How much ocean can you catch?

u9/16

Sara Neufeld

The darkened sanctuary is filled with an audience waiting for Brandon's concert. First to perform is Sarah Neufeld, known mainly as the violinist in Arcade Fire. She plays new classical, but with flourishes of drone, jig and reel, blues slides, jazz...Towards the end of her set, the main artist, Nils Frahm, from Berlin, joins her for improvisation.

During intermission, I'm happy to see a crowded Mc Alpin with people checking out Berik and his New York Realists exhibit as they sip wine, beer and even a little Makers Mark. The Brooklyn hipster crowd is always more about  beer than wine...especially the women...

Nils Frahm

Nils Frahm explains that he's had a recent hand injury. He begins by using two mallets on seemingly every inch of the piano. The a piece that goes on a long time with one finger and one key that then blossoms forth. Now loosened up, he branches out into other explorations. Then calls Sarah out for another improvisation. Then an encore. 

Teddy says to me, This is great to have in your living room. And I think about how we could put together an amazing resume of all the performances here in the last year.  I continue to be amazed at the audience Brandon pulls for new music.  How an audience into house and electro is drawn to new classical as well. 

As I leave, Teddy is hanging out, talking to the musicians. 

At the end of my conversation with Jason, I told him I feel like I'm standing on the shore. The waves are breaking over me. My hands are open, trying to see how much ocean I can catch.  Again.

Reflections on the one year anniversary of Occupy Wall Street

9/16

The first person to come into the church this morning is Bobby.  Word is, he's moved out of Capital Hall and has a new place in the Bronx. Thought the Hall was getting a little too crazy for him. He's brought two computer books for Jane. 

Jason H has come for our reflections on the onenyear anniverdsary of Occupy. Luisa is soon to follow. Two dogs today with Jamie's Toto and Glen's Tony.  And Amy is back to play the piano.

We read our passages: Proverbs 1: 20-33, Psalms 1119, James 3: 1-12 and Mark 8: 27-38.  As we begin our reflections, I ask  Jason and Steven why they came. Jason described being in Western Mass, having been a school teacher, deeply involved in community work. Felt a call. Something speaking to the need for a new way of doing things. He spoke of arriving in Zucotti, seeing the bench where he had hungout as a homeless person back in 2001 when he watched  the sky fill with smoke and ash.  That was the beginning of wanting to get sober. What he found was a community that wanted to question everything, committed to full inclusion, the valuing of every voice. 

As for Steven, he was running a business for medical communications. (As I understand it.) Kind of IT for the medical world.  He saw something that seemd like it would challenge the incredible income inequality that has come to characterize our city, our country. Set aside his business and came to see what he could contribute. 

I asked Jamie what led her, as a businesswoman, to want to be supportive. Even though she wasn't sure about the focus on Wall Street, wasn't it the government after all?   She too had this sense of something being not right. Needing change. And her long time friend Shen drew her into challenging conversations and the work of the Messaging group. 

Why did Marsha, another businesswoman, go down to Zucotti at 6 am the first morning evictions were threatened? To be in solidarity, she said. Look, more than anything, I believe in fairness. What we have is NOT fair. 

The other questions were harder. One year later, what was most satisfying, most frustrating? Both Jason and Steven agreed that changing the discourse was an accomplishment. Getting the concept of the 99% into public dialogue.

And most disappointing? The way personal agendas, jealousies, power struggles devoured the movement from the inside.  

I recall the night, expressing these frustrations, I said to Jason, So you're discovering what in my business we call original sin, otherwise known as the human condition. It's inevitable. Question is, what do we do about it?

And Marsha says, Look, I have to say it...I'm not sure if we'd be here if it asn't for Occupy.   Your presence revived us. 

Then it's my turn. On this one  year anniversary, what do we find?

Looking briefly at today's scriptures, we find this: 

Wisdom's voice crying out in the street...at the busiest corner  at the entrance of the gates....and we could could add bridges and parks as well...There's been plenty of wisdom's voice crying in the street. But also the tension between  wisdom and  folly.

I remember one of my first visits to Zucotti. The lunch hour visitors calling out 

what's your plan? And the response back from the first line of the park, What's your plan? The point is, there never was a plan...this was a spontaneous outcry. And somehow there was a romantic notion that we could all build a plan together. 

The epistle, James, by tradition the brother of Jesus, talks a lot about 

teaching...this is not about the  Chicago teacher's strike...but more about importance of what we say...WORDS too are important...words can hurt, words can heal...inspire, depress, nurture...destroy...THINK before you speak.

And the Gospel? It's about the nature of Messiah.  Is this the carrying on the movement of John the Baptist? Is this Elijah? The forerunner to the Messiah? No, says Jesus, it's about the way of the cross..what will it profit to  gain the whole world and to lose one's soul?

This is too much for Peter. He wants Jesus at the head of a triumphalist anti-imperial campaign. And Jesus responds, Get behind me Satan. As tempting as it is, he will not allow himself to take the easy way out...that's what Satan is....the tempter...who only ever tempts Jesus with good things. The issue is more how than what.

I was always struck by how for so many I spoke with, the call of OWS was like an evangelical call. How many literally dropped everything to come join in. Must have been like that for the first disciples. There was something profoundly spiritual in that response. 

OWS was a cry of protest against an  economy that doesn't work. Not just in the US, but globally. It was a protest in a a culture in which meaningful political space has all but vanished. And more than that, it was a sincere effort to create a new way of being. A way marked by working together. A way in which all voices were to be heard, inclusive in every way. A way in which everyone counts.

So what went wrong? In essence, OWS was defeated by human nature.  Zucotti was ready to fall apart before the raid.  Drugs, addiction, mental illness and other  social problems that have been left unresolved by our society did their destructive work. Though let us never forget that OWS struggled with integrity to engage compassionately and creatively with those who have been cast aside by society. The poverty diaspora, as Kelly said. 

And let us be real. There were also active efforts by the powers to subvert

OWS.  

So, no matter what happens next few days, all those issues will remain...the outcry was inevitable....and will continue....the road is long....in one way or another we are still on that road. We have been changed by Occupy. But some have been changed by being with us. I rejoice at lives reclaimed, redirected. We're in this together. So let us continue...

During the offering, I sing How Can I keep From Singing? with the verse added by Paul Robeson during the Red Scare days.

My life flows on in endless song

Above earth's lamentation.

I hear the real, thought far off hymn

That hails the new creation

Above the tumult and the strife,

I hear the music ringing;

It sounds an echo in my soul

How can I keep from singing?

What through the tempest loudly roars,

I hear the truth, it liveth.

What through the darkness round me close,

Songs in the night it giveth.

No storm can shake my inmost calm

While to that rock I'm clinging.

Since love is lord of Heaven and earth

How can I keep from singing?

When tyrants tremble, sick with fear,

And hear their death-knell ringing,

When friends rejoice both far and near,

How can I keep from singing?

In prison cell and dungeon vile

Our thoughts to them are winging.

When friends by shame are undefiled,

How can I keep from singing?

Then we gather around the table singing I'm gonna live so God can use me...and then our amens.

We gather in McAlpin after service.Talk about worship. Glen's visions. How we can work together to build a stronger congregation.

Jason sticks around. We sit outdoors and talk. He's not so interested in the upcoming OWS anniversary actions. They seem so moment centered. Not building. He's in serious conversation with people who are looking at the 22 seats open on City Council in 2013. The opportunity that might present. About bringing the people he's connected with so far together. Using open space process to develop vision and strategy. I affirm the desire to come up with something concrete, measurable, achievable. Yes, it's a long road.

                                                  

Fools in the balcony

9/15

Back from Louisville and another adventure in national church politics.  Still wondering why in all my travels, the most aggressive homeless people I have encountered have been in Seattle, Washington and Louisville, Kentucky. Seattle, I kind of get. Once you're there, you've reached the ends of the earth.

Louisville, I don't know. I think because downtown is so eerily empty at night. Anyone walking is open, alone and vulnerable. But lots of cities are empty at night. Need another theory. Can't even walk from the Actors' Theatre to your hotel without running a gauntlet.

Three good things about Lousiville:

1. The Mayan Cafe. Maybe the best lima beans I've ever encountered.  And you don't expect Mayan in Louisville.

2. Louisville Actors' Theatre. Anyone who subscribes gets a good mix of classics and the best of what's new and the annual Humana Festival of new plays always produces something that makes it to New York...

3. Bluegrass Brewing Company's Bourbon Barrell Stout. 

Tonight I come to see the Festival of Fools production of Tim Bungueroth's Zeal of the Zealot. Tim is somehow channeling a medieval miracle play through Elizabethan iambic pentameter with contemporary language. Not easy. This is the third in a trilogy about a trickster and his story of redemption and temptation while on a journey to discover his true self. The young and enthusiastic cast has a lot of connections to Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania. They thoroughly enjoy their work and so do we. And on this night, councilmember Brewer is here to show support.  They also enjoy knowing they're playing in the remains of Jospeh Papp's old space. The ghosts of Riverside Shakespeare linger.

I'm waiting for Teddy to return from his job at the Federal Building. Need to catch up on what happened while I was gone.

One loaf is enough

9/10/12

Some kleenex and an empty Bacardi mini bottle.

A couple is checking out the church.  From out of town.Visiting the city. Turns out he's a stained glass restorer. I tell hij the history of our sanctuary. Our windows. We talk about how the tight plexiglass has not only gotten stained and cut out the light but also how the vacuum overtime damages the windows. Do they still need covered? Sigh. Another issue for another day.

The number of another days begins it feel overwhelming. Like standing on the shore, the waves coming in, your hands open, seeing how much ocean you can catch.

Steve and Chris B and I meet in the garden to review the ups and downs of Dem Dahk Days Down South. What worked. What didn't. What it might take to do another production. As always, it's the production and promotion end that needs to be covered to make it work. Only at the end do I discover that Chris' girlfriend in Trinidad has just lost her daughter in a tragic illness and he is trying to get there by Thursday. What can we do to help?

The director of a new program funded the city's department of cultural affairs has come to the church to check it out a a possible venue.  It's an effort to try and keep young artists in the city by finding affordable studio and rehearsal spaces. To keep New York City from becoming like Paris with museums but no living arts scene. Ted and Mim and Jamie are all here for the meeting. It's perfect, but can it happen fast enough? We all agree we're in Hail Mary mode here. Ted agrees and says And I'm Jewish! Last effort to avoid putting the church house on the market.  I always get anxious when jamie goes into full real estate mode but that's what we need if we've got any chance at all. 

Nan comes by to help us strategize about our financial situation. It's grim. We're hanging in, but grim.

In Bible Study, we wrap up Mark 7 and dive into Mark 8. 

So what follows is another feeding story. This time, 4000 gentiles. Again, the disciples are worried. And again, Jesus turns it back. What do you have? he wants to know. He never wants to know about what we don't have, only what are we going to do with what we do have? And again, there is more than enough once they start from what they already have.  Couldn't be plainer. He doesn't want anyone to be hungry on the way, another expression used for his movement. 

And then  the confrontation does come.   The Pharisees want signs. And  he is exasperated. If you can't see what it means by looking at what's going on, you're not going  to get it.  I'm not going to do anything to prove what I'm not supposed to be anyways.

Beware the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod....what's that about? An unlikely coalition of traditional enemies has come together to go after Jesus. He is threatening both  of their positions of power, different though they may be. They have come together in mutual self-interest against this threat. What they don't get is the new community he is trying to create. Later as he speaks to his disciples,  there's all kinds of symbolic numbers floating around in these stories. But when you add the five from the first feeding and the seven form the second, you get 12. A new community. A new house of 12 tribes, not based on ethnicity or doctrine but on shared oppression, poverty, need...Salvation is never about identity politics. And that's what's threatening. 

Teddy also sees the added piece that when things get tough, don't go running to Herod to get fed.  Don't take that bread while better is on its way. Hope doesn't remember ever reading these lines before. 

To make it clear, the disciples are concerned about there being only one loaf. But Jesus tells them they don't get it. One loaf is enough. No more separate but equal communities. One community. One loaf. One new community. That's all.

Then, to complete the circle, one more  healing story. This time a gentile. One who can't hear or speak. Jesus gain breaks the ritual cleanliness code by  using spit, only slightly ahead of other bodily excretions and unclean. To heal. And again, says, Tell no one. Don't even go into town. The time isn't right for the true confrontation to take place.  Thje disciples may not get it, but even

And so the first half of Mark is coming to an end. All the pieces in place.  For a new inclusive community. Where workers, the poor and the excluded are welcomed. 

Again we marvel at the careful and deliberate writing throughout  these passages. How it all connects. As we conclude Bible Study, I remember what Sekou once said. How this study reminds him of who he's supposed to be.  I too am reminded. And remember. 

Litany of Remembrance 9-09-12

LITANY OF REMEMBRANCE   9-09-12

L: The sunshine, the brightness, the sudden and growing terror

All: We remember

L: The way our city came together on its own to take care of each other

All: We remember

L: The phone calls to every member to make sure all were safe

All: We remember

L: Our doors open, the neighborhood gathered, the quiet, the candles, the prayers, the comfort of being together

All: We remember

L: The special service, the amazing service, Andre's closing affirmation of life

All: We remember

L: Making 1500 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches

All: We remember

L: The immigrant workers who perished, undocumented, uncounted

All: We remember

L: The letters, the banners, the words of encouragement and prayers of hope that came from all around the country

All: We remember

L: Our serving meals at Ground Zero, the hundreds, thousands of meals served, the looks on the faces of workers

L: Peeling hundreds of onions

All: We remember

L: All our friends from around the country who came to stay with us and serve the city

All: We remember

L: Our Hub Church team serving those whose needs  fell between the cracks

All: We remember

L: The grace that allowed us to be who we are called to be, the best of who we are

All: We remember

L: For all this in a time of trauma

All: We remember. We grieve. We remember. And give thanks. 

L: For the courage to claim creation and life in the face of death

All: We remember. We thank you and praise you, O God

The Lord is our shepherd, I shall not want. The Lord is our shepherd, I shall not want....

The lighting of candles

All: We remember

9

We remember 9-11

Feels good to see Teddy on the steps as I arrive for worship. He had called me the night before to report Edward's presence on the steps. He'd called 911 but got tired after waiting 45 minutes and went to bed. Steven and Jay found him there in the morning and he left. Only issue was in the bus stop, which we'll  leave for the city to take care of.  After yesterday's day of work, the place is already.

Marty is back. Asks where my orange baseball hat is. I tell him I've got a lot of different hats.

Asks about my boys and school. If they've gone back yet. I say that two are done with college, one still in.  He talks about how when he was in college, the City College, CCNY, was free. Back in the day when New York City considered education part of what was part of what a city needed to give its people. For its own betterment. I tell him I'm enjoying the conversation but have to go.

Fara has arrived and I will have her speak about her experiences and rally as part of the announcements at the beginning of the service. I step outside to check things out. Before going back in, I pause to cross myself (helps sometimes) and look out to see an old man talking to himself has seen me.And he crosses himself in response. 

Time to start the service. I invite Fara to speak. Her pain and passion is clear and I can see that several congregants are very moved. Before she sits down, I invite she and Amy  up and do a prayer of support for them. As the service continues, I can see that they are intrigued by what we are doing and decide to stay. 

John signs Fara's petition

As the sermon starts,  I say that there are a number of things on my mind. Today is the  day of New York City's Labor Day  march (Teddy was there this morning, before church...) And it's the weekend of the commemoration of 9-11. And this year we have the same sequence....Sunday church and Labor Sunday, Monday then Tuesday, well, the DAY. Many of you weren’t here, so I’ll tell you the story so you’ll know.  And my focus is on the pre-story.

Sunday: Our music person, Bill Schimmel had invited Paul Stein, a longtime cultural worker and singer of union songs, to join us with old Labor songs. (Paul with his accordion was a regular performer at Zucotti Park, he even came back to  West-Park for the OWS Town Hall and played in the balcony theatre....)We had guests from the Union (SEIU) who handled all the restaurants and concessions at the Metroplitan Opera. They were going on strike, opening night of the Met. Several of is clergy had agreed to stand with them in solidarity, perhaps even civil disobedience. Earlier in the week I had spoken at an interfaith support rally for these workers.  Many (most?) were undocumented.

One more thing....we had been working with Manhattan Together to bring out people to vote in the Tuesday primary election. And some had agreed to be poll watchers. We all know what happened that Tuesday. Even in the midst of a disaster we didn’t even really understand, many of us stopped by the polling places anyways. When we talked about it, some of us had a feeling that voting was a form of resistance to whatever those forces were out there against us that seemed to be about taking away freedom. As an affirmation of who we aee as a people. That was before we fully realized  what small political  space our  democracy has to offer these days..)

The next day, I called to see if, well, the Opera Action was still on. There was quiet on the other end of the phone.  We’ve lost like 250 workers they said. And more, the  fact was as they were undocumented, thier families were afraid to report them. Their names were never officially counted, never officially registered. A few weeks later, I was invited to participate in a memorial  mass and service at  Holy Name in their memory. After the meeting with the workers, all of us clergy had been given a photo of us with the workers. I keep it behind my desk. I'd look at it, wonder how many had survived...

Those were the before days that year, same sequence as this...This year, we’ve also got the conventions...One party was all upset that the other party had left out the word God from its platform. And as I read Proverbs last week, (22: 1-2, 8-9, 22-23) and James (3: 1-12)....I couldn't help but think, really? Are all these religious conventioneers really listening to the word of God?

James ( by tradition the brother of Jesus) makes it pretty clear....(Luther really disliked this letter, called it a gospel of straw. For him it was all grace....our clergy Bible studies still carry that debate on, the Catjholics always insiting on the necessity of works...) We all sin, but all are accountable to God. And I know that some will say it’s just about individual charity.  BUT.....I believe that it has to apply to institutions,political parties, society, churches as well as individuals....James says, essentially, If you’re not gonna walk the walk, don’t talk....

So what does the gospel, Mark 9: 30-37,  have to do with any of this? The story of the Syro-Phoenician woman? (Already studied by our Bible Study last month)  First, it's about  inclusion (This gentile woman was totally outside his circle...) Secondly Jesus could grow...Why is that even important? Because if he was fully human,like us,...he needed to grow.

We need to be like her. Our politicians, for sure, of whatever party....as people of faith, we need to hold them accountable. And unions, and othern organizations  who seek to speak on  behalf of the poor, of working people, ..we .need to hold them to their  own values...

And finally US....we need to learn...Jesus granted her the healing of her daughter not because of her faith but for saying that....Jesus thanked her for helping him....his healing is an act of gratitude.

Especially as we begin a new season, we need to get our words and actions as together as possible...and to remind each other when we don’t.

In a post 9-11 world we are less free...we’ve comen to accept what has been unacceptable...James calls us to  speak and act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty....freedom, with responsibility...that is our call on this day as we remember....

We lit the candles of remembrance

Following the sermon, I led a litany of remembrance.Then  we  gathered around the table and silently lit candles. 

After our amens, I saw Teddy and John R talking with Fara and Amy. Conversations were continuing.

I found myself in a long and fruitless discussion with Rachelle about her stuff and why it couldn't stay in the sanctuary. I called Hope over to help me. But as always, it runs in circles.  We'll have to find her someone to go through everything and get rid of what's trash and get rid of everything .   It's part of keeping our sanity. But the conversation threw me off. 

Glen brought refreshments and we gathered to talk about pastoral care, beginning with our homebound. ( What  a joy to see Deacon James back again.)

And Glen's new theatrical ideas and finally  the Session deals with business that has accumulated over the summer. 

The Sanctuary NYC folks are coming in as I leave....

 

I know you guys are liberal

9/7

Two Iranian-American women have come to talk to me about their upcoming protest of Ahmenidjab’s visit to the United Nations. They are armed with binders of photos, articles, testimonies. I don’t need to be convinced of the horrors experienced under his regime. But they clearly also feel the need to talk. Fara has lost two sisters. I agree that they can speak to us on Sunday. Pass out fliers in front of the church. I recommend they speak to my friends Ken and Peggy who were missionaries in Iran for many years before the revolution. 

Teddy and I draw the short stick on today’s clean up patrol. As we’re washing, Antonio walks by with his two dogs. What’s up man? hails Teddy. Antonio responds emphatically and incomprehensibly. We agree we’ll have to go to the precinct office this afternoon. When I go back inside, I say to Danielle, Sadly, this is the easy part of this job...upsetting as it is, you spend an hour, it’s done....

Deacon James stops in on hisway back from the doctor. I tell him I miss him. Every time we clean the steps, I think of the days we did this together.  He laughs. He’s hanging in there. He’ll be there Sunday.

Steven and I meet to discuss next steps on the social media project. 

Then Teddy and I head to the precinct. The desk sergeant is not enthusiastic. You welcome those guys, you can’t have it both ways. You churches  got the court to declare your steps sacred ground. 
Church and state, you know? We stop at the steps....

Teddy says, Yeah, I know, but here’s the thing. The guy’s sick, he’s in bad shape....there’s public health issues here...

Before the sergeant responds, he looks up, quickly picks up the phone, says ten-hut..puts the phone back down and salutes the captain who has just walked in. When the captain has passed, Teddy says, I liked how you did that, good move, lettin the guys upstairs know the captains on his way up...I liked that...

The sergeant softens a little. Look, I know you guys are liberal...Occupy Wall Street and all that...

Teddy says, Yeah, I know, I gave you the tour when you guys dropped by...

The sergeant looks at him, Yeah, you treated us right. Real stand up. Let me get the CR  officer.

He returns with the Community Relations. The understanding is, of we see Edward, call 911, they’ll come.  If all else fails, I’ll come back and file papers closing the steps. Edward will have pushed us to where we never wanted to go...we walk back to the church, back down Amsterdam. A gentle rain is falling, the sun out. Teddy teases me, Hey this is kinda romantic, me and you walkin in the rain   a sun shower...

Back at the church, Martin and I finish the Noche contract. Finally.

Upstairs, Berik’s latest opening has drawn his biggest audience yet. 

As I leave, Gregory is sitting there. Sentinel. 

u

9/8

A Saturday work day. Luisa, Teddy, Seven and Jay all there to help get the church ready for Sunday, ready for fall. So much to clear out. It’s an ongoing puzzle, where to put what you don’t want to throw out. Biggest issue is of course, Rachelle’s accumulation. Steven tells me she has taken a room at Capital Hall. (Our annex?) Sometimes I feel we should be put on retainer as the designated chaplaincy of the place.  Getting rid of stuff is so frustrating. Must be done. Bit by bit we clear out all the corners. 

When we step outside for a moment,  we see that Edward has conducted a hit and run stealth attack on the church. How  does that happen? Those steps were clean when we got here...ya know what? It’s someone else’s turn...I did it yesterday, says Teddy. with exasperation. So Steven, Jay and I drag the hoses and was the steps, having to direct away into a detour the waves of people returning home after shabbos services. 

We finish by setting up the table for tomorrow. Getting out the candles. The sanctuary is almost ready.