SIMON PHIPPS

Whilst I was at Greenbelt this year I heard Nadia Bolz-Weber  speaking. She said a phrase that captivated so much of what we are trying to do at Aire Valley Community Church . The phrase was ‘anti-excellence / pro-participation’. Excellence is something that I have heard a lot about; the idea that as the church we somehow need to keep up with the media in terms of performance and presentation so that we can maintain ‘relevance’ in society. The worship band all have to be accomplished musicians (usually of a certain age and visual appearance), the preacher must look successful (who wants to listen to someone who is as broken and flawed as we are), and the building must look attractive with beautiful artwork and matching seats. But the truth is that most of our lives don’t reflect this persona. We aren't accomplished musicians or successful entrepreneurs and our houses don’t look like show homes. So what part do we have to play in this fabricated reality? The a...

The other day I read a story about a primary school teacher who started running the Sunday school in her local church. Before her first Sunday, the church called her up to pray for her. The thought she had as she stood there was ‘that’s great that they pray for the 30 minutes I lead Sunday school. But what about the 25 hours I spend with children each week at school? Are they somehow less important?’ In the scriptures, the apostles talk about how each person within the church is a priest. Martin Luther called this ‘the priesthood of all believers’. It was his belief that there should be no divide between the clergy and laity, between those working full time in the church and those who have chosen other vocations. Each individual can commune with God. When each member of the church is seen as a priest, then there is no divide between the ‘sacred’ work and the ‘secular’ work. Between those who are ‘called’ into ‘God’s work’ and those who choose to work ‘in the world’. When ...

This may not come as a shock to anyone, as its an almost universal principle, but I love my son. He brings me the most crazy amount of joy ever. He hasn’t done anything I can think of to make me feel this way, he’s quite demanding and hits me a lot (he’s just turned two). I love him just for who he is. The scriptures express the way that God feels about us. The greek word used for Gods love for us is the word αγαπε ( agape). It means unconditional love. God loves us without condition. Within each society there is a series of things that we do to give ourselves value (these are generally more subliminal than acknowledged). In some cultures these are family orientated, in others they are orientated around financial or occupational success. Our society is heavily built around our appearance and material possessions that we own, influenced by the media and clever marketing. These value judgements can often mean that many people within society who cannot live up to the expectation...

At the end of the recent debate between party leaders, one of them said: ‘do what is best for your family, and do what is best for your country.’ The final book of scripture is the book of revelation, written during exile it is full of political language. Part of that book says: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever”1 In this passage we see the writer proclaiming that the divides between nations mean nothing as all of creation is ultimately God’s kingdom. Paul talks about this when he proclaims that we are citizens of heaven. Not that we are citizens of a distant place, but that we are citizens of a different mind-set, a different understanding of reality, where we look to the best interests of all of creation, of all people, as beings created in God’s image. So we do not ask what is best for me or my country, but instead we ask what is best for the world. We don’t say ‘God bless my country’, bu...

I am a terrible dancer; literally. My signature move is called the ‘crazy octopus’. I invented it. But I love dancing, especially when no one is looking. I have always wanted to take dancing lessons, so that I can look better on the dance floor, but also because dancing with someone is such a beautiful thing to behold. In the ancient Orthodox tradition, the Trinity is viewed as a dance. The son moves around the father and spirit, the spirit moves around the father and son, and the father moves around the spirit and son. Each one complementing the other, each one equal. The dance itself breathing life into creation. We are called to join in this dance with God, to move in rhythm with Her. I guess that this is what they call discipleship, what they call ‘being the church’. When I think of the dance, what kind of music are we dancing to? What do the steps look like? I imagine it has to start with love, seeing as God is love. The scriptures paint the picture: Justice, mercy, peace,...

I both love and hate lent. I hate giving up stuff; hate that I cant do whatever I want. I love all that it stands for. I love the way that it challenges our hedonistic consumerist mindset and creates a space for something that we rarely do: sacrifice . For me, Christ is the greatest example of sacrifice .  He laid down his life for us. He didn't want to, He didn't have to, He chose to.  As His disciples, we are also called to a life of sacrifice, to walk along the narrow, difficult path. One thing that you learn in life is that some people choose a life of sacrifice, whilst others have sacrifice thrust upon them . This can happen through sickness, experiences, circumstance and many other ways.  The picture that is painted of God in the scriptures is one of a God who comes along side us, comforts us, cares for us.  The same is called for us as the Church.  We are called to walk alongside those who are already ...

I have just read the liturgical Year by Joan Chittister, which was given to me as a free book by book sneeze. This book gives an introduction to the liturgical year and then gives a chapter about each aspect of the liturgical year. The liturgical year has been a very interesting book for me. Growing up in the evangelical church the only parts of the liturgical year that we follow is Christmas and Easter (and probably only because we get presents and chocolate). So I have read this book once through in a short amount of time and am now reading it through again as I go through the liturgical year. I think that this book a) presumes that you go to a church that follows the liturgical year (i.e. uses the colours of the liturgical year and changes the décor of the church accordingly, and also uses the liturgical readings) and b) presumes that you already have a basic knowledge of the liturgical year. Therefore I feel that this book is written more towards people who are already eng...