Adeste fideles.

I received an email about this today. First of all, seeing the subject line "CHURCH-N-THE-HOOD Opens The Doors to Plainfield's First Hip-Hop Church" made me wonder, what kind of mailing list is this, and how did I get on it? But seeing as it said nothing about enlarging the penis I do not have or buying half-price software that I do not need, I opened the email.

Sure enough, on Friday, August 3rd, Plainfield, NJ will be celebrating the opening of a non-denominational ministry built around a "street-wise Christ theology," offering services such as educational arts ministry, LGBT community outreach, mentorship for ex-offenders, and (my favorite!) rap-activism.

What in the world?, I initially thought. Are they serious? But as I read on about their mission and their beliefs, I got to thinking. I went on a job interview today, and while I was talking to the managing editor of the company (who will hopefully become a co-worker in the near-to-nearer future), he referred to himself as a "recovering Roman Catholic." I laughed, and told him, yep, I'd consider myself the same. Catholicism is a big joke to us, thus my immediate response to think this hip-hop church is much of the same, a big joke. But wow...this Church-in-the-Hood is serious. They're looking past all the bullshit of organized religion, and they're seeing faith for what it's really worth: a connection to God, and making that connection relevant to life.

I'm not going to go on a religious tirade. I don't practice any faith, and I don't know if I believe in God. I was baptized and confirmed, but I believe in gay marriage. And I feel there probably is a god, but I don't think he or she requires (or even likes) having mindless Pavlovian drones sit and stand and kneel every Sunday morning. That isn't faith; eating a wafer once a week won't get you into heaven. Most people know this, and that's why the Catholic Church is struggling to bring in members under the age of fifty-nine. I have to respect Reverend LaDana Clark (a.k.a. LADYJAM), though. She's actually making religion appealing to the world. It's something, and Pope Benedict might want to take note of it.

By the way, I still have no idea how I got on CNTH's mailing list. Maybe it was that hip-hop benefit tour I did with R. Kelly to promote Trapped in the Closet back in '05. (INTERESTING NEWS TIDBIT: R. Kelly's middle name is Sylvester.)

P.S. - You can audition to be on the Church-n-the-Hood tour. I think my trumpet and I are going to try out.

P.P.S. - What did the pope order at the diner? Eggs Me. (Courtesy of Augie, via Mike.)