I finally made it to beer and hymns this year – albeit cider and carols, and it was awesome, and a real highlight. I didn’t get to a lot as FYT had a stand, and sadly missed Pete Rollins, nowadays I find it impossible to switch off my mission head, and was disappointed with the limited imagination of most of what I went to. It was great to go to some of all age orientated alt worship, and at one level it was good but it was still full of christian jargon, language, and I would have to agree with the title of one of Pete Rollins sessions Changing something so that everything remains the same. There was a great comment during one communion from a girl, as the leader used the liturgy to introduce the communion she said “we’ve all heard this story” clearly impatient with the process. It sums up much of what I experienced in talks and worship, whilst cider and carols would fit right in as an approach to mission in our current context where many people still have the echo of a christian memory.
On the reverse most of people I was camping with found the sessions stimulating and worthwhile, the question is where do I and they go now.See Spot Run on dvd The Narrow Margin on dvd
SUNDAY PAPERS – THE SUPPLEMENT
A CO-OPERATIVE LOOK AT LIFE, MISSION, EMERGING CHURCH AND ALL THAT
that’s interesting. i think i intentionally AVOID any talk that looks like it will only frustrate me (jargon/tradition, etc). just looking back at what i’ve just listed that i went to (on blog post i’ve just done) and the ONLY ‘spiritual’ talk i went to was Phillip yancy. he was quite good and altho i’d heard what he said before, he said it well and i was taking it on board more than before. other than that tho, i stick to comedy and social justice stuff. actually, even some of that annoyed the socks off me… focusing on what to buy rather than buying less… focusing on campaigning rather than on what we are meant to be doing as individuals, etc.
hmmmmmmm.
i too heard the little girl say that in the communion… what a great comment out of the mouths of babes and all that…. this so called all age worship I found shocking… great idea, but litle child friendly stuff. maybe more thorught went into the clever idea then into how the children could be engaged. Apart from that i found Simon parkes to be funny, insightful, thoughtful and interesting and enjoyed listening to pete Rollins.Good to meet and chat with you again Richard.
Same as you, I only got to 2 things, one was because I thought I was going to Pete Rollins and ended up being about Jubilee and the credit crunch…just scared me! And the Naz/jane discussion thing that I got a lot from @ the blar tent.
However if GB is becoming same old Christendom then we really are in trouble…maybe we should start GB2.0!