way out west

Book Launch: Ancient Faith Future Mission: New Monasticism as Fresh Expressions of Church

The combination of Fresh Expressions of Church and the explosion of interest in monastic spirituality is resulting in the emergence of new monastic communities inspired by historic patterns of religious life, but reframed for the contemporary world.  In this book, leaders of traditional religious communities and emerging 'new monastic' communities tell their stories and reflect on how an ancient expression of being church is inspiring and shaping a very new one.

Thursday 3rd Feb.  18:00 - 21:00 

Location: Church House, 90 Deansgate, Manchester.

Free Tickets: http://newmonasticism1.eventbrite.com/

Panel for the Manchester Book Launch

(Chair) Ben Edson, Diocesan Fresh Expressions Missioner & Associate Missioner of the National Fresh Expressions Team

Ray Simpson, Aidan and Hilda Community Lindisfarne

Philip Roderick, Spirituality Advisor to the Bishop of Sheffield and Leader for Contemplative Fire Community

Mark Berry, Safe Space Community Telford

Ian Mobsby, Moot Community London

 

preparing to walk on...

A good road will be there, and it will be named "God's Sacred Highway." It will be for God's people; no one unfit to worship God will walk on that road. And no fools can travel on that highway. Isaiah 35:8

We received this passage from our dear friend and sister Jackie (from the Isle of Wight) along with an encouragement to have confidence in the God who walks with us on the road. We are currently taking a season to reflect on the way forward for safespace, for individuals and for the community. I guess one can see it as a calling back together to set off once more on a new stage of the journey. The calling together is also a calling to move deeper into the shape which God has made for us - which others have seen in us (though we maybe find it hard and uncomfortable to see/believe) and which we are being challenged to grow/live into! (as a parent buy's over-sized clothes for a child knowing that the child will grow to fit the clothes in good time) We had a fantastic "Table" this evening exploring this and we ask you to pray for us as we continue to reflect and pray individually and together and as we seek to grasp something of the shape God is preparing for us.

(for more info see the post/letter below)

Christianity, Church, Community, Emerging Church, Fresh Expressions, Missional, new-monasticism, Pilgrimage, Prayer, Rhythm, safespace, Spirituality, St Brendan, Telford

Sank•tuary 2 anniv report

Sank•tuary report

Christianity, Community, Culture, Mission, Missional, safespace, Telford, sanktuary

Journalistic Hyperbole?

The religious affairs correspondent for The Times Ruth Gledhill told the BBC that this (5 Anglican Bishops leaving the CofE to join the Roman Catholic Church over Women Bishops) announcement could prompt “hundreds, possibly thousands” of lay ministers (and consequently other members of their congregations) to follow the bishops’ example. If this were to happen, this could well be an important turning point in British Christian history.

from The Urban Times

Can't see it myself, there was a lot of fuss when Women were first allowed to take up their calling to ordination and there was no great "reformation" - sure some will feel more comfortable for a time under Rome, but I personally don't think this issue is going to bring about the cataclysmic change in the Religious landscape (there are other things far more likely to do that!)

Christianity, Church of England, Ordination, Rhythm

Roy Clements on his journey with scripture and sexuality

In actual fact, the modern social phenomenon of two gay men or women forming a lifelong commitment as an alternative to heterosexual marriage was probably unknown to the biblical authors. If they were aware of such relationships, they ignored them. Their comments relate solely to the kind of exploitative and commercialised sexual activity that was characteristic of pagan culture. Thus, it is perfectly possible to argue that the Bible is silent about the kind of homosexual relationships which are becoming widely accepted in Western society today; just as it is silent about many other controversial aspects of sexual behaviour like masturbation and contraception. Many gay Christian couples, however, do find a relevant biblical model for the kind of same-sex devotion they seek to express in the covenant love which is described between between David and Jonathan.

You have every right to hold that homosexuality is morally wrong if that is your considered opinion. However, I believe that the intuitive interpretive clarity you experience where the Bible is concerned has been conditioned by the church culture which taught Christianity to you. A couple of hundred years ago you would have been telling me with equal earnestness that you felt the Bible clearly approved slavery. Had you lived in Germany in the 1930's you might well have quoted the Bible is support of anti-semitism. The fact is, we Christians learn together what the Bible is clear about. And on many ethical issues we have changed our collective mind as the years have gone by. It seems to me that we are in process of changing our mind on homosexuality too. Of course, history may prove me wrong about that. Roy Clements

From courage.org.uk I found this because I found myself thinking about the words of the Archbishop of Canterbury this Saturday (He was speaking at an event which was part of his visit to the Lichfield Diocese).

Christianity, Church, theology

Taking another step together?

A letter to existing and future (?) safespace members....

Dear all,

As you are probably aware Safespace is five years old this Autumn, we have seen many things happen over the years both in terms of growing community and our mission/calling to the town of Telford. There have been many things to be proud of and many lessons learned. We have stepped out into parts of the community where no-one has gone before and I can personally testify to meeting God in new ways through each of you and through the people we have spent time with in the Mind*Body*Spirit fairs, the Football Club, the Young Families and the Nightclub community.

Over the last few months I have had a sense of a new moment arriving for Safespace. This has taken several forms and voices, some positive some from struggles. I’d like to begin though by going back to the beginning. No long after coming to Telford, Jem and I undertook a pilgrimage to Ireland, first to the site of St. Brendan’s vision and departure on the Dingle peninsula and secondly to Nendrum Abbey near Belfast. On that trip we began to hear a number of words from God about the future.

1. That we were to embark on a journey to an unknown destination trusting in God
2. That we were to take big risks with God
3. That we were to struggle to be a community that is exposed and visible
4. That we were to reflect the Monastic call to 24/7 Spiritual and Missional living
5. That we should be open in hospitality to all
6. That we were to find ourselves having a global impact in ways we could not yet see

I believe we have been true to these and that God has been true to them too.

For about a year I have felt a growing sense that a change is coming and others have said similar. Partly because the community has begun to feel pulled apart - with some feeling a deepening need for community and others feeling/being disconnected, both have been for good reasons and natural. Partly because our mission focus has been perhaps overly on Sank•tuary (again for good reasons) to the detriment of other things especially the 24/7 everyday missional living we emphasize. But most of all because we have lost a sense of our community rhythm and relationship, we have in some ways lost our spark. As the “Guardian” I have felt a need to call us to consider this. For my part I felt I had two options; 1, to draw a line under Safespace and bring it to a healthy end or 2, to return to the values and move into a new phase.

Over the summer I had several conversations/situations which have begun to force me to think hard about who we are and what I feel is the challenge ahead. I participated in a gathering in the early summer at CMS, the intention was to draw people from various traditions together to explore the future of Monasticism in the UK. I found myself in conversation with the Bishop of Repton (head of the group in the Anglican Church which looks after Monastic communities), Abbot Samuel (Fransiscan - Hillfield) and Abbot Stuart (Benedictine - Mucknell), feeling somewhat out of place! However it became clear that those of us exploring New-Monasticism were not only respected but needed by the more traditional communities and structures. It was felt that we needed to work at developing relationships where the “new “can lead the “old” in the post-church/modern world and the “old” can lead the “new” in living the spirit and values of community. On several occasions I have been told that Safespace has and continues to be very important for this conversation.

Sitting in the Abbey at Nendrum Keith from Belfast prophesied that we would have a Global impact. At the time I had no idea what that would mean but conversations over the last 3 months have shown that despite our lack of size we do already have a Global impact - both in print and in person. We are included in several books pending release and as Ryan discovered considered “leading lights” in the monastic movement! Bishop Michael Perham, one of the Authors of the above books and who visited us at The Table, told me that Safespace was (pretty much) unique in a British context as a Fresh Expression/Emerging community in our distinct and clear calling to a location, to our town and that we were significant for the future of the Church here in the UK. You can imagine how strange this all felt! And as you know we have had conversations with and visits from folk from all over the world who perhaps see us in ways that we cannot!

This all leads me to the question of what next? I do not feel it is right to bring Safespace to an end at this time because I still have a sense that God has a purpose for us, however I believe that the time is right for some major changes and refocussing. I am proposing that we take the remaining two months of 2010 to reflect individually about the future. To refocus ourselves on the values we set out at the beginning :-

• to actively take great risks with God (setting sail with God in our own faith, letting go of our comfort theologies and structures
• to nurture a missional dna (the 'missio dei' not the mission of church – joining with God on Gods mission in Gods world
• to model ourselves as a monastic core
• living out in the community (reflecting on the narrative of scripture, living by a spiritual rhythm and rule, living sharing life with others)
• to be visible and exposed (incarnate with Christ in culture, in heartfelt love for people and community)
• to be creative and dynamic (creating with Christ, in worship, theology, missiology and community)
• to think and act global & local (recognising both our insignificance and our significance - the majesty and the intimacy of God)
• to be servants of shalom (kingdom of God – recreating with Christ, being a community of peace and hospitality : challenging oppression and injustice)

And our DNA of community, pilgrimage and mission.

I believe that there is a strong calling to more fully pursue a form of new-monasticism - to be Friars for Telford, Friars don’t live a cloistered life but live simplicity (poverty), faithfulness (chastity), community (obedience) and commitment (stability) in service to a community. This will a new sense of commitment and community which moves beyond The Table, it will mean taking shared responsibility for developing a rhythm of life and of soul-friendship, being accountable to each other beyond meeting once a week. In fact it may mean we put less emphasis on attendance at The Table as we work together to build structures for support and spirituality. But it will mean a far stronger sense of commitment and a deeper need for honest struggle, openness and tolerance and to prayer and mission for Telford. I am aware that not everyone who is currently part of Safespace will feel able to take up this challenge and indeed some who cannot at this time come to The Table may feel they need to be part of this move forward. Both are ok as I see it. I am convinced this is not about re-organisation but about stepping into the clothes that God has laid out for us, which it seems others can see but perhaps we have not been able to!

NB. The Table will continue being open over the next two months. I am happy that we talk about this in as many ways as people need/want but that everyone takes the whole time to reflect and pray about the future. In the New Year I propose that those who feel called to commit come together to begin to formulate the rhythms etc. for the way ahead. I envisage that part of that will be an act of commitment. I also sense God has begun to forge relationships to help us which I believe we need to honour, specifically with certain traditional and new Monastic communities.

Shalom

Mark

Church of England, Community, Emerging Church, Fresh Expressions, Missional, new-monasticism, Rhythm, safespace, Spirituality, St Brendan, Telford, Ubuntu

St Francis Day

A Prayer for Gratitude from St. Francis of Assisi

Most High, all powerful, good Lord,
to you all praise, glory and honor and all blessing;
to you alone, Most High, they belong
and no one is worthy of naming you.

Praised by you, my Lord,
with all your creatures,
especially Milord Brother Sun,
who brings day, and by whom you enlighten us;
he is beautiful, he shines with great splendor,
of you, Most High, he is the symbol.

Praised be you, my Lord, for sister Moon and the Stars:
in the heavens you formed them,
clear, precious and beautiful.

Praised by you, my Lord, for Brother Wind
and for the air and for the clouds,
for the azure calm and for all climes
by which you give life to your creatures.

Praised by you, my Lord, for Sister Water,
who is very useful and humble,
precious and chaste.

Praised by you, my Lord, for Brother Fire,
by whom you enlighten the night:
he is beautiful and joyous,
indomitable and strong.

Praised by you, my Lord,
for Sister our mother the earth
who nourishes us and bears us,
and produces all kinds of fruits,
with the speckled flowers and the herbs.

Interfaith Declarations and Worship Observance Resources; The North American Conference on Religion and Ecology; 5 Thomas Circle, NW, Washington, DC 20005

Christianity, Church, new-monasticism, Prayer, Rhythm, theology, Worship, St Francis

Finding new hope?

One of the prayers for today From the Mozarabic Sacramentary (tenth century) seemed apposite!

Father God, it is hard to hope each morning, to look forward to new treasures and mercies, discovered when we are alive to your presence in all that we encounter.
Open our minds to the endless possibilities of life and power and thought.
Help us to meet you in our everyday life, in our anxieties and difficulties, for you are there with us in our pain and sorrow.
Lift us from despair to new hope.
Restore and renew us each returning day, so that we may find joy in our journey with you. Amen

The Nativity of John the Baptist

Today is the feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist, the only celebration of the birth other than the birth of Christ himself... Significantly it is 6 months before Christmas Eve!  John is known as the "precursor" or "forerunner" of the coming Christ, he announces the coming of Christ and in some ways sets the tone of the ministry of Christ.  The Orthodox Church sees John as the last of the Old Testament Prophets, sealing the old order and heralding the new.  Saint Augustine of Hippo wrote...

The Church observes the birth of John as in some way sacred; and you will not find any other of the great men of old whose birth we celebrate officially. We celebrate John’s, as we celebrate Christ’s. This point cannot be passed over in silence, and if I may not perhaps be able to explain it in the way that such an important matter deserves, it is still worth thinking about it a little more deeply and fruitfully than usual.

John is born of an old woman who is barren; Christ is born of a young woman who is a virgin. That John will be born is not believed, and his father is struck dumb; that Christ will be born is believed, and he is conceived by faith.  John, it seems, has been inserted as a kind of boundary between the two Testaments, the Old and the New. That he is somehow or other a boundary is something that the Lord himself indicates when he says, The Law and the prophets were until John. So he represents the old and heralds the new. Because he represents the old, he is born of an elderly couple; because he represents the new, he is revealed as a prophet in his mother’s womb. You will remember that, before he was born, at Mary’s arrival he leapt in his mother’s womb. Already he had been marked out there, designated before he was born; it was already shown whose forerunner he would be, even before he saw him. These are divine matters, and exceed the measure of human frailty.

-

Almighty God, by whose providence your servant John the Baptist was wonderfully born, and sent to prepare the way of your Son our Savior by preaching repentance: Make us so to follow his teaching and holy life, that we may truly repent according to his preaching; and, following his example, constantly speak the truth, boldly rebuke vice, and patiently suffer for the truth's sake; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

Technorati Tags: China: Church: Spirituality: theology: Worship

More on the Liturgy after the Liturgy

"the liturgy within the Liturgy", is essential for the Church, but it has to be understood in all its dimensions. There is a double movement in the Liturgy: on the one hand, the assembling of the people of God to perform the memorial of the death and resurrection of our Lord "until He comes again". It also manifests and realizes the process by which "the cosmos is becoming ecclesia". Therefore the preparation for Liturgy takes place not only at the personal spiritual level, but also at the level of human historical and natural realities. In preparing for Liturgy, the Christian starts a spiritual journey which affects everything in his life: family, properties, authority, position, and social relations. It re-orientates the direction of his entire human existence towards its sanctification by the Holy Spirit. On the other hand, renewed by the Holy Communion and the Holy Spirit, the members of the Church are sent to be authentic testimony to Jesus Christ in the world. The mission of the Church rests upon the radiating and transforming power of the Liturgy. It is a stimulus in sending out the people of God to the world to confess the Gospel and to be involved in man's liberation.

Ion Bria

Technorati Tags: Christianity: Church: Community: Mission: Missional: Spirituality: theology: Worship