funky doo

labyrinth and worship wonderings

Mark Berry (way out west) has a really useful blog with all sorts of reflections and resources and thinking about worship in all it's forms as well as stuff about his pioneer role in Telford. Click on 'worship/prayer' in his cloud to get the full selection.

In the midst of toddler vomiting episodes, car servicing appointments and guests departing from a weekend of birthday celebrations, I have been starting to pin down the thinking and piecemeal preparation I had already done for the Labyrinth in St Alban's on Friday night.

The link above to Mark's blog is to his section of worship and prayer resources and a particular piece that has helped my thinking is titled 'Bored with Worship'. As we start to put together the elements for this Labyrinth and the stations to fit around the theme of 'Darkness into Light' - we're really concious of this being an indigenous and organic process for the people who come and share in it with us. We provide some prompts, some words, some ideas, and leave them to connect them in their own way. We want to enhance the journey, provide a stake in the ground as a point to say 'what am I doing here and what is God doing?', but worship, youth work and faith has to be non-directive...so we go with the flow! Hard for me who likes to have a plan!

It's going to be a different event altogether from the SolidReMix event in January in Chelmsford Cathedral. For a start, we have a much bigger and seperate space, but that means we need to fill it appropriately!!

Here are some pics of the January event:

Holy Space - rest in the centre, BE and take some bread for the journey.

The prayer/reflection wall on the way out - leave an encouraging word for those who follow you or thank God for something he has shown you. Pretty full as you can see!

Seeing yourself as God sees you - created in love and fearfully and wonderfully made. Self portraits...
 
 Some of these elements will be appearing at the St Alban's event, but there will be some new things too, some stolen and others totally original (!) - so we'll post photos next weekend when we've caught up on some sleep!
 

we have a saying in our house - God owns all the donuts!

GOD OWNS ALL THE DONUTS…

A man walks into the airport departure lounge, buys a bag of 5 small donuts and a coffee and looks for a seat. All the tables are taken, except one with one man seated at it. So the chap goes over, smiles, puts down his coffee, puts his bags down, wraps his coat around the chair, takes a sip of coffee, opens the bag of donuts and takes one. The man opposite stretches out his hand, takes a donut from the bag, smiles and puts the bag down.

The first man cannot believe what has happened - the man has openly stolen a donut. What is the world coming to? But he says nothing (the stranger might be violent), just looks at him coldly, opens the bag, takes a donut, closes the bag and moves it towards the edge of the table.

The stranger then reaches over, takes a second donut, smiles, and puts down the  bag.

The man is speechless, totally astonished. There is something wrong with this guy - the lights are on,  but clearly no-one is at home.  Then the stranger stands up to go, takes the last donut, breaks it in half, puts half back, smiles again and heads for the Gate. Well, thinks the man, I’m not touching that. It’s probably infected. He finishes his own coffee, puts on his coat, bends down for his bags, and finds his bag of donuts. He has been complaining that the other man was stealing, when actually he was sharing.

Listen; God owns all the donuts.

You think you have stuff – but it’s not yours at all, NEVER WAS.

Just remember that…and share it and REMEMBER to give it back…OK?

I...

I am: unique, special and different, & better that way!
I think: all the time, sometimes to great effect!
I know: that I have a lot of love in my life
I have: many mounds of dust under my bed
I wish: that things weren't so complicated with other people
I hate: being disappointed
I miss: my friends across the pond
I fear: being alone
I hear: Seth Lakeman
I smell: dread
I crave:  gingerbread, thankfully I have some downstairs!
I search: for the bottom of my intray on a daily basis
I wonder: what this evening brings...?
I regret: not doing my JNC earlier....
I love: my husband and my daughter, this much....
I ache: through my coccyx, a remnant from a speedy childbirth!
I am not: that keen on competitive sport.
I believe: that God has a plan and a purpose for each one of us...
I dance: too much like my dad
I sing: like I cry - really well but not often enough
I cry: rarely
I fight: things that seem unfair and for my voice to be heard
I win: usually but with a bittersweet taste
I lose: but I'm not really bothered
I never: mind having a night off
I always: have a cuppa tea as soon as I can coordinate my limbs in the morning
I confuse: myself a lot and others a bit less (I hope!)
I listen: mainly to Radio 5 or 2
I can usually be found: in the car, with my family or with churches, my own or others!
I am scared: of not being in control and losing my grip on reality. I am scared of dying (the process) but not the end destination.
I need: to be more patient and gracious and love people more.
I am happy about: seeing my parents and my sister and my grandparents this week
I imagine: that you're thinking about your own answers...go for it!!

younger teens ministry

Came across this article today on early teenage ministry - found it inspiring. Although written a while ago, the issues remain. Whilst Youth Specialties in the US seem to engage with this age group at a deep and wide level, much of our youth work conferencing and training covers the whole spectrum of youth - 11-18 and beyond. On 11th October, our Diocese are hosting a training day for workers, parents, teachers and carers on 'Working with Tweenagers' , those in the 9-13 age group. We have Ian MacDonald from Oxford Diocese coming to lead us through this subject, as he's just written a Grove Booklet of the same title. Should be a really great day with lots of ideas, insights and opportunities for networking.

Book online for the course at www.chelmsford.anglican.org/training

Still looking for leaders for our camp in Tollesbury this July - more details about Falcon Camp here or contact me direct about specific details of what we'll be doing and what sort of skills we need! Just this age group too, so if you have a passion for tweenagers or want to get some practice - we need you!! asmith@chelmsford.anglican.org

shhh - it's my birthday (a big one!) next week, so I am away this weekend with my family to celebrate and chill out together. Consequently, it's a manic week in order to have those 4 clear days! I might be a bit quiet from now til next Wednesday!!