"Where were you in the days that followed? I was searching and hoping. Burying the dead. Seeking shelter, food and comfort."
Help from a distance by giving money on 0870 60 60 900. Give online at www.dec.org.uk. Or donate through a charity of your choice: World Vision, Tearfund, Oxfam, Christian Aid...
...Pray, write a song, shake your head in disbelief, but above all donate a bit of cash - and do it now because it's needed now.
Where are you in the Tsunami?
Where were you God?
Where were you when the ocean broke the shore?
I was playing on the beach.
Fishing in my boat.
Eating breakfast with my family.
Where were you when the sea sucked lives away?
I was holding on tight until I couldn't.
Afraid and running.
Caught in the swirling chaos.
Where were you when all those people died?
I was struggling to breathe.
Letting go.
Counting the lights entering eternity.
Where were you when the waters receded?
I was standing on the shore.
Weeping with grief.
Aching to hold my lost people.
Where were you in the days that followed?
I was searching and hoping.
Burying the dead.
Seeking shelter, food and comfort.
Where are you now God, where are you now?
I am where you are.
Always.
Rev Jennie Gordon
Preston Parish UCA, Vic.
Where were you when the ocean broke the shore?
I was playing on the beach.
Fishing in my boat.
Eating breakfast with my family.
Where were you when the sea sucked lives away?
I was holding on tight until I couldn't.
Afraid and running.
Caught in the swirling chaos.
Where were you when all those people died?
I was struggling to breathe.
Letting go.
Counting the lights entering eternity.
Where were you when the waters receded?
I was standing on the shore.
Weeping with grief.
Aching to hold my lost people.
Where were you in the days that followed?
I was searching and hoping.
Burying the dead.
Seeking shelter, food and comfort.
Where are you now God, where are you now?
I am where you are.
Always.
Rev Jennie Gordon
Preston Parish UCA, Vic.
you can tell that no-one has anything better to do...
...because my inbox is bulging with emails from people who I'm sure should be working. At least that's what their bosses think.
As a result, a cracking article just in, this time from The Herald (Scotland), about why Ron Ferguson doesn't like being asked if he's a Christian, or admitting that he might be. All I can think to say in response to his arguments right now is, ditto.
http://www.theherald.co.uk/features/30314.html
As a result, a cracking article just in, this time from The Herald (Scotland), about why Ron Ferguson doesn't like being asked if he's a Christian, or admitting that he might be. All I can think to say in response to his arguments right now is, ditto.
http://www.theherald.co.uk/features/30314.html
the Word
the Word
The Word became flesh and blood
and moved into the neighbourhood.
The word is, God became a baby:
depended on others for food and water,
and maybe, even, love.
The word is, God learned to crawl,
Just like any other normal child.
The word is, God took his first steps,
Literally: as a toddler,
He set out on a journey.
The word is, God set out on the journey
Of life itself. He learned to live.
And the word is that God has gone before us
Once again, to prepare the Way,
To make it straight.
As one journey ends, another begins,
And though we can’t touch him,
The word is that he’s with us in Spirit,
Reaching out to touch us,
And teaching us to walk.
(By Brian Draper. This reflection was taken from Way to Go - Thirty Readings on a Journey with Jesus, written by Eddie Gibbs with meditations by Brian Draper (IVP, 2003), via LICC - www.licc.org.uk)
The Word became flesh and blood
and moved into the neighbourhood.
The word is, God became a baby:
depended on others for food and water,
and maybe, even, love.
The word is, God learned to crawl,
Just like any other normal child.
The word is, God took his first steps,
Literally: as a toddler,
He set out on a journey.
The word is, God set out on the journey
Of life itself. He learned to live.
And the word is that God has gone before us
Once again, to prepare the Way,
To make it straight.
As one journey ends, another begins,
And though we can’t touch him,
The word is that he’s with us in Spirit,
Reaching out to touch us,
And teaching us to walk.
(By Brian Draper. This reflection was taken from Way to Go - Thirty Readings on a Journey with Jesus, written by Eddie Gibbs with meditations by Brian Draper (IVP, 2003), via LICC - www.licc.org.uk)
Advent calendar
Having known about this lot since post-Greenbelt this year - http://www.wearewhatwedo.org - I found this lovely advent calendar just too late to have the fun of clicking it open every day in December... Oh well. Not too late to start, or go back and just idle away another hour at work clicking through the whole lot. And do buy their book - Change the World for a Fiver.
Also check out Greenbelt's own Year of Living Generously, of which I'm one of the 100-strong pilot community members - www.greenbelt.org.uk/generous.
Here endeth the sermon on how to change the world slowly but surely.
Also check out Greenbelt's own Year of Living Generously, of which I'm one of the 100-strong pilot community members - www.greenbelt.org.uk/generous.
Here endeth the sermon on how to change the world slowly but surely.
Manchester, city of heathens
Apparently Manchester, which I had always thought was God's Own City, is in fact the most godless place in the country. Blimey.
Wisdom and Logos
"The figure of divine wisdom in Proverbs 8 and in the Wisdom of Solomon is theologically identical to what the New Testament describes as the Logos, or 'Son' of God. Because Christianity chooses the male symbol for this idea, however, the unwarranted idea develops that there is a necessary ontological connection between the maleness of Jesus' historical person and the maleness of Logos as the male offspring and disclosure of a male God. The female figure of divine wisdom is displaced from the orthodox trinity".
Rosemary Radford Ruether (1983) Sexism and God-Talk SCM Press p99
There's been a long history of assuming that the fact that Jesus was biologically male somehow means that God is male and therefore, those people who represent God to the church - priest, ministers - must also be male. This ignores that fact that Jesus was also palestinian and a carpenter - conveniently - how many palestinian carpenters are knocking around ready to give communion?
It's been very exciting over the past few years to discover femaleness within God. I hadn't realised that the Wisdom in Proverbs 8 (she stands on the street calling out to people) is theologically identical to the logos in John 1 but it makes sense - as well as meaning word, I think it can be translated to mean wisdom and idea. If there is maleness and femaleness within God, which there must be as we are all made in God's image and gender is one of the basics of identity, then I am like God.
Waiting for the Light
Tonight's service is called Waiting for the Light. It's at Sacred Trinity (on Chapel St off Deansgate) at 8pm (last minute plug!).
However, I've just been "rehearsing" it at home this afternoon - I'm leading it because Ben and Ruth are busy with the gorgeous Jude - and I think it's going to be a stunner! Ben wrote almost all of it so I can't take any credit but I think we deserve extra brownie points this time for linking (not giving anything away) Jack Nicholson, brown paper bags, a complete black out, Homer's Odyssey, and Advent. And of course the usual obligatory seasonal food - mince pies...
More later once it's over. Maybe even a photo or two if you're all good children...
However, I've just been "rehearsing" it at home this afternoon - I'm leading it because Ben and Ruth are busy with the gorgeous Jude - and I think it's going to be a stunner! Ben wrote almost all of it so I can't take any credit but I think we deserve extra brownie points this time for linking (not giving anything away) Jack Nicholson, brown paper bags, a complete black out, Homer's Odyssey, and Advent. And of course the usual obligatory seasonal food - mince pies...
More later once it's over. Maybe even a photo or two if you're all good children...
I'm a Dad!!
Ruth and I have had our first Baby!! He's called Jude Samuel and I'm rather pleased with him! He weighed 6lb 13 and was born yesterday at 8:50 am.
wireless apples
Thank God for Apple and the Airport! How lovely is it being able to browse anywhere with no wires or modems trailing after you?... Think of all the recipes I can now follow from Nigel Slater online whilst actually cooking. Think of being able to Listen Again to all the radio shows you've ever missed whilst lying in bed on a Sunday morning. Hmmmm. And how tiny can you make such a clever thing?!
Three festive cheers for Apple!!!
Three festive cheers for Apple!!!
Morrissey has forgiven Jesus.
Have a look at the video for Morrissey's new single: I have forgiven Jesus.
http://www.video-c.co.uk/microsite.asp?vidref=morr)
The lyrics and the video are fascinating, with mozzer though you have to wonder how much is tongue in cheek...
I was a good kid
I wouldn’t do you no harm
I was a nice kid
with a nice paper-round
Forgive me any pain
I may have brung to you
With God’s help I know
I’ll always be near to you
but Jesus hurt me
When He deserted me / but
I have forgiven Jesus
for all the desire
He placed in me
when there’s nothing I can do with this desire
I was good kid
through hail and snow / I’d go
just to moon you
I carried my heart in my hand
- do you understand?
- do you understand?
but Jesus hurt me
when He deserted me / but
I have forgiven Jesus
for all of the love / he placed in me
when there’s no one I can turn to with this love
Monday - humiliation / Tuesday - suffocation
Wednesday - condescension / Thursday - is pathetic
by Friday - Life has killed me
by Friday - Life has killed me
why did you give me /so much desire?
when there is nowhere I can go
to offload this desire?
and why did you give me so much love
in a loveless world?
when there is no one I can turn to
to unlock all this love
and why did you stick me in
self-deprecating bones and skin
Jesus - do you hate me?
why did you stick me in
self-deprecating bones and skin
... do you hate me?
http://www.video-c.co.uk/microsite.asp?vidref=morr)
The lyrics and the video are fascinating, with mozzer though you have to wonder how much is tongue in cheek...
I was a good kid
I wouldn’t do you no harm
I was a nice kid
with a nice paper-round
Forgive me any pain
I may have brung to you
With God’s help I know
I’ll always be near to you
but Jesus hurt me
When He deserted me / but
I have forgiven Jesus
for all the desire
He placed in me
when there’s nothing I can do with this desire
I was good kid
through hail and snow / I’d go
just to moon you
I carried my heart in my hand
- do you understand?
- do you understand?
but Jesus hurt me
when He deserted me / but
I have forgiven Jesus
for all of the love / he placed in me
when there’s no one I can turn to with this love
Monday - humiliation / Tuesday - suffocation
Wednesday - condescension / Thursday - is pathetic
by Friday - Life has killed me
by Friday - Life has killed me
why did you give me /so much desire?
when there is nowhere I can go
to offload this desire?
and why did you give me so much love
in a loveless world?
when there is no one I can turn to
to unlock all this love
and why did you stick me in
self-deprecating bones and skin
Jesus - do you hate me?
why did you stick me in
self-deprecating bones and skin
... do you hate me?
Two
Sanctus1 hosted a club night on weds at cord. It was a great night, thanks loads to DJ fat roland and squeeky productions for all their organising and for some fine tunes and great visuals. We hope to be there again in the future.
It was also good to see people there who were not from Sanctus1, the night seemed to open us up to another group of people, i had some great chats with people who would never usually even think about faith and spirituality.
It was also good to see people there who were not from Sanctus1, the night seemed to open us up to another group of people, i had some great chats with people who would never usually even think about faith and spirituality.
Sanctus1 Service: Maker, Breaker, Keeper
Sanctus1 have a service tonight in Sacred Trinity. Starts at 8pm and is called Maker, Breaker, Keeper - it is a reflection on the relationship that we have with rules, anarchy and freedom.
Unity in Diversity
This week I have being in seminars with two very inspiring Anglican Bishops; Graham Cray speaking about mission shaped church at the network church conference in Sheffield and then with Bishop Peter Selby discussing our relationship with land and our mortgage culture.
Graham Cray was following up the mission shaped church report and the fact that the Anglican church is, as Rowan Williams puts it ‘at a watershed moment’. A time of great opportunity and also a time of crisis; it seems that opportunity is often coupled with crisis.
There were a couple of areas that really stimulated my thinking especially concerning the diversity of the church. Here’s a fascinating quote by Andrew Walls, ‘The church must be diverse because humanity is diverse; it must be one because Christ is one. Christ is human, and open to humanity in all its diversity; the fullness of his humanity takes in all its diverse cultural forms. The Ephesian letter is a celebration of the union of irreconcilable entities, brought about by Christ’s death.’
At a time where it appears that there are ‘irreconcilable entities’ both within the church and outside of the church, the issue is addressed in the book of Ephesians. Whilst agreeing with the theological principle of unity I wander how it will happen. Is unity in diversity about allowing fragmentation within a whole? Is it about enforcing a certain theology? Or is it affirming the diversity under an umbrella organisation? Or is unity in diversity allowing total fragmentation but recognising that we are eschatologically united in Christ.
It appears that within Anglicanism that there is a movement towards recognising a diversity of expressions of church; the network economy. One expression of church must not set itself up above the others as the ‘right’ model of church, controlling the ecclesiology and theology. However there must also be some ‘marks’ of church that guarantee authenticity, preventing syncretism and the potential for cults developing. We need to ensure that all orthodox models of church are affirmed and recognised, whether emerging or established.
I am convinced that the only way we can do this is by being in relationship and hence am pleased that Sanctus1 is in relationship with the wider Anglican communion. This also guarantees our catholicity, it says that we are connected and value the depth of spiritual resources that are in the church catholic.
‘The Ephesian metaphors of the temple and of the body show each of the culture-specific segments as necessary to the body but as incomplete in itself. Only in Christ does completeness, fullness, dwell. None of us can reach Christ’s completeness on our own. We need each other’s vision to correct, enlarge and focus our own; only together are we complete in Christ.’ Walls
Graham Cray was following up the mission shaped church report and the fact that the Anglican church is, as Rowan Williams puts it ‘at a watershed moment’. A time of great opportunity and also a time of crisis; it seems that opportunity is often coupled with crisis.
There were a couple of areas that really stimulated my thinking especially concerning the diversity of the church. Here’s a fascinating quote by Andrew Walls, ‘The church must be diverse because humanity is diverse; it must be one because Christ is one. Christ is human, and open to humanity in all its diversity; the fullness of his humanity takes in all its diverse cultural forms. The Ephesian letter is a celebration of the union of irreconcilable entities, brought about by Christ’s death.’
At a time where it appears that there are ‘irreconcilable entities’ both within the church and outside of the church, the issue is addressed in the book of Ephesians. Whilst agreeing with the theological principle of unity I wander how it will happen. Is unity in diversity about allowing fragmentation within a whole? Is it about enforcing a certain theology? Or is it affirming the diversity under an umbrella organisation? Or is unity in diversity allowing total fragmentation but recognising that we are eschatologically united in Christ.
It appears that within Anglicanism that there is a movement towards recognising a diversity of expressions of church; the network economy. One expression of church must not set itself up above the others as the ‘right’ model of church, controlling the ecclesiology and theology. However there must also be some ‘marks’ of church that guarantee authenticity, preventing syncretism and the potential for cults developing. We need to ensure that all orthodox models of church are affirmed and recognised, whether emerging or established.
I am convinced that the only way we can do this is by being in relationship and hence am pleased that Sanctus1 is in relationship with the wider Anglican communion. This also guarantees our catholicity, it says that we are connected and value the depth of spiritual resources that are in the church catholic.
‘The Ephesian metaphors of the temple and of the body show each of the culture-specific segments as necessary to the body but as incomplete in itself. Only in Christ does completeness, fullness, dwell. None of us can reach Christ’s completeness on our own. We need each other’s vision to correct, enlarge and focus our own; only together are we complete in Christ.’ Walls
Do they know it's Christmas? Do we care...
Being Advent/ Christmas-interested at the moment has lead down all sorts of very odd alleys…
One is that things keep popping up all the time, in my metaphorical peripheral vision, and attracting my attention.
…such as Jo Whiley playing Ash’s Shining Light during the U2 interview yesterday (http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/jowhiley/features/u2_day.shtml). Great (but slightly obvious Advent-related) lyrics…
…and the shockingly bad remake of “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” Great cause, rubbish cover. Nuff said.
But there's a Christmas service in all of this somewhere, don't you think?
Ash – Shining Light
Roman candles that burn in the night
Yeah, you are a shining light
You lit a torch in the infinite
Yeah, you are a shining light
Yeah, you light up my life
You've always been a thorn in their side
But to me you're a shining light
You arrive and the night is alive
We made our connection
A full on chemical reaction
Brought by dark divine intervention
Yeah, you are a shining light
A constellation once seen
Over Royal David's city
An epiphany you burn so pretty
Yeah, you are a shining light
You are a force, you are a constant source
Yeah you are a shining light
Incandescent in the darkest night
Yeah you are shining light
My mortal blood I would sacrifice
For you are a shining light
Sovereign bride of the infinite
Yeah, you are a shining light
Yeah, you light up my life
And these are days you often say
There's nothing that we can't do
Beneath a canopy of stars I'd shed blood for you
The north star in the firmament
You shine the most bright
I've seen you draped in an electric veil
Shrouded in celestial light
One is that things keep popping up all the time, in my metaphorical peripheral vision, and attracting my attention.
…such as Jo Whiley playing Ash’s Shining Light during the U2 interview yesterday (http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/jowhiley/features/u2_day.shtml). Great (but slightly obvious Advent-related) lyrics…
…and the shockingly bad remake of “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” Great cause, rubbish cover. Nuff said.
But there's a Christmas service in all of this somewhere, don't you think?
Ash – Shining Light
Roman candles that burn in the night
Yeah, you are a shining light
You lit a torch in the infinite
Yeah, you are a shining light
Yeah, you light up my life
You've always been a thorn in their side
But to me you're a shining light
You arrive and the night is alive
We made our connection
A full on chemical reaction
Brought by dark divine intervention
Yeah, you are a shining light
A constellation once seen
Over Royal David's city
An epiphany you burn so pretty
Yeah, you are a shining light
You are a force, you are a constant source
Yeah you are a shining light
Incandescent in the darkest night
Yeah you are shining light
My mortal blood I would sacrifice
For you are a shining light
Sovereign bride of the infinite
Yeah, you are a shining light
Yeah, you light up my life
And these are days you often say
There's nothing that we can't do
Beneath a canopy of stars I'd shed blood for you
The north star in the firmament
You shine the most bright
I've seen you draped in an electric veil
Shrouded in celestial light
Night Cafe
I'm really excited by a potential new project that we're in the process of exploring with the Methodists at central hall in the city centre of Manchester. The idea is that Sanctus1 in partnership with one of the ministers at the central hall run a Night Cafe in the city centre. We've got the venue and the city centre management company are being really supportive.
The idea is that every Saturday night between 11pm and 4 am we open the night cafe as a chill out space for people to come into after clubs and pubs. We'd hope to get some artists to produce some art work for the space and also have a DJ offering a chilled out vibe. We'd serve fairly traded teas and coffees, with organic juices and food too.
City Centre Management are keen as it will give people a safe space to wait for a cab, hopefully preventing the agro that people often get into when waiting.
Watch this space and see what happens. We're pulling a team together at the moment so if you'd like to be involved then email me.
The idea is that every Saturday night between 11pm and 4 am we open the night cafe as a chill out space for people to come into after clubs and pubs. We'd hope to get some artists to produce some art work for the space and also have a DJ offering a chilled out vibe. We'd serve fairly traded teas and coffees, with organic juices and food too.
City Centre Management are keen as it will give people a safe space to wait for a cab, hopefully preventing the agro that people often get into when waiting.
Watch this space and see what happens. We're pulling a team together at the moment so if you'd like to be involved then email me.
Edinburgh faces new rival
Intersting article in yesterdays Guardian..
(http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/news/story/0,11711,1346606,00.html
(http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/news/story/0,11711,1346606,00.html
Prayer-fest
So, Manchester has a new listings mag on the block – 8020 magazine to “rival” the longstanding Time-Out second-cousin CityLife (http://www.8020magazine.com/8020php/home.php and http://www.citylife.co.uk/ respectively). But weirdly enough – they both this fortnight have articles on spirituality and prayer.
CityLife’s is a regular column by Flic Everett called “Looking into the God-shaped hole”. Essentially, she bemoans the fact that organised religion is too inflexible, simplistic (“sandal-wearing losers about to strum “Kumbaya” on the banjo”) and that regular people can’t relate. But then she says that “contemporary spiritualities” such as kabbalah, as promoted by celebrities and their spouses, are equally unrealistic for regular Joe Public.
She ends with this: “But what we need more than anything is meaning. … For now, our spiritual void will remain – until we find a religion that promotes kindness, fulfilment and a better world, yet allows us to carry on drinking, screwing, swearing and spending without censure. The nearest we’ve come so far is Live Aid.”
On a slightly more light-hearted note, 8020’s contribution to the debate is a piece on “Fun Places to Pray” which encompasses all sorts of faiths and denominations – Church of God of Prophecy, Seventh Day Adventists, the Baha’i Centre, the Sikh Temple, and the Islamic Youth Association Mosque. But concludes most of the “reviews” with notice that perhaps not many of these were that fun…
CityLife’s is a regular column by Flic Everett called “Looking into the God-shaped hole”. Essentially, she bemoans the fact that organised religion is too inflexible, simplistic (“sandal-wearing losers about to strum “Kumbaya” on the banjo”) and that regular people can’t relate. But then she says that “contemporary spiritualities” such as kabbalah, as promoted by celebrities and their spouses, are equally unrealistic for regular Joe Public.
She ends with this: “But what we need more than anything is meaning. … For now, our spiritual void will remain – until we find a religion that promotes kindness, fulfilment and a better world, yet allows us to carry on drinking, screwing, swearing and spending without censure. The nearest we’ve come so far is Live Aid.”
On a slightly more light-hearted note, 8020’s contribution to the debate is a piece on “Fun Places to Pray” which encompasses all sorts of faiths and denominations – Church of God of Prophecy, Seventh Day Adventists, the Baha’i Centre, the Sikh Temple, and the Islamic Youth Association Mosque. But concludes most of the “reviews” with notice that perhaps not many of these were that fun…
Advent is acoming
Am I the only one who had never heard this story (true or not) about the coded meanings of the song, “The 12 Days of Christmas”?
Apparently, the songs gifts can be linked to hidden meanings for the teaching of faith (some say during the time when Catholicism was banned in England under Cromwell/ the monarchy, but that seems to be a little less true).
The "true love" mentioned in the song doesn't refer to an earthly suitor, it refers to God Himself.
The "me" who receives the presents refers to every baptized person.
The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
The other phrases in the song can be linked as follows:
2 Turtle Doves = The Old and New Testaments
3 French Hens = the Theological Virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity, the Trinity
4 Calling Birds = the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
5 Gold Rings = the Pentateuch, the first Five Books of the Old Testament
6 Geese A-laying = the six days of creation
7 Swans A-swimming = the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments
8 Maids A-milking = the eight beatitudes
9 Ladies Dancing = the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
10 Lords A-leaping = the ten commandments
11 Pipers Piping = the eleven faithful apostles
12 Drummers Drumming = the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed
Fascinating, whether or not it is true - either about what we appropriate as Christians and then pass on as (pardon the pun) gospel truth, or about what we can find in culture that symbolizes these values to encourage people who are looking for the “great and unsearchable answers” we do not know…
Apparently, the songs gifts can be linked to hidden meanings for the teaching of faith (some say during the time when Catholicism was banned in England under Cromwell/ the monarchy, but that seems to be a little less true).
The "true love" mentioned in the song doesn't refer to an earthly suitor, it refers to God Himself.
The "me" who receives the presents refers to every baptized person.
The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
The other phrases in the song can be linked as follows:
2 Turtle Doves = The Old and New Testaments
3 French Hens = the Theological Virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity, the Trinity
4 Calling Birds = the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
5 Gold Rings = the Pentateuch, the first Five Books of the Old Testament
6 Geese A-laying = the six days of creation
7 Swans A-swimming = the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments
8 Maids A-milking = the eight beatitudes
9 Ladies Dancing = the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
10 Lords A-leaping = the ten commandments
11 Pipers Piping = the eleven faithful apostles
12 Drummers Drumming = the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed
Fascinating, whether or not it is true - either about what we appropriate as Christians and then pass on as (pardon the pun) gospel truth, or about what we can find in culture that symbolizes these values to encourage people who are looking for the “great and unsearchable answers” we do not know…
Northen Alt. Gathering
We've been organising a Northern Alt. Worship Gathering in Leeds, it will be a place to network, share ideas and plan for the future. If you fancy coming along then it's gonna be on Monday 29th November at 6:30 in a bar in Leeds. Venue TBC. Email me for futher details: benbus@sanctus1.co.uk
Service Images
Last nights service went really well, the basic idea was that we explore the theme of 'All Saints' by looking at some saints and discovering how they can inspire us in a western urban context:
We gathered, had a starting liturgy, then a meditation and then I told the story of St. Christopher. We then had 30 mins to explore 4 different spaces:
Space 1: St Francis - Writing a prayer for peace and then folding it into a UN peace bird
Space 2: St Martin de Poress - The Madonna Video to like a prayer was playing, with a synopsis of the video, before we invited people to venerate the cross of diversity.
Space 3: St Christopher - Journey Space, giving people the opportunity to think about their journey; to reflect on who they have been saints to and who has been a saint to them. Finishing off with a shrine to their personal saint.
Space 4: Contemporary Saints: an exploration into what a sacrificial lifestyle is in an urban setting, using video pieces of the urban and of contemporary saints.
Finally we all came back together for communion:
Great service even if I do say so myself!!
We gathered, had a starting liturgy, then a meditation and then I told the story of St. Christopher. We then had 30 mins to explore 4 different spaces:
Space 1: St Francis - Writing a prayer for peace and then folding it into a UN peace bird
Space 2: St Martin de Poress - The Madonna Video to like a prayer was playing, with a synopsis of the video, before we invited people to venerate the cross of diversity.
Space 3: St Christopher - Journey Space, giving people the opportunity to think about their journey; to reflect on who they have been saints to and who has been a saint to them. Finishing off with a shrine to their personal saint.
Space 4: Contemporary Saints: an exploration into what a sacrificial lifestyle is in an urban setting, using video pieces of the urban and of contemporary saints.
Finally we all came back together for communion:
Great service even if I do say so myself!!
Spotted...
...Mark Llamar and Sean Hughes having dinner in Little Yang Sing on George St. in China Town last night.
Made my day! :-)))
Not that any of you really needed to know that...
Made my day! :-)))
Not that any of you really needed to know that...
Sanctus1 Service: All Saints
There is a Sanctus1 service this Sunday at Sacred Trinity. I've been planning it with Andy & Katie and it looks good!! Starts at 8pm, hope that you can be there...It's worth coming just to avoid the trick or treaters!
Resonance
Resonance happened last weekend in the Cathedral and it was excellent. I was amazed at the creativity and the number of people coming into the building and staying for a few hours as they wandered around the different spaces. They are now thinking of taking Resonance to some other Cathedrals around the UK.
I constructed and facilitated a space in the Cathedral...but I'm not gonna tell you what it was as I'm gonna use it at the Sanctus1 service on Sunday!! So you'll have to come on Sunday...or watch this blog.
I constructed and facilitated a space in the Cathedral...but I'm not gonna tell you what it was as I'm gonna use it at the Sanctus1 service on Sunday!! So you'll have to come on Sunday...or watch this blog.
'Emerging Church' in the USA and the UK
Some thoughts from Maggi Dawn:
I'm left wondering at the fact that ALL the Emerging stuff in the USA seems harnessed very closely to Evangelical roots and theology, whereas in the UK it includes people who are still Evangelical deep down, some who used to be Evangelical but whose theology has dramatically shifted; and some who are 'Emerging' within a more Anglo-Catholic or Modern Liberal Catholic setting. This more varied mixture of theological point of view and liturgical over here perhaps makes Emerging less easy to pin down.If you're interested in her musings, you may also like to read her follow-up post.
Resonance
It's Resonance this Friday night and Saturday in Manchester Cathedral. Resonance is a worship and healing weekend at Manchester Cathedral and has been organized by a group of people from Wellsprings and Acorn Healing trust. I've been consulted about some ideas and it looks really exciting.
The Cathedral is divide up into a variety of different zones, such as a healing zone, a story telling zone, a world zone a liztening zone etc. each of these zones will be facilitated by a different person or group of people.
The idea is that people can wander around the cathedral and interact with the different spaces on the way. It's open from 10-4 on Saturday and 5-10 on the Friday night. If you're around the area come and visit...
The Cathedral is divide up into a variety of different zones, such as a healing zone, a story telling zone, a world zone a liztening zone etc. each of these zones will be facilitated by a different person or group of people.
The idea is that people can wander around the cathedral and interact with the different spaces on the way. It's open from 10-4 on Saturday and 5-10 on the Friday night. If you're around the area come and visit...
Geldof on Fathers
So, having taped Geldof on Fathers last week so that I could watch the equally fascinating "Who do you think you are?" on BBC2 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/familyhistory/index.shtml - last week Bill Oddie's journey to discover about his mother's mental illness and tonight apparently David Baddiel)...
...I finally got round to watching Geldof on Fathers. And cried all the way through. Just a really profound and involving piece of TV that I'm not sure that I'll ever forget. Images and words that are now burned into my brain - those men (and grandparents too - I'd never thought of them in all of this) struggling to keep their dignity intact and control their outward expressions of anger and pain and loss in front of a room full of strangers (that's the TV crew, but I'm sure court is no different). Them crying (not just weeping, or choking back tears) but really crying whilst confessing that all they wanted was to have real relationships with their own children in meaningful ways. And having spent the weekend watching my own brother's relationship with his 20 month old son, I think I can begin to understand how impossible that removal of the relationship would be for both him and the wee one. It just can't be right the way we are doing things as it stands through the family courts. Messy problems often lead to messy solutions, yes. But not to this sort of hurt and separation and anger...
The only other thing that struck me was the fascinating and potentially contradictory opinion (having watched himself on marriage the preceeding week as well) that men are both simultaneously silent brooding hulks who don't like to talk about how they feel, and also emotionally in-touch fathers who want real and open relationships with their children and partners. Now these two are not necessarily mutually exclusive I know - but it does show how massively complex this whole gamut of family life and relationships has become when we want to manage both our personal needs and behaviours with those of the people that we are living with and the children we bring into the world. I guess it shows that to generalise either gender into simply distilled versions of themselves is not only too basic but also potentially hurtful in the longer term.
(Just found this too - http://www.the-flipside.co.uk/f4jliverpool/2004/10/no-marriage-of-minds-tv-review-times.php - an interesting though more radical version of what I guess I'm getting at here..)
...I finally got round to watching Geldof on Fathers. And cried all the way through. Just a really profound and involving piece of TV that I'm not sure that I'll ever forget. Images and words that are now burned into my brain - those men (and grandparents too - I'd never thought of them in all of this) struggling to keep their dignity intact and control their outward expressions of anger and pain and loss in front of a room full of strangers (that's the TV crew, but I'm sure court is no different). Them crying (not just weeping, or choking back tears) but really crying whilst confessing that all they wanted was to have real relationships with their own children in meaningful ways. And having spent the weekend watching my own brother's relationship with his 20 month old son, I think I can begin to understand how impossible that removal of the relationship would be for both him and the wee one. It just can't be right the way we are doing things as it stands through the family courts. Messy problems often lead to messy solutions, yes. But not to this sort of hurt and separation and anger...
The only other thing that struck me was the fascinating and potentially contradictory opinion (having watched himself on marriage the preceeding week as well) that men are both simultaneously silent brooding hulks who don't like to talk about how they feel, and also emotionally in-touch fathers who want real and open relationships with their children and partners. Now these two are not necessarily mutually exclusive I know - but it does show how massively complex this whole gamut of family life and relationships has become when we want to manage both our personal needs and behaviours with those of the people that we are living with and the children we bring into the world. I guess it shows that to generalise either gender into simply distilled versions of themselves is not only too basic but also potentially hurtful in the longer term.
(Just found this too - http://www.the-flipside.co.uk/f4jliverpool/2004/10/no-marriage-of-minds-tv-review-times.php - an interesting though more radical version of what I guess I'm getting at here..)
The Windsor Report
If you're interested in what the Windsor Report on the future of the Anglican Communion says, but can't be bothered to read it all, this blog post gives a good summary.
UK Music Hall of Fame: the 80s
I wonder whether each Monday morning for the next few weeks we’ll get a post like this one (and Ben’s – see below) just wrestling with the 10 selections from each decade… Last night was the 80s.
I should probably preface what I’m about to write with a couple of musical caveats… I’m someone who was born in the late 70s and whose musical taste was lead by a new-romantic, metal-loving older brother (he’ll kill me for that!) through ABC to Iron Maiden to Metallica to The Black Crowes. Partly as a result, I am an essentially guitar-based indie child of the late 80s and early 90s, with rock and dance descants from the 70s and 00s thrown in for good measure. So, I’m obviously going to say that, of course, The Boss should be in there, as should REM, The Smiths, and Joy Division.
Obviously, the voting will be majorly influenced by people’s own personal musical preferences, but I also can’t help wondering whether these lists are a bit too weighted in any one direction– no women at all from the 80s? OK, so Madonna got automatic founder status, but really… And did some of these artists do their best/ most innovative/ highly recognized work into the 90s anyway (eg REM)?
(Sigh) Am exhausted just thinking about having to choose one and stick with it - so I’ll leave it to you all to tell me who I should vote for, in order that I can totally ignore your opinions and do the exact opposite. (ref: my 2 year old nephew – Me: “Matthew, don’t touch the buttons on the dishwasher.” Him: “Buttons. Wishwasher. Maffew. ” accompanied by a nappy-hindered lurch towards the machine in question…)
I should probably preface what I’m about to write with a couple of musical caveats… I’m someone who was born in the late 70s and whose musical taste was lead by a new-romantic, metal-loving older brother (he’ll kill me for that!) through ABC to Iron Maiden to Metallica to The Black Crowes. Partly as a result, I am an essentially guitar-based indie child of the late 80s and early 90s, with rock and dance descants from the 70s and 00s thrown in for good measure. So, I’m obviously going to say that, of course, The Boss should be in there, as should REM, The Smiths, and Joy Division.
Obviously, the voting will be majorly influenced by people’s own personal musical preferences, but I also can’t help wondering whether these lists are a bit too weighted in any one direction– no women at all from the 80s? OK, so Madonna got automatic founder status, but really… And did some of these artists do their best/ most innovative/ highly recognized work into the 90s anyway (eg REM)?
(Sigh) Am exhausted just thinking about having to choose one and stick with it - so I’ll leave it to you all to tell me who I should vote for, in order that I can totally ignore your opinions and do the exact opposite. (ref: my 2 year old nephew – Me: “Matthew, don’t touch the buttons on the dishwasher.” Him: “Buttons. Wishwasher. Maffew. ” accompanied by a nappy-hindered lurch towards the machine in question…)
The Shape of Things to Come
I spoke about Sanctus1 yesterday at CPAS's emerging church tour, 'the shape of things to come.' I enjoyed being there and sharing the story of Sanctus with a wider group of people. Michael Moynagh and George Lings provided the majority of the input and were excellent.
However, I was slightly concerned that all the input was from white men, and both Michael and George, whilst excellent in this field, are not of my generation but of my parents. What implicit message does this give of the emerging church scene? I have no gripes with with George or Michael but would really appeal to the organisers of these and similiar events to take a few more risks and showcase the emerging theologians and church planters rather than the established 'experts'. Granted, I was there, but only as a 15 minute slot in a 6 hour day...
However, I was slightly concerned that all the input was from white men, and both Michael and George, whilst excellent in this field, are not of my generation but of my parents. What implicit message does this give of the emerging church scene? I have no gripes with with George or Michael but would really appeal to the organisers of these and similiar events to take a few more risks and showcase the emerging theologians and church planters rather than the established 'experts'. Granted, I was there, but only as a 15 minute slot in a 6 hour day...
Sex Traffic
Did anyone see Sex Traffic on channel 4 tonight? It was traumatic but highlighted how important protest4 is. www.protest4.com. Second part next thursday at 9. www.channel4.com/health/microsites/S/sex_traffic/
Uk Music Hall of Fame
Did anyone see Channel 4's uk music hall of fame last night? I was quite surprised at a couple of them (Dr Dre and The Spice Girls) and was amazed that some other bands were not there. For example 'Primal Scream' the Album Screamadelica has to be one of the greatest albums of all time and took the uk by the scruff of the next with a fantatsic fusion of trance and guitar based indie music; and the Stone Roses...I guess that the first album was released in 89 but i bet that they don't make the 80's cut either. But of course this is all subjective.
The Rebel Sell
So whilst we on holiday recently, we bought a newspaper at the airport in Toronto - like you do while you're waiting for a plane... and there was an interesting sounding book reviewed in their unsurprisingly titled Review&Books section. I just didn’t get round to reading all the sections till recently! (Although according, to our friends who live there, it's a bit like the Tory-graph would be here - ahem!)
It's called The Rebel Sell: Why the Culture Can’t Be Jammed, by Joseph Heath and Andrew Potter. So it turns out that the book ain't published here until February 05, and then under a slightly amended title (How the Counter Culture Became Consumer)… but it seems like it might echo and challenge those books and thinkers that have followed in the Anita Roddick/ Naomi Klein vein.
The general principle is that even the simple act of seeking a countercultural alternative to mass-produced items (eg white sliced versus organic, hand-made bread) turns into an exclusive endeavour that is both expensive and elitist despite trying to get you back to a “more simple life”. People who say they are fed up with mass consumerism and seek alternatives are engaging in a myth – the authors argue that there is no difference between “mainstream” and “alternative” culture. In fact, counterculture is not a threat to the system, it is the system. They seem to be saying that buying organic food, using non-cash barter systems, living an outdoor life, repairing things rather than buying new, and so on, are all ways to prop up another business (be that DIY stores, booksellers, specialist food retailers, etc), and continue to engage in the consumer cultural reality. One conclusion of theirs seems to be that “if living like the Amish is the only way to avoid consumerism, then it really forces us to wonder what is wrong with consumerism in the first place?”
The link here is to an article that they published as a precursor to the book being published: http://www.thismagazine.ca/issues/2002/11/rebelsell.php
And if you want to pre-order the book in the UK (and keep adding to the consumer culture by buying a book on how we can’t subvert it from a major online retailer…):
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1841126543/qid%3D1097487599/202-8290148-4756630
It's called The Rebel Sell: Why the Culture Can’t Be Jammed, by Joseph Heath and Andrew Potter. So it turns out that the book ain't published here until February 05, and then under a slightly amended title (How the Counter Culture Became Consumer)… but it seems like it might echo and challenge those books and thinkers that have followed in the Anita Roddick/ Naomi Klein vein.
The general principle is that even the simple act of seeking a countercultural alternative to mass-produced items (eg white sliced versus organic, hand-made bread) turns into an exclusive endeavour that is both expensive and elitist despite trying to get you back to a “more simple life”. People who say they are fed up with mass consumerism and seek alternatives are engaging in a myth – the authors argue that there is no difference between “mainstream” and “alternative” culture. In fact, counterculture is not a threat to the system, it is the system. They seem to be saying that buying organic food, using non-cash barter systems, living an outdoor life, repairing things rather than buying new, and so on, are all ways to prop up another business (be that DIY stores, booksellers, specialist food retailers, etc), and continue to engage in the consumer cultural reality. One conclusion of theirs seems to be that “if living like the Amish is the only way to avoid consumerism, then it really forces us to wonder what is wrong with consumerism in the first place?”
The link here is to an article that they published as a precursor to the book being published: http://www.thismagazine.ca/issues/2002/11/rebelsell.php
And if you want to pre-order the book in the UK (and keep adding to the consumer culture by buying a book on how we can’t subvert it from a major online retailer…):
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1841126543/qid%3D1097487599/202-8290148-4756630
Hirsch and Frost in cyberspace
For those who lack either the time or the inclination to flick around the UK emerging church blogosphere, you may have missed out the recent discussions going on around the place about the visit to the UK of Antipodeans Alan Hirsch and Michael Frost, and their recent book The Shaping of Things to Come: Innovation and Mission for the 21st Century Church.
Jonny Baker (of London group Grace and general alt.worship guru, for the uninitiated) was responsible for organising the visit. Apparently Grace, like Sanctus1, have recently been thinking about mission, and he wanted to get some discussions going.
Well it certainly seems to have achieved that! Steve Collins, a fellow Grace-er, seems to have had some serious problems with some of what they were saying about ordeal/deadline/risk/survival, and has sparked off a very lively and thought-provoking discussion on his blog.
Maggi Dawn agrees, and also gives a fairly detailed critical review of the book, which also seems to have got some debate going in the comments section.
Finally, Gareth of (also London-based) Moot is more ambivalent, suggesting that while the ideas on mission may have some validity, their model of church as 'communitas' is quite flawed.
MBS
Here's an image of the mind body spirit fair that sanctus1 were at this weekend...see Laura's post underneath. I'll be writing a comprehensive article soon.
crowned heart
A really interesting weekend at the Mind Body Spirit Fair at Manchester G-Mex. So many poeple looking for something meaningful amongst so many options and so much spiritual junk (eg do toe socks REALLY help your energies flow better, or are they just great for keeping your feet cosy?). But aside from all the talking to people and prayer that we did at the fair, I was thinking a lot about a symbol that I saw in a Catholic cathedral we visited in Canada.
It was a heart with a crown, and it was stuck in my head all weekend for some reason - I think something to do with it being a chance to reconnect with searchers at a level where the cross seems too traditional/ institutional... Anyone know what this might be called? And is it related to what I might know as a gimmel ring?
(note to self and others: urgh, I hate posting on this! :-S Everything has the potential to seem so final and open to misinterpretation. And I also need to learn that keying Ctrl+S posts these musings, rather than saving them... ooops!)
It was a heart with a crown, and it was stuck in my head all weekend for some reason - I think something to do with it being a chance to reconnect with searchers at a level where the cross seems too traditional/ institutional... Anyone know what this might be called? And is it related to what I might know as a gimmel ring?
(note to self and others: urgh, I hate posting on this! :-S Everything has the potential to seem so final and open to misinterpretation. And I also need to learn that keying Ctrl+S posts these musings, rather than saving them... ooops!)
Theology of 'the blag'
A few years ago when I was at college, I often used find myself saying 'don't worry about it just blag it (make it up as you go along).' As I think about the future direction of sanctus1 and the emerging church I have a belief that this sense of 'blagging-it' is a spirit driven principle that allows the creative presence of God to move.
As I read the Bible I often get the impression that God is ‘blagging-it’ and making it up as he goes along! Take the stories where God changes his mind i.e. the story of Hezekiah, where God says that he is going to die but then changes his mind and allows him to live for 15 more years. However, within these blags there is always a sense of the bigger picture and the fact that God wants to be in relationship with humanity and this underlying principle is what drives the blag.
I am often asked 'Where is Sanctus1 going?' and my response is that 'I don't know we make it up as we go along...we blag it'. I am aware that the next step is the most important and it is that step that can cause us to fall. There are dangers associated with being too future focused, such as the present reality is not adequately respected. If the present is not respected the organic growth of the community will not happen. There is also the danger of being so focused on a future vision that a neo-colonialism takes place as set ideas of church are imposed on people rather the church growing and evolving organically.
Yet this is not very strategic and therefore an underlying principle is needed to focus and drive the blag. That underlying principle is a belief in a God that wants humanity to be in relationship; relationship with one another in community and relationship with God through Christ. This desire to create community, a place for people to belong, is the under girding of the blag..
As I read the Bible I often get the impression that God is ‘blagging-it’ and making it up as he goes along! Take the stories where God changes his mind i.e. the story of Hezekiah, where God says that he is going to die but then changes his mind and allows him to live for 15 more years. However, within these blags there is always a sense of the bigger picture and the fact that God wants to be in relationship with humanity and this underlying principle is what drives the blag.
I am often asked 'Where is Sanctus1 going?' and my response is that 'I don't know we make it up as we go along...we blag it'. I am aware that the next step is the most important and it is that step that can cause us to fall. There are dangers associated with being too future focused, such as the present reality is not adequately respected. If the present is not respected the organic growth of the community will not happen. There is also the danger of being so focused on a future vision that a neo-colonialism takes place as set ideas of church are imposed on people rather the church growing and evolving organically.
Yet this is not very strategic and therefore an underlying principle is needed to focus and drive the blag. That underlying principle is a belief in a God that wants humanity to be in relationship; relationship with one another in community and relationship with God through Christ. This desire to create community, a place for people to belong, is the under girding of the blag..
Creative Commons
(deep breath for maiden S1 blog post...)
OK, so yesterday I found out about this thing called Creative Commons. It's basically an interesting way of not reserving all the stuff that copyright normally allows you to. In other words, you can make stuff freely available to people to use, as long as they abide by the rules of the licence that you hold with Creative Commons... I'm not doing a great job of explaining it here - but it is a really good idea, maybe esp. for groups like Sanctus1 to share materials we make and create for other people to use. Oh, just look at their site! It's all explained on there...
Esp. make sure you look at the wacky cartoons... :-)) Nice!
http://creativecommons.org
OK, so yesterday I found out about this thing called Creative Commons. It's basically an interesting way of not reserving all the stuff that copyright normally allows you to. In other words, you can make stuff freely available to people to use, as long as they abide by the rules of the licence that you hold with Creative Commons... I'm not doing a great job of explaining it here - but it is a really good idea, maybe esp. for groups like Sanctus1 to share materials we make and create for other people to use. Oh, just look at their site! It's all explained on there...
Esp. make sure you look at the wacky cartoons... :-)) Nice!
http://creativecommons.org
The Beatmatch revisited
With the terrible destruction of one of my DJ decks (okay, it has suffered some damage that can probably be repaired), I thought I would re-visit this article I wrote in June 2002. Happy reading...
The Beatmatch
Sitting in the studio of what is now Manchester’s Galaxy 102, with its gleaming record decks and a whole (ahem) galaxy of ridiculous jingles that can be fired into the mix at the touch of a keyboard, I feel in awe of the DJ who has just taken the cellophane off a record and, without listening to it first, beatmatches it seemlessly into the disc that is playing.
It is legendary DJ Graeme Park and he is, as the jingles boldly pronounce, “in the mix”. Two years later, I buy DJ decks for the first time, inspired by Parks’ incredible ability to throw two records together and match the tempo with a mere twiddle of knob and a flick of wrist. It’s genius, it’s sexy… and I want it.
I learned to beatmatch (or ‘beatmix’ if you’re into saving letters) on CD decks that were part of Pioneer’s stall at a DJ equipment fair. Two weeks later I bought record decks and taught myself to beatmatch within two hours. How did I do it? I imitated what I had seen Graeme Park do, and many other of his contemporaries like Andrew Weatherall and Sven Vath. And amazing things happen once you’ve learnt to match beats to the exact bass drum. Your friends envy you. Crowds want to be you. And yet… and yet…
Beatmatching is vinyl’s playground bully. Firstly, it tries to impress by flexing its musical muscles and attempting to sound clever. But it isn’t clever when you get a perfect mix but one record has been slowed to half its speed and the other is galloping along like an ass with a bee-stung ass. Beatmatching thinks it’s important, the top don, the dog’s bongos, and yet it has the ability to twist the record arm behind music’s back and blackmail a good tune into whimpering submission. Kylie may mix well into Nickelback, but only when Chad Kroeger sounds like a chipmunk and the Queen of Pop sounds more like Nick Cave. Change the tempo to get a beatmatch, please, but change it too much and you just end up smacking your pitch up.
Secondly, beatmatching is a bully because it intimidates learner DJs into hanging up their decks and surrendering their discs to dust. Beatmatching isn’t everything, and it’s not wimpy just to want to play records without mixing them. No, really. For a start, Aphex Twin doesn’t mix with anything, and neither do most rock tunes that have ever been released. People just want a good tune, whether it’s house, garage or a small brick extension to the rear of the property.
To quote the songwriter, please don’t let me be misunderstood; I chase the perfect beatmatch as much as the next DJ, and my intense concentration and the small pool behind the decks, generated from my resultant sweating, is testament to that. I know I am good at beatmatching, and I go for long, clever and creative mixes wherever I can.
But I also do sets with no beatmatching whatsoever because it’s all about playing amazing tunes that make you laugh, cry, nod your head and break your heart. Compared to Orbital’s The Girl With The Sun In Her Head, Lamb’s Gorecki or Sabres Of Paradise’s Smokebelch, my skills don’t mean jack, no sir.
DJs, know your place.
The Beatmatch
Sitting in the studio of what is now Manchester’s Galaxy 102, with its gleaming record decks and a whole (ahem) galaxy of ridiculous jingles that can be fired into the mix at the touch of a keyboard, I feel in awe of the DJ who has just taken the cellophane off a record and, without listening to it first, beatmatches it seemlessly into the disc that is playing.
It is legendary DJ Graeme Park and he is, as the jingles boldly pronounce, “in the mix”. Two years later, I buy DJ decks for the first time, inspired by Parks’ incredible ability to throw two records together and match the tempo with a mere twiddle of knob and a flick of wrist. It’s genius, it’s sexy… and I want it.
I learned to beatmatch (or ‘beatmix’ if you’re into saving letters) on CD decks that were part of Pioneer’s stall at a DJ equipment fair. Two weeks later I bought record decks and taught myself to beatmatch within two hours. How did I do it? I imitated what I had seen Graeme Park do, and many other of his contemporaries like Andrew Weatherall and Sven Vath. And amazing things happen once you’ve learnt to match beats to the exact bass drum. Your friends envy you. Crowds want to be you. And yet… and yet…
Beatmatching is vinyl’s playground bully. Firstly, it tries to impress by flexing its musical muscles and attempting to sound clever. But it isn’t clever when you get a perfect mix but one record has been slowed to half its speed and the other is galloping along like an ass with a bee-stung ass. Beatmatching thinks it’s important, the top don, the dog’s bongos, and yet it has the ability to twist the record arm behind music’s back and blackmail a good tune into whimpering submission. Kylie may mix well into Nickelback, but only when Chad Kroeger sounds like a chipmunk and the Queen of Pop sounds more like Nick Cave. Change the tempo to get a beatmatch, please, but change it too much and you just end up smacking your pitch up.
Secondly, beatmatching is a bully because it intimidates learner DJs into hanging up their decks and surrendering their discs to dust. Beatmatching isn’t everything, and it’s not wimpy just to want to play records without mixing them. No, really. For a start, Aphex Twin doesn’t mix with anything, and neither do most rock tunes that have ever been released. People just want a good tune, whether it’s house, garage or a small brick extension to the rear of the property.
To quote the songwriter, please don’t let me be misunderstood; I chase the perfect beatmatch as much as the next DJ, and my intense concentration and the small pool behind the decks, generated from my resultant sweating, is testament to that. I know I am good at beatmatching, and I go for long, clever and creative mixes wherever I can.
But I also do sets with no beatmatching whatsoever because it’s all about playing amazing tunes that make you laugh, cry, nod your head and break your heart. Compared to Orbital’s The Girl With The Sun In Her Head, Lamb’s Gorecki or Sabres Of Paradise’s Smokebelch, my skills don’t mean jack, no sir.
DJs, know your place.
Conference for Network Focused Churches
This is a conference that I will be attending at the end of November (unless the baby comes early!) if you are part of sanctus1 and would like to come then let me know.
If you want to book or find out more details then contact c.dalpra@sheffieldcentre.org.uk or see http://www.encountersontheedge.org.uk/ future conferences
Date: November 23-25 2004 (lunchtime to lunchtime)
Venue: Wilson Carlile College of Evangelism, Sheffield
Speakers confirmed: Rt Revd Graham Cray, Bishop of Maidstone, Andrew Jones, Paul Machonochie
Style of conference: mix of plenary, small group, story-telling and worship
If you want to book or find out more details then contact c.dalpra@sheffieldcentre.org.uk or see http://www.encountersontheedge.org.uk/ future conferences
Date: November 23-25 2004 (lunchtime to lunchtime)
Venue: Wilson Carlile College of Evangelism, Sheffield
Speakers confirmed: Rt Revd Graham Cray, Bishop of Maidstone, Andrew Jones, Paul Machonochie
Style of conference: mix of plenary, small group, story-telling and worship
Protest4
It would be fantastic if some sanctus1 people could attend this. Unfortunately I am working that weekend but think we need to be there as it is to London focused.
Protest4 invites those with a similar vision to join us for a preliminary gathering on the weekend of the 29-31st October 2004 at Christ Church, the church.co.uk centre, Waterloo, London.
Phil Lane, an international expert on human trafficking, will be there to help us explore human trafficking, by presenting the issues and facilitating discussion for action.
There will also be input from Kester Brewin (author of ‘The Complex Christ’); Andrew Jones (aka www.tallskinnykiwi.com and an Associate of DAWN ministries); Rev. Dr. Carrie Pemberton (Founder of CHASTE); and a film and presentation from Gareth Higgins (author of ‘How Movies Helped Save My Soul’); Worship installation will be from London Zoo. The weekend will kick off at the church.co.uk centre at 7:00 pm on Friday the 29th.
Protest4 invites those with a similar vision to join us for a preliminary gathering on the weekend of the 29-31st October 2004 at Christ Church, the church.co.uk centre, Waterloo, London.
Phil Lane, an international expert on human trafficking, will be there to help us explore human trafficking, by presenting the issues and facilitating discussion for action.
There will also be input from Kester Brewin (author of ‘The Complex Christ’); Andrew Jones (aka www.tallskinnykiwi.com and an Associate of DAWN ministries); Rev. Dr. Carrie Pemberton (Founder of CHASTE); and a film and presentation from Gareth Higgins (author of ‘How Movies Helped Save My Soul’); Worship installation will be from London Zoo. The weekend will kick off at the church.co.uk centre at 7:00 pm on Friday the 29th.
Last night's Service.
'A Time for Everything' went well last night - It has been a while since I have done a service in Manchester - For the July service I was in Namibia and then August's service was at Greenbelt. So I was rather nervous beforehand...added to that the fact that we were at The Cathedral rather than Sacred Trinity means that the stakes are raised slightly higher. But I didn't need to worry...all went well; I would be interested to hear peoples comments on the space that we used this time. I felt that it was a pity that everyone sat on the chairs as it felt too 'up-front' and less community focused...
However I thought that the content was superb and it was good to have so many visitors...next one is on 31st October...Halloween...in Sacred Trinity.
However I thought that the content was superb and it was good to have so many visitors...next one is on 31st October...Halloween...in Sacred Trinity.
Inclusive church launch Manchester
Inclusive Church Launch for Manchester:
Saturday 20th November 2004
St Peter's House, Oxford Rd, Manchester
The launch will begin at 11am with a presentation by the Revd Dr Giles Fraser: ‘Inclusive Bible, Exclusive Church’. This will be followed by a formal launching of Inclusive Church. After lunch there will be an interactive session considering ‘Where first-where next?’ when we hope to discover how we might meaningfully ‘earth’ and extend, for the people of Greater Manchester as well as for the students of the Universities, the online initiative that already exists (www.inclusivechurch.net).
If you would like to go contact sph.reception@man.ac.uk and they'll be able to provide more details
Saturday 20th November 2004
St Peter's House, Oxford Rd, Manchester
The launch will begin at 11am with a presentation by the Revd Dr Giles Fraser: ‘Inclusive Bible, Exclusive Church’. This will be followed by a formal launching of Inclusive Church. After lunch there will be an interactive session considering ‘Where first-where next?’ when we hope to discover how we might meaningfully ‘earth’ and extend, for the people of Greater Manchester as well as for the students of the Universities, the online initiative that already exists (www.inclusivechurch.net).
If you would like to go contact sph.reception@man.ac.uk and they'll be able to provide more details
iRaq
This image and a number more were in third way this month and are on www.politicalgraphics.org. Fascinating how the ipod graphics have grabbed the imagination of people. This image in particular fascinates me, personally it evokes a number of different emotions and thoughts - It reminds me of the crucifix, there are also strong visual links with the KKK and finally it links with the Abu Ghraib prison scandal.
An image can say more than a thousand words...
An image can say more than a thousand words...
IGod
love this image - It's produced by a company called Marketing Manchester who were commissioned to 'Sell God'
Mission
We're in the process of chatting through the whole area of mission within sanctus, it is something that i am passionate and i think that we need have a missional theology before going on to outwork that mission. If we do mission without the thinking behind it then the danger is that we can perpetuate some of the old imperialistic models of church and mission...so here are few starter thoughts on the theology of mission:
1 - A missional theology starts with a belief in a God of mission...God sent his son into the world in an act of mission. God wants to be in relationship with humanity and consistently reaches out to humanity, this is shown in the Bible and throughout human history. God is a missional God and we are called to reflect God.
2 - God is already active in the world - God's mission did not end at with the sending of Christ. God is continuing in his misison now and our role as missionary people is not to take God into the world but to recognise what God is already doing in teh world and to work alongside God in his ongoing mission, This theology of mission prevents the dualism that has so often characterised Christian mission where we take a 'Good God' into a 'Bad World'
3 - I am becoming increasing convince that the greatest missional tool is 'hospitality' - so often in the world people are not hospitable, not welcoming, not inclusive and hence hospitality is not practiced. I believe the first step to being a missional church is to be a hospitable church.
1 - A missional theology starts with a belief in a God of mission...God sent his son into the world in an act of mission. God wants to be in relationship with humanity and consistently reaches out to humanity, this is shown in the Bible and throughout human history. God is a missional God and we are called to reflect God.
2 - God is already active in the world - God's mission did not end at with the sending of Christ. God is continuing in his misison now and our role as missionary people is not to take God into the world but to recognise what God is already doing in teh world and to work alongside God in his ongoing mission, This theology of mission prevents the dualism that has so often characterised Christian mission where we take a 'Good God' into a 'Bad World'
3 - I am becoming increasing convince that the greatest missional tool is 'hospitality' - so often in the world people are not hospitable, not welcoming, not inclusive and hence hospitality is not practiced. I believe the first step to being a missional church is to be a hospitable church.
A Time For Everything
This Sunday at Manchester Cathedral Sanctus1 are having a service. It's called 'A Time for Everything' and myself and Kolyn have been planning it. It is themed around Ecclesiastes 3 and I'm quite excited by it. It starts at 8pm, come and join us if you wish.
Resonance
Manchester Cathedral are hosting an event called 'Resonance' on 2nd and 3rd October, http://www.resonance.ukf.net. I've been involved in the planning of it with Wellsprings and others from Acorn. Looks like it should be a good event with a variety of zones around the cathedral; listening, storytelling, healingm world, body etc.
Baker plaudits
Blimey. Jonny Baker has blogged on Sanctus1. In fact the Late Late Breakfast service at Greenbelt is his 'worship trick 99'.
Does this mean Sanctus1 has 'arrived'? ;-)
Does this mean Sanctus1 has 'arrived'? ;-)
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