What a great weekend at Church Without Walls at Ingliston show ground. Emily, myself and our two boys trundled down the road on Friday and camped out part way between Inverness and Edinburgh. Saturday morning was beautiful and we set our course for the capital. It was an amazing sight arriving at the show ground seeing all the tents pitched out and with people starting to furnish them and put up banners and stalls. We spent some time looking around and getting to know new friends before heading for the opening worship.
For me there were some very memorable moments during the weekend. John Sentamu was quite something else and I got a real glimpse of heavenly worship when we sang the Hallelujah chorus with Bishop Sentamu accompanying on the drum. It was a very moving experience. Not to mention his simple call to full and joyful Christian living through our witness: the past forgiven, the present new life and hope for the future. Saturday's all age worship was fantastic with Fischy music. Our boys had a great time dancing up and down the aisles! It's great having two young boys as it gives you an excuse to worship with all your muscles, not just the brain or taping with a foot. On Saturday night I headed off late to the prayer tent which was a big marquee in the grounds set up to encourage contemplative meditation. It was good to rest there a while and put things into context. After that I headed to the youth rave........
On Sunday I went to hear Alistair McGrath speak about the Dawkins Delusion. I don't pretend to understand all the nuances of academic debate but Alistair made the main points very accessible without loosing the audience.
One thing that stuck in my mind though and which has been going through it since was a phrase used by one of the women in the worship group on Saturday when she prayed for those sheltering from the 'full blast of the Gospel'. I certainly felt the full blast of the Gospel and missional living this weekend and I come back to the Highlands full of a renewed sense of the life we have in Christ and the Hope we have for the future.
Stuart MacQ
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Thanks for that - I have just had the misfortune to read a comment from a young student misery from overseas who patently attended a different event! I was at the same place as you and was greatly blessed by the occasion. If the wind of God is truly blowing through the CofS then great days are ahead for all Christians in Scotland not just youse.
Post a Comment