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eNewsletter 19 June 02 |
Chi Rho Connection ************************* Contents:
1. Adam's Birthday Celebration! -------------------------------------------------- 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@yahoo.com. Direct all other e-mail to Adam@ChiRhoPress.com. See the end of this eNewsletter for a complete list of e-mail addresses at ChiRhoPress.com. -------------------------------------------------- 1.
Adam's Birthday Celebration!t -------------------------------------------------- 2. Reflections on Turning 55 by Adam DeBaugh
-------------------------------------------------- 3. Featured Products: Handouts for Pride Month -------------------------------------------------- 4. How to carry your burden -------------------------------------------------- 5. Give the Gift of Information to your Church or
Local Library -------------------------------------------------- 6. Adam's Last Word: --------------------------------------------------
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. Grace and peace, Adam DeBaugh, Director
--------------------------- If you've received our Chi Rho Connection as a result of the good offices of someone passing it along to you (which we certainly encourage) and would like to receive it directly from us, please follow the directions at the end of our Connection to subscribe. Copyright 2002, Chi Rho Press, Inc. ****************************************** SUBSCRIBE: ChiRhoPress-subscribe@yahoogroups.com R. Adam DeBaugh, Director, Adam@ChiRhoPress.com. Visit the Chi Rho Press Website http://www.ChiRhoPress.com
Vol. III, No. 10
19 June 02
2. Reflections on Turning 55, by Adam DeBaugh
3. Featured Product: Handouts
4. How to Carry Your Burden
5. Give the Gift of Information to your Church or
Local Library
6. Adam's Last Word:
'The test of our progress is not whether we add more to
the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we
provide enough for those who have too little.'
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Please visit our Web site at http://www.chirhopress.com to see our entire lines of books, handouts, tchochkas, and stained glass.
If you would like to help celebrate or to honor Adam on his birthday, the board and staff of Chi Rho Press would like to invite you to make a contribution to this ministry in Adam's honor.
All contributions are fully tax deductible. May we suggest a $55.00 contribution in honor of Adam's 55 years?
Just send your check or money order, made out to Chi Rho Press with the notation, 'Adam's Birthday' in the memo line, to Chi Rho Press, P.O. Box 7864, Gaithersburg, MD 20898.
Or make your birthday gift on line at http://www.chirhopress.com/sponsor.html.
All contributions in honor of Adam's birthday will be used for the ministry of Chi Rho Press.
First of all, when your AARP membership card arrives in the mail (it arrived on the day of my 50th birthday a few years ago; how do they do that?) fill out the form, write the check, and send it in. There are discounts! Magazines! Special offers! Weird little insurance programs! And you get to be part of one of the most potent lobbies in American history.
Second, learn the proper terminology and use the words often. Older men (70 plus) are 'geezers,' a sobriquet I look forward to using proudly. In the meantime, I am stuck in 'advanced middle age.' It is possible for an older man even as young as in the mid-50's like me, to start cultivating the persona of 'curmudgeon,' which is a wonderful way to be. Being a curmudgeon means that we get to start doing cool things that we can ascribe to our age, which leads me to . . .
Third, 'I can make that noise with my body and not be embarrassed because I am old.' This is a wonderful benefit of AARP-ness. Bodily function noises are acceptable for the very young and the very old, neither of whom can help themselves. At 50-something we need to be careful of not exercising the full panoply of bodily function noises, but we can start small with joyful anticipation of increasing our obnoxious behavior.
Fourth, in your 50s you have reached the age when, if you have children, you can reasonably expect to begin the appropriate separation from them. AARP-titude is still an awkward time, old enough to begin to assert your freedom, but still young enough to be a bit tied down by your kids. Old enough to be able to begin making them take responsibility for their lives, and still young enough to have to be ultimately responsible for their lives. Old enough to begin to make serious plans for when the kids take care of you, but still young enough to have to take care of them. You get the idea. The most excellent part about being in your 50s is that you can begin the process of developing an adult-adult relationship with your child, rather than a parent-child relationship. This will scare them. It will also confuse them. It will serve them right.
Fifth, you are now probably closer to retirement than you are to the beginning of your work life. I can't figure out the benefit of this, since I personally don't have the stamina, energy, or physical abilities to enjoy goofing off as much as I did when I was 20, but there must be something to this!
Sixth, kids, even some bratty kids, will call you 'Ma'am' or 'Sir' which again will be a mixed blessing. Play the 'aged respect card' for all it's worth and remember that old age, experience, and deviousness will always win out over youth, arrogant innocence, and beauty. Also always remember that the smart-ass kids will eventually grow old and useless too, if we let the little monsters live that long. Age is the great equalizer.
Seventh, for a brief, shining moment, when you first wake up in the morning, you will feel 25 again. Then you will try to get up. Delay the getting up part, or in fact any movement at all, for as long as possible. Just lie there and revel in the feelings of youthfulness, regardless of how illusory they are. It may not seem like much, but some days it is the best part of the day.
And last, the older you get, the more outrageous things you can say and do. Eccentricity is the hallmark of graceful old age. You are now, with your AARP card in hand, officially able to begin to cultivate eccentric mannerisms, speak your mind with some impunity, and wear whatever you darned well please. (See number three about bodily function noises, which is potentially a less elegant form of this category.) Smoke a pipe. Wear a tam o'shanter. Die your hair an egregious color. Tell your coworker when he is being a jerk. Scratch when you itch, and where. Carry a walking stick. Wear an ascot. Start a collection of risqué matchbooks. Begin to develop your own trademark eccentricities that will grow and flourish as you continue to grow older.
So, happy birthday to me! Now if you see me driving around the entire Beltway this weekend, going 45 in the far left passing lane, and with my directional signal defiantly clinking, you will know why! Deal with it.
Three of our four Handouts are specifically designed for Metropolitan Community Churches, while the fourth, 'Free to Be: A Brief Look at the Bible and Homosexuality,' is useful for everyone dealing with the issue of the Bible and homosexuality.
The Chi Rho Press line of Handouts includes:
'FREE TO BE LESBIAN/GAY: A Brief Look at the Bible and Homosexuality,' by the Rev. Michael England. A brief analysis of the Biblical passages traditionally used to condemn homosexuality. Based on his best selling book, 'The Bible and Homosexuality,' now in its fifth edition from Chi Rho Press, Michael England has distilled the most important information from the book into this convenient, pocket-sized Handout.
'WELCOME TO MCC!' by R. Adam DeBaugh. Basic background information about the UFMCC. Useful for visitors to MCC churches or anyone interested in learning about MCC.
'WHAT DO WE BELIEVE?' by R. Adam DeBaugh. An explanation of the UFMCC Statement of Faith, the creedal statement that binds MCC members together worldwide.
'WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A MEMBER OF MCC?' by R. Adam DeBaugh. A description of the requirements for membership in MCC.
The four Handouts are helpful ministry tools for membership classes, visitors' packets, Pride events, while traveling on church business, or during visits to friends in the community. All four Handouts clearly and quickly inform readers about issues important to MCC congregations.
Chi Rho Press's Handouts are pocket size reference materials priced at $0.20 each, plus shipping and handling. Discounts can be arranged for orders of very large quantities. Handouts are six inches high by 18 inches long, and folded down to a handy, pocket-sized, six by three-inch brochure.
Order Handouts directly at http://www.chirhopress.com/products/brochures.html.
In addition, Chi Rho Press offers other books useful to MCC's ministry. 'The UFMCC Mission Statement,' by Rev. Virginia G. Miles and R. Adam DeBaugh reflects on an early mission statement adopted by the UFMCC General Council. Jean Gralley's insightful cartoons collected in 'What a Fellowship' will add levity and meaning to the congregational life of any MCC. Also, Gralley's 'Whole Church Body Book' explains church history in a way that all members can enjoy, with special attention to the life and call of the laity in the church.
Please visit our Web site at http://www.ChiRhoPress.com to learn about our full line of products that each celebrates the faith and sexuality of all people.
Order materials from our Web site, http://www.ChiRhoPress.com, using a credit card and the fast and convenient shopping cart option. Or send your check or money order in the amount of the price of the materials plus shipping and handling to:
Chi Rho Press
P.O. Box 7864
Gaithersburg, MD 20898
A monarch of long ago had twin sons. There was some confusion about which one was born first. As they grew to young manhood, the king sought a fair way to designate one of them as crown prince. All who knew the young men thought them equal in intelligence, wit, personal charm, health, and physical strength. Being a keenly observant king, he thought he detected a trait in one, which was not shared by the other.
Calling them to his council chamber one day, he said, 'My sons, the day will come when one of you must succeed me as king. The burdens of sovereignty are very heavy. To find out which of you is better able to bear them cheerfully, I am sending you together to a far corner of the kingdom. One of my advisors there will place equal burdens on your shoulders. My crown will one day go to the one who first returns bearing his burden like a king should.'
In a spirit of friendly competition, the brothers set out together. Soon they overtook an aged woman struggling under a burden that seemed far too heavy for her frail body. One of the boys suggested that they stop to help her. The other protested, 'We have a burden of our own to worry about. Let us be on our way.'
The objector hurried on while the other stayed behind to give aid to the aged woman. Along the road, from day to day, he found others who also needed help. A blind man took him miles out of his way, and a lame man slowed him to a cripple's walk.
Eventually he did reach his father's advisor, where he secured his own burden and started home with it safely on his shoulders. When he arrived at the palace, his brother met him at the gate, and greeted him with dismay. He said 'I don't understand. I told our father the burden was too heavy to carry. However did you do it?'
The future king replied thoughtfully, 'I suppose when I helped others carry their burdens, I found the strength to carry my own.'
Now More Than Ever, we recommend 'Called OUT' to our Presbyterian sisters and brothers. This is a book not only for Presbyterians, of course, but for all people who love God and seek to do God's will of justice and peace. Read this book and hear the authentic voice of Presbyterian Christianity. ($17.95 each.)
Now More Than Ever, we also recommend an excellent book by a Presbyterian layperson, the eloquent and brilliant Chris Glaser. 'Come Home!' is one of Chris' best books and we are proud to have published it. ($19.95 each.)
Now More Than Ever, people need to read 'The Bible and Homosexuality' by the Rev. Michael England, a basic primer on the few passages that have been incorrectly interpreted as referring to homosexuality. ($10.95 each.)
Now More Than Ever, people need to read Dr. Rembert Truluck's brilliant 'Steps to Recovery from Bible Abuse.' Dr. Truluck's Steps to healing and wholeness continue to be our best seller and a must-read book for any believer's library. ($24.95 each.)
Now More Than Ever, 'Positively Gay,' edited by Dr. Betty Berzon, provides helpful articles about many aspects of gay life. ($14.95 each.)
And Now More Than Ever, we round out our sextet of recommended books with 'The Road to Emmaus,' a book of daily devotions written by and for the LGBT community. ($9.95 each.)
All six of these books are available on our Web site, of course.
(All prices are for single copies, orders of six or more copies on the Web site will automatically include a generous discount, and shipping and handling will be added to all orders.)
Make a summertime gift to your church or seminary library or local library. Buy books!
Only the truth can combat hatred and evil. Help make the truth of God's all-inclusive love available to as many people as possible.
It just seems like a short time ago when all was bare and brown, but now the riot of new leaves, flowers, and plant life is all around us. Thunderstorms come rolling through the area with some frequency, 'boomers' my local weather reporter calls them. All part of God's wonderful creation.
Time passes, we grow older, and hopefully more centered, wiser, and more mature. Life continues with all its glory and woe. But as they say at MCC of Washington, DC, God is Good! All the Time!
This is also Gay and Lesbian Pride Month and there have been a number of pride celebrations around the country. Some of them have become very commercialized, very slick and fancy. I kind of miss the first Gay Pride Days in the early 70s in DC, when Gay Pride Day was a block party, on a single block at that, a real neighborhood gathering as our Queer Tribe gathered from around the metropolitan area to our neighborhood heart in the Dupont Circle area. As wonderful as our huge corporation-sponsored, elaborate, regimented, controlled, and expensive Pride Days have become, I still miss the more personal, intimate Gay Pride events of the old days. I guess I am becoming a dinosaur!
But if it's Pride Day, then summer is sure to follow (at least here in the Northern Hemisphere!) with vacations, long, languid Sunday afternoons (after church, of course), work in the garden, trips to the beach, lake, or pool, and time for fun and relaxation.
Have a perfectly splendid summer! And Happy Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered Pride Month!
If you have questions, please write to Question@ChiRhoPress.com.
For comments and suggestions about this eNewsletter, please write Connection@ChiRhoPress.com.
To learn about our Guardian Angel Individual Sponsor Program, please write Angels@ChiRhoPress.com.
For all other 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 new Web page, http://www.christiangays.com.
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Kevin Stone Fries, Editor/Office Manager, Kevin@ChiRhoPress.com