First Transmission of the Fall on Wednesday
September 4, 2007
We’re kicking off the fall tomorrow night with out first Transmission of the season. Tomorrow also happens to be the convocation of Union Theological Seminary featuring Katharine Jefferts Schori (the first female presiding bishop of the episcopal church), and since more than a few of us live at Union, we thought we might go and hear her speak as a Transmission activity. The convocation begins at 6:15, Union is at 121st and Broadway, and feel free to call me if you get lost, need help getting in, or feel like chatting – 917.306.2442
After we hear her speak, we’ll be coming back to Katie’s and my apartment to talk about the upcoming fall. Some of the things we’ll be discussing include:
- the possibility of switching to a different night
- starting up a Bible study on the weeks we don’t have Transmission
- a fall retreat to Katherine’s Aunt’s place
- a fall event with other small, missional communities in new york
- general future of Transmission
Hope to see you there…
Transmission – the soundtrack
August 30, 2007
All right, so here it is, a year in the making.  The album will be available in a few weeks on Proost, a small London-based boutique label, and in a few months on iTunes.
Proost, by the way, is well worth checking out.  For about $120, you get access to their entire catalog (about 15 CDs, several movies, and a bajillion books) along with monthly updates for a year.  Well worth the price for any church, church plant, or church goer.
Also, for our Transmissioners and loyal readers, I’m pleased to give you a couple of pre-release singles from the Album.¬† All songs on the album were written by me and j. Snodgrass, whose smashing profile you can see on the cover of the album.¬† Enjoy!
First, we have The Stranger, which is a Eucharistic prayer (kind of).¬† If you listen closely, you’ll hear a preface, salvation history, sanctus, memorial acclamation, and the Lord’s prayer, but I also tried to include all my soap boxes about how Jesus has been misappropriated as a tool for oppression.
[audio:thestranger.mp3]
Second, we have a musical rendition of the Lukan Beattitudes.  Although the Beattitudes can come across as a little touchy-feely, I think they contain an extremely radical, subversive message (woe to the rich, etc).  So I threw in some riot noises, some police sirens, and generally tried to make the Sermon on the Mount sound as much like a protest rally as possible.
[audio:beattitude.mp3]
Finally, we’ve got a remix of a song you’ve heard on this site before, the Canticle of the Sun, which is based on a poem written by Francis of Assisi in 1224.¬† Basically, there were these guys called the Cathars who were running around telling everyone that the spiritual was good and the physical was evil, so Francis wrote this poem about how he could find God in his everyday surroundings.¬† It appeals to my hippy side.
[audio:canticleofthesun.mp3]
Enjoy!
Aug 15th for Jesus’ Mama
August 14, 2007
Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth – Tapesetry, originally uploaded by Edith OSB.
It’s the middle of August, so we’re keeping it low-key and simple. Come join us on the funky benches behind Grant’s Tomb for a bag dinner picnic and Bible Study.
Since August 15th just happens to be the Feast of Saint Mary, Mother of Jesus for Anglicans and Lutherans, the Assumption for Roman Catholics, and the Dormition of the Theotokos for the Eastern Orthodox, so we’ll be celebrating Jesus’ Ma Protestant-style, with a Bible Study! (No previous knowledge about Madonna necessary!)
About ‘African Bible Study’
Luke 1:39-56 – King James Version – The Message – NIV
GRANT’S TOMB is at 122nd and Riverside Drive. The 1 train stops at 116th on Broadway. Walk 6 blocks north, and 2 blocks west. Call 646 245-7346 if you can’t find us.
FOOD To keep this mid-August meeting simple, we’re asking people to bring food for themselves, plus a little extra to share (e.g. some chips, cookies, drinks, salad, small dish, an extra sandwich). Hopefully, there will be enough extra for those of you who don’t have time or extra cash to pick something up.
If you can, please bring a MARY piece to share –
A cappella or acoustic versions of the Magnificat welcome!
A visual representation of Mary (e.g. image, statue, jewelry) for “show & tell”
If you speak another language, bring a translation of Luke 1:39-56 to read to the group
Stitch-by-Stitch Circle July 18
July 5, 2007
Come to a Transmission Stitch Circle!
Bring yourself and something that needs mending, sewing, knitting, eating or, drinking.
We’ll be hanging out and practicing the slow art of conversation…
Topics for the evening are Pride and Prejudice
last week, for the 4th of July, we discussed Patriotism and Pacifism – so I thought this week we’d continue with the double-Ps and take inspiration from Jane Austen – herself a priest’s kid
Snacks and drinks welcome!
July 18th at 7pm
rsvp epiphany.ny@gmail.com for directions
stitching assistance will be available
Sewing Circle, originally uploaded by stagewhisper.
Fire at Simple Way: Please Pray and Donate
June 20, 2007
The Simple Way is a New Monastic Community in Philly, PA, founded by Shane Claiborne, author of The Irresistable Revolution. Isaac and I both heard Shane speak at Greenbelt last summer and were floored (I cried, maybe we both did). Various Transmissioners have also been deeply moved by his book and by the basic tenents (12 Marks) of New Monasticism presented online.
Please keep this community in your prayers and consider making a cash donation. Transmission does not ask it’s members to pledge, but many of us give generously to Transmission and do other spiritual giving as part of our tithe or giving back to God.
Official Fire Update from The Simple Way in Philly, PA
This morning, a 7-alarm fire consumed an abandoned warehouse in our Kensington neighborhood in Philadelphia. The Simple Way Community Center at 3200 Potter Street was destroyed as well as at least eight of our neighbors’ homes. Over 100 people were evacuated from their homes, and 400 families are currently without power. Despite this developing tragedy, we are incredibly thankful to share that all of our community members and every one of our neighbors is safely out of harm’s way.
This fire will forever change the fabric of our community. Eight families are currently homeless, and in many cases have lost their vehicles as well as their homes. One of our neighbors, the Mahaias Family, lost their three cars as well as the equipment one family member uses for her massage therapy business. Teenager Brian Mahaias is devastated not because he has lost his belongings, but because he fears that this fire will force him to move away from this neighborhood that is his family as well as his home.
The Simple Way has lost a community center that was home to our Yes! And‚Ķ afterschool program, community arts center, and Cottage Printworks t-shirt micro-business as well as to two of our community members. Community members Shane Claiborne and Jesce Walz have lost all of their belongings, Yes!And‚Ķ’s after school studio and library were ruined, and community member Justin Donner’s Cottage Printworks equipment and t-shirts were destroyed.
We are thankful that we are able to help each other during this time of need, and we will continue to keep your informed about today’s events.
We have established funds to support the families who have lost their homes, the Yes! And… afterschool program, and the Simple Way community.
A fund to support the families has been established through a partner organization, EAPE. Tax-deductible donations can be made online here. Please make sure to put “Kensington Families Fund” in the memo section.
Donations to the Rebuilding Fund can be made via PayPal to contribute@awip.us.
-The Simple Way Community
This Wed, June 20th, 7pm, Central Park!
June 19, 2007
Hey, Transmissioners! To celebrate the summer solstice, we’ll be having a picnic ritual in Sheep Meadow in Central Park. It’s on the west side – the best place to enter is around 66th St. The ritual will be focusing on the creation account in Genesis and will be led by our resident dancer/choreographer, Sarah Godbehere, and me. The ritual will be open-ended, allowing for many different levers of participation, and will include elements of contact improv, pilates, meditation, and improv theater. Please wear comfortable clothes. =)
Since the park is pretty far away from a kitchen, feel free to bring food to contribute to the picnic. Also, if you like, please bring a prop to play with (umbrellas are encouraged).
See you then!
isaac
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 Рso 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.
Fifth Wednesday Screening of The War Tapes
May 26, 2007
We’ve got five Wednesdays, this month, but we don’t want to go three weeks without seeing each other, so we decided to double up instead. This week, we’ll be going to a screening of The War Tapes at the Cathedral of St John the Divine. Afterwards, we’ll either head to the Hungarian Pastry Shop for coffee and carbs or we’ll come back to my place for wine and munchies, depending on the mood.
If you haven’t heard about it, The War Tapes is an amateur documentary made by three soldiers who took a camcorder with them to Iraq. It won Best Documentary at the Tribeca Film Festival and has been getting a lot of attention. Go watch the trailer here: http://thewartapes.com/trailer/
Since a few of us have family who are serving in Iraq, this seemed like a good activity. I hope you can make it!
The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine
presents
THE WAR TAPES
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
6:30-9:00 pm
The Cathedral House
(enter drive btwn. 111th and 112th Streets on Amsterdam Avenue)
Read the rest of this entry »
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 ‚Äì 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!