News Archive
July 2008
Things that make you go... huh? (5)
What we sing is not gospel. (Oh that it was, like that church in the Blues Brothers film!) Much of what we sing is rather samey. There are some great songs, though, so let's not throw out any babies with the proverbial bath water. Let's keep what is good, old and modern, and use more variety, including gospel, R&B, rock, country, indie and any new styles that may lend themselves to worship. There's so much good stuff around, but it needs to be relevant to all ages, tailored for the various people that come. Ring the changes. I guess Sunday evenings are the time to be more experimental.
What else is weird? Maybe just the whole Sunday thing? Should we be more flexible as to when we meet? In the summer when we have good weather should we not just cancel morning services and head to the beach with our not-yet-Christian friends? Then invite them back for an interactive, cafe-style evening worship? How else will the gospel be preached in this "post modern world"? Let's get out of the box - literally. And the youth - stuck in church when we have the whole of Heaton Park to use just next door. They need more fun, creative stuff.
Things that make you go... huh? (2)
When I first came to HBC in Oct 1993, what I found weird was the feeling that I didn't want to leave; in fact I wanted to stay. I just had an overwhelming excitement about being in the church with my new family; it was all new, different and just goose-pimply... I think the Holy Spirit had something to do with it! To be honest that feeling has never quite left and I still love to be at church and in the Lord's presence.
Jennifer Rees Larcombe in her book "Journey into God's Heart" talks about "thin" places which have a heritage of prayer and where God feels so near that you can grasp him. Also Psalm 27 and Psalm 84 tell us about a deep longing to be in the Lord's house.
So, don't be suprised if you are new to the Christian faith and start seeing less and less of your earthly home... you are just settling in to your new spiritual home - it's perfectly normal!
Things that make you go... huh? (4)
A mate of mine - not a Christian - attended a meeting with his Christian wife that I was speaking at. The service leader went off on one on the evils of sin, invited people to break into groups to share one of their dark secrets with the group and then pray together. My friend, never one to miss an opportunity, told his group that he had many dark secrets but the chances of him confessing them to a load of "Godbotherers", when he doesn't even share them with his wife, was somewhere between nil and no chance.
Things that make you go... huh? (3)
"Take the persons hand next to you and share the Grace!"
Cringe Factor: 10 out of 10
When we say the Grace, what are we actually saying? Is it a mere blessing, perhaps a prayer, a welcome, a goodbye??? It isn't that clear from the average Joe's point of view. I know what the words mean (I think!). But, to someone in church for the first time, what do the words "...may the grace of our Father, ... blah blah blah...." actually mean?
And if you're totally new to a church, or even from another culture, the prospect of holding someone else's hand is not a great one. Regularly, I find myself holding hands with people I wouldn't choose to! If we want church to be welcoming and warm, not cringeworthy and uncomfortable, then we really need to drop holding hands!
Might I suggest we display the words of the Grace? Perhaps we could consider informing people why we say it? Perhaps even give people the option of saying it. Pretending you have a rare and contagious skin condition on your hands might also be a practical way of stopping someone reaching for your hands. I also find picking your nose and eating it to be an effective way of shutting out hand holding.
Prayer letter
This week we pray for Alice Hewitt, Hazel Hodgson, Linda Hogarth, Arthur Holmes, John Howarth, and Kate Howorth. May God richly bless them in every part of their lives.
We thank God for bringing us our new Youth Director and pray that Aileen and fiancé, Gordon will find a real welcome at HBC. We pray for all the arrangements for their wedding and also for their house move – and ask God to show His favour to them as they settle into their new life in Heaton. » more
Mark’s Musings - Day 2 (Wednesday)
Wow, what a brilliant day today has been: action packed; eventful; great places; wonderful memories. » more
Mark's Musings - Day 1 (Tuesday)
Okay, here we go.
First day of our trip to the beautiful US of A. » more
Things that make you go... huh?
Following on from Mark's sermon at the weekend about being a welcoming church, I thought we should start a list of things that people coming to our church for the first time might find strange, bizarre, weird or amazing.
Here's my first contribution: Worship music.
When I went to pick up Jacob from a friend's house on Sunday evening, I got into conversation with this friend's mother about where I'd just been (church), what I'd been doing (playing drums) and what kind of music we played at church (um... er... )
How do you describe worship music to someone who hasn't been inside a church for the last 30 years? Gospel? Rock? Pop? None of the above?
Does it matter? Maybe not. Jacob's friend's mum might be sufficiently intrigued to come along and find out for herself.
Or is worship music one of the trappings of a sub-culture that is relevant only to members of the "club"?
Just a thought. And I'd like to hear your nominations for "Things that people coming to our church for the first time might find strange, bizarre, weird or amazing".