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Sensing God by Stella Bristow. Pub Inspire, pp126, ISBN 978-1- 85852 319 4, £12.99
Sensing God is a nicely produced book, with glossy coloured photographs to accompany the text, which offers a resource for creative worship. Stella Bristow will be well known to the Methodist Women's Network and to those familiar with the networks of silence and retreats. Her hallmark is of worship using coloured fabrics and scented oils, dramatic scripts and personalised biblical stories and autobiographical reflections. The books concept is that of a recipe book for worship based on the use of the senses. Five chapters are devoted to one of the senses: the first has short and longer prayers, meditations (more personalised biblical passages), short responsive opening acts of worship and blessings, and four circle dances. The second has several longer structured liturgies in the same style as those in the rest of the book. I'm not sure if the book works. If it is for those already involved in creating worship and who know Stella then they will have already experienced this style of worship. If it is for those just beginning to explore using the senses in worship it is all of one style, which you either love or leaves you cold. This resource is really ready to use pieces, though they could stimulate variations and a similar styled approach to other Gospel stories. As someone who uses similar approaches I found the pieces a little over elaborate and lengthy. But others may well appreciate ready made examples to use.
Messy Church by Lucy Moore. Pub Barnabus (BRF), pp208, ISBN 1841015032, £8.99
Messy Church the book's main intention is to kick start some thinking about what particular form your fresh expression church might take. The experience behind the book is of an Anglican Church St Wilfrid's. But I knew immediately who would love this book, someone who is part of a URC fresh expression church. Lucy Moore is part of the Messy Church team, which is linked to Fresh Expressions and the Bible Reading Fellowship (BRF). This book places adults and children together in the context of fun, food and fellowship in worship. Messy Church is a monthly experience for families, children and carers, which runs from 3.30pm to 5.45pm on Thursdays. It is structured, but fun! After a welcome slot, there are craft activities, worship and food. The aim of Messy Church is to be a worshipping community of all ages, centred on Christ, showing Christian hospitality Ð giving people a chance to express their creativity, to sit down together to eat a meal and have fun within a church context. The first part offers the story and concept of Messy Church, with a simple and superb section on messy theology. The point is to reach those for whom traditional church does not make much sense. The second part offers four units of ready worked out programmes for three terms; summer, autumn and spring. There are also three units on Biblical landscapes mountains, roads and seasides. Each unit has an aim, biblical background, food recipe, ten activities, and an outline for celebration worship. The songs suggested are usually from either the Humungous Song Book, Kidsource, Shout to the Lord Kids or Great Big God.
So, if you want gentle, meditative, visual, reflective creations of worship read Stella. If you want to be involved in family fun, messy craftwork, with food and participatory all-age worship read Lucy.
Given the nature of our Church and culture we probably need both to refresh our worship and meet the needs of different members of the Church.
TO
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