One of the services that became a part of the TOLLS community was The Nature Service, a community of approximately 10 families, on average when I attended we had about 20-30 people including children.

The gathering was very simple, meet at the bottom of Morialta National Park in South Australia early in the morning and start walking.  The walking track would be chosen depending on numbers and who was attending, when Geoff or I were around I think they took pity on us and walked a more simple route, I had heard that they’d regularly take extremely challenging tracks, luckily I never had that misfortune…

The families would walk together, offering a helping hand to those who might need it, I remember one child falling and hurting their knee, an older young person stopped and helped the kid up, another parent pulled out a silver space blanket and whispered something about it being a super cape and the child got up and continued walking.  One of the beautiful things about walking with this group was that noise was normal, and noone was concerned about it, kids would make noise and that’s life, friends and others would walk, be inspired by the scenery and by the conversations they would have.

At a point on the journey the group would stop, look around, one of them would say “this looks like a perfect spot” and they would all gather together.

One person would share an email, conversation, story they they’d participated in over the week.

A poem might be read, a prayer might be said.

At which point a backpack would be opened and out would come a tattered Children’s bible, a zip sealed bag with some bread and another with some pop-tops full of grape juice.

One of the children would read the story of the last supper out of the well worn book.

As the story was read, the bread was broken and the wine opened.

Together they would then share in the bread and the juice.

A poem might be read, a prayer might be said.

And then the walk would continue.

Quite honestly, I think I’ve been looking for that kind of community since leaving SA…

That being said, I’m still a long way from the challenging walks over at Morialta, perhaps later in the year…

Steve Taylor recently lead a session at the National Rural Ministry Conference in Barmera, SA. The session was exploring Festival Spirituality and other ways that people in the Hebrew Scriptures would gather as faith community, worship or participate as a member of a community of faith.

His framework categorised 5 ways that described how people would gather/share faith, the categories he used were:

a) Temple
b) Pilgrimage
c) Sacred Space
d) Table
e) Festival

Steve’s been talking a lot about Festival Spirituality on his blog recently, to be honest the idea of seeing our liturgical year being split into 6ish gatherings connected to festivals (we already naturally celebrate 3 festivals in christmas, easter and harvest) sounded like a beautiful and sustainable idea for many people at the conference. People seemed so attracted to the idea of festivals that the other ways of exploring community, spirituality and faith seemed overlooked by many of the group, so with that In mind I thought I’d like to explore each of the categories leaving Festivals to the last.

I’m really wanting to see how we could develop Steve’s framework into a bible study or church mission resource in the coming months, I’ve already been asked to lead a discussion on some of the ideas at a coming Rural ministry gig. So Steve, be prepared for some further energy and conversation from me as I’m pretty keen on this one.

For this post I’d like to raise the idea of Pilgrimage, because the idea of being a people of movement and journey is pretty much a part of the DNA of the people and communities I’m living and ministering with.

The Hebrew scriptures speak of pilgrimage, of journey as a way of life. When I read the scriptures I’m reminded that it’s only during time of pilgrimage (through journey, being sent, being exiled or experiencing exile) that the people of God seem to glimpse who they really are called to be, only when on pilgrimage do the people truly start to listen and hear God’s voice, only on pilgrimage do they go through a radical change as community. Perhaps we are naturally nomads, called by God to be be nomadic, to live out a pilgrim lifestyle…

If I were to understand pilgrimage as the state of being on a journey I’m reminded that this includes experiences of road tripping around Australia, Backpacking Europe and hiking through the Blue Mountains just as much as it would include walking a Labyrinth and other slower and deep contemplative options. Pilgrimage is also an Indigenous practice, it’s a practice that speaks deeply to the people who have lived on this land for thousands of years and to those of us who, almost naturally understand the state of journey as a part of our relationship with the land, it’s as much a community experience as it is an experience of any individual in the Riverina.

In the rural setting this could include all states of movement including driving from one town to another, (a task that is a huge part of our experience of living rural), participating in the weekly bike club rides that exist in almost every town, taking a driving holiday, transporting cattle/stock along the stock trails and to/from markets and includes the process of harvesting and sowing where one might sit alone on a beast of a machine for days on end.

The idea of harvest as pilgrimage excites me and interests me because I’ve often found myself in discussion with some of my mates about the music that they’d been listening to as they drove the harvester and tractor, and the idea of driving up and down the field slowly seems to me similar to walking a labyrinth.

The conversation I’m keen to have now is how do we as a rural church develop routines and practices for people to re-vision their time on a tractor or their drive through the Riverina as a pilgrimage, a space where the spiritual practice of pilgrimage can provide space for reflection, connection, vision and prayer.

And can we develop practices and resources for people who would regularly travel along the Hume Highway to use the time in the vehicle as a spiritual time, perhaps by providing a musical resource, or a map with spaces and questions to ponder as they drive through the townships. And what about students travelling to and from school on busses, or cyclists who regularly ride through the region or those who travel to/from Church meetings during the week?  I’m aware that many of these are individual practices of pilgrimage and that we also need to develop shared practices of pilgrimage, perhaps starting with our walking groups, cycling clubs and motorcycle enthusiasts other places we could develop the idea of shared pilgrimage amongst the communities in the Riverina could include our botanical gardens, golf clubs, national parks, water reserves, museums…

I’m reminded that there are also a number of friends who have seen GeoCaching as a way to provide spaces of sacredness along roadsides as they journey through the country, but I think I’ll leave that idea until I move to contemplating the idea of Sacred Spaces.

So… Pilgrimage as practice opens up the possibility of seeing the tractor as a space for liturgical & ritual practices, the car/vehicle as one drives between Hillston and Sydney as a space for faith and connection. The task for us now is to develop ideas that help the spiritual practice of pilgrimage develop and professional travellers ways to engage with the region they’re driving through in deep spiritual reflection.

Tomorrow I’ll try and make the space to start to think about the idea of Table as spiritual practice…

Steve Taylor, The Principal of Uniting College For Leadership & Theology in Adelaide recently lead a session on Festivals and Gatherings in the Old Testament at the National Rural Ministry Conference, (I’ll write up some of my thoughts on that presentation since then later).  While he was there I asked him how his recent trek visiting fresh expression and emerging churches went & if there were any interesting insights.

He spoke about the attrition rate of fresh expression churches, (something that Andrew Dutney talks about here) and that there was a lot of material in his interviews that raises questions about how the institution sees the value of fresh expressions and the value of these communities and experiments, some of which we know won’t become “institutions”

Andrew Dutney speaks of the need for the church to embrace the concept of life and death, and of resurrection in our communities, of possibilities and questions raised around palliative care for communities who are at the end of their life and how we might provide care for these communities.  Andrew asks how healthy communities might be able so sit alongside dying congregations, and, while I like the idea wonder if “healthy” and “dying” should be seen as opposites, after-all, healthy people die, and death isn’t an illness as much as it is a part of life…

When speaking to Steve in Barmera I recalled my experience of the TOLLS community and it’s life and “death” and how the institution and a variety of others seemed to see it’s “death” as a failure, or as a sign of disease.

My recollection is that our death was, for some surprising, others it seemed natural and for many it was something that was grieved and then moved on from, but that’s natural for almost any death. Given the time again I think we’d do it slightly differently but it’s death was inevitable at the time, many/most of the community had moved on and sustaining the community beyond the virtual was becoming impossible

The resurrection that many of the community experienced is something that the church and arts communities are still experiencing, many of us who had lost interest or faith in the church, burnt out or without vision found ourselves healing, energised, with new visions and ideas of community, many of us who were seeking a community that accepted us were embraced and found ourselves starting new communities or participating in new ventures all over the world.

I think sometimes we forget that death is natural, instead of something to put off, run away or hide from. Sure, sometimes death is sudden and unexpected and sometimes death is caused by ill-health but death is also sometimes natural, healthy, timely, expected and even embraced. Sometimes individuals can die well, reconciled to those around them, sometimes the death leaves lingering questions and broken relationships… but it’s natural.

The institution of the church has fooled itself (like many of us) that death is unnatural and something that we can elude, that with the right cream we can hide our wrinkles, the latest in medical science we can put off death by a few years.  So we use words like “self-sustaining” and “financially viable” in our evaluations of new things, fresh expressions, our obsession with eluding death means we value that what might be unhealthy and avoid that which might be natural, but healthy.

• Perhaps a question we could ask ourselves is what does resurrection look like, and how do we recognise it in our midst (especially as we seem to spend a lot of our time avoiding grief or locked up in small rooms discussing “what next?”)…
• Perhaps another question could be why do we continue to look in the tomb when the new thing is not there, it’s moved on…
• Perhaps we need to explore what a healthy community looks like if it embraces death and hopes in resurrection…
• Perhaps we need to ask how we help give birth to new things without any expectation that it will ever be self-sustaining or long-term (but instead hope and empower it to live a healthy and meaningful life)
• Perhaps we could ask ourselves how we provide the community and culture that embraces resurrection, and actively seeks it out by embracing it’s death and providing a space and culture for something new to begin.
• I wonder what would happen if we assumed the natural lifespan of a “faith community” was 20 years rather than 100 or 500…

Personally, much like I looked forward to the insights of Jamieson in his book “Five Years On – Continuing Faith Journeys of Those Who Left The Church” I look forward to hearing more of Steve Taylor’s insights from his recent sabbatical.

Title: Noah’s Ark (Originally titled “Caleb’s Ride on Noah’s Ark”)
Author: Dick Bruna 
Illustrator: Dick Bruna 
Publisher: Mercis Publishing
ISBN: 9781742973890
Themes: Noah, Ark, Flood, Promise, Animals, Creation, Covenant, God, New Start, Obedience, Journey

Noah’s Ark, recently published for the first time in Australia show’s off Dick Bruna’s simple, colourful and beautiful designs alongside a well told story of a promise, a flood & a new start.

Caleb the Caterpillar is on his journey to become a butterfly, but before he can transform he has to join Noah and a lot of animals onboard a remarkably big boat with no windows. Join Caleb and Noah as they each go on a journey full of promise & hope.

I love the way that this book tells the story with a clear understanding of simplicity,  it’s this awareness of simplicity and the use of shapes & colour in design that makes this such a beautiful book.

Obviously the word of today is “simplicity,” but don’t be fooled, it takes a lot of talent and work to be this simple…

Beautiful, well designed, creative…

The list is still being compiled, but here’s a shortlist…

Here’s a list of resources is a list of music, all of which is available online, much of which is free to access.

Artist: Various

Website: http://noisetrade.com/bloodwatermission

Cost: You choose your cost (available as free download)

A great collection of traditional carols and Christmas songs sung by an eclectic group of musicians, some of you might recognise “Jars of Clay” and “Phil Keaggy”

Money raised by sales of this album will go to the Blood: Water Mission charity.

Artist: Various

Website: http://noisetrade.com/pastemagazine

Cost: Free Download

I subscribe to the PASTE Magazine, it’s a great source of alternative and folky type music, the holiday sampler has become an annual release for them, spreading the holiday spirit and providing a great list of alternative Christmas music, this year’s favourites for me are Christmas in the Room by Sufjan Stevens and Christmas Night by Justin Jones.

Artist: Various

Website: http://noisetrade.com/andrewripp

Cost: Free Download (but if you choose to donate money all funds raised will go to Thistle Farm)

A nice holiday release from Andrew Ripp, originally released in 2011 this blues/roots Christmas release will have you clapping along, joyful and triumphant.  While this album is offered for free on Noisetrade any money raised will be given to Thistle Farms.  Thistle Farms is a residential program for women who have survived lives of prostitution, trafficking, addiction and life on the streets. As part of their rehabilitation the women work making by hand natural bath and body products.

Artist: Over The Rhine

Website: http://noisetrade.com/overtherhine

Cost: You choose your cost (available as free download)

Probably NoiseTrade’s best free download of the year.

Over the Rhine is a beautiful band, a new favourite of mine.  They’ve released two christmas albums thus far, “Snow Angels” and “The Darkest Night Of The Year.” full of beautiful originals and re-imagined traditional carols you’ll find your ears will be blessed by listening to their music.  ”Snow Angels” is their second release, they’ve put it on Noisetrade as a Christmas present.  You can download both via iTunes or their website http://overtherhine.com where you can also check out their other releases.

My favourite track from “Snow Angels” is “Little Town”

4. LITTLE TOWN

O little town of Bethlehem

How still we see thee lie

Above thy dark and dreamless sleep

The silent stars go by

Yet in thy dark streets shineth

The everlasting light

The hopes and fears of all the years

Are met in thee tonight

The lamplit streets of Bethlehem

We walk now through the night

There is no peace in Bethlehem

There is no peace in sight

The wounds of generations

Almost too deep to heal

Scar the timeworn miracle

And make it seem surreal

The baby in the manger

Grew to a man one day

And still we try to listen now

To what he had to say

Put up your swords forever

Forgive your enemies

Love your neighbor as yourself

Let your little children come to me

PASTE Magazine (listed above) included Over the Rhine in their list of 100 Best Living Songwriters and wrote, “There can be no adequate labels for music this dense, this conflicted, this emotionally charged. Over the Rhine creates true confessional masterpieces that know neither border no boundary.”

Over The Rhine’s song “The Trumpet Child” (available on another album) would be another beautiful Advent song.

Artist: Branches

Website: http://noisetrade.com/soundslikebranches

Cost: You choose your cost (available as free download)

A great collection of harmonic acoustic Christmas tunes by a couple of best-friends turned bandmates.

Artist: Sufjan Stevens

Website: http://noisetrade.com/sufjanstevens

Cost: You choose your cost (available as free download)

Sufjan Stevens has released two Christmas collections, one back in 2006 and another this year (2012) titled Silver & Gold. This sampler is a collection taken from the 58 track Christmas collection Silver & Gold .

Grab this sampler album for free, and if you’re amazed by the eclectic mix of reimagined carols, original tracks and traditional songs then head over to http://music.sufjan.com and buy the entire collection (or the previous collection from 2006)

Artist: SleepingAtLast

Website: http://noisetrade.com/sleepingatlast

Cost: You choose your cost (available as free download)

A mellow collection of traditional Christmas carols and a couple of new songs.

Artist: Ben Rector

Website: http://noisetrade.com/benrectorxmas

Cost: You choose your cost (available as free download)

Beautiful vocal and acoustic renditions of Christmas classics.

Artist: Various

Website: http://noisetrade.com/themusicbed

Cost: You choose your cost (available as free download)

An eclectic collection of christmas carols and songs from the likes of Katie Herzig, Ben Rector & A New Normal

Artist: Hilary Grist

Website: http://www.hilarygrist.com/winter-index.html

Cost: Free Download

This is a beautiful collection of Christmas songs, Hillary’s voice is almost too cute and old-fashioned, the accompanied ukulele & piano make these songs sound almost too simple. Her rendition of Angels We Have Heard on High has to be one of my favourite Christmas carols this year.

DIY Paper Nativity by Joel Henriques (Free to Download)

http://madebyjoel.com/?p=4362
A new and beautifully simple paper nativity by Joel Henriques, two pdf files makes up the entire kit.  While you’re there check out some of his other craft ideas, paper cities and his book (I can highly recommend)

“Silent Night” DIY Black & White Illustrated Nativity (cost $12 to download template)

http://goo.gl/HDkvr
“Silent Night” by Melanie Burk is a beautiful nativity template, ready for pasting on a block or printing on cardboard this is an original nativity that gives a magically older style to it’s illustration. This nativity was designed with children in mind, so it is ready for little hands to treasure and love it. Use the paper dolls to color, paint, cut out and teach about the christmas story. Mount on flannel, magnets, or whatever you can think. Or, for a more durable collection to last the years, follow our detailed instructions and create a lasting, wooden block nativity to outlast anything those little hands can put it through. Simply use rubonz to mount the designs onto the wood- and fear not- it only involves your printer, scissors, the rubonz film, and wood.

http://etsy.me/SFyJAg

Probably one of the more professional looking DIY printable sets, and one of my favourites.  An 8 page printable booklet that you can create into a beautiful paper nativity theatre. A fun project you can print from your home computer and assemble yourself.

http://bit.ly/Yz5iVd

A simple and beautiful 24 piece printable Advent Calendar with nativity characters

http://bit.ly/VbkeRJ

A simple and beautifully designed paper craft Nativity set by Marloes de Vries. This set comes as a pre-coloured kit and a black and white colour in kit. Includes Wise men, Shepherd, Donkey, Mary, Joseph, Baby, Angel & Cow.

http://bit.ly/vuxd0e

A very simple paper craft nativity set, invite kids or others to colour in the characters and then create the scene by cutting each part out and gluing them together.

http://bit.ly/gnIjTy

A very simple Christmas craft, a nativity christmas tree ornament set, not the best of the collection but simple and easy to create.

http://bit.ly/uqqQx0

Very simple printable colour-in nativity craft, print out, colour in, cut and bob’s you uncle.

http://bit.ly/11SgSc3

A more traditional nativity scene with a stained glass backdrop.

http://bit.ly/THayRG

a much more complex project this kit creates a full 3D paper craft nativity with individual characters to cut, fold and assemble.  This particular set would probably require adult help, or create as a congregational or family project

http://bit.ly/WIHl7k

Similar to the flatpack kit above this Advent Nativity set by Si Smith is a set of 25 characters that form together to create a nativity that spans from the announcement of the pregnancy of Elizabeth through to the escape to Egypt.  I love this particular kit and have created it a number of times over the years.

http://www.3dinosaurs.com/printables/packs/nativity.php

A great collection of nativity-based ideas including 3 Part Cards, Beginning Sounds, Matching Cards, Read Write the Room, Pocket Cards, Which One Is Different, What Comes Next, Pre Writing Practice, Pattern Cards, 10 Piece Puzzles, 4 Piece Puzzles, Size Sorting, Coloring Pages, Writing Pages, Dot Marker Pages, Picture to help tell the story, Small Book, and more.

http://bit.ly/uECsgk

A fantastic collection of Nativity themed ideas including patterns, puzzles, story timeline, maze, spelling book and more

http://bit.ly/THf179

a beautiful craft idea for home or sunday school or worship, the project would probably involve some homework as you’d need to pre-cut the silhouette before you kick off.

 

http://bit.ly/fqsiqW

These Nativity printables will give your preschooler hours of fun and exposure to early learning skills like ABCs, counting, early reading, shapes, colors and more!

A beautiful collection of children’s illustrations in one year.

Go and purchase this beautiful creation over at My Little Bookcase now, the calendar includes illustrations by

• Kylie Dunstan
• Sue deGennaro
• Katherine Battersby
• Sally Rippin
• Freya Blackwood
• Lucia Masciullo
• Nick Bland
• Anna Walker
• Lisa Stewart
• Christina Booth
• Gus Gordon
• Peter Carnavas

An important and timely piece by Rev Andrew Dutney, President of the UCA on the ABC website.

Amnesty International has confirmed that conditions for asylum seekers that Australia has sent to Nauru are wretched. There is poor sanitation, inadequate accommodation, overcrowding, and the mental and physical health of detainees is deteriorating. Uncertainty and loss of hope breaks the hearts and spirits of people who have fled unimaginable circumstances in search of safety.

This kind of treatment is soul destroying. Not only does it crush the souls of detainees. It points to a sickness in the soul of the Australian nation.

Jesus said, “Do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12). As it happens, it also “sums up” the teaching of Confucius, the Buddha, the Prophet Mohammed and even Peter Singer’s version of utilitarianism. If you want to be your best self, to live in a healthy, fair community, to achieve the best outcomes for everyone involved in a particular situation, the consensus of the world’s wisest teachers is “do to others what you would have them do to you.” When it comes to the practicalities of attending to your soul, the Golden Rule or “principle of reciprocity” is the universally acknowledged measure. So, Australia, how is it going with your soul?

For twenty years, Australians have tolerated and rewarded the introduction of policy after policy that have served only to minimise our responsibility towards those asking for our compassion and protection. We have imprisoned asylum seekers exercising their right to seek freedom from persecution. We have sentenced children to a life behind barbed wire in remote and inhospitable locations. We have ignored international condemnation from organisations such as the UNHCR, while conceitedly pointing the finger of superior righteousness at other nations who are accused of violating the human rights of their citizenry. We have sniggered at the bizarre removal of Australia from its own migration zone. We have allowed a discourse dominated by hatred, racism and misunderstanding to infect our common vernacular. We have allowed people to talk about “illegals” knowing that there is nothing illegal about seeking asylum, and “queue jumpers” knowing that there is no queue to jump. We have allowed our hearts and the heart of our nation to be hardened against those who deserve our care.

Somehow it has come to suit us to treat this particular group of vulnerable “others” as we would never want to be treated ourselves. That’s what the opinion polls seem to say. And that is deeply disturbing. Measured against the Golden Rule, it points to a neglected, enfeebled, imperilled Australian soul.

Continue reading “The fear of others has corrupted the Australian soul“

It’s been a while since I posted about new music that I’ve been enjoying, here’s a quick breakdown of some of the best of it…

Sufjan Stevens – Silver & Gold

Sufjan’s latest Christmas extravaganza, there’s some great reimagining of old tunes, some quirky originals, some beautiful instrumentals and some really edgy lyrics that you might overlook if you were’nt paying attention.

Lord, come with fire.
Lord, come with fire.
Everyone’s wasting their time.
Storing up treasure in vain.
Trusting the pleasure it gives here on earth

The Lumineers – Self Titled

One of the top 25 albums of the year, and I’d be surprised if Ho Hey isn’t in the tripleJ Hottest100 this year.  A truly beautiful folky debut full of unique harmonies and by a band that’ll offer a lot more in the future, I can’t wait. (Think Boy & Bear + Mumford & Sons)

David Ramirez – Apologies

I love David’s music, his vocals are held back, honest while his lyrics are very close tot he bone, in Apologies David wonders if he’s been too honest, but there’s nothing wrong with his wearing his heart on his sleeves as he’s created a beautiful album.

The NYTimes writes about David “ in Mr. Ramirez’s hands hope is a tool of the doubtful, not the faithful.”

Click here to view the embedded video.

Of Monsters & Men – My Head is an Animal

 This isn’t new… but it’s still beautiful. Icelandic roots/folk music with beautiful harmonies and joyous melodies that just beg you to join in.

Paul Kelly – Spring & Fall

Paul Kelly’s a great storyteller and, in this release he’s decided to allow each song to fit into one story, it’s a cd of falling in love and out of love, an album that relies on each track linking with it’s neighbours, while each track are beautiful individually it’s only when you listen to them side by side that you get the full picture.

The Mountain Goats – Transcendental Youth

Reminiscent of earlier releases this is the Mountain Goats at their best.  I’ll let Pitchfork tell you the rest.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The XX – Coexist

The XX are back, and if you can believe it they’re even more stripped back than their last release, minimalistic electronica with beautiful vocals.

All India Radio – Red Shadow Landing

Breathtaking