Nativity Notes: Bohemian Rhapsody

Nativity Notes

From the Dean

Bohemian Rhapsody

I admit I was afraid. I was 24 years old the Summer I participated in Clinical Pastoral Education, a requirement for my Priestly formation. I was young and unworldly, eager and approachable, naïve in every sense.

Assigned to the 4 ^th floor of St. David’s hospital in Austin Texas, endocrinology patients mostly, I learned a lot about diabetes and its effects on folk. I learned a lot about insulin and felt accomplished that I could follow through on the practice technique of injecting an orange with saline solution. It all seemed innocent enough to say hello, offer support and a prayer.

Yet there were others on that floor. Young men mostly. They were having a different challenge, they were in a literal fight for their lives. I have stark memory of entering the room of a young man, very sick, and clearly in the process of dying. There in his hospital bed, struggling for breath, was another young man who had crawled into bed with him, holding him closely, gently stroking his head, tears flowing from his eyes.

Auto immune deficiency syndrome. AIDS. That summer in 1989, there was so much we didn’t know. There was so much shame, so much judgment, and so much fear. I witnessed all of it that summer. I witnessed young gay men dying alone because of the painful rejection that comes from fear and prejudiced. The heartbreak is indescribable by words. Yet, there in that bed, that day, there was Love of the Agape variety. A love that crossed all bounds, that rooted itself deep in another’s pain, that sacrificed itself for the deep good of the other, and brought comfort, dignity, and grace.

In real time now, I sobbed while I watched the movie Bohemian Rhapsody, a version of the life of Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of the rock band Queen who died after contracting AIDS. I sobbed in the dark quiet of that movie theatre as his story brought present to me those lives I witnessed first- hand in Austin years ago and mindful of all who continue to struggle with AIDS. I sobbed too, I realize, because of the absolute destruction that comes from us when our fears are stoked and prejudices flow from them in such a way that invite the darker angels to judge and trample the lives of those who are most in need of just the opposite. I sobbed because there is too much hate speech in our political rhetoric, there is too much intentional invitation to be fearful of others, and too much permission given to allow our fears to define the most vulnerable among us as threats to be stopped, rather than broken humans in need of compassion. It is in theological and spiritual terms, the work of the enemy. It is for me absolutely heartbreaking and worthy of every tear that can be shed.

There is a saying that comes from some tradition I can’t remember, “Fear is the devil’s playground”. Counter to this saying, I remind us that here is a reason that the angels in scripture carry the consistent message, “Be not afraid!” I like better a translation that says “Be not fear!” The path of course that leads to our not becoming fear is the path of love. It takes courage, and practice, and intention to answer the angel’s call and I believe with God’s help, it is who we are, that is Love.

The beautiful compline service offers us this prayer. Visit this place, O Lord, and drive far from it all snares of the enemy; let your holy angels dwell with us to preserve us in peace; and let your blessings be upon us always; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

This is the theme our stewardship ministry team prayed its way toward. It warmed our hearts as we shared stories of how this community of faith shares its resources of time, talent, and treasure to be people of Jesus and "Kingdom living people".

We move toward our renewed commitment to God's love for us and for the Kingdom work Jesus calls us to in our annual giving campaign. Let us be reminded of Jesus living in our hearts and in what we do together in his name.

Jesus Lives Here

Adult Forums:

Nov. 11 Dr. Brett Hendrickson, Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Lafayette College: Santuario de Chimayó. "The Santuario de Chimayó is a beautiful adobe Catholic chapel in the northern New Mexico that is famous for a hole in its floor. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims and other visitors travel to the Santuario every year to retrieve dirt from the hole, which they believe has miraculous healing power. In this session, Hendrickson will share research from his recent book on the Santuario about the history of this fascinating place, its people, and its ongoing importance in the story of American religions."

Please help! The Better Buy Thrift Shop is in need of men’s winter clothing.

The Monday flower group is looking for volunteers for a few months for next year. Each Monday a volunteer from the group produces and delivers a beautiful arrangement from the Sunday altar flowers to our hospitalized parishioners. Please call Angelica Baez for more information at 610-509-0659 or email at angie73@rcn.com .

Take the Bible Challenge! A Journey with Matthew This 50 day study follows the good news of Christ as revealed to us through the Gospel of Matthew. Study book allows for daily reading and reflection. Weekly gathering led by Dean Pompa invites us to discover together major themes of the Gospel and share our discoveries with one another. Tuesdays, October 9 through November 27, 7-8PM at the Cathedral. To register email teisenreich@nativitycathedral.org or call the church office at 610-865-0727. Order your workbook through the office - $15.00 check payable to the Cathedral. Also available for your own download on Kindle, Nook, and iTunes.

Thanksgiving Basket Donations

On Sunday, November 18th as part of our annual in-gathering, you are invited to share in thanksgiving by bringing a food item for Thanksgiving basket distribution by New Bethany Ministries. Please bring canned vegetables, canned pumpkin, boxed jello, canned cranberry sauce, canned gravy, turkey, boxed stuffing, and boxed mashed potatoes.

You can bring the items at any time before the day and place them in the basket in the Narthex or bring them that day. If you are donating a turkey, please do not bring it before November 18 ^th . Turkeys may be put in the freezer on November 18 ^th .

We will prepare the boxes during “Forum Time” while enjoying a light breakfast together on our annual in-gathering Sunday.

Emergency Shelter Season 2018-2019

Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering will be once again be in action this winter to shelter our street neighbors. A single site at Christ UCC Church, 75 E. Market Street, will also be used again. We will be covering the odd numbered Thursdays as we did last year, and will be using SignUp Genius for online registering of volunteers. The dates are December 1 through March 31 as we've done in the past. You can also contact either Deacon Rodney ( rodneyconn@icloud.com or 484-232-6122) or James Reader ( jim_reader@hotmail.com or 610-417-7418) should you need assistance in signing up, or if you have any questions.

We need people to help register guests, get them their bunk assignment, prepare and serve meals, chaperone through the night and coordinate clean up in the morning. The shelter will open its doors to guests at 5:00 pm and all guests will be out of the building by 7:00 am. This year there will be at least two paid staff members on site from 4:00 pm until 8:00 am.

The sign up page may be found at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B094FADAB2BAA8-bes20182019

Want to learn more about Christianity? Your faith? Come join the Exploring Christian Literature Book Club! We meet the third Wednesday of the month at 1:30 to 3:00 in the Goodwin Room. The next meeting will be December 19. We will be discussing A Man Called Mark: The Biography of Bishop Mark Dyer by Tom Linthicum. Didn’t finish the book? Come anyway. Didn’t read the book? Come anyway. Interested in one of the books? Come anyway. You never know what you will learn. Book choices for the rest of the term: JAN- The Red Tent by Anita Diamant, FEB- Explorer’s Guide to Julian of Norwich by Veronica Mary Rolf, MAR- The Hebrew Bible-Feminist and Intersectional Perspectives edited by Gale Yee, APR- Lving Into God’s Dream edited by Catherine Meeks, MAY- Faithful Neighbors edited by Robert Heaney, et al.

53rd Community Advent Breakfast Saturday, December 1, 8:30AM (doors open at 8AM) at Moravian Village of Bethlehem, Main Dining Room. Speaker: Alan Jennings, Executive Director of Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley. Full served breakfast, beeswax candle service, Moravian Trombone Choir, Moravian Men’s Singers, Broughal Southside Singers. $15/person, $9 for children 16 and under. Advance tickets only. Cathedral deadline: November 20. Checks payable to “GLVCC Foundation”. To purchase tickets call the Church office (610-865-0727) or email teisenreich@nativitycathedral.org .

The History Committee is looking for 2 or 3 volunteers to do data entry of history records. Contact Sandy Kelley for details at 484-860-3096.

Parishioners in the Hospital If a family member is hospitalized, please contact either the clergy or leave a message with the parish office (610-865-0727) informing us of who is in the hospital and at which hospital.

Cathedral Schedule

Friday, November 9

10:00 AM Nativity Staffs the Thrift Shop

Saturday, November 10

8:00 AM Finance Committee - Room 23

9:00 AM Altar Guild Prep – Cathedral

10:00 AM Thrift Shop open until 1 PM

11:30 AM Hurd Lecture - Sayre Hall, Dining Room

5:00 PM Celtic Eucharist – Cathedral

Sunday, November 11

8:00 AM Holy Eucharist - Cathedral

8:45 AM 321 Contact Worship Service - Sayre Hall

9:20 AM Sunday School | Adult Formation

10:30 AM Holy Eucharist - Cathedral

12:00 PM Holy Hike

Monday, November 12

9:00 AM Flower Arranging for Hospital Visitation - Sacristy

10:00 AM Food Access Committee Meeting - Room 21

3:45 PM Homework Club - Welcome Place

Tuesday, November 13

1:00 PM Al-Anon Meeting - Room 21

2:00 PM Clergy Bible Study - Good Shepherd Chapel

2:30 PM New Bethany Ministries Staff Meeting - Goodwin Room

3:45 PM Homework Club - Welcome Place

7:00 PM Journey with Matthew - Dining Room

7:00 PM Yarns of Love - Good Shepherd Chapel

Wednesday, November 14

9:00 AM Holy Eucharist | Healing Service - Good Shepherd Chapel

9:30 AM EfM - Room 22

10:00 AM Nativity Staffs the Thrift Shop

1:15 PM Yarns of Love - Dining Room

3:15 PM Private Tutoring - Good Shepherd Chapel

3:45 PM Homework Club - Welcome Place

4:30 PM Cathedral Choristers Rehearsal - Choir Room

5:00 PM ShareCare Board Meeting - Room 22

6:30 PM Campus Planning Meeting - Dining Room

6:30 PM EfM - Goodwin Room

6:30 PM New Bethany Ministries Parenting Class - Good Shepherd Chapel & Nursery

7:00 PM Choir Rehearsal - Choir Room

Thursday, November 15

11:00 AM Bethlehem Steel Vets - Room 21

3:45 PM Homework Club - Welcome Place

6:30 PM Discover Islam Program - Dining Room

7:00 PM Cathedral Handbell Choir Rehearsal - Bishop Gray Room

7:00 PM S-Anon - Room 21

Friday, November 16

10:00 AM Nativity Staffs the Thrift Shop

10:00 AM Diocesan Finance Committee - Room 23

10:30 AM Conrad Lach Funeral - Cathedral

Reception immediately following - Sayre Hall

3:00 PM Bach Choir Rehearsal - Cathedral

4:00 PM Paul Florenz Funeral - Cathedral

Reception immediately following - Sayre Hall

Cathedral Calendar

Cathedral Church of the Nativity

321 Wyandotte Street | Bethlehem PA 18015

NativityCathedral.org

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