inspiration

It was wonderful to be gathered together at Bethlehem chapel in our wellies and hiking boots having braved the snow to start the year with a gentle but heartfelt statement of intent.  Amazingly all seven members of mayBe taking on guardianship of different areas of our shared life were present to join with the community in making vows and receiving blessings.  This is the start of my third (and final) year as guadian of space/exploring and it is such a privilege to serve in this role.  I see it as a challenge to myself in the first place, and then to the community, to keep growing in faith and

Thanks Ginny for sharing this poem, written on the mayBe retreat

We are forged in a crucible, round and warm. Our phoenix community; family; burgeoning. Watching the flames, Travelling with grace. Our prayers lifting with the smoke and light. Laughter and gurgling rising through the dark. And in the stillness, the coals glow, and become useful.

mayBe's journeying cycle welcomed Benny Wenda, a West Papuan independence leader whose village was bombed by Indonesia when he was a child and many of his family were killed. Later, he began to campaign peacefully to free the West Papuan people. For this 'crime' he was arrested, tortured and threatened with death. Benny and his lovely family told us about their harrowing journey, and the ongoing plight of the West Papuan people.

Being stimulated by this book recommended by Cara (thanks Cara): how (not) to speak of God by Pete Rollins of ikon, Belfast. He articulates (in an often very poetic way) some of the themes and practices that have inspired many in the alt/emerging church conversation like mayBe community, and gives us a push to explore them more deeply.