Vere [Faith] Sydney Theatre Company

  We went today to see John Doyle's new play Vere [Faith] at Sydney Opera House. The story reflects his own Father's illness and death, suffering from dementia. Doyle is so clever, well read and so good at dialogue.
   The play reflects his dry humour and is filled with social comment plus lines you could hear him saying [particularly through Richard, the Vice Chancellor] and is just a wonderful story!!
   It's about a battle between science and God and that's interestingly cast around the impending and tenative confirmation of 'The Higgs Boson'. In that way even the science is in some ways a question of faith. It's confirmation will yet again confirm 'standard theory'.
   Faith is explored and cops a hiding in it's fundamentalist form as the key characters move from being reasonable to judgemental & insensitive.
   John Doyle's familiar territory is scything humorous social comment. In this outing social media, music and pop culture are explored. Though Kevin Rudd isn;t named he is nailed in one line...
   I loved the story, the humour and the characters whose dialogue must have been a nightmare to learn. Not just the science but the width of the sources, the sharpness of the language and how wonderful it all was...
   No matter how many times I edit this post, it doesn't do the play justice... my own story will be the richer for time spent reflecting on how it felt to be eavesdropping on this most personal of journeys...

Detroit Pistons Dance Cam Dance Off

Bounce it kid!!

New Toyota Legendary Moment

'What is....' a repost and follow up to 'What if...'

For those connected with my Youth Ministry Development Work and the UCA...

Original post

"It's a bit dangerous to 'what if ?' in a blog entry with half formed thoughts or to think about how some things you'd 'what if ?' have been held up by being outside processes you could help with or would cajole you to act earlier too... anyhow... I have some strategising to do prior to the last week of November and this is a great way to process some thoughts because let's face it, who reads this stuff anyhow!! And my "Nobody Reads Your Stupid Tweets" t-shirt is very appropriate really...

In not the right order, in the UCA in the Hunter, if we continued a path of seeking to be 'missional,' what if ?

- we understood that to be participation in God's renewing and reconciling the whole of creation and sought to explore the implications of that by asking questions like: who do we want to be? what story do we want to tell? And how does our mix of gifts, abilities & passions suggest we'd be best placed to serve the 'hurts' and 'hopes' of our community with an outward focus ?

- we could convince people that Sunday worship was supposed to be an outcome of our activity not the sole focus that itself is a remnant from decades past? The societal change over the last 70-100 years find us in a time of transition which means the shape of church best suited to this 'mission' is up for grabs

- people of all ages chose to be church that focused on meeting young people in their community and created forms of church they need [or even if for folks their own age if not young people] e.g. St Laurence, Reading

- we knew several city based congregations cannot continue to offer a subtle variation on the same style of worship

- some of those same places collaborated in ministry and mission with children and young people and understood that the goal was/isn't and can never really be integrating them with existing Sunday congregations. At least five decades of rapid social change necessitate forms of worship that arise out of and reflect the culture and experience of younger generations

- Every ministry placement in the Hunter was made a Presbytery [regional placement] and ministry and mission fields for those agents was interpreted for a new scenario, not just geographic or financially based history

- Groups and activities in local congregations were mission focused and invited all ages to make their contribution 'shoulder to shoulder', choosing 2-3 key activities to develop 'legend status' on the community 'grapevine'

- our focus on Christ sought to understand his identity in our midst and so we taught faith seeking practices in context not faith content knowledge in abstract [not so much what we believe but how]

- we knew that this is genuinely a time for experiments where no change is permanent but might be worth a try

- we embraced David Bosch' notion creating flexible structures enabling us to move fast and to respond

- we sold some buildings and pooled the proceeds for some jointly envisaged projects across existing congregational areas but seeking to create new forms of church

- ministry with younger people was undertaken by congregational members alongside any paid ministry person

- Youth Groups formed around some agreed mission focus with young people whose socialising and worship grew from the projects they collaborated on

So now that's edit two...."

So, I had a conversation this week with a colleague and we both went along to a Presbytery meeting conversation that related to these issues [loosely]... determined to write more in response to that meeting and to press for strategic thinking about our goals in the light of limited money....

The conversation reminded me of the many times in recent years I've asked a question alongside the missional thinking...... the question is "what is the good news/gospel?" The contention is that we've lost the language to articulate our answer. What ? 

I mean, in an effort to be communities of faith people have forgotten/not attended to/lost/been challenged about the what ? What is the 'good news'? i.e. today, now, in our communities. It's important because lots of our sharing is about stories, questions, things that made sense decades ago, or it impacted us, won't it impact others now...

I've mostly offered the question in encouraging thought about ministry and mission with young people because that's been my main context... it aligns with Kenda Creasy Dean's haunting questions for youth ministry...

Does youth ministry matter?

Do our practices of youth ministry reflect Christ?

Do our existing 'models and practices' reflect the church's best theological work?

Do they accomplish what we imagine?

Do they bear any relationship to the church?

Do our practices of youth ministry. shape Christians?

How long can we keep this up?

Can we do better?

   In reflecting on these questions and the common practice of a 10-15min 'Devotions' I've begun by asking 'what is 'good news' about what and how we believe in Jesus Christ?... It helps you begin [in the right place] thinking about and responding out of why anyone would want to be part of who we are...

[As an aside, sometimes I want to reflect back to groups that a focus on 'doing stuff the way we like', dressing in Sunday best, offering judgement not compassion, coming across as being people who are 'better' that you and focus on Sunday worship as a main or only major activity are all black marks against our best efforts]

   Now, you could simply change the focus of these questions where applicable, to the whole church and any and every community of faith/congregation...

Being 'missional' doesn't replace these questions. it just means an outward and sent focus, connections with context and culture that give effect to how we respond in action and worship....

They are onto something talking about Youth Workers and Leaders, becoming 'practical theologians'. As long as we know the questions are different from the past as well as our answers. Some theologians 'potshot' current missional thinking but it's because they can't see that the questions have changed, not just the answers...

Best practice youth ministry would be about communities of people attempting to live through life's real issues together trying to discover the identity of Jesus in the middle of life and them. Trite answers, one verse Bible quotes and 'preaching' transformation without evidence you participate with your own life is a bit empty. Young people are not wrong to want to see 'life and faith connected in action.'

OK, can you tell today is a verbose day of reflection, space and thinking... I'll be lap swimming and thinking about this asap!!

Cosplay

 

 Channel flicking and I saw the aweful 'Weekend Sunrise' feature about 'Cosplay' or an originally Japanese inspired revitalisation of dressing up in costume for fun gatherings/clubs and events!! Not just comicon conventions, manga or anime but all kinds of stories based in comics, books, movies etc... It's interesting to me that 'come in cosume' events had seemed to me to be less popular in recent years [certainly in youth activities I've been around] often seeing a few keen participants alongside makeshift cape or funny hat wearing reluctance... that's different to a culture of encouraging simple 'DIY' costumes that aren't expensive... it's more not wanting to appear too geeky or just thinking nobody else will bother!!

   Against that trend we often gather on a Saturday night for dinner at a local pub with an upstairs function room that often hosts costumed birthday celebrations!!

   Either way, I reckon there's a lot of fun to be had and a cohort of young people who'd really embrace the energy and effort of going to all the trouble of dressing up!! I sense  a combined youth event coming up!!!

   Be warned, as you go searching for cosplay you'll find a selection of rotund or busty comic superheroes with afew Dr Who's tossed in... Check it here and here

"Forgotten Years" Midnight Oil

Two versions of one of Midnight Oil's most typical and popular songs from their "Blue Sky Mine" album...
   This record followed "Diesel & Dust" so that just when they were making a huge name for themselves they took a year off only touring this record lightly. While not launching themselves into the stratosphere they made enough impact to cement their fame & fortune. This they collectively & individually have churned into foundations, charitable causes  & ongoing interest in indigenous education & health!!Band members play in any number of their own projects and members like Jim Moginie have turned their talents to playing and working with the production of some stellar artists recordings.
This song "Forgotten Years" is a reminder that a band can play it's best signature rhythms, get a crowd moving and still sing about stuff that matters!!
   The original 'on location' clip sets the context for this song and could be a chapter of an Oils anthology of their lyrics entitled 'Lucky Country'!! For me the song addresses the hard fought freedoms countries like ours have enjoyed since 'the war to end all wars' and is a plea that we not forget, but not just the efforts, bravery or determination of soldiers... but rather all that goes to make us who we are... without glorifying or celebrating war. It reminds us of the way we might take the 'inbetween years' for granted... and not learn any enduring lessons.
   If history has shown us anything, as humanity we are capable of great atrocities, selfishness, corruption of power, evil and delusional thoughts of dominion. Today I'd take Nov 11th to represent a reminder of the pain & loss, the foolishness and the untruth that is war. It's clear from the records that bravery, commitment to freedom and determination to bring peace are but small pieces of a pretty futile puzzle that goes to make up the nationalism that leads to armed conflict. Let's not forget the pain of loss, the families forever effected and the countries whose very 'soul' has been scarred by World War. Something like this is the ANZAC Day Address I wanted to give in 1979 and the one I tried to with far fewer resources, insights or years on experience... just the nagging notion that calling it a commemoration is not enough to bring perspective!!

What if ?

It's a bit dangerous to 'what if ?' in a blog entry with half formed thoughts or to think about how some things you'd 'what if ?' have been held up by being outside processes you could help with or would cajole you to act earlier too... anyhow... I have some strategising to do prior to the last week of November and this is a great way to process some thoughts because let's face it, who reads this stuff anyhow!! And my "Nobody Reads Your Stupid Tweets" t-shirt is very appropriate really...

In not the right order, in the UCA in the Hunter, if we continued a path of seeking to be 'missional,' what if ?
- we understood that to be participation in God's renewing and reconciling the whole of creation and sought to explore the implications of that by asking questions like: who do we want to be? what story do we want to tell? And how does our mix of gifts, abilities & passions suggest we'd be best placed to serve the 'hurts' and 'hopes' of our community with an outward focus ?
- we could convince people that Sunday worship was supposed to be an outcome of our activity not the sole focus that itself is a remnant from decades past? The societal change over the last 70-100 years find us in a time of transition which means the shape of church best suited to this 'mission' is up for grabs
- people of all ages chose to be church that focused on meeting young people in their community and created forms of church they need [or even if for folks their own age if not young people] e.g. St Laurence, Reading
- we knew several city based congregations cannot continue to offer a subtle variation on the same style of worship
- some of those same places collaborated in ministry and mission with children and young people and understood that the goal was/isn't and can never really be integrating them with existing Sunday congregations. At least five decades of rapid social change necessitate forms of worship that arise out of and reflect the culture and experience of younger generations
- Every ministry placement in the Hunter was made a Presbytery [regional placement] and ministry and mission fields for those agents was interpreted for a new scenario, not just geographic or financially based history
- Groups and activities in local congregations were mission focused and invited all ages to make their contribution 'shoulder to shoulder', choosing 2-3 key activities to develop 'legend status' on the community 'grapevine'
- our focus on Christ sought to understand his identity in our midst and so we taught faith seeking practices in context not faith content knowledge in abstract [not so much what we believe but how]
- we knew that this is genuinely a time for experiments where no change is permanent but might be worth a try
- we embraced David Bosch' notion creating flexible structures enabling us to move fast and to respond
- we sold some buildings and pooled the proceeds for some jointly envisaged projects across existing congregational areas but seeking to create new forms of church
- ministry with younger people was undertaken by congregational members alongside any paid ministry person
- Youth Groups formed around some agreed mission focus with young people whose socialising and worship grew from the projects they collaborated on

So now that's edit two....

Tornado Jumbo UFO

Wondering about this one with any money I might be fortunate enough to receive at Christmas time... Frontline Hobbies may have the fair dunkum and pricey one though.... not that I'm looking at attaching a GoPro anytime soon!!

OR then again go here and on review this would be the go!!

MLB Season Opener in Sydney Australia!!

   Shame it's not the Yankees BUT I have seen them play I guess!! Next March 22-23 at the Sydney Cricket Ground which if media is correct today seems more like the goal for the new Grandstand than the January Test Cricket... that is as they say in the understatement business 'a shame'!!

"Sirens" Pearl Jam

So this is how Pearl jam get a feature song on the MLB 'World Series' Baseball!!

Really... is this a thing now?

Russell Brand and Jeremy Paxman Doing the Youtube Rounds

"Where there's profit there's always deficit"

 

"About Time" 123 mins rated M Stunning!!

   We saw Richard Curtis' new film and I am still searching for the right words to describe how much I enjoyed it, felt 'at home' with his familiar characters, humour and pathos... was totally immersed in the story AND cried plenty!! Ironically I will be seeing it again!!

"Long Walk to Freedom" Nelson Mandela Film

 

   Looks to be everything 'Invictus' wasn't... that movie focused on the Rugby World Cup and Mandela's harnessing of it for unity an change. This looks a gritty bio pic of the broader era that shaped Mandela and made him the leader and icon he became and the book was brilliant!!
It's a good time to celebrate 'Madiba'! His name that comes from his Xhosa tribe as opposed to his early school teachers...
The theatrical trailer 2 for 'Long Walk to Freedom' Nelson Mandela here featuring the new and specially written 'Ordinary Love' by U2. See you at the movies!!

October 2013 Bushfires NSW

   It's going to be a long dry summer with such strong westerly winds already in October [Spring] here in NSW in Oz!! I drove to and from the Upper Hunter Valley today and saw plumes of smoke from at least three of the tens of fires alight tonight here...
   From our front verandah at Elermore Vale we could see a wall of flames at Newcastle's Link Rd near Cameron Park [a long way off but clearly enough to know how scary it would be up close] and we listened to updates fro Heatherbrae and Salt Ash and surrounds near Tomago from our brilliant ABC Local Radio emergency updates and general coverage... The flames disappeared as we think we heard the helicopters [sounded different to the Rescue chopper that is a regular over our place]
   If I'm right [alongside opening local churches for people to use toilets, for making sandwiches and coffee and for prayer or conversation] the Uniting Church part in Disaster Response is still 'pastoral care'... I think the Salvos do 'sandwiches' for example!! I'll hear more in coming days no doubt BUT my role is ALSO about resourcing locals for response in worship or as gathered communities in coming days... I fear we don't always do a good job of being 'real' and making sure we participate in our communities at these times... to this END and at risk of having too many possibilities, I share the following links from past episodes, that might inspire creativity or at least give people some idea of how to invite response... THERE MAY BE FOLLOW UP POSTS IN THE DAYS TO COME...

An excellent compilation of Resources following 2009's Bushfires
collated by colleague Darren Wright at Digital Orthodoxy here

My own previous thoughts from 2009 here and here

Uniting Church in Australia General Resources List here

Jean Mayers Reflection Poem following Victoria's 2009 Bushfires here

Uniting Church Vic/Tas Synod Bushfire Response Resources here
[includes full worship liturgies to adapt, prayers and reflections, stuff to use with young people]

NSW Council of Churches Ecumenical Resources in a PDF here

And I'm reminded of Christine Sine's reflections on the Aussie bushfires in February 2009 here

A Broad set of Resources following disasters at Text Week here

Wow!! Land Fill

Wow!!

'Flipout' Trampoline Centre Craziness

Flipout Trampolines here might be the latest 'thing' though according to Pete H there's a groove being worn in the road between there and Wyong Hospital... wonder why?

Here's some footage of what I'm talking about from the outdoor Penrith version...

"MInd Your Manners" Pearl Jam

From their new album 'Lightning Bolt' by Pearl Jam
This is Mike McCready chanelling the 'Dead Kennedy's' hard edged sound and feel...
The new songs sound great and these days PJ do video clips even...

"Mind Your Manners"
I've got an unfortunate feelin'
I've been beaten down
I feel I don't believe
And now the truth is coming out
What they've taken is more than a vow
They've taken your innocence
And then they throw them on a burning fire

All along they're saying
Mind your manners
I caught myself believin'
That I needed God
And if it's hard for some
We sure could use it now
Try my patience
My patience tried
This world's no longer good enough
That makes me wanna cry

All along they're sayin'
Mind your manners
Silence save him

Self-realized and metaphysically redeemed
May not live another life
May not solve a mystery
Right around the corner
Could be bigger than ourselves
We could will it to the sky
Or we could something else

No longer sayin'
Mind your manners
Always burning

Self-realized and metaphysically redeemed
May not live another life
May not solve a mystery
Right around the corner
Could be bigger than ourselves
We could will it to the sky
Or we could something else

Go to Heaven
That's swell
How do you like it
Livin' Hell x2
Livin' Hell...

'That's Church' Keep It Simple

Keep It Simple BUT focused on being 'missional'!!

Missional?

A church and a people SENT by God to participate in God's mission [activity] in the world, an activity of reconciliation and renewal of the whole creation.

A bit like Eugene Petersen's rendering of John 1:14 in 'The Message' where "the Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighbourhood."
Are primarily 'attractional' models of church 'dead'? 
Well no, but in most places [some clearly more than others] there are significant cultural post Christian barriers for people or communities AND A focus on enculturating people to 'be like us' can make it harder to speak into our own contexts...

We are sent to 'go and be' rather than exclusively inviting people to 'come and see'...

  The Anglican Church in the UK and other places talk about 'The Five Marks of Mission' but I'm uneasy about embracing these marks' as sufficiently bringing 'change.' I can't quite articulate my issues but they still feel inward looking or as if they describe a slow to change institution, not a movement...

To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom

To teach, baptise and nurture new believers

To respond to human need by loving service

To seek to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and to pursue peace and reconciliation

To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth 

I guess my focus is more on:

An ethos or values that understand us as a community and individuals sent

Seeking to be followers of Jesus and inviting others to do the same

Seeking to meet the hurts and hopes of people in our community

Working for authentic relationships and purposeful communities of reconciliation

Sharing the story of a world lived according to the values of God

or something like that....

'I Keep Faith'

If you want to make the weather

Then you have to take the blame

If sometimes dark clouds fill the sky

And it starts to rain, folks complain

And though your head may tell you

To run and hide

Listen to your heart and you'll find me

Right by your side, because

I keep faith, I keep faith

I keep faith, I keep faith in you

Yes, I do, I keep faith in you

If you think you have the answer

Well, don't be surprised

If what you say is met with anger

And contempt and lies

No matter how hard you may want to

Just walk away

Reach out, you'll find me there beside you

All of the way because

I keep faith, I keep faith

I keep faith, I keep faith in you

Yes, I do, I keep faith in you

All the dreams we shared

I never knew no one who cared

About these things the way that I've seen you

It doesn't matter if this all falls off the cliff

Together we are gonna see it through

I know it takes a mess of courage

To go against the grain

You have to make great sacrifice for such little gain

And so much pain

And if your plans have come to nothing

Washed out in the rain

Let me rekindle all your hopes

And help you start again because

I keep faith, I keep faith

I keep faith, I keep faith in you

Yes, I do, I keep faith in you

I keep faith in you

Yes, I do, I keep faith in you

I keep faith in you

Yes, I do, I keep faith in you

I keep faith in you

Yes I do, I keep faith in you, yeah, yeah

I keep faith…

Billy Bragg from 'Mr Love and Justice'

Sochi Olympics 'Torch' Relay

   I love a the normal 'retentiveness' of clockwork like Olympic stage managing and the now regular 'torch relay' is usually no exception. A well crafted ceremony takes place in Athens with white clad women using a metal bowl lens and oil in the sunlight to ignite a flame that then travels by air, sea or land [and this time even to the International Space Station. On the way cauldrons are lit, the flame is stored in a lantern and runners relay the flame to Sochi for the next Games!!
   Well, not this time... down a lane/hallway at the Kremlin the torch goes out... running alone the carrier signals a security guard ahead who quick as a flash whips out a cigarette lighter and it's all systems go [doh!!]

Sinead's Open Letter to Miley Cyrus!!

Sinead O'Connor's Open Letter
Wow, be in no doubt what Sinead was thinking all those years ago when she shaved her head!
Seems to have started a media war though as Cyrus obviously objects to 'the bleeding obvious'!
http://www.sineadoconnor.com/2013/10/open-letter-to-miley-cyrus/

Here in 'Rolling Stone' is where it got started
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/miley-cyrus-on-why-she-loves-weed-went-wild-at-the-vmas-and-much-more-20130927

or was that here...


Stay tuned I guess,
Is it a story about a young Disney star seeking to leave that behind, a celebrity trying to figure out how to leave her relationship, or a lens on hyper modern individualism and everything that's wrong about body image, celebrity, fame and the modern music 'industry'?

“What is youth ministry?"

Adding a reprint from my 'Dynamo + Annual' 2012

   This is the question that came up at some point during every Youth Workers Inservice Conference we held in the 1980s. Those pioneers of ministry with young people were always able to turn any skills based session, walk through a new resource or discussion about models into the bigger question of what the heck we were aiming at or doing in the first place. Whatever nuance the conversation had it always boiled down to remembering that youth ministry is ministry. 

   This was the decade beginning to respond to the massive societal shifts of the late 1960s and the organic movement that was ʻYouth Workʼ which recognised the relational skills of some younger leaders but also began the ʻoutsourcingʼ of ministry with young people by congregations missing their 25-45yr olds and beginning to lose whole families from their faith communities. In too many places the answer was to try to do more or better of the same while the world had become a different place.

   Since G Stanley Hall described ʻAdolescenceʼ as a constant state of ʻstorm and stressʼ it has been too easy to buy into what is after all a social construct of just over the last 100 years. In many places, not much is expected of young people. They are the ʻinbetweenersʼ or the ʻnot quiteʼ people. Itʼs true this is a critical time of identity formation. The locus of young peopleʼs influences and role models changes, their mobility and independence are tested and at this time the worldʼs most tech savvy and informed generations have the chance to respond or remain ambivalent about the truly global context in which theyʼve grown up. Families have never been busier but the gap between rich and poor is wider and more socially obvious. We are a multi-cultural country with a patchy record in understanding that as our identity.

   Discipleship or shaping faith is more formative than informative and this might mean at least: 

- engaging as a community across all ages 

- building relationships around an ethos of participation seeking to join Godʼs activity in the world 

- encouraging creative questions, doubt and imagination 

- sharing our stories and connecting with the story exampled and taught through Jesus Christ 

- embracing reconciliation, grace and service as hallmarks 

- curating worship that reflects your context/s and culture/s 

- being less focused on programs and more about sharing 

- more praxis 

- remembering current generations of young people are largely Biblically illiterate 

- becoming better equipped adults by ʻteachingʼ what you believe as your story 

- seeking to help young people answer the ʻwhy should I choose the Christian faith?ʼ question 

- As Andrew Root reminds us, exploring together how we find Christ in the good and hard times 

- remembering young people can ʻmake meaningʼ and respond for themselves 

- what worked for a previous generation isnʼt the default setting for the current ones 

- itʼs less about what the Bible says and more about how we might live in response

   “Mission comes home” was the UCA Synod Board of Mission slogan recognising we have needed to become missionaries not missionary senders BUT decades on we are still not coming to grips with this seismic shift and the visionary invitation it offered...

   The idea of missio dei [the mission of God] and our invitation to join Godʼs actions in the world is a recognition that our focus on Sunday worship and creating community within the collected group of ʻbelieversʼ and families is a limited picture. God is active outside the church as well as in and we miss opportunities to live lives shaped by our Christian ethos if we avoid the world.

   A new book including a range of stories advocates for the following SHIFTS to become a missional movement engaging well in ministry with people of all ages: 

“Missional Moves” Rob Megner Jack Magruder

“if you want to change society, then you must tell an alternative story” Ivan Illich

- Undertake holistic ministry and mission rather than a narrow ʻgospelʼ imperative 

- Rediscover our mojo as a mission movement engaged in our world by living in it 

- Recognising we live in a global context 

- Becoming missional as well as attractional in balancing our activity

- Moving from the centre to the margins and changing our understanding of ʻtransformationʼ 

- Sharing power and decisionmaking, listening and embracing experiments 

- Focus on ʻless is moreʼ and specialise around the gifts and passions or assets present 

- Collaborate with others around what ethos and motivation we have in common

- Cooperative ventures growing strengths 

- From professionals to full participation or building teams and fostering participation 

- From formal to fractals or a well known leadership theory using a starfish metaphor and how split

starfish regenerate and keep on living. Itʼs about different leadership for the context 

- From institution to movement which is about a new kind of community life and focus with freeing

structures and shared power 

- Fostering lots of different models and styles 

- from ʻwe can do it you can helpʼ to ʻyou can do it, we can helpʼ 

- Growing the kinds of leaders we need to ʻcompleteʼ the great commission

Too theoretical... 

Then try, 

- treating young people as people and listening to seek understanding not compliance 

- mentor young people and allow their participation to change how decisions are made 

- invest 50% of your resources in ministry with younger generations 

- Everything is different today: context; generations; busyness; work; making meaning; how

leadership emerges; faith shaping; and new ʻground upʼ need resourcing & support 

- Share your life & story, be real 

- Work on missional taskgroups not compliance committees 

- Ask ʻwho is Jesus Christʼ? in the middle of where you are and what you are doing 

- Build relationships not just programs 

- Inviting [cajoling] young people to exercise their ministry and share a common story 

- Have young people present in worship so it changes what happens to reflect this

There's a book here somewhere with a few stories thrown in...

Lament over the Injustice of Aussie Asylum Seeker Policy

Great work from Charissa, Rads, Kent, the Mod et al putting together this clip following the UCA Lament Services held in many places alongside the key gathering at Pitt St UCA!!

GetUp Advert they decided not to run

make of it what you will but it's simple message the networks aren't game to show!!

"Labels" Reflection

   

   At the risk of blowing it for elsewhere I am keen to write up the reflection offered at Charlestown JY Youth Group 2 weeks ago!! 'Labels' and to some extent bullying were the topics!!

We played a number of games on the night but adjourned early for a group activity/discussion. If we are going to continue with a 15min 'reflection/discussion' for discipling input then I favour doing that early so it's not the cost of belonging or participation but happens when there's more group time remaining...

GAMES
Name Bop
In a circle with person 'in' centre, pillow in hand. Simple idea, say your name and someone elses and they in turn say theirs and someone elses. 'In' from the centre of the circle at the outset then tries to bop someone with the pillow before they get both names said... Person hit becomes 'in.' Helps you and the group learn names of less familiar group members.

Sardines
One person hides and everyone else searches. When you find the hider you hide with them until all have found you... repeat with first finder to hide...
Challenge, doesn't require sporting skills, repeatable...

Circle Tag
Where circles of 46 join hands with one 'in' person that they then move to protect from a chaser attempting to tip them, without breaking hands in the circle. Good fun for groupwork, cooperation and a spirit of protecting your own.

Streets & Lanes
We tried this but the JY kids don't always listen and it was just a waste of time... se we moved on...

REFLECTION/ACTIVITY/DISCUSSION
I talked about the idea of 'labels' that can sometimes define who we are if we let them, explained what a TED Talk was and played Shane Kocyzan the performance poet/writer "To This Day" telling his story of growing up, being bullied & becoming what he loathed...
[spoiler alert] I left his one profanity in the clip but do have an edited version... it's just an honest story and I knew it would resonate and have an impact.

We spoke about 'labels' we all wear and the group wrote various labels on manilla parcel labels [to be hung on a string later as a reminder]... there were great ideas... and everyone understood the way these labels do and don't define our identity...

I told a version of the story of Zack [Zacchaeus] from Luke 19: 1-10 with the interpretation that as a short man who ends up collecting taxes for Rome and cheating people, Zack suffered with a few 'labels'... We thought about Jesus response of compassion, inclusion and standing with...

We finished listening to/watching the clip of Kate Miller Heidke "Caught in the Crowd" her own story and Daily Telegraph newspaper anti-bullying theme song.

I also had a 'Ditch the Label' video from here on hand if needed but we did well and used all our time...

Pasta-ing the Pastor at Hamilton Tonight

   That slightly crazy recognition of Leaders known as 'Pastor' in the UCA was our purpose for Pasta-ing tonight at Hamilton with pasta in the hall and worship in 'Bill's Cafe' space commissioning Steve Bevis as a Pastor for his role as Chaplain to Newcastle University...

   The plan was a collaboration between Warwick, Scott and myself, drawing in other participants and significant 'voices' in the mix...

   Anyhow with a mix of students, colleagues, Presbytery folk and locals... here's something of what we did!!

CALL

Teaser trailer from the animated film 'Up' a clip about 'imagination'

The 'I Like Jesus' clip from 'Blue Like Jazz'

"Beautiful Things" Gungor [thanks Scott]

GREETING Chairperson Warwick

MATTHEW 28: 16-20 Kat Arbon, onscreen in Greek/Spanish

REFLECTION:

Began with 'I Keep Faith' Billy Bragg clip

“I Keep Faith” Billy Bragg

If you want to make the weather then you have to take the blame

If sometimes dark clouds fill the sky and it starts to rain, folks complain

And though your head may tell you to run and hide

Listen to your heart and you'll find me right by your side, because

I keep faith, I keep faith I keep faith, I keep faith in you

Yes, I do, I keep faith in you

If you think you have the answer well, don't be surprised

If what you say is met with anger and contempt and lies

No matter how hard you may want to just walk away

Reach out, you'll find me there beside you all of the way because

I keep faith, I keep faith I keep faith, I keep faith in you

Yes, I do, I keep faith in you

All the dreams we shared I never knew no one who cared

About these things the way that I've seen you

it doesn't matter if this all falls off the cliff

Together we are gonna see it through

I know it takes a mess of courage to go against the grain

You have to make great sacrifice for such little gain and so much pain

And if your plans have come to nothing washed out in the rain

Let me rekindle all your hopes and help you start again because

I keep faith, I keep faith I keep faith, I keep faith in you

Yes, I do, I keep faith in you I keep faith in you

Yes, I do, I keep faith in you

I keep faith in you yes, I do, I keep faith in you I keep faith in you

Yes I do, I keep faith in you, yeah, yeah

I keep faith, I keep faith, I keep faith, I keep faith

1. “Keeping Faith”

Trust, staying connected, maintaining relationship, living out values…

ONE way of thinking about being followers of Jesus

And living out our co-mission with Christ

[also keep faith by acknowledging indigenous connection to the land we gather on and pay respects to Elders, past, present & future'

2. MATTHEW has Jesus saying,

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you."

The writer and the story tell us:

- Jesus speaks and acts for God,

- The DISCIPLES are sent to teach ALL OF what Jesus had taught them

- TEACHING is important in Matthew, 

NOT so much teaching beliefs, but an invitation to live out the values of God, in purposeful community

For Bill Loader, it means,

- READ THE STORY, HEAR THE COMPASSION, AND THAT GOD SETS NO LIMITS TO THE LOVE STANDING AGAINST THE OPPOSITE…

- AND following THE EXAMPLE OF THE SERVANT 

   using their gifts to mentor, to LEAD & to encourage others…

3. AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME AND PLACE,

What kind of “IMAGINATION” does it take,

TO EVEN SEE, hear or think about a different future…

NOT ‘fantasy,’ but TOOLS for new, imagined communities of faith?

WHAT FAITH PRACTICES TUNE US IN TO GOD’S ACTIVITY in the world?

Stanley Hauerwas writes,

"Christianity is not beliefs about God plus behavior. We are Christians not because of what we believe, but because we have been called to be disciples of Jesus. To become a disciple is not a matter of a new or changed self-understanding, but rather to become part of a different community with a different set of practices." 

[TELLING/LIVING A DIFFERENT STORY]

4. FOR A RELUCTANT READER,

QUOTING [3] AUTHORS IS MAYBE A NOD TO TERTIARY MINISTRY…

OR AN ATTEMPT to change my IDENTITY as a ‘lethargic academic’

[or recognising that you can't have an original thought but have to attribute it to someone whose written about it before]

“Threshold of the Future: Reforming the Church in the Post Christian West”

Mike Riddell offers some [15] hints & hunches about shaping community,

THINGS like, honesty & being real, worship reflecting participants culture

dynamic ecumenism, ability to laugh & cry together and Scripture respected as having layers of meaning and relevance

or MICHAEL FROST’s broader brush, missional community

in “Exiles: Living Missionally in a Post Christian Culture”

1. Trinitarian in theology 

2. Covenantal in nature

3. Oriented to being part of the church worldwide

4. Missional in intent

5. ANYHOW, WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE TONIGHT IS AT LEAST,

[1] RECOGNISING that tertiary ministry & UCATSA, communities like ‘The Commons’, missional cafés like “Bill’s Place” & networks of young people beyond existing congregations imagine well our missional shaped challenge

[2] AFFIRMING in Steve, the gifts & abilities for leadership, 

in this particular time and place, & for sharing the invitation to ‘follow’ and prophetically challenging us to ‘go and do likewise’!! In imaginative ways

Keeping faith…

THEN THE COMMISSIONING

Words about Call, about everyone having gifts & a corresponding service

PRESENTATION of Steve

QUESTIONS and response reaffirming and agreeing about call

COMMISSIONING/PRAYER

PASS THE PEACE

QUITE BRILLIANT 'PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE' from Michael

'If prayer was enough...'

LORDS PRAYER

'The Earth is Yours' Gungor

Great SONG from 'Sons of Peter' 'O Freedom'

BLESSING