This Issue's quote

1. New 2008 Liturgical Calendar
2. Please Become A Guardian Angel
3. "Sweet Rivers of Mercy"
4. May We Suggest "Steps to Recovery from Bible Abuse"?
5. "Christian with a Twist"
6. Adam's Last Word

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This issue's Quotes:

"Idolatry is committed not merely by setting up false gods, but also by setting up false devils."
G. K. Chesterton

"Beware lest we mistake our prejudices for our convictions."
Harry A. Ironside

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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.

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Direct all other e-mail to Adam@ChiRhoPress.com.
 

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1. New 2008 Liturgical Calendar!

The new Liturgical Calendar and Lectionary is out! The new Church Year starts with the first Sunday in Advent, December 2, 2007. Chi Rho Press’ annual Liturgical Calendar and Lectionary for 2007-2008 is back from the printer and ready to ship.

The NEW 2007-2008 Liturgical Calendar and Lectionary Year A 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/BookRevLiturgicalCa07_08.html

The 2007-2008 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 of the church year. Our Liturgical Calendar is packed with useful information for planning worship and preaching in the local church. 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) 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 called "Worship Planning." This includes suggestions for decorations or symbols for special seasons, such as Advent wreaths; the liturgical color for the day; etc.

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.

Then comes a section called "Special Events," which includes any special events occurring that day or that week that you may wish to commemorate, such as World AIDS Day, and some special occasions for celebrations of diversity, such as 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 five Sundays of Pride-Tide (June) prepared by the Rev. Gordon McCoy. The five 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 five Sundays in June as well.

The 2007-2008 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 Liturgical Calendar.

Order the 2008 Calendar today at this new link:
http://www.chirhopress.com/products/product_details/BookRevLiturgicalCa07_08.html

The 2008 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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2. Please Become A Guardian Angel

Chi Rho Press has a Guardian Angels program and we would love for you to become a member. We are looking for individuals, couples, or families who will become sponsors of the Press and more involved as partners in this ministry.

Our vision of ecumenical, grass roots ministry really takes hold with the implementation of the Guardian Angel Individual Sponsor Program. Won't you become a part of this ministry? We are inviting you to become a Guardian Angel of Chi Rho Press today!

Guardian Angels will

1. Receive a welcome gift of your choice of one of the products on our Web site as a thank you for your support.

2. Be listed as a Guardian Angel Sponsor in Chi Rho Press publications, press releases, eNewsletters, and on the Web page, with your permission.

3. Receive an annual report prepared just for Sponsors.

4. Be informed first about advance sales of publications from Chi Rho Press.

5. And of course, you will remain in our prayers!

And what do we ask from our Guardian Angels in return? Only three things,

1. Please keep the ministry of Chi Rho Press in your prayers.

2. A gift of at least $150 a year to Chi Rho Press from individuals, couples, or families.

3. Keep your friends, family, co-workers, and churches informed about the resources available from Chi Rho Press, our Web site, and our eNewsletter, this Chi Rho Connection and the weekly Chi Rho Reflection.

That's it. For just $150 a year, you can become a Guardian Angel Sponsor of this growing publishing house, serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and seeking community of faith. Chi Rho Press is reaching people with resources that are not available anywhere else, resources that are made especially for our LGBT community.

"Even though we have managed to keep the costs of this special ministry very low, we need your support to grow and to expand our outreach. Won't you help?" asks former Board member and continuing supporter Steve Barchers.

Simply send your check for at least $150 to Chi Rho Press, ATTN: Guardian Angel Program, P.O. Box 7864, Gaithersburg, MD 20898. Or just go to our Web site at http://www.chirhopress.com/sponsor.html and click on the$150 contribution as a minimum to become a Guardian Angel.

If you have specific questions about the Guardian Angel Program, you may e-mail us at Angels@ChiRhoPress.com, or telephone us at 301/926-1208.

Thank you for your support!
 

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3. "Sweet Rivers of Mercy"

The wonderful and talented Kevin Larson, music director at my home congregation, Open Door MCC, Boyds, MD, USA, recently led our excellent choir in a new song. The words seemed so meaningful to us that I reprint them here for you. The song "Sweet Rivers of Mercy" is copyright 2007 by Blue Jack Music and published by Worship Today Music Service.

"Sweet Rivers of Mercy"

Sweet rivers of mercy are beckoning me
To leave the comforts of shore;
To wade in forgiveness, wash up with grace,
Be cleansed forever more, be cleansed forevermore.

God’s love like a spring in the wilderness flows
An unexpected relief
For ev’ry despairing, withering soul
Who comes to kneel and drink, who comes to kneel and
drink.

Streams of pardon, fresh and free;
Source, Most Holy O taste and see!

Lord knows how we long for a sip from the well,
Afraid of praying for more,
While pools of compassion, oceans of peace,
Lie right outside our door, all faithfully ignored.

Streams of pardon, fresh and free;
Source, Most Holy O taste and see!

Sweet rivers of mercy are beckoning me
To leave the comforts of shore;
Come wade in forgiveness, wash up with grace,
And praise God evermore, praise God forevermore!
 

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4. May we Suggest "Steps to Recovery from Bible Abuse"?

"Steps to Recovery from Bible Abuse" by Dr. Rembert Truluck is remarkable for many reasons. From a publishing standpoint, it is our largest book to date with over 550 pages. And it is the fastest selling and most popular book Chi Rho Press has ever produced.

The reasons for the popularity of "Steps" are clear.

Dr. Truluck speaks the language of ordinary people of faith, his book is written in plain language that all can understand, and concentrates on the basics, God's creation, love, and redemption of ALL humanity.

He has identified an important and lethal trend in the religious community, the tendency to be legalistic and judgmental and to use the faith and the Bible as a weapon to hurt people rather than a source of healing and love.

Truluck concentrates on the Good News of the Bible, Good News that is for everyone, not just heterosexual white men. Too often LGBT commentators concentrate on defending their position that the Bible doesn't really say anything bad about homosexuality. This is true, and Dr. Truluck does devote four chapters to the pitifully few verses that have been used to condemn LGBT people. He effectively counters those who insist that the Bible condemns Gay people.

But most of "Steps to Recovery from Bible Abuse" doesn't dwell on a rebuttal to those who use the Bible to attack LGBT people, but rather concentrates on those many passages of the Holy Scripture which speak words of love, understanding, tolerance, and joy for God's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and those who love them. Dr. Truluck proves that the Bible is our friend!

Lastly, Dr. Truluck offers a 12 Step program to counteract a history of Bible abuse in effective and joyful ways. The 12 Steps, plus a concluding thirteenth step, lead people through the pain inflicted on us by misunderstanding of the Bible and legalistic, judgmental religion, and on into the peace of God's love and acceptance. "Steps to Recovery from Bible Abuse" leads people from hate to love, from fear to confidence, and from pain to joy. It is a remarkable journey!

We invite you to take this journey with us! Buy "Steps to Recovery from Bible Abuse" on the Chi Rho Press Web site at
http://www.chirhopress.com/products/product_details/BookRevStepsToRecovery.html
using your credit card on our secure shopping cart.
 

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5. "Christian with a Twist"

Here is a selection from our 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 "Who Do You Like Best, God?" from the Ordinary Time section of "Christian with a Twist."

Please read Genesis 15:1-6 and Psalm 33:12-15

The ancient Hebrew people and even the Jewish people of today look to this passage from Genesis as an indication, even a proof, that God chose them as a special people. We Christians do the same. Sometimes it seems that we forget that most of us could not be descended from Abraham that in his time our ancestors were doing something else entirely in Europe, Africa, Asia or even the Americas places that were a mostly unknown world to Abraham.

Nobody's ancestors have ever been unknown to God, however. This passage is labeled, "God's Covenant with Abram" in my Bible. Sometimes we need to think that God is paying special attention to us. Sometimes we just cannot be satisfied with knowing that God loves all people. We need assurance that God loves us, us especially, that God loves us best.

We, just as much as the Jews, use this passage for that. We also use Jesus and our love for him as a proof that we have a special claim on God's love. I suppose every religion, no matter what name they may have for God, has stories of special covenants between their own ancestors and their own God.

This need to claim God as our own, sometimes portrayed as God claiming us, is probably as old as humankind. It is a part of our nature. Sometimes it is a part that gets us into trouble. We sometimes claim that God is a lot like us. We Christians sometimes even go so far as to make Jesus like us. Granted that is easier than trying to be like Jesus, but it does not turn out as well.

While we can be happy knowing that our own nation, our own people, are God's heritage, we show more maturity and a higher level of faith, if we also know that God loves other nations and other people just as much. God's total and unconditional love is hard to comprehend. Maybe that is why we are sometimes like children who ask their parents, "Who do you like best?" I am not so sure that God told Abram that God liked him best or would favor him over all others. Maybe God was just assuring him that his people would survive and always be loved.

http://www.chirhopress.com/products/product_details/BookRevChristianWithATwist.htm
 

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