On the questionnaire we asked, 'Is there anything you'd like to ask us?' Here are some of those questions, with our replies.
If you were an animal, what kind of animal would you be?
If you did a morning service would it take a different format?
The visuals would be a problem due to the daylight, but the general format and methods would work. The atmosphere would be different - would meditation work well without low light conditions?
Do you write/invent the stories/ideas etc - if not where do you get them?
Much of the stuff we do write or invent ourselves, but we also quote directly from a wide variety of sources including Mike Riddell, Douglas Coupland, Thomas Merton, Celtic liturgy and poetry both ancient and modern, CS Lewis, and traditional Anglican practice and writing. Of course what we do is also informed by all the Christian activities we have been involved in, services we have been to, theology we have read, music, magazines, television, film etc...and our experiences in life.
Is alternative worship actually becoming the new mainstream?
Not yet it isn't. We should be so lucky.
How do you become more inclusive and less led from up front?
If we had a bigger proportion of the congregation involved as part of the team there would be less of the same faces and voices. We are also considering forms of service which could run themselves to a greater degree - at the moment it is necessary to guide people through what is going on. We always try to include activities and discussions that the congregation can do without intervention from the front, and can give feedback on, but inevitably there has to be some leadership to give direction and shape, and to provide the stuff that has to be prepared earlier.
Is there room here for people who want to celebrate life and worship God, but who don't necessarily believe that Jesus is more important than any other 'enlightened mystic'?
Yes, but we believe that Jesus is the Son of God and God the Son, so you won't agree with everything we say or do.
Is the girl with long blonde hair single and what is her phone number?
I'm sorry I can't tell you that.
Why are there so many things in St. Mary's for me to knock over?
There aren't - you're just clumsy.
Is it usual to have these feelings about the other members of the group?
Yes, entirely. Come and see me about it later.