Grumpy Old Git

A really good friend of mine from back in the day when we were kids sitting next to each other in the Sally Army Band in Bedford, England is really pretty unwell at the moment.

If you are a pray-er, check out his blog, and learn more about his story.

Like many of you out there, Andy is a major Mac head

Thanks, Andy, for your cool pic.

Richard Rogers

I’ve been occasionally enjoying Alan Yentob’s current IMAGINE series of documentaries on the BBC lately, and last night’s show on architectural superstar Richard Rogers was a real highlight for me. I’m not sure why buildings and created environments get me so pumped, but I’ve always enjoyed looking at them and learning something of the vision that brought them into being, and this Mr Rogers is a king in this area.

If nothing else, it was worth watching for the spectacular views from his house in Tuscany.

There is a list of incredible and significant projects as long as your arm, but a couple of my favo(u)rites are the National Assembly of Wales and Madrid’s Barajas Airport. If you check out some of the links, to see that RR and his colleagues at the various firms he has been involved with for about 50 years, you’ll see that very many of the iconic buildings of the 2nd ½ of the 20th Century and into the 21st have the Rogers stamp all over them.

…must try and catch the Richard Rogers event at The Design Museum later in the year.

Gordon

Back in October, I posted about the journey my Church is on, and talked about some of the new Mission Team that was coming together.

One member of that team is Gordon, who tells the story of his involvement with The Salvation Army in Iraq, as part of an Iraq special currently on The Salvation Army's international site.

It's a challenging and humbling read

Hobbits

Mia and Noah warming up for their Hobbit auditions!

Croydon Citadel Salvation Army Band: Handel's Messiah

Just using my blog to promote an upcoming concert at the Fairfield Halls, Croydon to celebrate the 125th Anniversary of The Salvation Army Band that I play in:

I'm going to quote a letter that is being sent to all interested parties.

You might be interested to check it out:

Handel's Messiah with a ‘touch of brass’!

The Messiah, although very well known, is rarely performed with Brass accompaniment. Yet Croydon Citadel Band had the wonderful privilege of doing so with the Dudley Birder Chorale in Wisconsin, USA in May 2005. As part of their 125th Anniversary celebrations this year the Band will be performing this great work again in collaboration with Wimbledon Choral Society and the Croydon Philharmonic Choir at the Fairfield Halls, Croydon on Easter Saturday 22nd March

Attending this special performance will surely be remembered as a unique experience .

There can hardly be a better way of commencing an Easter Week End than by hearing once again that magnificent music and those wonderful promises

Typical Sunday?

How typical is a Sunday when you find yourself physically embracing a devout Muslim man in the street at the end of a Salvation Army Open Air Service, or walking the streets of Croydon in the pitch black with another Salvationist trying to sort a means of transport for a man worse the wear for drink who wanted to get to another part of London; or listening enraptured to true life stories of dear friends which took in brushes with the Gestapo, a re-opening of ministry and mission in Russia, the beauty of Norway, or gathering with a small huddle of friends in the kitchen at a place of worship long after most people had left, and sharing a special few minutes focusing in on the reality of what it is we are called to do?

That was my Sunday.

la famille Kinsley

Design dude, top buddy, brother of Mrs Parker RELEVANT’s king of web and new dad (again), Lloyd Kinsley has set up a new site that’s worth a look to get the low down on la famille Kinsley.

Go visit!

Croydon Overhaul

The town where I go to Church is in the process of a major overhaul over the next few years, which will radically alter the whole area – there are a number of significant developments affecting residential, retail, office and leisure spaces in a way that will cause demographic and societal shifts that will change the face of Croydon, in one or another. It looks like more and more people will be living in the centre of the urban space.

Check out this list of development hyper-activity:

The Exchange Croydon
Ruskin Square
Croydon Gateway
New South Quarter

On top of all this are superstar architect Will Alsop's proposals for Croydon. You can check the site, but it's one of those over the top Flash heavy sites that take some patience to navigate. You might have neither the time or the inclination to find it!

It’s making me wonder how these changes will affect the mission and ministry of The Salvation Army in Croydon? Something for us to watch closely.

Roots 2008: The last Roots ever?

Salvation Army-centric post coming!

I got this enigmatic e-mail in my In Box this week, so I wanted to share it, just to do my bit to encourage folks to go along to Roots later in the year:

Subject: The last ROOTS ever?


With the countdown to ROOTS '08 well and truly begun and the team busy preparing for what we hope will be the best event yet, people keep coming up to me and asking whether it's going to be the last.

Before I answer that question, let me tell you where we are. With over a decade of ROOTS events past, we know that Salvationists are more passionate than ever to see their corps renewed and their communities transformed by the gospel. To this end, ROOTS needs to do more than ever before to envision, encourage and equip our The Salvation Army for ministry and mission. In 2007 we commissioned a review to explore how we might do this

In answer to the question, far from the end of the ROOTS movement, ROOTS 2008 will mark a new beginning. From this moment on we want to push and propel, prime and prepare tens of thousands of Salvationists to deepen their faith and widen their impact.

All this begins with ROOTS 2008, Going Public. This life changing weekend will feature world renowned bible teacher Jeff Lucas, Shane Claiborne, founder of The Simple Way community and the inspirational Nims Obunge, leader of the Peace Alliance.

An event for all the family ROOTS 2008 is jam packed with great worship, artists, celebrations, seminars, childrens and youth work. Culminating with our Sunday afternoon 'Going Public Open Air Festival' ROOTS 2008 will equip you and your corps to go public with the gospel.

For more info, visit our web site www.rootsonline.org/uk and you will see all the exciting programmes we have planned.

With our online booking discount now is the time to book and pay less to come to ROOTS. My top tip is to book your accommodation now while there is the best range of options available for your family.

ROOTS is Going Public, I look forward to seeing you in Southport.

Russell Rook
Event Leader