For the last couple of weeks I have been preparing for a video piece to be played at Church's 'Digestion' evening service last night.
It went well!
The theme was 'JOURNEY & PROMISE', the second part in the series called "God's Big Story".
God's Big Story is a way of teaching the Bible, dividing it into Creation, Journey & Promise, Power & Justice (?), Songs & Sayings, Jesus & the Gospels, and Letters of Love.
A great thing that we do is read a 'hot text' - scripture plus a reflection - and then split the audience into 6 sections where they all try to relate the text to each part of the Bible. It's quite neat, providing a sense of the flow & interconnectedness of Scripture (perichoresis! *geeky snort*).
It was fun making the video. I got to apply myself creatively, I got to interview some people about their own stories, and I got to reflect a little myself.
As I have done at other times, I helped with the music team, last night led by cuz-in-law & good friend Anne. I especially enjoyed being able to help Steve by contributing to the teaching component; Steve's sermon, my video, and Amy's hot text meshed well together on the night.
Note: The song in my video keeps playing - intentionally - after the visual component finishes. This time was used for a period of contemplation & reflection on Steve's message and my video where people were also invited to take communion.
Above: 'Journey & Promise', my theological reflection piece.
The Church's new Mac computer held it all together well (thanks, Andy!) and there were no computer glitches on the night. I will be making another video for two weeks time on 'Songs & Sayings', with my particular focus being on Psalms.
vblog: Espresso pt. 2 - The Alternative Congregation
So on Tuesday night, 7:45pm, at Opawa Baptist Church, I attend Expresso/Espresso, my tuesday night 'emergent church' / alternative congregation.
It's conversational based, and no opinion is stupid or disgregarded. It's really great and we can splurge about things that are on our chests in an environment that is safe, open, relaxed, non-judgemental, and yet provides a healthy forum for discussion and debate about biblical and other responses.
For privacy reasons, and the agreement we make between each other, I didn't film actual content of our conversation.
The format is opening prayer, discussion 'rules' (i.e. play nice, don't be rude), then
OPENING
DISCUSSION & FOOD
CLOSING
We randomly select a topic of discussion from the bowl of questions that we have all created. Come and add yours!
If you want to know the stuff we talk about, then feel free to come along to get more detail in person :)
Again, it's Tuesdays, 7:45pm, at Opawa Baptist Church, CHCH.
Here's the teaser trailer I made: (oh, and my conscience leads me to add that I didn't manage to get Jessica in the film - sorry, Jess!)
Above: an inspecific video of Expresso, including my delicious, home-made, vegetarian cheesecake!
The topic on conversation was about money & spiritual practices directing us towards God in our finances, so i themed the food on Money.
I wanted to but chocolate coins, but at the last minute time failed me.
On the menu was a Non-baked, Vegetarian, Pineapple Cheesecake - I used 'Agar-agar' as a substitute for gelatine so that my vegetarian friends could "Enjoy without the added Guilt!"(TM) Why was this money themed? I found it under a recipe title, "Million Dollar Cheesecake". Presumably this just means it tastes like a million bucks, but who cares. Second on the list of food was 'Silver-Dollar Pancakes (a.k.a. pikelets in NZ) with Mixed-Berry Topping'. Silver dollar? Haha?
Since i was taking the time to cook the pikelets (i had made the cheesecake at Andy & Regina's the night before, using the awesome tools there), I decided to make myself a cooking show!
Above: CantabrIAIN Cookery - Silver Dollar Pancakes with Mixed-Berry Topping
Yeah okay, not very rugged or hairy of me. Whatever. I eat well.
So, allow me to introduce you to the two teachers of the Simple English class that I attend for part of my fieldwork on Thursdays: Maureen and Elizabeth.
Elizabeth is also the mother of a very good friend of mine here and she is very cool, a useful person to have in my life.
You'll also meet Pearl and Monica, two students of Simple English. Pearl was generous enough to shout us all lunch at Infuze Cafe.
Above: My trip to Infuze cafe for lunch with some Simple English people
I might also add, smugly, that on the way back from the Cafe I noticed that I took around about 5 minutes to get home ;)
So come check out my local church, Opawa Baptist Church!
Inside, you will find Rev Dr Steve Taylor wearing a 'Princess Fiona Ogre' wig, as the public spectacle portion of his sermon based on the first 'Shrek' movie!
You'll see the worship, bah!, music team that I'm a part of and meet some of my friends.
Above: My church, Opawa Baptist Church
So I have been doing my fieldwork there on Thursdays at their Simple English class. I will also be expanding my fieldwork into trying to organise monthly 'International Lunches' for internationals in the congregation plus any interested kiwis.
Steve has spoken to me about being a 'Plus5' intern, which is the church's way at intentionally supporting the growth of potential leaders (theoretically, keeping their eye on the state of leadership in five years time, hence Plus5).
Anyway, sorry for those who would prefer more. I had to keep it somewhat brief for the suckers on dial-up!. It is fairly large nevertheless.
Cheers, enjoy life.
Update: Steve noticed my vblog's outing of the Fiona-gate wig debacle, posting my video with a hat-tip of sorts here.
