Today, I met with Pete Phillips to discuss where we’re going with @bigbible, etc. and, combined with a number of Tweets I’d seen earlier, decided that I would join the Flash Evensong, organised by @artsyhonker (who’d run a similar event on Sunday).
Information had been circulated via Twitter since Sunday afternoon (always with the knowledge that the Cathedral might reopen), with materials available on a website (therefore those coming were asked to either print off, or use their phones for the material). We were welcome, however, to just stand and enjoy the atmosphere (tho I knew I’d be doing some tweeting, etc..) … and it was great to run into a number of people that I often talk to on Twitter but rarely meet face to face… It was great to see how Twitter had brought people together (for an event that @artsyhonker had expected about 10 people at), and to see crowds grow as 30+ singers sang beautifully… although the ‘paps’ were rather disconcerting – they know how to get their picture (yes, push!) … lots of us just stayed up to watch ITV News … but no sign of us I was asked by ‘Classical Music’ magazine – there was a guy in the right place at the right time – whether I thought this was a ‘publicity stunt’ or a service … those of us there definitely felt that it was a service, and Kathryn (@artsyhonker) rationale for creating it was that people aren’t able to go to Evensong in the Cathedral, but faith/worship is clearly so much bigger than the building (see Jhon Cooper’s interview)
There’s a little, grassroots hashtag going around Twitter this morning called #lovemonday and it deserves your attention (even if you have never tweeted in your life). For those of you in the know, it is a bit like #followfriday but instead of suggesting people others should follow (which is also a lovely thing to do!), you simply select 3 people you follow and tell them what you appreciate about them. Then, rather than the mutual backslapping that often occurs on FollowFriday, those people tell 3 people they follow the same and so on and soon we have an entire Twittersphere full of encouragements! And what better thing to do on a Monday eh?!
Have you heard of EasterLive yet? If not, check it out, and see the stories that people are posting on the #EasterLive hashtag on Twitter (if you’re not sure how to use Twitter, there’s a great guide here), and last year’s story is being retold on Facebook.
It’s Passover week in 1st Century Jerusalem. A bustling throng of Jewish pilgrims have gathered in the city. But this year a preacher/carpenter from Nazareth is set to turn the tables of history – right before their eyes. This is the Easter story and this is your cue.
By Tweeting your story, the Easter(LIVE) website allows you to showcase your very own Passion Play. Be it a historical and Biblical account or a poetic, visual, musical or creative retelling - it’s up to you. It’s a chance to explore, to learn and be creative. Give it your personal stamp, bring it to life and share it with everyone.
I am going on a visual, digi-explorer journey, to see where my thoughts, prompts from others on Twitter, and Google take me… and may God prompt me to put something useful on here, alongside the materials we’ve been producing for BigBible!!
Thought 1
I am a keen supporter of 12Baskets, and am embedding myself in using the tools in order to provide feedback on how we can encourage its use using social media… so many people spend so long preparing sermons, tracking down images that can be (legitimately) used (praying before you download from Google isn’t really an ethical approach!), and we could do so much more if we SHARED images. The site already has over 35,000 images – what can you contribute?!
Anyway, I went onto 12baskets to look for images related to Palm Sunday… and here’s your opportunity to add to the 8 images currently online, although there’s also a great selection of written thoughts, hymns, and materials to purchase, and picked out the following couple of images:
What were the verses that tell us the story of Palm Sunday, of Jesus coming into Jerusalem on a donkey… and note, as Richard Littledale has in his blog… that the donkey doesn’t only appear “in the Christmas story”.
Luke 19:29-40 “When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Lives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it? just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’” So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, ‘Why are you untying the colt?’ They said, ‘The Lord needs it.’ Then they brought it to Jesus’ and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying, ‘Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!” Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, order you disciples to stop.’ He answered, ‘I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.’”
John 12:11-19 “The next day a great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord — the King of Israel!’ Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; as it is written: ‘Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion. Look, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!’ His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him. So the crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to testify. It was also because they heard he had performed this sign that the crowd went to meet him. The Pharisees then said to one another, ‘You see, you can do nothing. Look, the world has gone after him!’”
@richardlittleda had been talking to @vahva, as she’d posted the picture below – donkeys in the churchyard (from today!)… he’d responded to tell her about his blog post… donkeys are not just for Christmas!
Vahva: http://twitpic.com/4lypli
Thought 4
I wonder what YouTube has to offer on this? There are multiple videos on YouTube, but I thought this one was beautifully produced and with a great message…
Thought 5
I grew up in a Brethren church, and I’m not sure we did Easter in the same way that others do. The one thing that has always stuck out in my mind from when I started going to an Anglican church was the prominence of these palm crosses, so I headed over to Flickr to see if I could find a Creative Commons image for that… and went for a little hunt as to their significance. These crosses can either be given to members of the congregation for them to place somewhere as a reminder of Easter throughout the year, or the alter may be covered with palms which are blessed, then kept, and burned the following year, the ashes used on Ash Wednesday (the beginning of Lent) to mark the forheads of the faithful (from here).
Thought 4Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/perspective/126606466/
Thought 6
Maybe time for a little audio in our multi-media world… and prompted by following another Flickr image, came across AllGloryLaudAndHonor (downloadable MP3, taken from here)
Read the full article on Culture Footprint, which “features disciples in The Arts, Media, Business, Education, Politics, Sport and other professions who bring the presence of Jesus in the culture.A colourful collection of artisans, entrepreneurs, media makers, teachers, actors, singer/songwriters, politicians, seeking the wellbeing of society - one story at the time.”
If you talk to me of God…
…Please offer me more than a rulebook, theories and ideas, vague promises of a greater understanding later on. I need something that has meaning in my here and now
If you talk to me of Gods son…
…Please offer …me more than a newborn in a manger, or a teller of tales, gentle bearded hippy with a considerable fondness for children and a greater capacity for being misunderstood. I need someone who has meaning in my here and now.
If you talk to me of Gods spirit…
…Please offer me more than a hovering dove, beautifully pictured in stained glass, stained glass has not much day to day usefulness.
What I need is a friend who will come alongside me, love that will never let me down, and a leader I can follow with confidence to the ends of the earth.
If you talk to me of that God.
Then
I will listen.
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WHO’S WHO in @Natwivity?
JOSEPH
Meet Joseph, a young unmarried man who lives and works in Nazareth, Galilee. As the story unfolds he begins to understand how he, an ordinary carpenter, will play his part in saving the world. Joseph is in a relationship with Mary.
Mary
Mary, a young girl brought up in an ordinary household. She is preparing for her future with the young and handsome Joseph. Still living with her parents, every relationship Mary knows is about to change.
WISE MEN
The Wise men embark on a journey following a once-in-a-lifetime astronomical event. Their journey takes them to towns, palaces and a stable as they encounter danger, deceit and surprise. Their camels are packed with all sorts of Eastern wonders and valuable gifts.
Shepherds
A 0-AD Bethlehem shepherd is considered to be an outcast in society. Living in caves on the hills of the town, they work from dawn til dusk protecting and keeping their flock.
Elizabeth
Liz is Mary’s older cousin. Through shared experiences they find support and comfort in each other through challenging times.
Innkeeper
Bethlehem’s busy! A census has been decreed by the Emperer Augustus and those that call Bethlehem home return to respond. Guest houses and inns fill up and this manager is set for a busy few weeks.
Herod
He’s the most powerful character wrapped up in this story until he hears of a threat to topple his authority. Jealousy seethes through his veins and his actions jeopardise the fate of things to come.
I was asked by ‘Classical Music’ magazine – there was a guy in the right place at the right time – whether I thought this was a ‘publicity stunt’ or a service … those of us there definitely felt that it was a service, and Kathryn (@artsyhonker) rationale for creating it was that people aren’t able to go to Evensong in the Cathedral, but faith/worship is clearly so much bigger than the building (see Jhon Cooper’s interview)
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