jonnybaker

nine lessons for a mixed economy church

thanks to bishop steven croft for posting his address in germany reflecting on nine lessons learned around a mixed economy church. it depends where you are but i still think there is a way to go on point viii a principled and careful loosening of the structures but we have certainly come a long way. (ht: kim for the tip off)

it's greenbelt week!

it's that greenbelt time of year again! this year i am doing nothing in the greenbelt programme for the first time for quite a few years i think so looking forward to a more chilled festival personally. like many people i am intrigued to see what greenbelt will look and be like this year in its smaller version of itself. if you are going hope to see you there!

the last few years i have been involved at greenbelt with CMS especially letting people know about the pioneer training we run. we have no stand this year but if you are going and would like to find out about pioneer training, or meet up then come to the tiny tea tent between 2 and 4pm sat, sun, mon or jesus arms (the pub) in the evenings - see here

looks like the weather is looking like it should be alright at the moment!

harry is having a pretty good first month making a life as a poet!

harry graduated in july. so technically august is his first month making a life as a poet and it's all going rather well! admittedly he has been performing all over the place for the last few years while studying but you get the drift. he is up at edinburgh festival with his show the sunshine kid in the free fringe. this has been full very day so far and received some good reviews - see tvbomb and broadway baby for example. i loved this quote from the tv bomb review:

Underneath the veneer there is a melancholic yearning that often seeps through, a deep awareness of the intrinsic ache of the human condition. With this in mind, the poems develop into an argument for a positive outlook, for self-belief and for finding meaning somewhere within ourselves. This is a performance that will make you laugh and make you think; art at its transformative best.

as well as doing that he seems to have got himself invited into other events/shows to perform every day which is fun and how you get the word out about your show. this included an invite to perform on simon mayo's radio 2 show - a one minute poem reflecting the contents of the show. this went so well that he was invited back for the week. those shows are up on inlayer for mon, tues, weds, thurs of this week and no doubt the bbc web site as well (it's the first time i've listened to radio 2 for a while being more of a 6 music fan myself…).

i'm heading up to edinburgh on saturday to see the show and hang out and cheer him on which i'm looking forward to. the month will end up with him performing at greenbelt festival. today there is a big feature on him in the church times which is a rather lovely piece. 

also this month (probably week) his TED talk will hit one million views by the looks of it - which is pretty amazing.

i can't imagine every month going quite so swimmingly but not a bad start!!! i'm thinking i probably should get a t-shirt saying 'harry baker's dad'. if you are in edinburgh saturday come to harry's show - see you there - though get there early by all accounts.

what are you looking at?!

this is my favourite photo from those i took on holiday this year. we visited herefordshire, bath and devon over a couple of weeks. this shot was driving in wales over the wonderful gospel pass in the brecon beacons and these two were by the side of the road. i had the camera on the seat so wound the window down and took a photo as a car came round the corner towards me in front… but it was worth it. that face has so much character!

one month to go!

it's one month to go until the due date for kat and joel's baby - definitely visible! yesterday was my first ever baby shower… and yes that means i will be a grandad pretty soon.