question from the forum

From MJ, http://www.churchetc.blogspot.com/:
"Do you think that a traditional church such as the Cathedral could have services with elements of sanctus, or do the two ends of the scale have to remain seperate?"

Interesting question. What do we do? What makes us distinctive? Are we integrated with traditional church or separate from it? Discuss.

love your neighbour

Quote of the night (from Dave):

"God told us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us, and then He gave us our families to practice on."

Stock images

Oh and have just been reminded to post these urls which link to free stock/ copyright-free photography sites:

http://www.sxc.hu/
http://www.morguefile.com
http://www.bluevertigo.com.ar/bluevertigo.htm

Promise I'll get on with some proper work now...

Earth a little lighter...

(as Ricky Ross said once)

How coooool are these - recycled trainers!
http://www.antiapathy.org/wornagain/home.html

And I believe that most New Balance trainers are made here in the NW -
http://www.newbalance.co.uk/

Be nice to your feet!

Sanctus1 Service - The Urban Harvest

There is a Sanctus1 service this Sunday. 8pm in Sacred Trinity, the theme in the Urban Harvest - Hope to see you there.

blah...manchester

Kester was on form last night at blah, he stimulated some interesting conversations about the urban environment and the body of Christ. Here are his notes from last night.

Be nice to the world and those in it...

I promised a couple of people that I'd post this after last night's session to start a series on the environment.

Living Generously - http://www.generous.org.uk/ - is a Greenbelt project to help us all live more integrated and sustainable lives.

And Onya bags - http://www.onyabags.co.uk/ - are made of parachute fabric and can fold up into the smallest of spaces - meaning you don't ever need to take another plastic carrier bag.

All good.

Blah...manchester - Kester Brewin





“Only Connect...”



We are delighted that Kester Brewin will be joining us for the third blah... manchester. Kester splits his time between teaching in inner London, and writing. He is the author of “The Complex Christ” and a contributor to Third Way Magazine. In 1998 he co-created the ‘Dream-Space’ weekend in London, out of which the alternative worship group Vaux was born. A collective of artists and city-lovers, Vaux has explored urban theology for seven years before deciding to close. Kester blogs at

http://thecomplexchrist.typepad.com/


He will present “Only Connect...” Why God’s future is urban.
A guided discussion on city spaces, networks and the spirituality of the urban exoskeleton.

blah...manchester is a series of conversations hosted by CMS in partnership with The Church Army and Manchester Diocesan Board of Education in 2005 on mission, worship, church and Christianity in today’s rapidly changing culture. It’s a time to keep listening, chatting and reflecting as God beckons us into the future.

Thursday 20 October
6:30-8:30pm
Drinks and refreshments provided
Admission free

Drinks served from 6:30
Input begins at 7:00

We have a limited number of places. It would help us to know in advance if you're coming, so please book a place and turn up!

E-mail blah@sanctus1.co.uk



Venue: Nexus, Dale Street, Manchester, M1 1JW

Oxygen Bar

For the next two saturday Nights we're having a trial of an Oxygen Bar in Nexus. I'm gonna have a go on it and see if it does anything...they've had them in the US for a while and they're all the rage in Japan. This will be the first one in Manchester, so we'll see how the trial goes and then play it from there.

Sanctus2nds: Fire

Sanctus2nds is an intergenerational service that Sanctus1 run every 2nd Sunday at 4 pm in Sacred Trinity.

Open to people of all ages, Sanctus2nds is a sanctuary for creativity, reflection and socialising. Sanctus2nds will feature a cafe space to refresh your body, a creative space to inspire your mind, and a prayer space to nurture your soul; building an environment to encounter Christ.

Sanctus2nds will also feature an under 5's play space.

There is a service this Sunday, 9th October, called "Fire". Hope that you can come.

Final day at MBS

The last day at MBS went well, hooked up with Mark from way out west, he's planning something at a local MBS fair in Telford.

I was struck even more by the fact that people just want to be listened to. The simple act of listening to people is a profound act of missional engagement. I would listen to people's concerns, hurts and problems- ranging from heart attacks, to low energy levels, to depression and so much more - people simply wanted the opportunity to be heard. I'd then pray for them, it may include a pray for healing and on a number of occasions people broke down in tears. They loved being prayed for, being valued, being given time. People seem to be starved of time, rushing from one thing to another - It is rare to be given another person's time. Time is a great gift that we can offer and that was the simple gift that we offered at MBS

One thing that did happen, which i'm still processing. A woman came in with a dicky knee - we prayed for her and she left in joyful tears, in a state of shock, but without a dicky knee...

lastsupper Posted by Picasa


From the site of the guy who was featured in the Guardian's Bubble Project feature:(http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/features/story/0,11710,1581674,00.html)


PS Anyone got any strong feelings about the paper's new Berliner format? I actually quite like it now...

Buckfast beauty

We've just come back from two weeks hols in the south of England, camping - a week in the New Forest and a week on Dartmoor. And we went to Buckfast Abbey and saw this window in their chapel. It's huge. And with the late September sun shining through, it made for a genuinely spiritual experience. This pic could never do it justice but thought I'd share it anyway...


buckfast abbey Posted by Picasa

Doris the New Age Guru

I came across Doris today....she's also a poet, here is one of her poems:



The Mind Body Spirit is all that we have got,
We're selling all the answers - To what? We know not what!
Some of us think that God's the way, others Aura Soma,
And then there's those can meditate until they're in a coma!
Some do stargate therapy, others fairy cards,
Masai Barefoot sandalwear and oils from Neals Yard,
Reiki Masters, dreamcatchers, Goddesses all aflame.
And you can buy enlightenment upon a new board game!
It's organic this and that and joss stick smells abound,
Aloe Vera massages with tinkly healing sound.
Some of us come to chat, or gossip moan and mingle,
And some have other motives especially if they're single.
But one thing is in common, we've come for love and light
To have a celebration and share a happy flight,