Pentecost with Mark Scandrette

We have our Pentecost service coming up next Sunday. We will be joined by the Scandrette's from San Francisco who we met when we were over there a few years back. Mark will be telling some stories and sharing any other thoughts buzzing round his head. We're also having a supper afterwards. If you're in the area and you'd like to come then e mail me (matt@home-online.org).

some good stuff from Walter Brueggemann (via The Work of the People)

Stillpoint launch

On Wednesday night we launched Stillpoint. It felt like an important night in my life. We had about 120 guests at The Phoenix Cinema along with our special guests Bishop John (Bishop of Oxford) and Jamie Catto from 1 Giant Leap.
Ian and I presented the vision for Stillpoint and talked to Bishop John and Jamie. We also showed three chapters from 1 Giant Leap's amazing film 'What About Me?'
There was a real sense of the importance of this agenda. I said to Ian "it feels like we are catching a wave, now we have to figure out how to stay on it".
There are a few photos on my flickr page here (thanks Jim for taking these).

by design

I've just finished designing www.suzannahlipscomb.com
Check it out and if you need a site designing do get in touch via www.amplifiedcreative.com

CAC Emerging Church Conference will now be streamed live

Very pleased to hear that Richard Rohr's Center for Contemplation and Action in Albuquerque are going to stream their upcoming emerging church conference live over the web. Good news!

Speakers include Richard Rohr, Brian McLaren, Phyllis Tickle, Shane Claiborne.

More info on the webcast here.

Stillpoint launch this Wednesday

We are launching Stillpoint on Wednesday this week (March 4th) at a special event in The Phoenix Cinema in Jericho, Oxford.

We will be joined by the Bishop of Oxford, John Pritchard, and also by Jamie Catto - one half of 1 Giant Leap ("genius film makers" according to Bono). We will be presenting the vision for Stillpoint and talking to John and Jamie as well as showing some chapters from 1 Giant Leap's latest film, 'What About Me?'

We have had a really good response to the invites we've sent out but we still have some spaces available. If you would like to come please let me know (leave a comment to this post).

technology and presence

Look at this photo from one of the Obama inauguration balls. It's extraordinary!! It makes me ask "Why experience the moment when you can be looking at a rendering of the moment on a tiny screen while taking a crappy photo". And of course the photos taken will never be as good as the ones in the papers or online.

I know it's an "I was there" moment and a personal photo - however crappy - will be a momento...but it just makes me wonder whether technology impedes us from experiencing our experiences. I say this to myself too as I'm an iPhone, twittering, facebooking, 2 Macs wielding technophile.

Is it helping us...is it helping me....be more present and earthed? It's undoubtedly not a simple yes/no question but I thought it was a question worth asking.

can we get over the bus ads now please?

love this - by Steve Lawson via Mark Berry.

Gene Robinson invited to pray for Obama

Today's Guardian reports that Obama has invited Gene Robinson to offer a prayer at the inauguration next week.
This is an interesting move - particularly as he has also invited Rick Warren, known to be a traditionalist on the issue of gay rights, to give an address.