The Revd Simon Stride, Curate at Holy Trinity, Stalybridge, in Cheshire has had a passion for dance music since his early teens and his combined interests in theology and dance music have helped guide his spiritual direction through his adult life. Since his early days as an ordinand, Simon has led DJ worship ranging from Christian clubland-style events complete with strobe lights and smoke machines for youth congregations – to ‘chill-out’ compline services, using soundscapes and atmospheric music tracks to help people meditate on scripture. “I feel it's part of my calling to use the skills I learnt in this area as part of worship – to enable people to connect with God through dance and electronic music,” he explained. “We’ve also started seeing more young people bring their friends to these church events for the first time.” Simon even ran a ‘Resurrection Rave’ with headlining DJ, Bazz Morgan (Velocity of Light).“We wanted to create something that would attract young people to church and also communicate the Christian message and the meaning of the Resurrection,” he explained.The Saturday night clubbing worship event proved to have a deep impact on those attending.“It was a very moving moment to see almost every single person in the church, including those attending church for the first time, respond to Jesus in their own way at the foot of the cross,” he said.Simon encourages other churches to consider running DJ worship events, as a way of broadening their appeal to the younger generation. “God is not limited to specific genres of music,” he explained. “The great thing about dance music is that it provides a way for young people to encounter God through a culture that is familiar to them – and the music is uplifting and full of energy.”
The Archbishop of Canterbury has sent a video message to the people of South Sudan on the eve of the postponed joint Pilgrimage of Peace to the country with Pope Francis and the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.In his message the Archbishop says he is “deeply sorry” that the joint pilgrimage of peace has been postponed. He says that God sees the “great suffering” of South Sudan and urges its leaders to pursue peace.The joint visit was due to take place from 5-7th July but was postponed last month after the Vatican announced that the Pope would not be able to travel on advice from his doctors.The Pope has released a video message today on the first day of his planned Apostolic Journey, which would have begun in the DRC before being joined by the Archbishop and the Moderator in South Sudan on Tuesday. The Moderator of the Church of Scotland, the Right Revd Dr Iain Greenshields, has also released a video message today addressed to the people of South Sudan.
Our parish Holy Communion service on Sunday is at 10 am at St Mary And All Saints' Church, Dunsfold. We hope you can join us.<br>If you can't be there in person you can join us online by clicking on this Zoom link.<br><a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5253921788?pwd=MC9kNmpldmFrRSsrV1pkc1k5aU1vZz09">https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5253921788?pwd=MC9kNmpldmFrRSsrV1pkc1k5aU1vZz09</a>
Children will have access to free breakfasts during the summer holidays through a new initiative. Portsmouth City councillors George and Brian Madgwick are personally donating £4,000 to fund the scheme. The breakfasts will be held at St Michael and All Angels Church in Paulsgrove every weekend through the summer holidays. George Madgwick said they hoped it would "ease the pressure" of the current cost of living crisis.He said: "Paulsgrove is an area with a lot of social housing, higher rates of unemployment and lower income in general and there's been a really noticeable increase in the number of people using the foodbank recently."Our schools do a fantastic job supporting families during term time and we wanted to do something to extend that into the summer."According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service the scheme is being funded by the two councillors personally, rather than being financed by Portsmouth City Council. It comes after George Madgwick pledged to use his councillor allowance to fund projects in his ward. He added: "Families that have been just about managing to cope for the last few years have been tipped over the edge by inflation, particularly the huge increase in energy costs."We have the ability to give back and felt this would be the most effective way of doing it."The initiative will start after 23 July when the school year ends and run until the end of August. Food parcels and packed lunches will also be provided to families.
