URBANarmy

I took a picture of a church last week encased in scaffolding its beauty hidden completely covered by plastic with a print of a church on it. It is just off the A4 on the way out of London; not easy to stop and take the shot - this was taken with my phone hanging out of the window as we shot by at 50mph! (obviously I wasn't driving!). I suppose the point is that the church didn't want to lose its sense of presence during exterior works. It got me thinking about the facade of church that is seen and rejected by so many. Ask people what they see of church and what they generally see is self obsession and inaction; a gospel that is merely words to ascent to and not the alternative way of life and of being that Jesus spelled out; any sense of hope destroyed by an impression of a cosmetic one dimensional community bothered exclusively about its self serving needs. Church defined by the songs it sings! There are those ( Mat ) in the past who have made a helpful connection with the p...

Brueggemann in Hope for the World asks us to imagine: A congregation with a limited-scope but deeply embraced mission, not needing to be God's sole agent in the neighbourhood. A congregation with a clear gospel, but open to allies, not needing to be a lone presence in the community. A congregation saturated with Easter-rooted hope, offering an alternative to communities of fear, anger, and greed , an alternative given in vulnerability and generosity. (2007:11) Brueggemann. (2007). Hope for the World. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press. Can you catch that dream?

Brueggemann challenges the capacity of the people of God in mission to practice a hope that is rooted solely in God's own hope. Brueggemann mixes it up with NT Wright's overarching theme of 'New Creation' and task of the Church as a focus for mission while reflecting on Mission as Action in Hope. The symposium's premise was simple but effective: "The Mission is Missio Dei; The action is God's action in mending creation; The hope is God's hope for a new creation" By making sense of the church's purpose to witness to God's intention and making sense of God's purpose of bringing the 'whole creation to well-being (shalom)', Brueggemann challenges the capacity of the people of God in mission to practice a hope that is rooted solely in God's own hope. This invites thinking on the part of the church to take up its responsibility as a ' counteractor of hope in every dimension of life' concerning: economic disparities mids...

I've been trawling around looking for some Brueggemann to listen to and this site has some. The site has been a little hit and miss but I managed to get hold of some material to while away the ironing! Just discovered that Snapshots allows you to play the mp3 within URBANarmy. Introduction, Friday Evening Pentateuch Genesis Exodus Leviticus Introduction to the Prophets Prophets Isaiah Ezekiel Jeremiah Introduction to Wisdom Literature Wisdom Writings Proverbs Job Psalms