on saturday i was in liverpool to take part in inspire. it’s an annual gathering of people in liverpool diocese and the methodist district who are pioneering new mission projects and worshipping communities. i visited liverpool on the pioneer practice tour and really enjoyed meeting people. i remember there was lots of innovation being done by people in their spare time in quite inspired but ordinary ways.

the same sort of practice was very much in evidence. we heard several stories including the shed, a monthly meeting for men in wigan; church collective warrington who seemed to be doing lots of creative things to start new communities including wine and the way collective who meet over a glass of wine on weds to share life; maker’s nook who gather around making, crafting which is a natural way to gather; telagu indian fellowship which started with 4 people and is now a hundred or so who meet to worship in telagu, one of the south indian languages; tnt huyton a child and youth focused community which sounded high energy.

there were over a hundred people there so lots more stories we didn’t hear. i was invited to do a double act with eunice attwood which was fun so we tag teamed and hung what we shared on what we called a ‘manifesto for fringe dwelling’ inspired by luke 4 when jesus begins his public ministry and nearly gets thrown off the cliff. i have shared a clifftop prayer before and i shared a few more, some of which were shared on facebook in response to mine along with a liturgy i had written.

Clifftop prayers

When they want to throw me off the cliff
help me slip through the crowd
Amen

Help 
Amen

May I live in such a way 
That they want to throw me off a cliff
Amen

When I am triggered and caught up with the crowd, 
Help me pause lest I throw you off the cliff 
Amen

When we want to throw you off the cliff, 
Help us get some perspective 
Amen

Great Spirit who descended on Jesus like a dove
Descend on us
Anoint us to proclaim good news to the poor
Release for those held captive
Recovery of sight for the blind
To set the oppressed free
And to proclaim jubilee
Where debts are cancelled
Slaves are freed
Land is rested
Property is redistributed to prevent excessive wealth and inequality
The slate is wiped clean and there is a fresh start
Foreigners and fringe dwellers are welcomed in
The widow of Zarephath and Naaman the Syrian
Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven
Another world is possible
Amen

it was encouraging to see the range of things taking place. there is clearly an ecosystem which encourages new ideas and practice. and it was largely neing done by volunteers as far as i could tell.