this was the text that we sent round to publicise it that sums up the approach...
Part of the grace ethos is participation. The next grace puts this to the ultimate test...
Please bring a station with you on the theme of lent and/or a tune on an ipod or CD.
What is a station?
One of the sorts of service we do at grace involves walking around the worship space interacting with stations that have been set up in advance that contain something to cause you to reflect, pray, worship, think, or actively participate in a ritual. These might be as simple as lighting a candle, reading a story, writing a prayer, adding a stone to a pile, looking at a video loop, listening to a meditation, tasting some fruit or whatever. If you’ve never done this before even better – this could be the start of something...
What do I do?
The theme is lent. Lent is a season of preparation for Easter typically focused on discipleship and following Christ. Do anything that relates to that. If you want to work from a scripture passage then three ideas to spin off from might be a) Jesus' temptations in the wilderness (we have done many a lent service on the theme of desert) b) the return of the prodigal son c) Psalms. Create something that is self contained for people to visit – i.e. it has things that people can engage with without you having to be there to explain it. So if there are instructions print them out for people to read and then add what you like in the way of things to look at or read, activities, small rituals, food for thought etc.
When will it be set up?
Please arrive early to set your station up between 7 and 7:30pm. We will allocate you a space to set up. The earlier you are the more choice you will get.
What about the music?
We will have a CD player and ipod mixer. So if you have a tune (that relates to the lent theme in some way) bring it along and you can play it.
How will it actually work?
Grace will start at 8pm. Music that people bring will provide a soundscape while everyone walks round and interacts with the stations for as long as they like. Then when you’re done the café wil be open as normal. It’s that simple.
I’m not sure I can do anything up to standard
Please don’t be shy or think what you do won’t be good enough. It can be really simple. Just work with an idea. We value creativity, participation and risk so go for it.
I need help
If you want to bounce your idea of someone else or if you need some technical stuff (a TV or slide projector for example) then e-mail us
Do I need to let you know what I am doing in advance?
No. We quite like the element of surprise so do just turn up and set up your station.
Can I come if I haven’t got a station?
Of course everyone is welcome whether or not you have done a station. But if we all think that way it may be a very short grace!
some of the stations were:
the gate - lent blog description | pic
40 - si smith's wonderful slide set 40 - pic
give - animation on lent blog | pic
calm - pic
game - pic
searcher - mike's debut video sequence the searcher - pic
naz's picture - pic
fairtrade - pic
stones - lent blog entry | pic
how not to observe lent, using a story from Noel Streatfeild's autobiography (see below)
cards with pictures of items which may or may not be essential
(anyone remember any others?)
A meditation based on chapter 5 of "A Vicarage Family".
This is a story of three sisters in the year 1910, Isobel aged thirteen, Victoria aged twelve and Louise aged ten. Their vicar father has decided the Lent discipline they must follow -- no sweets or sweet food except on Sundays. He has permitted them to attend a birthday party during Lent because they are about to move house.
Victoria is in fact Noel Streatfeild, the author of the book.
Some questions to think about (if you don't have enough of your own):
Lent observance is a self-imposed discipline which is an end in itself -- unlike, for example, a slimming diet which has practical value. Unquestionably some people find this discipline valuable. But does it have the same value if it has been imposed by somebody else?
If you break your discipline, for whatever reason, what should the consequences be?
Is it better to make a stand, or to keep your discipline to yourself?