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CHI RHO
CONNECTION |
Vol. VII, No. 9 1.
Special Events: June 27, Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots 2.
The Eleven
Commandments of E-mail 3.
May We Suggest
Three Books on HIV/AIDS Ministry? 4.
Step Number 3:
Examine Your Faith -------------------------------------------------- "The most called-upon prerequisite of a friend is an
accessible ear." -- Maya Angelou
***** 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
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see our entire lines of books, handouts, videos, tapes, tchochkas, and stained
glass. Direct all other e-mail to
Adam@ChiRhoPress.com.
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1. Special Events: June 27, Anniversary of the Stonewall
Riots On this day in 1969, LGBT people in the U.S.A. mark
the beginning of the modern movement for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and
transgendered equal rights. After the funeral of gay icon Judy Garland, patrons
of the Greenwich Village, NYC, gay bar, the Stonewall Inn, resisted what had
become routine police abuse and harassment and fought back. Led largely by drag
queens, many of whom were people of color, they started a series of
demonstrations and "riots" that caught the imagination of LGBT people throughout
New York City and indeed the world, leading to the birth of pride and LGBT
empowerment organizations like the Gay Liberation Front and later the Gay
Activists Alliance and then on to what we think of as the modern gay movement.
(From the Liturgical Calendar and Lectionary,
published by Chi Rho Press.)
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2.
The Eleven Commandments of E-mail I. Thou shalt include a clear and specific subject
line. II. Thou shalt edit any quoted text down to the
minimum thou needest. III. Thou shalt read thine own message thrice before
thou sendest it. IV. Thou shalt ponder how thy recipient might react
to thy message. V. Thou shalt check thy spelling and thy grammar.
VI. Thou shalt not curse, flame, spam, or USE ALL
CAPS. VII. Thou shalt not forward any chain letter. VIII. Thou shalt not use e-mail for any illegal or
unethical purpose. IX. Thou shalt not rely on the privacy of e-mail,
especially from work. X. When in doubt, save thy message overnight and
reread it in the light of the dawn. XI. That which thou findest hateful to receive,
sendest thou not unto others.
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3.
May We Suggest Three Books on HIV/AIDS
Ministry? As we commemorate 25 years since the beginning of the
HIV/AIDS pandemic on June 5, 1981, it is fitting to highlight three books
published by Chi Rho Press that are excellent resources for HIV/AIDS ministry
and for all those living with HIV. HIV/AIDS is still an important issue in our community
and in this issue we are featuring three important, small books on the HIV
health crisis. "Families Re-Membered: Pastoral Support for Friends
and Families Living with HIV/AIDS," by the Rev. Louis F. Kavar, Ph.D. HIV/AIDS
causes families to be re-structured, enlarged and changed or "re-membered."
This book explores the dynamics of family systems and the realities of extended
families of choice in the context of HIV/AIDS. $10.95 each, six or more copies
for $8.25 each, plus shipping and handling.
http://www.chirhopress.com/products/product_details/BookRevFamiliesRemembered.htm
"To Celebrate and to Mourn: Liturgical Resources for
Worshiping Communities Living with AIDS," by the Rev. Louis F. Kavar, Ph.D. "As
people who continue to live in the midst of AIDS, one of our greatest resources
is that of the community of faith." Dr. Kavar discusses liturgical symbols that
have special meaning in the AIDS crisis for churches, and provides parts of
liturgies for various HIV/AIDS-related worship experiences. $3.95 each, six or
more copies for $2.95 each, plus shipping and handling.
http://www.chirhopress.com/products/product_details/BookRevToCelebrateAndToMourn.htm "I'm Still Dancing! A Gay Man's Health Experience," by
the Rev. A. Stephen Pieters. A powerful book by a long-term survivor of AIDS:
articles, sermons and journal entries chronicle life with AIDS. Sick since 1982
and diagnosed with AIDS in 1984, Steve's cancers have gone into complete
remission and he remains well to this day. He served for many years as Field
Director of the UFMCC's AIDS Ministry. $8.95 each, six or more copies for $6.75
each, plus shipping and handling.
http://www.chirhopress.com/products/product_details/BookRevImStillDancing.htm
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4.
Step Number 3: Examine Your Faith
Step Number 3 in the "Steps to Recovery from Bible
Abuse," but the Rev. Dr. Rembert Truluck, is to Examine Your Faith. Here is the introductory material from chapter 8 of
"Steps to Recovery from Bible Abuse," in which Dr. Truluck outlines the third
step needed to recover from Bible abuse, examining your faith. Examine Your Faith You cannot win the battle against abusive religion by
yourself. Jesus won the victory for all people over oppressive religion. Take a fearless objective look at your faith. It is
really yours? Religion may have abused and oppressed you so that you have more
doubts than faith. How can you regain your spiritual life and health? How can
Jesus help? Jesus said, "Follow me" (Mark 8:34). What does following Jesus
mean to you? Every person experiences Jesus Christ in his or her
own way. No two people have exactly the same experience with Jesus, because no
two people are exactly alike. Attempts by religious leaders to expect and
demand conformity to a standard kind of "experience with Christ" for everyone
are unhealthy and usually lead to a shallow and hypocritical temporary religious
fix. Study the experiences with Jesus that are recorded in
the Gospels and The Book of Acts and you will notice that no two experiences are
exactly the same. Only Paul met Christ on the Road to Damascus. Your
experience with God in Christ will fit you just as the biblical experiences
always fit the personality and situation of each individual. Enjoy being
yourself. Let Jesus be for you what truly fits you. You have the promise of
the help of the Holy Spirit to guide you to discover and experience Jesus for
yourself in the ways that best fit you. Buy the complete book, "Steps to Recovery from Bible
Abuse," on the Chi Rho Press Web site, at this link:
http://www.chirhopress.com/products/product_details/BookRevStepsToRecovery.html
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 "Tongues" from the
Pentecost and Ordinary Time section of "Christian with a Twist." Please read Acts 2:1-13 "Filled with new wine." Too bad I did not know that
phrase back when … well, back when I had not had the experience of sharing the
cup with you all, and perhaps and hopefully having my eyes opened a bit and my
mind broadened. Maybe my thoughts would have been a bit more Christian-like
when I heard people say that God had spoken to them. At least I kept my mouth shut, except maybe after a
few drinks of old scotch, but I did not believe them. At best I thought they
were fooling themselves and at worst trying to fool me. But then God spoke. Well, I suppose maybe God had
spoken a lot, but I had not listened. Or maybe God did not speak until there
was at least a possibility that I could hear. The first couple times God spoke
to me, it was not with a voice or words. That was probably a good thing. God
just planted the necessary concepts into my brain, like my first time at MCC
when God "told me" I would be coming every Sunday from then on. At least I had the sense to put some of my skepticism
aside. I am glad God was easy on me for a while, and let me spend some time
here before hearing anyone speak in tongues or get slain in the spirit. But there did come a time when God had to raise God's
voice to me. Finding two quarters on the road two nights in a row, led me to
wonder if God had a message for me – at a time when I needed God's guidance.
"Take what God gives you!" God fairly shouted at me, and I accepted not just
those fifty cents, but the most meaningful relationship in my life thus far.
Yes God does speak, using whatever tongues,
messengers, or tools God needs to get the message across. Filled with new wine, yes, I suppose that on occasion
God has used that, too. But let us not use that as an excuse to try to drown
the voices in our heads. Let us just listen and know that God has many voices
and many songs to sing.
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 2006 Liturgical Calendar and
Lectionary from today until our next scheduled electronic newsletter. ***** Wed., June 14, St. Basil. Christian courage: "When I
look about me I seem to have no one on my side. I can but pray I may be found
in the number of those seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal. I
know our present persecutors seek my life; yet that shall reduce none of the
efforts I owe to the churches of God," St. Basil. Thurs., June 15, St. Germaine. Patience: St.
Germaine was a peasant, ignorant in human knowledge, who learned something that
is very precious in God's eyes: patience. She spent most of her life watching
over her family's flocks in the pastures, and in spite of neglect and cruelty,
she was good, kind, and devout. The unhappiness in her home was borne with
unfailing patience. Fri., June 16, St. John Regis. Others come first:
When St. John was struck in the face by someone whom he had rebuked, he replied,
"If you only knew me, you would have given me much more than that." His
meekness converted the man. It is in this spirit that he teaches us to win
souls to God. Sat., June 17, Sts. Marcian and Nicander. Christian
affection: Love God above all. Do not let any attachments keep you from
hearing God's voice. You help those you love best when you follow the call of
God. Do not grudge them to God when God calls them by death. They are more
than ever yours when they belong to God alone. Sun., June 18, St. Ephrem. Humility: Humility is the
path that leads us to abiding peace and brings down God's mercies on us. "Take
off my mask, you will see in me nothing but filth; take off my cloak of
hypocrisy, and you will find a hideous sepulcher," St. Ephrem. Mon., June 19, St. Juliana Falconieri. The Seven
Sorrows: "Meditate often on Mary's sorrows, sorrows inseparable from the
sufferings of her beloved son. If you seek the cross, there you will find the
mother; and where the mother is, there also is the son," St. Paul of the Cross.
"Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene" (John 19:25). Tues., June 20, St. George (Patron saint: England).
Fortitude: When your honor is at stake, compromise is the worst form of
imprudence. It is sometimes a duty to smash the idols we are called upon to
worship. "Does not one have hard service on earth? Are not one's days like
those of a hired worker?" (Job 7:1). Wed., June 21, St. Aloysius Gonzaga. Watchful
chastity: St. Aloysius used to say he doubted whether without penance grace
would continue to make headway against nature which, when not firmly dealt with
tends gradually to relapse into its old ways and to lose the discipline of
years. "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with
its passions and desires" (Galatians 5:24). Thurs., June 22, St. Thomas More (Patron saint: civil
servants). Putting first things first: The fundamental obligations of
Christian life are the same for all Christians, lay people and clergy: they
call for the recognition of God's sovereignty in all things, and faithfulness to
them may demand not only cheerful perseverance but heroism as well. Fri., June 23, St. Etheldreda. Separation: St.
Etheldreda chose to be a servant of God than the mistress of an earthly court,
having been married twice. Etheldreda is also known as St. Audrey. "Therefore
come out from them and be separate, says the LORD" (2 Corinthians 6:17). Sat., June 24, St. John Baptist. Forgetfulness of
self: St. John became great before God because he forgot himself and lived only
for Jesus, who is the source of all greatness. Remember that you are nothing:
your own will and desires can only lead to misery and sin. So, every day
sacrifice some one of your natural inclinations to our LORD and learn little by
little to lose yourself in Christ. Sun., June 25, St. Paulinus of Nola. Generosity: "An
athlete has not won when he has laid aside his clothing, it is then that the
contest begins and on its issue hangs the crown," St. Paulinus. "But whatever
was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ" (Philippians 3:7).
Mon., June 26, Sts. John and Paul. Moral victory:
These Christian brothers saw many wicked people prosper in their impiety but
were neither impressed nor dazzled by their example. They considered that
worldly prosperity accompanied by impunity in sin is the most dreadful of all
judgments, indicating reprobation. "To everyone who has shall be given; but
from him who does not have, even that which he has shall be taken away" (Luke
19:26). Tues., June 27, St. Peter Canisius. Upholding the
truth of the church: The champions of the faith prove the truth of their
teaching no less by the holiness of their lives than by the force of their
arguments. Never forget that to help to convert others you must first see to
your own soul. Diversity Date: Commemoration of the Stonewall
Rebellion (see article number one in this edition of the Chi Rho Connection).
Wed., June 28, St. Potamiaena. Chastity: Christ was
born of a virgin, that he might enable us to follow him in purity of soul and
body. He sanctified our flesh by taking it upon himself and with his last
breath he commended us to the care of his maiden mother. Day by day he feeds us
at the altar with the food of incorruption – his body and his blood. Thurs., June 29, St. Peter (Patron saint: fishers).
The successors of Peter: St. Peter lives on in his successors and guides and
feeds the flock committed to him. The reality of our devotion to him is the
surest test of the purity of faith. "Where Peter is, there is the Church," St.
Ambrose. "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 16:19).
Fri., June 30, St. Paul. Whole conversions: St. Paul
complains in his letter to the Christians at the church of Philippi that all
seek the things that are their own, and not the things that are of Christ. See
if these words apply to you, and resolve to give yourself to God without
reserve. "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you"
(Ephesians 5:14). Sat., July 1, St. Isidore of Madrid. Simple faith:
St. Isidore became a saint because he preferred prayer with God to conversation
with other people, and because he trusted the divine power and goodness rather
than any human aid. "Commit your way to the Lord; trust in God and God will do
this; God will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your
cause like the noonday sun" (Psalm 37:5). ***** 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 Happy LGBT Pride Month! I had the pleasure of marching with my new church,
Open Door MCC in Boyds, Maryland, in the Capital Pride in Washington, DC last
Saturday. Our float was the Garden of Eden, filled with wonderful plants and
flowers, and three couples, Adam and Eve, Adam and Steve, and Madam and Eve.
(Get it?) We had two other, um, elements. My friend David, whom we used to
call Cookie, wore an apple costume. Now I call him Apple Tart. And one of our
deaf members, Steven carried a very impressive snake wrapped around him. (The
pastor and his husband made the snake, it was not real.) Church folk took
pictures of Steven and I at the float, since we were the REAL Adam and Steve.
Modestly, I declined to be one of the Adams on the
float. I am too Gay to play the straight Adam with Eve, and not cute and hunky
enough to play the Adam with Steve. But I walked behind the float and carried a
sign that said, Separation of Church and Hate. I like that. We were very well received by the crowds, though my
feet STILL hurt from the six miles or so we walked. There were a lot of LGBT religious organizations in
the parade, including a growing number of United Church of Christ congregations
and two Baptist churches! Happy Pride Month, indeed! ***** I get so tired of wading through e-mails! We get up
to 500 to 600 a day at ChiRhoPress.com. That is in part because we belong to
over 100 list-serves. And that does not include spam, which our ISP's very
efficient spam filter, Postini, segregates out before it reaches our in box.
That is another couple hundred a day! Once in a while, of course, some gem comes along in an
e-mail, and we feel moved to send it along to you. Like the second article in
today's Chi Rho Connection, the Eleven Commandments of E-mail. (Eleven!
Sigh!) Of course I would add a twelfth, "Thou shalt provide the provenance of
all clever writings thou sendest on to others." So I apologize that the source
of these commandments for e-mail was not included in the e-mail I received. ***** Well, it is June again. And that means, at least for
me, that another birthday is approaching. (sigh) I shall be 59 this year. I
think it will be my last birthday. I am not going to acknowledge them any
more. I am NOT going to turn 60! My friend Barbara suggested tonight that I give my age
in Celsius. But that would make me 15 this year. I do not think I can pass for
15! Well, one way to gladden an aging queer's heart, if
you are so moved, would be for you to make a contribution to the ministry of Chi
Rho Press. Become a Guardian Angel or even just send a $59.00 check to Chi Rho
Press. In any case, I hope you will think of me on June 23 as I turn 15
(Celsius)! ***** 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 Please 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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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 2006, Chi Rho Press, Inc.
14 June 2006
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