:30 pm; the workshop begins at 7 pm – FREE – To sign up, please email us, Ali Lutz at alutz@trinitywallstreet.org or call 212-602-0800.
He’s doing a bit of a tour around the country. Spread the word and check out his schedule, which includes West Coast and PA gigs.
MON, June 11th - Curious about other “Emerging” folks in NYC? Come to Cohort!
This month, various musicians will have about 10 minutes to play a couple of original songs (live or recorded) and share a little about how their music creation jives with their emerging understandings of worship. Shoot us an email if you’re a musician and would like to play!
Support Magdalene House
May 21, 2007
Help sow seeds of hope with natural healing products from Thistle Farms, the cottage business of Magdalene House in Nashville, Tennessee.
The Rev. Becca Stephens, Episcopal chaplain at Vanderbilt University is the founder of Magdalene House. I’ve heard her preach and had the pleasure of visiting her in Nashville a few years ago. Becca is an inspirational woman who helps nurture goodness in this world.
And the Thistle Farms projects are great too! I’ve got a tub of lib balm at home. Be sure to check out Lot’s Wife Salt Scrub, Balm of Gilead (comes in five scents), Lavender Mini-Sachets, and the Moses line for men!
Named for the only wildflower that grows along the roads that Nashville prostitutes frequent, Thistle Farms is the cottage business of Magdalene – a two-year residential community for women with a criminal history of addiction and prostitution. Magdalene was created to provide a sanctuary in Nashville for women in need of a safe, discipline and compassionate community.
Roof Gardens of Babylon
April 25, 2007
By Bowie Snodgrass
On the Euphrates, down by the river of Babylon,
they sat down and wept, and wept for you, Zion.
Held captive during Nebuchadnezzar’s reign,
they wrote scripture in the world’s largest city.
But even the most powerful human in the world
did a small good deed for the woman he loved.
As the story goes, Nebuchadnezzar, for his wife,
planted a World Wonder: hanging roof gardens.
I hear they’re thinking of green roofs for NYC;
what a great idea, I say, growing things here.
Imagine flying over that in a plane, a sea of green:
flowers, moss, vine, trees, birds, butterflies, bees.
Fruits of the earth to eat, natural cool and warm,
cleaner air and playgrounds for God’s creatures.
We best never forget the history that happened
nor the dreams that inspire human imagination.
* Read about the Green Roof movement
* Check out the Gaia Institute NY
“The Hanging Gardens of Babylon and the walls of Babylon (near present-day Baghdad in Iraq) were considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World. ”
- Read more about the Hanging Gardens of Babylon
* Please say a special prayer for my brother, Peter, Ike’s brother, Joel, and all the military personnel currently stationed in Iraq. Please pray for all Iraqis, that they may soon have peace in their lands.
My Sweet Lord
April 14, 2007
Once again, some hysterical religious people have forced a New York City art show to close. This time, the issue is a six foot tall naked Jesus made out of chocolate.
Hmm, to me it seems that this sculpture is actually profoundly orthodox. Think about it:
*Jesus is naked: why else would the soldiers have been casting lots for his clothes?
*Jesus is dark: not even Mel Gibson believes that Jesus was blue-eyed and blonde.
*Jesus is edible and delicious: a no-brainer for anyone who recognizes the real presence of Christ in the Eucharistic elements.
Come on, people, do we really believe that the Alpha and Omega of all creation needs protection from 200 pounds of milk chocolate? We’d do Jesus more good by trying to act like him than by policing our artists. Jesus, after all, has great PR; it’s the church that no one takes seriously, and controversies like this only make us look more ridiculous.
Envision the Ends Times, and Take Action
April 12, 2007
OK, so I’m a little behind the times. I just watched An Inconvenient Truth last night and whoa. It seems the effects of Global Warming will soon be of apocalyptic proportions. I beseech ya’ll to take an active step to reduce carbon emissions, or at least netflick the movie and experience the revelation for yourself. One place to start is climatecrisis.net. New Yorkers, Con Ed offers 100% wind power for your home.
As springtime blooms again, it’s time for us to start thinking about how we can renew the earth, as she renews us.
PS, while I have your attention, check out the Abstract of a paper my friend, Jackie, did at the Society of Biblical Literature annual meeting in 2006.
Averting the Apocalypse: The Horrors of Global Warming and the Rhetorical Power of the End
Program Unit: John’s Apocalypse and Cultural Contexts Ancient and Modern
Jacqueline Hidalgo, Claremont Graduate UniversityIn the Fall of 2005, Al Gore lectured in Los Angeles about global warming as part of the production of the new documentary, An Inconvenient Truth. Gore compared some of the horrible plagues imagined in John’s Apocalypse to the horrific repercussions of global warming around the world, repercussions which Gore demonstrated in a complex narrative of photographs, tables, and film clips. Through a focus on Gore’s rhetoric of averting the global warming apocalypse, this paper explores the enduring prominence and power of the Apocalypse as it may be encountered throughout the US political imaginary. It is often recognized that Conservative Christians in the U.S.A. have used the horrific imagery of the Apocalypse in combination with the promise of an imminent End in order to shape politics, identities, and cultures. Many occupying different parts of the political Left have likewise turned to narratives of impending environmental doom and/or political totalitarianism. Given that such a variety of groups deploy these counterpoised apocalypticisms, what does this suggest about the social power of apocalyptic narratives over the social realities of different people? Successful deployment of the Apocalypse, and specifically of its horrors and end-time imagination, has been a significant source of social power for those who pursue it, and those who perceive themselves to be in situations of social distress often invoke apocalyptic rhetoric. Gore serves as an interesting example against this backdrop. Although he is part of the political mainstream, his speech comes at a time when many on the political Left feel disenfranchised. Is apocalyptic rhetoric most popular with groups who perceive themselves as disempowered or is it just such a central part of the US cultural imagination that it is hard to conceive of a historical trajectory outside of the Apocalypse?
#10 Offertory (last call to chip in for Easter)
April 9, 2007
Last night was FABULOUS - and touching. So many people got the spirit. What a wonderful gathering of folks. What a fine way to be together as church on Easter Evening…
If you weren’t able to come, left early, or came with an empty wallet, don’t fret!
There’s still time to make an “offertory” for last night’s service (step #10 in the Communion by #s we did at the end of the evening, see post below). And we’d still be happy to accept up to $1200 in additional donations to break even.
* Thank you to all the folks who made anonymous offerings last night! We were blessed with almost $500 from you all.
* Thank you again, to all the folks and faith communities who made donations before the event (you can check out that list here).
* A big thank you also to Tracy Quan, who sold and signed copies of her two novels and gave us the proceeds!
* Finally, one more thank you to all the amazing volunteer talent that helped make last night all that it was.