Only three more hours to go, and frankly I have to admit I have been disappointed by the response to the Multisensory Stations. Every single person who has come to this has responded positively, been moved by the meditation, touched by the ritual and the symbol, and yet there were so few.
I sent loads of posters to my colleagues: diocese, deanery and ecumenical. There were articles in the Diocese Newspaper. I promoted it heavily during sermons in other parishes and amongst my closest colleagues.
…and less than thirty people have made this journey. Okay, so that is thirty people who have [I pray been given something this holy week to think on, and who have I hoped moved closer to the heart of God. But that is in 18 hours of manning this event, and goodness knows how much preparation time, this week is starting to look like a disaster.
Most of those who have come are from this parish, and that is a good thing. They have experienced something different, something challenging and something distinctive for Holy Week. I don’t think I’ll do any more of this stuff. It’s not working.
It’s all so easy to be blythe about the buzz of fresh expressions, of lying to ourselves about success and growth and the Gospel, and yet here in the midst of Holy Week, I find my Gethsemene, my low point, my experience of desertion. It’s not a good place to be in, I have to admit.
If you want to reflect on the numbers, ask some questions.
Who wasn’t there who you thought might be? Try thinking how you might have reached them more? Was there a possibility of personal invitation to anyone? (I know – all more work!) DON’T BE DISHEARTENED! :o) I was wishing I was close enough (and not juggling worshipping at two chuches) to come along!
Even the first communion only had 13 people! Ok cheesy but think about it. Most fresh expressions that do well impact a relatively small number. They are more intimate and more powerful to that small number than BIG church. Never underestimate the change that these stations may have made. Your parishioners now turn towards their traditional Holy Week services with fresh eyes.
Oh Simon, I’m sorry….Sarah is so right in her comments, but it does I know hurt.
I too would have loved to come (and even more so as you blogged in greater detail about the stations)
PLEASE don’t abandon your creativity – it’s a gift to the rest of us. Is this the first time you’ve offered multi sensory stations in Holy Week? In my experience, it takes time for people to adjust to having this sort of opportunity in their sights at all…Maybe a gentler less Simon intensive version might be an answer another time…And in my (low tech) experience, the devising and plannign for these things is often a hugely needful space to reflect and worship for myself…which I’d be loathe to lose.
But tons of sympathy and prayers that the traditional Holy Week worship goes well and takes you to a Resurrection experience on Sunday.
Do not be afraid, Father. What you did was a great thing and I too would have loved to come. It’s their loss. And maybe it’s just too new and maybe they’re all too busy with their own things to come. I know how hard it is to justify going to something else in Holy Week. But please do it again and delegate so you are not completely tied up with it in this holiest and busiest of weeks.
You are doing great things and I wish I had a fraction of your creative spirit.