Tuesday, July 04, 2006

Celtic knot work and cotton wool beards


Last night at White Stone, we broke all records for packing people into our main lounge - there were about sixty people there (well, my wife counted fifty-five at one point, but a few people arrived after that). What's more, we did it on the hottest day of the year so far! Windows open, fans on...

The reason for the crowd was that last night we held a 'Community Vision' evening. We put on such events two or three times a year with the aim of exploring and promoting Christian community as an excellent way of following Jesus in the 21st century. Last night, we took a lightening tour through the history of Christian communities (well, I say 'lightening' - the whole thing took about an hour and a quarter: there was a lot to cover!) Then, after a break, we watched a video extract about New Creation Christian Community (i.e. our own!), a brother told his fairly remarkable story of how God called him to belong to our community, and we had some Q & A with a specially chosen ‘panel’.

Highlights for me: seeing two dear brothers ludicrously dressed up in dressing gowns and wigs (plus cotton wool beards) acting out an ancient and quirky story of two Desert Fathers who decide to have a quarrel and find they can’t; watching a slideshow about the Bruderhof (including two Bruderhof women playing hide and seek in their large kitchen pots!); everyone singing a song in harmony; and perhaps most memorably of all, everyone colouring in a small piece of Celtic ‘knot work’ design which was then displayed in full splendour on our dining room wall in a display of the words ‘Community, Unity, Eternity’.

For me, that last one really spoke louder than words about what community is truly about: everyone contributing their small but unique part to something that – when it’s all put together – is far more striking and beautiful than isolated individuals could ever achieve.

8 comments:

Just teejay said...

Celtic knots, now thats interesting.

; ) The TJ

dee-braveheart said...

I have to admit that sketch was so funny
and the feeling of working together to prduce the celtic knots was brill
but i think the thing that really made my heart melt again was all this wonderful diverse family coming together at every oppotunity to worship together and to raise the profile of zion community there is beauty beyond beauty abnd to finish the evening with the song my heart is held and planted in zion and to be singing knowing that almost every one else in the room shared the same vison and goals is so so special

Anonymous said...

I do think one essential ingredient was missing - given that meals are such a large part of fellowship from the New Testament until now, maybe the next community event ought to centre round a picnic in idyllic surroundings......

Anonymous said...

i went to the one at ancorage and this man just walked in like after we had started and went straight upstairs no one had ever seen him before and it was just as mick temp was talking about distractions and the enemy. it was really really strange!

n0rma1 said...

Now I'm with you on the food thing, anon, but I'm not sure the idyllic surroundings are very NT - maybe some mouldy prison cell would be more the thing... But I'll suggest your food idea to my superiors!

Anonymous said...

I always pictured the hills round Gallilee and the beach side scenes as quite idyllic meself - guess pollution and neighbours bombs weren't such an issue then - anyway just a suggestion - oh and the catacombs and desert sound quite cool on occasions as well - Hilda's set up was right by the coast as well - or mayb iona would be a good spot.....lots of options

dee-braveheart said...

anon
see your point but moving a large number of folks around and fitting in with work scedules is a little more dificult these days
but then there is always the 3 day festival over the weekend where the church is showing Gods grace and community at its strongest

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