Category Archives: worship

I dance for Jesus

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A while ago I wrote about the condemnation of others for not fitting with our reading of certain doctrines or for not fitting with our assumed lifestyles. Certainly the gathering, the developing christian community that I am part of, strongly believes how we live our faith is far more important than what we believe. You can fairly easily believe ‘God is love’ and ‘Jesus is the only way’ but if you treat people that disagree with you with contempt and ridicule or refuse to even talk to them, then I would say something of the gospel ‘good news of acceptance and love’ has been lost.

A few months ago I found myself in a coffee shop talking to a young woman who was passing through Rochester. This woman is a Christian although she has not been able to settle in an established church set up. This has a lot to do with the fact that this Christian woman also happens to be a lap dancer. Churches that she has tried to join have condemned her because of her job and way of life. When she first became a Christian she gave up her job, because others in the church told her it was wrong, and tried to get other jobs. People told her that God would provide other things to make money for her and her young daughter, but as she tried living in the way others suggested, church after church offered little support and eventually other work was provided …. in another lap dancing club.

The way she spoke of God showed me that without a doubt this woman has a thriving relationship with the living God. She was clearly in love with the God who created her and spoke of Jesus in a way that I have not heard anyone talk in a long while. I felt that her trust in Jesus was incredibly strong. This young woman understood God’s grace, she understood she was loved and she longed for a christian community to accept her fully. I don’t know where she is today but I fear she is alone and living her Christian life outside of Christian community.

I was reminded of this woman during the summer when I read a report in the Independent newspaper on lap dancing outlining research that showed 40% of lap dancers in the UK have a uni degree or are studying for one. I personally thought the article was glamourising or missing the real issue and  I must admit I am of a similar mind to Amy Jenkins who responds in the opinion section of the newspaper that irrespective of education lap dancing is degrading. I believe that to be the case but ….

Something about this woman struck me. This was not her job of choice but I sensed that she felt this was where God wanted her. I plucked up the courage to ask the burning question …’ok, you are a lap dancer and a Christian …. how do you reconcile the two?’ Her answer still brings tears to my eyes:

‘all the girls think of something when they dance. I pray on stage and I dance for Jesus. This is my worship, he created my body … I use my body to worship him.’

Some will have issues with that, some will say it is not morally possible, and a large part of me might go along with that, but what is a Christian other than someone who totally loves God and wants their life to be worship of Christ? Whatever way I recall this encounter in the coffee shop I remember the girls faith and commitment as she said ‘I dance for Jesus’.

Sometimes I just don’t know what to think ….

A Judas meditation

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This evening at Choral Evensong (in which the boys and girls choirs sang amazingly!) I led a short meditation based on the reading of Luke 22, particularly developing the theme of Judas betraying Jesus.
I did this quite late in the week and so it is quite ‘unrefined’ but people seemed to find it useful and so I am putting it ‘out there’ in case it maybe useful for others.

Judas Meditation

We wonder why Judas betrayed Jesus
What on earth did he think he was doing?
what possessed him to do such a thing?
to betray such a friend?
the Messiah

Was he not there when Jesus walked on water!
or when he fed the 5000?
changed the water into wine?
did he not know who Jesus was?

what possessed him?
to do such a thing …
is that the reason … was he possessed?
like the boy called Legion
part of a spiritual battle
the last gasp attempt of the deceiver
to blow God’s plan off course?

or was Judas just confused?
this was not the Messiah he was expecting
the messiah was supposed to overthrow the oppressors
and lead them into a new Kingdom
a place they could call home
true freedom at last
why didn’t he act?

Was he naively trying to help?
thinking he was assisting
collaborating in the big plan
accelerating the inevitable overthrow of oppression
‘if I do this …. Jesus will have to act
they will be no match for Jesus
because he is the Messiah
never comprehending the consequences of his meeting

Maybe Judas was just frustrated
and never really got it
So … he tried to force the hand of God
coercing the redeemer to act
embracing personal intuition
deaf to the compassion of Jesus.

And what about us
it is easy for us to judge
Judas
others
ourselves

have we never got frustrated with God?
never tried to push God?
to rush God?
to make God aware of our need for now?

are we guilty too of
trying to force the hand of the creator
when the right thing to do
was simply watch and wait …

Lord of all hope
creator of all
lover of all
Lord in whom we can trust absolutely

forgive us for those times when we have believed our finite schemes
rather than trusted your infinite creative design
when we are tempted to take things into our own hands
remind us that your hands are more than big enough to cope
and that we need to trust
to wait
to listen
and respond with you.
Rather than playing safe amongst our undeveloped blueprints
give us courage to tentatively wander in your creative bliss.

the 2 sided coin of worship and mission

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Yesterday was also quite an exciting day as I had the privilege of joining with many others to welcome Peter and Michelle Guinness to St Mark’s, and to support Peter as he was inducted as priest in charge.

There were lots of people there and lots of people pretty excited by the new era that Peter and Michelle will inevitably bring with St Mark’s.

Bishop Brian preached excellently on mission and worship being two sides of the same coin. He used as his text Leviticus 23:22:

“When you harvest the crops of your land, do not harvest the grain along the edges of your fields, and do not pick up what the harvesters drop. Leave it for the poor and the foreigners living among you. I am the LORD your God.”

Bishop Brian made the point that in this book (not the first we would choose to read!!) which is all to do with ritual in worship that there is this reference to mission.  Bishop Brian challenged us to remember that worship and mission go together. They are two sides of the same coin. Our worship informs our mission and our mission informs our worship.

On a personal note I guess this is why we feel uncomfortable when we see churches with what they call wonderful worship who seem to neglect the poor and destitute on their doorstep. Worship and mission must go together as one just seems false and empty with out the other.
last night it was good to be present at the start of a new era and I look forward to seeing what happens at St mark’s over the next few years.

No Stage … it’s just for God

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I was interested to read this blog which I was pointed to by Scott and it makes interesting reading. It sums up for me a lot of what the cathedral does which is unseen which, I believe, is a good mark of Christianity – we do things not to be seen doing them, or for glory, but because we feel drawn or led to do them.

I enjoyed reading this, but i think the writer misses one thing. He’s correct to say that this done at an excellent standard for very few people. I wonder if he misses that, actually, the good standard and the ‘excellence even in minuscule detail’ is because this is about worship. It does not matter who is or is not there, because God is and this is for God.

Thanks Scott – it was good to read, and causes me to miss the place just a little bit more!

running like sparks through the stubble

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This morning I was on the rota to lead matins t 8.00am and the Eucharist which follows at 8.30. Today, being All Souls day, meant the Eucharist included a ‘commemoration of the faithful departed’. For the last week or so the cathedral has had a book of remembrance available for people to write the names of loved ones that have died. Today was an opportunity for people to remember them as I read out each of the names after the Eucharist.

This type of service was a first for me (a year and a bit into cathedral/a bit more traditional life and I thought I would have stopped saying that!), and something that I thought would be another privilege to be involved in. I was particularly struck by the first reading which was from the Wisdom of Solomon in the Apocrypha.

But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God,
and no torment will ever touch them.
In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died,
and their departure was thought to be a disaster,
and their going from us to be their destruction;
but they are at peace.
For though in the sight of others they were punished,
their hope is full of immortality.
Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good,
because God tested them and found them worthy of himself;
like gold in the furnace he tried them,
and like a sacrificial burnt offering he accepted them.
In the time of their visitation they will shine forth,
and will run like sparks through the stubble.
They will govern nations and rule over peoples,
and the Lord will reign over them forever.
Those who trust in him will understand truth,
and the faithful will abide with him in love,
because grace and mercy are upon his holy ones,
and he watches over his elect.

I found the words particularly helpful as I remembered those I know that have died and love the language of ‘running like sparks through the stubble’. I am not sure I entirely understand this; what does ‘the time of their visitation’ mean? To me, this does not speak of death, but speaks of energy, creativity and is quite evocative in its vibrant imagery. This has challenged me today in my theology of how I view the ‘saints departed’ and widens my understanding of ‘joining with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven’ which we say quite often in Anglican Eucharistic prayers.

psalm consequences

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A number of youth leaders and Christian Union members at Angelspace asked for the instructions to this and so I am posting them here. The Psalms produced from this activity are amazing; I’ve used this a few times and always been amazed with what has been produced by both adults and young people.

I can’t remember where I got this from (it may be a Jonny Baker worship trick or something from Scripture Union … – I just know it’s not my idea, but it’s a great idea to use in worship.

This i best done in a group of 5 or more

Psalm Consequences

Fold the paper into 8 horizontal sections sections

1 Write an address of praise to God such as ‘Lord I worship you’

2 Fold the paper backwards so you can’t see the writing and pass it to your left

3 Write an aspect of God’s character starting with because … ‘because you are good’ Fold and pass again.

4 Write another aspect of God’s character starting with ‘and’. Fold and pass

5 Write 2 things about how wonderful God’s creation is ‘Your mountains are magnificent, your rivers shine in the sun.’ Fold and pass.

6 Write something God does for you personally. ‘You guide me’ Fold and pass

7 Write a personal message to Jesus with ‘because’ in the middle ‘I thank you Jesus because you died for me’. Fold and pass

8 Write a resolution – ‘therefore I will follow you for ever’ Fold and pass last time

The Psalms produced were fantastic and I shall try and get some typed up so that hey can be put on the Angelspace website.

Franciscan Blessing

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Bishop Gene closed his talk with thi Franciscan Blessing which I found both challenging and amazing.

May God bless you with a restless discomfort about easy answers, half-truths and superficial relationships, so that you may seek truth boldly and love deep within your heart.

May God bless you with holy anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may tirelessly work for justice, freedom, and peace among all people.

May God bless you with the gift of tears to shed with those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, or the loss of all that they cherish, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and transform their pain into joy.

May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you really CAN make a difference in this world, so that you are able, with God’s grace, to do what others claim cannot be done.

And the blessing of God the Supreme Majesty and our Creator,
Jesus Christ the Incarnate Word who is our brother and Saviour,
and the Holy Spirit, our Advocate and Guide,
be with you and remain with you, this day and forevermore.

AMEN

2nd gathering

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Saturday was a pretty special and amazing day.

WE had our second gathering of people at our house. We worshipped together, thought about and discussed some of the names given to Jesus in the gospel of John and prayed together. We then ate together and generally caught up with how each other was.

On reflection the remit was too wide and we should have focused on one or two names. In the end we did and thought more about Jesus as light and Jesus as word. We will concentrate on Jesus as the vine at our next gathering which will be roughly a month away.

These gatherings excite me. It’s a privilege to journey together and see people of all ages interacting and learning from each other as well as enjoying just being with each other.

I still find it amazing that we have come so far in a relatively short space of time – it’s exciting to be part of this, if a little scarey as none of us know where it is that we are actually going!

The worship leader song

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This really made me laugh and a big thanks to Ian for posting it over on YouthBlog

a creative sunday

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Yesterday I had planned and expected to be a deacon, and carry out the ‘deacon’ role, in two very different environments. In the morning I was to deacon in 10.30 Eucharist at Rochester cathedral and in the evening at the MOOT Eucharist.

What may surprise many is that I encountered innovation, refreshment, delight and surprise in both services. I always feel a great sense of serving when I am in the role of the deacon. The preparation of the table, the placing of the bread, and the pouring out of the wine have become very powerful and symbolic parts of worship. Particularly as I pour the wine I find myself thanking Jesus for the act we are remembering.

Yesterday I had the privilege of experiencing this in two very different settings. In the morning the Girls Choir sang magnificently Chilcott’s A Little Jazz Mass. To have the familiar liturgy set to such powerful jazz music was simply amazing. I have found an mp3 sample here. (although our girls sounded much better!) This was a great and worshipful experience and I went away that morning smiling at the thought many have that cathedrals are stuffy and lack innovation!

Last night I had another privilege of deaconing at the Moot Eucharist. A different experience again with a community of people that are battling and learning what it means to live as Christians in the city of London. The theme of this service was ‘accountability’ and after an interview with Brandy and Travis, which you can hear on the Moot podcast, we were presented with some challenging questions. Questions that I need to spend a lot of time considering.

Questions like:
how much do you reflect on the way God and others love you for who you are?
how do you relate to others about your spirituality?
how do you get beyond your own thoughts and feelings and help others?

There were a lot more … but those are the 3 I’ve chosen to focus on first.

Two amazing services which displayed integrity, creativity and innovation while maintaining the centrality of the importance of Eucharist. And people wonder whether the diversity within the Church of England is a good thing!!!!!