Greenbelt Festival 2011 looks great

It took me just over 20 years to get to the Greenbelt Festival [now at Cheltenham Racecourse] when I made it in 2008. It was a bittersweet experience because it was everything I expected and more and so I've watched and read about it each year since and seen our exploration groups and wished I was joining them. For the trip to London? The visits to interesting communities engaging in contextual mission? Well, that's part of it.... but it's actually because it's a space and a community of people 'who get it' and whose creativity, experimentation, faithfulness, humanity and story are just so inspirational and challenging at the same time!!
The Festival and each of the groups we've visited in recent years are part of those 'thin places' where our awareness of God and our lives touch and where the artificial gap between the secular and the sacred is challenged and breaks.

My trip was full on for a number of reasons and 2008 was an eventful year besides...
It's August bank holiday weekend and a bunch of aussies from Victoria are there experiencing the wonder that is Greenbelt and you can check out the action here and here.

This is an aweful year [energy sapping, boring, de-energising, uncertain etc] counting down to the end of my current role and thoughts and memories of that 2008 trip and al the amazing things I saw and heard about still fuels my thinking and energy for mission, creative endeavour and 'shaping the future.'

Wonder whose playing mainstage in 2012?

I'm also aware that I'm writing these thoughts in a public forum... so trust me it's edited and restrained... but mostly [for me] blogging is one aspect of me processing thoughts and happenings and moving forward [some might call it venting, I think I'm more varied than that] anyhow... no need to respond because I really write for me and anyone finding this in anyway interesting. well that's a bonus... tomorrow is another day!! I will get my camera out tomorrow and express my own creative side and that'll be a nice break!!

Greenbelt.UK.US Trip GREENBELT #2

'Greenbelt Festival' is an amazing part of the UK Festival culture with 20,000 people of genuinely all ages bunkering down for the August Bank Holiday Weekend at Cheltenham Racecourse. The theme for 2008 was 'Rising Sun' and the feature Speakers included: Brian McLaren, Frank Shaeffer, Sarah Miles, Pete Rollins and Phillip Yancey!!

The weekend includes: bands, art, worship, workshops, food and 16 shower units for 20,000 people at was it 3 or 4 pounds a 15min timelsot. It was cheaper to share...

What did I learn [there are more than one or two aspects of my Greenbelt experience I'm still thinking about and won't have time to reflect on further until after our annual Synod meeting in a week and a half]:
A. I was reminded by Fuzz Kitto and several others of the great gift to the church that are Youth Workers [good ones anyhow]... bringing:
i. Contextual skills
ii. Relational skills
iii. Ability to adapt and change
iv. POMO perspectives on culture, arts and media
They will make excellent leaders in missional contextual faith communities. I'll pick this up later about places we visit and the 'fresh expressions' concept of 'pioneer ministers.'

B. "Mission shaped church" is as simple as it can be boiled down and I prefer to think about this cf 'the emerging church.' Faith communities engaged in their world and location, aiming for authentic relationships and striving to tackle life, questions, to call people and systems on the rubbish that goes on and intent on recognising and fostering God where they find God will shape a future.
The EDS advert about building the plane while its flying is a helpful metaphor for thinking about changing the existing church. I need to be on about helping the existing church make space for new things with permission, resources and encouragement.

C. The Friday night forum was almost enough input to keep me going for the weekend. This is where my thinking about my own 'faith community' connections began, leading me to have one of three choices to follow in terms of what I want to build on rather than always be helping others 'in theory land'. In terms of what I have been 'banging on about for years' it was empowering and affirming to hear the conversation from the various leaders about the communities they represented/are part of...

D. The mix of music at Greenbelt with plenty of so called 'secular' performers was an affirmation for things I've hassled about with NCYC and other 'events.' Michael Franti and Shlomo were my musical highlights but I was too tired to listen to Seth Lakeman properly and have done so since and enjoyed it.

E. I had more than one significant conversation about stuff I hold as important with friends old and new...
I am indebted to them for giving me their time and look forward to more chances to chat in future!!

F. The emerging church in the UK as we've encountered it is very much built around worship gatherings where some at home would be built around a specific mission...

G. We simply have to do 'new things' not just keep banging away at changing what exists

H. Enjoyed McLaren on the scripture being written by the conquerors and the danger of reading it in the modern context. "You will always have the poor" was a great example often taken out of context with Jesus quoting Deuternomy that goes on to say you must do something about it... not vice versa.

I. Didn't get to much alt.worship but did pick up some ideas from a variety of sources. I have written up some NCYC relevant ideas about portraits, couches, participation, signage etc

J. I will be ordering a few talks mp3s to go further on ideas that struck me...

More on 'fresh expressions' we visited later...

Greenbelt.UK.US Trip BACK TO THE START #1

Despite some posts from England it's time to go back over details, add pictures and videos and use this medium as a way to process the many and varied valuable experiences from our trip.

23 hours in transit is still just as tough 10 years on from my last London sojourn but an 'Exit Row' seat and entertainment on demand mean I have no reason to complain. Six films and two TV shows later we arrive and gather at Heathrow 'Starbucks' to process the sad news that Niall's mother in law has passed away. We organise ourselves and sort Niall for a return flight home at lunchtime. It's disappointing for all the obvious reasons but we feel a little sad at the missed experiences that await.

Cheltenham is a haze of stretching the legs, shopping, rest, sleep, briefing for the Tour and fine Italian dining and a terrific group meal. What on earth did happen to that butterscotch sauce?
I'm more than a little annoyed that work at home for the Report at Synod is still to be completed and this gets emailed before we head into Greenbelt Festival so here's hoping it all goes out in the mailing and the actual Presentation will be waiting to be sorted in the week or two after getting back home!! This last minute work here and at home beforehand have me a little weary and stressed as John and Nic could attest... later this will mean I'm tired and overwrought more than I should be.... but we pull it up just before it 'crashed and burns'!!

Is it just me or have all small English [maybe add tourist] towns been overrun by the global trend of consumerism and franchises... Greggs Bakery, Starbucks, Car Phone Warehouse, HMV, etc etc in all the small historic main street buildings. The point is I think the emerging mission paradigm out of the spirit of the current age is one that will be dominated by globalisation, accelerating the post Christian nature of our culture/s and context/s. Sounds like a flamin' essay to me...

As we headed into 'Greenbelt' I was mindful of it being an event I became aware of in the early 80s and might have attended in 2000, 2007 and finally here I was. The description 'Blackstump Festival' on steroids works at first sight but the genuine 'all age' feel is qucikly a striking difference. The UK Festival culture means people will adapt to camping with ease, we'll see mainstream acts on mainstage and they'll be OK with being here...

To be fair, after catching Brian McLaren sans PA and then an 'Emerging Church Forum' I probably have enough material, affirmation, challenges and ideas to last the weekend... seriously.

The simple descriptions of contextual missional communities of faith and the challenge to me to be involved in a new venture are loud and clear... I will still be working this through by the end of the trip!!

McLaren's intro sets out the premise and encouragement of his "Everything Must Change" book and focus on 'kingdom values' and our call to be change agents in that pursuit seems self evident but there are some really strong underpinnings you need to put it into action. It does seem it'd be more reacted to in the US where many here are 'on this page' and the vibe is a bit 'yep, and....' The book came along at a great time in helping me add some depth to stuff I was already working on around the theme of HOPE and so I'm impressed to be hearing more...

Michael Franti does a great mainstage set and we're underway!!

OK my next few posts will cover more ground... I'm just getting back into my journal!!

Greenbelt.UK.US Emerging Church Photos

I'm back from the trip to the UK and US exploring 'emerging' churches and Greenbelt Festival. It has been a week of recovering from jetlag, chest infection and interupted sleep BUT I'm getting there.

It's going to take me a while to wind through my journal and post some insights and photos so I thought I'd promote the Flickr links here so interested photofiles can check out the trip... I am yet to add my 1min videos!

Flickr photo sharing site:

Greenbelt/Fresh Expressions here
http://flickr.com/photos/youthunit/sets/72157607301935817/

There will be others on the Tour with photos on flickr, blogs etc and some may be added here for a full record of the Tour

Other Official and contributed Greenbelt Flickr pics here

New York here
http://flickr.com/photos/youthunit/sets/72157607308703272/
I visited some missional faith communities and initiatives

Tramsmission

Origins which has just this week changed it's name to Trinity Grace Church and expanded its network to four centres

Trinity Wall St 'Portraits of Our Neighbours' Life sized photos

WTC Tribute Center 'Ground Zero' and Walking Tour here
http://flickr.com/photos/youthunit/sets/72157607313474991/
I'd like to think, rather than gawking at this amazing site like a tourist and certainly with no idealised view of the USA and its world perspective, my storytelling interest [and previous visits to this site when the WTCs were standing] compelled me to come and experience the stories from families directly effected by 9/11 through the Tribute Centre Gallery and Walking Tour. Much more on this later...

Greenbelt Festival Part 01

Here I am in the GB08 internet cafe in 'The Tank' with 5 mins left on the net...

The Festival is all I hoped it would be and I have enjoyed the relaxed program with lots of options. I have seen Michael Franti and Spearhead and Jose Gonzales and look forward tonight to the beatboxer 'Shlomo'

The first evening there was a panel of people 'representing' different communities loosely described as part of the emerging church and in essence that was enough input for though I have continued into other workshops etc.

The group affirmed many of the things I hold to be central for the future of communities of faith identifying themselves as Christian and some sense of a way forward for a denomination in 'throwing off' what is unhelpful and creating permission ans space for new things:

Contextualising faith and living in the world

Consensus forms of decisionmaking

Worship that represents life and tradition plus transendence
Gathering around a set of values not a corporate plan
Being and gathering in the world
Accessing the best of the world of the creative arts
Blowing up the gap between secular and sacred
to name a few

I of course timed out at Greeneblt so here I am in Stratford Upon Avon, birthplace of the Bard,Shakespeare!
The group have set out to find the worst kitsche souvenir for 2 pounds or less... I can't bring myself to buy it but I did find a ceramic thimble with only a pic of his birth home on it or a modern lead pencil with a Yorrich Skull on the end...

Anyhow, it's Tuesday here now and although I am missing my three gorgeous girls!! It has been a brilliant experience to finally attend GB. I have a few ideas for Converge NCYC09 'surfing level' Bible Study I am leading with a great team...

Those ideas include:
An opportunity to add to an artwork/cross or mural
Self portrait drawing
An unfolding artwork on a white roller painted wall we construct in the space
A great lounge setting for any 'first person' readings or interviews
We could interview one or more of te key speakers about their ideas of the days topics
Screens in the four corners of our space rather than a previous idea I had about four in the centre in a square.... depends what we want to do

Anyhow, I have now since participated in a number of conversations with individuals at GB, have a few ideas about work and some inspiration for myself:
If you write it down I guess you have to act!!

Options: all seen as integrally part of my work
1. Increased participation in some aspect of the worship and mission of my home congegation at Adamstown's Dungeon
OR
2. A wider initiative helping another group form a 'faith comunity' e.g. either people our own age and stage in the city or around home or young adults and others in the city around say a monthly worship gathering and perhaps film club alongside
OR
3. Helping resource and support someone somewhere where this is or could happen because they have already begun or spoken up about wanting/needing to...

I had already also committed to 'Worship Unplugged Volume 2' and have an idea for a discipleship resource around 'Way to Live' as a theme.

I had a moment to speak to BRian McLaren and sounded him out about 'donating some shoes' and that I'd like to send him the song I've written inspired by his 'Everything Must Change' book.

This I will track via his website email...

OK, more later but it's been a terrific trip thus far in terms of engagement with good people doing inspired things... its challenging and there's so much more to come!!

Pictures will be uploaded when I get home and if you're at all keen to check out the 'Jesus Arms' Pub at Greenbelt you'll find the amazing 'Beer and Hymns' at www.beerandhymns.org I believe or google beerandhymns greenbelt

It was something else to watch 3500 proplr belting out among other Wesley classics "And Can It Be" Hymn number 347