tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53398272656530308192024-02-18T23:32:00.007-08:00Church in a Bar: The JourneyAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729280492429560445noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339827265653030819.post-3450408342721698892013-03-11T09:46:00.002-07:002013-03-11T09:46:51.633-07:00Back In The SaddleIt's been quite a time since I've said anything in this random collection of rants about pubs, churches and monasteries, but this is just a very short notice to say a) I'm going to resume writing very soon and b) looooooooooooooooooooads of stuff has happened over the last year! So, a very quick summary:<br />
<br />
1. A faith community of the new monastic variety has been established in Cardiff, meeting in the Gate Arts Centre cafe bar<br />
2. I'm currently planning to set up Wales' first micropub in Cardiff. Actually, I should find out this week if it's going to all come together. Exciting times!<br />
<br />
So, lots to tell and I shall be saying much more about it all over the coming weeks. Bet you can't contain your excitement!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729280492429560445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339827265653030819.post-89217369425054296502012-06-08T04:34:00.000-07:002012-06-08T04:34:36.522-07:00The Way Of TitchmarshIt's got to the point on this journey where I've got to think seriously about what a monastic community that meets in the bar of an arts centre looks like. I mean, what are we going to do? Sing hymns? Listen to sermons? have bible studies and prayer meetings? This is all 'normal church' stuff, but what kind of stuff do you do in a decidedly un-normal church? I've been thinking a lot about this and there are two principles that seem of paramount importance. Firstly, don't try and import any other model of church from elsewhere, whatever we do has to be authentic to our context and vision. Secondly, allow stuff to grow!<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPp0X0xeculc0mPhd6XjzekUwVT0aT4Pym98sSXeste0T5tPp5e_ryA4I5KKnSYkVvJI1o0Aqj3kfARkroQEdaaiZujkWfHEfpVBtfhYVSeHAALI-PThPSq9nBeWO8thANUFieapQ5dHWs/s1600/control+freak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPp0X0xeculc0mPhd6XjzekUwVT0aT4Pym98sSXeste0T5tPp5e_ryA4I5KKnSYkVvJI1o0Aqj3kfARkroQEdaaiZujkWfHEfpVBtfhYVSeHAALI-PThPSq9nBeWO8thANUFieapQ5dHWs/s320/control+freak.jpg" width="312" /></a>The second principle is especially important to me. You see, I'm an incy wincy bit of a control freak. I have a tendency to try and control everything I'm involved in, working from the not-too-health assumption that if I don't do it it won't be done properly, or even at all. Of course this assumption comes from the even more worrying and arrogant assumption that I know what is best in the first place! In the past, this tendency to force things to happen 'my way' has been very detrimental to initiatives I've been involved in, so it's definitely time for an alternative approach. </div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
I'm liking the gardening analogy here. For a plant to grow and thrive, it firstly needs the correct mixture of soil, water and sunlight, but then must be allowed to do its own thing. If the gardener insisted on changing the soil, or adding more water, or putting it in different places to receive more or less sunlight every few minutes because it wasn't growing as quickly as he'd like, I very much doubt that the poor plant would get much growing done at all. Of course, as it became bigger it would need some pruning, some guidance, but it really isn't anything to do with the gardener as to what the thing will look like or what shape it will take as it becomes itself. That's nature's job. That's out of his control.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAtxgOFp2sy9DjR4KOUlzhdPm74ba9FTSUaF6_02A-Py5E8d4R0XZOxHXWhyXQgM6QAsLxtbrVXxThZFVL-0fY-6wGZpUfm4gcRgPRmPaAfj1lWD0eQUgQ107B7933wxMeb3KjzToGMLMd/s1600/dirty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAtxgOFp2sy9DjR4KOUlzhdPm74ba9FTSUaF6_02A-Py5E8d4R0XZOxHXWhyXQgM6QAsLxtbrVXxThZFVL-0fY-6wGZpUfm4gcRgPRmPaAfj1lWD0eQUgQ107B7933wxMeb3KjzToGMLMd/s200/dirty.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
What mix of soil, water and sunlight shall be used to allow this community to grow? Simplicity is key, no massive events or outreach projects. A space to encounter God is all that's needed, where folk can come (of not) to be still and pray. Rhythm is an important monastic ideal that helps us connect with ourselves, the universe and God. Oh, and eating! I'm a massive fan of parties, and it's worth noting that the Lord himself loved a shindig with good food and drink! </div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
So, perhaps a weekly meal together, with a time for remembering Jesus, being still and praying included? We could put some music on and have a sing if we fancied (not necessarily the cheesy Christian stuff!), but keep the whole thing laid back and chilled. A daily time and space for prayer somewhere in The Gate? In the morning? Folk could begin the day having had some space to centre themselves. And parties! Celebrations at important times and seasons through the year, both religious and 'secular'.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
Lets' see what grows...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729280492429560445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339827265653030819.post-73666310755736886452012-05-11T03:48:00.001-07:002012-05-11T03:48:30.660-07:00Avengers Assemble!!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Being a proud super-geek, I've been tracking the progress of the Marvel super-heroes movie series that led up to the recent Avengers Assemble movie with an avid interest bordering on mild obsession. Ever since that first tantalising post-credits clip of Nick Fury inviting Tony Stark to join the top secret S.H.I.E.L.D. initiative in Iron Man (2008), my spidey sense tingled every time a potential Avenger was given license for the silver screen. I waited excitedly to see who would be in the starting lineup, and as The Incredible Hulk, Captain America and Thor were each introduced to the non-geek public, I have to say I was not disappointed. With Hawk Eye and The Black Widow making the final selection (there were apparently some injury doubts, hence they didn't get their own films) it was a strong team (although personally I would have kept Hawkeye on the bench and put Vision on for some extra attacking power up front - you geeks know what I'm saying).</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSPQ3rsuJ_MzBU2uE2cUcXaF9WNhjw2WOouunJ1irkahEuATxaBBlovTM2DKPRXjM4p7w0LIiYJi_sYDo9TxzrajwM_AJbC8JfyxVx2oZb5AHkEGL0BHOVVFDyi1NR8sC7UhBgahOD0_0C/s1600/avengers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSPQ3rsuJ_MzBU2uE2cUcXaF9WNhjw2WOouunJ1irkahEuATxaBBlovTM2DKPRXjM4p7w0LIiYJi_sYDo9TxzrajwM_AJbC8JfyxVx2oZb5AHkEGL0BHOVVFDyi1NR8sC7UhBgahOD0_0C/s320/avengers.jpg" width="212" /></a>But what on earth (or Asgard) has this got to do with new monastic bar communities?? Well, at this stage in the journey we have a venue, we have a strong vision that is catching, we have lots of support from people who think it's a great idea, we have examples of other places where similar visions are actually working, but what we DO NOT yet have is....a team. I am feeling decidedly Nick Fury-esque as I search for folk who God is calling to form the core group of this emerging community, who own its values and vision, who will commit to serving Christ in this context. Incidentally this is not a bad place to be, even Jesus went through the stage of calling together his team (although, to be honest, I'm not sure the dozen plonkers he found could be classed as anything approaching superheroes).</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
However, this does raise for me a number of questions. For example, where should the team come from? Should it comprise of people who are already following Jesus, in other words the wider church? There are problems inherent in that, especially the issue of 'all being on the same page'. Folk who have been in the church for a long time have preconceptions about what a faith-community should be, which in the long run could become agendas that derail the community's identity. What about church leavers, those folk who are fed up with traditional church so are looking for something different? Problem here is the community could become a 'home for the terminally disaffected with church', which again sets a tone that could pervert the vision. Should I even be looking for a team at all, or simply waiting for God to send the right people my way through the cheesily termed 'God-appointment' philosophy (shudder)?</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5UR634Rcq7Er7-gsEf8abiBS_Jv2b0YqY662l5Mnw3JVbtQTlMJkCRYILVTo4xsUMpbQoQfJ18zSJUD7et963H7gt9Dr5Wht8VUkvS579tF8oqAOAFqIPZB_ZtCARBKoBPZ252AooYKlc/s1600/creeps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5UR634Rcq7Er7-gsEf8abiBS_Jv2b0YqY662l5Mnw3JVbtQTlMJkCRYILVTo4xsUMpbQoQfJ18zSJUD7et963H7gt9Dr5Wht8VUkvS579tF8oqAOAFqIPZB_ZtCARBKoBPZ252AooYKlc/s320/creeps.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Or maybe I'm worrying too much. After all, going back to JC's approach, he began with a bunch of folk who each were messed up in their own special way, but were transformed as they journeyed together with The Master. It's always a good principle to do things as Jesus did them.</div>
<br />
I'm off to the nearest lake to find some fishermen.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729280492429560445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339827265653030819.post-76157161046277652282012-05-03T07:31:00.000-07:002012-05-03T07:31:01.524-07:00Circles of TrustI recently went for another short-yet-refreshing sojourn back to the Northumbria Community and once again left thoroughly convinced that the new-monastic model is the way forward for church communities in Britain. It's the kind of place where you go with a load of books to read and 'important stuff' you want to think about, but end up reading and thinking about a load of stuff completely different to the stuff you thought was so important in the first place. Weirdly this stuff often sheds light on the former stuff and on reflection the stuffs were both part of a much bigger stuff that you have only just begun to scratch the surface of. At least, that's my experience. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj-DkEVQdgiz9Gg9axTfbCcgxIScnHZaEZHbc0u6bLcT5tYLz4ZTSwvy54cUp2gjW-w8ALLgT1G5m7mgjAdqrZavIn348_KhfrJvFdUH1yLr3SYuWrf7-QmpqLmlZir-YmT0hOM8eVVj_0/s1600/palmer.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj-DkEVQdgiz9Gg9axTfbCcgxIScnHZaEZHbc0u6bLcT5tYLz4ZTSwvy54cUp2gjW-w8ALLgT1G5m7mgjAdqrZavIn348_KhfrJvFdUH1yLr3SYuWrf7-QmpqLmlZir-YmT0hOM8eVVj_0/s1600/palmer.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parker J. Palmer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Anywho, while there I began reading 'A Hidden Wholeness' by Parker J. Palmer (I read another of his books, 'Let Your Life Speak', last time) and was intrigued by a concept for community that he has coined the 'Cricle of Trust'. The concept was born from Palmer's own journey through and out of clinical depression. During this 'dark night of the soul', Palmer reflects on how it were those rare friends who stood by and yet didn't try to fix him who were the greatest comfort and help. In a local Quaker community he found a space of safety where no one offered the benefit of their well-meaning yet misplaced advice, but instead asked probing questions that enabled him to gradually find the answers he sought for himself. Palmer describes this process as learning to listen to his 'inner teacher' or 'true self', the only way of achieving wholeness when ones outer life (interaction with the world) is out of sink with ones inner truth (values, beliefs etc.).</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Circles of Trust are spaces for people to find themselves again. In a society where there are so many pressures to conform to different ways of thinking, it is no surprise that people often get lost in the maelstrom. Palmer describes the soul (or true self) as a wild animal that is easily spooked and only emerges if the environment is completely safe, therefore Circles of Trust permit NO judgement, NO intrusive or rash attempts to 'fix' and affirm absolutely that no one will be rejected or abandoned. In this environment, over time and with the patient support of the other members, a person's soul will emerge to teach them how they can become whole and integrated.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-HdeNLaWLd1shwxUNDakUmWNT_ne3fkR-dqRB556q28Ii33NemVhco3eWRODS6BA-M_B0EmLc86124mGSKRHWCrYP6ChYuDrVtzkB58kGwyRNi1SigsTyuTW4__98S_qynPyJ0Ay1f55I/s1600/refuge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-HdeNLaWLd1shwxUNDakUmWNT_ne3fkR-dqRB556q28Ii33NemVhco3eWRODS6BA-M_B0EmLc86124mGSKRHWCrYP6ChYuDrVtzkB58kGwyRNi1SigsTyuTW4__98S_qynPyJ0Ay1f55I/s1600/refuge.jpg" /></a></div>
Is it just me or is there something profoundly right in this? Non-judgement, acceptance, faithfulness, patience, compassion, a desire for people to become who they were created to be - you'd be hard pressed to describe Jesus' character more accurately. If churches could embody these principles and become spaces of safety, sanctuary, refuge and healing, then we would have less disillusioned folk who fail to see the the correlation between the Jesus of the New Testament and their own experience on a Sunday morning.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729280492429560445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339827265653030819.post-20544697585211598862012-05-02T05:00:00.000-07:002012-05-02T05:16:43.174-07:00If heaven did bars...I promised in the last blog that I'd say something about progress made with the bar buying side of things. Well, by progress I don't exactly mean it's anywhere nearer happening in Cardiff, but I have discovered and been thoroughly inspired by a situation that is EXACTLY what I'm talking about!<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTeGmRmtvzGli7Mfytd_FwyzZ9jSiiYTKoRYLQ9fm2XhpPhSBaoCpgEpHafie6k-ZpKeXtJGinmDZmXdKtnRDAlG7gsAPsqyYjnbv-34jypH2kKGxgsEQyiClKyYSGbDkcQ9tskCNoU6xJ/s1600/Brick+Lane+Market.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTeGmRmtvzGli7Mfytd_FwyzZ9jSiiYTKoRYLQ9fm2XhpPhSBaoCpgEpHafie6k-ZpKeXtJGinmDZmXdKtnRDAlG7gsAPsqyYjnbv-34jypH2kKGxgsEQyiClKyYSGbDkcQ9tskCNoU6xJ/s320/Brick+Lane+Market.jpeg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrtkoDdazHEh8naet8c3jn59j60ezaKx-3lOrOEds2WHZDDB5qwEfLTfbDUOLoGdyTO-ntbs0YSEhy7vRdrHGksmj1kzv_MOwx4lPB9ZrDZEgaXSRITapjf12FS55nKyZAuCnPPmuEMMN/s1600/brick+lane+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrtkoDdazHEh8naet8c3jn59j60ezaKx-3lOrOEds2WHZDDB5qwEfLTfbDUOLoGdyTO-ntbs0YSEhy7vRdrHGksmj1kzv_MOwx4lPB9ZrDZEgaXSRITapjf12FS55nKyZAuCnPPmuEMMN/s320/brick+lane+1.jpg" width="320" /></a>Kahaila is a trust set up by Rev. Paul 'Undies' Unsworth, a Baptist minister currently residing in London who has a very VERY familiar sounding vision. A few years back on one fine Sunday morning he happened to be on Brick Lane in the Shoreditch area of the city, along with the other 20,000 people who are there every Sunday morning to sample the delights of the MAHOOOOOSIVE open air market. As if the Angel Gabriel had just planted eyes him squarely between the eyes with a very well aimed rock from heaven, he suddenly had a revelation. This is where all the 20s and 30s folk are on a Sunday morning, not in church, so why don't we bring God to them!! From that moment on the vision began to take shape - a cafe on Brick Lane - quirky, alternative, high quality - that will act as a place of blessing for the punters on Brick Lane but also the home of a faith community that will worship and minister there. Since the initial revelation Undies and his team have raised over £150,000, bought a clothes shop in the heart of Brick Lane to convert and are currently a few months away from opening. </div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Wowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowow!!!!! IT CAN WORK!!!! </div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE6oyJnHnRTBIkeYPSttTLSnE6ZsrdxnKh5YGKGCNcgbsa6w0EeG1yu6AX-G8eYABGyK-XEKNfqj4e17zkqkg88wYKo0hgv_fQXg-IGmCW5xzfzkRvOCxw3uSO0Kp0zGHnlXZTEjOFXSta/s1600/paul+and+the+team.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE6oyJnHnRTBIkeYPSttTLSnE6ZsrdxnKh5YGKGCNcgbsa6w0EeG1yu6AX-G8eYABGyK-XEKNfqj4e17zkqkg88wYKo0hgv_fQXg-IGmCW5xzfzkRvOCxw3uSO0Kp0zGHnlXZTEjOFXSta/s400/paul+and+the+team.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paul and the team in the yet-to-be-furnished cafe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Paul has sent me their business plan and vision statement and it's a great blueprint to follow, so with renewed vigour and fresh inspiration I am determined to get a business plan done of my own. I've been looking around at bars all over the UK for quirky angles that will attract the young adults we want to serve, and I have also been researching areas of Cardiff that have a kind of Bohemian atmosphere in which to look for propertes (Pontcanna or Roath, Pontcanna or Roath, Pontcanna or Roath?). It's a long way from the property buying stage yet, but you have to start somewhere!</div>
<br />
Just imagine! A bar that reeks of hospitality, generosity and joy instead of stale beer and vomit (well, maybe a bit of beer). A place where people can come and feel at home, safe and enjoy themselves. Where alcohol is there in moderation to add to the experience, not detract from it. Where songs are sung and spirits are lifted. Where a place by the fire (yes, there WILL be a fire place!) is reserved for those who are frozen by the cold night outside. Where works of creativity, passion and beauty are displayed on the walls to touch souls.<br />
<br />
If heaven did bars, they'd probably be the best bars in the world...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729280492429560445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339827265653030819.post-42673484347077115552012-05-02T03:41:00.000-07:002012-05-02T03:41:34.230-07:00Running with a BlindfoldIt's been aaaaaaages since I've shared any monastic bar-church type musings, so for the three people out there who read this blog I do sincerely apologise. I am now, however, back with avengence so please do continue to share your musings on my musings, because combined our total musings allow more musing about the things we want to muse over...(pause to allow musing).<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcSmubka7q63IYBeC7HDh5H3mEADUJKmJjHxGBWPg8rxbf7ybtv2uNMeJE3GjLMJS9AeTznNsAljfMiMnkSt1M0lt2UrYceBVQvHr0f-1f8h02rRhNTVxbJJJEgmIr8NdEpfnVnnnZcLSt/s1600/The_Gate_Arts_Centre_Cardiff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcSmubka7q63IYBeC7HDh5H3mEADUJKmJjHxGBWPg8rxbf7ybtv2uNMeJE3GjLMJS9AeTznNsAljfMiMnkSt1M0lt2UrYceBVQvHr0f-1f8h02rRhNTVxbJJJEgmIr8NdEpfnVnnnZcLSt/s320/The_Gate_Arts_Centre_Cardiff.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Gate Arts Centre, Cardiff</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Okay, so things have progressed and the decision has been taken that I WILL be pioneering a new-monastic style faith community (got to find a better name than that!) from July...that meets in a bar! The bar in question is situated in an arts centre in Cardiff called The Gate. It's an amazing place with lots going on and this wider community will be our primary focus for ministry. It'll be a case of serve, serve, serve and then do a bit more serving! Blessing The Gate in any way we can, being present at their public events, helping the staff, cleaning the toilets, doing lots of Kingdom stuff and seeing God work. At least that's the plan. </div>
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
This is one of the reasons why I haven't been keeping the blog up to date. While negotiations and discussions were going on it was difficult to talk about specifics, but now it's all settled I can! At the same time as building the faith community I'll also be making plans for the second part of the vision (hasn't been forgotten), buying a bar. Progress has been made in this area too (kind of) but that's a story for another blog. :)</div>
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1AdWzeyP819LdzSYaD2hdh59yyU5IMrPNP-lC-OPoH2_x4E1aC40yp_VUx2S-UvL_SAnprXhPTF34yc58cYUz2rQNZwwvMp2zY-G9z0AFpApY5WEvthJD17qhT7s8hCe0wL4OWruU3VFg/s1600/join+us.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1AdWzeyP819LdzSYaD2hdh59yyU5IMrPNP-lC-OPoH2_x4E1aC40yp_VUx2S-UvL_SAnprXhPTF34yc58cYUz2rQNZwwvMp2zY-G9z0AFpApY5WEvthJD17qhT7s8hCe0wL4OWruU3VFg/s200/join+us.jpg" width="190" /></a>Very exciting! Only issue is that, well, at the current moment there's no funding and no people (at least no people to be part of the community, I am working these plans out with some very good people at The Gate itself). Here's the advertisement...IF YOU'RE IN THE CARDIFF AREA AND THIS WHOLE MONASTIC BAR-COMMUNITY BUSINESS GETS YOU EXITED, GET IN TOUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div>
<br />
So, there's a plan. Of sorts. There's no money, as of yet no people, but there is a lot of hope and excitement.<br />
<br />
...Ever had that feeling you've bitten off more than you can chew?<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729280492429560445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339827265653030819.post-69925889726449424772012-02-03T03:25:00.000-08:002012-02-03T03:25:58.208-08:00Burning Down The House...er, Church<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovT8WH4olQtgjrPiRSxfoYTt5AyWExVIzZ6YlpXwavYCRftpyovzaRwLqzL40iqWVVUpAN8uiIFaDkSs9eVMOrjGU1tohQEdVLhb2y5UtAMJmNFsUQTa9Tn3UfrQcyalMMkquoZr1QTz6/s1600/boring+meeting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovT8WH4olQtgjrPiRSxfoYTt5AyWExVIzZ6YlpXwavYCRftpyovzaRwLqzL40iqWVVUpAN8uiIFaDkSs9eVMOrjGU1tohQEdVLhb2y5UtAMJmNFsUQTa9Tn3UfrQcyalMMkquoZr1QTz6/s200/boring+meeting.jpg" width="133" /></a>People often ask me what ministers do through the rest of the week as the only work one day. This question, while quite understandable, does get rather frustrating. After all, Santa only works one day a YEAR but nobody asks him what he's doing the rest of the time! One of the very very very important things we do is have meetings. Lots of very important meetings. I was at one such very very very important meeting yesterday.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Now, I freely confess that when I got to the venue I didn't exactly know what the meeting was for, but that in NO WAY detracts from how very important it was (I feel I've stretched this as far as it will go. I'll stop). Likewise I couldn't tell you in all honesty what the very important outcomes were (I've stopped. Promise), but it was very insightful. The meeting was full of folk who, like me, have a sneaking suspicion that the church in Britain isn't really all that pointful anymore, so stuff needs to be done differently. Pioneers and radicals to a man (or woman), these brave adventurers had between them come up with a whole kaleidoscope of different approaches to church that were serving, helping and changing peoples' lives. There were groups that met in cafes, groups that focused on making bread (literally, no metaphor), groups that were mainly young people, groups that were mainly one ethnicity, and groups that predominately consisted of folk with one ear bigger than the other. I jest. But there were lots.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVPp9z5q9uQNVdGoqXmqk4vlIufrPzJyPZzoxIvFcptWXfXvN_eqXS41oLXfGkzhCVBMi_yv-q5qOD9UTVsBzl9EYGRrX63TayMGkJZ_YVJUS6v5rJgEwKSLMFKm7gRl999XqB6bziyx0f/s1600/serving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVPp9z5q9uQNVdGoqXmqk4vlIufrPzJyPZzoxIvFcptWXfXvN_eqXS41oLXfGkzhCVBMi_yv-q5qOD9UTVsBzl9EYGRrX63TayMGkJZ_YVJUS6v5rJgEwKSLMFKm7gRl999XqB6bziyx0f/s320/serving.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Even though this array of church styles was wonderfully diverse, as the stories were being told it dawned on me that they had something in common. Each of these new 'faith communities' (or churches) lived, worked, ate, played and breathed in amongst the people whom they were trying to bless. There were no walls separating them from the people, they did everything amongst everyone. One lady told about the church she started on a brand new housing project. She (with her family) was the first person to move onto the estate just so that she could meet and welcome every other new family who subsequently moved in. Now her church - made up of people who she has met from the community - is known for its good work in the locality and unsurprisingly, people want to be part of it. <br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_GohsRtlnBMrxMmiBflA6ON9kjsSwe9nd9ZmoJLDGncNgCtO22Ty_Nx5qtKQ9xhc1nKCm_HxU-sImbEkHGw_6cm8NPPK_0BzNA-KWqJil2AEnrwpDWtJqQ2tcaZi0beSK1Oujd60aa-o/s1600/burning+church.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_GohsRtlnBMrxMmiBflA6ON9kjsSwe9nd9ZmoJLDGncNgCtO22Ty_Nx5qtKQ9xhc1nKCm_HxU-sImbEkHGw_6cm8NPPK_0BzNA-KWqJil2AEnrwpDWtJqQ2tcaZi0beSK1Oujd60aa-o/s1600/burning+church.jpg" /></a>The theological term for this is 'incarnation': the idea that, just like Jesus became a human being and lived among us, so churches are supposed to live among the people they serve. It strikes me that this will be the way for faith communities in the 21st century. It's time to sally forth from our ecclesiastical fortresses, preferably burning them behind us, and start doing some good where the people actually are. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729280492429560445noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339827265653030819.post-67861299050775063542012-01-31T05:18:00.000-08:002012-01-31T05:18:59.634-08:00Rules, Rules, Rules!!I met up with Ray this Wednesday to chat about where we both were in our thinking about the pub monastery vision. We met in the leafy area of Clifton, Bristol and mused together while admiring the breathtaking view from Clifton Downs (Who knew that was there? I always said the Bristol wasn't too bad for an English city). The conversation soon settled on discussing the monastic concept of 'rule of life'.<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHWh3nuDsS4hoyqLiZMaxtQe3Kf1Xe2jY32BmdRfXxOc93f0qKf-zZmLU3YyI9hLCoMhdDVmM-L7YCPi60htEfmmHsNF1CxU6WFW7tDYFa9OK1wGynokgaIL6yujfOd2DUfvnNrSxaSXU6/s1600/rule+of+benedict.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHWh3nuDsS4hoyqLiZMaxtQe3Kf1Xe2jY32BmdRfXxOc93f0qKf-zZmLU3YyI9hLCoMhdDVmM-L7YCPi60htEfmmHsNF1CxU6WFW7tDYFa9OK1wGynokgaIL6yujfOd2DUfvnNrSxaSXU6/s320/rule+of+benedict.jpg" width="320" /></a>The idea of a rule of life is simple: it is a basic set of ideas and concepts that define a monastic community and provide a framework within which its members must conduct their lives. The classic Benedictine rule of life, established by the legendary Saint Benedict himself in the sixth century, consists of three vows that the initiate monk must make: the vow of obedience, the vow of poverty and the vow of chastity. Most traditional monstic orders follow a similar rule of life, but some of the new monsatic communities are coming up with their own innovative rules, based on what is appropriate for their own contexts (a great example is the Northumbria Community's rule of 'availability and vulnerability' - see <a href="http://www.northumbriacommunity.org/who-we-are/the-rule-briefly">http://www.northumbriacommunity.org/who-we-are/the-rule-briefly</a>)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So, Ray and I were stood there overlooking this dramatic vista, silently hoping that decades of weather erosion weren't going to finally catch up on the precarious cliff ledge we were perched on, and began thinking about what a rule of life might look like for a community of faith - or a network or communities of faith - that met in a bar (or bars). After much deliberation, we came up with the following three aspects:</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht6bJtjTfdhKDh87pAnSjw5c8Nfj-4Z6TBzFuJgr7XMbu1sDolUEAv-WBA26aNjZrR_kNCGGSUdEdLh2KqrnYvw7spyi2tb6OVpxOk12jr9ZGvWgfDTDAXzjysaxAYzpNKz9pM9OrPGBgN/s1600/first+rule.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht6bJtjTfdhKDh87pAnSjw5c8Nfj-4Z6TBzFuJgr7XMbu1sDolUEAv-WBA26aNjZrR_kNCGGSUdEdLh2KqrnYvw7spyi2tb6OVpxOk12jr9ZGvWgfDTDAXzjysaxAYzpNKz9pM9OrPGBgN/s320/first+rule.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">1 - Love wins. This is the bottom line of all understanding of God and how he acts in the world. Jesus came to show that when all is said and done, love does and will ultimately win. Our imitation of Christ must be understood in this light.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">2 - Jesus can and does change lives. This is the source of all our hope and is why no one and no situation is ever written off. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">3 - Incarnation. We are called to be 'out there' blessing the world in any and every way, not stuck behind church walls in our little cliques of holiness. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Hmm...definitely room for further extrapolation, exploration, exaggeration and examination, but it's a start!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729280492429560445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339827265653030819.post-20078704408793336352012-01-19T06:48:00.000-08:002012-01-19T06:48:53.344-08:00Culture Club<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzmxJ1F4JEmIBxxI9zkYfLJ5mogwyWFbGMi6nadPlMLWrn2NCgS9Q0QzRIUVC8SVTs6L5Ubz03R1XW_WzKIhHSe_eSBvq6lU9k4-D8O2YjzpZkjibKHgWdOjU-2w4nApzmC_7ZghG86X2Q/s1600/Morton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzmxJ1F4JEmIBxxI9zkYfLJ5mogwyWFbGMi6nadPlMLWrn2NCgS9Q0QzRIUVC8SVTs6L5Ubz03R1XW_WzKIhHSe_eSBvq6lU9k4-D8O2YjzpZkjibKHgWdOjU-2w4nApzmC_7ZghG86X2Q/s200/Morton.jpg" width="130" /></a>I've been thinking about culture recently. By this I don't mean that I've been ruminating over the latest exhibition at the Tate Modern or been immersing myself in Marlovian tragedies at the Barbican, but more from a theological perspective - to what extent should contemporary culture influence the church?</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">At this point many good evangelicals (and probably high-churchers for that matter) would begin to cry 'heresy!' at the top of their voices while reaching for their pitchforks, but it's a serious question. For those not au fait with Christian understandings of the church's relationship with contemporary culture, for many it's very simple - we've got it right, they've got it wrong. We should try to influence culture, but we can NEVER let culture influence us. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">From the start there are some obvious problems with this position, the main one being that it's rubbish. Most of those much loved bulwarks of 'church life' that many don't want to get rid of (e.g. hymn singing, pews, preaching, flower rotas etc) were at one point in time culturally relevant, and that is why they were introduced (William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, once famously said in regard to contemporising church music, 'why should the devil have all the best tunes?'). It goes back even further though. In the Bible we have examples of St. Paul unapologetically using contemporary Greek mythology to explain about Jesus at the Areopagus (place where philosophers came to discuss stuff in Athens), and even some of our most treasured traditions (Christmas/Easter) are based on ancient pagan birth/death/rebirth rituals.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFWABj43-gcweVZ5h68vMyg4T_vJwqEu-G24UXGUZwTgpGjLVMAXVK8c-dB97FPJ9CMBDGyRs1OIYuR8zH_028fpyD-s7YjmNaQ0AwcH4bIM9_FKAAb0gVoNpKoVT1f4JWmjTY0_bVj5e/s1600/bewareofGod.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFWABj43-gcweVZ5h68vMyg4T_vJwqEu-G24UXGUZwTgpGjLVMAXVK8c-dB97FPJ9CMBDGyRs1OIYuR8zH_028fpyD-s7YjmNaQ0AwcH4bIM9_FKAAb0gVoNpKoVT1f4JWmjTY0_bVj5e/s320/bewareofGod.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Now I'm not saying that the Church does not have something unique and incredible important to show the world because it does, but as a wise woman once said let's keep the main thing the main thing! We don't need to be afraid of culture or in some way protect God from it, as though he can't look after himself. Christianity is about a gospel of hope, redemption and forgiveness and has always been most powerful when enriched by the culture in which it finds itself. Churches cannot keep Jesus locked up in a comfortable box of Victorian ecclesiology. Let's find ways of doing church that are authentic and honest to the place where God has put us.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729280492429560445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339827265653030819.post-70337129524298502712012-01-16T07:26:00.000-08:002012-01-16T07:26:11.346-08:00The Hard LessonsIt's a funny thing, hindsight. The things we look back on that seem so obvious to us now were so completely unfathomable at the time. It's often the lessons learnt from hindsight though that are the most useful - and painful - for stepping into the future. As I think about the 'pub monastery' vision, it would be inadvisable bordering on irresponsible not to consider the lessons I myself have learnt.<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Concepts and ideas can be addictive and when I first came upon the idea of a pub-church, I was hooked. I say came upon, because it was not my idea in the first place. Back in 2003 (I think) I found myself one Sunday evening in a bar in Cardiff City Centre being run by a group called Bar None. I can't remember how I came upon these guys, but it was my experience on that fateful night that introduced me to the idea of pub church. It was a debate evening, and the topic under discussion was 'is there such a thing as just war'. The open, inclusive, non-judgemental attitude they had towards everyone, no matter their opinion, blew me away. The atmosphere was safe, welcoming, as though you wouldn't be thrown out no matter how outrageous your beliefs or shady your past. I remember thinking, 'this is what church should be like'.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvMviLUksWg780l5zEI4B4VVpp4WdW7udiO5Y6RX8dAHfBgif_100OlyszSfAni7qSk1TqCo8fIdIPijkcduB_DSnd9lkfYPWXvCp9mNgYkVAAUCo9MqwWEF5UYMQVTBc63w-B8h9mH0pr/s1600/brand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvMviLUksWg780l5zEI4B4VVpp4WdW7udiO5Y6RX8dAHfBgif_100OlyszSfAni7qSk1TqCo8fIdIPijkcduB_DSnd9lkfYPWXvCp9mNgYkVAAUCo9MqwWEF5UYMQVTBc63w-B8h9mH0pr/s320/brand.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>When we launched our version of pub church, Solace, it was this concept that I doggedly clung to. I wanted to recreate this amazing atmosphere for other people to be blown away by. However, this approach, in hindsight, was one of the problems. Here was a concept that I was determined to make work. It was as though the idea itself was this new brand of revolutionary washing powder, fresh off the production line, which I was hell-bent on selling. When we launched Solace we even had an opening night to which around a hundred people came, including press! This was my idea (even though it wasn't), my baby, and I was going to make it work. 'I', 'me', 'mine'. The idea had become for me the focus.<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhemJZcJSHCu1uSqzmZa3Q8BrdUWq9HdSt64QAcg1NwjYxIwDXrFrERKZa6jM0PLWUJKqiRlQ_zVCZLp3HDMpDYr2QyIdmFgLQvaVxMO4a17j1RTu8qqFhU0od3eSdDH4A87qkpQgpPy1FC/s1600/shoot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhemJZcJSHCu1uSqzmZa3Q8BrdUWq9HdSt64QAcg1NwjYxIwDXrFrERKZa6jM0PLWUJKqiRlQ_zVCZLp3HDMpDYr2QyIdmFgLQvaVxMO4a17j1RTu8qqFhU0od3eSdDH4A87qkpQgpPy1FC/s200/shoot.jpg" width="147" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Pride is an insidious sin. You don't even know it's there until your neck deep in it.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">What to learn? Well, it seems as though Jesus' approach to things was about as opposite to mine as is possible. "Go and make disciples" he said, "I will build my church". We make the disciples, he builds the church. It's not about creating a new brand, but about obeying him.</div><br />
Trust God. Keep focus. Relinquish control. Learn to enjoy the taste of humble pie. If I get another chance I'll try doing things His way next time, not my own.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729280492429560445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339827265653030819.post-54732075408818600642011-12-23T03:59:00.000-08:002011-12-23T03:59:55.488-08:00Ancient Examples 3: Monks of War<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0A8QPl1bgxIpTuS5xZwgsVyLdpoBPy0h1QIV7jemwiuYWZFh9OOHr9qUfqX_5HnVrxWuDyRnvA4eHRwLPu9n9x4PpHp4y6w6JEKYePKXsHeZP69j5nQV6I-mg_HD9rnSBOaj6IxrcFzbI/s1600/templar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0A8QPl1bgxIpTuS5xZwgsVyLdpoBPy0h1QIV7jemwiuYWZFh9OOHr9qUfqX_5HnVrxWuDyRnvA4eHRwLPu9n9x4PpHp4y6w6JEKYePKXsHeZP69j5nQV6I-mg_HD9rnSBOaj6IxrcFzbI/s200/templar.jpg" width="200" /></a>Mention the Knights Templar to most people these days and the chances are, if they knew what you were talking about at all, they would assume you were referring to a new book by Dan Brown. If they were a bit better read, they might engage you in a conversation about the crusades and the immorality of invading a foreign country in the name of God (this may lead to a follow up conversation about a certain American president's attitude towards Middle Eastern, 'dangerous', oil-producing countries). However, I've read stuff recently (Desmond Seward's <em>Monks of War</em>)<em> </em>that has got me thinking the Knights Templar, Knights of St. John, Knights Who Say Ni and other European military orders of the Middle Ages have got something to say for a 21st century faith community.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Now before anyone accuses me of being a closet supporter of Nick Griffin, let me explain. The Knightly Orders were first and foremost monks, following all the ascetic rigours of their non-military brethren. The first order, the Order of the Temple, was founded by a chap named Hugues de Payens and grew from a group of ragged knights that Hugues had put together in 1118 to guard the monastic hospitals in and around Jerusalem. The 'Poor Knights' became a monastic order when St Bernard of Clairvaux composed a rule for them in 1123. Thus they had two vocations - to pray and to fight.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwygK57OtufIjPcnaBScrryDkIOgxEYfrDFTUkI3fWa2YKWqxY9VmTk4lDkFdR8nEvl4NBc6meVmtJO-omXsgouMeoctPO4dzSHufy1C9V_M851zLd-WHJcU6wyvsxnMgEyHQnue8_QWBJ/s1600/STT2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwygK57OtufIjPcnaBScrryDkIOgxEYfrDFTUkI3fWa2YKWqxY9VmTk4lDkFdR8nEvl4NBc6meVmtJO-omXsgouMeoctPO4dzSHufy1C9V_M851zLd-WHJcU6wyvsxnMgEyHQnue8_QWBJ/s320/STT2.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">What the Templars did - killing in the name of God, is reprehensible to anyone with any understanding of the Bible, God and common goodness. This was even recognised by some at the time, for instance the Cistercian abbot Isaac of Etoile who wrote "Its (The Templar's) members consider that they have every right to attack anyone not confessing Christ's name...whereas if they themselves are killed while thus unjustly attacking the pagans, they are called martyrs." It is the principle that interests me, however, the principle of action.</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Monastic orders in general are known for contemplation, prayer and spiritual insight, but not so much for action. In a world wracked by so much injustice, churches need some of the spirit of passionate, zealous action. There are plenty of evils surrounding us that need to and CAN be combated by those with a mind - women trafficked into sex slavery, children forced to produce our clothes, atrocities committed against innocent people so we can use mobile phones. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>St Bernard wrote of the Templars, "They can fight the battle of the Lord and indeed be soldiers of Christ." Perhaps churches need to learn something about this. There are evils and injustices that need to be fought against with passion and zeal. Perhaps there are things we can learn from the Monks of War.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729280492429560445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339827265653030819.post-40755480305065069552011-12-16T15:57:00.000-08:002011-12-16T15:57:04.083-08:00Beerton AbbeySorry for the lame title to this post but thought I'd try to slip in a cheeky pop-culture reference. Fail. Be that as it <span style="font-family: inherit;">may, I want to say a bit more about how the whole bar/abbey/monastery/community thing might work...as usual, I'm very</span> open to comments and suggestions.<br />
<br />
First, a history lesson (naturally).<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the summer of 395, St Columba and a band of twelve monks landed on Iona and began building their abbey. There is evidence to suggest that Columba had connections with local rulers and, for the first season at least, received resources from elsewhere to help establish the monastery, but soon it was self-sufficient and quickly gaining reputation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This became a missionary base that for some centuries was the hub of Christianity in Britain.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">The abbey was a place of worship, a home, a base for local ministry and the 'mother house' that other communities were planted from and affiliated to. It was from Iona that Aidan went to establish the famous abbey on Lindisfarne (Holy Island).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCjNcTcDPXG5Z500XAx8gbffiOck3XSodJ-tJCphYfC8vLdBpS6XYfpX9an8_3hhb7CM7NUeEATAPyPhaEffqLOoCQtKEZPmhLj9Drbs7G0FwlBe42DHWb6sJtvTuej2oH3sk5lhMS-M6/s1600/iona.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCjNcTcDPXG5Z500XAx8gbffiOck3XSodJ-tJCphYfC8vLdBpS6XYfpX9an8_3hhb7CM7NUeEATAPyPhaEffqLOoCQtKEZPmhLj9Drbs7G0FwlBe42DHWb6sJtvTuej2oH3sk5lhMS-M6/s320/iona.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">Ray and I see the potential for a modern day version of this model. Currently he lives in Watford but is often on the road, networking pubchurch groups and trying to set up new ones. I on the other hand am much more of a 'stationary' kind of guy, feeling drawn to one place and looking after the community there. When translated into our vision, Ray naturally wants to set up/network the small dispersed communities, where as I naturally want to look after the central bar church itself. It was pointed out to us recently that this is a classic Celtic bishop/abbot role allocation - the bishop overseas all the churches in one area where as the abbot is specifically looking after the abbey.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">Hmm...not sure my Baptist sensibilities really appreciate the idea of being an abbot! Plus abbots are supposed to be holy types...not sure I really fit the bill (but that's another story!). Well Ray and I are trying to meet up sometime before Christmas to chat further, so hopefully more stuff will be revealed then.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">And of course we still have our main problem: no people!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">Still excited though!! :)</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729280492429560445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339827265653030819.post-12118026681026680562011-12-15T03:13:00.000-08:002011-12-15T03:13:28.977-08:00Wanted - visionary pub landlords. Apply within.Can't remember if I mentioned but in July I'm moving on from my current church job. Now, this turn of events leaves me in a very interesting situation. On one hand it's pretty terrifying, as for the first time in my life the future is uncertain and suddenly I'm experiencing a disconcerting vulnerability. On the other hand it's amazingly exciting as it means the bar church vision is a real possibility!<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7yDCfDGFtylVZK1rkDyAYcvs2s-bWCQOucBaOWPy03L9V7lzStyTQhKzmIl-TiNPgdlw4o3LtO2RLFH-fofI1iVXYWOHVG9i5p29DZaBpdeHC0QhUcIZftSJ6dJR7AtyAqDz0eM0bODLS/s1600/beer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7yDCfDGFtylVZK1rkDyAYcvs2s-bWCQOucBaOWPy03L9V7lzStyTQhKzmIl-TiNPgdlw4o3LtO2RLFH-fofI1iVXYWOHVG9i5p29DZaBpdeHC0QhUcIZftSJ6dJR7AtyAqDz0eM0bODLS/s320/beer.jpg" width="227" /></a>It also means that some time soon I have to make some decisions. In an ideal world, I would be pursuing the vision in partnership with someone who has both experience and qualification in licensed retail management (the jargon just drips from my tongue now!), but as we all know this world is seldom ideal and I'm not. Therefore, for the time being at least i have to assume I'll be both running the business AND shepherding the flock (jargon works both ways). Problem: theological training I have, bar management training I have not. The obvious solution? Get some training.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I've done a lot of research into how to do this and there is one organisation, the BII (British Institute of Inkeepers), which runs 'industry standard' courses for experience and qualifications. There are dozens of these courses covering everything from stock control to cooking theory to door supervision, but at the very least there are two courses that seem vital, the licensing qualification itself and 'introduction to licensed retail operations'. In total these two alone cost almost 600 squid (which is not an insignificant amount of money), but they're necessary.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">With everything changing in July I have a chance to go all out for this, to do the courses and try get some experience in a bar/pub somewhere. The step is obviosuly a huge one, meaning a complete career change (while I get some experience at least) and a sizable financial investment (the training). Things are starting to get serious.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Any visionaries out there fancy being a bar manager? Any takers?<br />
<br />
Anyone?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729280492429560445noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339827265653030819.post-23945862050929243382011-12-14T04:06:00.000-08:002011-12-14T04:06:35.137-08:00Ancient Examples 2: The Celtic Penitentials<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUovoTNLlTIzTKRL17XdR5Sa_J0mz-hit4EHNMtb-KEI8U8QIjLP4GWZjIUTATPgisebxbaoxT_C09GTGqdPscaQcBDMREzHJ0nqBNVQQEV9e8UKRluFX0xSeXXngfTh3ptpLtg70gJjVC/s1600/kells1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUovoTNLlTIzTKRL17XdR5Sa_J0mz-hit4EHNMtb-KEI8U8QIjLP4GWZjIUTATPgisebxbaoxT_C09GTGqdPscaQcBDMREzHJ0nqBNVQQEV9e8UKRluFX0xSeXXngfTh3ptpLtg70gJjVC/s320/kells1.jpg" width="237" /></a>In my quest for ancient examples of forgotten church practice, I have recently come across a collection of writings called 'penitentials', specifically a bunch of them that were written in Ireland and Wales roughly 1300 years ago. For those of you not really interested in 8th century texts written by monks living in Co. Meath (are there any??), a penitential is simply a list of instructions of how to get 'back on track' with God after a person has done something wrong. The formula runs thus: mess up, go to priest, priest looks up corresponding penitential, priest tells you what to do, do it, things all good again.</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">If there are any Roman Catholic of Eastern Orthodox folk reading, you will be much more familiar with this sort of thing than I am, being a rather blinkered Baptist. But before everyone gets up in arms about this sort of legalistic formula being what's wrong with Christianity in general, let me say why I found the principles behind the Celtic penitentials both enlightening and also potentially important for a 21st century Christian church.</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Tom O'Loughlin writes that the penitentials' understanding of 'repentance' (because that is ultimately what we're talking about here) comes from ancient Celtic culture. The Welsh and Irish legal systems were based on what is called 'honour price'. The idea was that if you committed a crime against another person, you would have to pay that person's family an honour price (depending on severity of the crime, family's status etc), and once the was done, the matter was settled. Behind this practice is the idea that ALL crimes are redeemable. Now put God in the equation. So you've done something to break one of God's laws (i.e. committed a crime against him), and there is an honour price you have to pay (as recorded in the penitential). Depending on what you have done this price might be more of less, but ultimately there IS a way back onto the right path. There always is, without exception. </div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg24Gu-ZszPzcOaYq6JSdqN-KN0qnQdTtnyx_qapvvO3YGVbduMpIXG2SXyqr1MqFRa0re67egtOPiRsXxsI81Hdhomq3fH_VXzSe10DmG5dGv_lblc2xGr_EHjqnrUU_9XcH4G_pnQ3LRs/s1600/repentance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg24Gu-ZszPzcOaYq6JSdqN-KN0qnQdTtnyx_qapvvO3YGVbduMpIXG2SXyqr1MqFRa0re67egtOPiRsXxsI81Hdhomq3fH_VXzSe10DmG5dGv_lblc2xGr_EHjqnrUU_9XcH4G_pnQ3LRs/s200/repentance.jpg" width="200" /></a>If there's one thing I excel at as a Christian, it's messing up. Sometimes I've messed up so badly that I feel God is on the other side of the galaxy and that there's no way back to him, I could never get myself out of the hole I've gotten myself into. For people like me (and I think there might be a few), the penitentials bring a message of hope. There IS a way back. It might not be an easy road and may involve me paying a high price in terms of forgiving, seeking forgiveness, reforming habits etc, but there is always a way. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">There is always a way. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Everything is redeemable. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Surely this is a message that people in our country need to hear.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729280492429560445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339827265653030819.post-89934440311816935572011-12-12T08:53:00.000-08:002011-12-12T08:53:16.912-08:00Location, Location, Location!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqIKZ13mP1o5XNhQkaxiYOWmV3y2UBBmeQLZe2xb1W78aWLLe61WOFedsepGn5SrAY0-67azd0qvJg0VwdvG2Ws19IlurbDf8xcjzB7-gE-glxA3Brk-m7pXVkeD30EXKywvgFfv3MkME/s1600/integrity.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqIKZ13mP1o5XNhQkaxiYOWmV3y2UBBmeQLZe2xb1W78aWLLe61WOFedsepGn5SrAY0-67azd0qvJg0VwdvG2Ws19IlurbDf8xcjzB7-gE-glxA3Brk-m7pXVkeD30EXKywvgFfv3MkME/s320/integrity.bmp" width="320" /></a>As I think about and research this whole bar-owning business (literally!), it seems that one of the most important factors is that of location. In this economic climate where folk have very little money to spend on stuff, the place where a pub/bar/restaurant is situated becomes paramount. Do the residents in the vicinity want random, fairly-traded ales, or are would they be much more happy with a pint of Stella? This is where the whole 'market research' thing comes in (see, I know all the lingo!) and I'm pretty sure this should be a high priority on my to do list. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I'll be honest, I'm a city boy. I love everything about the city, the busy-ness, the excitement, the people, the energy. For me, the nearer I can be to where all the action is happening the better. With this in mind, it probably comes as no surprise that my first thoughts are to look at a city centre location, or at least a relatively central suburb. I think my grand plans plans for something a bit alternative would work best here.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9unrynh9RIMEDDsefskW9iL5bEeKOgbe8hePfG8MB7-VCBaoJ-3jymxfJEEm_09qBs_j67sPp1yY6_FNTevjPQBzwqLV2MlgbRswfyrGTQEP2JMjq5JLuVcjguG9UQ1vX28Tuix4njW9C/s1600/CountryPub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="163" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9unrynh9RIMEDDsefskW9iL5bEeKOgbe8hePfG8MB7-VCBaoJ-3jymxfJEEm_09qBs_j67sPp1yY6_FNTevjPQBzwqLV2MlgbRswfyrGTQEP2JMjq5JLuVcjguG9UQ1vX28Tuix4njW9C/s200/CountryPub.jpg" width="200" /></a>So here's the dilemma. I recently met up with a friend who is a very successful businessman and is very interested in my idea. He immediately caught the vision for a pub that was run along ethical lines and aimed at doing good in the community, even to the extent of hinting at financial investment!!! Money! Awesome!!! However, as the conversation progressed it became apparent that our visions differed in one small but crucial way - he envisaged a traditional country pub, not a contemporary, city-centre bar. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This leaves me with a big question - if pushed, do I abandon the original vision in order to get the money, or do I turn down my first sniff at serious financial backing in order to retain the integrity of the concept? This is not an easy one, as I don't want to be so arrogant as to refuse to listen to the ideas and thoughts of those who are successful in business, plus I can see that his ideas could have a lot of potential. I've been thinking about this a lot, but in the end there is one consideration that I think tips the balance:</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOR2WXdLw-hohOBMEhYHYL_R_xZMG6r8nWHfEiXNnt5qUhdNj6Nkyvk-z1eWUMJ9ekzkx6uzhcj45Mwj9G_gyQypuVEfebs08IFVdXxYose_BC-ty5A1noE6BCFEQMejdBJ9kGgtqzfHNU/s1600/hot+fuzz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOR2WXdLw-hohOBMEhYHYL_R_xZMG6r8nWHfEiXNnt5qUhdNj6Nkyvk-z1eWUMJ9ekzkx6uzhcj45Mwj9G_gyQypuVEfebs08IFVdXxYose_BC-ty5A1noE6BCFEQMejdBJ9kGgtqzfHNU/s320/hot+fuzz.jpg" width="320" /></a>Hot Fuzz. I don't want to be stabbed by a psychotic, knife wielding octogenarian.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">City centre it is then. </div><br />
I'll outline to him in more detail exactly what I plan and hope he will still be interested in supporting me, but we'll have to wait and see.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729280492429560445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339827265653030819.post-53925349549854858472011-12-09T05:58:00.000-08:002011-12-09T05:59:57.229-08:00Ancient Examples 1: The Didache<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg61ft9vp-3Wo1ESLBRBQNOVVr2l2KO4waTbITZZUuYcRioj3cJmSXyFmdkyeP5RDr7RISwGA-Kz6kRVl2xgQWtKBhxqwpUub6Eo7IUjM_Dq_c9_XjtOrYUdFvbUVFaaDcfOU3u9uI-yf1v/s1600/didache.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg61ft9vp-3Wo1ESLBRBQNOVVr2l2KO4waTbITZZUuYcRioj3cJmSXyFmdkyeP5RDr7RISwGA-Kz6kRVl2xgQWtKBhxqwpUub6Eo7IUjM_Dq_c9_XjtOrYUdFvbUVFaaDcfOU3u9uI-yf1v/s320/didache.jpg" width="207" /></a>So...how does one model a monastic community that is based in a commercial bar? To get some ideas I'm turning (as I often do) to the past and trying (as I often don't) to learn some lessons from it. As time progresses I'll record my musings as they unfurl, but here's where I am at the moment.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I've been pouring over a number of books in search of inspiration, but the two that have taken hold of my imagination most so far are Celtic Theology (London 2000) and The Didache (London 2010), both by church historian Tom O'Loughlin. I'll start with the latter as it knocked me for six.</div><br />
The Didache is an ancient Christian text that was only discovered in the 19th century by chance. This is fascinating in itself considering that it was such an important text to the early church! The word 'didache' literally means 'teaching' in ancient Greek and it was used by the first Christians (literally within a generation of Jesus' death!) to organise their church groups. It gives the context to the letters that Paul and other apostles wrote in the New Testament. Amazing!!!! But it's so much more than that. You see, in the earliest days of Christianity, one could not simply walk into a church, hear a sermon, profess faith and be baptised. Nope nope nope. The process of becoming a Christian that Paul, James, Peter and the others understood was a rigorous process of testing and learning that could last months. ONLY when a candidate (yes, candidate!) had proved (yes, proved!) her commitment could she be baptised and call herself a Christian! The Didache was a text book of 'how to be a Christian' that had to be memorised!!!<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbteiAy4Y9Bcac1LbSHnIYX4w04CwVadN-QtJguUdkM6_RaQX2Cc6CJ0-xK3uujmt47oLIez2kZCiRN6zGat4-1sAuU-5Vdl2SwHu9Ix-q6O_yPft24HAdg2b30vqlP-FRuPy792xaupwi/s1600/Philotheus+Bryennios.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbteiAy4Y9Bcac1LbSHnIYX4w04CwVadN-QtJguUdkM6_RaQX2Cc6CJ0-xK3uujmt47oLIez2kZCiRN6zGat4-1sAuU-5Vdl2SwHu9Ix-q6O_yPft24HAdg2b30vqlP-FRuPy792xaupwi/s320/Philotheus+Bryennios.jpg" width="240" /></a>The reason for this was simple: Christianity was a brand new movement and required a brand new way of life. It was only right that before a person committed to Christianity he understood completely what was involved, hence the entrance requirements. Also, it's true that during times of persecution the authorities would try and infiltrate Christian communities. If strict controls were placed on church membership, infiltration became much harder to do.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So here's my musing. In a country that no longer professes to be Christian and in which most people don't know the basic tenets of Christianity (even, dare I say, in many churches!), should a 21st century Christian community in Britain be looking once again at the ancient practice of The Didache? Having some form of course or learning period before one can truly claim to be Christian? It's an intriguing thought.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Incidentally, it's worth noting that the only Christian communites that really take this practice seriously anymore are...you've guessd it, the monasteries.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729280492429560445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339827265653030819.post-30046831779762717152011-12-08T01:48:00.000-08:002011-12-08T01:48:54.675-08:00It's just businessSo yesterday I gave a brief overview of where I am on the church side of things, now for the other side...the bar.<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It might be helpful to say a bit more about my background here. After A levels I went to Cardiff University to study theology, after which I stayed on at Uni to do a master's degree in church history. It was upon completing this that I decided to train for the ministry and studied for a PhD (which turned out to be an MPhil) in Celtic church history at the same time. I went straight from here into my current church and not long after started my bar church ministry.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3GWYfyTksOPef7woXHy3EbMuGDbQeF3AxQLUJq8vfGmEFjE4rQp-5cvJ5qVWff3civVVEVceDH8stvQHkzAxo_MzYay8sz8aNLxOBi4gA66t6r-wcxTC4STXzChLsH1PvWxyvXPukqmmd/s1600/vision2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3GWYfyTksOPef7woXHy3EbMuGDbQeF3AxQLUJq8vfGmEFjE4rQp-5cvJ5qVWff3civVVEVceDH8stvQHkzAxo_MzYay8sz8aNLxOBi4gA66t6r-wcxTC4STXzChLsH1PvWxyvXPukqmmd/s320/vision2.jpg" width="256" /></a>I only say all this to highlight one fact...I have absolutely NO experience in any form of business whatsoever. The idea of opening a bar is pretty scary.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">However, I do feel that the idea is completely workable. My vision is to have a bar that is ethically run, quirky and emphasising quality not quantity. It will be the polar opposite of those bars/pubs out there that are focused solely on getting people (especially students) to down as many '2 4 1' sambucas as possible, or eat as many plastic chips as can be heated in the microwave. The food and drink will all be either fair trade (or equivalent), organic or locally produced. The bar will hold regular events, including open mic nights, acoustic sessions and art exhibitions. People will go there for the experience of an amazing night out, not simply to get bladdered or eat as much rubbish as they can. The staff will be looked after in a working environment of fun, focus and trust (couldn't think of another 'f'). The premises will be used as a centre for outreach to the homeless and provide counselling/advice services. It will be awesome.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4yhzgw8Y9pwlvGxLAZvV3hlQK_7jcYIxxFwj1xllKT70wiAKKSKQ3T0Dj_h7gWLgluO9xdVTlLOl79m3VeuWH5zvUgu8-I4vkhUAPHWO_PxRQIwA6Up-Kgv_OvaIlx_JyK7BrkamzDiI/s1600/malt+cross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4yhzgw8Y9pwlvGxLAZvV3hlQK_7jcYIxxFwj1xllKT70wiAKKSKQ3T0Dj_h7gWLgluO9xdVTlLOl79m3VeuWH5zvUgu8-I4vkhUAPHWO_PxRQIwA6Up-Kgv_OvaIlx_JyK7BrkamzDiI/s200/malt+cross.jpg" width="161" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Now, I can hear EVERY person reading this with any amount of business experience at all synchronously snort in derision. But there's proof it can work! A few weeks ago I met up with the project manager of a city centre bar called the Malt Cross in Nottingham. I won't say too much more about this amazing place, but please check out the website. <a href="http://www.maltcross.com/">http://www.maltcross.com/</a> This is my inspiration. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Brilliant. Now there's just the little problem of money...</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729280492429560445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339827265653030819.post-86639144235538093132011-12-07T08:17:00.000-08:002011-12-07T08:17:58.286-08:00Church or Monastery?<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">There are two distinct parts to this church/bar vision, one is (wait for it) the church, and the other is (bet you can't guess) the bar. I'm researching the two separately in the hope that at some point in the future they'll come together.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Okay, let's deal with the 'church' side of things first. In the summer I spent a few days at the Northumbria Community and was really inspired by their monastic approach to Christian community. They have a 'mother house' (the centre up north called Nether Springs), but also a nation-wide network of smaller, dispersed communities that are linked to one another by a common rule of life and core values. Individual members of these mini communities are expected to visit the mother house at least once a year (a pilgrimage, if you will), but other than that they meet independently. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_j9GgkuErnKVav3uY7w1HParBiScqXeUXAW402-5_9ccr-5nnmPewuGyM479iiXro3HZr3L0mO8Fsd4QvY0-h2MPJe0UF6u3u6ZhMhmkhBnguu4gcS0A_aDhzKzPNkfqeqxnxOtriOSvD/s1600/monk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_j9GgkuErnKVav3uY7w1HParBiScqXeUXAW402-5_9ccr-5nnmPewuGyM479iiXro3HZr3L0mO8Fsd4QvY0-h2MPJe0UF6u3u6ZhMhmkhBnguu4gcS0A_aDhzKzPNkfqeqxnxOtriOSvD/s200/monk.jpg" width="138" /></a>Now I happen to be pretty much obsessed with all things Celtic AND all things monastic, so seeing this model in action started the rusty cogs in my brain tortuously turning. What if this model would work in a bar church setting? What if the bar acted as the centre (...or, to use proper old-school terminology, the 'abbey') in which a community gathered and went out from to perform mission and ministry, setting up mini-communities all over the place???</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I started to get excited.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Not long after putting this idea down on paper, I had a meeting with a guy called Ray Ashley (Not Rick Astley, as I was tempted to call him), another forlorn dreamer who believes the pubs and churches are made for each other. Ray has been doing some amazing work with his pub church network (<a href="http://www.pubchurch.co.uk/">http://www.pubchurch.co.uk/</a>) and when we met, it didn't take long to discover that we have a very similar vision. In fact, when I shared with him my 'bar monastery' vision, we realised that we have almost exactly the same vision.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmuDcFpeWdr3ES8o4nBFdwIK9rlmO__YwYnzqGbasVYM_hs-aRb4k8D0oBLZQhaGi6VYr-ro-AYt8J807GlA8734M8dqZd24WLbssfJDRqsbaBb2_5Zmlpt9ZUp74Za7waTLhEaqdF5YRk/s1600/pubchurch.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmuDcFpeWdr3ES8o4nBFdwIK9rlmO__YwYnzqGbasVYM_hs-aRb4k8D0oBLZQhaGi6VYr-ro-AYt8J807GlA8734M8dqZd24WLbssfJDRqsbaBb2_5Zmlpt9ZUp74Za7waTLhEaqdF5YRk/s1600/pubchurch.bmp" /></a> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I started to get very excited.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Ray and I have decided to get to know each other over the coming months and to go on some retreats together in order to test our respective visions' compatibility and to see if there's scope for us working together, but the initial signs are looking positive.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>We're both starting to get very excited. :)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729280492429560445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339827265653030819.post-62010950684033906762011-12-06T02:44:00.000-08:002011-12-06T02:44:51.216-08:00The road goes ever on and on...This blog is dedicated to one thing - documenting the highs and lows, fun and frolics of trying to plant a church community that meets in cafe/bar/pub that is owned...by me. Or us. Possibly.<br />
<br />
There are two obvious issues with this grand vision. Issue the first - I have no people. Issue the second - I have no bar. However, sometimes you gotta jump off the proverbial cliff to discover whether or not there is an invisible bridge underneath you, so in the words of Richard Branson, "screw it, let's do it."<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhlxU1oOyDTG7-hibeiLvHkBB-GAD9P44qN7q-kOravI89nqzMUgSZxrO0J79gafZgE7yO2Z9VvSNdV2lghInAVG_okigXr1AKchDzOo3ToW8a1bAiyHJo7hOnbF9HoBcF6rKdKUK7HapX/s1600/Solace+pics+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhlxU1oOyDTG7-hibeiLvHkBB-GAD9P44qN7q-kOravI89nqzMUgSZxrO0J79gafZgE7yO2Z9VvSNdV2lghInAVG_okigXr1AKchDzOo3ToW8a1bAiyHJo7hOnbF9HoBcF6rKdKUK7HapX/s320/Solace+pics+010.jpg" width="320" /></a>At this stage it might be worth giving something of my credentials. I am a Baptist Minister in Cardiff and until August this year, I was the leader of an emerging church that met in various bars/pubs in the city centre. After four and a half years this wonderful roller coaster of a ride has sadly come to an end, but onwards and upwards! I believe that God might be leading me into this next adventure and I aim to push every door until they are all firmly shut in my face. </div><br />
If anybody sees fit to pay this little record of randomness any attention, I would be VERY grateful for any comments, queries, suggestions, ideas or financial contributions you deem led to bless me with! Well...if you don't ask you don't get (and usually it helps if you use spiritual jargon).Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09729280492429560445noreply@blogger.com1