so, a new week and the sun is shining.
in case you didn't know, this week is Hope for Gloucester, being coordinated in very large part by our good friend Joe Knight.
it is a week in which to put your hope (in God) into action by getting stuck into various social action projects around the city.
should be good. link here
on that note, wanted to put up this verse from the bible.
its funny how God's word can speak directly to you. I was working in Cambridge a couple of weeks ago and was walking through the city center late one night when I saw the following written on a notice board outside a church:
'May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit' (Romans 15:13)
I'm not sure how much notice I usually take of church notice boards but this one really stayed with me - and in fact still is.
we hosted the cafe last night, as we do every week. its a great venture with lots of potential but I reckon it will need an injection of creativity and energy over the coming months to really thrive.
I have a funeral today. a guy called Boyce Drake who used to worship at the cathedral on Sundays and also with the Quakers. I'm involved in the service and will then go off to the grave for the committal.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Radiohead
Very good indeedy to go and see Radiohead in Victoria Park on Tuesday night.
They were, as you would imagine, excellent.
thanks to Rachel's old friend Tim, who is the band's tour manager, we also blagged some sparkley (sp?) blue wrist bands that got us into the aftershow party where the loos were free from queues and the drinks were just free.
This weekend sees the ordinations of priests and deacons. brings back good memories of two huge summers for me.
feig last night at ours was ace. thanks. good to be joined by Peter who, along with his wife, is beginning to journey with us.
if you're the praying sort - please pray for a homeless heroin addict whom I've been getting to know a bit over the past few months. Luke has all kinds of things wrong with him, including massive problems with his legs (from injecting into them).
cheers.
that's it. back to work.
Monday, June 23, 2008
last one. 6 of 6...
something about being a mission-shaped disciple
I remember one of my art teachers telling me that there are ‘endless, endless things to do.’ It is an inspirational thought that has stayed with me ever since, and I have discovered that it can be applied to every part of life - especially mission! The key thing here is understanding what mission is not. Once we know what we’re not called to do, we are free to work out how to be mission-shaped people in the circumstances in which we find ourselves. Let’s be clear: ‘mission’ is not about getting more people to come to our church services. Being part of a church community is important, as is going along to services, but these things should not be mistaken for the desired end result of Christian mission. Being involved in mission is about us understanding that God has a redeeming purpose for this world and then continually opening ourselves to being part of that purpose. God’s mission embraces every area of life - including our marriage, family, job and leisure time. As we realise this and open ourselves to the work of God’s Spirit in every area of our lives, we discover that there are endless, endless ways of being part of bringing God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.
So, there we are. The last of 6. thanks for reading them.
back to work now...
I remember one of my art teachers telling me that there are ‘endless, endless things to do.’ It is an inspirational thought that has stayed with me ever since, and I have discovered that it can be applied to every part of life - especially mission! The key thing here is understanding what mission is not. Once we know what we’re not called to do, we are free to work out how to be mission-shaped people in the circumstances in which we find ourselves. Let’s be clear: ‘mission’ is not about getting more people to come to our church services. Being part of a church community is important, as is going along to services, but these things should not be mistaken for the desired end result of Christian mission. Being involved in mission is about us understanding that God has a redeeming purpose for this world and then continually opening ourselves to being part of that purpose. God’s mission embraces every area of life - including our marriage, family, job and leisure time. As we realise this and open ourselves to the work of God’s Spirit in every area of our lives, we discover that there are endless, endless ways of being part of bringing God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.
So, there we are. The last of 6. thanks for reading them.
back to work now...
Friday, June 13, 2008
last but one (of the 6 articles...)
What can we do?
Imagine selling everything you own - house, car, furniture, clothes, books - the whole lot, and then taking the money and buying a single object, let’s say a jewel of some sort - perhaps a pearl? Of course this wouldn’t be any old pearl, but a pearl so exquisite and of such rare beauty that calling a friend to ask if you could sleep on their floor would be done without a single twinge of self-doubt.
When Jesus told his listeners that the kingdom of God (which begins here and now) was like a merchant doing just this, he was dropping a perception-shattering bombshell. Those who would take hold of the riches of God’s kingdom - the new age whose dawn Jesus announced - must trade received ideas about the purpose and structure of life for God’s ideas about these things. Life in the kingdom of God looks very different to life as we know it. It is not about the survival of the fittest, the rule of the strongest, or the gain of the selfish. Life in the kingdom is about actively belonging to a community with a God-given vision for the renewal of creation. To take hold of this will cost us everything, most especially our withering individualism, but what will have been gained is a treasure of such surprising beauty that it is beyond comparison.
Imagine selling everything you own - house, car, furniture, clothes, books - the whole lot, and then taking the money and buying a single object, let’s say a jewel of some sort - perhaps a pearl? Of course this wouldn’t be any old pearl, but a pearl so exquisite and of such rare beauty that calling a friend to ask if you could sleep on their floor would be done without a single twinge of self-doubt.
When Jesus told his listeners that the kingdom of God (which begins here and now) was like a merchant doing just this, he was dropping a perception-shattering bombshell. Those who would take hold of the riches of God’s kingdom - the new age whose dawn Jesus announced - must trade received ideas about the purpose and structure of life for God’s ideas about these things. Life in the kingdom of God looks very different to life as we know it. It is not about the survival of the fittest, the rule of the strongest, or the gain of the selfish. Life in the kingdom is about actively belonging to a community with a God-given vision for the renewal of creation. To take hold of this will cost us everything, most especially our withering individualism, but what will have been gained is a treasure of such surprising beauty that it is beyond comparison.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
4 of 6
Why are we afraid?
My brother called me to say that although he was looking forward to his (adult) baptism, he couldn’t help feeling afraid. I tried to reassure him but soon realised that this was more than a few nerves. Eventually we sat down to talk it through. It transpired that my brother was struggling with the idea of the white robes he’d have to wear as he climbed into a deep tank in front of a large congregation made up of people he didn’t know. Once I had pointed out that none of this would actually be happening, his relief was obvious. He had been afraid of having to do things that he had made up in his mind.
Many Christians shuffle through life with the misplaced notion that the mission Jesus left his followers is essentially an individual activity that mostly involves looking out for opportunities to shove God into every conversation. If this is the idea we carry around with us, then we are likely to feel lonely, frightened, guilty, frustrated and flat. The problem here is that we are afraid of something we have not been asked to do. Jesus calls us out of individualised lives into a radical community whose God-given vision is to actively share in the renewing of the whole of creation. Once we understand this fear begins to melt in the face of energising excitement.
My brother called me to say that although he was looking forward to his (adult) baptism, he couldn’t help feeling afraid. I tried to reassure him but soon realised that this was more than a few nerves. Eventually we sat down to talk it through. It transpired that my brother was struggling with the idea of the white robes he’d have to wear as he climbed into a deep tank in front of a large congregation made up of people he didn’t know. Once I had pointed out that none of this would actually be happening, his relief was obvious. He had been afraid of having to do things that he had made up in his mind.
Many Christians shuffle through life with the misplaced notion that the mission Jesus left his followers is essentially an individual activity that mostly involves looking out for opportunities to shove God into every conversation. If this is the idea we carry around with us, then we are likely to feel lonely, frightened, guilty, frustrated and flat. The problem here is that we are afraid of something we have not been asked to do. Jesus calls us out of individualised lives into a radical community whose God-given vision is to actively share in the renewing of the whole of creation. Once we understand this fear begins to melt in the face of energising excitement.
Friday, June 06, 2008
3 of 6 (of the things I said I'd stick up)
Why do we find the thought of sharing faith embarrassing?
Every high street has them; people with clipboards who want to interrupt your headlong charge for Costa and persuade you to give away information - be it your bank details for some charity direct debit, or your shopping preferences for market research. I’ve often wondered what it must be like to do a job that involves having to keep up a sunny disposition as people hurry past, heads down, mumbling half-hearted excuses for not stopping to talk.
Invading a person’s space to discuss a subject that is on your agenda and not theirs is something that our culture generally frowns on. Most Christians in the UK accept this but at the same time feel that they should somewhere, somehow, be ‘sharing their faith’ with someone. Generally speaking, the net result is that Christians, unwilling to invade anyone’s space, avoid speaking about faith and carry on with life feeling slightly guilty.
It strikes me that if we live out our Christian faith it will be obvious, life-changing, and far from embarrassing. Sometimes we may find ourselves in a situation where we are quite naturally able to say something about the God who calls us into relationship with him and with each other. Such a conversation however, is more often than not the result of a friend or family member having observed faith in action and rather than embarrassment, it will almost always result in a deep spiritual shift in both parties.
so there. again 200 words max. hard to say something concise...
Off on a stag weekend now (on a barge) with 8 friends from university days...
Got to leave early to get back to Gloucester as I'm presiding at the main cathedral Eucharist on Sunday morning.
Could be interesting post-stag...
Every high street has them; people with clipboards who want to interrupt your headlong charge for Costa and persuade you to give away information - be it your bank details for some charity direct debit, or your shopping preferences for market research. I’ve often wondered what it must be like to do a job that involves having to keep up a sunny disposition as people hurry past, heads down, mumbling half-hearted excuses for not stopping to talk.
Invading a person’s space to discuss a subject that is on your agenda and not theirs is something that our culture generally frowns on. Most Christians in the UK accept this but at the same time feel that they should somewhere, somehow, be ‘sharing their faith’ with someone. Generally speaking, the net result is that Christians, unwilling to invade anyone’s space, avoid speaking about faith and carry on with life feeling slightly guilty.
It strikes me that if we live out our Christian faith it will be obvious, life-changing, and far from embarrassing. Sometimes we may find ourselves in a situation where we are quite naturally able to say something about the God who calls us into relationship with him and with each other. Such a conversation however, is more often than not the result of a friend or family member having observed faith in action and rather than embarrassment, it will almost always result in a deep spiritual shift in both parties.
so there. again 200 words max. hard to say something concise...
Off on a stag weekend now (on a barge) with 8 friends from university days...
Got to leave early to get back to Gloucester as I'm presiding at the main cathedral Eucharist on Sunday morning.
Could be interesting post-stag...
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
gods of our time
I was reading yesterday's Guardian G2 and stumbled across an article on the banking elite unleashing havoc on the world...
anyway, it was a pretty boring write up apart from a section at the end.
The writer explained that the ancient Greeks believed their 12 most important gods & goddesses lived on Mount Olympus, each ruling various aspects of life in the world.
The article went on to say:
"Today, there are another dozen governing spirits that hover above and direct our daily lives."
I was immediately interested.
Here are the 12 governing spirits (according to G2):
Globalisation
Communication
Liberalisation
Privatisation
Competition
Financialisation
Speculation
Recklessness
Greed
Arrogance
Oligarchy
Excess
An interesting list.
The article ends thus:
"These gods have failed. It is time to live without them."
An even more interesting ending I think...
anyway, it was a pretty boring write up apart from a section at the end.
The writer explained that the ancient Greeks believed their 12 most important gods & goddesses lived on Mount Olympus, each ruling various aspects of life in the world.
The article went on to say:
"Today, there are another dozen governing spirits that hover above and direct our daily lives."
I was immediately interested.
Here are the 12 governing spirits (according to G2):
Globalisation
Communication
Liberalisation
Privatisation
Competition
Financialisation
Speculation
Recklessness
Greed
Arrogance
Oligarchy
Excess
An interesting list.
The article ends thus:
"These gods have failed. It is time to live without them."
An even more interesting ending I think...
2 of 6 (the next one of those articles I said I'd stick up...)
What does our faith mean to us?
Fourteen years ago, when I was at university, I learnt how to surf. Surfing became a deep passion and several times a week I drove out to the coast for an early evening session in cold North sea swell. It wasn’t long before my hobby became common knowledge among a wide circle of friends, and after one of my tutors literally bumped into me whilst he was out swimming, the department staff regularly mentioned my pastime. I soon accepted that as far as those around me were concerned, part of my identity was as surfer. This was not because I knew about surfing, or because I talked about surfing, but rather because I went surfing. Over time a few friends got inspired and took up the sport for themselves. They’re still surfing today. I think of faith in a similar way. For Christians, living faith is not so much a matter of what we know as a matter of what we are. Living faith means becoming a human being who is truly alive by spending time with God in prayer, and in the study of scripture, and in the company of others in sacramental worship. Living faith will move us to love and serve others, and will enable us to work together with others towards the hope of participation in a renewed creation that God holds out to each of us.
(like I said with the last one - lots more you could say, but the 200-word count was very strict!)
Fourteen years ago, when I was at university, I learnt how to surf. Surfing became a deep passion and several times a week I drove out to the coast for an early evening session in cold North sea swell. It wasn’t long before my hobby became common knowledge among a wide circle of friends, and after one of my tutors literally bumped into me whilst he was out swimming, the department staff regularly mentioned my pastime. I soon accepted that as far as those around me were concerned, part of my identity was as surfer. This was not because I knew about surfing, or because I talked about surfing, but rather because I went surfing. Over time a few friends got inspired and took up the sport for themselves. They’re still surfing today. I think of faith in a similar way. For Christians, living faith is not so much a matter of what we know as a matter of what we are. Living faith means becoming a human being who is truly alive by spending time with God in prayer, and in the study of scripture, and in the company of others in sacramental worship. Living faith will move us to love and serve others, and will enable us to work together with others towards the hope of participation in a renewed creation that God holds out to each of us.
(like I said with the last one - lots more you could say, but the 200-word count was very strict!)
Monday, June 02, 2008
I can't believe it but...
I'm back on Facebook.
Big G mooted the possibility of getting a Facebook group together for the cafe.
nice one G.
let it be so!
Big G mooted the possibility of getting a Facebook group together for the cafe.
nice one G.
let it be so!
Sunday, June 01, 2008
Rory gets dedictaed
children's church at the cathedral was a good thing to run today.
I'm on the rotor every now and then. today was me and the kids and I had a good one.
This afternoon we had Rory's dedication. Dan n Ruth put on a great bash at their place with friends and family spread across the lawn.
good time all round.
as a few rain spots threatened proceedings we got on with the mini-service under a couple of gazeebos (sp?).
it was very cool. a great day with Rory now thoroughly blessed and prayed for.
all good.
cafe now. which is an excellent venture. please come along and make it even better
I'm on the rotor every now and then. today was me and the kids and I had a good one.
This afternoon we had Rory's dedication. Dan n Ruth put on a great bash at their place with friends and family spread across the lawn.
good time all round.
as a few rain spots threatened proceedings we got on with the mini-service under a couple of gazeebos (sp?).
it was very cool. a great day with Rory now thoroughly blessed and prayed for.
all good.
cafe now. which is an excellent venture. please come along and make it even better
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About Me
- michael volland
- I trained for ordained ministry at Ridley Hall, Cambridge, and was commissioned as a pioneer minister by the Church of England in 2006 to grow a fresh expression of church in Gloucester city centre. I was also on the cathedral staff. I have just made the move to Durham where I have taken up the post of Director of Mission and Pioneer Ministry at Cranmer Hall.
