Chi Rho Press eNewsletter
Vol. 1, No. 13
20 December 1999

Welcome to the Chi Rho Press eNewsletter.

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Contents:

1. The "Twelve Days of Christmas" Explained
2. The 2000 Liturgical Calendar Introduced
3. A Special Offer -- the Pre-publication Sale of Steps to Recovery from Bible Abuse
4. Promissory Notes are Still Available
5. Adam's Last Word

1. The "Twelve Days of Christmas" Explained

(From the UFMCC LeaderLink, 17 December 1999, taken from the Las
Vegan, the MCC Las Vegas newsletter.)

From 1558 to 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not able to
practice their faith openly so they had to find other ways to pass
their beliefs. The Christmas carol "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is
one example of how they did it. Written in England as a catechism
song for young Catholics, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" contains
hidden meanings intended to help children remember lessons of faith.
Instead of referring to an earthly suitor, the "true love" mentioned
in the song really refers to God. The "me" who receives the presents
is symbolic of every baptized person.

The "partridge in a pear tree" is Jesus Christ. In the song, Christ
is symbolically presented as a mother partridge that feigns injury to
decoy predators from helpless nestlings.

The meaning of the other symbols are:

Two turtle doves are the Old and New Testaments. Three French hens
are faith, hope, and charity. Four calling birds are the four
Gospels. Five golden rings are the first five books of the Old
Testament which outline humanity's fall from grace. Six geese
a-laying are the six days of creation. Seven swans a-swimming are
seven gifts of the Holy Spirit (the seven sacraments of the Roman
Catholic Church). Eights maids a-milking are the eight Beatitudes.
Nine ladies dancing are nine fruits of the Holy Spirit. Ten lords
a-leaping are the Ten Commandments. Eleven pipers piping are the
eleven faithful disciples. Twelve drummers drumming are the twelve
points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

************************************

2. New Liturgical Calendar.

Chi Rho Press has published a liturgical calendar for MCC and other
Christian communities of faith every year since 1995. The Rev. Joseph
Gilbert has done a wonderful job creating these calendars for us.
This year, Joseph has retired from that task in order to enjoy his
retirement years.

The Rev. Tom Bohache, pastor of MCC in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, has
taken on the liturgical calendar this year. Naturally it is somewhat
different from in past years, but the scripture readings for every
Sunday and holy day are listed, along with new secular readings that
Tom has accumulated in his long and successful ministry. He has also
added a chart of liturgical colors, and other surprises.

The Liturgical Calendar for Year B, which begins with the first
Sunday of Advent on November 28, 1999 and goes through the end of the
church year in November, 2000, is now available for $4.95 each, $3.75
each for six or more copies, plus shipping and handling.

(Shipping and handling is $2.50 for total orders of up to $19.99,
$3.50 for orders of $20 to $39.99, $4.50 for orders of $40 to $59.99,
$5.50 for orders of $60 to $79.99, $6.50 for orders of $80 to $99.99,
and 7% of the order for orders of over $100.)

3. Special Offer

Chi Rho Press is pleased to announce the up-coming publication of
"Steps to Recovery from Bible Abuse," by Dr. Rembert Truluck. We know
you have seen this before but if you haven't ordered you are running
out of time to take advantage of this special offer. We are now
entering the edits resulting in proofreading the final galleys by
three people (Director Adam DeBaugh, Assistant Editor Kevin Fries,
and author Rembert Truluck). The publication date has had to be moved
back to the first weeks of January, 2000.

This long-awaited book will retail for $24.95, but we are now
offering a Pre-Paid, Pre-Publication Sale. From now until the books
are delivered from the printer and bindery, "Steps to Recovery from
Bible Abuse" is available for$19.95, plus shipping and handling.

This price (20% off the list price) is only available for pre-paid
orders received before publication of "Steps to Recovery from Bible
Abuse." Books ordered through this Pre-Paid, Pre-Publication Sale
will be the first ones shipped as the book rolls off the presses.
Send your check or money order, made out to Chi Rho Press, to us at
P.O. Box 7864, Gaithersburg, MD 20898.

Shipping and handling for this special sale is $2.50 for one book,
$3.50 for two books, $4.50 for three books, $5.50 for four books,
$6.50 for five books, and 7% of the total for six or more books
ordered. You may order (and prepay)as many books as you want at this
$19.95 price.

"Steps to Recovery from Bible Abuse," says Dr. Truluck, "will be over
550 pages of information and encouragement to equip gay, lesbian,
bisexual, and transgendered people and all others who have been
abused and oppressed by religion to learn the truth and to rejoice
and grow in their God-given worth as individuals."

"Steps to Recovery from Bible Abuse" is organized in 18 chapters. The
first five chapters contain introductory material, including essays
on "Why this Book is Here," "My Story" by Dr. Truluck, "Jesus Heals
Sick Religion," "Guidelines for Small Groups," and "How to Use this
Book."

The next 13 chapters are the Steps to Recovery from Bible Abuse. Each
of the 13 Steps contains four Bible Study Lessons, suitable for
personal study or small group use. As a result there are 52 Lessons,
one for each week of the year.

The 13 Steps are organized into five parts, "Jesus and Spiritual
Freedom," "Eliminate the Negative," "Accentuate the Positive," "Reach
Out," and "Beyond Recovery."

In addition, there are six special studies in the book's appendix:
"How I Lead Workshops and Small Groups," "Homosexuality and the
Bible," "Challenging the Ex-Gay Industry," "The Dynamics of Religious
Abuse," "A Gay Christian's Response to the Southern Baptists," and
"How do You Name God?"

With all this information and at over 550 pages, "Steps to Recovery
from Bible Abuse" is well worth the $24.95 list price. So the
Pre-Paid, Pre-Publication sale price of $19.95 is a true bargain. And
by sending your check or money order for this pre-publication sale
you will also enable Chi Rho Press to pay for much of the printing
immediately.

Rembert Truluck says, "'Steps to Recovery from Bible Abuse' is far
more than a book of information, Bible studies, and personal
experiences. It is a book that will be extended through my web site
in on-going expanding resources of updates, bibliography, and new
information about our dynamic changing world and our place in it.
This combination of book and web site will provide a practical and
constantly up-dated resource for individuals and small groups to
learn and experience the truth and to share their hope with others."

Send your check or money order for this important, ground-breaking
book today to Chi Rho Press, P.O. Box 7864, Gaithersburg, MD 20898.
Thank you!

4. "Steps to Recovery from Bible Abuse" Promissory Notes Still Available

In order to fund the production of Dr. Rembert Truluck's book, "Steps
to Recovery from Bible Abuse," $1,000 Promissory Notes at 8% interest
are available. We are looking for people who are interested in
supporting Dr. Truluck's excellent work by helping to fund the
publication of his book. The notes will be repaid over a two year
period at 8% simple interest, with payments being sent quarterly.
Write Adam@ChiRhoPress.com for more information. Read more about Dr.
Truluck's ministry and "Steps to Recovery from Bible Abuse" at
http://www.truluck.com.

5. Adam's Last Word.

That's it for this issue of the Chi Rho Press eNewsletter.

All the staff at Chi Rho Press wish you a blessed Christmas. We pray
that this season of hope, in which we celebrate the birth of the
Messiah, will be a special time of hope, joy, and peace for you all.
I know that this week especially is filled with scurrying around
doing last-minute shopping, writing cards, and a lot of parties and
events. But I hope you all will be able to take time to reflect on
"the reason for the season" are and no, Virginia, that is NOT Santa
Claus. The reason for the season is the birth of hope and salvation,
Emmanuel are "God with us" are come in human form to redeem and save
all of humanity, without exception. This little baby who is the
Messiah, the Savior, did not come only for white, heterosexual men,
but for all of us. In the wildly inclusive love that God showed on
that first Christmas, we should take our cue to be the wildly
inclusive, radically accepting, and revolutionary church which is
truly a "house of prayer for ALL people."

So Happy Christmas to all, and God does mean ALL! All the staff and
authors of Chi Rho Press join me in sending warm holiday greetings to
all our friends and supporters.

Thank you and God bless you.

Grace and peace,

Adam DeBaugh, Director The Rev. Clay Witt, Ron DeVrou, and Steve
Barchers (the Board of Directors) Kevin Stone Fries, Assistant
Editor, Mark David Streetman, Web Master, and Stephen deVilbiss,
Office Staff

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