sustain:if:able kiwi

formational environments

I’ve been thinking recently about “spiritual formation.” How do we grow, how are we shaped into the image of God? Coming to a long-established church, so much seems adhoc, a group here or a sermon there. So I have been pondering what it means as a church to become “formational environments”?

It’s such a big question and I have not even been sure where to start. So this morning, I personalised the question. What has “formed” and grown me over my life?

I identified some key people – with names like Peter and Marjory and Mike.
I noted the importance of being given opportunity – in ministry and with encouragement.
I recognised the necessity of space – which for me was theological seminary and the PhD process.
And somewhere in there are regular habits – of reading and reflection and prayer.

people + opportunity + space + regular habits; together these have been for me significant formational factors.

But my experiences are not necessarily universal. So, I’d value your input. Over your life, what have been the key events/circumstances/things that have formed you spiritually?

midwiving and leadership formation

I’ve just had some more of my thinking published. In my book the out of bounds church?, I spent some time using the image of midwiving to describe emerging church ministry. It is organic and life-giving. It employs a multi-facted skill base amid the mess and complexity of life in giving birth to the dreams of mother and child.

Anyhow, I have now developed my thinking a bit further. This started life (OK, was birthed) as a paper I gave in November 2004. I has now been published (born again?) in a recent Ministry, Society and Theology Journal. In the article I explore some Biblical echoes around mid-wives, particularly in Exodus. I then apply the mid-wiving image to the task of spiritual formation, theological education and ministry leadership.

Title: Midwiving and the practices of theological field education.

Copies of the entire journal (264 pages) can be purchased for $7 (Aus) from:
The Editorial Committee
Whitley College
271 Royal Parade
Parkville Vic 3052
Australia

the collision of faith and secularity in politics

Yesterday saw a collision of faith and secularity in New Zealand politics. Yesterday it was revealed that a group of business people who belong to the Exclusive Brethren sect had funded mailbox pamphlets attacking Labour and the Greens.

Yesterday Helen Clark dismissed this as the workings of a right-wing group. Helen obviously didn’t listen to the public press conference held by those funding the pamphlet campaign. If she did listen, she failed to notice the Bible on the table. Helen, this has nothing to do with right-wing and left-wing. This is a matter of faith. It’s a group of people who care enough about their interpretation of the Bible to spend large sums of money.

Labour can be glad on one thing at the moment. Fundamentalists tend to splinter. They are better at collision than cohesion. But stop for a moment and contemplate the impact of the financial resources of half a million dollars combined with the people resources of a Destiny Political Party. Both the Exclusive Brethren business leaders and Destiny are saying Enough is enough. Both are putting their faith on the line. Both are evidence of a new religious muscle in our public domain.

I might not agree with them. Nor might Helen. But to dismiss it as political is an insult to practices of religious freedom.

Subject: Te Waiora Thanksgiving Service

Te Waiora Annual Thanksgiving Service
Sunday, November 6th, 3.00 p.m
St John’s Church, Hororata

Speaker: Steve Taylor
Title: A healing community

photos of intercession

Bill emailed; he’s collected visual images from New Orleans into one place here . Thanks Bill. We used them for intercession tonite at espresso, to a song by Cold Play. As well as New Orleans I pray for Opawa, facing 3 funerals this week, and my family, with 2 sick kids.

how was your day off?

Monday’s are my day off. Normally it’s a discipline I practise well. It starts with a sleep in and a quiet coffee with my wife. Then lunch, often followed by a walk or a movie. Then I try to do something with the kids, either bike riding or making dinner together. Today things were pear-shaped.

7:30 am email with the news of the death of a parishioner
11 am speak at Kingdom Builders on Living the text in a postmodern context.
2 pm conduct the funeral of another parishioner.

All this after a weekend with two services, 7 people attending a membership information morning, another death and the heart attack of a friend, who is now recovering.

I’d appreciate your prayers for a season of uncommonly major pastoral moments.

mission cards

What is church? At Opawa we have been exploring the idea that church exists to develop community, extend Jesus love and grow in Christian life. This understanding has laid the groundwork for a multi-congregational model and allowed the planting of Espresso, a Tuesday evening congregation.

Espresso is experimenting with the mission part, with extending Jesus love, in the following way. Once a month a person describes their work. This is followed by the playing of 3 cards;
Creator card
Redeeemer card
Sustainer card.

Each card offers a Scripture and some questions based on understanding God as Creator; Redeemer; Sustainer. Questions like; What in this person’s work takes responsibility for God’s creation? What in this person’s work enhances life to the full? What in this work breathes God’s peace and forgiveness?

Those gathered answer the cards. In so doing, they provide feedback, offering insights into how a person’s work is an extension of Jesus love.

The evening then concludes with a storytelling time. The story of a saint is shared, ideally a saint that has some linkage with the person’s work.

So on Tuesday a scientist working in the micro-biology field shared and the evening ended with the story of St.Francis of Assissi. For a positive comment, see here.

more on colouring worship

I blogged recently about the use of colours in worship (here and here), in order to allow people to bring their weeks into the presence of God.

It’s a contrast to the worship leader line: Leave your life at the door. Colours offer us God interested in all of life, rather than a sacred vs secular divide.

Fyfe, church planting in Dunedin, has now tried it in worship. I like his comments about the need for expressionism in worship. Somehow colours do that. There is a spirituality to colour. It’s part of worship as all that we are responding to all that God is. God in all of life.

out of bounds church perfect beer match

I’ve just found the perfect drink to go with my out of bounds church? book. The search has been on ever since May, when Darren Wright settled down for a extended review of the book. (The review proceeds over nine posts, so start here). His review included a plea for beer sponsorship; if any Beer company would like to sponsor me, say Coopers or Hoegaarden or Stellas, please contact me via email 🙂 to go with his dinner of Chilli Squid. Click to view dinner

And so my search began. Today I can proudly unveil the Avery Out of Bounds Stout as the perfect beer match for the Out of Bounds book.

Avery Out of Bounds Stout Commercial Description: This big, roasty stout takes flavor to the extreme. We aren’t afraid to use plenty of rich roasted barley and a mountain of hops to give this full-bodied stout that little extra something you’ve been looking for in a beer.

For a limited time period, I am willing to supply one bottle of said beer to accompany one review copy of the out of bounds church, in the hope that both products, when combined, will lead to a gentle, benign view of life, and a gentle, benign review of book on your blog. If you would like a review copy please let me know.

This post also appears on the out of bounds church? book blog.

What’s Going On Out There?

The church around the world is changing. From the way people meet, to the way people worship (multimedia, art, storytelling, neo-liturgy), it’s clear that this is not your mum’s or dad’s church anymore. So what’s happening on the edges of the church? What’s on the horizon and how fast is it closing in?

Contemporary Ways of Being the People of God (Taught D/M445C.505)

This course takes trips to the edge of the church envelope and sends back what Steve Taylor has found inside the emerging church around the globe. Topics include: Internet church, Christian festivals, resourcing spiritual seekers and selling worship. The course includes optional practical workshops on spirituality, worship and community. From the revival of ancient spiritual practices to the rise of multimedia, this course will explore the implications for being the people of God today.

Friday and Saturday, September 23 and 24, 2005, 9 -12 am, 2 – 5 pm.

Cost $50 for interest. To enrol or for more information contact Kathy or Steve, BCNZ, 70 Condell Avenue, Papanui, Christchurch, 643 354 4270

images of jesus

images of Jesus.
The domestication of Jesus saddens me.

geoff bullock mark 2

Over at signposts there is some fascinating insight into how people change over time. Faced with crisis and tragedy in his life, Geoff Bullock has re-explored his theology and re-written the lyrics to some of his songs. The new lyrics (alongside the old) are being published at the signposts blog; Just let me say; the heavens shall declare; the power of your love; have faith in God.

It is a poignant reminder to any Christian songwriter and any Christian worship leader; that words are deeply, deeply powerful. Songs need to be chosen with care. Lyrics matter.

texting communion

Further to my post on mobile worship, we had a go at texting communion tonite.

Context: Younger demographic, so high users of cell phones. Also a demographic with potential for giggle factor.

Planning: We broke communion up into bits;
Welcome
Bread Scriptures
Grape juice Scriptures
Lords Prayer
Serving bread
Serving grape juice
Benediction

Actual liturgy: We texted people, who came to the front to read the various words. These were up on the powerpoint to make it easier and also to include those who didn’t have cell phones.

We then texted more people with the invitation to serve bread and grape juice among us.

We then texted everyone the Lord’s prayer, which we all said together. We ended by texting a couple of people the Benediction and asking them to pass it on among each other.

Analysis: It took about 20 minutes, longer than I thought. This was OK, but if we did it again, I’d like to give people more visual input.

If we did it again, I’d also like the lights darker, so that we could see the glow of all our cell phones lighting up as we recieved the Lord’s Prayer.

Oh, I texted the benediction to the wrong person, someone said. I like the fact that the Lord’s Prayer and a benediction is flying around cell~space.

It had the potential to become a giggle fest, but didn’t. It certainly made commmunion more participatory and helped tune people in. I loved the randomness of it all, not knowing who would do what or when a text would arrive.

Why do it? I hope it wasn’t to try and be cool. For me, it was part of reflecting on the Word made flesh, God who so loved this world. What does it mean for the Word to become text? How does God connect with cellphone users?

Ponder this: Who was the first person to invest in global roaming technology?

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yeah, but is it church?

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espresso, our new Tuesday nite “discussion in community” congregation went rock climbing on Tuesday. A great nite; sharing communion, building community, pushing ourselves into new ways, integrating body and soul. Is it church?