Welcome Iceland

2/13

Mim, Ted, Katherine, Danielle and I are gathered in the sanctuary with Laura Simms. We’re talking about the power of story. It’s capacity to transform. I talk about the idea (again) of people becoming the subject of thier own history. Of controlling  the narrative of one’s own life. Of the growing discourse of transformation across the world away from simple materialistic understandings of reality to  mor humnaist perpectives.  The role of story in community building and intergenrational bridging. And Laura sees the comnetion with #ows. We need ti fins a place for her here. 

Graduale Nobili

In the afternoon, there are the sounds of Graduale Nobili in rehearsal. They are an Icelandic women’s chorus, here in New York City on tour with Bjork. Their ethereal sounds are filling the sanctuary. A couple from the coop to the north of us has come to talk about sound. Apparently they are on the first floor, the situation is unsettling, perhaps nerve wracking. I' m sensitive, want to be accomadating, but also want to be reasonable. I'm not ready to completely shut down tbe backyard. They are appreciaitive of Danielle’s attention. I recognize the man as the guy who came in at the end of Brandon’s ..Winged Victory...concert virtually ranting. The sound of Graduale Nobili continues. 

I have no idea what to expect and so am impressed to find a nearly full sanctuary waiting for the concert. Where did thy all come from? Tonight we seem to be the center of Icelandic culture n New York City.  It is a seriously Scandinavian crowd. And the choir is serioulsy white, the whitest women I’ve seen in a long time. They sing Icelandic folks songs with cold, dark edges, a suite by Lorca, a piece of a commissioned mass, an Ave Maria by Holst with the choir on either side of the balcony. And best of all, a new work by Bjork’s percusioonist  Manu Delago featuring a new Swiss instrument from Switzerland called a hangd, looking like a space saucer, sounding like a mash up of steel drum and hand drum and shepherd’s bells. there is an almost otherworldly, breathy,  beauty to their performance. The audience calls themback for more. 

Councilmember Brewer is there for this international event in her district. Many leaving thank her for publicizing the concert in her e-blast, only way they knew about it. I tell David and Leila that their dad, Samir, would have loved this concert. They agree. David laughs, Both the music ...and the women...I’m sure he was here...., he says.  This night was a part  of his vision for what we should  be. 

Rafael’s crew is handling the doors. There’s the concert. And now a theatre benefit getting underway upstairs, the F love Club anti-valentine’s party.  I share a drink with them. Time to leave. 

Later Rafael calls. the man from next door has come over complaining. Saying  its illegal. will call the cops, etc. Rafael talks him down, tells the dj to turn it down, takes the man to the backyard, accomplanies him to his home ot demonstrate that the sound is inaudible.  I leave it all oin his ands. 

On this Sunday how we are

2/12

Sitting and talking with Teddy before the service. Getting ready. I know that Andre is with Erasmia in Jersey and that Amy’s working, too. So I ask Teddy and Rafael to pull the chairs together in a circle. 

To start, we begin with confetimini domino, come and fill our hearts with your peace. When we sing nada te turbe, Arcadia asks if anybody knows what that means and when it seems like lots don’t, we work it out. Teddy says, I know nada is a nothing...and I say right, nothing can trouble, and John joins in.. there’s nothing to fear...the one who has God has enough.. Thats the word, I say, basta, enough...and Teddy says he’ll remember that one. 

When we get to the prayers, we talk about the fact that the third anniversary of Adham’s death is coming up next week.  And I talk about the loss of my friend Ed and Steve talks about the loss of his father. Many of us have loss to remember. 

John read the story from 2 Kings 5: 1-14 about Naaman, the Syrian commander suffering from leprosy who comes to Elisha to be healed. I stop to make sure everyone has the plot line. And John says, it was too easy, and I say he’s got it , that’s right. 

Then we do parts of Psalm 30 people’s mike style.  Teddy reads 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 and then Arcadia reads the Gospel (Mark 1: 40-45) in Spanish and me in English.

And I start with what’s on my mind. That the story  about Naaman is ultimately a story about big vs. small. Naaman has to compare his native rivers,the waters of Abana and Pharpar, that the rivers of Damascus were  better than all the rivers of Israel,  the might Syrian Rivers vs.  the little river Jordan. If anyone has ever seen the Jordan River, sometimes it’s little more than a stream. Yet today, nobody knows Abana and Pharpar, everyone knows the Jordan River. 

It’s important vs.  not important. Sometimes, for example. it’s the little churches, not the big ones that can make the difference. As this community is evolving, sometimes it’s the least likely people who have stepped up to make a differnce.  And it’s simple v complicated. Like John said, it was too easy. He would have more likely accepted some next to impossible hero’s quest, maybe even with a dragon, to what Elisha actually asked of him.  His men say, “had he asked you to do a heavy task...” Sometimes we make it more diffiuclt than it needs ot be. 

The I talk about Paul. All that athletic imagery. I have to go back to the Super Bowl last week. The big prize.  And then the Imperishable prize vs. worldly prize. That training is important. And I love the images, DO NOT RUN AIMLESSLY or, if a boxer,  BEAT AT THE AIR. We all know people caught up in running around in meaingless activity that dosen’t lead anywhere.  We have to have  a purpose, and know, make clear what it is.

Finally, in the gospel, it’s a matter of choice for Jesus. He has to choose. No right incantation or right recitation of words will makeJesus di anything. It's  not our will or desire thst counts here. In going out to touch the one whi has leprosy, Jesus goes where others won’t...he touches him.....and that’s what the churhc is called to do.

I end my words by asking a question. I know people are here to support me, to support the church. But what woud it take to make someone come because they really want to and to say to a friend, you gotta come see this, you have to be there. 

There are a lot of former Catholics. Peoiple who had bad childhood experiences there. Like Steve, growing up in Frnaco’s Spain. Surpirsingly, people like the smallness, the intimacy, the opportunity to get to know people personally. And there is the radical feeling of acceptance.That here is another chance to become who youwere supposed to be. Teddy talks about how he felt like he had been in a box and  now has been set free.By the radical acceptance.Yhe trust.  I feel in Jean a great depth of faith. It’s moving to hear people talk. And again, infuriating that  people want to see social engagemnt and evangelism as separate endeavors. They are  inseparable. Our social witness is also evangelism, another form of preaching the good news. 

We close by singing I’ve got peace like a river again.

I spend half an hour with P______. Trying to persuade her to get a psych eval so that she can stay in her apartment.  She insists that God will take care  of her. I say, maybe that's God’s way. And that God is using Laura to help, too. (Laura has gone above and beyond to make resoures  available. ) She’s afraid that everyone is out there just waiting to throw On thi her into the loony bin. And then she says her attorney sent her to a doctor nd she’s already got a letter. Says she’s being  treated for  stress. Now I don't know what to do. Will wait to talk to her attorney tomorrow.  

The Session meets. First item of business, the Noche Flamneco agreement. Looks  like with a couple of minot adjustments, we’re ready to go. I can’t wait t make it official. 

Steve brings in Karen to talk with me. From Wyoming. Here for the Town Square yesterday. A story teller, puppeteer, theatre. I tell her she’s right in there with our conversaiton with Laura Simms. And Karen knows Laura as a story teller. More possibiitites out there. It all fits together. Jane’s service is beignning.  

Occupy Town Square at West-Park

2/11 

For one day, what was the best of what was Zucotti Park came back to life at West-Park. There were banners, perfromers, teach-ins, workshops, artists, information tables. And lots of people.  In some ways it was one part reunion for some folks who hadn’t seen themselves together in one place since the eviction and later Tompkins Square Town Hall.  And also as usual, it's part political protest and part performance art.  

Shorlty after arriving, I had my first visit of the day from the police. (They’d been there bright and early, before I arrived.) This time led by the commander,  Inspector Barry herself. A grand larceny and two assaults were of course enough to raise a red flag or two. I introduce them to Rafael to make sure that there’s a direct connection with our security. They decide to leave a squad car parked there all day.

The next visit coms at shift change time with another request to entern and tour the building. Teddy handles this. People begin to crowd around.Rafael handles that. Especailly when he sees a ski masked protestor approaching. No, no, no he says, moving him away. They will make other visits throughout the day and into the evening.

Paul on the accordion

Sweatshop Free Upper West Side

My old friend from the neighborhood and PS87 parenting days Jean Fox is here with her with he single payer health care activists and Physicians for Social Responsibiity. Union musician and  cultural worker Paul Stein  is here with his accordion. The Sweat Shop Free folks have left the  Saigon Grill picket an set up a table in McAlpin.  Kelly’s leading a workshop on Open Space facililtation. Yuri is makig amazing little chain art signs. Occupy West Harlem has a table too. Teddy and Steve are running a table on the West-Park Coop and taking donations for the church. It’s good to see some freinds who have moved on like Sage and Stan. 

Jean 

All the rooms have labels like Brimingham, Paris Commune, Bannockburn, Stonewall..and there’s a people’s stage. And I again ponder #ows filling all the spaces where where  Woodshed lived for so many months. 

Sarah is taking it all in, again wondering how we can use this and just enjoying the vibe. She takes my camera to grab some shots.  John H wants me to take  a panoramic view. Bob, this looks very much like the church you wanted to have. And he’s right. Why couldn’t this be a congregation? But then there’s the hard part..how to connect all this energy, all this spirit to the actual congregation that lives here. Feeeling this connections is one thing, actually  making it another. But he’s onto something worth following. 

I'm amazed at the level of logistic planning deserve a lot of credit. For working it all out down to the orange security  and information: please ask me..vests. 

Upstairs as the day gets late, the floor has opened up for dancing, everyone moving to Iko, Iko... With Michael Jackson ringng in my ears, I’m heading downstairs. I hear someone say to his friend, Hey, I don’t want to miss that workshiop on active listening...

Teddy

Kelly's workshop

Bob and Sarah

The Town Square

Yuri

She's gone, but i'm still shaving

2/9

I see the umbrella first. Then eventually the man behind it. I say, wearily, you can’t sleep here during the day. He says, I hear you, starts to stir. As he emerges, it’s someone I haven’t seen before. Middle aged white man. I ask him how long he’s been out. He tells me three weeks. Says the steps are safer than the shelter. Tells me his litany of bad things that have happened in the shelters  and names them one by one. Stories I’ve heard before and believe. I’m trying to figure out where to send him, but he’s ready to go off. We say to each other, have a good day. 

Matthew stops in before rehearsal. Talks about his play. Based on stories from 9/11. Missed connections. His cast has arrived. The music begins to fill the sanctuary again.  

Sarah waks in and I give her a big hug. I’ve missed her. A couple has come in to look around. Going to a concert at St.Ignatius tonight. As we’re waking through the church, I notice a sickly looking pigeon in the back. Oh no, not this again. I go to get Carlos to help me. The couple leaves. Between Carlos, Sarah and I, we manage to get the pigeon out. Sarah is laughing. Yet one more sevice you’ve done for this  church, I say. And she laughs again.

I take her to Popover’s to work on press strategy. How to regain the narrative. She believes we can’t do it from the side, we’ve got to go straight at Murdoch. Now how, that will be the question. 

Liz, one of the New York Creates artists is there when I get back, listening to Matthew’s rehearsal. She wants to know my construction priorities. Easy. The outdoor grate. The elevator. Fourth floor electricity. Pigeons. She’ll be back with an elevator man.

Jeff is here for the first time in a long time. He has the assignment of building an access ramp for people with disabilities for tomorrow’s Town Square. Teddy is here, too, things are a bit uneasy. 

Sarah hears his  rough Yonkers vocie and goes running through the door to greet him. A big hug there, too.  I notice Teddy has shaved. 

Teddy, must be your wife, right?

Yeah, I knew she was coming, bringing my daughter. I had to do it.

Okay, that was days ago.

Yeah she’s gone but I’m still shavin. 

And we all laugh.

Marc is checking out a box of intriguing odds and ends in the chapel. Including a mini digital piano. You don’t want to lose this, he says. He’s noticed the room above where he stores his equipment. There’s no way to get up there he says, without a ladder. 

Martin comes in for one last go round of negotiations. He’s got bad news. And good news. Okay, let’s make this happen, I want him in the house. And of course, he’s not gone long before Luli wants to come in just to check one more time. 

I step out, go down to Starbucks for a moment. Gio’s there. He’s been told if his girlfrend can’t prove she’s 18, she’ll have to leave. Which means he’ll leave too. She has a school ID, isn’t that enough? (So, I think, why isn’t she in school?)

sage and cedar

When I step back in the church, I’m afraid I smell smoke. Afraid there’s a fire. But it’s only Joseph, using cedar and sage to cleanse the sanctuary prior to tomorrow’s Town Square. He’s using an eagle feather to waft the smoke. He’s doing this while Piano Dan is working on the Beckstein, bringing it back again. That image, Dan at the piano, Joseph with his cedar and sage..Back in Oklahoma, my Native American friends used to do this with a new house. I figure we need it.  

Lope who was there the night of one of the wild spokes council meetings walks in. She’s got art work for tomorrow. Max is checking out all details. We talk about the ceiling lights. I show him the ladder to the speace above the ceiling. Then tell him the ceiling’s glass. Don’t want anybody coming through, I say.

Sarah is taking this in. All of this. She looks at me and says, I’d forgotten how much I miss, how much I love this crazy place. 

That’s all you can do, I say, love it. And I do.

Miriam comes by to talk about Presbytery. We head to the chapel.  In all her visits, she hasn't been in the water damaged part of the building. Somehow we’e got to get people to see what we’re doing here. That it is good for the church. How we are there. And that presence itself is a form of evangelism.  But it so feels like we’re living in different worlds, speaking different languages. Her encouragement, her wisdom, is heartening. She has quietly been here every time we’ve done  something. She sees, knows what it is. 


Late in the day Chirs arrives and he's clean shaven, too. (Gene Mc Carthy where are you now that we need you?) Whatis it with this clean shaven trend?

Jamie comes by to pick me up. There’s a conversation to be had about the neighborhood. About connecting normal people, the neighbors, to what’s going on. Maybe starting tomorrow.

Yeah, I do love this crazy place. 

What is it with the umbrellas?

2/8

Hope comes in late in the day to sign checks. And much of our conversation has to do with Presbytery, our feeling of being alienated, marginalized, much like most of the people we work with.

2/9

Martin comes in to try and wrap up our negotiations with Noche Flameneco. The creation of a studio in the gym now seems like it won’t work for now, but he wants to be part of our center and I really want them to be part of it. So we continue to work on what might work.

Danielle (the occupier) has found help to get bus tickets back to Florida for her and her boyfriend. He helps me clear the steps of cardboard, a bed and an umbrella. (What is it  with the umbrellas?)In fifteen days, they’ll be headed back. 

Matthew and his cast continue to rehearse their show, the beautiful music continues to fill the sanctuary. 

I look up and Leila is there with her brother David. I haven’t seen him since last summer and the dress rehearsal for the Tenant. Although the fashion show went well, Berik is cancelling the other two shows he had projected. Not enough profit.

Mariola, the manager for Noche, has come in for one more look...I just want to get this done. 

After an interminable wait in line at the post office...if there is such a thing as purgatory, time waiting in line at the post office gets taken away from your sentence...I go back to the church to sign some papers for the DOB related to the boiler. And I am already late to the farewell party for Alistair as he leaves for his sabbatical. 

Requiem is already at the door. Occupiers already coming home One of the octogenerean peace activists asks do I have a minute. Well, actually, no, I don’t.

Back in the office, Max and other organizers are there to talk about Saturday’s Town Square #ows event. They are soon taking down the posters from Berik’s fashion showand putting up their own. 

And the young reporter who has been doing the latest round of interviews shows up to shoot me and take other pictures. I agree, but all I want to do is leave.

Building a history

2/7

Get to the church after spending all morning with Jane at a special United Nations event to celebrate interfaith understanding around the world and the role of faith community ngo’s in building world peace. Our friend Imam Faisel of the Cordoba Inititive was one of the featured speakers.  Most surprising learning: 30-40% of all health care (and up to 75% in areas of conflict) is provided by faith based services. Neverthe less, it was a long morning. 

Gio is working on the steps. There’s a bed to clear away and I explain to him how this works, folks can stay here at night, but everything must be gone in the morning. Can’t keep it around. Deacon James comes by and is somewhat annoyed to find that the bulk of the sweeping has been done. Still, he takes broom and pan and finds some spots that haven’t been cleaned yet.  

Jeremy comes in looking for Jane. I tell him that she has probably gone home. Last saw her at the Starbucks annex. He asks me if I want to hear his latest. I say sure. He’s still working on it. He’s become part of a new writing group that is given a title and has a week to come up with a song. The title is Building a history. 

I listen. Hear allusions to lost, wondering youth from the heartland. Protesting students in California. In the midst of lostness, seeking to build a history. Jeremy writes with clear concrete images, but always by inference, never didactic. And he’s able to swing into some gospel with it as well. A work in progress.  I close my eyes and listen. 

I realize that he’s onto what I’m talking to my students tonight. The whole idea that is enabling, equipping, people on the margins to reenter history, to in the langauge of Freire, become the subjects of thier own history, regain, or claim for the first time, control of thier own narrative. That’s part of what’s going on with the Sweatshop Free workers, with the #OWS folk at West-Park. It’s right there in Jeremy’s song...building a history.

On the way out of the sanctuary, I see a woman has been sitting there, listening quietly, by herself. 

I’m off to a meeting. Stop at West-Park on my way to teach my theology students. Today I have missed Dan. And Mim. And representatives of the Cordoba Initiative.  But now, off to teach. Building a history....

Koinonia, solidarity, same thing

2/6

I’m upset that there’s a stained bed and a bag of clothes in the south doorway. Too late in the day for that. I tell Gio it’s got to go. 

I see Max on 86th Street, he’s trying to wrap up details for the upcoming #OWS Town Square to be held at West-Park this weekend. An effort to bring #ows and local activists closer together, bring the neighbors in to see what’s going on.

Steve and Rafael say that Evelyn has brought a couch into  the church. No, that’s not going to work. Thay agree with me,go to get it out and I tell them that the front neeeds to get clear. Part of our agreement. Explain that folks can be there overnight, but that steps have to be cleared in the morning.

Evelyn comes in to argue, her Caribbean lilt with a bit of sarcasm. Says she’s got a bad back, etc. I explain no furniture from outside. Just can’t be done. No private rooms. Try to explain that I only deal with the community. No separate deals. I explain that the spokescouncil cut off funding, that necessitated a change. She says they’re biased and no one advocated for them. Says Steve’s part of the one percent. I just have to go back to the community having to deal with its own internal issues, otherwise, I’d go crazy. She reluctantly agrees.

Brandon and Andy and Lawrence have all come to discuss the Unfestival, a new music festival that has its roots in Poland. The feature is a collaboration that’s been develoepd between a Los Angeles and an Eastern European composer bringing both of them to Los Alamos, New Mexico, recording ambient sound near where the atom bombs were exploded and....Anyways, our kind of idea.  Looks like a spring event.

Evelyn waiting, wants to talk more. A reporter wants to talk to Steve, referred by Ravi. (Haven’t seen her since Jeff left.) Steve recommends Chris who seems up for it. Runi keeps coming around for conversations. Yesterday, cleaning up after communion, she thanked me for the grape juice. Said she has issues with using wine. I tell her that’s why we don’t. Call it koinonia, call it solidarity, same thing. 

Danielle would like to ban all backyard activity, just to be safe with the neighbors. I’ve been so happy to get it back after all these years, I kind of resist that idea. What’s reasonable in the city? Need to think about it. 

On 86th Street, near the baskets, I see the couch.