Twentyfirst day of Lent: St. Patrick's Day

3/17

American Spring

Wesley and Antonia are gathering up their  belongings as I pass by. Yo, Bob, Bob...I hear George calling my name and turn. George, good morning...

Yo,that Rafael, he still workin for you, he still your security man?

Yes.

Them occupy people, they still there? Inside? 

Yes.

I heard you in  the news. Say they steal something. Some sacred thing. Say you gonna kick their asses out....

Yeah, well, it’s more complicated than that. But a smaller group, still here. 

He’s not a good security man.

What?

Those dope smokers, he tell them to move, they just laugh, go around the corner, smoke  some more...

Rasta Man’s gone, George...

Who?

The rasta man with the dreads..

Ain’t talking bout no Rasta Man . Talkin bout them young white mothafuckas. Them fools. They just laugh. Gone get us all arrested.  

That’s all over George. They’re gone. 

I’m tellin you, you need a new security guy. 

OK, George. Take care.

Inside, Don is inside working with Marc on sound issues for  his Wednesday night performance of Disenchanted...it’s looking good. 

Back outside, everything is quiet.  

Joe, KT, Pat

Tracy anf mark

The Bull

Late in the day, I come back from downtown, A day full of Occupy. Alternstive St.Patrick’s. Back to the roots. Meet at Zucotti. Mandola Joe and the Buskers. Silent procession.. Blessing potatoes. Funeral wreath at the bull. March to Battery Park. Adolfo from the Sweatshop Free speaks. Marc Greenburg from Interfaith Assembly speaks, Bob Coleman from Riverside Church. Rev. Mary Caliendo does her blessing, healing ritual. Then to the Irish Famine Memorial. Handing out potaotes to tourists, visitors. Back through the Zucotti circus. 


(http://www.tribecatrib.com/news/2012/march/1235_away-from-the-occupy-wall-street-protests-quiet-blessings-ove)

Walking along  Amsterdam on  my way to see Hugo and Arcadia. The NYPD Emerald Society Pipe and Drum Corps is marching in and out of the Irish bars. They stop. They play. Free drinks for the band. 

St. Patrick’s Day.

Organizer Jessica Hall and Bob

Twentieh Day of Lent:It's all gping according to the plan

3/16

Steve is wanting to settle details on tomororw’s planned action at Zucotti Park. As well as where we stand on a number of different church and occupier projects.  Chris, Requiem and Stan are chatting outside. Proud of last night’s production of over 400 t-shirts for Riverside Church and their Water is Life project. It’s the screen shop’s first real job. Stan  is thinking about a t-shirt design for School is a gateway drug. And all the different ways you could take that.

Teddy is reflecting on life. Ups and downs, his personal growth over these months. The natural frustrations of living with a group of people. Possible after effects of a concussion. He’ll take the time to bartend for us Sunday night. 

Two production people for Don (director? lighting?) come in to check things out for their planned backers’ audition showcase  coming up next Wednesday night. Looks like it could come together.Meanwhile, Matthew is wrapping up another rehearsal. 

I’m taken down and given a tour of the t-shirt factory. It’s an impressive sight. Took alot of hard work over the course of the night to do this and it is impressive. Chris needs a find a laundromat where you don’t have towash first to run the shirts through and finish the job. 

Marc is looking for a permanent place to store some sound equipment and maybe create a recording studio. A modest one. Sandy walks in wondering how the t-shirt project is going and i direct her downstairs to see what still needs to be done. 

One of the Times  Square Playwirghts actors, Robert, wants to discuss a staged reading of his own play concerning  descent into homelessness. Robert performed in our  gala and was also a most gracious bar tender. 

I hear a commotion and Rafael comes bounding in. He’d found someone upstairs goign through things. When he questioned him, the guy jetted, as they say. Checking out the flier the police left, he looks a lot like the guy who’s been robbing churches lately. Rafael inititates a parenthetical conversation wanting to check out how much the coop has paid in utilitities charges so far as opposed thow much was promised. We’ll have to check that out. 

I need to go meet Jessica and Mary to talk on WBAI radio at the Left Forum. About our event tomorrow. And then catch up with John H at the opening of Bella’s (playwright for our gala play)  Angel Play, her own take on the rlaltionship between the angel Gabriel and the Virgin Mary. 

Late, when I come back to pick up my stuff, I’m almost happy to see George back. Seems like he drops in about once a month, just to see what’s going on.

So, Bob, (he knows my first name) how’s it feel to be under martial law? 

Well, I’ve had my shre of police visits, been called into the station...

He harrumphs. Nah, man, that’s just local shit. I’m talkin federal governmnet, federal...

OK....

December 31st he did it, Dumbo, Dumbobama...(see those elephant ears?) the NDA, the National Defense Act. Militias, posses comitatis, all that shit. He says, nah I ain’t ever gonna use it, trust me. Nobama, trust me, shit!

 I nod. Hey, you a pastor, right? Ain't it biblical what’s goin on now, ain’t it biblical?

George, you goin apocalyptic on me?

Apocalyptic? Shit. people homeless. people got no jobs. Ain't got no prospects. That ain’t apocalyptic enough for you? Apocamothfuckinlyptic enough for them!

And so we go through the Bible from Leviticus to Paul. Like I tell my students in Newark, quoting  Gutierrez, there is at the heart of the Bible a concrete plan that would make poverty impossible were it followed. George knows all about the sabbatical year laws, the demands of the jubilee year. International debt choking the poor nations? That shit is unmothafuckinbiblical, you hear me? 

And I do. He know how government elimination of the housing subsidy program will result in 8000 people in New York City losing their homes. I give him some Medellin, some Gutierrez. Some Cone. Some Matthew25, Micha 6.  All about God’s prefernetial option for the poor, freedom for the oppressed.

And who are he oppressed? That’s right, the so-called Negro, the Latino, the...he continues on. 

Wesley had awakened from behind his blanket screen. Wants me to call Project Reachout on his behalf.  Saying they want to split up him and Antonia. I need to check that out. Check out what she wants. 

George is moving in to an analysis of the current global  situation. How the modern day Israelis and Israelis ar enoit he Biblical Hebrews. The Israelites of the Bible are multicultural, multiethnic, defined by mutal situation of oppression.  That’s where God’s heart is.

I know where he’s going. where else, Iran. How its like 2003, falling into war, being sucked, dragged into it.

God, let’s hope not, I say.

Can’t do nothin’ about it, he says, what will be will be. We headed to the valley of decision, aka Armafuckingeddon. What will be, will be. It’s all going according to the  plan. 

So. He did go apocalyotic on me. I wonder what gets him out of his hard won apartment in the Bornx to sleep on these steps once a month. Maybe its just the conversation. 

NIneteenth, Twentieth days of Lent: I think I see the UPS truck

3/14

There has been anxiety building up because the one who used to live here, who had to leave last Friday night, has been announcing that he was going to crucify himself in Zucotti Park today. Teddy tells me that he’s been arrrested again so that there’s no need to worry. 

As she always does when she comes, Mim brings sandwiches for Danielle and I for our meeting. In addition to her steady, thoughtful leadership of the Center Board, there is a genuine care and concern for us as staff, as people, that helps keep us going.

KIngdom Come is rounding into shape. Hope has come because I had announced that today was the day for te open rehearsal. I was one week early.  Two visitors come in, listen briefly to the music, the voices, go back out again.

As I’m stepping out for a moment,Luli comes in. She’s very concerned at the time it is taking to finish our contract. I’ll be meeting my attorney to talk about that tomorrow morning. John H wants to know if we really understand Melissa’s proposal about potentially booking. 

Requiem, Rose and Chris want me to come see what they’ve been up to. They have completely cleaned up the basement room that hasn’t been used since theHalloween party.  They’re almost ready to start their silkscreen business. All they need are the shirts, coming courtey of Riverside Church. 

My good friend Beppe stops in . We’ll be going to dinner down the street.  I show him pictures of both the open mic night and the occupocalypse.  Introduce him to Jane and Tia who are in their office. Take him downstairs to see the silkscreen shop. He says the church reminds him of a place in Italy where his radical theatre group rehearsed, back in the day.

When we come back after dinner, he tells me how, well, happy, I seem to be in my work. And I’ll say that’s true.  I am. 

Walking up Amsterdam, all the doorways of the church are filled tonight. 

3/15

Chris and Rose are anxiously awaiting the UPS truck and the delivery of the shirts. I love their sense of excitement.  

Steve is concerned about the amount of stuff that Wesley and Antonia are now dragging in. It’s hard enough to get them up in te morning, but it takes them forever to dismantle thei stuff. I need to call Reachout and see what the story is. 

Mary and Jessica are setting up for the Free Clinc that’s now open two nights a week. Staffed by the National Nurses Union and Physicians for Single Payer, it’s somethin g we have been wanting to do for a long time. Later at the Center meeting, Ted will say that he encourages new arts grous to include service, especially clinics, in thier models.

As I’m heading out to go to the Center meeting, Chris shouts excitedly, I think I see the UPS truck...just down the street!

Eighteenth day of Lent: What am I supposed to do?

3/12

Visitors from a camera club have been touring the building. They find the walls intriguing. A perfect place to display photos. Seems like it would work.

Two visitors have approached, Teddy gives them a short tour. One more of those never saw the doors open before visits. 

Danielle is telling a woman she doesn’t speak Spanish. But that I do. I ask her ques es su problema, senora? And in heavily Eastern European accented English, she tells me she doesn’t speak Spanish. She’s got a phone card and when she dials, a voice speaks to her in Spanish. But doesn’t it give you an English option? I ask. Doesn’t it say Para Espanol empuje numero uno, para Ingles, empuje numero dos, or something like that? 

So what button do I push for English? she asks again.

Finally Danielle looks at the card says, Look, those top numbers are for Spanish, you need to use these lower numbers, at the bottom... 

She thanks Danielle profusely. This lady has saved me again. She introduces herself as Helena and I realize that she is the Polish woman Danielle has been telling me about. The one who comes in to pray. The one who has this special relationship with the Virgin Mary. 

And sure enough, she tells me a long involved story about the Holy Mother directing her to a spring. Miles from Krackow, her home. A woman whose daughter is in the hospital with a burst appendix. Filled with sepsis and pain. The doctors have give up hope, nothing more to do. The little girl is thirsty. Helena touches her lips with the water from the spring. She doesn’t die. Within two days, the daughter is fine. Released to go home. The doctors say it is a miracle. That’s all it could be. They are men of science. But the Holy Mother did this. Helena is glowing as she tells me this. Touched by the spirit. 

Before she starts in on another story, RL comes through to talk about his proposal to rent a rehearsal space, have a place to lock up his instruments. I’m starting to wonder what will go where. And I’m feeeling sorry that we’ve got a Center meeting the same night as his birthday. It’s very important to him that Danielle and I be there. With anyone else who will have you, he says to me. 

I step outside with Teddy. We have to get the Exit signs up. Have to get the shopping cart unlocked from our scaffolding rails and removed. A middle class looking white guy comes up. Looking for a soup kitchen. We direct him to SPSA, the Westside Campaign. But he wants to talk. Long. Frustrated. Angry. Contractor. Paper hanger. Member of the guild. Used to have his own business. Can’t find work. Made $28,000 last year. But his rent was $14,000. Lost his insurance. Lost his Camaro. Lost his...Says he’ll work for what they pay the Mexicans. He can have a one time emrgency grant, but, he’ll still be behind...

Teddy says, look bro, why don’t you use some of that money and get your insurance back again, get some work, get some money comin  in...

No that won’t work because, because...what am I supposed to do? Just what the fuck am I supposed to do? 

Two blocks down to the west, says Teddy.

Frustration. Madness. What comes first? we all need to be heard.

Helena continues. She had a new cell phone. Not yet activated. A call came. How could that be? It was a voice telling her, in her Polish, to close a window. An intruder was trying to get in. It was Jesus, spaeaking in Polish. Or her angel. When her daughter came to help her to activate the phone, the miraculous message was still there. 

Time to leave to teach in Newark. Outside, Teddy and I see Wesley approaching. We ask him about the shopping cart. Not his. That fat Spanish guy, he says. And whose bike is that?

Look bro, you're gonna have to get somethin figured out, Teddy says in his husky Bronx accent to Wesley. This just ain’t workin.’ ‘S no good. He’s concerned about Antonia. So am I. Offer to help hook him up with Goddard-Riverside. Project Reachout.

Man, I already have an open case with them. They lookin. Lookin. What am I supposed to do?

Seventeenth Day in Lent: A great and radical reversal

3/12

Good conversation with Tracy. Winning the release of two of the arrested workers in a good thing. The third remains under threat of deportation. And there remain the big picture issues around immigration...like how amnesty or legalization for a certain percentage would lead to criminalization for others. How documented workers need to grow in thier undstanding of how discrimination against undocumented only lowers the value of thei own labor. It’s not about protecting American jobs, it’s about a global economy and the shared interest of workers across borders. 

I introduce Tracy to Teddy and Steve. I continue to work on linking the anti-sweatshop organizers with #ows organizers. Get the anti-sweatshop folks involved in the M17/18 actions. The hunger issue, the exploitation of immigrants issues, are right in line with the solemn march being planned for Saturday.

Ted and Marsha have come and continue to work on budgets for both the congregation and Center. It looks like we might have something that is actually achievable. Not easy, but possible. 

We gather for Bible Study. It’s a good group, including a visitor who was in worship on Sunday and Rev. Brenda Berry from the Bronx. She’s also part of Presbytery’s Committee on Nurture of Congregations, a group we felt received us well and understands what we are trying to do. I’m sharing something new I've learned. 

John H had approached me about scheduling the Dark Lady Players for a production on March 25th,  the Feast of the Anunciation. Realized that was one I hadn’t been aware of. A little research told me that for centuries, the Eastern Church, the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Lutheran churches celebrate this day, nine months before Christmas. For the Orthidox, it actually marks the beginning of the Incarnation. And so, even though it seems to fit better in Advent, we study Luke 1:26-38.

We read about the visit of the angel Gabriel. Literary echoes of Sinai and Pentecost. The same story in the Quran. One way or another, Luke wants us to see this as special, even as a beginning of a new creation.  But we wind up with the words of the Magnificat, 

almost a paraphrase of Sarah’s song in 1 Samuel 2:1-10. Both have this promise of a great and radical reversal, but with one difference, in Mary’s song, she proclaims that it is already accomplished....

He has shown strength with his arm;

He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts;

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has exalted the holy;

He has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent empty away.

And there is interest that such strong prophetic words were spoken by women. And Pastor Berry brings up the prophet Anna who appears in the Temple at the time of the song of Simeon, the Nunc Dimittis. Our study closes with plans to come back next week for St.Joseph's Day. 

On the way home, I run into Teddy. Catch up on his day. It’s dark. And warm. A good night. 

Third Sunday in Lent: Occupy breakfast

3/11

Jamie has brought more candles to bring more light.

We gather. Begin. John reads the ten commandments. We do Psalm 19 people’s mike style. It ends with oh let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight O lord...I ask if anyone recognizes that. Of course, I say that every Sunday before the sermon. But then Kamini says, Bob Marley, and I say, that’s right and sing it his style. (Well, kind of...)

And after Samantha reads the Epistle, we sing How Beautiful the March of Days...Lily reads the gospel, Jesus throwing out the money changers, in Spanish, I in English. 

We’re talking about a Covenant again. This time God’s covenant on Sinai. And the  Ten Commandments.. God to Moses at Sinai. In Hebrew, it’s words, sayings, matters. In Greek, decalogue, ten words.....In Jewish tradition, these commandments only were  written directly by God’s finger....The universal basis of all morality...and no penalties listed...The other 613 mitzvot were for the children of Israel, not anyone else. 

And by the way, who remembers Charlton Heston?

So OK.,..scorecard time. I’m not asking for any public answers here. How many have you broken? A number of my former Catholics remember their first communion. The commandments and their first confession. Pretty heavy memories.

Which is the first?

I tell the congregation that there are at least three different ways to number. In the Jewish tradition, I am the Lord your God is the first word. ..Or it could be have no other gods before me...I think that everything  else follows that, everything  else is a variation, amplification, about about honoring something other than God...

Which leads me to Jesus in the temple...what was he doing there? Which commandment inspired him? According to Barbara Lundblad, he was disrupting religious routines...(and religious leaders too...) or maybe it was about Jesus and a  strange piety...

What was it that annoyed him...what is it that we need to worry about?  what changes frighten us, do we need to make?

Was Jesus part of the black block of his day? A great conversation ensues, Hope speaking of righteous anger, Jamie saying that you can never be sure enough to unleash that level of violence.

And if you talk about destruction,

Don’t you know that you can count me out (in)

Lennon-Mc Cartney, Revolution

It remains a question in the air. 

Our occupiers invite us upstairs for breakfast. Bacon, eggs, quiche, apple crisp. It's amazing what can be done with a convection oven, a microwave and a hotplate.  I look at the tables. The conversations. The warmth. I see the lives that have been changed. This is exactly what I want. This is community. 

Breakfast table

Leila, Arcadia and Jamie

Amy and Nirka

Later, the Session meets. Sekou has had a fender bender. But he can’t locate his license, is concerned about the police. So I go to be with him. Later we meet together. Talk bout the idea of the Freedom Church. And when we talk about Sanctuary and Jane, it’s Samantha who comes thorugh, says that she never wants anyone to feel unwelcome in our church. That we need to get our two groups together.  Work on the relationship. And she’s interested in creating all Sa thrift shop. We find candidates for the session. And deacons. We will have an annual meeting. It’s been a long day. Time to go home. 

Sixteenth day of Lent: Plastic Jesus

3/10

I’ m late for my meeting with Sekou. But when I get there, he’s sitting at the piano, playing his song. Quiet, bluesy. Teddy and Steve are lisenting. Steve has already opened u the conversation I hoped would happen. There’s marchers who need training in non-violent action. Sekou wants to create a place where that training can take place. He’s very clear he’s got no desire for vanity arrests. And neither do I. Not for photo ops. Not for raves. it’s got to be serious. 

We go back to my office to talk. About tomorrow’s meeting. About creating a congregation around word, worship, witness. And how some of my folks see that as the same congregation. The vision is very close.

Have to run to see my friend Pastor Elise. Talk about her dissertation. The Virgin Mary and popular imagination are in there at the center. 

Before the day is over, I’ll send her these words and a Youtube of Paul Newman singing in Cool Hand Luke:

I don’t care if it rains or freezes

Long as I got my plastic Jesus

Ridin on hte dashboard of my car

Comes in colors pink and pleasant 

Glows in the dark cause he’s irridescent

Take him with you when you travel far.

Get yourself a sweet madonna

Dressed in rhinestones sittin onna 

Pedestal of abalone shell

Drivin 90 I ain’t scary 

Long as I got the Virgin Mary 

Assurin me that I won’t go to hell .

Then I’ll go see Councilmember Brewer. Remind her of the promised 20 mmillion still waiting to materialize. My need for a new lawyer. And a community advisory committee to take charge of the restration project. The clock is ticking. 

Then I’ll go back ot the church. Answer some phone calls. Try to talk with the mother of the young man we had to remove last night. Try to come up with a plan. Hear Steve playing the piano. Then go home. Enough.