Prodigal Kiwi(s) Blog

A Nod to St. Kilda’s

Paul writes – I’ve heard a little about St. Kilda’s and its story within the last week or so, and via a friend’s website, found a link, so thought I’d have a little look. Here’s the opening page – a note from the minister.

 

St Kilda Baptist Church
is an inclusive and welcoming Christian community at
9 Pakington St, St Kilda, [Melbourne]

 

Please come and join us at 10am on Sundays when we get together to worship God, explore faith and connect with each other 

 

People tell me that it’s not always easy to be part of a church these days. We’re busy and overworked, and (some) churches feel more like hard work than we’d like them to. When I quote from Philip Yancey’s Church: Why Bother? or Alan Jamieson’s A Churchless Faith I look around the room and see nodding heads and looks of recognition.

 

So - why do we bother? When Jesus talked to his followers about being together, working together and living their lives of faith together, I don’t think he was trying to make life difficult. He saw the great potential in people of faith gathering together. He knew that maintaining and growing faith in a world that doesn’t always value it would be hard - but that it would be easier together. He knew that we were created to be in relationships with other people - and that a Christian community would be a great place for that. He knew that, if other people were going to find faith for themselves, that there would have to be places full of people who lived differently, and who could show what a life full of faith was like - and that a church could be a place like that.

We don’t always succeed at doing and being those things - but at St Kilda we’re trying.
So here’s what I love about our church: you can come and just be yourself; you can come to express faith, doubt, ideas, worries, joys and troubles and always be welcome; your kids can come along and be welcome too; you can find other people who believe that faith leads you to be concerned about the world, and not just yourself; you can be cared for if you’re struggling and care for others when that’s what they need; you can find ways to use your gifts and talents no matter what your background, age, culture or level of faith. That’s why I come to our church…

 

Rev. Carolyn Francis

 

I’m afraid I’d be nodding too, but being around a group of other nodders would probably be just what I need at time. I’ve discovered “nodders” can be (though not always) a pretty thoughtful group, people interesting in following questions and doubts and seeing where they take them, and are often refreshingly honest about the struggles, their boredom, their aversion to the superficial etc.

Justification: God’s Plan and Paul’s Vision

Paul writes – Out June 09 in the US (Feb 09 in UK) is Tom Wright’s latest engagement with the doctrine of Justification, called Justification: God’s Plan and Paul’s Vision. Could be well worth a look...

About the Book

 

“Few issues are more central to the Christian faith than the nature, scope and means of salvation. Many have thought it to be largely a transaction that gets one to heaven. In this riveting book, N. T. Wright explains that God's salvation is radically more than this.

 

At the heart of much vigorous debate on this topic is the term the apostle Paul uses in several of his letters to describe what happens to those in Christ--justification. Paul uses this dramatic image from the law court to declare that Christians are acquitted of the cosmic accusations against them. But justification goes beyond this in Paul's writings to offer a vision of God's future for the whole world as well as for his people.

 

Here in one place Wright now offers a comprehensive account and defense of his perspective on this crucial doctrine. He provides a sweeping overview of the central points in the debate before launching into a thorough explanation of the key texts in Paul's writings. While fully cognizant of tradition and controversy, the final authority for his conclusions is the letters of Paul themselves.

 

Along the way Wright responds to critics, such as John Piper, who have challenged what has come to be called the New Perspective. For Wright, what Paul means by justification is nothing less than God's unswerving commitment to the covenant promise he made to bless the whole world through Abraham and his family.

 

 

This irenic response is an important contribution for those on both sides of the debate--and those still in between--to consider. Whether you're a fan of Wright's work or have read his critics and would like to know the other side of the story, here is a chance to interact with Wright's views on the issues at stake and form your own conclusions...”

 

More information here on the publishers site. It includes a link to a recent interview of Wright by Trevin Wax – it relates to this new book. 

Tom Beaudoin on Dispossession and the Challenges of Lived and Life-Giving Faith

Paul writes - Rock and Theology (online blog) explores the relationship between ’secular’ rock and ’sacred’ theology, and matters of faith and culture today. It is co-edited by Tom Beaudoin and Brian Robinette. Beaudoin has what looks like a fascinating new book out (Oct 08 – you can search inside, here) - Witness to Dispossession: The Vocation of a Postmodern Theologian.

 

In his January 6^th, 2009 reflection on “Rock and Theology” he offers a few thoughts “provoked” by his collaborator, Robinette; interesting (in part) because we have a large Christian Music Festival – Parachute, happening 15-minutes up the road.  The post (which you can read in full here) is titled: Rock and theology: compasses for thinking, Beaudoin begins:

“…*In my first book, Virtual Faith (1998), I wrote, “In the late 1980s, I began to reconsider religion, tentatively re-entering more organized, ‘churchy’ religion by way of pop culture; during my last year of high school, I played bass guitar in a Christian rock band. Under the sponsorship of an evangelical Christian church, we played Christian songs, trying hard to ‘sound secular’ but equally hard not to ‘be secular.’ On a bus trip to one of our biggest shows, a Fellowship of Christian Athletes conference somewhere in the great Midwest, the guitarist and I sat in the back seat listening to secular hard rock bands on our headphones. Something about that music spoke to me more deeply than the Christian artists I was supposed to be emulating. This insight scandalized a few of the church directors of our band, but this was not my first irreverence in this context. During one rehearsal, the guitarist and drummer and I broke into a few bars of the rock classic ‘Sunshine of Your Love’ by Cream when we were supposed to be playing a soft rock contemporary Christian ballad. This transgression was revealing, and it required some discipline to avoid such temptations in the future.”

“During college in Kansas City, I abandoned Christian bands and played in a secular rock band named ‘Household Word’ (unintentional irony: we were virtual unknowns). My experiences playing rock were usually more religious than I had found in most churches. I discovered a sense of spirituality ‘in the pocket,’ playing tightly with a drummer. As a bass guitarist, when I am traversing the deep rhythm, riding the low notes, or stomping through a syncopated rumble, something happens. After the band’s last concert, a woman approached me and said, ‘You play the bass like it is part of your body.’ Later I thought; that is the way good religious ritual, or liturgy, works. We move our bodies and souls in harmony with the music, which is in harmony with the Spirit, with God. The spectacular liturgies of rock are part of my continued affinity for arena or stadium rock bands. I treasure the irreverence of this rock religiosity, considering it just as important to my own sense of spirituality as any commitment to an institutional Church.” (p. 14)

*Only recently did I begin to connect those passages from 1998 with the following passages from 2008, from my latest book Witness to Dispossession: The Vocation of a Postmodern Theologian: “The importance for Christianity of the genealogizing historical and philosophical research carried out by, with, and after Foucault is potentially far-reaching. It allows Christianity to become witness to dispossession, to be schooled in its being what it can be in the present by offering up everything about itself to be handed over, [and] away from the theological suppositions, still so important today, of uniqueness, essences, givenness”…

Great little Intro to Taize and its History.

Paul writes – I picked up a copy of the following book recently, A Community Called Taize: A Story of Prayer, Worship, and Reconciliation. It’s illustrated with black and white pictures and tell the fascinating story of Taize. In this book the author, Jason Brian Santos (Foreword: Desmond Tutu).

“...takes us on a tour of one of the world's first ecumenical monastic orders, from its monastic origins in the war-torn south of 1940s France to its emerging mission as a pilgrimage site and spiritual focal point for millions of young people throughout the world. In A Community Called Taizé you'll meet the brothers of the order and the countless visitors and volunteers who have taken upon themselves a modest mission: pronouncing peace and reconciliation to the church and the world...”

Outstanding Evening with the living legend that is Leonard Cohen

Paul writes – aside from not getting home until 1:45am this morning, yesterday evening in Auckland was a stunning one – the highlight being an ‘audience’ with Leonard Cohen – us and a full house.

 

Russell Baillie reviews the show:

 

“He might have a reputation as one of music's most depressing figures. But Leonard Cohen left an arena full of fans happy - and not in a sad kind of way - with this long-awaited memorable concert.

 

Seventy-four-year-old Cohen and his nine-piece band delivered a spirited wander through his extensive songbook to a reverent and largely grey-haired audience who welcomed him on stage with a standing ovation and were reluctant to let him leave it three hours and many, many eloquent verses later.

 

Somehow, Cohen's ensemble, a sort of gypsy-soul rock-noir cabaret outfit dressed, as was their fedora-ed double-breasted leader like particularly stylish members of the French Resistance, were able to shrink the vastness of the venue down to the intimate scale of the music…”

 

Have a read of his whole review here. It was a very moving and special evening. Sam Hunt was fantastic as well. Interesting to listen to him in context markedly different from the context in which I've heard him over the last couple of years - a large boat on the Hauraki Gulf.

Being with Ordinary Everyday Searchers

Paul writes – Radical Christian Vision Network (UK) produces a newsletter “Root and Branch”. The 8^th January 09 issue has an interesting little reflection “Post-Christendom and the challenge of mission in affluent societies.” Here’s the closing paragraph:

“… Linford Stutzman suggests that Jesus consciously located himself amongst the majority of ordinary people, yet focussed his ministry upon those within the majority who hungered and thirsted for righteousness. Likewise, contemporary incarnational mission within the affluent post-Christendom West needs to take place from amongst the ‘common people’, but focussed on those who are searching for what we believe to be the kingdom, even if they are unable to name it as such…”

 

You can read the whole reflection here… You can also read a fascinating 1991 journal article (An Incarnational Approach to Mission in Modern Affluent Societies) by Stutzman here (PDF).

 

Here’s the opening paragraph:

 

“Why do our efforts to share the gospel in modern, affluent societies have so little effect compared to the revolutionary impact that the witness of Jesus and Paul had in their societies? Are modern, affluent societies so fundamentally different from earlier societies that the Good News is no longer perceived to be especially good, or even particularly threatening? Are post-Enlightenment changes such as rationalism, mass affluence, urbanization, and technology to blame for the apathy?

 

Perhaps the problem is not so much that society has changed, but that the church and its missionaries have changed in relation to society. This article will examine this possibility…”

New Forms of Liberation Required

Paul writes – Ian Mobsby offers a very useful sense of focus in respect of new forms and ways of being church.  Much resonates with thoughts expressed by me over the years on this blog. That’s an encouraging discovery. Thanks Ian.

 

“So increasingly, the focus of new forms of church, (from my perspective), needs to be that they can be experienced as life giving, enabling, loving, caring and places of belonging and liberation. It is not about being ‘Cool’ or the next new ideology to consume, or about having the best technologically driven alternative worship. The world has had quite its fill of 'Cool' people and new ideologies that have not brought lasting change. We need forms of community that dream big dreams centred on the values of the Kingdom of God. I hope Moot grows into this type of profound places of humanity, where the Christian faith can be experienced as a liberating event that enables people to find their common humanity, in a world that is driven by power, competition and consumption. So liberation has to be a key focus to emerging & fresh expressions of church, if they are stand any chance of reflecting the values of the Kingdom of God Christ exposed through the ancient world, and which we are called to love and act on now.”

 

You can read his whole reflection here. Remember, we’re hoping to get Ian to Hamilton/Cambridge in March. If there’s any interest in catching up with him or participating in any gatherings that might be organised, leave a comment or send me an e-mail and I’ll endeavour to keep in touch with you.

Jungian Insights and a Life Fully Lived

Paul writes - Dr. James Hollis, Jungian Analyst and the Executive Director of the Jung Educational Center of Houston is a person whose wisdom, learning and insight I’ve really appreciated over the years. This was my first chance to ‘hear’ him rather than just read him. Hollis the author of "Why Good People Do Bad Things: Understanding Our Darker Selves", a book about what Jung terms, “the shadow”, and the focus of his (9 May) 2008 address recorded at Bowdoin College

in Brunswick. He explores the energies, motives and agendas operating outside our conscious control that are sometimes contrary to our professed values. Specifically he reflects (very helpfully) on what Jung calls “the shadow”.  

There’s seems much benefit to me to bringing Christian spirituality (the mystical, contemplative, and spiritual direction) into conversation with the psychological and psychotherapy – particularly as it has to do with insights into the realities of our humanity, and into the journey of becoming more fully human and whole.

 

Most recently (26 Dec. 2008), Hollis has written What Matters Most: Living a More Considered Life… He’s also written on the experience of midlife, including what I regard as one of the best (little) books on the theme. He’s also written an expanded book (with a more general audience in view) on the theme.

 

You can have a listen to him by going here or down load the Mp3 by going here and scrolling down. The lecture plus questions takes 1 hour and 9 minutes. It’s a fascinating lecture...

Architecture, Space, Spirit and the Journey of a Church Community

   

Paul writes – From time to time I get some really interesting e-mails in response to something I’ve written. The latest was a recent e-mail from Karynn @ 3six0 Architecture, who was browsing Theooze.com when she came across an article, "The 'Body Art' Of EmergingChurch " which I wrote for Theooze back in 2003. She writes:

“…I was especially intrigued by your attention to the "space" of a church and the questions you raise around it, "How is beauty manifested in your church community or building? How does your community process decisions about church buildings and the 'creation of' and usage of spaces within those buildings? What might your building say about your theology of mission? Of worship? Of community? Of your local context and story?"

 

Your questions made me think of a chapel that we recently completed for Shepherd of the Valley United Methodist Church in Hope, Rhode Island…. All of these questions came to bear as we worked with Shepherd of the Valley to design the worship space.

We thought the story of the chapel's design and the congregation's journey in bringing the chapel from conception to consecration is a great example.

 

I leave you with these words from Shepherd of the Valley's minster:

 

"Smell the newness, smell the wood, smell the aliveness of this place…

To begin, I just want to invite you to open your imaginations today…

When we built this, we were not absolutely certain how it would be used because we are a church and we don't determine the use of our lives and the use of our materials and the use of our abilities. We leave that to God. I just heard this little one here stepping, and I can imagine dancing in this place. I can imagine candle-light services in this place. I can imagine lively conversations of the church council in this place. I can imagine the youth praying in this place, praying through their bodies. I can imagine all kinds of things, and I want you to be part of that imagining with me. Live into this space as the launching pad formation."

- Reverend Starbuck, at the chapel's consecration, October 16, 2008"

 

A many of you will know I’ve always had a fascination with the linkages between space, story, architecture and spirituality. Architecture documentaries are a fairly regular part of my viewing diet, particularly when the architect is engaged with, e.g. Sketches of Frank Gehry; My Architect: A Son’s Journey. TV shows like “Grand Designs” are equally fascinating.

 

In NZ an architect Hugh Tennent has really captured my imagination. Hugh is a Buddhist and has done some really interesting work in respect to meditative and contemplative spaces, e.g. the design work for NZ’s sole Cistercian Abbey and their future building project.

 

I’ve reflected a little on the theme, here, here, and linked to this article about architecture and spirtuality.  

 

For more on the Shepherd of the Valley chapel, here’s a link to a news piece Karynn sent me. Included in the post are some photo’s Karynn sent. Click to enlarge. Some notes on the project are also attached.

Download Shepherd of the Valley - Notes  

Mike Grimshaw on New Zealand as a Secular Country

Paul writes – I enjoyed listening to a short interview with Professor of Religion Mike Grimshaw on RNZ as he talked about New Zealand being a secular country. I’ve appreciated Mike writing over the years and a couple of excellent “themed” collections of NZ poetry that he co-edited. You can locate the Mp3 and have a listen by going here and scrolling down. It was aired on the 14^th January 09. Click on Mike’s name for more about him and links to some essays he’s written.