A pentangle of Anglican bishops, on a wind-down from their busy season, have slammed the 'scandalous' government policies that slid us into the economic slow-down.
Our own dear purple patriarch, Nigel the Bishop of Manchester, cites the culture of "greed and a love of money that the Bible says is the root of all evil."
He says: "It's morally corrupt because it encourages people to get into a lifestyle of believing they can always get what they want.
"We have the poor feeling they have been betrayed and the gap is getting ever greater. Any government of integrity would have exercised restraint, but this has been sadly lacking."
But maybe, just maybe - and I don't think Nigel has realised the positive side - this is playing into the bishops' hands.
In his Christmas message, Bishop Nigel said the credit crunch would return us to traditional values, and that "it is the things that money can not buy that will rescue our economy and bring the joy and peace that we are currently much lacking."
So this crisis should have us thundering back through the church doors in droves (albeit with hardly a button to put into the collection plate). Result!
Midnight
Sanctus1 present :
‘Midnight ’
Date: 24th December
Venue: Sacred Trinity, Salford.
Time: 11:30 pm
‘Midnight ’
Date: 24th December
Venue: Sacred Trinity, Salford.
Time: 11:30 pm

Manchester congestion charge results due...
Ballot papers had to be in yesterday by 20:00 and the result is due at 12:00 today. So does anyone want to guess which way it'll go and give a percentage figure? You've got 2 hrs...
I'm thinking 65/35 toward the No...
I'm thinking 65/35 toward the No...
When Bagpuss goes to sleep, all his friends go to sleep.
Oliver Postgate, creator of the finest television programmes for smaller people, has died aged 83.
Many of us will have a special place in our hearts for his programming creations, but for those too young to remember, these include:
and of course, the Clangers.
He also had a sharp political mind, and a firm sense of social justice. Many of his essays can be seen on his website and are highly recommended.
The meaning is in the waiting
Some of us in Sanctus1 are reading Paula Gooder's book 'The Meaning is in the Waiting' over advent. We'll be discussing it and our reflections on it, both this wednesday and next. We're meeting at 18:00 in Nexus. So please join us if you're interested and have read some of the book!
Beer and Carols!
This Wednesday eve Sanctus1 and Christian Aid North West will be in the Christmas Markets on Albert Square singing carols and drinking beer. We'll be at The Windmill House from about 7:45 so please join us!
Opposition politician arrested for speaking out against the Government
No, not Zimbabwe - it's here in the UK.
Quote from the BBC NEWS website:
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that Mr Green was arrested by members of its counter-terrorism command. It said the investigation was not terrorism related but did fall within the counter-terror unit's remit.
This is the story of Opposition Spokesman Damian Green MP, who was arrested under Counter-Terrorism legislation, for talking about ths shortcomings of HM Government, with relation to the management of immigration controls and security checking procedures. Things for which the Government really should be held accountable.
As a result, he was arrested and his home and offices were searched by the Counter Terrorism Unit.
Good grief: what is going on? I thought that we were supposed to be persuading the Zimbabwe governement of the error of their ways, not taking lessons from them.
Quote from the BBC NEWS website:
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that Mr Green was arrested by members of its counter-terrorism command. It said the investigation was not terrorism related but did fall within the counter-terror unit's remit.
This is the story of Opposition Spokesman Damian Green MP, who was arrested under Counter-Terrorism legislation, for talking about ths shortcomings of HM Government, with relation to the management of immigration controls and security checking procedures. Things for which the Government really should be held accountable.
As a result, he was arrested and his home and offices were searched by the Counter Terrorism Unit.
Good grief: what is going on? I thought that we were supposed to be persuading the Zimbabwe governement of the error of their ways, not taking lessons from them.
Gift Exhibition during Advent
During advent Sanctus1 is curating an exhibition in Nexus called Gift. We've had a number of artists submitting proposals for the exhibition and I'm really excited about the ones that we've selected. Here's the flyer - some of you will recognize it as last years Greenbelt Christmas Card, so thanks to them for allowing us to use it and thanks to Wilf who designed it originally...I hope that I haven't bastardised it too much...
Faith and Climate Change
This wednesday evening at Sanctus1 we're hosting the Manchester Green Party. The evening focuses on the relationship between faith and climate change, there will be a Christian, Buddhist, Humanist and Islamic speaker all exploring the issue. It promises to be a fascinating evening where we can focus on an issue that should unite people of all faiths and none.
All things Sanctus1...
Emergingchurch.info has a conversation with Olive Drane this month about her MA research into Sanctus1 that was conducted about five years ago. It was when we were about 18 months old so is a very interesting piece of historic research about the formation of an emerging church. If you wand to know the early story of Sanctus1 then go read...
Secondly, Proost, has published a Sanctus1 pocket liturgy. I downloaded it today, the first time that i have seen it, and was really impressed - so well done Laura, Rachel and Janet.
Secondly, Proost, has published a Sanctus1 pocket liturgy. I downloaded it today, the first time that i have seen it, and was really impressed - so well done Laura, Rachel and Janet.
Congo Childrens Trust
Ian Harvey who is part of Sanctus1 has established the Congo Children Trust and will be moving out there in a few months - He's blogging about his time (3 years minimum) in Congo here.
Poached Sea Kitten with a herb mash?
IN an attempt to make us "bond" with fish, PETA have come up with an interesting campaign idea.
The propose re-branding them as "Sea kittens". Apparently, people don't empathise with slimy, scaly things, only with cute furry creatures. So the very attributes that serve to keep fish alive and give then a lustrous appearance are actually being down-played by PETA.
The propose re-branding them as "Sea kittens". Apparently, people don't empathise with slimy, scaly things, only with cute furry creatures. So the very attributes that serve to keep fish alive and give then a lustrous appearance are actually being down-played by PETA.You can create your own sea kitten on the website, but fortunately there is no contextual sieve, so you can give them any name to reflect how you relate to the little critters.
Nexus or Blue Peter?
This from Taste of Manchester
'Finally, how can I talk about the best MFDF events and not mention the Nexus baking demo in the Learn Marquee? David Gale, who hosting Saturday’s demos, was certainly not expecting the likes of Hayley Curbishly and Fabienne Camm to bring their distinct and flamboyant baking techniques to the kitchen theatre. In want was by far the most entertaining demonstration I’ve ever seen, the girls created a Cake Castle, and demolished the kitchen in the process: Not since the Blitz has Manchester seen such a mess created! But full credit to both Hayley and Fabienne, they both deserve a role on Blue Peter for their sheer charisma and talent for creating fun on grey days!'
Well done Fabienne and Hayley!
'Finally, how can I talk about the best MFDF events and not mention the Nexus baking demo in the Learn Marquee? David Gale, who hosting Saturday’s demos, was certainly not expecting the likes of Hayley Curbishly and Fabienne Camm to bring their distinct and flamboyant baking techniques to the kitchen theatre. In want was by far the most entertaining demonstration I’ve ever seen, the girls created a Cake Castle, and demolished the kitchen in the process: Not since the Blitz has Manchester seen such a mess created! But full credit to both Hayley and Fabienne, they both deserve a role on Blue Peter for their sheer charisma and talent for creating fun on grey days!'
Well done Fabienne and Hayley!
Does this mean Joe Biden is Jane?
I guess you've been wondering what God thinks of Barack Obama.
Well, here's the answer. Television preacher Dr James David Manning (Bernard's long lost son, methinks) has been speaking to the Lord, and here's what He had to say.
A delightfully loony clip courtesy of La Bête.
What price, liberty?
On last week's "Question Time" (Still available on the BBC's iPlayer, if you're quick), the Government's proposal to keep a record of every phone call, email, blog post and text message was discussed. The usual balance of civil liberties versus national safety was bandied about, but then a curious exchange occurred.
Geoff Hoon, Minister of "what haven't I tried yet?" was asked how far the government is willing to go in undermining civil liberties in order to monitor extremists.
"To stop terrorists killing people in our society quite a long way, actually." Which suggests that record keeping may not be the limit of government plans. Certainly, suggestions have been made* that they should be able to install spyware in any computer to read its hard drive or record every keystroke made. **
"The biggest civil liberty of all is not to be killed by a terrorist," was Mr Hoon's justification. Is he right? What actions would be justified? How much liberty must we lose to guarantee our liberties?
Discuss.
* Seriously. European Interior Miniters considered the matter at a recentsymposium.
** This is the same technology that phishers use to stel your banking details. If anyone else does this, it can land you in jail.
Geoff Hoon, Minister of "what haven't I tried yet?" was asked how far the government is willing to go in undermining civil liberties in order to monitor extremists.
"To stop terrorists killing people in our society quite a long way, actually." Which suggests that record keeping may not be the limit of government plans. Certainly, suggestions have been made* that they should be able to install spyware in any computer to read its hard drive or record every keystroke made. **
"The biggest civil liberty of all is not to be killed by a terrorist," was Mr Hoon's justification. Is he right? What actions would be justified? How much liberty must we lose to guarantee our liberties?
Discuss.
* Seriously. European Interior Miniters considered the matter at a recentsymposium.
** This is the same technology that phishers use to stel your banking details. If anyone else does this, it can land you in jail.
Attack of the clones
I used to be quite snobbish about graffiti.
Tagging, the scrawled style you see here, was a blemish on the canvass of graf art compared to the glorious multicolour lettering you'd get on the side of railway bridges and, sometimes, on the trains themselves.
But this tag, 'welcome to clone town', was wonderful. I even got off the bus just to take this piccie. It was on the side of the new Costa Coffee in Didsbury Village, just opposite the mecca of all good food, the Cheese Hamlet.
I say 'was' because a few days later, Costa opened its doors for the first time and the graffiti had been Cillit Banged away.
There's a simple way to make your protest against a chain coffee shop Didsbury doesn't need. Use the two dozen independent coffee shops in the borough instead (see the South Manchester Reporter for more).
Or, in the words of one friend who saw this picture: "What's a clown town?"
Sunday School Stories
Tonight in Sanctus1 we're starting a new series exploring what Sunday Schools Stories teach us about the character of God.
We're starting by looking at Noah's ark...Is it just a Sunday school story? is God a mass murdering meglomaniac? How do we reconcile the God of the flood with the God revealed in Christ? These questions and many more will be explored...
Are you dead?
‘Are You Dead?’ is the latest exhibition in Nexus Art Café. Three contemporary taxidermists explore the relationship that we have with the animal kingdom. Disturbing, shocking and often high amusing this exhibition challenges our perceptions of the animal kingdom by placing them in an unexpected context.Are You Dead?
Nexus Art Cafe
30th September - 1st November
Thursday 2nd October 7-10 with live music - all welcome
Susannah Gent has two pieces of work in the exhibition: ‘Sentimental Rabbit Suicide’ and ‘Shop Window’. Susannah does not use taxidermy to re-inject life into the creature but simply to present the it as dead. ‘Shop Window’ consists of several single sculptural taxidermy works drawing inspiration from a Victorian curiosity shop. The timeless ‘Sentimental Rabbit Suicide’ explores our relationship with the progression of generations using recycled matter from the food chain and house clearance.
Van Herrewege’s work is inspired by a fascination with the form and aesthetics of creatures from the Animal kingdom. He is interested in the juxtaposition of animals in unexpected contexts and how it affects our perception of them.
The recurrent characters of Luz Valencia’s work are birds, jellyfishes, insects, bacteria, tiny explosions of colors and lines that multiply across the surface in an obsessive way. Unstoppable and wanting to cover it all but limited to a designated areas assigned for them to live in , similar to the western social inhabitations, gentrified classes forced from abodes to scratch around in the deluge of structures.
David Foster Wallace on unconscious worship
David Foster Wallace's posthumous piece in today's Grauniad shows how much poorer we all are without him.
It's almost as if he's been a member of Sanctus1 for the past five years:
A huge percentage of the stuff that I tend to be automatically certain of is, it turns out, totally wrong and deluded.
Did I hear a shiver of recognition? And he captures in a nutshell that giddy feeling I sometimes get when I'm in a queue, my imagination's sparking, and the air is rich with fireworks:
It will be within your power to experience a crowded, loud, slow, consumer-hell-type situation as not only meaningful but sacred, on fire with the same force that lit the stars - compassion, love, the sub-surface unity of all things.
And the irony, the painful irony of his closing comments. Read the article in full here.
Latest enews
God on trial
If you didn't see "God on Trial" on the BBCthis week, then try to catch it on BBC iPlayer if you can. I hope you can, because this is really worth seeing. But not fun.
God On Trial takes as a starting point the story that prisoners in Auschwitz, their faith tested by their suffering and the barbarity of the Nazis, put God on trial. It's emotionally strong, and (not to understate anything) somewhat challenging to anyone, whether or not they have a belief in a just God.
The scene where Anthony Sher describes God as "not good, but He was on our side" during the ... less savoury parts of what we Christians call the Pentateuch is particulary challenging. God called for the destruction of the Amalechites, the Moabites: why should He not call for the destruction of the Jews? Or, maybe now, the Christians?
There can be no happy ending here, but they do manage a moment of great compassion and a declaration of faith: "now that we have declared God guilty, what can we do?" "We pray".
Whatever happened to the Art work on Afflecks?
I was showing some aussie visitors around the Northern Quarter yesterday and took then to Afflecks Palace. I was just about to point out the mosiac below and it was gone...who has stolen it? Has it been moved? Can anyone enlighten me?
My GB in four photos
Cloisters roof in Gloucester cathedral
Seth Lakeman playing to a pretty damp squib crowd. Love him!
A typical tent view... washing up, grey clouds, some blue sky and a sea of tents
Matthew Herbert and his amazing big band playing to about 27 people... Post-Greenbelt social
Instead of having a "normal" Wednesday night this week, we're having a post-GB social upstairs at the Cornerhouse (near Oxford Rd station) from 7.30pm.
See you there?
See you there?
Tonight, and Greenbelt
Tonight's service starts at 7.30 in Nexus and features a saggy old cloth cat. Come along and find out what the heck I'm talking about...!
(photo from last year's Sanctus1 main stage communion)
Then over the weekend, lots of the community are going to Greenbelt. Sanctus1 (Sun 10pm) and Sanctus2nds (Sat 10am) are both doing services in New Forms. It'd be good to see you there.
Next week - a saggy old cloth cat...
Yep you read it right - next Wednesday is a service involving the most important... the most beautiful... the most magical... saggy old cloth cat in the whole wide world!
Nexus, Wed 20 Aug, 7.30pm. Feel free to bring memorabilia.
"No More Rain" - the campaign for a better, brighter summer
This thunderstorm caused me to get drenched and a leak to appear in our office ceiling... boo! Rain, rain go away - and don't come back...
quote unqoute
This is nearly as good as that David Beckham one about wanting to get Brooklyn christened, but they weren't sure into which religion...
Cleaning up?
We were talking in the pub tonight about regeneration and the dispersal of people to make places prettier. Which led me to thinking about the Olympics, notorious for 'cleaning up' homeless people and others less than desirable to the image the hosts want to present. Which reminded me of the new Amnesty campaign about the forthcoming Chinese olympics:
Tomorrow...
Advance notice that tomorrow night is a service-style event at Nexus from 7.30pm, run by a small group of members from the community.
The main point of exploration for the service is the creation-destruction-recreation idea that we came out of the scratch service a few weeks back, and was blogged here.
See you there? You'd be very welcome.
The main point of exploration for the service is the creation-destruction-recreation idea that we came out of the scratch service a few weeks back, and was blogged here.
See you there? You'd be very welcome.
Best Casual Dining
Well done to Nexus just for being nominated in the MFDF Food and Drink awards!
Now let's make sure it's a win...
UPDATE - vote **here** for Nexus! Go on - two clicks of your mouse, that's all it is...
Now let's make sure it's a win...
UPDATE - vote **here** for Nexus! Go on - two clicks of your mouse, that's all it is...
Youth outreach: keep them out of trouble
An Oklahoma baptist church plans to give away an AR-15 semiautomatic assault rifle during a youth conference - a move described as "a way of trying to encourage young people to attend the event", according to a local news station.
Words fail me.
Words fail me.
Next-to-nothingness | We're all made of stars
I just wanted to say I loved last night.
We all contributed to making a service from scratch in a night. It was on the theme of creation/ Genesis 1 and we used any/ all resources and materials to hand. And having planned a section of the worship in small groups, we then worshipped together using all of that at the end of the evening. A great example of what can be made out of next-to-nothingness when working together.
Here's the bones of what we did:
Candle lighting
I light this light in the name of the Maker, who made the sun and the moon, the day and the night.
I light this light in the name of the Redeemer, who is the Light of the World and shows us the way.
I light this light in the name of the Sustainer, the living flame, who burns within us and throughout the world.
We light these lights for the Trinity of love and light. Amen.
Introduction/ reflection on the theme
An edited retelling of the opening sections of Genesis, whilst hanging a map of the world on a washing line, and then other postcard images of people, animals, plants, landscapes. We were then invited to go forward and add something to this line in response to "creation".
There was a reflection and duscussion on the themes of creation/ destruction and some concepts emerged:
- the cycle of creation-destruction-recreation
- the image of the bread broken to share in newness of life
- cells dividing to multiply
- tiles being smashed to make a mosaic
- God destroying nothingness to create somethingness
Finally, we were invited to consider the images of God's "second start" through the flood, and Noah sending out the bird in hope of finding land... We were then able to make an origami bird to symbolise our own flight of hope for finding creation out of destruction.
Confession and absolution
We explored this through the image of brokenness (personal, social, environmental) that is given later in Genesis - taking and eating the fruit. We wrote confessions of brokenness on the back of paper apples, and then remembering that the seed has to die to grow anew, we tore our apples in half (and cut a real apple and planted its seed) as a symbol of God's promise of newness and hope. We finished with a reading of Matthew's telling of the story about the mustard seed that eventually grows to be a home to the birds.
Bread and wine
A simple help-yourself station with two sheets of paper to allow people to write a response as they took bread and wine.
Prayers
A set of prayers themed around the Genesis paragraphs about the sun, moon and stars:
- remembering people who've died
- listening to Moby's We're all made of stars
- considering humanity's divine intention to prosper - thinking of those "stars" who govern our country and world, praying for people, situations, places by writing on paper stars
Blessing
An adaptation of a Northumbria blessing
Candles...
...and an invitation to take on the service at the end of the month having seen how easy it is to create something out of next-to-nothingness. Be in touch about that.
We all contributed to making a service from scratch in a night. It was on the theme of creation/ Genesis 1 and we used any/ all resources and materials to hand. And having planned a section of the worship in small groups, we then worshipped together using all of that at the end of the evening. A great example of what can be made out of next-to-nothingness when working together.
Here's the bones of what we did:
Candle lighting
I light this light in the name of the Maker, who made the sun and the moon, the day and the night.
I light this light in the name of the Redeemer, who is the Light of the World and shows us the way.
I light this light in the name of the Sustainer, the living flame, who burns within us and throughout the world.
We light these lights for the Trinity of love and light. Amen.
Introduction/ reflection on the theme
An edited retelling of the opening sections of Genesis, whilst hanging a map of the world on a washing line, and then other postcard images of people, animals, plants, landscapes. We were then invited to go forward and add something to this line in response to "creation".
There was a reflection and duscussion on the themes of creation/ destruction and some concepts emerged:
- the cycle of creation-destruction-recreation
- the image of the bread broken to share in newness of life
- cells dividing to multiply
- tiles being smashed to make a mosaic
- God destroying nothingness to create somethingness
Finally, we were invited to consider the images of God's "second start" through the flood, and Noah sending out the bird in hope of finding land... We were then able to make an origami bird to symbolise our own flight of hope for finding creation out of destruction.
Confession and absolution
We explored this through the image of brokenness (personal, social, environmental) that is given later in Genesis - taking and eating the fruit. We wrote confessions of brokenness on the back of paper apples, and then remembering that the seed has to die to grow anew, we tore our apples in half (and cut a real apple and planted its seed) as a symbol of God's promise of newness and hope. We finished with a reading of Matthew's telling of the story about the mustard seed that eventually grows to be a home to the birds.
Bread and wine
A simple help-yourself station with two sheets of paper to allow people to write a response as they took bread and wine.
Prayers
A set of prayers themed around the Genesis paragraphs about the sun, moon and stars:
- remembering people who've died
- listening to Moby's We're all made of stars
- considering humanity's divine intention to prosper - thinking of those "stars" who govern our country and world, praying for people, situations, places by writing on paper stars
Blessing
An adaptation of a Northumbria blessing
Candles...
...and an invitation to take on the service at the end of the month having seen how easy it is to create something out of next-to-nothingness. Be in touch about that.
Doing nothing wrong
I am becoming increasingly concerned about the number of cases of people being harassed, arrested, having cameras, film and memory cards confiscated by police (or more commonly, PCSOs) for the heinous crime of taking photographs in public. After all, the police can take photos of us.
There was the case of the Welsh bus fanatic who liked to sit and wait to see what type of bus would come around the corner (as opposed to most people, who would wait to see _if_ a bus would come around the corner) who was accused of being a terrorist and a paedophile.
This case was about someone taking photos in Hull who was "detained" by a store security guard.
This video clip has a rather good example of how undertrained PCSOs confront a videographer who was trying to take footage in a public street. It starts with a sudden gloved hand over the camera lens, then it's "give me a good reason why you're filming," then, alarmingly, he is asked to produce his ID (didn't know that was required yet), and when photographer asks what law he is breaking, the response is: "shut up."
To be clear, there is no UK law against taking photographs or video footage in a public space. If you are in a private building (including a railway station) or are taking pictures of military installations (which does not include police cars) then there are restrictions. But there should be nothing to stop you taking pictures in Piccadilly Gardens (for example) at any time of day or night.
There was the case of the Welsh bus fanatic who liked to sit and wait to see what type of bus would come around the corner (as opposed to most people, who would wait to see _if_ a bus would come around the corner) who was accused of being a terrorist and a paedophile.
This case was about someone taking photos in Hull who was "detained" by a store security guard.
This video clip has a rather good example of how undertrained PCSOs confront a videographer who was trying to take footage in a public street. It starts with a sudden gloved hand over the camera lens, then it's "give me a good reason why you're filming," then, alarmingly, he is asked to produce his ID (didn't know that was required yet), and when photographer asks what law he is breaking, the response is: "shut up."
To be clear, there is no UK law against taking photographs or video footage in a public space. If you are in a private building (including a railway station) or are taking pictures of military installations (which does not include police cars) then there are restrictions. But there should be nothing to stop you taking pictures in Piccadilly Gardens (for example) at any time of day or night.
Ben Kinsella and "No knives!"
The video clip that is contained within this link, strikes me as very moving. I've watched it a couple of times and each time I'm struck by the lack of commentary; just the silence march punctured by the chant:
"Who are we here for?"
"Ben"
"Why are we here?"
"No knives!"
Hundreds of white topped relatives and friends marching for their dead kin. Peacefully making their way forward, powerfully making their point.
Moving stuff!
...Lev
"Who are we here for?"
"Ben"
"Why are we here?"
"No knives!"
Hundreds of white topped relatives and friends marching for their dead kin. Peacefully making their way forward, powerfully making their point.
Moving stuff!
...Lev
Shared food and service
Tomorrow night (Wed 2 July, from 7.30pm at Nexus), we're sharing in a meal and exploring faith journeys through a short service, especially in relation to Ben's recent ordination.
Do join us - you'd be very welcome.
Do join us - you'd be very welcome.
Enough
' He [David Davis] could face opposition from the Sun newspaper, whose former editor Kelvin MacKenzie said he may stand, backed by Rupert Murdoch, if Labour did not field a candidate.
Mr MacKenzie told the BBC earlier there were two reasons for running: "One is that the Sun is very, very hostile to David Davis because of his 28-day stand, and the Sun has always been up for 42 days, or perhaps even 420 days, frankly." '
(BBC)
Mr MacKenzie told the BBC earlier there were two reasons for running: "One is that the Sun is very, very hostile to David Davis because of his 28-day stand, and the Sun has always been up for 42 days, or perhaps even 420 days, frankly." '
(BBC)
This is what I'm talking about...
Too much to blog, too little time...
Last night, we kept up the Colossians exploration and looked for markers of 21C empire - power, control, myths and images - and ways to subvert them. My favourite moment was listening to the number of sentences that started with "You know, they say that...". Who exactly *are* "they"? That's a myth and control mechanism right there. We talked about Banksy and The Matrix - you can work out why - and ended with a glimmer of hope.
On not such a different note, I want to note the use of the DUP to get a 9 vote majority on the 42 day detention vote. In the Guardian this morning, Simon Hoggart indicates that the consciences of MPs have long been available for purchase on eBay, so this deal-making with the PM is nowt new... What's worrying me is that legislation (if it gets through) seems like it's going to have an impact on liberty for all of us.
Additionally, Andrew Collins mentions on his blog that he's been "stop-and-searched" twice in six months now. This also disturbs me - I don't think I know anyone who has been. Maybe that says more about me, than the police policy...
And of course, from the serious to the seriously trivial, congrats to the lovely Lee McQueen. That's what I'm talking about!
Let *this* be enough...
Cheryl's only gone and done it again and written something that might as well be aimed at my heart... love it, and love her. Thanks.
You can also now get her liturgy book at Proost.
You can also now get her liturgy book at Proost.
Colossians Remixed
It was a pleasure and a privilege to have Sylvia and Brian with us last night exploring Colossians through their own fine book, Colossians Remixed. They were challenging, funny, pointed and generous - depsite being asked if they were Americans! ;-) And yes I know some people actually gasped out loud when we had to get the Bibles out and read a whole book... shock horror.
Mainly, they gave an overview as to how Paul subverts the culture, economics, images and symbols of the Roman Empire through this letter to the church in Colossae. And in particular, the passage chapter 1, v15-20 being an undoing/ reworking of those Empire values to those of Christ. Brian riffed on those verses at the end, giving a 21C cultural response to the book, contextualising it for us. Looking at them again in the Message today, I was also struck by their layers of meaning and reference:
15-18We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God's original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body.
18-20He was supreme in the beginning and—leading the resurrection parade—he is supreme in the end. From beginning to end he's there, towering far above everything, everyone. So spacious is he, so roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding. Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the cross.
I've got big shoes to fill - I'm doing next week as a follow up (gulp). So expect more on this theme and what is 21C Empire if you're coming along...
Mainly, they gave an overview as to how Paul subverts the culture, economics, images and symbols of the Roman Empire through this letter to the church in Colossae. And in particular, the passage chapter 1, v15-20 being an undoing/ reworking of those Empire values to those of Christ. Brian riffed on those verses at the end, giving a 21C cultural response to the book, contextualising it for us. Looking at them again in the Message today, I was also struck by their layers of meaning and reference:
15-18We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God's original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body.
18-20He was supreme in the beginning and—leading the resurrection parade—he is supreme in the end. From beginning to end he's there, towering far above everything, everyone. So spacious is he, so roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding. Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the cross.
I've got big shoes to fill - I'm doing next week as a follow up (gulp). So expect more on this theme and what is 21C Empire if you're coming along...
Subverting the Empire - Blah Manchester
This Thursday we have Brian Walsh and Sylvia Keesmaat leading a Blah...Mcr day for us in the city centre. Brian Walsh and Sylvia Keesmaat, are the authors of Colossians Remixed: Subverting the Empire present a day's teaching.
If you haven't read the book or think that a bible commentary sounds a bit dull think again. It is one of the best books those of us involved in blah... have read for some time. Brian and Sylvia are based in Canada so this is a rare chance to hear and meet them. doing three dates around the UK and they'll be in Mcr on the 5th June under the title of 'Colossians Remixed'! Book here cost is £15 for the entire day, times and venue on the booking site...
Edinburgh World Justice Festival
This has just been brought to my attention by a mate - Edinburgh World Justice Festival, running from 14-29 June.
Moral passion | entertainment
Art is moral passion married to entertainment. Moral passion without entertainment is propaganda, and entertainment without moral passion is television. (Rita Mae Brown)
The environmental middle-class guilts...
Last night, we did the last event of the Dirty Mother series, a service exploring the links between the environment and talking the talk/walking the walk, and guilt, shame, anger/choice, class, convenience.
Below are a few things that we did: thanks to Lizzie, Kevin and Rachel for their ideas and hard work.
A new candle lighting setting
We light this light in the name of the Creator,
The one who breathed the breath of life,
The one who made the heavens and the earth,
The one who looked at everything in the beginning and it was good.
We light this light in the name of the Redeemer,
The one who came to show us a kingdom way,
The one who spoke in riddles about seeds and birds and lilies of the field,
The one who turned The Word into action.
We light this light in the name of the Sustainer,
The one who hovered over the waters at the very start of everything,
The one who inspires and challenges us to change,
The one whose fire renews us still.
A reflective liturgical piece
Where to start, what to do? So much to do and so little time...
Choices, choices everywhere and not an action to take. Life is a mass of choices - from the frivolous to the life-changing. Which Tshirt? What newspaper? That job? This house? Sometimes it feels like there are too many choices - simply too much to choose from - an indistinguishable mass of clamoring stuff.
In fact, so much choice that we become worried that we make will the wrong one, we become paralysed by the choosing. And then comes the guilt and shame and anger. Because we are wealthy and free enough to even have choices in the first place. Because we try to pick between convenience and ethics, the environment and other people, the best use of our resources and the best use of our time...
Where to start, what to do? So much to do and so little time...
Wine from France's relatively near vineyards or a fair price for vintners in Chile?
The cost of that long train trip or the convenience of flying?
Fairtrade bananas or organic ones?
Free range or food miles?
Biofuel or world food shortages?
Spend at People tree or invest at the Co-op?
And in the end, the middle class guilts about the very act of choosing the "right" option...
Can we make the earth a little lighter? Can we hold it as a common treasury for all? The inconvenient truth is we must still live and work and lead our lives in this 21st century world, but maybe those of us who *can* choose must realise (as the saying goes) that with great power comes great responsibility... So when the scale of the task overwhelms us, we need to go back to basics and redo the maths - small changes x lots of people = BIG change.
This is not about whether we should act alone, but how we can act together – both acting locally and thinking globally. We are a new movement, one that talks the talk and walks the walk; we must imagine, believe and begin.
Other
Also we dug out an old Vaux liturgy for use during sharing bread and wine. And there were four stations around the space for people to visit:
Below are a few things that we did: thanks to Lizzie, Kevin and Rachel for their ideas and hard work.
A new candle lighting setting
We light this light in the name of the Creator,
The one who breathed the breath of life,
The one who made the heavens and the earth,
The one who looked at everything in the beginning and it was good.
We light this light in the name of the Redeemer,
The one who came to show us a kingdom way,
The one who spoke in riddles about seeds and birds and lilies of the field,
The one who turned The Word into action.
We light this light in the name of the Sustainer,
The one who hovered over the waters at the very start of everything,
The one who inspires and challenges us to change,
The one whose fire renews us still.
A reflective liturgical piece
Where to start, what to do? So much to do and so little time...
Choices, choices everywhere and not an action to take. Life is a mass of choices - from the frivolous to the life-changing. Which Tshirt? What newspaper? That job? This house? Sometimes it feels like there are too many choices - simply too much to choose from - an indistinguishable mass of clamoring stuff.
In fact, so much choice that we become worried that we make will the wrong one, we become paralysed by the choosing. And then comes the guilt and shame and anger. Because we are wealthy and free enough to even have choices in the first place. Because we try to pick between convenience and ethics, the environment and other people, the best use of our resources and the best use of our time...
Where to start, what to do? So much to do and so little time...
Wine from France's relatively near vineyards or a fair price for vintners in Chile?
The cost of that long train trip or the convenience of flying?
Fairtrade bananas or organic ones?
Free range or food miles?
Biofuel or world food shortages?
Spend at People tree or invest at the Co-op?
And in the end, the middle class guilts about the very act of choosing the "right" option...
Can we make the earth a little lighter? Can we hold it as a common treasury for all? The inconvenient truth is we must still live and work and lead our lives in this 21st century world, but maybe those of us who *can* choose must realise (as the saying goes) that with great power comes great responsibility... So when the scale of the task overwhelms us, we need to go back to basics and redo the maths - small changes x lots of people = BIG change.
This is not about whether we should act alone, but how we can act together – both acting locally and thinking globally. We are a new movement, one that talks the talk and walks the walk; we must imagine, believe and begin.
Other
Also we dug out an old Vaux liturgy for use during sharing bread and wine. And there were four stations around the space for people to visit:
- one on we are what we do
- one on the effect of climate change on people across the world
- one a big graffiti wall - one thing to change the world
- one on BBC's Blood, Sweat and Tshirts
An abuse of Mancunian hospitality
I walked through the city centre this morning and was angered by what i saw and smelt. As you can no doubt imagine 150,000 drunken football fans create a lot of mess...I walked along Cross Street and a man shouted out of his car window at some Rangers Fans, 'F**k Off back to Glasgow'. My city had offered hospitality and it had been abused.
I'm a great believer in hospitality and when that hospitality is abused it hurts. Maybe the police were heavy handed, it was unfortunate one of the TV screens failed to work. But when my TV has broken down I do not have a riot, i do not assault people, I do not threaten people...
Do I blame Manchester City Council? A bit....yesterdays headline in the MEN claimed the city would make £25 million from the day - tankers were arriving full of beer. Manchester maybe saw this as an opportunity to make a quick buck, and basically they got burnt.
I'm a great believer in hospitality and when that hospitality is abused it hurts. Maybe the police were heavy handed, it was unfortunate one of the TV screens failed to work. But when my TV has broken down I do not have a riot, i do not assault people, I do not threaten people...
Do I blame Manchester City Council? A bit....yesterdays headline in the MEN claimed the city would make £25 million from the day - tankers were arriving full of beer. Manchester maybe saw this as an opportunity to make a quick buck, and basically they got burnt.
old technology | memories
Today, we did a major tidy of the Sanctus1 tip, ahem storage room. And it was like an archaeological dig through our past, our remains, our memories of what was and had been...
This remnant old technology was at the bottom of one box of detritus. Thanks for the memories.
Where is God in the football riots?
I left Sanctus1 last night to encounter police dresses in full riot gear. There was a tangible sense of tension in the air and level of nervousness on the streets. I'd been in the city centre since 17:00 and it was heaving with 100,000 Rangers Fans. I'd cleaned up vomit from the toilets of Nexus, shut Nexus early because of the threat, had water stolen from us, seen people skinning up on the front step, been in a crowd where bottles were being thrown and witnessed horrific sectarian abuse. I'd received many messages throughout the day telling me how 'bad' the city centre was and yet I was still excited about the prospect of entering the city.
As a church, and as a church leader in the city centre, I/we are called to reflect on our context and ask the question: Where do we find God in this? Where is God in 100,000 pissed football fans rampaging through our city centre? I cannot believe that God is not there and therefore I will not. Yet, at the same time we are called to be critical, we cannot blindly affirm all that is happening without criticizing the destructive force that is at work.
Being a church in the city centre means that this is your context - this is where we outwork our Christian faith. Last night we were exploring three different positive Christian approaches to the environment, finishing with Matthew Fox's Creation Spirituality. I finished with a quote from Fox:
Creation spirituality, a path that we choose to take that is distinct from other ways offered us, begins with creation and the cosmos. Only later does it get to the human story, which then attracts us like jewel set in the larger drama of creation itself.I read this and then 20 minutes later I left Sanctus1 and saw blue flashing lights and riot police. Are we really the jewel in the cosmos? I still believe that we are...
Some people are Not Very Nice
Coming out of Oxford Road Station last night, a gentleman steped off the pavement, right into me, on my bicycle. This happens quite often.
What happens less often is that he swore at me, and kicked out at me as I cycled off. The resulting damage can be seen here.
What happens less often is that he swore at me, and kicked out at me as I cycled off. The resulting damage can be seen here.
I just don't understand that kind of behaviour: it can't have made him feel better about himself, can it?
Sanctus1 and Moot on Wikipedia!
Emerging or Fresh Expressions of Church There has been much discussion about whether Fresh Expressions are forms of Emerging Church or Emerging Churches are forms of Fresh Expressions. A growing consensus suggests that the more pioneering forms of Fresh Expressions, such as Sanctus 1 or Moot are Emerging Churches. However, those Fresh Expressions of Church that are mission-shaped but operate out of existing traditional churches tend to have traditional understandings of ecclesiology so are not forms of Emerging Church.
Discuss...
Discuss...
Dirty Mother - Week Three
This week is Christian Aid week so the Dirty Mother programme has been stepped up and we have a number of special guests and events:
Tuesday 13th
Lunch Time talk with Jennipher Sakala - 13:20 Nexus
Carbon Vs Condom Debate - 19:30 Nexus
Wednesday 14th
Lunch Time talk with Dave Hardman from Christian Aid - 13:20 Nexus
Sanctus1 - Christianity and the Environment: 19:30 Nexus
Thursday 15th
Lunch Time talk with Fabienne Katy Camm from Christian Aid - 13:20 Nexus
How would you spend £3billion? Drop in between 19:00 and 21:00 in Nexus with clean air now
Friday 16th
Lunch Time talk with very special guest Daleep Mukarji - 13:20 Nexus
Pingu Bingo - 20:00 in Nexus with MFOE
Saturday 17th
Street Theatre with MFOE and Christian Aid: 12:00 - 17:00
Tuesday 13th
Lunch Time talk with Jennipher Sakala - 13:20 Nexus
Carbon Vs Condom Debate - 19:30 Nexus
Wednesday 14th
Lunch Time talk with Dave Hardman from Christian Aid - 13:20 Nexus
Sanctus1 - Christianity and the Environment: 19:30 Nexus
Thursday 15th
Lunch Time talk with Fabienne Katy Camm from Christian Aid - 13:20 Nexus
How would you spend £3billion? Drop in between 19:00 and 21:00 in Nexus with clean air now
Friday 16th
Lunch Time talk with very special guest Daleep Mukarji - 13:20 Nexus
Pingu Bingo - 20:00 in Nexus with MFOE
Saturday 17th
Street Theatre with MFOE and Christian Aid: 12:00 - 17:00
Sanctus2nds: Climate Change and Pentecost
'Climate Change and Pentecost'
Sunday 11th May: 4 - 5 p.m.
Sacred Trinity Church, Chapel Street, Salford.
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.
Technorati Tags: emerging church, Manchester, sanctus
Trash
Barry Taylor gave me pause for thought last night, when he shared some thoughts as part of the Dirty Mother month at Nexus. His theme was trash - the rubbish we throw away/ the detritus of life (illustrated by the photos of Chris Jordan), and also the trash(y) culture of Western society.
He prompted me to be reminded of some really important issues, ones that go beyond just the scale of our waste (example). He reminded me (again) of the challenge to change both behaviour and feeling, to not abandon dirty cities in favour of the "Godly country", to keep looking for glimmers of the divine in the trash...
He also prompted me to think of the Be The Change day that we hosted last year. During that presentation, I was moved by a very profound clip of Julia Butterfly Hill saying:
"When we throw something away, where is away? There is no away. The paper we throw away is a forest. The plastic we throw away is petroleum that was taken from an exploited community somewhere. The coffee we buy is taken from another exploited community somewhere. We buy it, use it for a second and throw it away, further exploiting the world by our own pollution. The modern world kills a planet for a moment’s pleasure."
So a fantastic evening of reminders. And afterwards, I pondered whether anybody there felt slightly piqued at being reminded of these themes by a north American, and one from LA no less, one of the trashiest (in every sense of the word) cities in the world?... Please Barry, keep challenging us and prompting us to remember.
He prompted me to be reminded of some really important issues, ones that go beyond just the scale of our waste (example). He reminded me (again) of the challenge to change both behaviour and feeling, to not abandon dirty cities in favour of the "Godly country", to keep looking for glimmers of the divine in the trash...
He also prompted me to think of the Be The Change day that we hosted last year. During that presentation, I was moved by a very profound clip of Julia Butterfly Hill saying:
"When we throw something away, where is away? There is no away. The paper we throw away is a forest. The plastic we throw away is petroleum that was taken from an exploited community somewhere. The coffee we buy is taken from another exploited community somewhere. We buy it, use it for a second and throw it away, further exploiting the world by our own pollution. The modern world kills a planet for a moment’s pleasure."
So a fantastic evening of reminders. And afterwards, I pondered whether anybody there felt slightly piqued at being reminded of these themes by a north American, and one from LA no less, one of the trashiest (in every sense of the word) cities in the world?... Please Barry, keep challenging us and prompting us to remember.
Barry Taylor at Sanctus1
Tonight at Sanctus1 we'll be sharing a meal together from 7:30 followed by some input by Barry Taylor on Christianity and the Environment. Barry Taylor is associate rector at All Saints Episcopal Church, Beverly Hills, CA and artist in residence of the Brehm Center for Worship Theology & Arts at Fuller Seminary. Author of A Matrix of Meanings and Entertainment Theology.
Signs of summer...
Yesterday I sat out in the park at lunchtime, basking, and ate my first ice cream lolly of the season - a real marker.
And today, a ladybird made friends with me, whilst I was sitting in the sun outside my office...
In other news, we're currently hosting some Fuller DMin students in Manchester and it's proving nice to shirk off the reputation as "the rainy city"...
And today, a ladybird made friends with me, whilst I was sitting in the sun outside my office...
In other news, we're currently hosting some Fuller DMin students in Manchester and it's proving nice to shirk off the reputation as "the rainy city"...
Dirty Mother Launch
The launch party is this Wednesday from 6 - 8 and then we'll move onto the Northern afterwards.
Dirty Mother
The Dirty Mother blog has been launched. Dirty Mother is a month long programme of events focusing on climate change. The month includes all sorts of events such as an exhibition, quiz nights, open mic sessions, talks by guest such as Barry Taylor and Daleep Mukarji, there will also be panel debates and a variety of other activities.
It's a partnership between Sanctus1, Christian Aid and Nexus and we've also been working very closely with Manchester Friends of the Earth. So come along and see what we're doing - The full programme is here.
It's a partnership between Sanctus1, Christian Aid and Nexus and we've also been working very closely with Manchester Friends of the Earth. So come along and see what we're doing - The full programme is here.
Mining for music in the Greenbelt
The Greenbelt festival has relaunched it's website, so I took a few moments this lunchtime to see which bands would be playing at Christendom's most cutting edge event.
Okay, nothing about music on the front page. 'Shop and talks', 'resources' and the like. Ah, what about the coloured buttons at the top, above the cosy picture of families enjoying the sun on the edge of a seminar tent? Nothing there: I'll just click 'line-up'.
I seem to have landed on the Soul Survivor website by mistake. Are those people worshipping or clapping a band? The main links say 'youth', 'children's festival', 'all-age', 'talks', 'visual arts'...
...ah, hold on, it finally mentions music!
"And remember, Greenbelt is much more than a music festival." At the bottom right corner of the page. Under the link to previous years' events.
Oh.
Greenbelt continues to be my 'spiritual home' in many ways, and I understand most bands haven't been confirmed yet. But if the website's focus is representative of how the festival wants to be seen, I can't help thinking it's become anything but a music festival - with a smattering of good bands if us punters are lucky.
Okay, nothing about music on the front page. 'Shop and talks', 'resources' and the like. Ah, what about the coloured buttons at the top, above the cosy picture of families enjoying the sun on the edge of a seminar tent? Nothing there: I'll just click 'line-up'.
I seem to have landed on the Soul Survivor website by mistake. Are those people worshipping or clapping a band? The main links say 'youth', 'children's festival', 'all-age', 'talks', 'visual arts'...
...ah, hold on, it finally mentions music!
"And remember, Greenbelt is much more than a music festival." At the bottom right corner of the page. Under the link to previous years' events.
Oh.
Greenbelt continues to be my 'spiritual home' in many ways, and I understand most bands haven't been confirmed yet. But if the website's focus is representative of how the festival wants to be seen, I can't help thinking it's become anything but a music festival - with a smattering of good bands if us punters are lucky.
Sunday simple sacred service...
There's a simple sacred service this Sunday at Sacred Trinity, at 8pm.
A pleasing sentence to type (on many levels) if ever there was one...
A pleasing sentence to type (on many levels) if ever there was one...
Bring me my bow of burning watsit
I've always had the hymn Jerusalem down as a nationalist diatribe with as much musical nous as a Westlife B-side.
For similar reasons, Southwark cathedral is silencing the song, much to the Torygraph's annoyance.
But last week's polemic on the Grauniad's-- sorry, Guardian's Comment Is Free blog has got me thinking.
Writer Tim Footman supports my view, and even calls for the Church Of England to renounce William Blake for eternity.
However, it's not the nationalism he objects to as much as Blake never meant it as a hymn:
"The notion of Blake's idiosyncratic theology sitting neatly within the
confines of orthodox Anglicanism is preposterous... Blake might just about have
defined himself as a Christian, but his was a Christianity that combined
elements of mysticism, Manichaeist dualism, anti-industrial pastoralism and
Enlightenment radicalism...
"His Jesus was a prototype hippy freedom fighter... Notice how the first
verse of Jerusalem is composed entirely of questions? It's a provocation, a
starting point, a basis for heated discussion..."
Ironically, Jerusalem beings to appeal. Christianity outside of the orthodox box? Christianity sitting neatly in post-modern pick-and-mix culture? Jesus as a hippy aggravator?
And lots of lovely Sanctus-like questions.
Bring me my bow of burning watsit, bring me my arrows of thingummy, I'm a spear-brandishing, chariot-riding Westlife B-side convert!
THIRD THURSDAY: ARTISTS DISCUSSION FORUM
Starting Tonight - April 17th 5 - 7 at Nexus art cafe
Third Thursday is open to all visual artists to come together once a month to present & discuss current works/projects. It is an opportunity for practicing contemporary artists to learn from each other & have some critical feedback. This aims to facilitate mutual encouragement in order for us all to develop our practices.
How it works - We will meet at Nexus Art Cafe at five on the third Thursday of every month & talk about work that will be presented.
How you get involved - You are welcome to drop in & join in (don't worry if you cant do the whole 2 hours)
If you are interested in presenting your work & getting some feedback then e-mail liz & you will be given a slot- bring images or documentation in order to show what it is you are doing- not necessarily finished works & we can have discussion.
When it is - Tonight - 5-7 & then to the pub if you want to continue chats.
If you are interested then e-mail liz at liznexus@hotmail.co.uk or call 0161 236 0100
Third Thursday is open to all visual artists to come together once a month to present & discuss current works/projects. It is an opportunity for practicing contemporary artists to learn from each other & have some critical feedback. This aims to facilitate mutual encouragement in order for us all to develop our practices.
How it works - We will meet at Nexus Art Cafe at five on the third Thursday of every month & talk about work that will be presented.
How you get involved - You are welcome to drop in & join in (don't worry if you cant do the whole 2 hours)
If you are interested in presenting your work & getting some feedback then e-mail liz & you will be given a slot- bring images or documentation in order to show what it is you are doing- not necessarily finished works & we can have discussion.
When it is - Tonight - 5-7 & then to the pub if you want to continue chats.
If you are interested then e-mail liz at liznexus@hotmail.co.uk or call 0161 236 0100
Recent life in pictures
Loved these bannisters at Conway Hall, reminded me of school... 
Shunt - a treasure-trove "found" theatre venue under London Bridge station
Graffiti near my office
The sky in Glossop on the way home on Tuesday
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