jonnybaker

superb collection of essays...

delighted to see such a positive review of the pioneer gift in the international bulletin of missionary research

i liked the image of a pawn (though didn't want to think about how many pawns get sacrificed in a game of chess!) that the reviewer concludes with

The pioneer is like a pawn (both words are derived from the same Latin root) on a chessboard. The pawn is the weakest of all the pieces in the game, but it has one crucial role: typically, it moves first. The work of the Holy Spirit is often set afoot by the least likely persons. Baker and Ross and the other contributors to this book have given us a gift that will inspire other pioneers to initiate much-needed mission efforts at such a time as this.

the whole issue is very good with an article on hospitality by cathy ross and i liked the exploration of global friendship by dana robert (pretty much everything she writes i like!)...

margins to mainstream - fresh expressions conference nov 21

there is a fresh expressions conference in london on nov 21 - from margins to mainstream. it's focus is on how fresh expressions of church might move to being embedded in strategies in churches and dioceses which seems a good and important conversation.

[i confess i would prefer the title the other way round as i feel more focused still in trying to get the church to move from mainstream to margins but i do get the point!]

i'll be taking part in leading the opening worship and a seminar/workshop around pioneer ministry with dave male.

i see karen ward is taking part - long time no see - looking forward to catching up with her!

book tickets here

a place of refuge

at greenbelt this summer i was less busy than normal so actually went to a couple of talks (shock horror!). one was to hear tobias jones. i read his book utopian dreams several years ago. in that book he recounts visiting various residential communities and the impact it made on him was clear. as a result, together with his wife fra they purchased a house with a reasonable plot of land in somerset called windsor hill wood and have run a community there for 6 years. the model of community is an extended family home. at greenbelt toby was apologetic about that in that it was an imbalance of power and resource but i felt that was actually the key to its success and it is a wonderful model, if not the best model. a place of refuge is a book that tells the tale of the first five years of that experiment. it's extraordinary - extremely challenging and inspiring in equal measure. the community has welcomed people who others simply don't know what to do with - those very much at the edges of society. it sounds extremely tough especially the rawness of the first couple of years but gradually as they learned a rhythm and rules to put in place and i guess simply the wisdom that can only come from doing it the community seems to settle into more of an ease. they have raised their kids in the midst of this rag tag community and toby said at greenbelt that he thought this was wonderful for their children albeit it has had its moments. at greenbelt toby was suggesting that everyone could do this. read the book of acts, read bonhoeffer, the sermon on the mount, jean vanier and away you go! i love that challenge and i certainly think being a follower of jesus calls me to really listen to that and try to be at the edges with people who are broken. but i am not so sure everyone can do what they are doing - it's a very special thing, and to be able to hold open such welcome, non judgement with the level of patience required is sadly not that common in my own experience. but i hope many more people do do it and find ways to open up generosity. it's a great read but be warned it will challenge you. if you have any interest in community you really should read it. at greenbelt i loved what toby ended by saying:

any way of living that is worthwhile is risky

grandad - yes that'll be me!

jen has written a few more profound thoughts over here

i am simply delighted to be grandad to baby flo! 

harry celebrates soho in this london fashion week promo

london fashion week now in soho - harry sounding very london in this poem!

a couple of gatherings in sept...

a couple of gatherings coming up in sept if you are interested in pioneering, mission and your local neighbourhood. i'll be speaking at the new parish one in birmingham...

st marys rd festival 18-20 september

the first ever st mary's rd festival takes place 18-20 september. see flyer for programme. chris read is playing sunday afternoon, the st marys sessions will be good i'm sure and there is beer and wine tasting. sat afternoon looks fun during which the ealing lip photography group will be unveiling the first ever lychgate gallery exhibition. PLEASE BRING A PHOTO TO ADD. Here's the info…

The Lych Gate Gallery
There will be an exhibition of photographs in the Lych Gate Gallery in which you, the creative general public, are invited to participate. Yes, folks - YOU will be our exhibitors!

All you need to do is bring along a print of a photo you’ve taken in Ealing – it can be black and white or colour, film or digital, of people, places or anything else that springs to mind; the main criteria being that it was taken in Ealing. It should be no larger than 5” x 7”.

The exhibition will be curated and will be evolving. As more photos come in we will add to it – and if we get more than enough for the space it will work on a rotating basis.

Please tell your friends. We hope you’ll join us in contributing to what will be a fun endeavour! Don’t bring anything precious as the exhibition is outside and we can’t guarantee the weather – best if it’s a print you don’t need back.

grace back this saturday for another season - fresh!

grace back for another season kicking off next sturdy with fresh!

What should we change when our context changes? How do we honour the past while speaking to the future? How do we speak when our words have changed their meanings? Have you ever seen a real owl?

home is the barrel of a gun and boat journey

it's hard to know what to say in response to the migration stuff at the moment. it's often the artists and songwriters who end up saying it best.

pieces that have struck me recently are home by warsan shire (and also conversations about home) - see below as well

then the other is the song boat journey by tony allen which i heard on gilles petersen earlier this year

migration is our story

harvey kwiyani has posted a powerful reflection on migration. etched into the liturgy of the feast of pentecost for jews would have been a line from deuteronomy that 'my father is a wandering syrian' - referring to abraham. harvey goes on to point out that migration is not part of our story it is our story! anyway go read and ponder...