
Anyway, back to the main event. It was a bit different from a normal church service, mostly in that it was longer and the congregation much larger (at 1200). First there was a lot of singing, and my legs got tired after so much swimming the day before. Then there was a talk by a worthy woman. Then lunch, more singing, a movie showing an astounding venture among the homeless in Halifax followed by an interview with the leaders of the venture, another talk by another worthy woman and then "ministry". It all started at 10am and finished at 3pm.

Then there is the "ministry". I'm very ambivalent about this. I think people being given the option to come forward to be prayed for is great. But I object strongly when it turns round and it's coming from the stage - e.g. where someone on stage starts to pretend that they have some insight into what someone else in the 1000 strong crowd below them is going through. Simple statistics tells you these sorts of things are just made up crap/ astrology/ witchcraft. I've experienced worse, and I just went out and got a nice cup of Earl Grey tea at this point.
As often happens with Evangelism movements, I think New Wine probably comes with an unpleasant level of intolerance. There was only mild allusion to this; some comments which suggested depression was a decision, and that the world out there was the work of the evil one. This isn't a world view that makes any sense to me. In fact I'm so sick of the "them and us" mentality that I've given up saying "them" for 2015. We are all "us" together, humans on Earth!
The best parts for me were the travel and break times. I went in a group of 10, who go to or are friends of people who go to St Alkelda's Anglican church in Giggleswick. It was great at last to have a chance to get to know some people from the congregation a little bit better. I'd do it again just for that. I met one very interesting person, who is a Methodist but attends The Christian Fellowship as well as St Alkelda's. She was able to tell me something about all the other churches in Settle, apart from the Quakers, so as a result of her encouragement, I feel considerably more prepared for the rest of the Lenten journey!!
The most astonishing thing of the day, was the Energy Performance Certificate for Hall D in the HIC! Wow!!!
This is the more traditional style of Harrogate, over the road from the HIC; these houses probably have EPC ratings more in the F and G zones:
This is the more traditional style of Harrogate, over the road from the HIC; these houses probably have EPC ratings more in the F and G zones:
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