Sunday, March 28, 2004
the preparation
preparations began today for the 2004 contemporary passion of Jesus …. removed half the church pews, hung a white frost cloth ceiling, laid down metres of black polythene plastic in preparation for 3 tonnes of sand to be laid in the church …..
It is amazing how changing the physical environment changes the feel of the space. The youth service tonite will be on cushions on a black polythene screen with Bill Viola visuals.
Saturday, March 27, 2004
easter art
2004
CONTEMPORARY
PASSION OF JESUS
the 2004 CONTEMPORARY PASSION OF JESUS
a series of contemporary interactive art installations
that reinterpret the ancient Stations of the Cross
and the last hours of Jesus life
leading up to His death
7pm-11pm, Monday, 5 April to Thursday, 8 April
1pm-11 pm, Friday, 9 April and Saturday, 10 April
Opawa Baptist Church, cnr Wilsons Rd & Hastings St East
Worship amid the art, 10:30 am Good Friday, Easter Sunday
* stations explored, 9 pm nightly,
a guided discussion of the impact of the imagery
Sunday, March 21, 2004
needing visual help
the new church i pastor has …
a) a paid staff team of 5
b) a board who provide accountability
c) a range of ministry leaders.
the new church i pastor has a signboard with …
a) photos of the staff team at the top
b) photos of the board in the middle
c) photos of the ministry leaders below
the new church i pastor needs a signboard that shows …
how the staff team, in accountable relationship with the board,
and in team with a range of ministry leaders and pastoral interns
sustain the ministry of everyone in the church in the world.
how do i visually re-present this, using photos, on a signboard?
Sunday, February 29, 2004
godly play on live video feed
I had a go at godly play at Opawa this morning. For those unaware, godly play is a way of honouring the Biblical text by using imagination, senses and wonder (I’ve blogged about it here, and Prodigal describes me doing it here). You tell the Bible story using symbols (sand, stones, ark, etc), allow time to “wonder” (I wonder where we are in this story), and then conclude (I did the story of crossing the Jordan into the promised land).
I love it because it privileges the Bible story. Rather than dissect the Scriptures with cold intellect, we enter into the Scriptures and let the Bible shape us.
Anyhow, I got a live video feed going. So as I did it with the kids, the whole church could watch. It is something I have dreamed off for years, live video feeds in church, and it is great to be in a context and with techies who can make some dreams happen.
Tuesday, February 24, 2004
a moving Sunday
It was my first Sunday at Opawa.
At the door everyone got given 2 pieces of Ello opolis; a type of lego. The Bible text was 1 Corinthians 12; each body unique. As a response at the end of the service, I invited everyone to join their Ello to the person beside them. These were handed from person and person down the rows, and then brought to the front, where about 5 people built “the new Opawa; each body part unique” – while we sung “Be Thou My Vision.”
It was a very moving to see this uniquely new creation emerge.
(I wanted to grab a digital photo for you, but the kids arrived first!)
PS A number of people commented on how having something tactile to play with during the service enhanced their attention span. This is at the heart of creativity; if we treat people as whole people, they are more likely to learn and grow as whole followers of Jesus.
Saturday, February 07, 2004
Futures group
I start my new job as pastor at Opawa Baptist in 10 days time. I am looking forward to a 3 day/week job that is 10 minutes walk away, rather than an 80 minute flight. Amid the busyness of commuting to Auckland, I start to think about my new role.
I bring to a long established church my 9 years of planting an emerging church, my teaching gifts, my creativity and my PhD study on the theology of the emerging church. I have a commitment to both nurture what is, and to encourage what might yet be. How to listen and respect what is, while sharing of my hopes, dreams and experiences?
One idea I have had is to start a futures group, a gathering with no official status and no set agenda, yet the space to talk and dream. Meeting say fortnightly. An open invitation to anyone at Opawa to join a conversation; to reflect on postmodernity, to experience new ways of worship together, to talk about what this might mean for Opawa and for those outside church in Christchurch.
What do you think? Any suggestions for an appropriate name? Any other ideas of ways I might respectfully blend my insights, passions and dreams with GodÂ’s story already woven in, and through, a group of faithful servants?
)
