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CHI RHO
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Vol. VI, No. 19
1. Bad Back Delays Publication
3. Have you started your
Christmas shopping?
*****
This
issue's Quotes: "Unattended Children Will be Given an Espresso and a
Free Puppy." Sign in a Gift Shop Window.
***** Welcome once again to the Chi Rho Connection, the
electronic newsletter of Chi Rho Press. Thank you for passing this Chi Rho
Connection on to others. 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.
Bad Back Delays Publication We are sorry for the delay in this edition of the Chi
Rho Connection. Director Adam DeBaugh fell victim to a ruptured disk in his back
on Friday, Nov. 4, and has been laid up ever since. He is beginning to get back
on his feet, though still in some pain. The back injury happened at Adam's
secular job and he is covered by workman's compensation. Adam is getting around a bit better now, but it is
difficult to sit at the computer for longer than 30 to 45 minutes. Please keep
Adam in your prayers for a swift and complete recovery.
Return to table of contents The 2005-2006 Liturgical Calendar and Lectionary, Year
B is now on the Chi Rho Press Web site. You may view it and order it at this
link:
http://www.chirhopress.com/products/product_details/BookRevLiturgicalCa05_06.html The 2005-2006 Liturgical Calendar and Lectionary sells
for 11.95 each, $9.50 each for six or more copies, plus shipping and handling. The Lectionary in the Liturgical Calendar is 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. (These are intended as only a very
brief overview to identify general themes as an aid to worship planning. We do
not represent them as anything approaching a thorough exegesis.) The First
Reading is usually from the Hebrew Testament, but there are exceptions, such as
the use of readings from Acts during the Easter season. These are sometimes selected thematically to fit the
Liturgical Calendar, but often are simply being read through key passages over a
series of weeks. This is followed by a Response, usually a Psalm. The Epistle
Reading is next, like the Hebrew Testament Reading typically a series of key
passages from the same book being read over a number of weeks. Finally the
Gospel Reading follows the story of Jesus through the Christmas and Easter
cycles, plus the teachings of Jesus the rest of the year. 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 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, a former
Roman Catholic priest (before her transition). 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). As a special added section, we have included
alternative readings for the four Sundays of Pride-Tide (June) prepared by the
Rev. Gordon McCoy. The four sets of readings for Pride-Tide may be used at any
time in the year that the faith community celebrates LGBT Pride. The standard
Revised Common Lectionary readings are included for the four Sundays in June as
well. The 2005-2006 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. We think you will like this new Liturgical Calendar. Order the 2006 Calendar at this new link:
http://www.chirhopress.com/products/product_details/BookRevLiturgicalCa05_06.html The 2006 Liturgical Calendar and Lectionary sells for $11.95 each, $9.50 each for six or more copies, plus
shipping and handling.
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3.
Have you started your Christmas shopping? Believe it or not, Christmas is a little over a month
away. Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? What if we could point you to a store that is open 24
hours a day, seven days a week; where you can shop in your pajamas if you want;
where you can buy books, stained glass, and even stocking stuffers; and where
shipping within the United States is free for orders over $100! Of course, we
are talking about our own Web site, www.ChiRhoPress.com. Books make great gifts! Titles such as Steps to
Recovery from Bible Abuse, Living as the Beloved, Christian with a Twist, The
Bible and Homosexuality, two different Lenten studies, Come Home!, Called OUT!,
Positively Gay, My Memory Book, the new 2006 Liturgical Calendar and Lectionary,
The Road to Emmaus, and Together in Love are all available and ready to ship.
Plus we have audio and video tapes, CDs, five
different stained glass designs, rainbow key chains and bracelets, and more! ***** We have designed gift certificates that can be made
out for any amount you care to give. These are not yet available on our Web site, so send
your check with a note indicating that you are buying a Gift Certificate and we
will make up an attractive Gift Certificate for the amount of your check for you
to give along with a copy of our catalog. Chi Rho Press Gift Certificates make excellent gifts!
Order some today at Chi Rho Press, P.O. Box 7864,
Gaithersburg, MD 20898. ***** Come shop at Chi Rho Press!
Return to table of contents Here is 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 the late
William 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
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 entitled "Suffering" from the
Ordinary Time section of "Christian with a Twist." Please read Romans 5:1-5 There is something about a Christian that loves to
suffer. Or maybe we just like to talk about suffering. Jesus bore our sins on the cross, but have you not
noticed how we just love to pick them up and carry them around some more. Oh,
and there ain't no cross like the cross we bear. Well, the one Jesus bore we do
grant him that. Thank God we have a little humility. Jesus willingly suffered, but he did not want to. Even
he asked God to take the cup from him if it be possible. It was not possible. The sins of the world were too
great. Sin causes suffering, there is no doubt about it and
often for the innocent. Paul suffered, too, though you would think that he
also enjoyed a certain kind of glory. One would hope that he felt joy, as our
pastor is always reminding us to do, but that is hard to detect in his writings. Many people before and after Jesus have suffered
because of their religion. Religious persecution is no laughing matter, and just
about every religion has suffered it and inflicted it upon others. I do not know
if other religions preach going forth in joy or loving your neighbor. I know
that we Christians need to work on both. In Mark 10:14, in the King James Bible, Jesus says,
"Suffer the little children to come unto me. . . ." I was reminded of this the
other day when I watched a mother walking down the street with a toddler a few
steps behind just crying and sobbing as she stumbled along. The mother knew
nothing was really wrong and was just letting her cry it out. Maybe Jesus is like that mother. We tag along crying
like we have been hurt. He just leads on, knowing that if we are really
suffering some calamity we will probably change our tune. Children can be such a
pain in the butt. They are a lot more fun when they laugh and play even their
silly games. Jesus probably thinks that about us as well.
http://www.chirhopress.com/products/product_details/BookRevChristianWithATwist.htm
Return to table of contents As a regular feature in the Chi Rho Connection, we are
offering up traditional saints listed in the 2005 Liturgical Calendar and
Lectionary from today until our next scheduled electronic newsletter. ***** Tues., Nov. 15, St. Winifred. Prayers of the Saints:
"The prayers of the saints have mighty power to help
our need; but they are specially effective when we help ourselves by doing
penance, and seek to obtain what we ask by striving after better things," St.
John Chrysostom. Sat., Nov. 19, St. Gregory the Wonder Worker. Devotion
to the second "Eve:" "The chain of Eve's disobedience was broken by Mary's
obedience. That which Eve bound by her unbelief, Mary set free by her faith.
Mary became the advocate of Eve. The cunning of the serpent was worsted by the
simplicity of the dove," St. Irenaeus. Sun., Nov. 20, St. Edmund the Martyr. Patience in
adversity: St. Edmund's example endures! In prosperity he lived to do God's will
and therefore in adversity he still answered when called on by that holy will to
suffer. Learn from him to accept all sufferings as from the hands of God. Mon., Nov. 21, St. Hugh of Lincoln. Moral courage: St.
Hugh's greatest lesson for us is that the presence of God in church through all
times has been sustained and made invincible by the constancy of the pastors and
lay people. If God be with us, who can be against us? Tues., Nov. 22, St. Cecily. Joy in Christ's service:
St. Cecily teaches us to rejoice and be happy in every sacrifice we make as a
pledge and sign of our love of Christ. If we welcome everything that comes our
way, both good and bad, and use it as learning tools, it hastens our union with
Christ. Wed., Nov. 23, St. Clement I. Respect for clergy:
"Those who abide in obedience to the clergy inherit honor and glory from God,
who exalts them and writes them in the book of God's memorial for ever and
ever," St. Clement. "Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep
watch over you as people who must give an account. Obey them so that their work
will be a joy, not a burden" (Hebrews 13:17). Thurs., Nov. 24, Thanksgiving (U.S.A.) Fri., Nov. 25, St. Catherine of Alexandria (Patron
saint: preachers). Constancy: The constancy displayed by the saints cannot be
isolated from their previous lives (before becoming saints), but is their
natural sequence. If we wish to emulate their perseverance, we must first learn
to be faithful to grace. Sat., Nov. 26, St. Leonard of Port Maurice. The way of
the cross: If you are to advance from virtue to virtue, from grace to grace,
from good to better, meditate daily, and with all the devotion you can muster.
"Consider Christ who endured such opposition from sinful ones, so that you will
not grow weary and lose heart" (Hebrews 12:4). Sun., Nov. 27, St. John Berchmans. Faithfulness in
little things: John's way was to "set great store on little things" and this
like another of his sayings, "speak little, do much" shows how in so uneventful
and short a life he became so great a man and saint. Nothing was of small
importance to him that had to do with God. Diversity Date :Commemoration: Harvey Milk Mon., Nov. 28, Bd. Cuthbert Mayne. The Lamb of God:
The martyrs teach us that no matter how weak and distrustful of yourself you may
be, you can suffer for Christ's sake and by suffering win your crown. "In time
of persecution, the world closes in on us, but heaven opens; Antichrist
threatens, but Christ defends; death comes, but everlasting life follows," St.
Cyprian. Tues., Nov. 29, St. Andrew the Apostle.
Self-sacrifice: Tradition holds that Andrew was crucified; it also says that
when he saw the cross on which he was to die, he exclaimed, "O good cross, made
beautiful by Christ's body, you are welcome! Receive me and present me to my
Master, that He who redeemed me through you may now accept me from you." He
remained on the cross two days preaching to all who passed by. Wed., Nov. 30, St. Eligius (Patron saint: prisoners,
jewelers). Sacred relics: A former goldsmith, he created many sacred relics for
many saints. "When God calls the saints to God's-self, God might, did God so
please, take their bodies also; but God wills to leave them in our charge, for
our help and consolation." Be careful to follow St. Eligius in his respect for
sacred things. ***** Order the 2005-2006 Liturgical Calendar and
Lectionary, complete with the entire year's Sanctoral Cycle, at this link:
http://www.chirhopress.com/products/product_details/BookRevLiturgicalCa05_06.html
Return to table of contents I apologize for the delay in getting this edition of
the Chi Rho Connection out, and for missing the last couple of weeks of the Chi
Rho Reflection. As you read in the first article, a ruptured disk has pretty
much kept me in pain and out of commission for two weeks. The discomfort is
lessening and I hope to continue to heal and get stronger. Please keep me in
your prayers. ***** We are excited about the production of the Liturgical
Calendar and Lectionary for the 2005-2006 church year, Year B in the reckoning
of the Revised Common Lectionary. Please order your copy today! ***** Of course, with Christmas just a little over one month
away, it is not too early to start doing your holiday hopping at
www.ChiRhoPress.com. We never close! ***** There are some wonderful tapes and CDs of good
Christian music available at www.ChiRhoPress.com. Please visit! ***** Please check out the Chi Rho Cards! Our line of
greeting cards, by the talented New York artist Timothy Leetch, are now
available. See the descriptions of the cards on our Web site at:
http://www.chirhopress.com/products/cards.html. Order some cards today! ***** 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. If you've received the Chi Rho Connection as a result
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we will ship your order after receiving your check or money order. Please
always include your e-mail address, mailing address, and telephone number. 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. Some of our books are
also available through our Canadian distributor, MAP Enterprises, Mary Ann
Pearson, at her Web page,
http://www.christiangays.com. Copyright 2005, Chi Rho Press, Inc.
20 November 2005
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