Categories: greenbelt, spirituality, swansea
Tags: Prayer, Friends, Greenbelt
Date: 01 September 2005 19:52:36
The Sunday morning at Greenbelt is always special because its the only time when EVERYONE gets together, for the communion service. I love it when, as far as the eye can see, there are thousands of people, who have all come together for a common purpose - communion. This year, I was in a smallish group for communion, there was just myself, 2 friends and a family with two young children. We had brought bread and wine, and the parents of the family had bread and water - for the young children. After saying together the prayers, we passed around our bread in the traditional way, and then the parents gave the two boys their water. This water ended up being used by all of us, which I felt was important - it meant we were all equal. If the adults had used the wine, it would have been as if we were somehow better than the children. We were sat really close to the Prayer Tree, so it was amazing to watch it gradually increase with leaves throughout the service. Also, the picnic at the end of the service, distinctively reminded me of the feeding of the five thousand (except maybe it should be 20). Most people had brought something, which they shared, and everyone had plenty.
Sunday evening we went to the ceilidh, which was great fun, but very tiring. Throughout the weekend I constantly seemed to be bumping into people whose face I recognised, but couldn't put a name to the face. This ceilidh was no exception, in the middle of one of the dances I exclaimed to a person I found myself dancing with briefly - "I know you!" That was all I got chance to say, as they dance moved on!
Generally, round the site I was very impressed with the busking. There seemed to have been a rota and small stages set up for buskers and almost all of the ones I passed were very good. It added to the atsmosphere around the site.
After not going to bed till 1.30ish on Sunday night, I was rather impressed that I made it to the Wild Goose worship with Christian Aid at 9am on Monday morning. This worship was amazing, especially the part where olive oil was passed round and you were asked to make a cross on your neighbours hand with it. Very moving.
Quote of the Day:
Random man helping to assemble the prayer tree: "The spirit of the Lord is Moving in this Place, but not around the tree"
Because we were sat so close to the prayer tree, we heard this comment. I don't think he intended it to be heard by the general congregation!
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Being back in Manchester now, I have made an effort to arrange to see old school friends. This afternoon, despite feeling rotten (i feel like i have a golf ball in my throat, ballons in my ears and a rainbow bouncy ball, bouncying round my head), I met up with a friend from school who had recently broken up with her long term boyfriend. We enjoyed a three course lunch together before going to see The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants - a nice girly film for a broken hearted friend. I thought it was really good. It demonstrated how important friendship support is, when life isn't so good. As I was watching it, I thought about personal times that myself and my friends have needed and received this kind of support. Before I knew it, I had tears running down my face. I felt silly, because it wasn't especially emotional. I wasn't crying because I was sad. I think I was crying because i felt lucky to have great friends and I know that we will support each other, whatever life throws at us. Thank you.