The one word I always associate with the certificate of theology course I attended some years ago is liberation! Why liberation, because I felt like I was some sort of theological Christopher Columbus journeying into “the undiscovered country” pushing back and in some cases dismantling the boundaries of faith and belief widening my vision of God.
Well I am about to embark on another journey. Julyan has secured funding on behalf of Newlyn Trinity Methodist Church from the Anchor Foundation for a project that will seek to “engage the wider community at venues including “The Centre”, school, homes and the social housing estate’s advisory rooms, offering opportunities for creative spiritual expression, linked with local events, changing seasons and the Christian calendar. The project will offer opportunities to express personal or community views and emotions through e.g. sand painting, candle making, bread making, developing the spiritual dimension of Trinity’s social outreach”
Julyan has asked me to be one of the project workers along with Colin Carbis. Colin and I know each other from our participation as players in the Mounts Bay Buccaneers American Football team that existed in the middle 1980’s. I am looking forward to learning from Colin. His theological background is in the Orthodox Church. We seem to find candles and icons useful as entry points into prayer and spirituality, and also share a desire to explore the Celtic tradition of Christianity to see what that can offer.
Last Thursday, Julyan Colin and I met to set out a broad framework for the project and here’s what we came up with.
Main points from meeting on 14/05/2009
What would we like to see happen!
Creative Spiritual Expression;
Pilgrimage, Journey;
Story, ebb and flow in and out of the church;
Celtic, go where the Spirit leads;
Open to possibilities;
Constituency = all;
Developing places for conversation, sharing, “fellowship” – getting to know you;
Awakening prayer in the ordinary;
Aware of the divine in the ordinary;
Measures of Success.
Accessible to all – inclusive;
Growing interest in “prayer”; people finding more accessible ways to “pray”;
Growing awareness, deepening spirituality;
Increased use of the Sanctuary;
Allow this project to inform the Sunday;
Make the worship space more amenable to spirituality;
Start at Centre and discover what is needed for the journey. Look at Newlyn, listen to what is being said.
It is my intention to use this blog as a journal. To record my thoughts; to keep you all informed as much as possible about the project; and to invite you the reader to put your input into the project as you fell able. I will aim to post updates as comments rather than creating a new blog all the time
One of the first things you can help us with is to suggest a name for the project. A couple of suggestions have been “ebb and flow” and “awakening”. If you have any suggestions please post on this blog or e mail me at stephensedgeman@yahoo.co.uk.
Well, Colin and I have our first meeting at the Centre tomorrow. I am feeling nervously excited if I am honest. What does the future hold regarding this project; hmm I wonder if Christopher Columbus asked himself this question?
Shalom friends
Stephen
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