Andy Hawthorne paid a visit to college this morning, he shouted at us in chapel. Whenever I've heard him he gets a bit shouty, a bit red in the face and this morning he must have piled on the pressure a bit because in the middle of his spiel he got a nose bleed. There is a passionate man, actually shedding blood for the sake of the gospel!
He was talking about evangelism, well he would, that's what he does, what he's known for and what he's successful at. For anyone who doesn't know, Andy Hawthorne is the director of the Message Trust, which does all sorts of things for young people in Manchester. Very cool.
He may shout a bit too much but I did like Andy, a very down-to-earth kinda guy, with amazing commitment and who's vision has made a real difference in many kids lives.
It made me think about preaching. I think I've come to realise that I don't like the preaching job I've got (not that it's a job - it would be nice to get paid for it but I can't see that happening!), what happens is that I go to churches full of old ladies and one or two old gentlemen and I try to encourage, challenge, bring vision and excitement for God, and they all tell me it's been a wonderful service and they really liked the hymns I picked. I'm obviously not communicating very well with them.
There are people I think I could communicate with really well (and not have to shout at them) but where on earth do you find a crowd of 20-30-something non-christians who are willing to listen to a crackpot bible-basher? I can hardly stand up in the middle of starbucks and start preaching!
For me the issue is not really how to communicate well, but where to go? "Go to the people" they say ("they" being Christian experts on mission of course) but where are the people? mostly in places where they don't want to be disturbed. I'm pretty sure that Christian mission won't be effective unless it can use the media and usual channels of entertainment and information to promote itself. That means taking media (old and new) and technology seriously and not just thinking that because we have powerpoint in our church we're 'hip and with it'.
These random thoughts were brought to you by the letter 'j' and the number 5. Thank you for listening.
Tuesday, November 16, 2004
Monday, November 08, 2004
Liquid Church
Sometimes I don't know where to post things. That's the problem with having multiple blogs. Especially when I have a general one that loads of people read and this little one that's specialist but nobody really knows about!
I read Liquid Church by Pete Ward. Considering that I've been gradually becoming more interested in emerging church stuff I'm surprised it's taken me this long to get round to reading it. I've read other books about 'future church', 'church next', '21st century church' and so far they've all been a load of hot air.
The reason I'm having this posting dilemma is that this (Liquid Church) is not like the rest. It is a great book, and therefore I should tell as many people as possible about it - which means posting a review on my main blog (http://www.silkworm.org.uk/blog/) but the subject matter fits better here so I shall post it here for starters.
Reasons I like liquid church:
The book isn't particularly heavy on the theological side, but good theology has a priority - the idea of liquid church may actually be reactionary against culture, but it isn't portrayed that way, in this book, the theology comes first, then and only then is the current culture consulted. This is proper theology too - it's easy to read but draws on a wide range of theological traditions (with real quotes and everything!)
Pete Ward does not mention postmodernism (yeah!!! woo!). The book does try to understand society and culture but doesn't resort to simply repeating the introductory chapter of a sociology textbook from the eighties. Thank goodness for that.
The insights into culture were actually things I could recognise from my own life and that of my friends; the importance of networks of communication, becoming accustomed to constant change and a more risky way of life (there are no permanent jobs, people move around more freely etc.) and, to my surprise, an acceptance of consumer culture - and a broader understanding of consumerism than simply 'materialism is evil!'
"Church leaders will need a fundamental change of heart if they are to start to take consumer culture seriously. Instead of opposing materialism and treating consumer choice as evil, we need to begin to embrace the sensibilities of consumption. This means that we must develop a church life that connects with what people want, and one vital ingredient will make this change possible. the church must change its emphasis from meeting people's spiritual needs to stimulating their desires." (p72)
That desire is really important. Yesterday I went to my church for the evening service. It was all about worship - how important it is to keep on worshipping (especially if we don't feel like it! I'm sure you've heard that before). Given that that was the theme of the service it was ironic that I found it very difficult to worship.
The preacher had had the experience lots of ministers do that as soon as people find out she's a minister they start asking if they really need to go to church to be a christian. She said that on one occasion she surprised people by saying yes - that part of being a christian is a commitment to worship - with other christians.
My problem is not with the answer she gave, but with what lies behind the question. Honestly, I do think you can be a christian without being part of a church, but I wouldn't really want to. When I've heard most people ask that question (or ones like it) all I can hear is the guilt behind it - like a child desperately hoping to be given an excuse to get out of going to the dentist! (Please tell me I don't have to go to a church, please!!!). How do we stimulate desire for God so that going to church isn't like going to the dentist but something you'd actually freely choose to do?
Where the book falls down somewhat is when it comes to the practicalities of what 'liquid church' might look like. I understand the reasons for that, we don't really know what it might look like, but I was hoping for something more tangible - examples and ideas.
I also felt that though there were some good points about worship (my own particular focus) the examples of worship given were somewhat weak - all variations on the same theme of - you can have stations and pray in different ways at each station. Liquid church should release us to be more creative in worship - not less! surely it should encourage more variety and not simply be a manual of 101 ways to light a candle.
I read Liquid Church by Pete Ward. Considering that I've been gradually becoming more interested in emerging church stuff I'm surprised it's taken me this long to get round to reading it. I've read other books about 'future church', 'church next', '21st century church' and so far they've all been a load of hot air.
The reason I'm having this posting dilemma is that this (Liquid Church) is not like the rest. It is a great book, and therefore I should tell as many people as possible about it - which means posting a review on my main blog (http://www.silkworm.org.uk/blog/) but the subject matter fits better here so I shall post it here for starters.
Reasons I like liquid church:
The book isn't particularly heavy on the theological side, but good theology has a priority - the idea of liquid church may actually be reactionary against culture, but it isn't portrayed that way, in this book, the theology comes first, then and only then is the current culture consulted. This is proper theology too - it's easy to read but draws on a wide range of theological traditions (with real quotes and everything!)
Pete Ward does not mention postmodernism (yeah!!! woo!). The book does try to understand society and culture but doesn't resort to simply repeating the introductory chapter of a sociology textbook from the eighties. Thank goodness for that.
The insights into culture were actually things I could recognise from my own life and that of my friends; the importance of networks of communication, becoming accustomed to constant change and a more risky way of life (there are no permanent jobs, people move around more freely etc.) and, to my surprise, an acceptance of consumer culture - and a broader understanding of consumerism than simply 'materialism is evil!'
"Church leaders will need a fundamental change of heart if they are to start to take consumer culture seriously. Instead of opposing materialism and treating consumer choice as evil, we need to begin to embrace the sensibilities of consumption. This means that we must develop a church life that connects with what people want, and one vital ingredient will make this change possible. the church must change its emphasis from meeting people's spiritual needs to stimulating their desires." (p72)
That desire is really important. Yesterday I went to my church for the evening service. It was all about worship - how important it is to keep on worshipping (especially if we don't feel like it! I'm sure you've heard that before). Given that that was the theme of the service it was ironic that I found it very difficult to worship.
The preacher had had the experience lots of ministers do that as soon as people find out she's a minister they start asking if they really need to go to church to be a christian. She said that on one occasion she surprised people by saying yes - that part of being a christian is a commitment to worship - with other christians.
My problem is not with the answer she gave, but with what lies behind the question. Honestly, I do think you can be a christian without being part of a church, but I wouldn't really want to. When I've heard most people ask that question (or ones like it) all I can hear is the guilt behind it - like a child desperately hoping to be given an excuse to get out of going to the dentist! (Please tell me I don't have to go to a church, please!!!). How do we stimulate desire for God so that going to church isn't like going to the dentist but something you'd actually freely choose to do?
Where the book falls down somewhat is when it comes to the practicalities of what 'liquid church' might look like. I understand the reasons for that, we don't really know what it might look like, but I was hoping for something more tangible - examples and ideas.
I also felt that though there were some good points about worship (my own particular focus) the examples of worship given were somewhat weak - all variations on the same theme of - you can have stations and pray in different ways at each station. Liquid church should release us to be more creative in worship - not less! surely it should encourage more variety and not simply be a manual of 101 ways to light a candle.
Tuesday, November 02, 2004
Sanctus1 ... Continued
I need to blog about that service I went to on sunday before I either completely forget about it or my memory becomes so warped that I remember things that didn't happen.
I arrived at about 10 to 8 and the service was due to commence at 8. That's incredibly early for me, my usual time for arriving at church is about 5 minutes after the service has begun. I was one of the first non-involved people there and I was shown into a room with seats around the edges, beanbags and rugs on the floor in the middle and a projector set up to project onto a big screen at one end of the room. The room was fairly dark but with ambient lighting in the corners faintly illuminating the church architecture. A steady stream of people began to come into the room, most of whom seemed to know each other and there was a fair bit of chatting going on. I got talking to the girl sitting next to me, she was very pleasant, she wanted to know how I'd found out about them.
As the service began the chatter stopped and the room fell into a reverent silence that would last for most of the rest of the evening (until the tea and coffee broke the spell).
The service began with lighting three candles to symbolise each member of the trinity. We were then told the legend of St Christopher. I had heard the bit of the story before - about St Chris carrying a wee lad across a river only to find out it was Jesus he had been ferrying. But I hadn't heard the rest of the legend, about how our St Christopher got the job as human bridge in the first place.
The purpose of this saintly story was to introduce our theme for the evening 'All Saints', relevant with it being close to all saints day. After this brief intro I was still wondering how the rest of the service would be shaped but I soon found out that from this point on I was expected to get up and move around. There were several small romms set aside in different parts of the building. Each room laid out with a different activity.
The first room I entered had a very short (<2 meters) athletics track marked out on the floor in white tape. I didn't really get the reason behind this demarkation of lanes on the floor but perhaps it was simply to mark out a pathway for each traveller to journey down. In that room we were told we were travellers, so we should take a pebble and add it to the cairn. The carin wasn't very big by this time but it was the first room I had gone to, I imagine it would have grown beyond the small handful of pebbles I added my offering to. As instructed, I marked a friend's name on a card and added it to a 'prayer shrine' of people we should try and help along their journey.
I made my way into a second room. The room was already pretty full of industrious people kneeling on the floor. As I found room to kneel down alongside them I saw what they were industriously making - origami cranes. I did read the reasoning behind this prayful paper folding but the exact meaning escapes me - something to do with Francis Asissi and a completely unrelated story of a japanesse girl who had folded a thousand cranes in order to have her wish granted. I wrote my prayer for peace on my blue sugar paper and then spent an agonizing 20 minutes trying to follow instructions that said things like 'fold the bottom corner of the top sheet over the top corner ...' I did eventually fold an acceptable paper crane - but not without the help and guidance of a few others who had folded before me.
The third room had a tv playing a looped video of Madonna's 'like a prayer' and a cross decorated with many different images of all types of people. The 'like a prayer' video features a statue of a black saint coming to life, and is supposed to be about combatting racism. I'm afraid it didn't make me think much about racial equality - only about Madonna's use of religious iconography and how much of it is an attention-getting act.
The final section was a presentation about some modern day saints - but I only saw a couple because the wandering around section of the worship was drawing to a close. I had thought that would be the end of the service but it wasn't. When we came back together we had a slow and respectful communion. One by one we went forward in silence to help ourselves to the bread and wine. I have to say the wine was the best communion wine I've ever had. It was proper full-bodied red wine, not the sweet sickly stuff I've had elsewhere (or the horrible ribena-like stuff we have at my church!)
That was the worship over with and there was chance to chat again. I really enjoyed that bit - especially so when I was invited to the pub to continue the conversation.
I did have a good night. I enjoyed the worship and I thought it had a lot to offer - but I did wonder if it placed a lot of emphasis on personal prayer and introspection - no matter how creative - and not enough on corporate worship and looking outwards toward God.
I arrived at about 10 to 8 and the service was due to commence at 8. That's incredibly early for me, my usual time for arriving at church is about 5 minutes after the service has begun. I was one of the first non-involved people there and I was shown into a room with seats around the edges, beanbags and rugs on the floor in the middle and a projector set up to project onto a big screen at one end of the room. The room was fairly dark but with ambient lighting in the corners faintly illuminating the church architecture. A steady stream of people began to come into the room, most of whom seemed to know each other and there was a fair bit of chatting going on. I got talking to the girl sitting next to me, she was very pleasant, she wanted to know how I'd found out about them.
As the service began the chatter stopped and the room fell into a reverent silence that would last for most of the rest of the evening (until the tea and coffee broke the spell).
The service began with lighting three candles to symbolise each member of the trinity. We were then told the legend of St Christopher. I had heard the bit of the story before - about St Chris carrying a wee lad across a river only to find out it was Jesus he had been ferrying. But I hadn't heard the rest of the legend, about how our St Christopher got the job as human bridge in the first place.
The purpose of this saintly story was to introduce our theme for the evening 'All Saints', relevant with it being close to all saints day. After this brief intro I was still wondering how the rest of the service would be shaped but I soon found out that from this point on I was expected to get up and move around. There were several small romms set aside in different parts of the building. Each room laid out with a different activity.
The first room I entered had a very short (<2 meters) athletics track marked out on the floor in white tape. I didn't really get the reason behind this demarkation of lanes on the floor but perhaps it was simply to mark out a pathway for each traveller to journey down. In that room we were told we were travellers, so we should take a pebble and add it to the cairn. The carin wasn't very big by this time but it was the first room I had gone to, I imagine it would have grown beyond the small handful of pebbles I added my offering to. As instructed, I marked a friend's name on a card and added it to a 'prayer shrine' of people we should try and help along their journey.
I made my way into a second room. The room was already pretty full of industrious people kneeling on the floor. As I found room to kneel down alongside them I saw what they were industriously making - origami cranes. I did read the reasoning behind this prayful paper folding but the exact meaning escapes me - something to do with Francis Asissi and a completely unrelated story of a japanesse girl who had folded a thousand cranes in order to have her wish granted. I wrote my prayer for peace on my blue sugar paper and then spent an agonizing 20 minutes trying to follow instructions that said things like 'fold the bottom corner of the top sheet over the top corner ...' I did eventually fold an acceptable paper crane - but not without the help and guidance of a few others who had folded before me.
The third room had a tv playing a looped video of Madonna's 'like a prayer' and a cross decorated with many different images of all types of people. The 'like a prayer' video features a statue of a black saint coming to life, and is supposed to be about combatting racism. I'm afraid it didn't make me think much about racial equality - only about Madonna's use of religious iconography and how much of it is an attention-getting act.
The final section was a presentation about some modern day saints - but I only saw a couple because the wandering around section of the worship was drawing to a close. I had thought that would be the end of the service but it wasn't. When we came back together we had a slow and respectful communion. One by one we went forward in silence to help ourselves to the bread and wine. I have to say the wine was the best communion wine I've ever had. It was proper full-bodied red wine, not the sweet sickly stuff I've had elsewhere (or the horrible ribena-like stuff we have at my church!)
That was the worship over with and there was chance to chat again. I really enjoyed that bit - especially so when I was invited to the pub to continue the conversation.
I did have a good night. I enjoyed the worship and I thought it had a lot to offer - but I did wonder if it placed a lot of emphasis on personal prayer and introspection - no matter how creative - and not enough on corporate worship and looking outwards toward God.
Monday, November 01, 2004
Sanctus 1
Ok, so it's not like real work but I feel like I have simultaneously progressed with research for my thesis, worshipped and made some new friends too. Not bad for a sunday night.
I have been to Sanctus 1's monthly worship service in Sacred Trinity at Salford. I think the best bit of the night was chatting to people before and after the official service bit. I even tagged along with people to the pub.
The worship was pretty cool too, lots of tech and candles and a relaxed atmosphere, things to do and watch and read and listen to. There's obviously a huge amount of planning and idea gathering that goes on for each service. I think I'll go to one of the smaller wednesday meets too, if only because then I can see the people I met tonight again.
Some of the people I met were first-timers like me. I was amazed to find that one couple live less than a minute's walk from my house - not bad considering we'd both driven the length of the city to be there.
I think I need to expand my thoughts on the worship tonight, but I'll save that for another time because I can feel my eyes getting heavy.
night night
I have been to Sanctus 1's monthly worship service in Sacred Trinity at Salford. I think the best bit of the night was chatting to people before and after the official service bit. I even tagged along with people to the pub.
The worship was pretty cool too, lots of tech and candles and a relaxed atmosphere, things to do and watch and read and listen to. There's obviously a huge amount of planning and idea gathering that goes on for each service. I think I'll go to one of the smaller wednesday meets too, if only because then I can see the people I met tonight again.
Some of the people I met were first-timers like me. I was amazed to find that one couple live less than a minute's walk from my house - not bad considering we'd both driven the length of the city to be there.
I think I need to expand my thoughts on the worship tonight, but I'll save that for another time because I can feel my eyes getting heavy.
night night
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