2011 A Big Year for Movies

I have been catching up on some films this last week and thinking about how many I've watched in 2011:

Harry Potter Deathly Hallows Pt 2
Captain America
Transformers Dark of the Moon
Source Code
X Men First Class
Limitless
Bad Teacher
Bridesmaids
The Adjustment Bureau
Hall Pass
I Am Number Four
Thor
Cars 2
Green Lantern
Larry Crowne
Rio
The Hangover Part 2
The Mechanic
The Green Hornet
Kung Fu Panda 2
Gnome & Juliet
Hop

And I've missed a few... With more to come:

The Ship Song Project

This absolutely brilliant clip is doing the media rounds this week as a part of the Sydney Opera House determination to promote itself as a venue for all kinds of people... Various Aussie [or those we claim] artists contribute to this reworking of a Nick Cave classic!! It fits my descriptor for brilliant creativity... simple things done well!!

"The Ship Song"
Come sail your ships around me
And burn your bridges down
We make a little history, baby
Every time you come around

Come loose your dogs upon me
And let your hair hang down
You are a little mystery to me
Every time you come around

We talk about it all night long
We define our moral ground
But when I crawl into your arms
Everything comes tumbling down

Come sail your ships around me
And burn your bridges down
We make a little history, baby
Every time you come around

Your face has fallen sad now
For you know the time is nigh
When I must remove your wings
And you, you must try to fly

Come sail your ships around me
And burn your bridges down
We make a little history, baby
Every time you come around

Come loose your dogs upon me
And let your hair hang down
You are a little mystery to me
Every time you come around

For me it's a beautiful song with a sense of wanting what their relationship offers and appreciating intimacy. For me it's a worship song, celebrating creativity and connections.

Latest Creative Idea

OK two happenings have inspired my latest thinking about something I'd enjoy spending time on and would find refreshing. The first was a decision that this might be the time to invest in a new digital camera and the second complicates the choice as I have been so drawn to Louise Hawson's "52 Suburbs".
Originally the camera choice was a 'no brainer' with the Panasonic Lumix TZ20 a standout compact digital and it's 16x optical zoom still makes it an option up against:
SONY NEX 5
Nikon D3100
Panasonic 3/4 camera with interchangeable lenses
To name a few...
Which form a choice for uses from multiple quick family snaps, travel and yet specific projects which might benefit from some pixel and lens grunt. Of course if money were no object I'd buy the TZ20 and one other... All the time knowing any option will be firmly set on 'auto' and hence entry level DSLR is fine as well as affordable.

AND the current idea... Is not quite 52 Suburbs but a search for faith/spirit in the community. it probably meshes with my recent thinking about the question 'where is God?' and whether that photographic search could become an exhibition to raise funds for a worthy cause?
Maybe the upcoming UCA Synod meeting in late September could be a task oriented timeline for the first display as an associated event?

So, there you have it... leisure time spent seeking images from buildings, landscape, activity and people... asking whatever question emerges from my thinking so far... maybe a blog along the way...

What I like about this idea is it's lack of reliance on inspiring others to contribute (I've never been deluged with shoe donations for Meaningful Soles or contributions for We Believe, despite lots of invitations) but this one is me and a camera... hmm!!

Cadel and the Today Show

This morning on Aussie TV on the 9 TODAY Show they have been showing snippets of the footage from Paris where overnight Cadel Evans from Barwon Heads in Victoria (of 'Seachange' and tourist fame.... great bridge) won the Tour de France cycling event!!
Cut then to 'behind the news commentator' Mia Freedman who is underwhelmed by the standing ovation for Tina Arena's national anthem rendition on the Champs Eleysee.... Her point... being concerned that we laud such personal sporting achievements ahead of and at the expense of volunteers, doctors, firefighters and those 'changing the world' in other ways. I don't disagree with that observation but find it fascinating that a fashion magazine editor doesn't see the negativity of her own timing and opinion. She doesn't 'get' sport so she engages in the other great Aussie obsession of pulling one thing down to raise others, not the reverse....

Here's my TODAY Show email...
This'd be my second email ever to TODAY since the invention of the idea!!

Mia couldn't be more wrong!!!
It 's true that we don't always celebrate science and service in the same way as our elite sports people's achievements BUT she 's doing the other great Aussie thing of pulling one thing down to the level of others rather than elevating her point. Now is not the time to project your own lack of understanding of sport onto such a great achievement.

To call it 'being paid well' is petty... This from a fashion magazine editor who uses a 'shoe analogy' about things we do and don't relate to 'takes the prize'.

Today is not the day to do what we each can to celebrate firefighters, social workers etc... It's the day to recognize a great achievement of someone who works hard for their reward, who will inspire and who deserves success... As do so many other people.

Separate your comment from your own bias Mia!

Nobody need pretend they love this or understand... Perhaps do the fashion segment or a feature on cycling footwear instead!!

Then let us know what you're doing in your weekend column to foster recognition of medical experts, peacekeepers and inventors....

Well done Cadel!!

Our call should be to change the world... recreation is a vital part of that, as is drawing hope and energy from others, wherever you can get it... My high school assembly used to celebrate scientists, maths geeks and our fledgling soccer team and it's 0-7 defeats alongside our all conquering rugby league side so maybe I've learnt to agitate for both rather than drag the popular one down thinking I was doing the right thing!!

Cadel who? Part 2

Read my original post here


While I've had the week from 'that other place' with horrendous gall stone pain and an op to remove my gall bladder with a few fun moments in recovery, I have maintained my Tour de France viewing until not being up late last night!! but WOO HOO CADEL EVANS!!!
While Alberto Contador lies awake at night dreaming of reversing his vegetarian diet and Andy Schleck wonders why 'yellow' didn't deliver him the needed 'wings' Cadel Evans only needs to stay upright and uninjured on the 'final stage' into the 'Champs' tonight to claim victory in the Grand Tour!! my Aussie mates who are on a cycling have certainly pulled the right rein in taking their trip this year... Well done Hancapie... One more ride to enjoy!!

Run Out # 04 'Hospitality'

Orange cordial and salmon sandwiches or pizza and coke? It doesn't matter, but what does is the spirit of generosity and genuine hospitality offered whenever young people encounter the local community of faith in the form of the local church... whether in a mission setting or on the property. [For the record, pizza and soft drinks or homemade soup and damper, a 'fair dinkum' BBQ or bring a plate feast are far better than orange cordial].

Hospitality includes: sense of welcome; the love of God; inclusiveness; access to resources; keys to the crockery; and a shelf in the fridge. [1] of my tests for whether a congregation is 'on board' in mission and ministry with young people, is whether the paid Youth Worker or voluntary Leader/s have a set of keys to the spaces they need to use... hospitality extends to respect and trust.

A few years ago I visited a rural NSW town where the Uniting Church had a difficult recent history exacerbating the universal challenge of connecting with young people.

One adult Leader who was a good networker and Scout Leader drew a crowd which on one occasion included some local homeless youth. On this night the boisterous game of soccer led to some ball marks on the wall and at the time of my visit the Church Council were holding out on a paint job for some sort of certainty the hall would remain in good condition. I have no idea if the painting has gone ahead but I am sure there are few if any young people meeting in the aptly titled "Youth Hall" [or that's what it's named on the brass sign in the foyer].

I understand the apprehension but you need to move past it and risk the rough and tumble signs of use that come with people traffic and hospitality. Make your expectations clear, but don't hold people to ransom and betray what you really value!! Hospitality is one key marker of SPACE, PERMISSION and VALIDITY!!

9 Rugby Coverage Rubbish!!

The physical Manu Samoans defeated the Wallabies for the first time in Sydney on Sunday afternoon and showed that we still struggle for depth and have been exposed in the physical arm wrestle... traditionally the Wallabies put on a rusty first hitout each season but this was very bad.

To give you an idean when a game goes this way and you get behind in the arm wrestle and on the scoreboard it feels like you are running in mud and no matter what you do a mistake seems to put you back in the mire again... it's very hard to counter numbers in the tackle if the oppositions fitness holds up... well done Manu Samoa!!

That aside, I chose to experience the Channel Nine coverage as the new free to air network, despite access to Foxtel... that was a short experiment...

I had failed to previously notice Ken Sutcliffe's rugby pedigree and expertise [there is none] and given this George Gregan and Andrew Slack were always going to sound boring and uncomfortable... then to rub salt in, the match cut to the Fox commentary for the live action!!

Nine should have done whatever it took to get Gordon Bray back from ESPN, nevermind, too late now... Sutcliffe kept referrig to it as a 'friendly' where there's no such thing in rugby union. Perhaps the Wallaby forwards read the same press release because that's how they played. Very poor form in a World Cup trial... 3 or 4 players marked their cards yesterday afternoon, making it easier to get 40 into 32 or 28 for the tournament... lucky the Springboks are sending a B Team next week.

Lucky the Rugby World Cup in September/October is not in the northern hemisphere or those blokes would put me to sleep in the breaks!! Maybe they'll get better, I won't know!! If I'm going to listen to the Fox commentary I might as well take their pre-game and the press conference later as well!!

Winter Camp Final Day Wrap!!

Back from our Sydney trip we enjoyed the snow party, pizzas and party food, Dance Party and bonfire!! We also spoke about what was happening in the Uniting Church so we were celebrating THE LAST Youth Unit organised Camp [but also talking about possible futures for the event and the opportunity for people to envision and plan something unique with new resourcing]!!
Friday morning was all about clean up and pack up, with a final session reminding campersit would be a shame to only 'Act Up' at camp...

We began with communal singing, then

"This Too Shall Pass" OK Go clip
An introduction about being all we can be and 'stepping up' and learning about ourselves and who God calls us to be through the Harry Potter clip when Hagrid arrives with a birthday cake... "You're a wizard, Harry!"

WE collected 'next step footprints' and 'prayer cards' from the sticky wall and prayed for all of us as a community...
We were reminded of Jesus call to follow and the different responses people made, that 'tools' like prayer, a mentor, reading and telling people and re-membering you're experiences...
Like Harry Potter with Dumbledore, "it's not our abilities who make us who we are, it's our choices"

Campers were invited to reflect [to the sounds of "Ocean" JBT] and then into a circle to share their perspectives and experiences and that's always a great time to hear back what you've hoped people might have experienced, learnt or how they've captured even more...

We sent people out with a slightly ungainly group hug complete with 'grind'... thanks Bradon!!

More sweeping, mops and cleaning and we celebrated with a cold drink and several hours driving!!

I took one more photo of 'Dave's Auditorium' and wished he'd been there in more than spirit!! I think we've honoured Dave's hopes for the site [now having been on sold to Caolan] and we've engaged well with the goal of introducing some young people to authentic discipleship and the world lived according to the values of God in this time and place!! Though we haven't always got it right, we have mentored and valued leaders and tried to bridge all the challenges of that across a state!!

"Janice I'm Falling... Janice help me!!"

Friends at Winter Camp shared this pearler with us and while funniest home videos and 'in' jokes are always an acquired taste this is a very funny clip!! "Janice, I'm falling!"

Winter Camp Day Four was a Big Day

With the Open Mic and Trivia Quiz Night behind us we spent a long day getting to and fro Sydney by bus to engage in some first hand mission and justice action. Groups visited: Wayside Chapel for a Tour and to help out and meet participants; Paddington Uniting Church Soup Kitchen to meet recipients; World Vision to participate in their 'story' spaces with various young peoples lives ipod guided; and finally a guided urban walk compared to Westfield Centrepoint and finishing with the '52 Suburbs' photos at Museum of Sydney. We made it back by 6pm-ish for a 7pm party dinner to mark the 'last' Youth Unit Camp and to talk about the new future for such events!! It was snow themed party dinner and dance party or bonfire chat!! Campers were and had been great, the day worked brilliantly and gave experience of what it might take to 'Act Up' and how they have it pretty good and there's a world out there which needs them!!

Winter Camp Day Three

So last night we survived: a brilliant roast dinner; the campfire and/or movie "How to Train Your Dragon"!! This morning it's cold and overcast but hasn't prevented archery and vertical challenge after our whole group gathering this morning.
We reflected on blessings, excuses and motivation for Acting Up' where after the band led communal singing we were invited to list at least nine ways we felt blessed and compared this to the Matthew 5 Beatitudes and us...
The clip 'Kiwi' encouraged us to have a go... And Bradon spoke about letting go of excuses and the story of the rich young person and anther we can give up our stuff to be a blessing to others. Can we be not just 'not bad' but be good, can we be surprising rather than just 'not disappointing'... We listed excuses as we listened/watched 'What I've Done' by Linkin Park and these excuses were noted and then burnt in the drum fire to wipe the slate clean and start over...
'Lost Generation' started our thinking about who we might be and the young blokes final answer to the question What's your greatest fear? Was left to inspire us beyond this wee, beyond tomorrow's excursion to Sydney and into next week and our everyday lives...

We finished with the brilliantly inspiring clip 'Pray for You' as we headed off to morning tea... Interestingly we were reminded that when the rich young person asked 'how do I enter into heaven?' Jesus redirected his answers to offer, how you enter into life and how you can act towards being all you can be... Clever bloke!! And also inviting what our focus and priorities should be...

Clips to follow soon...

Winter Camp Day Two Whole Group Gathering

As Curator of Day Two here's the outline of what we did!!

1. Communal Singing

Counter cultural but still an expression of who we are as a community and what we might be called to stand for

2. Worship Words was a brief seven voice intro

ONE: Listen everyone as we are invited to be aware that God is with us

We are asked to take the time to listen, to reflect, to see and hear

TWO: This will be a time of hearing stories and asking how they impact us

This is not a concert, it's not a play or a party, this is us giving God time

THREE: Don't be afraid of silence,

don't be worried about what everyone else is doing

FOUR: God asks us to 'do justice', to 'love God'

and to walk with humility, getting to know God

FIVE: What footsteps will you take from here?

How will this time change your outlook?

SIX: It's OK to wrestle with God,

To not be sure, to wonder what it's all about

SEVEN: Act up and make the world a better place

'May it be so'

3. PRAYER Activity

We were invited to 'something' on a card to communicate with God

and to think and write while we listened to/watched

"Every Teardrop is a Waterfall" Coldplay

4. 50 PEOPLE ONE QUESTION edited clip

"What's one regret you have?"

Brilliant video series

Then Group discussion in 2/3s around what you hope you don't later regret and a hope you have...

5. VEGEMITE ADVERT "Darwin Ice Hockey Club"

6. BIBLE STORY

Chris and Brad present Bible story/s and unpack the choosing of Saul

7. SIX STORIES

Six people: with 'stations including descriptions, photos and props

Anh Do, Jonty Bush, Kylie Sambo, David Pocock, Tjandamarra O'Shane, Jelly Ellie

With simple questions to discuss at the 'station' of your choice....

8. “YOUNG PEOPLE” Input on young people and the theme, acknowledging 'stories in the group, not just on the walls, plus issuing call to 'follow' Jesus and what that might look like as a hope, act up, story...

At some point introducing a clip from “Good Will Hunting”

With title slide, language advisory and then CLIP

9. ‘FOOTPRINTS’ Introduced at end of talk is an opportunity to reflect on and write down questions/next steps on paper footprints and stick them on the wall amongst the prayers

PLAY “Revolutionary Road” JBT while people think and write..

10. SENT TO NEXT THING WITH SMALL GROUPS/ACTIVITY MIX EXPLAINED

Clips to be uploaded when I have bandwidth!!

Winter Camp Half of Day One and start of Day Two

"Acting Up" is our camp theme this year as we borrow the good ideas from the Harris brothers and their book "Do Hard Things"!! It's about the alledgedly and usually low expectations of young people and the challenge to rise above this relatively new concept of being a teenager. We've borrowed from Andrew Root in talking about the early 1900s description of young people as being in a constant state of 'storming' and 'stress' or in summary CRAZY... we've challenged that and asked... what steps will you take to 'act up'? It was 8 degrees most of ysterday, dropping to 4 late at night with a wind chill of maybe 4 or 5 degrees less...

Last night saw Nintendo Wii, cards, get to know you mixing and catching up with friends. This morning we were together as a whole group ahead of the mix of small groups and adventure activities in turn which will also happen after lunch. The activities today are mountain bikes and flying fox!!

WHOLE GROUP WORSHIP/INPUT outline to follow...

Running of the Bulls 2011

Is it a rich cultural icon or now a tourist money spinner spread out across several running/s?
Either way, as we've again tracked through the sporting and cultural calendar of the northern Spring and Summer at my place [recalling the 'where we were' moments from our now distantly memorable 1998 nine week trip] it's a classic that whatever you make of the running... there front and centre where the crowd crouch down so the bull can exit the enclosure and leap over them, is an aussie tourist who's joined the 'Fanatics'!! Note the yellow and green logo on the t-shirt!!

Busy Morning on ABC Radio

There were a number of great stories/topics on radio yesterday morning and one in particular that peaked my interest. I only caught the second half of a chat with Senator Bill Heffernan whose previous media exposure has given him an image as a slightly crazy conservative. He spoke about 'the food bowl challenge' we face in this country and globally, indigenous challenges around land use and particularly the issue of Chinese purchases of Australian farm land.
Our politics are very different but I appreciated his reflections on how 'sovereignty' used to be about land but is now about consumption. It's part of a bigger shift to being a society of consumers. It's hard for me to do the topics justice here but the bigger picture is the problem of the world's population being divided into nations to begin with BUT that's our reality and in that economic system it probably is a mistake to sell the means of production and not just the products. He commented about enquiries with delegations where he's asked the Chinese when they will make their currency fully subject to world markets and when Aussies can buy Chinese land? not a racist comment but an economic one.... Interesting from my background in Economics and I'm still thinking about it.... About concepts of land, wealth, jubilee and the wrestle between nations and faiths throughout history.
I began to think about how you'd approach these theological and biblical questions and speak about the issues... Still thinking...

Picadilly a hub of Activity

The offices of the Uniting Church in Australia NSW/ACT are usually a busy place and even moreso with the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption in the buildings fronting Castlereagh St and the open plan Georges Cafe on the ground floor. Recent mentions include Daily Grind on Level One supplying a large quantity of muffins to ICAC for the tea break in the inquiry into planning irregularities under the watch of former Planning Minister Tony Kelly and 'former' ALP numbers man Graham Richardson snacking at Georges with Defense Minister Stephen Smith (amidst talk of PM Gillards low poll numbers) But the truth is Richo is often there and our car park features regularly on the nightly news as the accused flee the building... As a player of spot to... Score a point for each celebrity you spot and SMS your mates to tell them... It's a rich thoroughfare... Recent sightings include: former Wallaby rugby player Simon Poidevin; Senator Mark Abib; SBS news reader Lee Lin Chin; and several high profile Solicitors.
Daily Grind do a fine range of muffins and a friendly coffee service so I hope they enjoy the 15mins of fame...

Leadership Training at Leigh Memorial UCA

About 20-30 punters will gather tomorrow for a brief leadership training time plus flection and fine food! I'm following up a Junior Lead Training from our Synod Kids Campout earlier in the year.... On this occasion, we'll 'break the ice' through pretending we're all aboard a Space Shuttle flight to the International Space Station when it malfunctions and we're stranded awaiting Russian rescue... In the meantime groups will brainstorm a list of (10) agreed items on a list of things they'd gather from the shuttle and luggage to aid their survival... it's actually about how leadership emerges, who listens, moderates or takes a lead... And the ensuing reflection and discussion...
We will then talk about leaders we can identify and what makes them a leader... Followed by a series of team building and team challenging activities... Hip slap, tarp rescue, trust walk and the like... If there was time we'd view 11 mins of film montage looking for different depictions of leadership in movies and we will round off with a list of ideas for beginning 'leaders' to work on...
- get and give information, watching verbals and non, taking an interest
- seek to understand group needs and character
- look to discover and use the resources of the group
- 'controlling the group' pace set, observe, instruct, counsel, inspect, react
- set the example.... Not perfection, but authenticity, integrity, seeking to earn respect
- represent, be accurate in understanding group needs, beliefs, questions
- plan, seeking better quality decision making and living out your values
- evaluate, the often missed step in learning and growing as a leader and as groups
- share leadership, balance the task and group life through the inevitable and necessary advantage of collaboration
- be a manager of learning, not a manager of teaching... Meaning making is shared and rich....

We'll round off with a reflection on the invitation to be transformed by joining the community of god's people seeking to join God's mission in the world.... Through the 'get in the car' scene from the first 'Transformers' movie and a fractured version of the story of Zachaeus where it ends with Zack not taking up the challenge.... And seeing if anyone notices....

Cadel Who?

With apologies to my friends who will soon be winging their way to France to follow the latter stages of the Tour de France cycling, what the heck is the deal with Alberto Contador still being able to race? The answer is, the sport is rife with drugs, blood transfusions, and growth hormones as yet undetected by testing BUT at least with Contador there was a positive test for glenbuterol! The Spanish cycling 'authorities' were OK with the contaminated meat defense, but not The International body or WADA... fair enough, so off we go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport who won't be making a call until August... After the Tour... right... Anyhow, Alberto seems to be embracing his new vegetarian lifestyle... Hope they're not GM lettuces in the caesar salad!!
Cycling is a fun activity and a tough sport but it's up there with Olympic sprint races for suspicion of people gaining a competitive advantage through science... Bring back the clean days of Lance Armstrong I say!!!

Kudos to Apple

I had a major disaster today with my iPad with which I am normally very careful!! I picked up a paper, book and the iPad from the car seat [i don't think I even knew I had the iPad... it slipped in my fingers, detached from the 'smart cover' and fell onto the concrete face down... the whole screen was cracked, smashed and shattered AND Apple replaced it as a courtesy for free [I do have Apple care that would normally make it a $450 purchase!!] so now it's 'restored' and running.
Just this week I ordered a shell that works with the smart cover [though it would not have prevented this] and just yesterday was talking with Lindsay who had a similar experience just a few weeks ago!!
THANKS APPLE...

"Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon" Review

Peter Travers from 'Rolling Stone" magazine gives a 'nice subtle' review of the film here
I am trying to figure out whether I agree but I certainly think some of the actors potential to bring the human story to life were steamrolled, literally in some cases, by the attempt at a 3D fest.... Disappointing at best!! 150 plus minutes at worst... Damn you Speilberg... Steven started the trend of movies over the 98-107 minute tolerable length... To which some recent films had returned.... !!!!!!!!

U2 at Glastonbury

Interesting times at the postponed headlining gig for U2 at Glastonbury Festival! A protest group were subdued [maybe heavy handedly] by Security after inflating a 6m balloon protesting U2's offshore tax arrangements in the face of their stance on campaigning against poverty and in light of the economic situation in Ireland. Read the story here

I love U2's music and the mystique around their fame, their stories and the pop culture phenomenon the band have become... having liked the sound of Larry Mullen's drums from the first time I ever heard them in the 1980's. I find their music, themes, ways of portraying life and it's multi-faceted nature quite stunning and meaningful. At the same time I have always understood how much they are just like the rest of us... fallible, especially when it come to image and all the hype [the sunnies, private jet, summer homes in southern France etc etc!! Isn't the tax story just a reminder that none of us is perfect?

The tax story has an interesting twist that prior to recent years the Irish had tax exemptions for artists, actors, musicians but introduced those [no doubt because of current struggles] and around that time U2 moved their tax centre off shore... like many athletes and musicians across the UK, a few notable Aussie tennis and golf stars etc... should they be paying the right amount of tax in Ireland... absolutely... does it devalue their anti-poverty work... sure does... does it mean some of their music no longer fosters my spirit and gives me space to explore who I am and what my hopes for the world might be... no way!! The weekend's media has all been about the protest, I wait with interest for the big silence or the half baked response from the bands 'machine'...

"U pay tax 2!!"

Two Clever Advertising Campaigns

Often an advertisement speaks to the creative cleverness of the storytellers. Whatever the mining industry goals in these adverts, they are sharp, emotional and good stories...

The second is an broad campaign by 'Mastercard' with the "Witnessing History: Priceless" tag and vignettes from Rugby World Cup history such as Brian Lochore's billeting of the All Blacks with local NZ villages in the lead up to the RWC 1987. This is part of campaign where you can add yourself and 'where you were' to a video timeline on the website here for a chance to win World Cup tickets. Clever and you can view it here

'Go Back to Where You Came From'

Many people have been blogging and talking about this Oz SBS TV documentary taking some very ordinary Aussie [read quite remarkable people after all] and thier journey being exposed to the people and stories who become asylum seekers in African and Australian refugee camps/facilities. The series is viewable online and predictably opens people up to more than slogans, aussie taxpayer dollars being splashed around and fears for national security...

Check out the details here

"The church hasn't caught up with God"

While this Season 7 of 'Grey's Anatomy' on Oz TV attempts to rediscover some mojo, I enjoyed the imagery in this scene and the idea that in relation to what a marriage was and who or what God is "the church hasn't caught up with God yet." It was a great scene!! Interesting! Reflecting on the nature of 'love'

Phil Waugh retires from all Rugby at Year's End

NSW Waratahs and Wallabies legend Phil Waugh yesterday announced he'll retire from all rugby at the end of 2011... hoping for a swansong in the World Cup squad for September/October in NZ!!

Phil has been a tenacious openside flanker for club [Sydney University], state and country with a long period of jostling with George Smith for the Wallaby starting role, to the extent various coaches shifted George to number 8 or played them both at 6 and 7 to capitalise on their strengths.

In recent seasons Phil has given way to David Pocock and others but is still a dominant figure at state level. Some argue too dominant as he's see away at least 2 coaches and is in part responsible for some of NSW more boring performances, calling them back to a train track style of play to best suit his on ball abilities in retaining posession... often only to see a dropped pass or poor kick squander the opportunities and make the attack look inept at best!!

It was 'the right time' for Phil to hang up the boots with persistent injury and a few candidates 'in the wings' lining up for his spot [where this hasn't always been the case]!!

Phil Waugh is the kind of experienced hard nut every rugby team needs, combining superb skill with tenacity and unflappability... the perfect foil for a backline like the Tahs, if a little stiffling at times. Rain, mud, cold, altitude or shine, Phil Waugh is a Wallaby hero. As ever Phil's got the timing just right!!

Unless there are some injuries I don't believe Phil will get his wish of a World Cup finish, but if one or two other candidates don't handle the lead up or Tri Nations, we would be well served if he did make it!! I hope Phil gets a baa baas invitation at years end to play against the Wallabies in the UK!! [as the World Champions of Rugby of course!!]

'52 Suburbs'

Louise Hawson spent 52 weeks photographing and blogging about a different Sydney suburb every week and this has led to a 'simple but brilliant' display at the Museum of Sydney [cnr of Phillip and Bridge Sts in the city]. It's $10 entry with several other exhibitions onsite at Sydney's original Government House.

I finally got there today [and resisted the $40 coffee table book version at least so far] and it fits my measure of creative ideas that really work as 'simple things done well!'

The photos are collaged with a simple white backboard, numbered and named as their suburb around a large room with a few on back to back boards in the centre to create an intimate space.

As well as appreciating it for it's own sake I always enjoy thinking about how/what I'd do along similar lines and in missional frame of mind for any local Uniting Church e.g. photo essays, exposes of local characters [ala Trinity Church Wall St in New York which I visited to check out their 'our neighbours' series], iconic spaces and buildings, promoted to the local neighbourhood and either displayed in a community space or if you think people would come then at your property. Staffed by congregational volunteers with the only agenda being one of celebrating community and story where you are...

Imagine a local Newcastle suburb, for arguments sake Hamilton, chose to do something like this... iconic Beaumont St buildings, the local Barber, a character who still frequents the Kent Hotel all these years after the earthquake, Gregson Park, the boys at the Gallipoli Club, the Italian Centre and so on.... [especially including a couple of the UC's older congregants and their story of the suburb] blow up the collage of images around different themes on matt photo paper A3 sized with very simple labels.

Affix them to homemade mdf display boards painted white on each side and set up in the hall or in the worship space beyond 'Bill's Place Fairtrade Cafe' and suddenly a whole new group of people are exposed to the space, the people, the vibe and the creativity and celebration of Hamilton's multi-cultural life.

Expand it further to include all the suburbs of Newcastle and advertise accordingly, maybe using a space from 'Renew Newcastle' in the city or the University OR TRANSLATE THESE TO YOUR OWN LOCATION!!

It would even be worth buying someone a Canon EOS camera to go out and use and encouraging their development... money well spent!! Wallsend's coal history, Adamstown's mix of anglo, sudanese and Macedonian citizens, The Junction/Merewether or the beaches and suburbs...

52 suburbs blog is here

Trinity Sunday

Andrej Rublev 1410

It's Trinity Sunday unrolling yet another conundrum about faith in a seemingly and at times invisible God and the 'counter empire' claims of Jesus Christ. No illusions of water, steam and ice here... It's also the closest Sunday to the birthday of the incredibly movement which is the Uniting Church. The three year lectionary cycle brings us to Mathew 28 and the so called 'great commission' to 'go and make disciples of all the nations' given 'all authority in heaven and on earth.'

Resources for

Contemporary worship

Worship House Media Matthew 28

The Work of the People Make Disciples

The Text This Week various resources

Mustard Seeds here

Movies

The Matrix and 'Trinity' 01 02 03

Babette's Feast 01

and about discipleship....

'Amelie' helping the blind man

'The Adjustment Bureau'

'Spiderman' ht to Jon Sargeant where Spidey and Dr Oc are fighting and he's just about spent and the crowd from the train saving step in saying 'you'll have to go through us first'

'Evan Almighty' the scene where 'God' talks about changing the world, one random act of kindness at a time

Children and Youth

See post about Digestives, white icing and red icing to make biscuit UCA Logos

and other ideas

Alt.worship

Use a series of 'stations' around a breakdown of the UCA logo:

1. Black circle

Write words with white or silver texta on the cardboard as your hopes for a world and it's dark places, absence of compassion and grace. Trace a prayer in the bowl of sand alongside.

Maybe using looped 'Fragile' by Sting

2. White cross

The symbol of Jesus 'solidarity' with us as 'one of us' and staying true to the truth despite the risks involved. You could do something around the vertical and horizontal with the discipleship passage on a poster asking how you might build on your vertical relationship with God and the horizontal outworking of that in the world

3. White 'U'

What do you celebrate about the Uniting Church, what's a question, what's a hope and/or a way this U can become more like a completed circle...

4. White dove, red wings...

Peace... prayers for the world.... tealight candles and world map

Red wings, the spirit of God, fire...

Use red cards to write on with white textas/pens and adhere to a black cloth

Pictures of people inviting reflection on who/what how God is active in the world and how we might be invited to join in.

More traditional worship*

I agree with Bill Loader that this passage is significant where consistently Matthew highlights the women [or those who are often discounted] do not doubt in their encountering Jesus contrasted with the male followers who 'ought to know.'

Jesus claims authority from his resurrection [or his ministry in Q] and relates a connection with God which speaks to who has authority and where power is sourced in the battle for hearts and minds in an occupied land. Matthew links God's wisdom but in some ways doesn't keep the threads around 'trinity' despite lots of OT links... Jesus speaks and acts for God and in this story passes on the authority to others... BUT what the heck does that have to do with today...

What the story means is that the followers were 'sent' to teach what they had been taught' and they had been taught about 'relationship' and engaging your whole self in God's activity in the world... and the values of God [God's will some would say].... but still what is that.... it's the challenge of the people of God to be people of compassion and grace, holding judgement, being careful to take the role of servant and building communities based on these values... who or what is God calling us to be at this time in this place?

It's outworking today comes in:

- inclusion [genuinely seeing the face of God in others]

- fair trade and social justice action

- seeking to hear and respond to people's own stories

- asking who we include, what we create and reflecting that in how we gather

- joining the campaign for action on climate change

- opening property up to the community

- etc etc

Making disciples is relational, counter cultural, and begs the gathered group to be asked for their stories so I'd have invited three people from different age groups to share a story with the group about their discipleship with a couple of possible angles... And 'in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit' fits and gives a shape for reflection to this day!!

Choose a traditional selected prayer and handout a sheet breaking open some of the phrases and ask people to reflect on what the words mean for them... who are the communities or people they think of... and what is it they'd 'share' with others and who it is they believe they're sharing!!

Songs/Music

Wherever I Go Robin Mann

God Version 1.0 Robin Mann

Praise with Joy the World's Creator TiS 179

Send Me Jesus TiS 749

Billabongs AHB and TiS suggestions

David Beswick's liturgy and music

Broken

Every now and then you see an image that just says what you need to say!!

Another great photo from Jonny Baker

'Unfiltered Youth Ministry" # 02 Andrew Root in Canberra

It was a great weekend last weekend, exploring the writings and presentations of Andrew Root, at the Chapel of the Centre for Christianity & Culture in Canberra!! It was a weekend of mixed feelings for me... I welcome learning and really enjoy the gymnastics of figuring out how something affirms or challenges my views, teaches me something new and/or relates to my understanding of God, practice of ministry and or who I am... The fractures, apathy or missed opportunities in our networks makes this a rare occasion and that's a shame. Darren, Duncan and Matt are to be congratulated for pulling it together...
As I had written before, Andrew's re-emphasis on authentic relationships for their own sake, drew me back to my beginnings and the things I hold dear... more recently expressed as the notion that 'every person has a story and every persons story is worth hearing.' The Day Two focus on 'children of divorce' was something we were privileged to be participating in... deep sharing and a dose of reality around an issue that has nothing whatsoever to do with the 'naval gazing' of a church struggling for survival and all the ridiculous distractions this provides... Instead it highlighted what a significant thing 'engaging in God's activity in the world' is when our desire to share compassion and grace with others coincides with a burning need and while feeling 'at home' in the conversations I am convinced of it's wider relevance and my ability to 'transition' my gifts/skills/knowledge/self into a different setting, bringing the same 'above and beyond' energy!!
Alongside this, the girls came with me for the weekend, enjoying Cockington Green, a six hour visit to Questacon and the National Space Museum/NASA. I skipped Saturday night for a family dinner in Manuka and so we enjoyed the space and time together. I'll get them to the National Museum eventually.
Trying to sort out my future before or after December this year, I found myself fitting what we were talking about 'like a glove' but unable to picture where or how it will be applied.

It brought an edge to the fact I know I'm entering a time of change and the very real possibility of needing to find employment elsewhere... while I jest about the door greeter role at Bunnings [stay tuned]
I cannot commit my hopes, frustration, anger, willingnesses and recent reminders that the church does not get 'youth ministry' as anything other than playing in the sandpit, to cyber space because it comes without context or conversation...
Anyhow... it's that conundrum...

Every so often the 'wheel turns' in this crazy flawed thing called the church... and you're reminded of how vulnerable you, you're self image and your passions are... amidst mixed messages and very human fallibility... while those you know and trust happily re-affirm you!!
I've been re-reading Andrew's book 'Unfiltered Relationships' and was reminded of a film clip which fitted the weekends themes really well. It's the story of teacher Erin Gruwell as told in 'Freedom Writers.' Erin sets an assignment but notes one student who is struggling with setbacks as his brother receives a jail [US film/US spelling] sentence and he has given himself an 'F' in the self assessment task. Erin invited the students to fill in journals which she offered to read to learn about their stories and he had written about feeling 'invisible.'

"I see you... do you hear me, I see you... and you are not failing!!"

'Unfiltered Youth Ministry' Weekend Workshop

Had a great weekend in Canberra listening to and talking with Andrew Root from the US (who is fully aware of his surname in an Aussie context) with a bunch of energetic Youth Workers from various backgrounds. Andrew writes and advocates for stuff that takes me back to my beginnings and reinforces the reasons I'm a Youth Worker and what I try to focus on in stories, place sharing and relationship building for it's own sake!! It was great to be affirmed while tired from the struggle with those who see it so differently!!
More in coming days BUT it was a great time at a time when I am otherwise struggling with and wrestling with my own future and broader contexts for ministry and mission wher I would remain an advocate for those on the edges and whose voices are not heard...