Communion

I didn't offer communion today. I have a cold, and didn't want to spread my germs among the congregation.

I'm surprised by how much I missed it. Offering "these two tokens," "the body and the blood," of "Jesus, the risen Christ" is an integral part of my week, and renews me in a special way. It gives me great joy to give communion, because it connects me with people in a way that can't be explained. I both give and receive tremendous energy from the experience. I will be away next weekend too, visiting my friend Steve for Thanksgiving. It will be the first time in four years that I have missed two weeks in a row, except for the times I was in the hospital for depression. I am already looking forward to giving communion again.

This pretty much sums up the way I feel about California, Florida, and Arizona. Separate is not equal. Period. Marriage is a civil right, just like voting. The arc of history will bend in our direction, but it may take a lot more patience and work. I just hope I live to see the day when my people can celebrate another victory (in addition to Connecticut -- let's not forget that everything is not lost).

What We Want to Find at MCCNY

Last Tuesday we spent some time exploring our former traditions and what we don't want to see from them at MCCNY, the things we bring that we do want to see, and the things we've never experienced that would be amazing to see at MCCNY.

Images of God We Bring to Church

“Bright Side”
Andrew
True Love
Openness
Participation
Serenity/welcome
Warmth
Empathy/openness
The only slice of God that Djia, alone, could ever bring; the amount that shines all that is Djia, in the glory of God . . . Hopefully the reminder to others that they are just as special as I am, and maybe more. And any amount of God that people, on their own, may find in me.
I bring the strength to worship without shame
Gentleness, compassion, quiet
Dedication
Myself with mind to clear and no hypocrisy

What We Don’t Want to Find Here
Papal Infallibility
Hate
Judgment (3)
Hypocrisy
Separation
Guilt
Repression
Smallness
Homophobia (2)
Gay marriage
Empty Ritual/ Ritual for ritual’s sake
Boredom
Irrelevance
Lack of possibility to be me
Isolation (2)
Preoccupation of church mission statement
Plagiarist pastor
Infighting (2)
Apathy
Cheapness
Lack of a connection
Cynicism
Racism
Sexism


What We Want to Find Here
Vacation Bible School
Community feel
Picnics
Pie-baking contests
A real relationship with God
Ladies Aid
Lasting traditions
Community
Personalism
More integrated community
Community
Commitment
A sense of history
Power of praise
Brotherhood
Community
Music
Old church hymnals

It would be amazing to find this here:
Dinner fundraisers and social gatherings
I feel like I’ve already found it . . . warmth and truth
Deep understanding
Exclusive spiritual development
The actual building of a new society in the shell of the old!
Successful welcoming team
Clones of Rev. Pat and Rev. Edgard
Husband/gay marriage/Legal Marriage/Marriage here (when we’re allowed to do it)
Our parents
Role reversal show
Play performance
A youth service (occasional)

Traditions in Which We Were Raised
Orthodox
Catholic (6)
Something … something … tabernacle
United Church of Christ
Baptist/Methodist
Lutheran (2)
Protestant
Pentecostal