the last of the water [i promise]
I had a column in yesterday’s Age, which I’m told was on line but I was away all weekend and missed it… It was a reworking of this blog post, and it’s here as a pdf: water_theage
the memory of water – greenbelt worship
This is the ‘script’ for worship… wish it were possible to put up the rabbit proof fence clip… all credit to Ben, Sarah, Craig, Nic for participating in a flawed process and making something good out of it… and to Ray, Jenny, Peter and Darren for turning up on the day and making it work……
ctm chapel
I curated a space for a leadership training event at the Centre for Theology and Ministry [CTM] on Saturday. It was on the theme ‘the memory of water’ … the chapel at the CTM is so perfect for doing installations. The CTM is a new complex, and the architects did a fantastic job of listening and understanding the dynamics of different forms of worship and sacred space. i was in on the initial conversations with the architects – they asked quite brilliant and insightful questions, and it’s reflected in the way the space has worked.
There are powerpoints everywhere, including a number of hidden points in the centre of the floor. There’s also network cabling for internet access. The chapel has full length windows against the back wall, which look over a gorgeous garden…
those windows have mechanically operated blackout blinds, and then the choice of a white overlay blind that can be lowered to cover the black [which is great to project onto]. The skylights have blackout blinds. The lighting is easy to manipulate, the furniture is all easily moveable, and there are good storage spaces which make it possible to entirely clear the room… the space is large, but not too large… next time i’m taking a ladder – i think we could stick a data projector onto the cross beam on the back window and project up high onto the ‘hidden’ wall…
i was even given permission to put hooks in the ceiling if i needed to [i wanted to hang stuff], but there were glass shields on lights that weren’t being switched on, so i could use suction hooks instead.
in terms of the space itself, i think it worked ok. most of the people who came through are very new to this kind of space… it’s such a leap to move beyond participation as reading the words in bold to a prayer on a newssheet…
after the jump are the words for the ‘thirst’ station – we’re using a variation of this at greenbelt, so save the surprise if you think you might get to our service there…
…
Overflow
This saturday i’m curating a sacred space as part of the ‘Overflow’ children, youth and families training event at the CTM in Parkville. I would love to see you if you’re going to be there. I’ll be in the chapel. It seems the theme of water has permeated most of the worship and sacred spaces…
the memory of water – sacred space
this space was designed for Sunday afternoon’s moment… It was the least labour-intensive sacred space i’ve ever designed, just requiring bowls of water, jugs, glasses and food colouring… it was probably the most difficult physical space i’ve worked in for a while – a cavernous hall, uncovered windows that went forever, 150 people, a cold…
water pavilion
looking up inspiration for third spaces with a fourth dimension… came across this digital water pavilion, which is being designed by MIT for the World Expo in Spain next year. Imagine a building made of water. It features liquid curtains for walls – curtains that not only can be programmed to display images or messages…
baptism
Drink deep, little one… The water poured over you today has been part of the world since its beginning and will be until its end. It quenches the thirst of the gasping and cools the throats of the parched it washes the world clean it lets the world live. Drink deep, little one. Soak it…
water
If I were called in To construct a religion I should make use of water. Going to church Would entail a fording To dry, different clothes; My litany would employ Images of sousing, A furious devout drench, And I should raise in the east A glass of water Where any-angled light Would congregate endlessly. Philip…
drawn to the edge
[Every time i go to write something on here at the moment, it feels too big. Like there are a thousand thoughts in my mind, a thousand possibilities, but there aren’t enough words, and the words won’t do anything justice, and that to put words to ‘it’ would diminish ‘it’… and that i don’t even…
Beloved
Beloved. The voice comes. Out of the blue. God’s own, Beloved Repeated. Strident, strong, determined. Believable. Beloved. Renamed, to become the name. Beloved, Be loved, Be love.