Offering Christ On The Street.

Last year  on Good Friday I took some bread and wine and placed it on a busy Edinburgh Street. I was interested to see the response that people would have to the image. Click here to see the video.This year I feel drawn to take the whole image a bit further forward. I'd like to invite ministers the length and breadth of the country to join with me on Good Friday and take the Bread and Wine back on to the streets. I wonder if we should take the symbols of Calvary  out to the people and see how they respond.The question many will ask is this, by doing such an act are we promoting cheap grace? Is it right to offer Christ to the world as they pass by? Yet I'm reminded that the Calvary was a rubbish dump outside the city. God offered himself up in the midst a jeering crowd, in the middle of a busy crowd looking to be entertained.Was it not for the world that Christ died?How can they,  the world), respond if they are not confronted with the truth of the Gospel? The bread and the wine are the symbols of the broken Christ. So unless convinced that I am doing something wrong I'm looking for ministers of the Gospel all over the country to join with me on the streets of our villages and towns, cities and hamlets, to take the gospel on to the streets.Could you pass this message on to a minister you know who might take up this challenge. Let's look for 100 ministers who will take to the streets and lets see who will join us.If your up for this and going to do it would you get back to me by making a comment, If you have questions to ask about it I'd also love to hear from you. Wouldn't it be amazing if people were converted to Christ on Good Friday because we shared bread and wine with them and reminded them that his body "was broken for you" Is it a communion service I hear someone ask? My reply, I simply offering Christ to a broken world as they pass by just like the first Good Friday. If I get a good response, I'd be surprised if  this will not  cause a debate in the national papers and also the radio and television.  This is truly a Church without Walls engaging with the passerby.

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10 Comments
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Posted By: italker   On: 8 Jun 2009   At: 11:59pm

Hope the conference is helpful i know a few people who have attended in the past and found the whole experience inspirational. Yes your right there are good things happening everywhere if we open our eyes. What was the carpenter’s name?

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Posted By: Jane Pinkerton   On: 8 Jun 2009   At: 11:34pm

I met a man called Ian, a carpenter, who told me that i ought to meet you! You went to school with him… my friend Fiona Sword introduced me and here i am passing on his regards..in a couple of weeks i go to the enquirey conference in Dundee.. most inspired by your work..so the church is changing - it’s not just rumour (; Jane Pink

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Posted By: David lacy   On: 15 Mar 2008   At: 11:05pm

Hi Albert.  Great idea. I agree with “Drew” that preaching must accompany the elements. In Kilmarnock, 9 clerics, organised by David Cameron, put on a 3 hour Good Friday Vigil from 12noon - 3pm, in 20 minute sections, in the Laigh West High Kirk(“Come when you can and go when you must”) David will be putting a table with bread and wine on it at the church gate with an invitation to enter and take part in the Vigil.  Thanks for your great visual advert idea!!

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Posted By: Gordon Reid   On: 15 Mar 2008   At: 8:28pm

Great idea Albert.  We take a 10 ft cross onto the High St and we’ve had some very good comments.  But really - blow up balloons - give away Easter Eggs or Cola - just get on the High St and take God’s love to the people - that’s what its all about - isn’t it????

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Posted By: John   On: 15 Mar 2008   At: 9:51am

Hi Albert

Your film hasinspired me!

Last year I had to carry a lifesized cross along to our local high school for the united Good Friday Afternoon service. I was impressed by all the different reactions I got, which covered the whole gamit of feelings from scorn to humour to concern. Eventually a local Korean boy asked if he could help. This year I have to do the same - I might ask someone to film it!

John

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Posted By: Gregor McIntyre   On: 13 Mar 2008   At: 7:48pm

Somebody pointed me to this blog and my response was “That’s it!”. I’ve been drawing blanks wondering what do open air at Easter and you’ve saved my bacon.

I’ll be offering bread and wine at my parish shops. Bread, wine and a chance to chat excellent way to get rid of the walls.

Count me in.

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Posted By: GadgetVicar   On: 12 Mar 2008   At: 10:53pm

St Silas’ are going for a variant on the idea. We’ll have a table set up like yours from last year with bread and wine, but offer grape juice and a hot cross bun + an invitation to come in and walk our interactive labyrinth that will be on all day. Some of our staff were a wee bit nervous of offering what might be seen to be a eucharist, but the we are high-church Anglicans, aren’t we? wink

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Posted By: italker   On: 12 Mar 2008   At: 2:51pm

Andrew, I thought if we didn’t actually consecrate the bread and wine it wasn’t a communion as such. It was more a reminder

to those who pass by that Christ’s body was broken for them. This is the discussion that I wanted to open up.

We thought of handing out little cards with verses of scripture upon them perhaps with a web page address where people could

continue the discussion or indeed share how they felt.

 

Let me know your response.

 

Albert

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Posted By: Drew   On: 12 Mar 2008   At: 2:33pm

Hi Albert,  it’s great that you always seem to think of innovative things to do.  One question though.  The Reformers’ understanding was that preaching should accompany the sacrament.  In 1st Corinthians 11 Paul speaks of the need for self examination before eating (which may imply a need to understand the sacrament). How, my brother, does this sit with what you suggest?

My very best wishes to all who seek to take to the streets in the Lord’s name.

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Posted By: Liz   On: 10 Mar 2008   At: 6:26pm

Albert, I’m planning to take communion on to the streets again this Good Friday as I did last year. Its where Christ’s body and blood belongs.

http://liz-vicarofdibley.blogspot.com/2007/11/arrived.html

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