Transmission this week! and lots of news!
May 18, 2008
It’s that time again! We welcome back Bowie who is freshly arrived from her recent wedding/vacation/pilgrimage to India. She’ll be celebrating her return to Transmission by leading us in our ritual, and she had this to say about it:
the ritual will be planned around St. Thomas, who brought Christianity to India in 52 AD. George and I visited the place where he landed and the Pontifical Shrine and hospital that have been built there. We will also talk about the two main stories about Thomas in the Gospel of John - 14:5-6 and 20:24-29 (the story that got him dubbed “Doubting Thomas”). I like the idea of “doubting, yet doing” and of “not knowing the way”…
Transmission will be Wednesday, 7pm, at Bowie’s place. If you get lost, feel free to call me. I’ll be cooking.
We’ll also have four pieces of business to discuss:
- Our beloved Katherine has moved to Chicago to be with her family, which means that we need someone else to step up and replace her as co-facilitator. I think it’s really important to have two people putting Transmission in the front of their brainspace, not only because it’s a lot of work but also because a community shouldn’t become centralized around one person.
- Starlight Ministries, another church-ish group that has a peculiar calling to sex worker ministry, wants to sponsor a program with us this summer called Exotic Dancer, MBA, which basically gives basic business and personal finance education to people in the sex industry. It’s very important work, and I think it’s exactly the sort of thing we should be involved with. You can read about it here: http://starlight-ministries.org/wp_blog_1/
- Mabel and Paul want to organize a trip to the Creation museum in Kentucky in August, which I think could be a great time. Note that this is *not* an endorsement of creationism…
- We’re meeting this Tuesday, 2pm with Intercession to discuss the possibility of inhabiting their currently vacant rectory, which would be a big move for Transmission. Anyway who wants to come and meet them, see the space, and be a part of our initial conversation should totally come, just let me know.
Ash Wednesday Transmission, Feb 6, 7-9pm
February 4, 2008
This week we’ll be having Ash Wednesday at Paul’s - email if you want to come and need directions. Come ready celebrate your own mortality and kick off lent with style! We’ll also be discussing the possibility of collaborating on a
Purim/Maundy Thurday service with Storahtelling (yes, the two really are on the same day this year) and a Good Friday service with our friends at Sanctuary.
Transmission Tonight - CHANGE OF PLANS
January 16, 2008
Katherine had to postpone her house blessing due to medical incident (please keep her in your prayers!).
So, we’ll be meeting tonight at Bowie’s place @ 7pm
Please email transmissionchurch@gmail.com if you need further directions.
This evening we’ll be looking at -
* ourselves - owning less, not being owned by our consumption desires
* our city and world - looking at the scandal of domestic poverty in the USA
* and doing something - bring non-perishables that we’ll donate to a food bank
I know this is last minute, but if you are at home before Transmission tonight, look through your cupboards and pull out any non-perishable food that you bought and just haven’t eaten - and bring it tonight. Bowie will transport our offerings to a local food pantry.
There are too many hungry in NYC and the food pantries are running low.
All items to be donated must be:
* In their original, unopened packages
* Within the expiration date on the package
* In plastic jars or containers, not glass
RITUAL PLANNED with a little help from:
* Rev Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping
* Sabbath ideas from Wayne Muller
* Jonny Baker’s Worship Tricks
* Christian Churches Together
Epiphany Ritual
January 3, 2008
Thanks for everyone who came out last night to celebrate Epiphany a few days early. The ritual went well, and I wanted to post it in case any readers wanted to mine it for ideas for this coming Sunday, which is the actual day of Epiphany.
The idea for the ritual came from my experiences riding the subway, watching my fellow riders create privacy for themselves by listening to portable music. Music is recorded with artificial reverb, an effect which makes the music sound as if it is taking place in a large space. Different kinds of reverb create different kinds of “virtual space” for the music so that concertos sound like they’re being played in concert halls, arena rocks sounds like it’s being played in an arena, and folk music sounds like it’s being played in an intimate coffee shop. A subway is a public space and during rush hours people are packed into them as tightly as possible with no room for personal space. At the same time, however, each person listening to music bring a virtual space with them, and any given subway car will probably have at least a dozen personal, virtual spaces packed in to it.
Church is another place in which personal space and public space interact in interesting ways, and I thought it would be interesting to see how portable music would affect ritual. Epiphany, a feast day which celebrates a journey, seemed like the perfect opportunity to ritualize my commuting experience.
I set up five stations along a walking route which wound its way through four rooms. Each participant was told to bring a portable music player (i.e. an iPod, a discman, or something comparable). I created five tracks of voiceover layered on top of music and loaded them on to each person’s player, and we began the ritual. Details below:
Stand With Sex Workers on Mon. / ‘Lessons & Carols’ on Wed.
December 15, 2007
Monday, Dec. 17th - International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers
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.
Advent is my favorite season
December 7, 2007
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.
Yay, It’s Advent Transmission Time Again!
December 3, 2007
This Wednesday, Dec 5, from 7-9 pm, come to Bowie’s place for Advent Transmission.
* 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!
Thanksgiving & Holy-days
November 18, 2007
As the holy-days draw near again, here’s our calendar for the next five weeks. Advent, the season of expectation leading up to Christmas, is one of our favorite liturgical times of year. We’d love to see you at any or all events. Blessings, Bowie
THIS WEEK - from Katherine Lee -
Hi there,
So I’m thinking of doing a ritual Wednesday based around the themes of gratitude and thankfulness, but instead of being thankful for exterior things, which are all very well and good (e.g. family, friends), I’m coming up with a ritual that will hopefully turn our gratitude inwards. It’s not often that we give thanks for our own gifts, and I think taking stock in what we are good at in the context of serving others can be a transformative experience.
Let’s say 7:30-ish at my place? Please email me for directions (kcl232@gmail.com), and I’ll make a main dish. BYOB or sides/dessert welcome.
K
UPCOMING CALENDAR
Thurs, Nov 29th - Bible Study at Floridita’s, 3219 Broadway at 125th Street
Wed, Dec 5th - Advent Transmission, theme and location TBA
Thurs, Dec 13th - Bible Study in Union Square, led by Renata
Wed, Dec 19th - Advent Transmission, theme and location TBA
Fall leaving you frayed? Come refuel!
November 6, 2007
October and November are busy months and some of us are feeling frayed – so this Wednesday, November 7 from 7-9pm, join us for refueling! Bowie likes to cook and clean when she needs centering, so come over to her place to share a home-cooked meal and good company.
Please also think about sharing one of the ways you get back in touch with God and your center. George, who is a conductor, plays piano or opens a score (including some that he returns to time and again). Some of you, who are dancers or do yoga, may have stretches you could share with us. Others may have a book of the Bible or a collection of poetry that sits by your bed or favorite chair…
Please bring an activity, anecdote, or meditation that you can share in a few minutes. Where do you find stillness, inspiration, or Sabbath moments?
We will also allocate some portion of the evening – 5 to 20 minutes – to sit together in silence. And, as always, we’ll have time to socialize with each other, pray, and eat!
Please email back if you can bring food or drink to share – or need directions to Bowie’s apartment.
Blessings! Transmission
PS On Wed, Nov 21, we’ll be doing a ritual on “Exorcisms and Invocations.” Bowie, Isaac, and George shared this ritual with an emerging group called CityLights on Oct 27th (you can see what they had to say about it below). Please plan to join us! Location TBA.
“We had a pleasure to welcome Transmission and Forum people last week and together to take part in the worship that Bowie and Isac prepared. Thank you for introducing to us and leading us through your creative and original ritual. It asked us to be personal and trusting and stimulated us to confront our fears. We do hope that we will worship together many more times.” - CityLights
Past Always Changing, Creation in Proverbs - 10/25
October 22, 2007
THE FUTURE IS CERTAIN - IT’S THE PAST THAT’S ALWAYS CHANGING
Another view of Creation in Proverbs 8:22-36
- Gather for dinner & social time 7pm @ Floridita’s, 3219 Broadway (1 train to 125th, cross 125th St, Floridita’s is at end of block)
- Due to Mr. Snodgrass’s academic schedule, the Bible-study will begin at 8:15
Who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controls the past. - George Orwell.
Scholarly studies have demonstrated that Genesis 1 is not the oldest creation narrative in the Bible. At least half a century before the Torah took its final shape, the book of Proverbs showed our familiar patriarch assembling the Earth - with the help of a feminine partner. This Thursday’s Bible Study will focus on the Bible’s first creation story (Proverbs 8:22-36), with an eye toward how it shaped the Genesis creation, the creation in John 1, and our understandings of the patriarchal “way of the world.”
TRICK OR TREAT - TWO CHANCES to participate in EXORCISMS & INVOCATIONS ritual
- Bowie is working on a Halloween Ritual for Wed October 31st exploring the power of language to impact reality! More info to follow.
- SATURDAY, Oct 27th from 11am-1pm, she’ll be doing this ritual with City Lights, another emerging church community in NYC, and would LOVE to have a couple other Transmissioners come along! If you’re available on Saturday and would like to help out with the planning for our Halloween ritual, please email bowiesnodgrass@gmail.com. Thanks!