VICARS BLOG: 21st JULY- FORT AUGUSTUS.
Every day people are straying away from the Church and going back to God - Lenny Bruce.
We are now at a point in our journey, when we are on the Southward course, home. (Slowly)
But I have in the last week or so, considered that this journey is an adventure. A spiritual adventure, visiting the sites of Christian saints who have been for many years an inspiration to me, it’s been an adventure in nature encountering the wildlife and breathtaking scenery the British coastline has to offer.
The pilgrimage has also made us aware of extreme economic polarities, for example there are days we are moored in marinas with boats and equipment that are worth thousands of pounds. Then for example we are moored in the harbour of Great Yarmouth. When taking Nelson, for a walk we became aware of the social deprivation, which was so evident. We have been moored up in harbours with people who have money and leisure to enjoy the pleasure of sailing, aware for others like fisherman, for whom the water is a hard and dangerous task master.
We are in Fort William, when last time we came, there was a community of monks, sadly the community have since left and the beautiful Abbey, is now an accommodation centre. When in Elgin we saw that many churches had closed, and yet the Findhorn Foundation,( just a couple of miles up the road.) a community associated with ‘New Age Spirituality’ had hundred of people staying at the caravan site for a holidays and attending courses.
I was recently at a meeting where James Langstaff, Bishop of Rochester, spoke. And one of the things he questioned, was that he thought it was a sadness that so many Religious Communities are closing down, at a time when people are so interested in spirituality.
During this week, I said to Chris, they may be interested in spirituality, but not the one the church has to offer.
I must admit, that if its Christianity is about dry, ‘Middle Class Churchianity’, is it any wonder people refuse to come through our doors?
But having said all this I am still very hopeful, many churches are engaging in ‘new expressions of church.’ Taking the risk! Stepping out in faith, doing something different . I have always been keen on those ‘church events or ‘new congregations’, that happen on the fringe, on the edge of the church. In recent years a new form of church is happening in recognition that for many people a church building is not a place that some people will find it easy to meet God. That many people actually, meet God better in the world of nature. (God’s second book as it is often called.) So as a response Forest churches have started. (Yesterday while talking to a man while I was holding a rope, as Pilgrim went through a lock, I heard for the first time of eco congregations…….I will have to google that one.)
So this trip has been one indeed of extremes, a time of questioning, and an opportunity to read some wonderful books. My favourite, and this is one I would recommend to my unbelieving friends, my druid and new age friends, my Gay friends……as well as to people who have been Christians for years, How to be a bad Christian ……and a better human being.’ Written by Dave Tomlinson, it is wonderfully affirming, for those who have been attending to church for years, but also affirms those who do not go to church, but more importantly Tomlinson gives a wonderful image of the church if we were to risk embracing diversity and difference.
God is not a Christian. His concern is for all his children…..that Christians do not have monopoly on God is an almost trite observation.
Desmond Tutu.
*Forest church. Author -Bruce Stanley.
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