Creative Worship
Children's Church | Radical Worship | Food4Thought | Street Banquets
An authentic life is the most personal form of worship. Everyday life has become my prayer.
Sarah Ban Breathnach
Not all worship comes in the same shape and size. Here at Carrs Lane we have the opportunity to share in different, creative, alternative and radical worship. Happening throughout each month there are many different varieties available and we're always willing to try something new. Below you will find a list of those creative times of worship held during the month.
Children’s Church
Second Sunday of the month at 2.30pm
This service has developed as a joint initiative with the Methodist Central Mission and several other churches in the city centre.
Many city centre congregations have few children sharing regularly in morning worship, and struggle to provide continuity of leadership. This service is intended to serve as a ‘gathered church’ for these children and their leaders, providing an encouraging, relevant and affirming act of Christian worship.
It is aimed primarily at those under 11 years of age. Refreshments, activity sheets, Christian music and conversation prepare the ground for worship itself.
At present, worship follows the pattern of ‘godly play’, with the careful telling of Christian stories at its heart: children and adults alike are then able to respond to the story through participation in a range of activities, often craft-based.
After this, there is a time of sharing and feasting, modelled on communion, but presented in such a way that even the smallest child will feel involved. Appropriate pastoral care is taken seriously; a welcoming physical environment is matched by full compliance on all matters relating to child safety.
Radical Worship
Fourth Sunday of the month at 6.30pm
Held on the last Sunday of every month, this takes place in the comfort of the ‘Lounge’ and is not easily characterised by ‘tag line’ or other brief description! Again, we share with the Methodists and others in providing worship which we hope will stimulate personal Christian growth and help people reflect on the link between faith and action.
Speakers are drawn from a wide variety of agencies and groups, in a consistent attempt to help this congregation develop a radical, Social Gospel agenda for the 21st century. Film is used frequently to stimulate discussion. Sometimes, worship takes place within the reasonably conventional setting of word, music and silence – sometimes it does not!
For more information on the dates and themes of Radical Worship, please click here.
Food4Thought
Second and Fourth Monday of the month
This congregation for young adults (20's and 30's) is run in conjunction with Aston University Free Church Chaplaincy. It meets in the Martin Luther King Centre in Aston University for a short, informal service at 7.30pm (although punctuality has not been a redeeming feature of this group!).
Worship lasts for no more than half-an-hour and draws a variety of students, volunteers and others: all are welcome, whatever their circumstances.
Worship is followed by a shared meal, for which no charge is made: sometimes we eat out, sometimes food is shared on the premises. Other social events enliven the shared life of this group.
Street Banquets
Held regularly at Carrs Lane, Street Banquets are shaped by the story of the Great Feast as told by Jesus. A committed team of volunteers gets together to prepare - and share - a meal with members of the homeless community in the city centre, as well as other vulnerable members of society.
Worship - with a light touch! - forms a part of the event, and live music is always appreciated. All are welcome to share in the Street Banquet, and we are always pleased to hear from potential volunteers, particularly those with a Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate: please contact Revd. Neil Riches.
Background and purpose of the work: In 2005 the Revd. Florence Gundala came to work in the Methodist Central Mission as the Urban Theologian in Residence. During the nine months she served in that position, Florence explored the nature of the Street Community in Birmingham city centre, and produced The ByWAY Report of her findings and reflections. The outcome of the challenges from The ByWAY Report was the establishment of the Birmingham Christian Homeless Forum and the start of the regular Street Banquets. The whole basis of the Street Banquet is to found an occasional Christian community on the words of Jesus’ parable of the Great Feast in Luke 14. This parable acts as a constant challenge to us about the nature of welcome and hospitality by raising fundamental questions regarding those people who are accepted or rejected by our society. The Kingdom of God, Jesus tells us, reverses the order of priorities. Our Street Banquets offer a welcome, good food and Christian fellowship to all who come.