benbell

Still thinking about our evening service

Further to my ‘Questions’ post I have had an interesting conversation which identified the purpose of our services as being a place / space which tries to facilitate, unlock untapped reserves of ‘desire for God’ in order that we might seek a fresh connection/encounter with our creator, sustainer, liberator. This is not to suggest that services are the only place where this can happen, but a number of people have identified their need for a pattern, rhythm of meeting that is often met through our services.

This of course doesn’t get anywhere near the ‘How’ question, but it does however provide good focus for tackling it.

Taste

A Fantastic birthday present was a cook book called 'Taste' (see reading list on left)
now there are many who believe that I probably have enough cook books and don't need any more - incorrect. Firstly there is no such thing as too many cook books, and secondly this is unlike any other cook book I have come across.
the write up says ....

"Taste" approaches cooking in a radical new way. It teaches the reader how to cook by using the five basic tastes - sweet, sour, bitter, salt and umami (savoury) - and reveals that anyone can make delicious food at home by simply understanding how these tastes react to one another. Each chapter is based around a different taste, and takes the reader on a gastronomic journey of discovery. Consider sour for example: the chapter begins with recipes for drinks and soups to demonstrate the effect of combining either salt, bitter, sweet or umami with sour; as the chapter progresses the dishes - and the variety of tastes found in them - become increasingly complex.

I have discovered why certain combinations work so well together and it has also inspired me to come up with a few new ideas. I think I'm going to try bitter chocolate chunks in mashed potato.

also have recently discovered that liquorice and pineapple are a great combination
- am looking forward to the arrival of my new ice cream machine even more now!

Questions

Interesting that questions keep coming at you whatever stage you are at in the story of being church. I was interested to read Simon Kirby’s Comments, as he considers church planting

I'm struggling to work out how that plant might take shape. Should it be a network model or a renewal model, how does it begin and maintain as a truly missional and incarnational community and not just become attractional? Questions, questions...

Leading the evening service / congregation here at St Stephen’s on the other hand isn’t an excersise in church planting but church moving – trying to keep the whole thing flowing, fresh, imaginative and trying to avoid becoming comfortable, stale and unhelpfully routine.

I have sent a questionaire out to as many people who come along on Sunday evenings as I can. The questionaire asks ‘whats the point of having services, and what aspects of a service does that person count as valuable and significant.

The idea is not to have a ballot on what we should and shouldn’t be doing, but to fuel thought, discussion and planning.

The questionaires have started to come back – very slowly though.

Food Glorious Food

Ok … I have been meaning to blog about food for a while, after all it is a major part of my existence and captures my attention more than most things.
It was my 30th Birthday yesterday and as part of the celebrations Gemma took me for a Curry on Saturday night. The ‘Curry House’ otherwise known as Rasoi Vineet Bhatia (Vineet Bhatia’s Kitchen) is situated in a grand house just off the Kings Road in Chelsea. Vineet Bhatia was awarded a Michelin Star at the previous restaurant he cooked at and has recently opened this one.
I was and still am filled with warmth, exuberance and awe at this man’s creativity and skill.
We had the nine course tasting menu

Grilled spice crusted scallop, chilly mash

Wild mushroom Khichdi (risotto), mini papad and makhani ice cream

Spiced crab & lentil soup, crispy crab cake

Grilled Lobster & spiced lobster jus with curry leaf & broccoli khichdi and broccoli florets, sour spices & cocoa

Tamarind glazed quail, massala mash and basil naan

Asparagus, mustard & curry leaf ice-cream, tomato-ginger juice

Lamb and morel korma laced with truffle oil, steamed rice cakes and coconut chutney

Chilled mango and cumin lassi, coconut ice cream

Crispy marbled chocolate, chenna & roasted almond samosa, Indian tea ice-cream

I could only marvel at the sensational flavours that danced on my tongue as I practiced one of the most basic, natural and life giving rhythmic motions – eating

Goodbye

Today we say goodbye to our three visitors from Angola. Pastor Emmanuel, Gradicinda and Masala are members of St.Stephen’s in Luanda (capital of Angola) with whom our church, St.Stephen’s Canonbury has a link, as part of the linking of the Diocese of London with the Diocese of Angola and Mozambique. We have had a wonderful time sharing stories and songs. Now we have had visitors going both ways it feels as if a link is getting established and foundations are being put in place for an ongoing relationship between the two churches.
As we are all made in the image of God I feel that this last two weeks has me (us) a great opportunity to discover new aspects of God through being with our brothers and sisters, his children from a very different place.

Sorted

computer fixed - new hard drive installed. Apparently it was a mechanical failure.
The Engineer from Evesham who came to do the work turned out to be a Christian who is part of a church that was founded in Ethiopia and has congregations all over the Arab world and Europe. They have underground Christian networks in Saudi and Dubai and many other places. He told me many stories of the persecution of members of their church including his cousin and friends who were arrested yesterday in Eritrea as the worshipped. A stark reminder of the persecution that goes on in many parts of our world. We have a God of surprises and I have to say I was a bit surprised by this whole encounter which ended with a time of prayer!

Screwing

Screwing is a term of frustration and dismay.
An example of a situation that might leave one screwing is the crashing of a computer as a result of their hard drive being damaged by an unknown force, the result of which is the loss of all information stored on it.

I AM SCREWING

And yes that is ALL information and no I DID NOT backup my files.

Grateful & Humbled

Received a cheque from the Besom today for some new, much needed sports equipment for our Youthwork – football goals and pool tables.
I am so very grateful for this amazing gift and incredibly humbled by the generosity of the donor who gave to us through the Besom but also by the way in which the staff and volunteers at the Besom give themselves sacrificially to loving the poor. They are a fantastic example of prophetic justice and compassion.

Greenbelt

back from my holls in France and a short trip to Greenbelt. Only at GB for a day and a half, but great to be there. Djing in the Bar on Sunday and Monday nights was great - the GB crowd are always up for a dance.
Also Great to have Sam Chaplin playing trumpet over my tunes, this added a fantastic 'live' element to the evenings and the crowd were lovin' it!

went along to Dave Tomlinson’s seminar on speaking in tongues and whether it is a right brain activity. He told us some of his own story which includes a transition from the charismatic house church movement to his current role as an Anglican Vicar just up the road from me in Islington. He told us that he prays in tongues and finds it useful to do so, but he also thinks that the actual sounds made are just sounds or gobbledygook (as he put it). I was loved what he was saying and it has given me much to think about. I haven't before heard of someone say that they pray in tongues and it is gobbledygook, which is a fascinating and appealing position. An interesting question that was asked was 'what is therefore made of the interpretations of tongues?' plenty to think about there. Dave expanded the subject matter very well to let this subject inform thinking on how the gifts of the spirit are used, encouraged and exercised within the church - we have a lot to learn and as leaders a responsibility to avoid any manipulation of God's People.

GB is a great place to buy books as well and as usual i came back with a few which look really good ....
The Rite Stuff - ritual in contemprary christian worship and mission edited by Pete Ward
The Complex Christ - signs of emergence in the urban church by Kester Brewin
The Meaning in the Miracles - Jeffrey John