The Crossing turns The Big 1 on 4/19! (& other April notes)

Maybe you're a regular. Maybe you keep saying, "This Thursday I'm gonna join them …" and then let another night slip away. If you've been waiting for a reason to come to The Crossing, we'll give you lots of them in April:

THE BIG ONE: Birthday-Worship Party @ The Crossing, Thursday, April 19 @ 6:30 p.m. The Crossing turns 1 on April 19. Bring friends, neighbors and anybody else who needs to reconnect with why we do church in the first place. The celebration mass begins at 6:30 p.m., and features more music, more thanksgiving, more feasting and a special appearance by the Holy Spirit. More partying after the worship ends. Head to www.thecrossingboston.org for the whole story.

TENEBRAE: MEDITATION ON SHADOWS AND LIGHT: Back it up to Wednesday, April 4 @ 6 p.m., when we will offer a Tenebrae service … Crossing-style. Tenebrae is the Holy Week office that draws on ancient forms to draw us more deeply into the reality of Christ's suffering and desolation in his last days. Our simple service includes chant from around the world, readings from the Psalms and Gospels, and moments to reflect on the desolation in our communities and around the world, where Christ lives and dies daily.

RESURRECTION WORSHIP: We'll still be doing our thing for God @ 6:30 p.m. every Thursday night in April (exc. 4/5). Jason Long and Margaret Warren will share the reflection leadership, focusing on faith that drives us to live Jesus' mission: loving and feeding everybody. Manikka Bowman helps to lead the month's spiritual practice; show up at 6 p.m. for a half-hour of grounding, centering, intentional practice (aaahhhh …).

OUR STORY/GOD'S STORY ~ FAITH-SHARING SMALL GROUP: Starting Monday, April 16 @ 6:30 p.m. at the home of Kendra McLaughlin. Kendra will lead small group at her home in the Fenway. On the 3nd Monday of every month, we'll read some short fiction about faith, and then talk about our own stories of life with God. Drop Kendra a line at kendra.mclaughlin@gmail.com for details. And holler if you'd like to start a small group, too!

NYC PILGRIMAGE: Join the pilgrimmage to New York City on Easter Sunday afternoon, April 8, departing Boston at 1:30 p.m., arriving no later than 6 p.m.

Transmission (http://transmissioning.org/), one of our sister emerging church communities in New York, is busting out on Easter Sunday Night with a worship celebration at Avalon. Avalon? Yes, Avalon, the nightclub in Chelsea that's housed in a former Episcopal church (http://www.clubplanet.com/Venues/84128/New-York/Avalon/ new website coming soon at http://www.avalonnewyorkcity.com/). The irony is simply too beautiful -- and I'm sure the party will be, too! It's co-sponsored by a Jewish group celebrating Passover and several justice organizations, inc. sex workers' group (where else would Jesus show up on his first night out of the tomb?).

We'll car-pool from Boston after everyone finishes Easter services, hope to God the traffic doesn't hold us up, and arrive at Avalon no later than 6 p.m. (the actual service runs 6-8 p.m.). We've got free overnight accommodations with Transmission leaders in NYC.

If you would like to join the party, email me at sspellers@diomass.org and I'll keep you posted on the details, inc. rides and beds. If you've already spoken up, great -- details coming under separate cover! And if you know you can't go but want to make a donation, hit the Transmission website -- parties like this don't come cheap.

Groove on,
Rev. Steph

One (year) down ... many to go

Way, way back in the day -- Thursday, April 20, 2006 -- The Crossing opened the doors of St. Paul's Cathedral at 6:30 p.m. and invited everybody inside.

There was no grand, five-year church-planting design schema. We were just a diverse crew that had been meeting and exploring and praying, and we wanted to share something life-giving. To pause and listen for God just around the corner. To offer intentional spiritual practice and connection in the middle of a frenetic, urban landscape. To take the church's traditions and set them to the grooves that already thump through the streets and clubs and cultures just outside of the church … and within our own lives.

Sometimes, it's been magical and so God-filled you wanted to shout. Sometimes, we've hit the gritty stuff that probably made the apostle Paul's head hurt, too. But it's been good to stand at this crossing and get drafted by the Holy Spirit.

So now we get to celebrate. Thursday, April 19, at 6:30 p.m., right here at St. Paul's. It's still worship -- eucharist, spiritual practice, peace, prayers, the good news, a lot of singing -- but it's a life party. A celebration mass to say "thank you" for all that's come and "yes!" to all that's coming. And everybody's still invited.