Tonight's service starts at 7.30 in Nexus and features a saggy old cloth cat. Come along and find out what the heck I'm talking about...!

(photo from last year's Sanctus1 main stage communion)

Then over the weekend, lots of the community are going to Greenbelt. Sanctus1 (Sun 10pm) and Sanctus2nds (Sat 10am) are both doing services in New Forms. It'd be good to see you there.

Labels: greenbelt, sanctus1, sanctus2nds, service

Advance notice that tomorrow night is a service-style event at Nexus from 7.30pm, run by a small group of members from the community.

The main point of exploration for the service is the creation-destruction-recreation idea that we came out of the scratch service a few weeks back, and was blogged here.

See you there? You'd be very welcome.

Labels: sanctus1, service

I just wanted to say I loved last night.

We all contributed to making a service from scratch in a night. It was on the theme of creation/ Genesis 1 and we used any/ all resources and materials to hand. And having planned a section of the worship in small groups, we then worshipped together using all of that at the end of the evening. A great example of what can be made out of next-to-nothingness when working together.

Here's the bones of what we did:

Candle lighting

I light this light in the name of the Maker, who made the sun and the moon, the day and the night.
I light this light in the name of the Redeemer, who is the Light of the World and shows us the way.
I light this light in the name of the Sustainer, the living flame, who burns within us and throughout the world.
We light these lights for the Trinity of love and light. Amen.


Introduction/ reflection on the theme

An edited retelling of the opening sections of Genesis, whilst hanging a map of the world on a washing line, and then other postcard images of people, animals, plants, landscapes. We were then invited to go forward and add something to this line in response to "creation".


There was a reflection and duscussion on the themes of creation/ destruction and some concepts emerged:
- the cycle of creation-destruction-recreation
- the image of the bread broken to share in newness of life
- cells dividing to multiply
- tiles being smashed to make a mosaic
- God destroying nothingness to create somethingness

Finally, we were invited to consider the images of God's "second start" through the flood, and Noah sending out the bird in hope of finding land... We were then able to make an origami bird to symbolise our own flight of hope for finding creation out of destruction.

Confession and absolution

We explored this through the image of brokenness (personal, social, environmental) that is given later in Genesis - taking and eating the fruit. We wrote confessions of brokenness on the back of paper apples, and then remembering that the seed has to die to grow anew, we tore our apples in half (and cut a real apple and planted its seed) as a symbol of God's promise of newness and hope. We finished with a reading of Matthew's telling of the story about the mustard seed that eventually grows to be a home to the birds.


Bread and wine

A simple help-yourself station with two sheets of paper to allow people to write a response as they took bread and wine.


Prayers

A set of prayers themed around the Genesis paragraphs about the sun, moon and stars:
- remembering people who've died
- listening to Moby's We're all made of stars
- considering humanity's divine intention to prosper - thinking of those "stars" who govern our country and world, praying for people, situations, places by writing on paper stars


Blessing
An adaptation of a Northumbria blessing

Candles...
...and an invitation to take on the service at the end of the month having seen how easy it is to create something out of next-to-nothingness. Be in touch about that.

Labels: sanctus1, service

Labels: news, sanctus1, TV

It was a pleasure and a privilege to have Sylvia and Brian with us last night exploring Colossians through their own fine book, Colossians Remixed. They were challenging, funny, pointed and generous - depsite being asked if they were Americans! ;-) And yes I know some people actually gasped out loud when we had to get the Bibles out and read a whole book... shock horror.

Mainly, they gave an overview as to how Paul subverts the culture, economics, images and symbols of the Roman Empire through this letter to the church in Colossae. And in particular, the passage chapter 1, v15-20 being an undoing/ reworking of those Empire values to those of Christ. Brian riffed on those verses at the end, giving a 21C cultural response to the book, contextualising it for us. Looking at them again in the Message today, I was also struck by their layers of meaning and reference:

15-18We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God's original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body.

18-20He was supreme in the beginning and—leading the resurrection parade—he is supreme in the end. From beginning to end he's there, towering far above everything, everyone. So spacious is he, so roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding. Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the cross.


I've got big shoes to fill - I'm doing next week as a follow up (gulp). So expect more on this theme and what is 21C Empire if you're coming along...

Labels: books, sanctus1

Last night, we did the last event of the Dirty Mother series, a service exploring the links between the environment and talking the talk/walking the walk, and guilt, shame, anger/choice, class, convenience.

Below are a few things that we did: thanks to Lizzie, Kevin and Rachel for their ideas and hard work.


A new candle lighting setting

We light this light in the name of the Creator,
The one who breathed the breath of life,
The one who made the heavens and the earth,
The one who looked at everything in the beginning and it was good.

We light this light in the name of the Redeemer,
The one who came to show us a kingdom way,
The one who spoke in riddles about seeds and birds and lilies of the field,
The one who turned The Word into action.

We light this light in the name of the Sustainer,
The one who hovered over the waters at the very start of everything,
The one who inspires and challenges us to change,
The one whose fire renews us still.


A reflective liturgical piece

Where to start, what to do? So much to do and so little time...

Choices, choices everywhere and not an action to take. Life is a mass of choices - from the frivolous to the life-changing. Which Tshirt? What newspaper? That job? This house? Sometimes it feels like there are too many choices - simply too much to choose from - an indistinguishable mass of clamoring stuff.

In fact, so much choice that we become worried that we make will the wrong one, we become paralysed by the choosing. And then comes the guilt and shame and anger. Because we are wealthy and free enough to even have choices in the first place. Because we try to pick between convenience and ethics, the environment and other people, the best use of our resources and the best use of our time...

Where to start, what to do? So much to do and so little time...
Wine from France's relatively near vineyards or a fair price for vintners in Chile?
The cost of that long train trip or the convenience of flying?
Fairtrade bananas or organic ones?
Free range or food miles?
Biofuel or world food shortages?
Spend at People tree or invest at the Co-op?
And in the end, the middle class guilts about the very act of choosing the "right" option...

Can we make the earth a little lighter? Can we hold it as a common treasury for all? The inconvenient truth is we must still live and work and lead our lives in this 21st century world, but maybe those of us who *can* choose must realise (as the saying goes) that with great power comes great responsibility... So when the scale of the task overwhelms us, we need to go back to basics and redo the maths - small changes x lots of people = BIG change.

This is not about whether we should act alone, but how we can act together – both acting locally and thinking globally. We are a new movement, one that talks the talk and walks the walk; we must imagine, believe and begin.


Other

Also we dug out an old Vaux liturgy for use during sharing bread and wine. And there were four stations around the space for people to visit:

• one on we are what we do
• one on the effect of climate change on people across the world
• one a big graffiti wall - one thing to change the world
• one on BBC's Blood, Sweat and Tshirts

Labels: environment, sanctus1, service

Labels: sanctus1, service

'Climate Change and Pentecost'

Sunday 11th May: 4 - 5 p.m.
Sacred Trinity Church, Chapel Street, Salford.


Open to people of all ages, Sanctus2nds is a sanctuary for creativity, reflection and socialising. Sanctus2nds will feature a cafe space to refresh your body, a creative space to inspire your mind, and a prayer space to nurture your soul; building an environment to encounter Christ.

Sanctus2nds will also feature an under 5's play space.

Technorati Tags: emerging church, Manchester, sanctus

Labels: sanctus1, seconds

Tonight at Sanctus1 we'll be sharing a meal together from 7:30 followed by some input by Barry Taylor on Christianity and the Environment. Barry Taylor is associate rector at All Saints Episcopal Church, Beverly Hills, CA and artist in residence of the Brehm Center for Worship Theology & Arts at Fuller Seminary. Author of A Matrix of Meanings and Entertainment Theology.

Labels: barry taylor, sanctus1

There's a simple sacred service this Sunday at Sacred Trinity, at 8pm.

A pleasing sentence to type (on many levels) if ever there was one...

Labels: sanctus1, service

Labels: sanctus1

Just a quick reminder that there's a simple sacred service this Sunday at Sacred Trinity at 8pm (like the aliteration?).

The title for the service is "So far from home".

You'd be very welcome.

Labels: sanctus1, service

This week's Pause service is on Wed is at 7.30 at Nexus. And here’s a taster (pun intended!)…

The People's Republic of Heaven - a menu:
The starter - a dinner invitation
The mains - a difficult conversation
The just desserts - a rebuke to change


[with due deference to church on the corner]

Labels: sanctus1, service

It's been very quiet round here for a while now - where is everyone, and what have you been up to? It would be great to hear that you're still out there and what the highlights of the holidays have been for you.

Last week, as part of the service, we used the Examen questions to think about 2007 and 2008, and made our origami birds with our hopes and dreams for this year written inside. It was a lovely and poignant way to start the year as a community.


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Labels: new year, sanctus1

I give you the Sanctus1 leadership team as you've never seen them before...

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technorati tag: life is good, mission playground, anza-borrego desert, sanctus1

Labels: sanctus1, shopping, US

Shhhh...

Not a post for nearly a fortnight.

Has everyone gone into hibernation?

Labels: blogging, sanctus1

Nothing like missing mentioning our 3rd blog anniversary by 24 hours...

:-S

Oops.


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Labels: blogging, sanctus1

We've just started a series in our sessions called "Tribe" - I think we'll be looking at topics and themes for the rest of this month around it.

We're covering belonging and indentity, rites and rituals, contemporary gang culture, the 12 tribes of Israel, and of course Bruce Parry's excellent BBC series.

I've found it a stimulating and challenging theme to reflect on. As one of my anthropology mates commented the other day, the people who benefit least from any research are the researched tribe or people themselves - of course they already know everything about their own rituals, rites, behaviours, culture... (or do we?)

Tomorrow, we're sharing food and having a service at Nexus from 7pm, covering some of these ideas - you'd be welcome to join our tribe for it...


technorati tag: tribe, sanctus1

Labels: nexus, sanctus1, service

Well we did it! Sanctus1 led the main communion service at GB this year, it's probably the only time in my life where i'll lead worship for 15,000 people and it was a fantastic experience. All seemed to go to plan and the service ran smoothly. Love and Joy Gospel choir were stunning and gave the service a real sense of energy, Fuse Factory on the arena stage gave the arena an ambient feel. People from Sanctus led the service well and the whole service felt coherent and lasted 70 minutes.

Thanks to all involved, esp. those who stuffed the 1,000 worship bags - without you it wouldn't have happened!

My highlight was the final song, How Great Thou Art, I felt quite tearful - this huge event that i have been working on for six months or so had come to an end, and it had worked. The crowd seemed to be loving it and i had a real sense of God during the event.

Labels: communion, greenbelt, sanctus1

Not long now...!

You can meet up and worship with us twice on the weekend - on Sunday morning at 10.30 (yep, we're doing the festival communion - gulp!), and also for a Sanctus2nds service. Be great to see you at both/ either.

And with my weather obsession (Ben says I need help!!), I'd also point to the excellent metcheck for updates...




technorati tag: greenbelt, sanctus1

Labels: greenbelt, sanctus1

Following on from last week's sanctus1 it seems that shambo's days are numbered...

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Sanctus1 invites you to join us in worship…

Changes

Sunday 22nd July at 8pm
Sacred Trinity, Chapel St (off Deansgate), Salford


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Labels: sanctus1, service

This weeks Sanctus1 is on Wednesday and starts with the opening night of the new exhibition at Nexus - Last Orders. Doors open at 6 close at 8.

Then we move onto II at TV21 on Thomas Street in the city centre:


A night of electronica and creative visuals in TV21. Come along...it's a great night out and an opportunity to meet with Sanctus1 people.

Labels: II, Last Orders, sanctus1

I was going to post something today on last night's activity around ascension using Gormley's new piece Blind Light (amongst other things) - but Ben's said it all already (and better). Go read.

technorati tag: sanctus1, ascension, blind light, antony gormley

Labels: art, sanctus1

This is on tomorrow - and since it's going to rain on the bank holiday, here's a chance to do something indoors!

See you there?


Sanctus1 and Be The Change presents the Change the Dream Symposium



Where on Earth are we going?
And what can we do about it?

These are two of the questions that lie at the heart of Change the Dream. It explores the link between three of humanity’s most critical concerns: environmental sustainability, social justice and spiritual fulfillment.

Using video clips from some of the world’s most respected thinkers, inspiring short films, and leading edge information on the state of the planet and its people, the day allows all of us to gain a new insight into the opportunity we have to shape the direction of our world with our everyday choices and actions.

Monday 7 May (bank holiday), 10.00 - 4.30
Nexus, Dale St., Manchester, M1 1JW
0161 236 0100

Cost: £10 (£5 unwaged) - any profits will be donated to suitable charities.
Fairtrade tea/ coffee provided. Lunch not included – bring or buy your own.

For bookings and info, please email bethechange@sanctus1.co.uk


technorati tag: be the change, sanctus1

Labels: environment, sanctus1

Sanctus1 present

‘Bit-Part ’

A service exploring the smaller characters in the Gospel narratives.

Date: Sunday 22nd April
Venue: Sacred Trinity, Salford.
Time: 8:00 pm

Labels: bit-part, sanctus1

Labels: film, sanctus1

Sanctus1 invites you to join in worship with them…

FOUR MINUTE WARNING
A service exploring Jesus’ last three years, forty days, week…




Sunday 25 March
The clock starts ticking at 8pm...
Sacred Trinity, Chapel St (off Deansgate), Salford

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Labels: sanctus1, service

Join us for a walk!

Sunday 11th February: 2:30 at Sacred Trinity or 3:00 at Heaton Park Tram stop.

Technorati Tags: emerging church, Manchester, sanctus

Labels: sanctus1, seconds

Just wondering how everyone's Lenten stuff is going?...

We've given up our regular weekly meetings in Lent to do something missional in the city instead. So Sanctimonians, how it's been so far, what have been the highs/ lows, how's the experience shaping up?


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Labels: sanctus1, service

Labels: film, sanctus1

A couple of these are picked up by Jonny, but not them all so here are five worship tricks that have evolved from Sanctus1:

1: The Man in Black – used as a invitation to Eucharist at the Johnny Cash service.

He was the original Man in Black

Standing alongside the poor
the marginalized,
the vulnerable and the excluded.
He was the Man in Black

At the well with the Samaritan woman,
Before the Pharisees with the woman caught in adultery,
He was the Man in Black.

Sharing food with tax collectors,
Touching lepers,
And befriending prostitutes,
He was the Man in Black.

Upsetting polite company,
Befriending isolated people,
Welcoming the stranger,
He was the man in black.

And through this sacrament at this table,
We remember that he still is the Man in black.

Those who wish to follow him,
Must first be led by him,
Led by him to befriend the stranger,
The marginalized,
The excluded,
And the vulnerable.

This is the table where all are welcome;
Where the Man in black reaches out to us in our brokenness and makes us whole.

So come, Jesus Christ,
the Man in Black, welcomes you.

2: May God Bless you – Beautiful sung blessing by Seamingof Sanctus1.

3: Contact – Call to worship: At the start of the film contact is a scene that starts off on planet earth, gradually the camera withdraws and you get further and further away until you find yourself flying through the Galaxy. Some stunning CGI and it works well with the call to worship from Alternative Worship read on the top of it.

4 – Three Candle – Each Sanctus1 service starts with the lighting of three candles. One for Father, one for Son and one for Spirit. We then close with a dispersal of the three candles. The reason that we have this is that it provides the liturgical framework within which to be experimental. When I light the candles people know that the service is beginning, when they are dispersed people know the service is finishing. Here is one example of the a candle lighting liturgy that we have used, it’s written by Laura:

*I light this light in the name of…The Creator
Who was here before us, before we even began
Who formed and joined us, welcoming us all first
Who walks with us and guides us still

I light this light in the name of…The Redeemer
Who celebrated with people at time of great joy
Whose service still provides our example
Who was five years old once too…

I light this light in the name of…The Sustainer
Who was there at our birth
Who is both life-giver and life-force
Who transforms us and urges us on

We light three lights for the Trinity of Love
God above us
God beside us
God beneath us
The beginning, the end, the everlasting one.
Amen.

* - end = I carry this light in the name of…

5 – Great selection of video’s here from Ninja Tunes. I’ve often used the Great Drive By by Funki Porcini.

Labels: sanctus1

I’m not gonna get this right! Dj Fat Roland Dj’s in the Sanctus1 services so this is my take on the music in Sanctus1:

Aphex Twin – We are the music makers. This was the piece of music that we started our first Sanctus1 service started with. ‘We are the music makers and we are the dreamers of dreams…’

Groove Armada – Dusk you and me. If Eyan’s not around and I want a faily chilled track to start a midweek group this is the one that I usually go for.

Spiritualized – The trouble with the straight and the narrow. I spend a lot of time with Sanctus1 people pastorally, and I think that it would be fair to say that some of us struggle with straight and narrow forms of Christianity!

U2 – Grace. We were at Oxford Diocesan conference about 4 years ago and we were leading some worship. One of the stations used this track and some images of people that society finds hard to forgive. I must have heard the track about 20 times over those two days…it did my head in!!

The Smiths – There is a light that never goes out. Stunning song, great Manchester band and fortunately sanctus1 is focused on the light that never goes out.

Labels: sanctus1

I have to admit that I’m not the best person to write this! My film repertoire is reasonable but not as expansive as Rob or Laura.

Film 1 – American Beauty – Ecclesiastes on film, is there a film that sums up the contemporary search for meaning better?

Film 2 – 24hr Party People – The film that charts the rise of the Madchester Music scene of the 80’s and early 90’s. Great film that sets the cultural context of our beautiful city.

Film 3 – Amelie – A film about bringing happiness to people and the beauty of the ordinary. As greenbelt would say ‘heaven in the ordinary’ , a major sanctus1 theme – God is not just found in the extraordinary, but in the everyday and in the crap too!

Film 4 – Run Lola Run – a film about providence, chance and the random nature of life. Great soundtrack, creatively shot and fantastic for theological reflection.

Film 5 - Walk the Line - I love Johnny Cash, so what better reason than that? We also based a service around the stort of Johnny Cash which i think was superb!

Labels: 5 films, sanctus1

This photo is of one of the birthday cakes from last night. It makes me happy to see it. :-D


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Labels: birthday, photo, sanctus1

The first image that i have selected is Rublev's icon of the trinity, it speaks about hospitality, inclusion, generousity and welcome. It is also, obviously, Trinitarian and Sanctus1 has always sought to reflect trinitarian theology. I've written more about this here.



The second image is from the city centre of Manchester. It is a sign outside cafe pop in the Northern Quarter that reads 'Come and Worship'. Sanctus1 has alway aimed to connect with people in the city centre so that we worship together. We've often used this as a slide at the entrance to the church building that we are using.



The third image is from a service that we did at greenbelt in 05. Greenbelt is a significant place for Sanctus1, a few people have come along to sanctus1 through our links with Greenbelt, but above that greenbelt is a place that many sanctonians are at home spiritually.



The forth image is from Manchester Mind Body Spirit fair. Sanctus1 has had a stand there for the past four years, where we have been sharing faith with spiritual searchers. I love the place, we offer prayer from healing, use the Jesus deck and have some wonderful encounters.



And my final image is from last nights service! Sanctus1 worshipping together, 5 years ago it was very different...

Labels: 5 photos, sanctus1

Sanctus1 celebrates it’s 5 birthday today and we’re having a service tonight to celebrate! 5 years ago a few of us gathered in the Jesus Chapel in Manchester Cathedral and put on our first public act of worship. We’d been meeting for a few months before then, but this was our first public act of worship and so our birth.

It’s been a crazy 5 years, with many successes and failures, laugher and tears, and highs and lows. At times I’ve been kept awake by either worrying about Sanctus1 or the adrenalin from such a great night. But the best part of Sanctus1 has been seeing people grow in their relationship with Christ and rediscovering that Church – God’s people – can be culturally in touch, welcoming, inclusive, fun and normal.

Over the next 5 days I’m going to post 5 times.

5 Worship Tricks from Sanctus1
5 Images of Sanctus1
5 Thank-you’s
5 Films
5 Pieces of music

Labels: emerging church, five, sanctus1

“Now we are five…”
A celebration of and for Sanctus1’s fifth birthday

Date: Sunday 18 Feb
Time: 7pm
Where: Sacred Trinity Church, Chapel St, Salford

NB: If you’ve not already RSVPed, please let us know by email if you’re coming.


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Labels: sanctus1, service

In talking about and reflecting on community on Wednesday night (using Fight Club and the lyrics to Cheers amongst other things), we were looking at Exiles by Michael Frost and also at the Luke 14 and the parable of the great banquet.

And we were all puzzling as to what Jesus was getting at, and struggling with traditional/ past experiences of teaching on the subject. And then Myn came out with this corker: “The last will be first, but only if the first are unavailable that night.”


technorati tag: community, bible teaching

Labels: bible, sanctus1