The End of The Space

The Space is Dead, Long live the Space!

For those of you who have been following this Blog for a while you'll know that for a while I wanted to put together some kind of alternative service. This culminated in the creation of "The Space" a reflective service that started earlier this year. "The Space" did everything that I hoped it would. It was easy to organise, easy to set up, reflective, non-confrontational, enjoyable whether you are 10 or 90 and really got people thinking about Jesus and what it means to follow Jesus.

"The Space" started with five people who didn't really know each other that well at the start of the process and ended with six people who do know each other pretty well and who are keen to share their spiritual journey's with each other and none of us really knowing anyone else who we could invite to be a part of it. For me this put the "The Space" at a cross roads. We could continue as we are ignoring what could be gained by more intensely interacting with each and try doing the good old try and drag people into our space through advertising. But, there is no way I'm going to go down that road. Instead we're going to start a small / discussion / home church kind of group. If the need for "The Space" arises we will surely resurrect it again. But for now it's time for a break.

Demonology

This week at the Space we looked at Luke 4:31-42 and as a result I'm playing with an new definition of demon. A "demon" δαιμόνιον is any corruption of humanity that can't be explained otherwise. In Luke, 4:31-42 is the first time we come across "demons" δαιμόνιον. Here the possessed person is just shouting. In chapter 8 it looks like epilepsy, in chapter 9 it looks like a mental illness of sorts and in chapter 11 the person is mute, three things we would describe as sickness today. The Gospels often talk of healing the sick and casting out demons in the same breath so perhaps the two things are not as different as we might be tempted assume given medi-evil stories about demons. Anyway, just a thought to play with for a while.

Space Test 2

On Thursday we tried "The Space" again this time with a few people from the church. Thursday being Maundy Thursday where Jesus washes the feet of the disciples.

This was the introduction to what was happening that we used.

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Welcome to “The Space”.
(An introduction for beginners)

This is your space

This is God’s space

This is a space to connect

When we open the space please walk in and make yourself comfortable.

After opening in prayer the reading for this week will be presented.

You will then have an opportunity to reflect, exploring connections with God, life, etc.

To do this you have a journal and around the space there are a number of ‘stations’. The ‘stations’ are tools designed to help you reflect on the readings or just reflect on life. There will also be questions on the wall to prompt you if you need.

You are free to try all or none of them.

Following this you will have a chance to offer your thoughts and reflections to God.

We will close in prayer.

You are free to do anything or nothing.
The ‘station’ sessions will last about 45min.

All that we ask is that you are silent for duration of ‘The Space’
(so as not to disturb others)
There will be plenty of time to catch up and yak over a good coffee afterwards 

Thanks

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Then the night went something like this...

1) We moved into the (sacred) Space with journals and sat down - we had gathered in another room.

2) We lit a candle to signify God's presence with us and said this opening prayer...

This is your space
This is God’s space
This is a space to connect
Lets pray…
We give thanks for places of simplicity and peace. Let us find such a place within ourselves.
We give thanks for places of refuge and beauty. Let us find such a place within ourselves.
We give thanks for places of nature’s truth and freedom, of joy, inspiration and renewal, places where all creatures may find acceptance and belonging.
God help us to live slowly; To move simply; To look softly; To allow emptiness; To let the heart create for us.
God help us to change. To change ourselves and to change our world. To know the need for it. To deal with the pain of it. To feel the joy of it. To undertake the journey without understanding the destination. The art of gentle revolution.
Amen.

3) Then the reading John 13:1-17 was read.

4) Then and 4 wondering questions appeared under the reading on the screen to help people reflect. These questions were...

a. I wonder how Jesus felt washing Judas’ feet (who would later betray Jesus)
b. I wonder how Jesus knew it was his time
c. I wonder how it would feel to be one of the disciples or servants present
d. I wonder what modern day equivalents of foot washing are

5) Then we connected and reflected by using our journals, the stations around us and wondering questions. With Taize music in the background. The stations were...
a. Foot washing
b. Egg drawing
c. Book Corner
d. Hammer and Cross
e. Magnetic poetry
f. Sand sculpture
g. Crucifix pictures
h. Cross
i. Wire sculpting
j. Bread and Wine
k. Play Dough
l. Pray for the world
m. Miracle maker DVD
n. Choc egg give away
o. Soaking Couch
(details are what really make the stations but this gives you an idea)

6) Then we cam back together and offered our thoughts and reflections to God

7) Then we closed with the prayer of St Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy;
Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand,
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

8) Then we either moved move out of the space for coffee and chat or stay to talk about what happened for us.

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Overall I was really happy with the way the night ran. Particularly I really enjoyed that the participants ranged in age from 5 to 60 and were essentially doing exactly the same thing (no Sunday school or creche) and I know that both the 5 year old and the 60 year old enjoyed the experience.

For me I discovered the importance of the wondering questions in the whole thing. In reflecting on the foot washing passage I asked myself would I draw the line at washing the feet of someone who would betray me? I wondered what modern day equivalents of foot washing would be. Having the opportunity to sit with the passage for a while I thought that foot washing probably has more to do with status than getting your hands dirty. I started thinking what are things that I could do that are "beneath me" status wise, but doing them would free me up to live more simply and give me more time to do more acts of love and kindness. My thoughts were...

• Live in a "bad" suburb
• Driving a daggy car
• Staying in a lower paid job
• Wearing unfashionable (cheaper clothes)
• Performing duties at work that are "below " my job description at work
  
• Doing things for free for the neighbours (not that I charge at the moment I just don't really offer)
  

The Space proper starts this Sunday where we start a journey through Luke. I can't wait.

We have Space!

The alternative reflective Church service I've been wanting to get up and running for quite a while has finally jumped it's last hurdle and we have a good space and time to run it.

See...
Creating a new worship service
Creating a new worship service 2
New Church service tested and ready to go
Alternate Service Delay
...for the back story.

Here is the flyer if you're interested and in Perth Australia.

I've been toying with the idea for this kind of service for about five years now so it's pretty exciting to see it at this stage. Hopefully it's going to work or maybe it was just and idea that was good five years ago and is now outdated. I don't know, I'll let you know.