Mark Pierson
Mark Pierson is the Executive Director of Urban Seed (otherwise known as the Receptionist).
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An intuitive introverts guide... 19.
February 19, 2006
February 05 2006.
We’re back after a good break. I don’t feel refreshed at all. I did get some writing done on my Masters, which feels good. Sadly, due to external pressures I have had to cancel the Stations of the Cross installation planned for Holy Week. We had booked a fabulous venue in a public place and it was looking good. But it’s not to be. Maybe next year. I’m very disappointed.
Amber, Paul, Jeff and Virginia curated and composed all our service tonight. It was good. Theme was Breath. Nice vid loop of a person breathing outside on a cold night.
We’re still at Mission to Seafarers, but in a different space. Our regular space was supposed to be used for training security for the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, but they cancelled at the last minute. So we’ve set up in The Dome (echo-o-o-o). Amazing circular concrete building with a dome roof. Probably 20 metres in diameter and 15 high at peak. Bizarre acoustic but recorded music and acapella singing sound fantastic.
20 adults and 2 children. Not a bad start after the break.
February 12.
Appalling service. I should have stayed in bed all day. I was very tired and carrying a fair amount of stress and didn’t put the service together at all well. Lost the Prayer of Confession at the last minute when Rachel’s Dad went missing and she couldn’t make it. 40 minutes of trying wouldn’t make the laptop talk to the data projector. So I read a bit of scripture – quite a lot actually – and read most of Bono’s message to the Prayer Breakfast in Washington DC. Pretty poor all round really.
18 adults and 2 children.
February 19.
We’re getting the hang of the space. I think we need to have 3 music stands or similar to mark 3 spots that people can go to if they are leading a segment of the service. Great having Lee back again. He’s from Guernsey and has been trying to qualify for the Commonwealth Games steeplechase. Unfortunately he hasn’t made it, but we get to hang out with him. Rachel did a good PoC (Prayer of Confession) tonight. Track from Sufjan Stevens (Oh God Where Are You Now?) with a leaf and text attached to reflect on. (9.23 minute track. Very cool.)
Lenten Reflections packs where available tonight. I think they look great. 75mm square black cardboard envelope with a 6 panel double sided heavy paper insert (ie 12 panels all up). Each panel has a reflection and ritual for each week in Lent etc. I’m very please with them. Cam has done an excellent job of design…again. We did them in conjunction with Cityside in Auckland. My comments back in Advent about design and the ‘image’ that conveys to punters was reinforced when the first 2 people I showed them to made comments straight off about the shape, the way things lined up, the symbolism of the shape and design, etc. People do notice the detail. Some do anyway. And we want to have something for those people.
The service went well tonight I thought. I like the new space. It’s so good not having to set up everything every week. We’re getting a lockable cupboard so I won’t have to carry the data projector back and forwards. Then it will be almost perfect…We’re going to do our Easter Saturday service, Dead Man Waiting, in here. I think it will be very special in the dark with multiple projections.
I’m away the next 2 Sundays in New Zealand with Brian and Grace Mclaren. Brian is downunder doing some speaking for a couple of weeks. It will be a welcome break away from the tensions of work. After that I am staying in the shadows for a few more weeks as a break and Marcus will take the major responsibility week by week.
(This column also appears at www.sacramentis.com )
Posted by markp at 09:14 PM | Comments (2)
