Thursday, 26 November 2009
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
B1 Looking for new Vicar...
Finally we have been allowed to advertise the post of incumbent for our church - details below!
Contact InformationDiocese of Birmingham/Priest for B1 Network Church
Job Title: Priest for B1 Network Church
Job description: B1 is a dynamic network church formed in 2001, meeting in locations in the centre of Birmingham and primed to reach out to people who are not connecting with the traditional parish mode of church. Church membership numbers 45, largely committed and gifted young adults, together with some children.
We are looking for a priest to lead this church, and who will:
• Bring passion, imagination, vision and depth to build on B1's groundbreaking ministry
• Enable the congregation's outreach to non-churched people in an urban culture
• Sustain the committed and nurture new disciples
• Demonstrate flexibility in style and a collaborative way of working
• Connect with similar pioneering initiatives nationally to inform mission in this city
• Offer around 20% of his/her time to act as the Bishop's adviser on fresh expressions / pioneer ministry.see the church website: www.b1church.netThe priest will be appointed under a Bishop's Mission Order, initially for five years, and will be provided with a four bedroomed house and incumbent stipend.Closing Date: 20/12/2009
Interview Date: 19/01/2009
Contact Address: The Archdeacon of Birmingham 175-185 Harborne Park Road, Birmingham B17 OBH
Contact Email: archdeaconofbham@birmingham.anglican.org
Thursday, 22 October 2009
The Green Man Attired for the Harvest
reposted from
A blessing upon your home, A blessing upon your hearth, Upon your newly-kindled fire. A blessing upon your journey, Your going out and coming home. A blessing upon your face, and all who meet you. May He, for whom to love and to be are one, keep you in the way of his children! (Celtic Blessing) When I was a child, Halloween was my favorite holiday. I could never figure out why adults thought it was only for children. It wasn’t the costumes or the candy that intrigued me so much as the atmosphere of mystery and playfulness. Years later, I would encounter that same paradox in devotion to Radha-Krishna, Rumi’s poems, the crazy stories of Zen masters, the wise folly of Hassidic tales, and St. Francis, fool for Christ. Yet this profound secret – that creation springs from divine playfulness – was first revealed to me at Halloween. I loved the pranks of mischief night and the playful logic of trick or treat. Even more, I loved the contemplative silence after midnight, when I was too drunk on candy to sleep and the darkness seemed alive with spirit. Whether it was the Holy Spirit or the tingling of a trillion sprites, I knew not. It didn’t matter. I sensed a “cloud of witnesses” around me. I feasted on luminous darkness. "Cloud of witnesses" is the New Testament's evocative term for the abiding presence of the saints in our life. In more ancient cultures, they are called "the ancestors." Honoring them is a profoundly important aspect of Samhain, which is why the Church chose this Pagan New Year's festival for the Feast of All Souls (October 31) and the Feast of All Saints (November 1). Samhain is pronounced, saw'in. Samhain is the turning point, the threshold, where the veil between spirit and matter is thin as a wisp. We sense a world of souls around us. The Celts believed that, at this hour, spirits of the newly departed return to wish us farewell before commencing their journey. We can also sense the living consciousness of the plant and animal kingdoms as we celebrate this harvest of souls. We make offerings of remembrance on the alter of hearth and heart. If our ancestors were troubled, we unconsciously carry their troubles today. Therefor, we need to recover them with intentional love-offerings, lighting a candle for healing. If our ancestors were joyful, we carry their joy today. We celebrate that joy with a candle of thanksgiving. This we do at our Samhain feast. Too often in the Christian West, we spurn the veneration of ancestor as ignorant, primitive. Yet we pay our therapist $150 an hour to heal us of our ancestors' wounds. We carry them in every strand of DNA, every unconscious habit of behavior. Since they are primal forces in our unconscious, does it matter whether we call them the Ancestors or the Communion of Saints?
Samhain is a time for tricks and laughter, yet a time for deep contemplative silence. It is the bitter sweet celebration of Summer’s End, one derivation of the word, "samhain". Samhain is thanksgiving for harvest, sacrifice of the old and birth of the new. Samhain is maple leaf and pumpkin, apple and spider's web, little signs of the season transformed into mythic powers simply by offering them in the hearth of gratitude. The origin of the word “bonfire” is the "bone fire" of Samhain, where the weak and old of the flock were culled, so that the strong would survive the Winter. This sacrifice was offered, not with the heartless industry of modern agri-business, but in reverence for the continuity of life. The life we consume lives through us, as we live through those we serve. Today we may not sacrifice sheep and heifers, but we can still make a harvest alter or bonfire, offering prayers written on leaves to cast among the flames. Over the hills of Britain on the Eve of All Souls the bonfires blaze, as in the marvelous opening of Thomas Hardy’s Return of the Native. Citizens light brands from the village bonfire and take them home to kindle their own hearths. Those hearth-coals smolder through the coming year, each home nurtured by the original light of Samhain. It's the turning of the year from bright half to dark. For six months, angels and nature spirits have outwardly engaged in the business of greening, blossoming, and bearing fruit. Now the cycle turns from manifestation to silence, Summer's riot to Winter-space of contemplation. Energy sinks inward, leaf to seed. Matter itself is enlivened with a concentrated force as creation gently implodes. Stumps, crystals, soil itself, glow with an inward light. You cannot understand Samhain unless you hold all matter sacred. It's all about the Incarnation.... In this season, many of us experience a quickening of our inner life. Nature wanes stark, but consciousness ignites. In the Church's liturgical year, Advent begins, heralding Winter Solstice and Yule. The embryonic soul leaps inside the mother, matter. Christmas means birth of Christ, not just in a moment of historical time, but in the womb of nature. Jesus prayed that God's kingdom might manifest On earth as in heaven. In Celtic worship, the same law is expressed: As above so below. When fully present with us on earth, Christ is the Green Man. The veil between the worlds is thin:
Bright to dark the seasons turn.
Green Man's fire in Jack Lantern:
Light above shining within. Come dance in the circle of Samhain,
Buds of Beltane burnished in frost.
Honor the Old Ones: nothing is lost.
Whatever you offer is born again.
COMMON BREAD
INTERFAITH DIALOG & CONTEMPLATIVE SPACE FOR THE EVERGREEN COMMUNITY
http://cbread.blogspot.com/2007/10/christian-contemplation-on-samhain.html
INTERFAITH DIALOG & CONTEMPLATIVE SPACE FOR THE EVERGREEN COMMUNITY
http://cbread.blogspot.com/2007/10/christian-contemplation-on-samhain.html
A blessing upon your home, A blessing upon your hearth, Upon your newly-kindled fire. A blessing upon your journey, Your going out and coming home. A blessing upon your face, and all who meet you. May He, for whom to love and to be are one, keep you in the way of his children! (Celtic Blessing) When I was a child, Halloween was my favorite holiday. I could never figure out why adults thought it was only for children. It wasn’t the costumes or the candy that intrigued me so much as the atmosphere of mystery and playfulness. Years later, I would encounter that same paradox in devotion to Radha-Krishna, Rumi’s poems, the crazy stories of Zen masters, the wise folly of Hassidic tales, and St. Francis, fool for Christ. Yet this profound secret – that creation springs from divine playfulness – was first revealed to me at Halloween. I loved the pranks of mischief night and the playful logic of trick or treat. Even more, I loved the contemplative silence after midnight, when I was too drunk on candy to sleep and the darkness seemed alive with spirit. Whether it was the Holy Spirit or the tingling of a trillion sprites, I knew not. It didn’t matter. I sensed a “cloud of witnesses” around me. I feasted on luminous darkness. "Cloud of witnesses" is the New Testament's evocative term for the abiding presence of the saints in our life. In more ancient cultures, they are called "the ancestors." Honoring them is a profoundly important aspect of Samhain, which is why the Church chose this Pagan New Year's festival for the Feast of All Souls (October 31) and the Feast of All Saints (November 1). Samhain is pronounced, saw'in. Samhain is the turning point, the threshold, where the veil between spirit and matter is thin as a wisp. We sense a world of souls around us. The Celts believed that, at this hour, spirits of the newly departed return to wish us farewell before commencing their journey. We can also sense the living consciousness of the plant and animal kingdoms as we celebrate this harvest of souls. We make offerings of remembrance on the alter of hearth and heart. If our ancestors were troubled, we unconsciously carry their troubles today. Therefor, we need to recover them with intentional love-offerings, lighting a candle for healing. If our ancestors were joyful, we carry their joy today. We celebrate that joy with a candle of thanksgiving. This we do at our Samhain feast. Too often in the Christian West, we spurn the veneration of ancestor as ignorant, primitive. Yet we pay our therapist $150 an hour to heal us of our ancestors' wounds. We carry them in every strand of DNA, every unconscious habit of behavior. Since they are primal forces in our unconscious, does it matter whether we call them the Ancestors or the Communion of Saints?
Samhain is a time for tricks and laughter, yet a time for deep contemplative silence. It is the bitter sweet celebration of Summer’s End, one derivation of the word, "samhain". Samhain is thanksgiving for harvest, sacrifice of the old and birth of the new. Samhain is maple leaf and pumpkin, apple and spider's web, little signs of the season transformed into mythic powers simply by offering them in the hearth of gratitude. The origin of the word “bonfire” is the "bone fire" of Samhain, where the weak and old of the flock were culled, so that the strong would survive the Winter. This sacrifice was offered, not with the heartless industry of modern agri-business, but in reverence for the continuity of life. The life we consume lives through us, as we live through those we serve. Today we may not sacrifice sheep and heifers, but we can still make a harvest alter or bonfire, offering prayers written on leaves to cast among the flames. Over the hills of Britain on the Eve of All Souls the bonfires blaze, as in the marvelous opening of Thomas Hardy’s Return of the Native. Citizens light brands from the village bonfire and take them home to kindle their own hearths. Those hearth-coals smolder through the coming year, each home nurtured by the original light of Samhain. It's the turning of the year from bright half to dark. For six months, angels and nature spirits have outwardly engaged in the business of greening, blossoming, and bearing fruit. Now the cycle turns from manifestation to silence, Summer's riot to Winter-space of contemplation. Energy sinks inward, leaf to seed. Matter itself is enlivened with a concentrated force as creation gently implodes. Stumps, crystals, soil itself, glow with an inward light. You cannot understand Samhain unless you hold all matter sacred. It's all about the Incarnation.... In this season, many of us experience a quickening of our inner life. Nature wanes stark, but consciousness ignites. In the Church's liturgical year, Advent begins, heralding Winter Solstice and Yule. The embryonic soul leaps inside the mother, matter. Christmas means birth of Christ, not just in a moment of historical time, but in the womb of nature. Jesus prayed that God's kingdom might manifest On earth as in heaven. In Celtic worship, the same law is expressed: As above so below. When fully present with us on earth, Christ is the Green Man. The veil between the worlds is thin:
Bright to dark the seasons turn.
Green Man's fire in Jack Lantern:
Light above shining within. Come dance in the circle of Samhain,
Buds of Beltane burnished in frost.
Honor the Old Ones: nothing is lost.
Whatever you offer is born again.
Wednesday, 21 October 2009
A Christian liturgy for Samhain
Praying through the Celtic Year
Samhain - Summer passes through to winter
The festival of Samhain (pronounced 'sow'inn' and the word for November in some Gaelic languages) is a celebration of the end of the harvest season in Gaelic culture, and is sometimes regarded as the 'Celtic New Year'.
Samhain has been celebrated in Britain for centuries and has its origin in Pagan Celtic traditions. It was the time of year when the veils between this world and the Otherworld were believed to be at their thinnest: when the spirits of the dead could most readily mingle with the living once again. Later, when the festival was adopted by Christians, they celebrated it as All Hallows' Eve, followed by All Saints Day, though it still retained elements of remembering and honouring the dead.
A visual aid - an apple - might be placed centrally to the gathered group. The apple tree had significance to the pagan Celts which we can also appreciate at this time. It comes into blossom in the spring (the Celts saw this as a symbol love and fertility) and throughout the year the fruit continues to develop and ripen. Because many varieties keep over a long period of time when stored this was symbolic of love’s presence, even long past the time of peak ripeness. The apple, of course, should it fall to the ground contains the seeds from which life begins again.
nb. This has been written with the hope that it might be appropriate both for Christian groups to use, and also as a means of reaching out to those on the fringes, those who seeking after spiritual fulfilment but attracted more to the ancient pagan rituals and customs of this time of year. Please give John some feedback so that this liturgy might be refined over time.
A Christian liturgy for Samhain
© John Birch, FaithAndWorship.com
Let's just spend a moment or two in quietness.
| Yours is the day, yours also the night; you established the luminaries and the sun. You have fixed all the bounds of the earth; you made summer and winter. |
In the fading of the summer sun,
the shortening of days, cooling breeze,
swallows' flight and moonlight rays
A. WE SEE THE CREATOR'S HAND
In the browning of leaves once green,
morning mists, autumn chill,
fruit that falls frost's first kiss
A. WE SEE THE CREATOR'S HAND
Creator God, forgive our moments of ingratitude,
the spiritual blindness that prevents us
from appreciating the wonder that is this world,
the endless cycle of nature,
of life and death and rebirth.
Forgive us for taking without giving
reaping without sowing.
Open our eyes to see
our lips to praise
our hands to share
and may our feet tread lightly on the road.
Listen to the profound words of the French novelist Albert Camus, and just think about them for a moment : |
Here a song, chant or hymn might be sung
We see signs of summer's passing in golden leaves,
shortening days, misty mornings, autumn glow.
We sense its passing in rain that dampens,
winds that chill, Harvest's bounty placed on show.
Creator God, who brings forth
both green shoot and hoar frost,
sunrise and sunset,
we bring our thanks
for seeds that have grown,
harvests gathered,
storehouses filled,
mouths fed.
And, as your good earth rests
through winter's cold embrace,
we look forward to its re-awakening
when kissed by Spring's first touch.
For summer's passing
and harvest home
A. WE THANK YOU
For autumn's splendour
and winter's chill
A. WE THANK YOU
For seed that has fallen
the promise of spring
A. WE THANK YOU
As a part of nature's wondrous cycle
Of new birth, growth, fruitfulness and death
We rejoice in the creation of new life,
For parenthood, the passing on of knowledge,
For understanding and the wisdom of years.
We are grateful for those who have gone before
Passing on to us our spiritual heritage.
May our lives blossom as the apple tree in Spring
May we become fruitful in thought and deed
And may the seed of love that falls to the ground
Linger beyond our time on this earth.
| St. Francis of Assisi wrote these wise words: 'Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take nothing that you have received…but only what you have given' |
For fruitfulness
A. WE THANK YOU
For a generous spirit
A. WE THANK YOU
For wisdom and faith
A. WE THANK YOU
For old age and new birth
A. WE THANK YOU
For those who have gone before us
Seeds planted in your rich pasture
With the hope of life eternal
May their enduring spirit live on
Enriching and empowering our lives
Their love linger
Their presence be near
Until we meet once more.
'The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power' (1 Cor 15:42-43) |
For your embracing love
A Father's love
A Mother's love
The love that sees our failings
And forgives us
The love that sees our joys
And embraces us
The love that knows no end
or beginning
A love that could die for us
We bless you.
A. WE BLESS YOU
We bless you, God of Seed and Harvest
And we bless each other
That the beauty of this world
And the love that created it
Might be expressed though our lives
And be a blessing to others
Now and always
A. AMEN
Tuesday, 20 October 2009
Malawi Youth Encounter Videos
I've spent most of the day burning video files to a DVD... it's taking an age!Also uploading them to youtube on the new channel for the youth office - http://youtube.com/binspiredbham
For the most part I was behind the camera in Malawi - but there a few parts I appear in!
Now need to send off a master disc to get it copied 50 times... Mind you - I reckon most people are happy to see the Youtube version instead ah well...
Wednesday, 14 October 2009
Pray at all times and on all occasions with all sorts of prayers and requests Ephesians 6:18
Basically - keep praying - all the time!God wants to listen to you - don't stop talking to him! He'll listen to anything you say, will consider anything you ask and he might even answer you too - if you're willing to listen. But how to pray? Lots of ways.. it could even be an email or a blog post! A thought, a word, a deed... A song... How do you pray? If others saw it - would they know it was a prayer? It could be secret or public!
I'd love to hear what you consider to be prayer, and what you consider not to be prayer... Right now I'm praying for several of my friends who are thinking of starting a group that reaches out into, supports and ministers to people who belong to, relate to or are interested in Gothic and alternative subcultures.
Some of them are considering affiliation with Ulfilas Christian Goth International, which of course I welcome! May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
I'd love to hear what you consider to be prayer, and what you consider not to be prayer... Right now I'm praying for several of my friends who are thinking of starting a group that reaches out into, supports and ministers to people who belong to, relate to or are interested in Gothic and alternative subcultures.
Some of them are considering affiliation with Ulfilas Christian Goth International, which of course I welcome! May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
Monday, 12 October 2009
Lots of work!
Answered prayer. That's what that is.
Last month I blogged that I need more. People prayed... I got lots of work!
I've been doing several projects for clients I haven't worked for in months/years. WOW.
The Ulfilas Project has become "Ulfilas Christian Goth International" and looks set to get established properly this year. Charter now done, Mission statement decided - Brilliant bit of work by Russ Williams in Beverley Hills LA on that for us.. Lots of interest from people around the world in setting something up where they are too... exciting stuff. Website getting underway too... thanks to the work of Daniel Jansson, who is setting up Ulfilas Sweden in Gothenburg Cathedral!
http://www.ulfilas.org
We have a group and a page on facebook - see widget! And we're doing a poll to see who might be interested in helping us out...
Last month I blogged that I need more. People prayed... I got lots of work!
I've been doing several projects for clients I haven't worked for in months/years. WOW.
The Ulfilas Project has become "Ulfilas Christian Goth International" and looks set to get established properly this year. Charter now done, Mission statement decided - Brilliant bit of work by Russ Williams in Beverley Hills LA on that for us.. Lots of interest from people around the world in setting something up where they are too... exciting stuff. Website getting underway too... thanks to the work of Daniel Jansson, who is setting up Ulfilas Sweden in Gothenburg Cathedral!
http://www.ulfilas.org
We have a group and a page on facebook - see widget! And we're doing a poll to see who might be interested in helping us out...
Monday, 14 September 2009
Work, Stair Gates, photos
Been looking to see if I can catch some other design work via a few business network sites... I think I need to update my portfolio and website to include newer stuff though.
Just had to put the stair gate on the bottom of the stairs as Ben decided he would become a mountaineer today and try and scale the wooden hill for the first time (he got to the fourth step as I watched and caught him as he stumbled) - a quick trip into the loft (by me)and 5 minutes later problem solved. Now the only issue is how to get off the stairs when there's a baby at the bottom holding on to the gate! I've discovered the best tactic is to part open the gate until Ben decides he can't balance and sits down... that gives just enough room!
Also in a desperate ish attempt to find more work I've sent a photo montage of myself to a modelling agency! It specialises in Ugly models so - I might get some work! There were a few punks on there and one or two goths.
Now then - back to work
Oh and by the way
I'm not a Goth ;)
Just had to put the stair gate on the bottom of the stairs as Ben decided he would become a mountaineer today and try and scale the wooden hill for the first time (he got to the fourth step as I watched and caught him as he stumbled) - a quick trip into the loft (by me)and 5 minutes later problem solved. Now the only issue is how to get off the stairs when there's a baby at the bottom holding on to the gate! I've discovered the best tactic is to part open the gate until Ben decides he can't balance and sits down... that gives just enough room!
Also in a desperate ish attempt to find more work I've sent a photo montage of myself to a modelling agency! It specialises in Ugly models so - I might get some work! There were a few punks on there and one or two goths.
Now then - back to work
Oh and by the way
I'm not a Goth ;)
Tuesday, 8 September 2009
Why Why Why?
I can't believe I did it again. Got dragged into yet another way of creating content for the web. How on earth can I possibly stay on top of all my social networks? I'll never remember all the passwords, can't remember joining half of them and occasionally see my name on a site after googling myself. Right.
Somehow also need to set up a Wiki. Never done that. Not even much if a wiki user! What's the best way to start? Do I need my own server? Can I just post something on Wikipedia?
The wiki is to start putting together a charter for 'Ulfilas' which is destined to become an international community for Christians who are also part of the goth, alternative etc subcultures.
Off to a good start with a thing based on Robert's Rules of Order - put together by Russ Williams whose looking to start a chapter in Beverley Hills.
Oh and by the way
I'm not a Goth ;)
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