The Lounge 25th May 2006

By: Richard Barclay on: 01.06.06

Thought it might be good to blog a brief summary of what happened in the Lounge each week. It might be interesting for those of our community who couldn’t make it, or for those elsewhere who’d like to get an idea of what happens when we gather.

This week Rebecca reminded us what BLESSING was all about, reading from the document on the website. She then asked us to bless someone next to us by either reading one of the historic written blessings to them, by asking them what they would like God to bless in their lives, or by speaking words of encouragement to them.

EATING - You missed some nice dishes, including some homemade tarts and date loaf!

I led LISTENING by explaining that one of the ways people hear and experience God is through music. I asked people to listen to the 3 songs I would play (on CD), each from a very different tradition, trying to see if they could hear God in the process. I played a Gregorian Chant (Veni Sancte Spiritus), then a Celtic version of “Our God is an Awesome God”, and finished with the prophetic humour of Nick Cave’s “Get Ready for Love”. I left people with the suggestion of trying to hear God speaking to them through the music they listen to this week - no matter what it was.

Mike Frost continued the LEARNING series on worship by looking at 1 Cor. 12. It was cool how he explained it in the context of the Corinthian society that they would all have been familiar with supernatural powers in their old mystery religions. What Paul was critiquing was not the gifts or actions but the power that was behind them. Mike went on to explain that the gifts Paul is talking about are for the building up of the whole community, not merely for our own private faith. He gave an explanation of all the gifts mentioned, although tongues and prophecy are being left till the 11th June.

The overall theme was that gifts are to be used in love for the community - not as a display of power as in the old mystery cults.

Mike Z shared about his recent promotion for SENTNESS, explaining that it was only when he started surrendering his plans to God that He showed him the next step. Mike also shared how he was hoping to image God in his new management role.

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