Standing in The Long Now... GB09

.

Now back from an incredible Greenbelt Festival, feels like one of the best ever! I have loads of notes, books, audio files and musings to absorb and ponder, so may well return to this topic again soon! Meanwhile check out this excellent blog post from Steve Lawson that I feel captures some of the essence of GB.

P

Timing!

..


ROFL!

Too close for comfort ;-)

.

.

P

Fresh Icepressions...

.

... and looking the other way, on the left is the Ice Cream Hut (yes, that's me at the front of the line-up ordering a Caramel Cowmotion!), in the middle is the Café and on the right hand side is the entrance to the church itself... so glad they don't call it the 'Christian Ice Cream Hut' along with a 'Christian Café'!

One of the most exciting parts for me, as well as the taste of my selection, is that the surrounding community has labelled it 'The Ice Cream Church' rather than some obscure title coming from inside the church community... but when you see the sign (previous post) then there is still some thinking that needs redeeming and forgiving ;-)

The Ice Cream Church!

.


A brilliant place near Halifax in Nova Scotia. Not at all comfortable with the naff Christianese jargon wording on the sign but the ice cream was yummy! This place is known throughout the area as 'The Ice Cream Church' and folk come from miles away and queue up (sorry, line up) to sample the delights. The Avodah bit is a café with chowder and coffee where diners are encouraged to hang around and chill. When I asked why the big sign was branded differently from 'The Ice Cream Church' there was a stunned silence followed by 'I don't know'. The good thing is because of the impact of this hip and happening place in the neighbourhood it does encourage new folk through the door of the church. Love it!

Redeeming Culture...

.


A little video explanation created by Rob Halligan of our Bradwell experience...

Come all this way....

.

... and who should be holidaying just 3 miles away? Great to meet up with Nick Page and family, he of the excellent book 'And Now Let's Move into a Time of Nonsense', good to have a chat and a beer together!

Losing my religion....

.

Go away for a couple of weeks and all sorts of things happen. Seems this is just like any other man decided Covenant, potentially exclusive and divisive. Bravo for all the sense talked in blogs here and here not forgetting Rector Sam's blog here.

ATF Pilgrimage to Bradwell

.

So it's nearly time for what has become After The Fire's annual visit to the tiny chapel of St Peter on the Wall, Bradwell, Essex, where we ring the changes from our usual power pop-rock output to a seriously unplugged, meditative service of worship which we gently steer. The ambience and natural acoustic of the chapel is extraordinary yet still allows our energetic approach to enable folk to express themselves in song and prayer regardless of their church preferences or faith journey. This year we are as adventurous with the repetoire of songs as usual, so if you are intrigued and have a broad taste in music raging from R.E.M. to traditional hymns (and live not too far away!) join us at 6:30pm this Sunday 2nd August!

A Prayer cross this evening...

Own resources - as it is known here!
And everyone prayed - taking part...

Knowledge of good and evil?

A fascinating Podcast from Monday 20/07/09 on BBC Radio 4:

Religion and the Web

Fellowship of Confessing Christians

A truly excellent post from Alice Smith, youth adviser for part of Chelmsford Diocese. I have responded with a fairly lengthy (for me) comment:

An Anglican at odds with herself...

I concur with her e-pistle!

...where is thy sting?

Only sleeping then?! A temporary sight across from the Art Café yesterday ;-)

Making sense...

I should prefer that these vestments might be abolished, not because I believe that there is anything about them which in itself is wicked so that godly men could not use them with a clear conscience, but because I observe that owing to a chronic shortage of suitable teachers in the churches they are a source of superstitious belief to very many people: and also because they have now been seized upon as ground of contention more damaging than anyone has been able to explain. Moreover it is consistent with our profession of the Cross of Christ that we should aspire to the simplicity of Christ the Saviour and the Apostles in all external matters, including the outward dress of ministers...

Martin Bucer ~ 1550

þ

Pub 1 - 0 Church

Couldn't resist nipping down the road here on Mersea and snapping a much better and charming way of blocking off an entrance... why do we tend to lack God's gift of imagination when it comes to church matters ;-)

þ

The way we think...

I have been longing to photograph this ever since I saw it for the first time! So yesterday my camera and my body were in the same location. Of course it makes me smile and I know this is not a deliberate deterrent to potential worshippers! However, it is a subtle deterrent in that it illustrates how we often think as regular churchy peeps - how much more sensitive would it be to have a sign that says 'Stay safe, please use the next entrance' or similar. And I think this is more of a rural, traditional chuch phenomena.

A good article in the Guardian by Theo Hobson expanding this here

Lots more to say about this... soon!