Mark Pierson's Page

From time to time I hear said, “it was a case of life imitating art”. Oscar Wilde stole the phrase from a Roman poet who was around when Jesus was a teenager. (I wonder if Jesus heard it? Was Jesus interested in poetry?)

Usually we think of art being an imitation of life, as in a painting of a bowl of fruit. Ovid and Wilde realised that it can also happen the other way around. Like the huge increase in young people taking up playing guitar after the virtual-guitar “game” Guitar Hero came out. O… Continue

This week I have been identifying strongly with the young and very pregnant Mary, taking that long ride in the heat on the hard back of a jolting and boney donkey. Not that I am young, female, or pregnant. Its more the heat and the hassle I identify with.

While many parts of the Northern Hemisphere are snow bound, in the South we're gridlocked in the heat of summer by travellers heading away on holiday and meandering around on the roads doing last minute shopping. So when my computer died as I… Continue

I think the sacraments are really important in the worship life of any community. Regardless of what style or theological torch you shine on them, Communion or Eucharist or Lords Supper, call it what you like, is central. Baptism of some sort is also right up there. After that we might get into some debate, but the big two most of us would agree on. At the very least Jesus was present at both and had one done to him.

So why do we so often seem to do them wrong? I’m talking about worshipping com… Continue

Wow, the ripples have certainly travelled rapidly around the world since I outlined my “Ripples in Time” service. On and offline I’ve had a number of responses from people planning to re-frame it for their own context. And Linda has started a franchise! Excellent. I’d love to hear how it goes for anyone who uses it. May your ponds hold firm and the leakage be minimal.

Last week I curated worship for a group of people I didn’t know. This is not something I like to do, and wouldn’t usually agree… Continue

One of the most enjoyable services I have curated during Advent was called “Ripples in Time”. I repeated it for 4 or 5 years in different forms and wish I had an appropriate setting to curate it in again this year.

“Ripples” was built around a large blackwater reflecting pond as the centrepiece. I’ve built a lot of ponds for worship and nearly all of them have leaked! Some expensively. A small pinhole can leak a lot of water, and a little water goes a long way when it is being drawn into carpet… Continue