Confirmation is an important stage in the spiritual journey, particularly for those who were baptised as children. It is making a statement about a commitment to the Christian faith as an adult – that your faith is deeply rooted – an outward sign of an inner orientation. It is different from the annual Rhythm of Life service we commit to, because it is a recognised sacramental moment, expressing the deep love between an individual to and with God.  This then expresses the heart of the Trinitarian Christian faith, about being invited to walk ever closer in union with God the Creator, Redeemer and Companion.

I am supporting one mooter who is wanting to be confirmed, so if others are interested get in touch. We could start a small confirmation group which would meet for a couple of sessions in preparation for confirmation which will take place in another central London Church on a Sunday Morning in the early summer.

If you are interested. please email Ian here.

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.

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….

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.

In early 2012, Moot, Christian Aid London Region and SCM are collaborating to support a new Thursday evening gathering in Central London using Moot’s new home at the Guild Church of St Mary Aldermary.

If you are a Christian student in higher education, then we could do with your support.  We are trying to find a name to call it – can you help?  If yes please help us by completing the poll.

I am pleased to say that Southwark Diocese are holding a study day on Sacramental Fresh Expressions on Saturday 5th November 10.30am to 3.30pm.  The day aims to address the questions: How can you be both a Fresh Expression and liturgical? How do you blend ancient tradition and modern culture? How can you encourage spiritual practice in your young people and not just play games?

I am very pleased to hear that Johanna of our Moot Community will be leading a workshop on ‘Hospitality’ which is the key focus of our Host Lounge Project.  For downloadable and booking information, please click here

Every now and then, members of the Moot Community lay on an afternoon tea to give room for those who are new to the community or interested in our vision and plans, to be able to ask questions, and to hear a little of our new monastic basis.

We are holding an informal event involving afternoon tea in St Mary Aldermary on Saturday 29 October, from 3pm to 5pm, including Ian Mobsby, Vanessa Elston and others. So if you are interested in coming and want more info and book a place, click here. We ask only for a financial donation towards costs. For more information, please email.

This event is open to anyone who is interested but particularly for new people to the Moot Community, or those who are interested in talking to us about the community.

Endurance is a tricky subject, because it can end up quite individualistic and competitive. I have been re-reading the letters of James the Apostle recently for inspiration about the calls of Christian communities to endure in times of cultural and financial uncertainty.  For this Sunday at the Evening Service Eucharist, we are going to explore further this call to endurance, and give time for an open microphone to enable us to respond as a community to our current circumstances, and to seek God in intercessory prayer in response to the needs of our community and the Lounge Project we are seeking to develop, to enable us to build towards financial stability.

So if you are part of the Moot Community, we will be doing things slightly differently this Sunday, and we are encouraging as many people who see themselves as participations in the community, to attend.

See you there I hope.

Thanks to all you Greenbelters who supported our three services at the Abide venue. We are pleased we were able to facilitate worship for the over 600 people who attended. It was good to see that Katherine Venn was selected as one of the festival highlights in the literature section, and that the panel on new-monasticism, which included Ian Mobsby, attracted over 700 people to queue for the event which only had a 200 person capacity.

Clare Catford’s talk and panel were both received well; Richard Trouncer’s round-the-fire storytelling was a hit; and Mike Radcliffe’s input to the arts programme went well. Vanessa Elston helped run a series of Serum events at Greenbelt too, which also went well.

So all in all 2011 was a great year for Moot at Greenbelt. To see pictures of Moot events from the festival see our flickr group here, and please add some if you have more and are member of the group. Also, join our Facebook group.

Our autumn programme will commence with a Compline Service on Sunday 4th September. To see our events please click here