Sanctus1 Blog

Advent calendar

2009-11-03T12:31:00.002Z

I've just bought an advent calendar from Beyond, a group in Brighton. Last year they had a fantastic advent art installation, with a different display in 24 different beach huts along Brighton beach. As I didn't get to see the installation first hand, I can't wait for the 1st December!

Last post to the Sanctus1 blog

2009-10-21T08:51:00.004+01:00

It's my final day working with Sanctus1 and I can think of no better way to start it than posting on this blog. It's interesting how this blog has evolved over the last five years, It basically grew and grew till late 2007 then numbers of people slowed down a bit and now there are 1000 less visitors a month than in 2007. This reflects the shift to facebook, twitter and lack of activity on the blog...

So I'm leaving, it feel strange but thanks for the memories. Sanctus1 has been a great place for me, a place where my faith has grown and be challenged. Thanks for the laughter an the intimacy - I'll miss Sanctus. There have been challenges, nights that I have been kept awake worring about sanctus and people within sanctus, times when I've wondered if we'll still be going in six months time, times where I've come home and cried due to the hurts that people have shared with me - thank you for sharing them.

But I know its the right time to move on, new things beckon, and you're in the very capable hands of Al. You can keep up with me on my blog: benedson.co.uk, if you've been emailing me on ben@sanctus1.co.uk then you'll have to email me in the next 24hrs to get my new email address or look on my blog!

Thank you for the days...ok time to kill this google account.

Latest Sanctus1 enews

2009-10-15T16:24:00.002+01:00

Here is the latest Sanctus1 e-news. If you want to sign up to receive the quarterlyish updates then do so by clicking here.

Last train to Oldham

2009-10-01T19:37:00.003+01:00

On Saturday 3rd October, the last train will run from Manchester to Rochdale via Oldham, on the "Oldham loop".

This is to pave the way for it's rebirth as the Rochdale branch of Metrolink, in 2012. Hooray for the Metrolink. What a shame we have to sacrifice yet another railway line to feed this behemoth. If the Altrincham service is anything to go by, the good folk of Rochdale will (in three years time) have the choice of a train to Manchester, or a bumpier*, more expensive tram ride. The denziens of Oldham won't get that choice.

Heaven forbid that we should convert a road into a tramline.

* Light rail tracks require less maintenance than mainline tracks, hence the bumpier ride on the tram.

Labyrinths

2009-09-20T23:46:00.002+01:00

Labyrinths are quite a cool way of taking time out, giving you time to reflect, prayer, meditate as you move around the space. Manchester monastery has recently had a huge refurbishment and ongoing plans include a labyrinth installed into the floor of the main space. In the meantime they regularly have a temporary labyrinth in the space, which a couple of us walked around today.

It's great to see that such an amazing building is being used as a centre for the community and exploration of a range of spiritual ideas and expressions - and you can even rent the space for parties!

Post Greenbelt Social

2009-09-02T18:12:00.002+01:00

Tonight's Sanctus is our traditional post-greenbelt gathering. We'll simply be going to the pub to catch up with one another, we'll meet at Nexus at 19:30 before going onto Bar Fringe for about 8:00.

Sanctus1 at Greenbelt09

2009-08-25T09:00:00.000+01:00

Sanctus1 will be leading two service at Greenbelt this year.

The first one is on Sunday at 19:00 in New Forms and called 'The Infinite Service - Part 0031, The second one is in The Shelter in the Youth Area at 11:00 on Monday and called 'The infinite Service - Part 8563. Here is what the programme will say about them:

A service that revolves at nine hundred miles an hour, orbits at nineteen miles a second and is three thousand light years wide. Come early � limited to 6.5 billion participants.

We'll be camping in our usual place, so come and find us!!

Through the pilgrim door

2009-08-24T08:44:00.002+01:00

The rather lovely and excellent Michael Volland has shared his and feig's journey over the last few years in a book, published just as he's left to move on to Durham. (see his new blog through the link above)

I bet there'll be copies at GB on the book stand, or via Amazon...

It's my God in a box

2009-08-01T16:21:00.000+01:00

"A God box is an object of intense beauty used for manifesting goodness in your life....

"You can adorn it with faux finishes, faux lapis, strings soaked in glue, making loops, like spaghetti rococco, then paint it, varnish it, maybe gluing on many sparkling, faux jewels or pearls."

Faux fish? No, thanks - when I make mine, I'm using real fish.

As Judith says on this website: "My God box calls to me. My God box is ever ready to receive my needs. If I forget to ask for miracles, it wonders why I don't use it more often.

"It patiently awaits my heart vibrations�.

Here's how you can make your God box.

GB weather

2009-07-27T12:54:00.002+01:00

Well it looks like the GB weather's going to be pretty memorable!!

http://metcheck.com/V40/UK/FREE/event_forecast.asp?eventID=697

Manchester Notions 2

2009-07-23T09:07:00.002+01:00

Laura and Mancubist picked up the previous spoof by Manchester Notions, well it seems that there are more out there. I picked up this flyer yesterday.

In case you're not from Mcr, they're subverting the best of Manchester awards and remain anonymous. I think they're Christian, they've certainly got a faith angle on them, but they'e not overt and in many ways develop the worship in public spaces theme that we've seen in mant places across the country. However, the anonymity of them something extra...but I think I know who it is!!!

The text on the back reads:

'Our times call for more that the superficial. We need earth rawness that smells so nourishing even a glance of it straightens our back and lifts our chin. Rise up, speak truth - speak life to each other. Big up the one who competes with you. Work hard for your boss even if he is unfair. For it is God that loves your life, he whop wants your best. If advertising is based on the premise of inadequacy, how can this city's children grow! Times call not for self but selfless - where freedom and joy aew found. The origin of inspiration is 'God breathed' so rise up - pray a song, create, search truth, integritu and boldness - be inspired. Your talent is admired by the one who gave it. Gossip goodness to all - be wondered by simple things and happiness will follow you.

Anglican mainstream and Greenbelt

2009-07-13T09:21:00.003+01:00

Anglican Mainstream the uber conservative pressure group is out to get Greenbelt! Have alook at their post and tell us what you think...http://www.anglican-mainstream.net/?p=12825

Rock star physicist

2009-07-06T17:54:00.000+01:00

Brian Cox... no, not that Brian Cox, the other Brian Cox... is doing a book launch at the Museum Of Science And Industry.

Insert generic God-as-scientist argument here. Anyhoo, the event is tomorrow (Tuesday) and full details are at http://www.coxforshaw.blogspot.com/.

For fact fiends:

- Brian Cox was in the band D:Ream: his last appearance with them was at the 1997 Labour party conference.

- QI host and professional genius Stephen Fry "can think of no one, Stephen Hawking included, who more perfectly combines authority, knowledge, passion, clarity and powers of elucidation than Brian Cox."

- Brian Cox has amazing hair.

The event also features Jeff Forshaw, who is one of the youngest professors in the UK. I had to mention Jeff, as it seems Brian is nabbing all the publicity, being a pop star physicist and all that!

Re-Use

2009-06-30T13:45:00.002+01:00

Over the next few months in Sanctus we thought that it'd be good to do a bit of recycling! Sanctus is a fairly transient community of people and so there are many services that the current community has never experienced. So we thought that we'd look through our back-cataloge and re-use some! The service will be looked at, tweeked and redelivered by today's community.

But we have so many to choose from! So look through the list and see if there is one that tickles your fancy and help make it happen again...

1. Dekhomi - The Welcoming Place - A service exploring God's welcome
2. A Time for Everything - A Service based on Ecclesiastes
3. 3 - The Trinity
4. 40 - Lent
5. Chance - Randomness of Faith
6. Covenant - God's promises to us
7. Credo � A service exploring belief
8. Detox � Detoxing our lives
9. Discipleship - What does it mean to follow Jesus?
10.Elemental � Fire
11.Elemental � Water
12.Going Higher � Ascension
13.High on Hope
14.Identity
15.Life Giver � Service on Mary
16.Magic Number
17.Mirror Mirror - Reflections on God
18.Pilgrimage
19.Prophetic Politics
20.Sanctum - First ever S1 service!
21.Soteriology - Understanding Salvation
22.Urban Faith
23.Urban Harvest
24.Welcome Home? The Prodigal Son
25.World Service
26.The Man in Black - Service based on Jonny Cash
27.No Place like Home - Service around alice in wonderland
28.Solstice � Midsummer service
29.Gift
30.Sancduko
31.Sanctus Speed dating

And add any more that I've not included...

"Best Of Manchester Notions"?

2009-06-18T09:55:00.002+01:00

I only wish that this was one of ours... Rather neat I thought.

Walking on...

2009-06-15T09:50:00.002+01:00

Neat web site that a mate directed me to last night - Walk It, the urban walking route planner.

For 14 cities/ towns in the UK, you can enter two postcodes or locations and it'll calculate the shortest/ quickest (or "less busy" if you select) route to walk from and to, as well as telling you the carbon saving.

Get walking!

Sacred Trinity in the ManCon spotlight

2009-06-11T13:07:00.003+01:00

Nice piece by Manchester Confidential about Sacred Trinity and the "Very Cool Rev" (TM) Andy Salmon...

Stunned silence | Not in my name

2009-06-09T15:21:00.006+01:00

It's been oh so quiet round here.

And now I'm not sure what there is to say, other than I know we have to take seriously the need to engage with those who did vote BNP. It's too easy to judge and demonise them. At least they bothered to use their vote; obviously I'd really rather they'd not used it to vote for the BNP, but that's where the serious and sustained engagement is needed.

In the meantime, those of having to live under Nick Griffin's "representation", can at least say (with Hope Not Hate) not in my name.

Manchester 10K

2009-05-17T19:09:00.003+01:00

A group from Sanctus1 took part in the Great Manchester 10k run today to raise money for Christian Aid. We had a range of times - and a range of dampness as some of us were only half-way through when we were subjected to 40 minutes of Manchester's finest hardcore rain - but I think everyone felt a real sense of achievement, both for completing it in one piece and for raising the money. Well done team! Same again next year?

M.E.P. and Total Denial

2009-05-14T13:38:00.001+01:00

The award winning film Total Denial (www.totaldenialfilm.com) is being shown on Tuesday 19 May, 7-9.30pm at AMC Cinema, 253 Deansgate. It is followed by the chance to question MEP candidates ahead of June�s European elections about corporate accountability and climate change

Total Denial is the story of a historic lawsuit - fifteen villagers from the jungles of Burma bringing their case against a giant oil corporation concerning the abuse of human-rights in a story of the struggle for justice.

Come and support their inspiring example, find out what you can do, and question your potential MEPs on how they will work for justice around the world.

Please book by emailing totaldenialfilm@gmail.com

The TED commandments

2009-05-14T11:41:00.004+01:00

If you've never seen a TED video, you've been missing out big time! Put down the remote control, and go to http://www.ted.com/ to watch some of the most inspiring and engaging presentations you will ever see.

Apparently, each TED speaker gets sent a tablet of stone with the following 10 presentation guidelines engraved on it. There has to be a Sanctus equivalent surely, or at the very least a carcking service idea in here?

1. Thou Shalt Not Simply Trot Out thy Usual Shtick.

2. Thou Shalt Dream a Great Dream, or Show Forth a Wondrous New Thing, Or Share Something Thou Hast Never Shared Before.

3. Thou Shalt Reveal thy Curiosity and Thy Passion.

4. Thou Shalt Tell a Story.

5. Thou Shalt Freely Comment on the Utterances of Other Speakers forthe Sake of Blessed Connection and Exquisite Controversy.

6. Thou Shalt Not Flaunt thine Ego. Be Thou Vulnerable. Speak of thyFailure as well as thy Success.

7. Thou Shalt Not Sell from the Stage: Neither thy Company, thy Goods, thy Writings, nor thy Desperate need for Funding; Lest Thou be Cast Aside into Outer Darkness.

8. Thou Shalt Remember all the while: Laughter is Good.

9. Thou Shalt Not Read thy Speech.

10. Thou Shalt Not Steal the Time of Them that Follow Thee.

Hooray!

2009-05-13T12:55:00.003+01:00

Looks like Manchester's going to get new and improved public transport despite saying no to the congestion charge. Everyone's a winner!

Hunger and thirst

2009-05-11T09:27:00.008+01:00

Service: "hunger and thirst"

Wed 13 May, 7.30pm
Nexus Art Cafe, Manchester

No ID?

2009-05-06T09:26:00.001+01:00

Has anyone worked out the local resistance to the ID card trial yet?

The Movie Mass

2009-04-29T09:24:00.004+01:00

Tonight in Sanctus1 the service is called 'The Movie Mass'.

The service will be almost entirely led by film clips with different films leading us through different stages of the service. There will be a a film led call to worship, confession and absolution, reflection on 'the word', time of sharing bread and wine, prayers and finally a blessing...

Join us tonight at 7:30 for Coffee and 7:45 to start in Nexus.