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Well we kicked off the first new session on the Living the Questions version of the once a month Exploration Group.  On this evening we looked at the whole issue of faith being based on uncertainty, and the fact that we are growing and changing.  The first session began with listening and responding to a DVD of interviews with a number of different speaker and theologians before breaking down into dialogue groups.

If you missed this group, then please do come to the next one, on TUESDAY 28TH FEBRUARY 7.15 for 7.30pm.  The next area of exploration will be ‘Taking the Bible Seriously’ again in St Mary Aldermary Church.

There were a number of topic issues in this session.  If you would like to raise anything in the comments section, please do.

POSTED 31.01.12 BY: ianmobsby | No Comments

Rightly people have started to ask me the question, what is new monasticism in our current UK context? To begin to answer this, I am going to start putting up blog postings coming out of the discussions I am involved with at the national CofE Advisory Council for Religious Communities and Diocesan Bishops that I was co-opted onto last year. We have been working hard on a proposal to assist the Church to discern, recognise and nurture New Monastic Communities as authentic ‘Acknowledged Religious Communities’. In this document, there is a section on features of new monasticism that I will be using in this blog for our reflection, to which people are more than welcome to respond in the comment section.

So we start with the focus on ‘belief as faithful action’, (you may want to listen to the current podcast entitled followers of Jesus ….. as it does relate to this subject to).

For Monks, Nuns and Friars – there has been the commitment to take very seriously, the stories of Jesus Christ in the Gospels. In these texts, Jesus gives a number of directions and commandments about faith in action. For Jesus it seems – faith is very much about doing – not just thinking. What we do says as much about who we really are. So Jesus’ commandment to Love God, love ourselves and love others – is the central teaching for a faith that leads to action. Also there is the calling to love your enemies, love your neighbour, and a strong call to non-violence. These callings then are very important to new monastics. As illustrated by St Pauls writing in Galatians 5:19-24 there is a strong commitment to the fruit of the Spirit around love, patience, humility in the place of anger, fear and pride.  So how we do community, how we live out and treat each other not just in ecclesial communities, but also how we relate to people has a huge focus in this model of church.

So for new monastics, life then is about belief as faithful action or what is called orthopraxis (right acting or doing). This is why New Monastics have a Rhythm of Life – of the balance of activity of worship, mission and community. So the Moot Community for example has aspirations, spiritual practices and postures which are about how we live as much as they are about what we believe. This is because new monastics believe strongly in what St Francis kept talking about – experience that leads to understanding. So why is this so important? Well as the cynical but truthful video below demonstrates (sorry for the expletives) is that the world is sick of people who call themselves Christians but do not act like they are followers of Jesus Christ. Rightly – the world is not happy with forms and expressions of Christianity that are oppressive or violent in orientation. So for New Monastics – it is about getting back to the basics. The calling to live with the God of love as the orientation of your life, and the struggle to live with gentleness, kindness and humility in a world dominated by power and the ego, and our increasingly post-christendom context.

I think the video below demonstrates this. It is uncomfortable to listen to, because something of what is being said is absolutely true. And for non-Americans – lets not be smug. These same issues are alive and well in the UK Church and beyond. My hope is that New Monasticism in all its smallness and fragility, can play its part in contributing to a more loving expression of church that seeks to follow Christ rather than act like it is God. In this way we hope that New Monastic Christians can be whole, balancing head, heart and wellbeing or rather Orthodoxy, Orthopraxis and Orthopathy and follow Christ so that we can grow into our potentials as human becomings, where discipleship then becomes a whole of life pursuit about living and doing that brings life to ourselves, to others and to the ecosphere. In my next blog, I will try to unpack what the three levels of aspirations, spiritual practices and postures represent. See the vid below! Any questions – do use the comments section.

POSTED 23.01.12 BY: ianmobsby | Comments (5)

On Tuesday 31st January 7.15 for 7.30pm we begin a new group at Moot/St Mary Aldermary building on the work that was done in the Exploration Group last year. Living with the Questions is an opportunity for those who have had experience of Church but not really had the opportunity to question, critique and explore some of the foundational thinking that makes up contemporary expressions of Christianity, drawing on 2000 years of struggle and thought.  Below is a little video that explains what the authors are trying to do – BUT PLEASE HEAR – the intro is quite American in style, so don’t be put off!!

The course has a number of teachers involved in it, Rob Bell from the Iona Community, Brian McLaren, Marcus Borg and many others. The course has 3 main elements with 7 sessions with in these. These elements are the journey, reconciliation and transformation. For more information on the elements and what it is about click here. From those that have tried out this course, I hear that it is a real relief to not leave your brain at the door, and it is for those who are wanting to dig deep and find a more affirming, generous and considered faith.

It would help us to know numbers, so if you are planning to come, please do let us know by clicking here.  Click the link also if you have any further questions….

POSTED 16.01.12 BY: ianmobsby | Comments (1)

I am really pleased to be able to announce that as part of our spirituality and wellbeing through HOST at St Mary Aldermary, we are starting up a new Monday lunch time meditation group.  As with our wednesday evening meditation group, this will use the John Main repetitive anchor word approach.  The group will last for half an hour with at least a 20 minute silent meditation.  For more information please contact here.

I am really pleased to say that Antoinette is joining our Host team of volunteers, who be assisting leading the group as well as BCP Eucharist. So please do join us if you need a break from work.  The group is open to little no or much experience of meditation.

POSTED 10.01.12 BY: ianmobsby | No Comments

As some will know, Mike’s big picture of the world like a football smashed in the exhibition before Christmas.  So to cover the costs (Moot is raising money to cover the costs of reframing the picture that smashed), we are offering against donation copies of Mike’s prints and those we have mounted on white board.  Note: This offer is not available for the two actual paintings in the exhibition if interested in buying these, please contact Mike direct.    Please see below images that are available in print form.  If interested in having one of these – those which donations are received with be reserved.  First come first served. After you have clicked the cost link you will go through to our paypal page where you can pay by paypal, debit or credit card.  IN THE BOX THAT SAYS PURPOSE PLEASE ADD WHICH PICTURE AND SIZE YOU WANT AS BELOW.

1. Ronnie Baby line drawing. We have one mounted version in A3 – to see image click here.   To make a donation towards the cost.

2. Oh God. We have one mounted version A3, 3xA3 and 1xA4 print unmounted – to see image click here. To make a donation towards the cost.

3. Womens face spray painting photo. We have one for mounted A3 and one unmounted version – to see image click here. To make a donation towards the cost.

4. Aw.  We have one mounted A3 version 1 unmounted A3 version – to see image click here. To make a donation towards the cost.

5. Messiah.  We have 2x A3 unmounted versions – to see image click here. To make a donation towards the cost.

6. Junia.  We have 1xA3 mounted and 1xA3 unmounted versions – to see image click here. To make a donation towards the cost.

7. Mary figure – We have 1xA3 mounted and 3xA3 unmounted versions – to see image click here. To make a donation towards the cost.

POSTED 09.01.12 BY: ianmobsby | No Comments

Mini Moots are a vital part of our life in Moot as a new-monastic community.  Moot is very much a network church, with people spread out all over London and beyond.  Our time together then is very scarce, and mini-moots are an opportunity to meet with around 6 to 8 mooters for food, support, study, prayer and some form of spiritual practice coming from our shared rhythm of life.

A new mini moot is about to start on Saturday brunch times, which is seeking new participants whose work life and other commitments make tuesday attendance very difficult.  This starts on 14 January at 11:00. Nic will be emailing those attending the saturday mini-moot shortly.  If you are interested please get in touch with Ian or Nic, as this will be starting up soon.  Please note that we are expecting people to be committed to turning up to these groups regularly once you start, and that you shouldn’t belong to more than one mini-moot. This new mini-moot will move around areas of central London.

Most other mini-moots meet up on Tuesday evenings timed to fit in with our usual moot programme of events and services, these are currently situated at  Mansion House EC4M, Borough SE1, Tooting/Streatham SW16/17, Forest Hill SE23.  With the new London overground services, these various mini-moots are accessible for those living in East, West and North London.

So if you are interested in joining a mini-moot, please do get in contact .  To be able to join a mini-moot, we do expect people to have become participants in the community demonstrated by joining our electoral roll and attending some of our weekly events on a regular basis. Do speak to me Ian Mobsby if you are wanting to do this.

POSTED 07.01.12 BY: ianmobsby | No Comments

In celebration of our first year anniversary as a Moot Community at the Guild Church of St Mary Aldermary, please find below the pictorial summary of the words that have been used through the blog and podcast.  See below.  Happy 1st anniversary Mooters!

POSTED 04.01.12 BY: ianmobsby | Comments Off

Happy New Year to Mooters and Moot Friends.
Well another year passes, and a new one begins! I wanted to flag up that we have two saturday learning opportunities and one sunday afternoon lined up.

SATURDAY 28TH JANUARY, 11-4.30, SMA
TOWARDS A DEEPER RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR PARTNER

Following the highly acclaimed saturday learning day on dealing with conflict in community, Pete and Julie Johnson lead a further day looking at the psychological and other needs required for a healthy relationship. This is open to everyone to attend including singles wanting to reflect, those in relationships and those who are preparing for marriage. For more info and to book places click here.

SUNDAY 29th JANUARY, 2-5pm, SMA
LECTIO DIVINA – A DIFFERENT WAY TO READ THE BIBLE REFLECTIVELY

We have talked about Lectio Divina a lot, but not really given people an opportunity to understand what it is or how it works.  We are fortunate to be led on this by a trainer at the London Centre for Spirituality.  This is a treat, and will be at no charge.  Open to participants in the Community, International Friends, and those coming to attend the evening service. For info and to book places click here.

SATURDAY 10th MARCH 10 to 3.30pm, SMA
MOOT PRAYER DEVELOPMENT DAY

Prayer, meditation and contemplation are at the heart of the Moot Rhythm of Life, but many of us have no idea what the various approaches and forms of prayer in Christianity actually are.  This day continues a tradition in Moot, where Julie Dunstan, a friend of the Moot Community, Spiritual Director and Ignatian Spirituality Trainer, takes a day enabling participants to tryout and experience different forms of prayer.  Past attenders of this day of raved about it, as an opportunity to explore prayer with someone who knows what they are talking about.  For more information and to book places, please click here

POSTED 03.01.12 BY: ianmobsby | Comments Off

This time of year is tough on single people. Believe me I know. Advent and Christmas are whether we like it or not times that are hard for those not in a relationship or from a relationship that has failed recently. Christmas is a reminder of what you hoped would change – the hope of a fulfilling relationship that is just not there. So it is a very hard time, and if this is how you are feeling, with a great concern about seeing relatives that ask inappropriate personal questions about your singleness that just leave you feeling pained and unhappy – I get it and I am absolutely on your side.

I am not going to offer anything contrite or patronising.  I just want to say that this is one of those desert places where we face our fragility and profound humanity where there is a little comfort where things feel very raw.   Just don’t give up hoping and dreaming of what might be, and remember that love is not just human, but there is a place for the ‘Divine-Me’ ‘love-in’ through prayer and meditation.

Sometimes we need experiences that take us away from comfort, and being single in my experience is one of those times.  What keeps me going? Well the 12 step Serenity prayer becomes a bedrock for me – so that I don’t beat myself up for not being in a fulfilling long term relationship, where it may surprise people, but I would love to have children and a stable domestic life.  Just has not ever come close.  So praying the serenity prayer and a refusal to stop hoping and waiting is my only way to cope…  What is the serenity prayer?  See below:

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
as it is, not as I would have it:  Trusting that God will make all things right if I surrender to God’s Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with God Forever in the next.
Reinhold Niebhur

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,  and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge God, and God will direct your paths.
Proverbs 3, 5-6.

So all you single people out there.  Remember you are beautiful and unique people and that God loves you so much, that God came in all humility as a fragile undefended baby as the incarnation of hope.

POSTED 18.12.11 BY: ianmobsby | Comments (4)

As with Lent, I hadn’t really considered Advent very much, growing up in a non-conformist, non-liturgical church.

This year, I’ve found myself learning a few things about advent, almost by accident.

Firstly, I saw a status update on Facebook from Canon Andrew White (“Vicar of Baghdad”) casually mentioning that advent wasn’t about preparing for Christmas, but for the coming again of the messiah. Maybe I’m a bit slow, but I’d never realised this before.

Then, on the day the teachers were striking, I was able to take the kids to a wonderful service at a local Anglican church (St Thomas’s, Telford Ave) called “Prayers & Bears”, aimed specifically for pre-school kids. It included a 1-sentence advent prayer, which we were given on a slip of paper.

Finally, I was preparing an afternoon service for advent, using the Godly Play materials which included the following:

“Purple is the colour of kings and queens. No one could wear purple in those days except royal people. Purple is a serious colour, and something serious is about to happen, A King is coming, but he is not the kind of king that people thought was coming…This King was a baby who was born in a barn.

The King who was coming is still coming. This is full of mystery. A mystery is hard to enter sometimes. That is why this time of Advent is so important. Sometimes people can walk right through a mystery and not even know it is there…We are all getting ready to enter the mystery of  Christmas, so let’s go with the prophets, the Holy Family, the shepherds, the angels, the Magi and all the rest to make the journey that was not just back then. It is also now.”

(see how profound a “kids’” service can be – come on Sunday afternoon for more, with carols thrown in!)

So, I decided that the chocolate advent calendar wasn’t enough any more. We now have a candle, stuck in a wine bottle with the prayer wrapped round it. Every morning, once the chocolate calendar is out of the way, I light the candle and the kids (aged 3 & 6) say the prayer:

Watching, waiting, help me to be ready for you Jesus. Amen

POSTED 14.12.11 BY: carey | Comments (1)