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CHI RHO
CONNECTION |
Vol. V, No. 18
26 October 2004
2. 2004-2005 Liturgical Calendar Published!
3. Report from our New Webminister, by the Rev. Clay Witt
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This Issue's Quotes:
"It remains puzzling to me that no one objects to my baptizing the children of gay parents, blessing their home, their car and their dog, yet I cannot bless the loving relationship which makes this family's life possible without upsetting so many of our Anglican brothers and sisters." John Chane, Episcopal Bishop of Washington, DC. (Quoted in the New York Times, 10/19/2004.)
*****
Welcome once again to the Chi Rho Connection, the electronic newsletter of Chi Rho Press.
To join our list, send an e-mail message to ChiRhoPress-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
To remove yourself from this list send an e-mail to ChiRhoPress-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com.
Direct all other e-mail to Adam@ChiRhoPress.com.
*****
1.
Obituary for Bill Gaston
William Gaston passed into eternal life on Friday, Oct. 22 at 10:15 pm in
Washington, DC.
Bill was a friend and colleague, and author of "Christian with a Twist:
Reflections on Scripture that are a bit more inclusive, a bit more relevant, and
with a bit of a bite," published by Chi Rho Press on July 20, 2004.
Bill has been living with liver cancer since September 1991, a remarkably long
time. On January 22, 2004 Bill entered hospice care at the Washington Hospice,
but he survived longer than is usual for one in hospice care. Typical of Bill,
who always did things in unexpected ways.
Quoting from the Publisher's Note in "Christian with a Twist:"
"The reflections you now hold in your hand are a remarkable collection, borne
out of the life experience and deep faith of a remarkable man. Bill Gaston has
been writing these reflections weekly, based on the Sunday lectionary readings.
They have been published in the Sunday bulletin newsletter of the Metropolitan
Community Church of Washington, DC for over three years now. As such, they have
edified, challenged, startled, enlightened, and sometimes annoyed the hundreds
of people who come through the doors of that amazing church. Very often Bill's
reflections have caused members, friends, and visitors to MCC DC to think more
deeply, reflect more honestly, and stretch more boldly in their faith journey.
"But Bill Gaston is remarkable for more than just these weekly reflections. He
has been living with liver cancer for over [thirteen] years, since September
1991, a remarkably long time, the medical experts will tell you. He has lost a
cherished partner to HIV/AIDS. He has worked as a school teacher and a
librarian. He is a gay man, of course, and he is a Christian. But as Bill
tells us in his title for this collection, he is a 'Christian with a twist!'
"His sexual orientation, his life history, his having loved and lost a wonderful
man to AIDS, and his long struggle with cancer all have helped inform these
reflections. But most of all, these reflections are grounded in Bill's great
Christian faith, in his return to the faith from a period in the spiritual
wilderness, and in the church, MCC DC, that encouraged him, enabled him,
empowered him, and welcomed him back to faith in Christ Jesus.
"On January 22, 2004, . . . Bill entered hospice care at the Washington
Hospice. Chi Rho Press first heard from Bill about his desire to publish his
book of reflections in February, 2004. Needless to say, given his health and
his status as a hospice patient, there was some urgency to move this project
along quickly and expeditiously. We have never succeeded in getting a book from
manuscript to print in such a short time!"
We are proud and pleased that Bill was able to see his book in print and to sign
many copies for his friends and community of faith at MCC DC. Bill was very
proud of his book and we continue to recommend it to you, as we are sure Bill
would want us to do. But Bill was more than just one of our authors, here at
Chi Rho Press. He was an inspiration and a witness to Godly living in the face
of a fatal illness. He was an example of patience and faith. He was a man of
generosity, wisdom, wit, and confidence.
Though we have known of the inevitability of Bill's passing all year, it still
strikes us with sadness, grief, and pain. A light has gone out here and we
mourn. But we take comfort in the knowledge that the firmament of heaven is a
bit brighter because our brother Bill rests in the loving arms of the God who
created him, just as he is.
Bill Gaston was a man of mighty faith, great skill, an amazing capacity to love,
and surprising good sense. His book is a reflection of Bill and we invite you
to get to know this man through the legacy he left with us, "Christian with a
Twist."
We covet your prayers for Bill's surviving family and friends, his grieving
community of faith at MCC DC, and the Board and staff of Chi Rho Press. We have
lost one of our authors, and also a friend and beloved colleague. May he rest
in peace, and light perpetual shine upon him.
You may read about and order Bill Gaston's book at this link:
http://www.chirhopress.com/products/product_details/BookRevChristianWithATwist.htm.
We know he would be grateful for you to order it!
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2.
Liturgical Calendar and Lectionary, Year A, November 2004 through
November 2005, compiled by Raye-Anne Dorn and the Rev. Clay Witt. $11.95 each,
six or more copies, $9.50 each, plus shipping and handling.
http://www.chirhopress.com/products/product_details/BookRevLiturgicalCa04_05.html
Chi Rho Press is pleased to announce a brand new Liturgical Calendar for
the coming 2004-2005 church year. The Liturgical Calendar features readings
from the Revised Common Lectionary, widely used as the ecumenical consensus on
readings for each Sunday and holy day in the three-year cycle. Our Liturgical
Calendar is packed with useful information for planning worship and preaching in
the local church for each Sunday and Holy Day of the Church Year. It is
intended for use by pastors, musicians, altar guilds, teachers, theological
students, and anyone using the Church Year as a basis for worship or education.
The Liturgical Calendar is spiral bound so it can lie flat for easy use, in the
popular 8 ½" x 11" format.
Featured in this new Liturgical Calendar are these sections: A Heading that
identifies the day in the church year (for example, the first Sunday of Advent,
or Proper 20) with alternative descriptions where appropriate. The Revised
Common Lectionary readings, including a brief summary of each reading.
Next is a section on Worship Planning, including the liturgical Color of the
day, Symbols and decorations that can be used to enhance the worship experience,
and Special Events and secular and Jewish holidays for the week which the
congregation may want to remember and commemorate on Sunday.
Rev. Witt has added lots of Notes in the Worship Planning section which serve to
explain in more detail information about the time of the church year, provide
resources for further study and information, and develop liturgical themes to
make your worship experience more rich and meaningful.
The last section for each Sunday is called Following God's Footprints and is the
unique contribution of Raye-Anne Dorn. For every day of the year, Raye-Anne
gives us a traditional saint, with a brief overview of an important theme for
which the saint is remembered and what that particular saint can teach us. Some
Diversity Dates are also included, special occasions for celebrations of
diversity, such as special celebration days for specific cultures (e.g., Cinco
de Mayo) and special days for the GLBT community (e.g., a day of remembrance for
Matthew Shepard).
The 2004-2005 Liturgical Calendar will be a helpful aid for anyone involved in
planning worship, as well as a useful resource for all who want to know more
about the Church year and the rich liturgical life of the Church Universal.
*****
You may now order the 2004-2005 Liturgical Calendar and Lectionary on the Chi
Rho Press Web site at this link:
http://www.chirhopress.com/products/product_details/BookRevLiturgicalCa04_05.html
You may also order by sending your order, along with your name, address,
telephone, and credit card name and expiration date by e-mail (to Orders@ChiRhoPress.com),
snail mail (to Chi Rho Press, P.O. Box 7864, Gaithersburg, MD 20898), or
telephone or fax (at 301/926-1208). Or if you prefer you may send a check or
money order to our post office box.
The Liturgical Calendar is $11.95 each, six or more copies are $9.50 each, plus
shipping and handling.
--------------------------------------------------
3.
I am honored to have been appointed as the "Webminister" for Chi Rho
Press. We have seen God use this ministry in amazing ways to change lives and
help in the work of the Spirit to bring GLBT people to the realization that they
too are God's beloved children.
We have already set to work to make the Press' web site easier and more
informative for you to use and more improvements will be coming soon. Here are
some of the things we have already done:
* In the past, information about our publications was presented in large blocks
of text that you had to read through to get to information about the next
publication. Now there is a brief main listing for each book so that you can
rapidly scroll through publication lists. All the detailed information you may
want about a publication or author is still there if you need it through links
in each main entry. We are including "About this book" and "About the author"
links for those who want to know more.
* One of the problems with the very large pages we had in the past was that it
took a long time for our dial-up customers' computers to download some
information for viewing. Breaking up the information helps to solve that
problem by enabling you to get just what you need when you need it. In addition
to shorter master publication listings with links for those who want more
information instead of displaying everything at once, we have divided our
alphabetical listing into two parts to speed download. We have also reduced to
size of some of our graphic files to improve download time.
* In the past you often had to drill down through several layers of Web pages
in order to be able to order a Chi Rho Press product. No more! If you make
your purchases on-line, there is no longer any need to search to find out how.
Now every listing has an "Add to Cart" link. Each of our listing pages also
includes a "View Cart" button at the bottom that will allow you to review and
complete your purchases.
We have begin posting back issues of our eNewsletters, the Chi Rho Connection,
to our archives section again. Over the next few months, we will also be going
back to fill in missing copies of 2003 and 2004 editions.
We are trying to be more consistent in the way that information is presented, so
that there will be an easier to use, more consistent "look and feel" to our Web
site.
We have removed old links that no longer work from our "Links" page.
Soon we will be making other improvements, including automatic calculation of
handling charges and shipping costs. You will have new alternatives for
shipping methods to choose from as well. Want the option of having your
products shipped by extra-cost expedited shipping methods? We will be providing
that option. We will also be adding some shipping options especially for our
international customers.
We look forward to finding new ways to serve you better over the web and will
continue to make improvements as time goes on.
Editor's Note: Many thanks to Clay Witt for his hard work and dedication to the
ministry of Chi Rho Press. The Press Board and Staff encourage you to visit our
Web site at
http://www.ChiRhoPress.com. Let us know of any problems
you see and any suggestions for improvements you might want to make. And bless
us by ordering a book!
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4.
As you may know, a current internet scam is something called "fishing" or "phishing."
You get an e-mail message that looks like it is from some company you do
business with asking you to confirm your financial information because of some
problem with your account or because the company wants to update its records.
The messages are very artfully done, and often include copies of the company's
real logo.
Webminister Clay Witt reports he recently received e-mail purporting to be about
his telephone payment arrangements with his phone company, Verizon. What showed
up in the message was a Web address which looks like a real Verizon Web site
address. But behind the scenes, you would actually be taken to Web address
located in Montevideo, Uruguay! The page you would get would be a very official
looking fake Verizon page in which you are asked to enter your banking and
credit card information. You would dutifully (they hope) fill in the blanks and
hit send and off your private financial information would go to some crook in
Uruguay. Shortly after, of course, you would be ripped off.
DON'T GO THERE!!! If you receive any inquiries asking for your banking or
credit card information, even from a company with which you regularly do
business, please take the time to call the company to verify that they indeed
sent the e-mail and need the information. Or just do not respond at all!
Here at Chi Rho Press, we never see your credit card number when you place an
order over our secure Web site. We have opted to have all 16 digits stripped
for security purposes. All we see your name and address, the type of card you
are using (Visa, MasterCard, or Discover), and the card expiration date.
If you choose to give us your credit card number over the phone or in e-mail,
the number is secured so it is not accessible to anyone else. It is important
to you that you keep your personal banking and credit information secure, and we
take that responsibility very seriously!
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5.
Because we have published two books of reflections and meditations on
Scripture this year, we want to be able to share samples of both with you. The
weekly Chi Rho Reflection, e-mailed every Sunday, features the meditation of the
day taken from our first major book this year, "Living as the Beloved: One Day
at a Time," by the Rev. Dr. Sandra Bochonok. "Living as the Beloved"
http://www.chirhopress.com/products/product_details/BookRevLivingAsTheBeloved.htm
and is available for $20.95 each, six or more copies for $15.75 each,
plus shipping and handling.
Not wanting to short change our readers, we are including a selection from our
second major book of reflections, "Christian with a Twist: Reflections on
Scripture that are a bit more inclusive, a bit more relevant, and with a bit of
a bite," by William Gaston, in each of the Chi Rho Connections, published twice
a month. This is especially poignant for us now, so soon after the death of
author Bill Gaston.
"Christian with a Twist" is available for $19.95 each, $14.95 each for six or
more copies, plus shipping and handling. You can read more about it and order
it at
http://www.chirhopress.com/products/product_details/BookRevChristianWithATwist.htm
Bill Gaston wrote these reflections each Sunday over a three year period
for publication in the church bulletin and newsletter of MCC of Washington DC.
Bill's reflections are based on one or more of the Lectionary readings for the
Sunday and his work pretty much covers the three year cycle of the Lectionary.
As the subtitle suggests, Bill's writing has a bit of a bite, and we believe you
will enjoy his sharp, but loving take on Scripture, life, and faith.
Here is a selection from the Ordinary Time section of "Christian with a Twist."
Calm
Down!
Please read Mark 4:35-41
Some Christians think that believing these stories to be literally true is a
mark of faith. I am not so sure. Jesus often used parables in his teaching,
stories whose truth lies in the lesson taught rather than in detail of times,
places, or events. When Jesus said we must become like children to enter God's
Kingdom, I think he had in mind a child's sense of wonder rather than a
childlike rigidity. I think Jesus would allow us to have some fun with this
story and to put ourselves in that boat.
From what I know of Jesus
and his sometimes bumbling and rather thick followers, I cannot help but think
that Jesus was speaking to the disciples, not to the sea when he said, "Peace!
Be still!" The sea obviously was not bothering him all that much. He was
asleep on his cushion until they woke him up from his nap. And what kind of a
question is, "… do you not care that we are perishing?" Did they mean to wake
up and get scared like us … or hey, this is all your fault … or do you not see
what we are going through for you? I think I would have probably let them
drown, but then we know I am not Jesus.
If this story is supposed to teach us that if we have faith, then we will not
have to face any storms in life, then I guess no one has faith, because rain
seems to fall everywhere, and when it does not we curse the drought.
More likely it means that though storms and other troubles will come, faith will
calm us down enough to face them. No trouble lasts always, as the song goes.
Indeed, life is full of risks and unforeseen circumstances. Perishing is not
only sometimes a very real possibility, but it is an eventual, unavoidable
reality. Personally, I like the idea of taking a nap on a cushion during a
windstorm. I have done it too, though not on a boat.
A walk in a warm summer downpour is a wondrous thing once I even walked a
labyrinth at night under a flashing sky and in a gentle warm drizzle. A friend
called that stupid. I guess I learned to let some things remain in my closet.
If one day I am struck by lightening, please do not let my last words be,
"Jesus, don't you care that I am perishing!" Let my first word on the other
side be, "Wow!"
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6.
As a regular feature in the Chi Rho Connection, we are offering up
traditional and modern saints and various holy days and holidays listed in the
2004 Liturgical Calendar and Lectionary from today until our next scheduled
electronic newsletter.
*****
Sun. Oct. 31, Daylight Savings Time ends (U.S.A.). Clocks are moved back one
hour at 2 a.m. (Saturday night/Sunday morning). Be sure you aren't early for
church today!
Sun. Oct. 31, Reformation Day. On this day in 1517 the German theologian,
Martin Luther, posted his famous 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in
Wittenberg. This was the normal procedure for announcing academic disputes at
the University. There was nothing dramatic in this act, however the content was
to forever change Christianity. It has come to mark the beginning of the
Protestant Reformation, which together with the Counter-Reformation in the
Catholic Church, led to major changes in Christian thought and worship. Today
Catholic and Protestant churches are finding that in our faith in Christ we have
much more in common than those particular beliefs which separate us.
Sun. Oct. 31, Halloween. Popular holiday, and one the "High Holy Days" of the
GLBT community. In Wiccan communities this is known as Samdhain, a celebration
of endings and beginnings, and a time for honoring elders.
Sun. Oct. 31, Nuzul al Qur'an (Islamic). Revelation of the Qur'an to Mohammed.
(All Islamic holidays begin at sunset the preceding evening. The actual dates
sometimes may vary from this calendar, as the day is based on the actual
sighting of the moon.)
Mon. Nov. 1, Feast of All Saints. The tradition of remembering all the saints
together dates to the early history of the Church, which affirmed "the communion
of saints" as the mystical Body of Christ, transcending both time and space.
Even when no one is visibly with us in our prayers and our spiritual path, we
are surrounded by their presence and inspired by their witness. All the saints
some famous and some known only to God answered God's call in their life in
their own unique way. This collective feast reminds us that each of us has our
own special gifts, and we are each called to do something holy for God.
Tues. Nov. 2, Commemoration of All Faithful Departed (All Souls Day). In some
traditions there has been a distinction between remembering the official
canonized saints on All Saints Day and commemorating those whose names are not
on any calendar, but are cherished as models of faith, or are dearly loved
family and friends. They, as well, are part of that great "cloud of witnesses"
who encourage us in our spiritual journey.
Tues. Nov. 2, Day of the Dead (Mexico). Dia de la Muerte, a popular Mexican
custom of remembering and honoring the dead.
Tues. Nov. 2, Election Day (U.S.A.). The importance of everyone voting today
can not be overstated, especially in this election for President of the United
States, when the very future of our country in is the hands of the voters who
will either re-elect George W. Bush or elect John F. Kerry.
Tues. Nov. 9, Martyrs of Kristallnacht (1938). Victims of anti-Semitism. As
part of the buildup to what became the "final solution," the Nazis mounted a
coordinated assault on the entire Jewish community of Germany. In one night the
storm troopers burned down 191 synagogues, destroyed 7,500 shops, rounded up
20,000 Jewish men for "protective custody" at Buchenwald concentration camp, and
killed 100 Jews. The pogrom became known as Kristallnacht, or Crystal Night,
for all the broken windows. There was virtually no protest outside of Germany
to this action.
Wed. Nov. 10, Lailat ul-Qadr (Islamic). Night of Destiny, the first revelation
of the Qur'an to the Prophet Mohammed, is observed during the last ten days of
Ramadan. This features prayers for a good destiny. (All Islamic holidays begin
at sunset the preceding evening. The actual dates sometimes may vary from this
calendar, as the day is based on t he actual sighting of the moon.)
Thurs. Nov. 11, Veteran's Day (U.S.A.). Federal holiday.
Thu. Nov. 11, Remembrance Day (Canada).
Thu. Nov. 11, Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855). Philosopher. A prolific author
whose writings were important in the development of Existentialism, Kierkegaard
barely saw himself a Christian, let alone a saint. He devoted himself to
exposing official Christianity, and especially the Church of Denmark, as a
fraud. He originally planned to go into the Lutheran ministry, but instead
chose a life of introspection and writing. By allowing most people to think
that being a Christian required nothing more than being born into a "Christian
state," the Church made sure no one would ever feel challenged to become a
Christian. Compared with the New Testament, he charged, official Christianity
was nothing more than play-acting.
Fri. Nov. 12, Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz (1651-1694). Poet and scholar. Born
near Mexico City to an unwed mother, Sister Juana had a passion for learning
that led to her becoming the first great poet of Latin America and early
champion of equality for women in the church. She turned her back on
opportunities for social advancement and marriage when she became a nun. Her
fame as a scholar and theologian spread even to Spain. Because she was a woman
she faced fierce opposition to her writings and was silenced by the church.
Fri. Nov. 12, Quds Day (Islamic). Proclaims support for oppressed Muslim
people. A day in memory of Jerusalem. A recent addition to the Islamic
calendar. (All Islamic holidays begin at sunset the preceding evening. The
actual dates sometimes may vary from this calendar, as the day is based on the
actual sighting of the moon.)
Fri. Nov. 12, Birth of Baha'u'llah (Baha'i). Birth of the Baha'i teacher and
messiah. No work is done on this day.
Sun. Nov. 14, Eid ul-Fitri (Islamic). A three day Islamic fast marking the
close of Ramadan. It is a festival of thanksgiving for enjoying the month of
Ramadan. It involves wearing the finest clothing, saying prayers, and fostering
understanding of other religions. (All Islamic holidays begin at sunset the
preceding evening. The actual dates sometimes may vary from this calendar, as
the day is based on the actual sighting of the moon.)
Tues. Nov. 16, St. Margaret (1046-1093). Queen and patron of Scotland. One of
the last members of Anglo-Saxon royalty, she married King Malcolm of Scotland.
There she devoted much of her life to reforming the church and clergy, as well
as founding many schools, hospitals, and orphanages. She was famous for her
love for the poor and for reducing warfare between the clans.
*****
Order the brand new 2004-2005 Liturgical Calendar
and Lectionary, complete with the entire year's
Sanctoral Cycle, at this link:
http://www.chirhopress.com/products/product_details/BookRevLiturgicalCa04_05.html
-------------------------------------------------
7.
We are mourning our author Bill Gaston (please see our obituary for Bill
in article 1 of this edition of the Chi Rho Connection). It is never easy to
lose an author, but especially when he has for many years been a valued friend
and colleague.
In memory of this remarkable man, we encourage you to order his book (as Bill
himself would do were he still among us in life!). You may read about and order
it at this link:
http://www.chirhopress.com/products/product_details/BookRevChristianWithATwist.htm..
*****
Because of the changes to the Web site, the link to the 2004-2005 Liturgical
Calendar and Lectionary has changed. Order your 2004-2005 Liturgical Calendar
now. You can find it at
http://www.chirhopress.com/products/product_details/BookRevLiturgicalCa04_05.html
*****
Please join Chi Rho Press as a partner in ministry with Dr. Rembert Truluck.
You may buy his wonderful and inspiring book, "Steps to Recovery from Bible
Abuse," on line at
http://www.chirhopress.com/products/product_details/BookRevStepsToRecovery.html.
Or make a fully tax-deductible contribution by making your gift check out
to Chi Rho Press, designate that it is "For Dr. Truluck" in the memo line, and
send it to Chi Rho Press, P.O. Box 7864, Gaithersburg, MD 20898, USA. If you
prefer, you may make your contribution on line at this link:
http://www.chirhopress.com/sponsor.html. Just note in the
"Special Instructions and Comments" that your contribution is designated "For
Dr. Truluck" and we will make sure he receives your generous gift.
*****
Please do not forget the new way for local churches to start their own church
bookstores, our Church Bookstore Starter Kit. Chi Rho Press would certainly be
only one of a number of publishing houses that a local church might want to
purchase books from for resale. In order to make the process a little easier,
we offer an easy to deal with starter kit of books on consignment for the first
six months to serve as the nucleus for a new local church bookstore.
See the September 30th edition of the Chi Rho Connection to review the terms for
this opportunity, on the Web site at
http://www.chirhopress.com/newsletter_archive/2004_archieve_files/newsletter_V_No16.html
*****
On a budget? There are two book on our Remainder Table at reduced prices. You
can find "Called OUT! The Voices and Gifts of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and
Transgendered Presbyterians" by the Rev. Jane Adams Spahr, et al, and "Come
Home: Reclaiming Spirituality and Community as Gay Men and Lesbians," by Chris
Glaser. Both books are at significantly reduced prices.
Visit the Remainder Table at this link:
http://www.chirhopress.com/products/remainders.html.
*****
It is not too early to think about your holiday shopping! Christmas is almost
two months away. Chi Rho Press never closes, at least our Web site never
closes, and it is available for your shopping needs 24 hours a day, 365 days a
year (366 days this year!).
We hope you will consider doing at least some of your holiday shopping at Chi
Rho Press.
Gracia y paz,
R. Adam DeBaugh, Director, Adam@ChiRhoPress.com.
******************************************
We are glad you are partners in ministry with us here at Chi Rho Press. We are eager for your comments, your suggestions, your assistance with selling our books, and your own purchases! And of course, we covet your prayers for this ministry.
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For all e-mail correspondence, please write Adam@ChiRhoPress.com.
Our snail mail address is:
Chi Rho Press, Inc. P.O. Box 7864 Gaithersburg, MD 20898
Our telephone and fax number is 301/926-1208.
Customers outside the U.S. and especially our Canadian friends can order using credit cards on our Web page or through our Canadian distributor, MAP Enterprises, Mary Ann Pearson, at her Web page, http://www.christiangays.com.
Copyright 2004, Chi Rho Press, Inc.
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