URBANarmy

I’ve been thinking about Sunday just gone. It was memorable. I learned a couple of lessons, here's one of them. Patrick’s timing was impeccable. He usually is waiting for us to open up on Sunday’s. His role is to cause as much ‘white noise’ as possible in order to get who-ever it is leading the meeting as stressed as possible. It takes a particular skill to continue getting ready for the service, get everything in its right place – create that atmosphere that is ‘conducive to worship’ – while Patrick is giving all he can to create verbal mayhem. Sunday he wasn’t there when we opened up. He wasn't there as I tuned my guitar. He wasn't there when we sorted out the PA. He wasn’t there to confuse me as I get the songs into order. He wasn’t there when we started. He wasn’t there to call out, chuntter, swear . He wasn’t there. It could have had something to do with what had gone on earlier in the week ( Sir that is a load of madam ). It could have had something to do...

I went along to the "East London Contextual Theology Group" last week. Seems a good environment to think and reflect on missio praxis! I guess I'll have to wait and see if it is the right environment for me. One plus point was we were all different! Andy Turner - from the Kingsmead Kabin project outlined the story and I found it encouraging to hear his reflections and frustrations. The values of the project as he outlined seemed so grace centred and authentic and in terms of the kingdom - effective. Apart from having the importance of offering safe space as a church underlined and hearing the concept of sanctified disorder. The big story for me was hearing the pressure and pain of working with those who seem so adept at maintaining a false dichotomy that sees Christian witness, and specifically evangelism, as being unrelated to community development. Those who see evangelism (restoring people's relationship with God) as spiritual work, while social action/tran...

It's not often you have a young person doing work experience as a Salvation Army officer. Richie turned up this week and he has been getting involved. "I never knew you did all this..." We'd just been spending some time with an old dear who used the "I've got some jumble.." euphemism roughly translated means "I'm pretty lonely and could do with someone knowing I'm here..." He's found himself chatting with Patrick, Eva and our luncheon club crowd. He's found himself helping in the charity shop; helping out in parent and toddlers. He's seen people wander in off the street worse for wear and seen different people try and help as best they could. He has seen much and seemed staggered at our involvement. Today it was me though that was staggered. "Gord...have you seen The Passion of Christ..." I had to admit I hadn't ( The Passion...evangelical marketing hijack...authentic evangelism? ) I'm still waiting...

For seven years Patrick....! has lovingly terrorised our luncheon club. We know he is harmless; he knows he is harmless - but not many others do. His tendency to shout and swear, to go off on one at the slightest, to throw his dinner at times is causing casualties. People are voting with their feet. I had to sit with him and talk. I had to sit and explain how people were scared of him. How people were intimidated. How people had stopped coming. How when people see him being abusive in the market they stay away. "Sir, that is a load of madam..." he says in his defence. "I know it's a load of madam..." I reply " but no one else does and they are leaving our luncheon club because of your abusive behaviour... So for them it is not a load of madam!" This is breaking my heart. No one wants this guy but equally he is squeezing the life out of our community efforts. We can't cope by ourselves anymore. We've learned that the only way we cope...

prod·i·gal ::Rashly or wastefully extravagant: prodigal expenditures on unneeded weaponry; a prodigal life. ::One who is given to wasteful luxury or extravagance. Ever thought about what the Prodigal Church looks like?

Robert Beckford really should be read! He warns : "To avoid becoming a lukewarm presence in the community, the urban church must guard against being seduced by the benefits gained from certain associations - sources of revenue or support that become more important that defending the weak or standing for justice - it needs to be a living and committed presence in the community unafraid of taking on any manifestation of evil or injustice, even if it means risking funding or support..." Beckford, R. (2004). God and the Gangs: An Urban Toolkit for Those Who Won't Be Sold Out, Bought Out or Scared Out. Looking at Church™ and all it's manifestations; looking at the pre-occupied church - in whatever form - the 'bought out church' is a timely reminder as to what and where we ought not be! A lukewarm presence in the community, seduced - not really that attractive! How bought out are we...? "I know you inside and out, and find little to my l...

George needed to talk. His "good morning..." seemed to have weight to it; his "good morning..." seemed to be loaded with need; his "good morning..." seemed to say I need to talk. George is a street cleaner who keeps our market clean. He comes into our Community Cafe that is open everyday. A regular. We chat. He is open about his worries, his concerns and largely I listen and when appropriate he hears about my life. George is being brave - there's been a bereavement in the family and he feels he needs to stand firm. He is the one that people depend on. He is the one that can't buckle, can't show any emotion. Well today George is fed up of standing firm; fed up of being depended on; fed up of not being able to show any emotion. Today he is affected. Today he has big questions of life and death. Today he wants to talk. Today he wants to talk with me. I grab a cup of tea "heh George - you want a chat...?"

Reflecting on Jacques Ellul's irony of the crushed poor by the egalitarian west Charles Ringma calls us to practice the transformational message of the gospel. "Do justice - it is closer to the heart of God than our practice of worship..." (Ringma) And here's me thinking tweaking our worship; getting all seeker sensitive; going purpose driven; singing the latest songs; getting better AV equipment; perhaps going dot. abbreviation; getting a brand; chasing relevance; giving trendy names to programmes of evangelism that have no context of authenticity; was the answer. ...and all the time it was there in the life of Jesus. Do Justice, freedom, hope, grace, love, mercy...! How far in the chase for relevance have we robbed mission of it's true meaning...? "I can't stand your religious meetings. I'm fed up with your conferences and conventions. I want nothing to do with your religion projects,your pretentious slogans and goals. I'm sick ...

This picture of St Nicholas' called 'Church in the Shadows' triggered a thought process a couple of years ago. Today isn't the day to revisit the thoughts but it is the day to revisit the picture - and remember.

I was now looking at death. Seconds before life – now death. Stood at Denmark Hill train station I was early for my train. I had a book open but was more interested in the drama that was unfolding before me. The freight train was hurtling towards the station 60, 70 mph who knows – an aggressive pull on the whistle announcing it’s imminent presence. One or two people took a step back as the train loomed ever larger. I see the pigeon - seemingly unaware. Happily pecking away at the remains of a discarded sandwich. It’ll be alright…it’s going to be tight…it’s now or… – the pigeon seemed to time its escape to perfection. Clap clap clap of its wings signalled its flight. The Drama goes ‘Matrix – esque’ slo mo. Yes it’s going to make it. Suddenly the drama is back to real time – no it’s not. The corner of the train frontage catches the pigeon that for the last few seconds was a part of my life. 0-70mph in a second. A vanguard explosion of feathers heralded the danger. Suddenly ...

"Beslan's Grief" More pictures amoung at bbc.co.uk . Sunday to meditate an pray we used a loop of these kind of pictures with Stings "Fragile..." - Fragile - If blood will flow when flesh and steel are one Drying in the colour of the evening sun Tomorrow's rain will wash the stains away But something in our minds will always stay Perhaps this final act was meant To clinch a lifetime's argument That nothing comes from violence and nothing ever could For all those born beneath an angry star Lest we forget how fragile we are On and on the rain will fall Like tears from a star like tears from a star On and on the rain will say How fragile we are how fragile we are On and on the rain will fall Like tears from a star like tears from a star On and on the rain will say How fragile we are how fragile we are How fragile we are how fragile we are Sting

"Injured Child Carrying a Cross" This picture amoung others at bbc.co.uk has affected me. How provocative within the whole context of yesterday's events is that?

It seems there are sold out churches and then there are sold out churches - which are you comfortable being part of? "...there are pastors and churches that have ignored the counter-cultural value system of the Christian faith...churches should promote an alternative way of thinking and being in order to 'achieve' in a radically different way, with values based on the model that Jesus lays down for believers. When a church is sold out, it has no viable alternatives to offer. It becomes just another 'gang' competing for turf and resources in the community…" Beckford, R. (2004). God and the Gangs: An Urban Toolkit for Those Who Won't Be Sold Out, Bought Out or Scared Out. Sold out...? No viable alternative...? Just another gang...? It comes to something when our evangelism more resembles a 'slick-back-haired' encyclopaedia sales rep than the gospel. It comes to something when our churches are seen as offering no viable alternative. It ...