Welcome!
Welcome to the ‘Fresh Rhythms’ blogsite which has come out of the Detling Summer Conference 07. I hope you all got home safely and have started the process of drying out from Wednesday night’s rains! I bet a hot shower and home comforts never felt so good!
I really enjoyed getting to know many of you and hearing your stories of how you are attempting to communicate the gospel to a changing world. I’m sure you would agree Kerry’s presentations were stimulating, thought provoking and inspiring. Hopefully, though this blogsite, we can carry on relationship building, conversing, sharing stories and encouraging one another as we travel through uncharted waters. Do e-mail me your stories, thoughts and reflections and return regularly for further posts.
Already I have put up an individual post for each of the sessions. Kerry’s powerpoint presentations can be downloaded from the relevant sessions. Do take time and comment on these posts so we can continue the conversation. To comment click on the ‘comments‘ link at the top of the post. Also in the side bars I have put a range of internet and blogsites related to fresh expressions and the emerging church. I hope you find this useful.
Finally, feel free to comment here on your continuing reflections, thoughts and questions about what we discussed at fresh rhythms. It was really encouraging for me (and I hope also for you!) to see so many of us engaged in such interesting discussions.
Yours, Simon
Simon! Its been a while since Detling but the sessions had a big eeffect on me. Going back into my church has been difficult. 15 months ago we seemed to be on the verge of something really radical moving to multimedia, music band and a Praise and Celebration Sunday service following a traditional Methodist service earlier in the morning. But we are suffering from “The System” and what seems to be a slow but definite move towards hearing the old Gospel of Fear preached rather than the Gospel of Freedom, Love and joy in the real context of our troubled world. ” The System” seems to be full of old men who like the sound of their own voice rather than interacting with the real people with real ideas visions and challenges sitting in front of them……..Help…… Am I wrong to be so fed up?
I hear and understand your frustration. I don’t think you are wrong to be fed up at all. I really believe that many Christians have a ‘holy discontent’ with the way things are. It isn’t about being awkward or critical but rather seeing things in a fresh way and wanting to respond in a fresh way.
But we need people like you in our churches. I pray that God takes your frustration and turns it into prayer and when you pray He will give you a sense of vision and hope for your church. You are not alone.
Email me if you want to talk away from a public forum: simonmiriam@aol.com.
It’s me again…..did you get my mail sent to above address about Sept 11th?