The Pilgrimage in Coventry was awesome – there is no other way to describe it and big thanks need to go to all the organisers.

It was good catching up with friends as ever but being part of what was happening itself was sheer privilege. The workhops and stuff were secondary for me at this event – the worship was far more central to the day than anything I have ever before experienced at a conference. Again, I have to use the word awesome, and I can’t think when I have ever used that term to describe worship.

It was awesome because it was powerful, using the ancient and reframing it in a way that seemed to make it more accessible for all present. There is a good run down of the day at Mr Gnome’s Blog which is great.

Some highlights (and repeats from Mr Gnome) for me:
– starting the day in front of the font prostrate on the floor led by the Archbishop – over 400 people lying prostrate on the floor of Coventry Cathedral – I don’t know what it looked like but it felt an incredibly powerful way to remind myself of who I am and recognise where I am in relation to God.
– seeing the Archbishop in a Britney/Madonna style head mic presiding at the Eucharist with great visuals on screens and ambient tracks
– observing a group of old nuns who had come to learn, contribute and worship God. Their willingness and openness was beautiful
– The Archbishops address which can be read in full here but I was particularly encouraged by this closing comment:

we need, not just better communication strategies, more lively language or more up to the minute activities, important as these are, but a practice that anchors us in the fleshliness of the Word who became human, in the story of the time he took and takes to bring us home to his Father, in the awareness of our need for each other – and so anchors us in Baptism and Eucharist, where Scripture truly becomes contemporary happening.

– the closing liturgy was amazingly powerful and you could not help but leave the cathedral excited and energised about the possibilities and potential ahead of us. This was a totally new experience for me in more ways than one …

I did have one regret – I decided to go to the day in jeans and t-shirt, leaving the clerical shirt and collar at home. This would have been ok, but two deacons were wanted for the closing liturgy and I was roped in. The vergers were great at finding me an alb … but I can’t help but remember the look of concern on Rowans face as I robed next to him, me in my blue jeans and howies t-shirt! He was, as ever, very gracious and encouraging. A funny story for the grand children! Story aside, being part of something so powerful was a very special time. I still can’t help but see the irony of all this – I’m a pioneer who started training saying I won’t robe, I won’t do this and that – and here I am processing in with the Archbishop and Bishop Steven – God does seem to have an amazing sense of humour!