Pride in Product

Pride in Product

Recently I had to replace the detachable key board that I had been using with my I-Pad mini for the past year.  Several over-used keys went kaput: "SLTNR-E" in particular...the "Wheel of Fortune" letter suite that they always include with the final puzzle. At first they would merely stick and appear on the screen after a few agonizing seconds.  They just completely disappeared from the screen all together.  Time to get a new keyboard.

So I returned to the AT&T store in the Staten Island Mall when I purchased it in the first place.  Well, to my dismay I fell three weeks outside the one year guarantee time, so I did not qualify for a cost-free replacement.  However, the young salesman did get me a copy of my receipt and the phone number of the manufacturer of the keyboard.  I would have to contact them and see if I could get a suitable replacement.  The salesman was a bit confused when I mentioned in passing that I was reluctant to purchase another keyboard at $89 from the same company whose product conked out a little over a year after I purchased it.

So I went home and made the call. A very sweet salesgirl on the other end was more than happy to sell me the same model at the hugely(?) discounted rate of $85 plus tax and shipping.  She did not seemed concerned when I mentioned that I would not be buying the same model since it died a premature death after a year's use. She then offered me one of what she claimed was a "better quality"
for twenty dollars more.  I said, "No thanks"' and decided to return to the mall to check out alternatives.

My first stop was at one of those middle-mall kiosks that was run by the same company, just to check out what this newer model looked like. I explained my dilemma to the young man, a sales representative for this company who asked me why I just didn't say I did not remember exactly when I bought said keyboard....in essence he told me to lie to his employer in order to get a free keyboard...a faulty one in my opinion.  When I said, "So, you are telling me to lie?"  He replied, "I am telling you to bend the truth."  I may be getting older, but I think "bending the truth" is still lying.  He also admitted that the keyboard I bought had "issues", but was willing to sell me another one for $99.  I said, "No thanks".  He shrugged and turned away.

Next stop was the Apple Store.  I was directed to a nice enough young salesman who told me that Apple no longer sells the model I had purchased a year ago. "Too many problems.", he said.  Ya think!? He showed me another one they were recommending this year that cost $100.  I indicated that I would not pay that much, and I left the store...a bit frustrated.

I went back to AT&T, only to be chastised by their young sales manager: " If you want the best keyboard for your mini, you need to get a stand alone"' he admonished me. "I am very fussy about my technology; it has to be fast and the key board has to be portable so I can carry it around.

I told this guy that I wanted one that could be folded with the screen.  He also implied that the one I had purchased from his store the year before was, well...crap.  He recommended the same one the Apple guy wanted to sell me for $100.  I was getting a headache.

I went to another mid-mall kiosk where the young salesman told me that he did not have an appropriate one3, but another store in the mall was having a sale on the keyboard I was looking for.  I went there and discovered a very nice Bluetooth keyboard reduced from $89.00 to $9.80 including tax!!!

He said they were changing models, and the new ones would be in by the first of  December...and at this price, I should think about buying two in case one stops working. I bought one.  At least this sales guy did not try to convince me to buy a "superior" model.  He only had one. 

But one thing that has caused me concern is the  overwhelming opinion that shoddy workmanship is a built-in factor in all pieces of the consumer economy and the deliberate early obsolesce of all technological devices is an expected part of that part of the economy. I remember a time when manufacturers were actually proud of the durability of their products.  I remember when "Made in
America" meant that the tool or dress or television or car you were buying was made with quality materials by skilled craftspersons.  I understand that we live in a world economy.  I understand the Wal-Marts of the world have made this globalization of shoddily made products too cheap for many to pass up, and they pay their workers third world wages to boot.


Sigh, I wonder if this is the "Brave New World" our elders dreamed about....I doubt it.

New Ways of Doing Church

For several years now we have heard the nay-sayers deplore the state of main line churches across America.  The buildings are crumbling; the pews are empty; the coffers need replenishing; the cupboards are bare, and the sky is falling...not necessarily in that order.  Not that there are not problems and issues that need to be addressed: aging structures and congregations present challenges to tightly stretched budgets; neighborhoods and demographics change, especially in urban settings where populations are in constant flux due to changing economic opportunities.





But all is not lost, and perhaps those of us for whom organized religion holds value need to think of new ways of doing church.  I know this is not a thought I alone came up with. I understand folks of many faith traditions have been thinking and talking about this for several years.  But it may be time to seriously consider looking at other models of how church can be done in different ways.




A large city Episcopal Church had been offering a Sunday type service on a weekday for people whose schedules might not be conducive to traditional Sunday worship. In addition, a Sunday evening Eucharist was offered in a more relaxed atmosphere. Closer to home, a rather traditional Episcopal parish began and continues to offer, a low key Sunday evening Eucharist that at first appealed to the LGBT community, but also makes sense for the Sunday morning athletes among us. A local Lutheran church offered a Taize-style Saturday evening worship that had a good following for a while, but disappeared when the pastor retired.

Theology on Tap

Several churches, both in the city and the 'burbs are offering what is referred to as "Theology on Tap" where smaller groups of Christians join together to talk about their faith in local taverns while consuming some adult beverages and pub grub.  These were originally designed to attract younger folks, but each one is different, and some seem to attract a loyal cadre of parishioners who just like to hang together and eat good pizza....by the way...nothing wrong with good pizza under any circumstances.



Hip Hop Mass at St Paul's Chapel

Several years ago, a deacon friend was involved in ministering to large numbers of gang members in the South Bronx.  He and the rector baptized children, officiated at weddings, and began to integrate the local "hip-hop" culture into a well attended Thursday evening service.  It was successful in attracting a cadre of traditionally unchurched people to the church, but unfortunately for them, it was held up by others as a model to be replicated across the city.  Well, it quickly became a piece that was taken "on-the-road" and brought into neighborhoods for an "event" that quickly turned it into a cultural sideshow and it soon died on the vine.  The deacon and priest moved on to other ministries, and the young men and women of that community drifted apart.

So, it was with much trepidation that I began following a "Dinner Church" in Brooklyn on the internet about two years ago.  St. Lydia's is a mission of the Evangelical Lutheran Church/New York Synod and the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island.  Emily Scott, an ordained Lutheran Minister is the pastor, if you can use that term , of this interesting group of people in Christian community.

Emily Scott

Last Sunday I attended their Open House as they gathered to celebrate the opening of their new store front space on Bond Street in Brooklyn on the edge of Gowanas, Carroll Gardens and Park Slope. I have never felt so welcomed in another congregation in a very long time.  Everyone was happy to talk about their experiences there and how they got to that place. Most of the folks there were in their early thirties to mid forties, with a healthy sprinkling of greying boomers. Their worship on Sunday or Monday evening...which ever you can make, consists of preparing a shared meal; setting the tables gathering together in silence, offering intercessions, doing a Eucharist ritual, breaking the bread and sharing a meal.  Once the meal is done, the worship leader, usually the minister/pastor delivers a sermon/homily/reflection and the gathered community reacts and prayers and petitions are offered.  The table is cleared, dishes are cleaned, the floor is swept, and folks go on their way.



Co Share space at St Lydia's B'klyn

During the week, the well-lit and airy storefront offers its table space, wi-fi, printer and leftovers (which are squirreled away in the refrigerator) to folks who would be doing their work at a coffee shop or at home.  A suggested offering for the space is used to off-set some of the costs of running the church.  They "crowd sourced" the money they needed to do the renovations, and set up a "wish list" on Amazon to stock the place with all the kitchen items they needed, and with books and craft items for the youngsters who come with parents.  They have a ten year lease and a bold plan to expand and move forward with their worshiping community. 

The gathered group at St Lydia's has a vision and a plan.  They have used new ways of raising money, outfitting the space and reaching possible new members.  They have shown real stewardship of their property by using it in a smart way to generate income for them when they are NOT using it as worship space. Perhaps those of us who are struggling to work within our personally created parameters of church can learn from them, not by imitating them, but by rethinking what it means to be church. 
Want to learn more about St Lydia's?  Look here: http://stlydias.org/about.php

Soup Kitchen Volunteers

Fourth Saturday Kitchen Crew

For a very long time now, so long that I am not going to hazard a guess about how long , but I think that Kirstin was in High School when we started, and she is going to her 20th High School Reunion this weekend, so is has been some time now that I have spent most Saturdays at a local Soup Kitchen.  The cast of characters that show up for lunch has changed somewhat, although there is a pretty consistent flow of "regulars" whose trials and tribulations have ebbed and flowed over the past years. There are several volunteers who have also been around for quite a while whose experience I value highly.      

Several of our volunteers came to us from the local high schools that require a "community service" component for graduation.  Many of these young folk often stayed on after their 25 hours of service were over, and have written about their time with us in college application essays.  A valiant few often return to help out during college breaks and summer vacation time.  We are always happy to see them.

St john's University SVdeP

We have been getting other workers from colleges near by.  The Soup Kitchen is within a reasonable walk from two colleges on Staten Island: St. John's University and Wagner College. These young people are often away from home for the first time, and develop a feeling of community when they come to work with us. They form lasting friendships across campus lines, and we get great volunteers who can follow instructions well.

There are also  interns working on hurricane relief who live in a church-owned house down the street from the Soup Kitchen.  One of them has become a regular at the Soup Kitchen when he isn't working.  He has also made good connections with other volunteers and our college friends, and if we have left overs....which we occasionally do, he brings it home to the five other interns who live on a tight budget. 

Our cooking crews often bring volunteers with them. Some of these folks prefer to stay in the kitchen, but others like to venture out to the front of the house to meet and serve our guests.  We try to accommodate all workers to serve within their comfort zones, but are happy when one or two wish to step outside of theirs to experience something different.

Second Saturday meal

And finally, we have a local organization that matches volunteers with projects which comes twice a month (the third and fifth Saturdays) to serve the meal.  At first I was not sure how this would work out, but we have begun to get a regular rota of volunteers who have become invaluable to the running of both the kitchen the dining area.

As the holiday season fast approaches us, I will be hearing from others who want to be "Volunteer for a Day" for Thanksgiving or Christmas.  I have a difficult time dealing with "one day wonders" who want me to provide them with a stellar experience on two of the busiest days in my year.  Well, truth be told, we don't serve on the holidays, unless Christmas falls on a Saturday.  We usually serve a holiday meal the Saturday prior to the holidays.  So this year that means we'll have our traditional Thanksgiving meal on the 22nd of November and Christmas dinner on the 19th of December. On those days I need my most experienced serving crew.  I don't have the time, nor the patience, to deal with rookies.  But, mark my words, at least five to ten will show up.  Pray for me.

Roof top gardening

Gazanias

As the days get shorter and the nights get cooler, it is now time to put the summer container garden to rest.  The basil plants have grown elongated and woody, and the final batch of summer pesto ( a combination of basil, mint, parsley, sunflower seeds, grated parmesan cheese and extra virgin olive oil) has been made and consumed.  The annual gazanias have gone to seed, the tomatoes and eggplant have yielded their final fruit, and the coleus looks ready to come inside for a winter over rest.




It is also time to reflect on what worked and what didn't, and how to make the whole thing better.  There are the perennials that have to be winterized for their survival.  I lost two fir trees and a hibiscus to the last brutal winter, and don't wish to have to go through that again.  I have learned that  it is not necessarily the lack of a good hydration system, but also the wind factor that takes its toll on perennial plants.  And the semi-salty air of the New York harbor does have an effect on the plants on my roof top deck/balcony.


Rosemary and oregano



The chocolate rose bush continues to bloom in its second season of summer, and the hearty rose bush I purchased with the gardener's  blessing at my local nursery is still thriving.  It is the same variety that grows along that overused and oftimes fume filled West Street in Manhattan, and so I expect it will winter over well here.  When I pull up the soon spent basil and tomato plants, I will plant some newly purchased tulip and daff bulbs.  I have been assured that these will do well in the large containers I have.  The hostas wintered over with some TLC, and that will be my routine with them again.  The blade grass will also winter over, I have heard, with some gentle TLC...sheltering it from too strong winter winds.                                                               

Hostas



Live Forever

My major concern is my new Mallow hibiscus; I was told it is winter hardy, but I still think I will wrap it to be on the safe side. I have been assured that plastic bubble wrap will suffice.  I also have a plant sometimes referred to as "Live-Forever", a tall green succulent with purplish tiny blossoms. That will also be wrapped. And after losing my tall rosemary bush last winder, I am bringing the newer one along with the mint, lavender and oregano inside to sit in a nice sunny spot until the spring when they will again go outside.

My next garden project is learning more about capturing rainwater for irrigating on roof tops...any suggestions out there?

Into the Woods

This past weekend I officiated at a wedding for a family member.  This professional couple in their thirties had each taken their time in choosing a mate.  The bride, a cousin of mine, had dated several men, a few of whom we all liked, but the one she married last week was definitely "a keeper".  And as many professional folks do when they finally decide to tie the knot, theirs was a "destination wedding".


"Destination weddings" have come into vogue in the past ten years. As is my wont, I have again consulted Wikipedia for a simple, and easy to understand definition of "destination wedding"; it points out; " Not to be confused with an elopement, a destination wedding is one in which a wedding is hosted, often in a vacation-like setting, at a location to which most of the invited guests must travel and often stay for several days. This could be a beach ceremony in the tropics, a lavish event in a metropolitan resort, or a simple ceremony at the home of a geographically distant friend or relative. During the recession of 2009, destination weddings continued to see growth compared to traditional weddings, as the typically smaller size results in lower costs."

The Clooney-Alamuddin wedding also happened this last weekend, and it was also a "destination wedding"...but one on steroids: three days of festivities in Venice of several parties, receptions and ceremonies.  Somehow, I don't thing this Clooney family feast was a low-cost affair; I suspect that once one tots up the amount of money spent by guests at the event on lodging, meals and transport, the cost of the wedding is quite high.       

We, on the other hand, did two days of cocktail parties and wedding ceremony and reception in lovely Roxbury, NY located in the middle of the Catskills and near by  ski country. The leaves were just at their first color turn, and the glowing reds and yellows mingled with the remaining green and the early morning mists gaving the place a surreal feel.

I stayed with three other family members in a rented weekend home tucked away, in the words of my cousin, "In the middle of frigging nowhere" over fifty miles from the New York Thruway which would bring us back to civilization once the festivities were over. The décor was...well, to put it nicely "rustic chic" with an homage to local fauna: bear skin rug, mounted antliers and deer skin stapled to a wall. 

A pre- wedding cocktail hour was in "downtown" Roxbury...an area about the size of two city blocks, at  local art gallery. 

The wedding was the next day at "Roxbury Barn" the reception in the bi-level barn, the cocktail hour in a pergola on the edge of a wood, and the ceremony within the woods itself. The majestic stand of trees surrounding the ceremony was kind of like a metaphor for marriage itself. Those of us who have ever entered into the state of matrimony can attest to the fact that it is like navigating through a dappled forest in which we discover and learn about oneself, one's partner and the fellow travelers along the way.
                                       

Oh, I also have a bit of advice for those attending an event that involves forest floors, gravel trails and old wooden barn planks: Do not wear four inch stiletto "do-me" shoes.  They impale leaves, get stuck in old barn floors and can cause an ankle to twist on a gravelly filled hillside path.  Just sayin'.
And oh, by the way: good luck to all the newlyweds: George Clooney included.

Fairness v. generosity

"...are you envious because I am generous?”

When I explained to my sister who lives in Connecticut, that I would be preaching this Sunday, she, being the well-adjusted middle child and the solidly anchored one, had a great idea for my sermon.  She knows and supports my addiction to reality television since she herself is a fan of “Dance Moms”. She sent me a link to a news item lamenting the fact that Mama June and Teddy Bear of “Honey Boo-Boo” fame are experiencing couple’s issues and are living separately while trying to “work things out”.  After milling that one over for about half a nano second, I rejected it as a part of this sermon, but I may just continue to monitor the situation on my own.  Instead I decided to think about the difference between “fairness” and “generosity”.

As some of you may know, I come from a tradition steeped in the labor movement in this city.  My father was a Teamster in the days of Jimmy Hoffa.  My uncle was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers; my husband was a union official in the Communication Workers of America and not only am I a member of the United Federation of Teachers, I was the chapter leader at my school for ten years.

As a child I remember an aunt who used to remind us to hum the jingle used by the International Ladies Garment Workers Union that admonished everyone to “Look for the Union label”, when we shopped in local department stores for clothes.  I understood Fairness: fair wages, fair contracts, fair labor practices, fair work schedules. I knew “fair”, but perhaps not “generous”

A few weeks ago, I was privileged to accompany members of “Building Bridges” on a walking pilgrimage of our island and visited one of the most sacred labor sites in the City of New York.  In the Hebrew United Cemetery in Richmondtown , 22 victims of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire were laid to rest. The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in Manhattan, New York City on March 25, 1911 was the deadliest industrial disaster in the history of the city, and one of the deadliest in U.S. history. The fire caused the deaths of 146 garment workers – 123 women and 23 men – who died from the fire, smoke inhalation, or falling or jumping to their deaths. Most of the victims were recent Jewish and Italian immigrant women aged sixteen to twenty-three; of the victims whose ages are known, the oldest victim was 43, and the youngest was 14 years old.

One result of this horrific event was the creation of a Committee on Public Safety headed by Frances Perkins, a noted social worker, Episcopal churchwoman and later first Secretary of Labor under Franklin Delano Roosevelt. This group was commissioned to identify specific problems and lobby for new legislation, such as the bill to grant workers shorter hours in a work week.

In her role as Secretary of Labor, a post she held from 1933 until 1945, Perkins led the way in reform for workers. Her work for labor led to  the passage of Social Security Act, unemployment benefits, pensions for the many elderly Americans, and welfare for the poorest Americans . She pushed to reduce workplace accidents and helped craft laws against child labor. Through the Fair Labor Standards Act, she established the first minimum wage and overtime laws for American workers, and defined the standard forty-hour work week.

Perkins came of age at a time when many in the Judeo-Christian communities of New York City were talking about a “theology of generosity”, as opposed to a theology of righteousness. The theology of righteousness held that people get what they deserve, that their wealth and status are signs of their relationship with God. Simply put good, hardworking people get what they deserve, and sinful, lazy people get what they deserve. The theology of generosity, on the other hand, states that all we have is a gift from a generous God. The particulars may be influenced by our own effort, but the foundation is the generosity of God who gives to all people without regard to our particular circumstances or merit. Frances knew fair, but she also knew “generous”.

And “generous” is a far more difficult concept to grasp than “fair”. Recently I learned that the Mennonite group that had been living at St Charles Seminary and quietly doing Sandy Recovery work were heading home after over two years of generous service to the affected population on Staten island.  I had the privilege of meeting a few of these folks who quietly and respectfully shared their skills with homeowners who needed basic construction help done in a very professional and efficient manner.  They did not call attention to themselves. They did not seek out publicity for their latest “event” or invent local “stunts” to keep their name on the lips of local media.  They did the work they were called to do in a forthright and generous manner…and it will be their generosity that will be remembered here.  A generosity that reflects the spirit of today’s Gospel: something they did because they could; not to call attention to themselves, but because it was God’s call to them.  Let us try to emulate their generosity of spirit.

 

In search of masterpieces...

One thing I have learned from my many travels is that every destination claims to have a plethora of masterpieces for the visitor to visit and savor. Some are artistic, some architectural.  Others are of a more religious nature, and still others are just plain quirky and definitely in the eye of the beholder.

As a child growing up in mid-century New York City, I was exposed to several pieces which were said to be "masterpieces" of one kind or another.  These were mostly European masterpieces sent on loan for special showings in museums or other exhibition sites. I remember seeing Michelangelo's "Pieta" at the 1964 World's Fair in Flushing Meadows.  This statue was displayed in almost total darkness, boxed in a bullet-proof case with a single spotlight illuminating the sorrowful face of the mother holding her dead son.  We stood on a moving electronic walkway similar to those found in airports, but much slower that took us past the sculpture.

Years later, I was able to see it "in situ" at St Peter's Basilica.  I was able to get up closer to actually see the carefully carved folds in the clothing and the fine carving of the arms and limbs of the dead Christos as he is held by his sorrowful mother.

I was also able to see his "Mona Liza" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art when I was in high school.  So when I finally saw it at the Louvre, I was not surprised by its diminutive size. The Met also exhibited "The Book of Kells" when I was at Hunter College...a hop skip and a jump away.  I later saw this in Dublin at Trinity College...before they began charging people to take a look.  All three of these masterpieces certainly look better in the context of their surroundings. 

On a recent Christmas markets trip, I got to see lots of castles and churches that local folks claimed were national masterpieces.  I think the most impressive was the Cathedral in Cologne, Germany. It was quite large with scaffolding surrounding it...It seems it takes several years to clean it, and once it's done, it has to be re-cleaned from the beginning again...so it is a never-ending process.  Its outer layer is dark and towering, but you have to get inside to see the things that make it a wonderful space.  Its stain glass windows construct a multi-colored glass screen on all sides.  The craftsmanship of the stonework is superb; the wood working is amazing. It is a place of solace in a bustling city.

And grand it was, even in the dead of winter.  It also helps that the Christmas Markets are next door and they sell hot Gluwein.

But quirky is also good when it comes to masterpieces. And art is truly in the eye of the beholder.  I know some folks who eschew modern and post modern art. And still others who think Warhol is "old hat", but  his work is considered to be masterpieces of post modern society. His work has influenced several generations of graphic artists as varied as local graffiti practitioners to ad men of Madison Avenue who adopted his clean lines and interesting use of primary colors in packaging of all things from bubble gum to cigarettes.

His most famous protégé, Jean-Michel Basquait, started life as a graffiti artist.  He led a short heroin addicted life, and is buried in Brooklyn's Green-Wood cemetery where his grave marker is regaled with notes of love, packs of cigarettes, red lip-stick kisses, and flowers.  His art is quirky and still highly sought after. 

Well, I guess "masterpieces" are rather fluid things whose value depends on how important their admirers feel they are.  And what I think is a "masterpiece" may not make your list.  Vive la difference.