plans?

Today has been a big deal. An FA cup final, and the final of Britain's Got Talent (and the Tall Ships Festival in Gloucester and a history day with the cathedral surrounded by scores of people in costumes from through the ages - which is obviously far more exciting than football and show-business but, I suppose, not as nationally significant.)

Anyway, all this national competition and winning and loosing got me thinking about the plans we make for ourselves, the plans others make for us, and the 'plans' of God in relation to us.

It's Pentecost tomorrow - or at least, the day in the church's calendar given over to celebrating the coming of the Spirit on the frightened disciples as they huddled together in an upper room with the doors locked.

I guess, prior to Pentecost, the plans of the disciples had been fairly small: Hide, Stay hidden, Grieve, Try to get back to making a living.

God had quite different plans for them: Get out, Keep Going, Talk about Jesus, A lot, Witness to his message with miraculous deeds of power, Live the Kingdom, That sort of thing...

The disciples still made plans, it's just that they had a different set of parameters by which to frame them. Their horizons had broadened. Their view had shifted. Their values were radically different from those around them. The Kingdom of God, of which they were a part, would grow in the midst of things.

Their plans had been hijacked - and they were fine with that because they suddenly knew that everything was different.

How often do any of us expect or allow our plans to be hijacked - by God, or by anyone else?

Hijacked plans often mean we end up doing something that, in the end, was better anyway.

Some of the time, at least.

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fruit

the fruit of the Spirit is:

Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Gentleness, Faithfulness, Generosity and Self Control.

It is certainly the case that each follower of the Way of Jesus Christ must be open to the filling of the Spirit and over time will notice an increase in the above.

It is interesting to reflect on how these things play out in our own lives: In the way we approach work, our friends, those we dislike, our partners, and our children.

The outworking of this fruit requires wisdom, and as we know that God is the source of all wisdom, and that if we lack wisdom we only need ask for more, we should surely expect to be transformed daily into the kind of people about whom all those who experience us could say: 'In them I find true love, and they have that deep joy - not false, surface laughter, but a depth of joy that persists even through trials, and an inner peace that I can't quite put my finger on, and patience - not the kind that passively puts up with stuff, but the sort that bears with others. And they are kind in their words and their actions - not snapping at others or using spite but full of compassion. And they are gentle - not quick to lash out with words or fists but able to give a comfortable word or an encouraging touch when it is needed. Their faithfulness is evident and their generosity overflows so that there is no miserly scrimping posing as 'good stewardship of gifts and time' but rather, an abundance of welcome that doesn't count the cost. And lastly they are self-controlled - not allowing the pressures of life to spill over into harsh actions or words to those around them, not allowing themselves to walk any path but the Way of Christ - of self-giving, sacrificial love that seeks the good of others and the coming of the Kingdom."

A picture of unrealistic, nonsensical perfection that denies the raw, messy, God-given human-ness of humanity?

I honestly don't think so.

Bit-by-slow-bit, I see the fruit of the Spirit in my own life and in the lives of those around me - not least in the feig community.
There is a long way to go, but we go together - bearing with one another, and we travel with the giver of gifts and the one who brings fruit from dry and dusty places.

all a bit poetic, but there we go... that's the mood I'm in this morning.

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it's been a while...

I don't seem to have posted one of Bob Mayo's 'thought for the week'(s) for a while.

I particularly liked this one, so here we are:

'This week we celebrate Pentecost Sunday when the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-21). The Holy Spirit offers us freedom - firstly from ourselves – when Beethoven (at 32) realised that he would be deaf for the rest of his life he prayed ‘Oh God give me the strength to be victorious over myself, for nothing may chain me to this life’.
There is freedom from others. Miller H Caldwell asked for grace to listen to people without always feeling that he should give his opinion. He prayed ‘Release me from craving to straighten out everybody's affairs…with my vast store of wisdom it seems a pity not to use it all’, There is freedom from external circumstance: George Bernard Shaw said ‘the reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself.
Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man’. These freedoms leave us able to ‘glorify God and to enjoy him forever’. Paul wrote ‘I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity (Philippians 4:11).'

cheers Bob!

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feig and the bishop

this evening we meet for our weekly meal.

I'm trusting that there will be food. it is a bring and share.

we also have bishop John coming along - not for the first time, I hasten to add.

he is coming to listen to where we've got to with feig and what we think might be the next move as Rachel and I prepare to move on.

there is a healthy range of opinion in the community so it should be a good evening.
we're not looking for a set of solutions - just another step towards the future, taken in the realisation that this too, is part of the journey.

we've been trying to avoid putting everything on hold in order to discuss the future. It seems important to me that the future evolves out of our worship and prayer and conversation in the present and that we don't spend all our time talking about an imagined point up ahead in which all will be secure and tidy.

so, before the bishop listens to us chatter on, we'll spend a bit of time engaged in reflection on a passage from 2 Kings 3 (in which God provides water for a large army in a parched desert). we'll read it a few times together, and seek to discern what the Spirit of God might be saying to us through it at this time.

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BNP? no thanks...

My kids wanted to watch CBeebies this morning (only at the weekends, I hasten to add...). I turned on to find my 'sending bishop', Pete Broadbent, Bishop of Willesden in London defending the Church's decision to advise people not to vote for the BNP on the grounds that their divisive policies are harmful to the general wellbeing of society.

In my opinion he did a great job. Unbeknown to the interviewers - who asked a couple of pretty stupid questions - Pete is a) very bright indeed, and b) an ex labour councillor.

One of the interviewers stated at the end 'we've had some e-mails from people who are cross that the church is telling people what to think.'

What?

I guess these are either BNP voters, or angry atheists.

It occurs to me that both of these groups are stuffed full of those who want to tell the rest of us how to think.

And, my memory may be hazy here, but haven't right wing political parties who rose to power in the past, tried to tell everyone what to think and then attempted to eliminate those who didn't fit the narrow version of what it is to be a human being in a world characterized by difference?

In my opinion the church is right to speak out against any political party (in this case the BNP) whose answers to political, economic, and social problems are simplistic, whose policies are narrow and divisive, and whose fundamental values are in complete opposition to the values of the Kingdom of God.

Is it possible to be a member of the BNP and a Christian?

There's a good discussion for you.

I guess I'd start by saying that perhaps it is only possible if you have completely mis-understood Jesus' message of radical inclusivity, and hold the warped idea that being a Christian is somehow exactly the same as being a narrow minded, white, Anglo-Saxon who blames those who are different from you for the problems you perceive to blight our society.

Or something like that...

good resource

'The Human Face of the Church: A Social Psychology and Pastoral Theology Resource for Ministry'

I've had this for a while but it has been interesting to come back to it recently.

Worth a read if you're involved in leadership or are simply wanting to learn more about the complex dynamics of faith communities.

Really helpful.

Gift

If you are a Lord of the Rings fan you have probably already seen The Hunt For Gollum.

It's a 40 minute film made 'by fans for fans' and available free-to-view online.

I reckon this is pretty historic all round: A high quality short movie put together for £3000 by 'non-professionals' and offered gratis for those who want to enjoy it.

It's right in step with the 'everyone's a publisher' and the I-expect-my-music-software-and-movies-for-free spirit of our times.

The same thing is happening with church. Little groups are emerging all over the place and putting simple stuff together, pooling their resources and expertise and getting on with the job of being part of building the Kingdom.

This isn't about not needing 'experts' - we all have different expertise and every ounce is required - including one or two visionaries who pull others together and provide some seed energy to get things rolling. This is about not just waiting around for the big boys to make the next movie. It's about being inspired by what you've already seen and been a part of and creating something fresh, something fun, something free, something that in turn inspires another bunch of people to go and do likewise.

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Cranmer Hall

Last week I was in Durham for two days of interviews at Cranmer Hall.

For Rachel and I the application procedure was heavy with prayer, consideration and discussion. I gather that the same was true of Cranmer's staff team.

For my part, I happen to believe in a providential God (which, it may surprise you to hear, is a theological position not universally shared by all Christians).

Anyway, there we are, it felt right to apply for the position and my belief was that if, as we prayerfully explored this possibility, the way opened up for us to leave Gloucester and head for Durham, then we would interpret this to be God's call on our lives.

After rigorous formal and informal interviews, teaching a sample lesson and living and worshiping with the Cranmer community for twenty-four hours, I was offered a post on the staff team. This will involve a whole raft of things including teaching, research, being a tutor to ordinands, assisting with formation for ministry, developing a training stream for pioneer ministers, developing strong local networks of pioneers, encouraging understanding of and reflection upon the emerging culture, and engagement in creative mission, participating fully in the life of Cranmer as a worshiping community, and continuing with my doctorate at Kings, London.

Rachel and I will leave Gloucester in August and I start at Cranmer on Sept 1.

Our departure clearly raises a whole raft of issues for the future of the feig community.

We have all been in discussion and prayer for a couple of weeks now and there is certainly a lot more to say and pray.
This is an exciting time, loaded with possibility and the potential for adventure. God builds the church. He has built feig - using Rachel and I as 'pioneer' catalysts, and now it is time for us to step aside so that new things can come to shape.

There is no denying the sadness and sense of loss both with us and the community.
This is a really difficult time in many ways. Things are just beginning and so, on the surface, it may seem odd for us to be leaving.
It is certainly early days but the community are robust and there is energy and momentum.
My initial brief was to 'pioneer a fresh expression of church'. That pioneering has been done. Perhaps it is time for settling? Not into stale routine but into relationship with the wider church, and into participation with the local churches in the coming of the Kingdom of God in Gloucester.
These are my own thoughts - and are not fully formed. More to think and say...

The photo shows the peninsular in Durham - Cranmer is situated in St John's College, which is located in the buildings lining the street to the left of the image.

It's worth also mentioning this:

I've been involved with the 24-7prayer movement in the past - and led a 24-7prayer mission team back in 2005.

I have been keen to hook up with some of these guys when I get to Durham, so I looked them up online.

This was posted on Monday 11 May (the day I arrived in Durham). See here for link

'we’ve been praying for people to be brought in, for God to put his passions on more people’s hearts, and for a turning in the intellectual apathy we keep coming across. Things have really been happening and we’re all getting very excited!
Last Tuesday night we had a spontaneous prayer time after a cell group – we thought we’d have a 5 minute prayer together, when everyone was about to leave, but God clearly had another agenda and 3 hours later we were still there praying.'

To be honest, I find this quite amazing.

In a big way.

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booklaunch

I'm off to London tomorrow morning at early-o-clock for a day of DMin teaching.

In the evening I'm going along to the book launch of 'Ancient Faith Future Mission' which is being held at the London Centre for Spirituality.

Should be fun.

Year of the Child

2009 is the year of the child in churches throughout the country.

The website of the diocese of Gloucester says:

'We (The Diocese of Gloucester) are inviting children, churches, families, community groups, and everyone involved in the life of a child to take the opportunity to view children differently - to celebrate all that they bring to our lives and include them in our mission and ministry, wherever it takes place.

The Big Day, which is the main celebration of Year of the Child is happening on Saturday 4 July from 10.00am in GLOUCESTER PARK, near the Robert Raikes statue, then walk through the city to GLOUCESTER CATHEDRAL.

At the cathedral we will be met by THE PSALM DRUMMERS and their incredible music - they will get us in the mood to dance, to sing, to change the world!'

See here for more info

The Narnia Code

A couple of weeks ago someone told me about a guy who had cracked the Narnia Code.

I just found out he'd trained for ordination at Ridley Hall (where I trained).

I looked him up on their website.

It says this:

'Michael Ward says he owes Ridley Hall many things. Five years of his life were spent as an ordinand at Ridley and it was in his penultimate year, 2003, that he made the discovery that has dominated his working life ever since.

He cracked ‘the Narnia Code’. That is, he stumbled upon the imaginative DNA of C.S. Lewis’s seven Narnia Chronicles. The BBC have made an hour-long documentary outlining this discovery and the difference it makes to our reading of Lewis’s classic tales, not to mention the difference it might make to our reading of the world in which we live. (Click here to see the trailer on YouTube.)'

So there...

I think it's on this evening (BBC4)

I'll have to have a watch - see if that wardrobe was for real afterall...

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guerrilla worship

Dream are a Liverpool based community who will be collaborating with feig, Grace, and Safespace at Greenbelt this year on a day-long worship event called 'long worship'.

Inspired by last year's spontaneous worship at Greenbelt, Dream did a kind of flash-mob act of guerrilla worship in a shopping mall at Easter.

it's a really powerful watch - link here


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free coldplay album

download Coldplay's new album 'Left Right Left Right Left' for free from their website.

nice.

even if you don't like them...


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the weddings project

another part of what Paul talked about was his involvement in 'the weddings project' which is a Church of England initiative to encourage a deeper enagagement in mission through the stuff we already do frequently and (generally) well (weddings, funerals and baptisms).

The whole process of getting married in an Anglican church has recently been made much easier - see here for more details - and people like Paul have been working on a whole bunch of resources (currently on trial in two diocese's) to enable clergy and churches to make the most of this particular opportunity to serve and minister to the people of this country.

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Ammerdown

I spent the past weekend at the Ammerdown centre near Bath.

It is a gorgeous place and very significant in the life of feig. The first six of us spent a weekend there working out what we were going to 'be' a few months after meeting and long before the name 'feig' had been arrived at.

we went on walks, prayed, shared, laughed, worshiped, discussed and got excited about the future.

strange to be back there contemplating the next stage of the adventure for all of us.

Paul Bayes (adviser on evangelism and mission to the Archbishop's council) led the weekend I've just come back from.

Unsurprisingly he spoke about mission.

Excellent, engaging, useful, spot-on stuff for those who are working for the institution and who want to engage our culture relevantly.

There was a bunch of stuff on Jade Goody, folk religion, the way in which people reach out for God and are happy to have Jesus and reincarnation on the same shelf, and the fact that Max Clifford felt able to be a spokesperson for the Church of England throughout the whole affair.

There was lots more, besides excellent food, good worship and the company of 40 other curates.

all good.

(the picture is taken two minutes up the lane from the centre. very good for early morning walking and praying out loud...)

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listening to...

Gavin Froome 'Post + Beam' - very smooth house from 2001. chilled, laid back, just right for e-mails, admin, write-ups, dealing with to-do lists...

baby Pierce

Last night some of us met for our weekly community meal - Dan n Ruth brought their new bub, the lovely Joseph, for the first time (aged 2 weeks).

Amazing to have so many children involved in feig. A huge blessing from the Lord - the more the merrier!!

We followed our meal with a deep discussion about things that will become clearer over the coming weeks.

Some big changes in the air. A huge opportunity to discern where God is taking us a community.

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Spirituality

We've just completed a short DMin module titled: Spirituality.

I liked the 'course description' - I reckon it prompts some good thinking.

here it is:

'Christian spirituality turns on the transmission of texts, generally biblical texts, their appropriation, their capacity to transform the reader and their further dissemination , especially through preaching and devotional reading. There is a medieval Dominican tradition (the Order of Preachers) that teaches that preaching involves contemplata aliis tradere (passing on to others what has been seen through contemplative understanding). This presupposes that what has been seen in contemplation, or spiritual understanding of scripture, is never private but always dynamic and public in the sense it is given for all and not the individual. The classic 'mystical'** texts are either themselves sermons or are closely related to scripture...'

**before anyone who thinks the term 'mystical' or 'mystic' is the sole domain of new age spirituality and mails me with concern about my Christian orthodoxy, can I point out that the tradition of Christian Mysticism is as old as Christianity itself - it aspires to apprehend spiritual truths inaccessible through intellectual means, typically by learning how to think like Christ.

Two major themes of Christian mysticism are i) a complete identification with, or imitation of Christ, to achieve a unity of the human spirit with the spirit of God; and ii) the perfect vision of God, in which the mystic seeks to experience God "as he is," and no more "through a glass, darkly." (1 Corinthians 13:12)

Other mystical experiences are described in other passages. In 2 Corinthians 12:2–4, Paul sets forth an example of someone who was taken up to the "third heaven",(although we do not know what this means or how it was achieved) and taught unutterable mysteries:

'I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell but God knows;) such a one was caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell but God knows;) how that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.'

So let's not chuck the Christian mystic out with the spiritual bathwater, so to speak, but rather, let's strive to understand, and to listen and learn and grow in our knowledge and love of God through Christ.

(the image is St. John of the Cross)


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The Family Haven was established in 1988 to help disadvantaged and vulnerable families in Gloucestershire to a brighter future.

They 'help parents and their pre-school children by providing a warm, caring and supportive day centre where assistance and encouragement is available to help them to improve the quality of their lives.'

I'm sticking this up because a) they do amazing and important work, and b) they, like every charity at the moment are worried that as the economic crisis hits, the demand on their services will be increasing whilst individual and corporate giving is potentially going to slump.

Adrian Slade, the diocesan director for social responsibility was recently asked:

'what is your advice to people as the credit crunch hits?'

He replied:

'Give more to charity.'

too right.

we should be looking to give more - even out of what we don't have - because as we all know, it is the most vulnerable who suffer most.

end of preach.

give.


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language and baggage

It's interesting to think about how our own particular experience of church is able to inoculate us against other aspects of the rich tapestry of Christian experience throughout the ages.

I recently read a biography of an American pentecostal pastor who said that when he left seminary and was preparing to lead a church, his mother said to him:

'Remember son, no one's got a corner on God's truth.'

He replied, 'Yeah, mum, but we Pentecostals are more right than others, aren't we?'

Thankfully she corrected him.

Certain streams of church go about teaching scripture (either directly or indirectly)in such a way that words, phrases and practices from other Christian traditions are viewed with deep suspicion. We're so keen to be 'right' that we - the members of the church - often go along with it. Our way of being church and understanding scripture and living as a disciple of Christ becomes the defining way, with other Christian traditions at best ignored, and at worst written off as unsound or heretical.

This is ridiculous, arrogant, unwise, and ignores Jesus' prayers for unity. It leads to ineffectiveness in mission (even though the opposite will be claimed) and is often a justification for empire building.

(In my opinion.)

There are many aspects of the rich tapestry of Christian faith from west and east that we don't understand and which we write-off at our peril.

Christianity is not a 'modern' western religion. It has multiple (often competing) expressions in the west (that far too often reflect our own cultural prejudices and justify our preferences) but it grew out of the east.

Eastern Christianity can look very different from western Christianity but there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism. There is one God who is Father of all.

God stretches and challenges us - always calling us to encounter him in new ways, in those who are different to us, in fresh modes of worship.

God can teach us things when we are in a position to be surprised.

If everything is comfortable and familiar we are unlikely to learn much about God or ourselves.

If we have to talk about 'soundness' in Christian life and practice, then what will be our measure?

For me it is about Jesus: The fact of the incarnation, the life he lived, the way he was with others, the death he died, his resurrection and the dwelling of his Spirit with us now.

If this is the centre around which we live, surely this gives us a freedom to encounter new and different ways of being Christians in the world?

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Feig

Members of the two feig communities came together last night for a large meal.

This was to give Dan & Ruth and the new bub a bit of space from hosting.

Eloise led our time of worship. She played a Philip Roderick 'Hang Drum' track and gave us each a short writing from a Christian mystic to contemplate.

Afterwards we shared various thoughts and insights that we felt God had given us.

It was a deeply stirring time - both challenging and encouraging.

I was particularly helped by words of St. Teresa of Avila which I stick up here for your own edification...

"Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you, all things pass away: God never changes."

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Fresh Expressions in the Sacremental Tradition (Ancient Faith,Future Mission)

This arrived this morning. A free copy - my only payment for writing a chapter - other than the great joy of seeing my ramblings in print...

Norman Ivison of Fresh Expressions has asked me to point people to the FE shop if they want to buy copies as it feeds some much needed cash to the church rather than 'lining the pockets of Amazon's shareholders' (his words)

Link to FE shop here

Everything is Spiritual

Dan and Ruth bought me this (Everything is Spiritual by Rob Bell) for my birthday.

Looks excellent. As a fan of Rob Bell's books, I'm looking forward to giving it a watch.

The back says: 'In the Hebrew Scriptures there is no word for 'spiritual.' And Jesus never used the phrase 'spiritual life.' Because for Jesus and his tradition, all of life is spiritual. So what does that mean?'

I guess if I watch the DVD I'll find out...

(by the way, Rob will be at Greenbelt this year - it'll be his only appearance in the UK)

feig babies...

Welcome to Joseph Daniel Pierce!!

Nice one Ruth (and Dan).

The fourth feig baby.

(soon to be joined by a fifth...)

(not ours!)

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Blah event

Blah events are always good.

This one is sure to be no exception:

'Mission in a Consumer Culture'

Blurb: How should Mission relate to a consumer culture?

Some like to argue that the Christian faith as an 'alternative way' in an alien market driven world. So the Church is a community of those who resist the prevailing consumerist trend.

But is this the only possible approach? Is it possible that Mission in the West requires us to seek to express or contextualise faith in consumer culture?

This half day will explore the possibilities and limitations of Mission as contextualisation in a consumer culture.

When? Thursday, June 11, 2009 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Where?

CMS House
Watlington Road
Oxford, OX4 6BZ

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link diocese and Christian Aid

writing from Cheltenham racecourse where I am participating in a clergy training day (involving all licensed clergy in the entire diocese).

These things happen twice a year and are a good chance to get together, receive some input on a relevant subject and share lunch and a Eucharist.

Clergy from one of our partner diocese'- El Camino Real in California - are visiting at the moment and so we had an address from their diocesan bishop - The Rt-Rev. Mary Gray-Reeves.

Bishop Mary is one of only 18 female bishops in the Anglican communion.

She was brilliant - and presented a very powerful vision of a church with empowered laity and a active and ongoing engagement with the poor and marginalised.

The dean of El Camino Real's cathedral is also here - I'm having supper with him this evening in order to talk a bit about linking pioneer ministry with cathedrals.

Tomorrow I'm off to Tewkesbury to present a brief paper on pioneer ministry and fresh expressions of church to bishop Mary and her staff.

We also heard this morning from an ex-chair of Christian Aid on the pros and cons of the Millennium Development Goals (which you can read about here) for reducing world poverty. Really insightful and inspiring.
Lots to do in terms of justice for the world's poor. Obviously. Energy and prayer and wisdom needed.

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