Celebrating All That Is Good
June 2nd, 2009
Wow! What a fabulous day last Sunday was in every way. 15,000 people together in a stunningly beautiful setting worshipping God and enjoying so much. The weather was perfect for the first Big Church Day Out. There was something for everyone. Delirious ended a momentous day in superb fashion. It was a day we shall never forget.
It was clear that the whole amazing event was orchestrated by God, as a team of people came together contributing various parts of the jig-saw just at the right time. We as a Church had a significant part to play. Over 200 of us were involved in some way, from administration, playing, programme design, PA and set up, bunting-making, tea serving, money counting, stewarding and litter collecting. The majority of the 170 stewards were from Arun.
Very many of you were there from 9.00 am right up until 12.00 midnight with hardly a break. You were stretched to the limit. Many of you never left your posts, and therefore couldn’t participate in what was happening on the rest of the site. Those serving teas in the tea tent were near to exhaustion, but carried on to the end. Several of you in the car parking area suffered verbal abuse, but I have heard appreciation of the friendly words of farewell being given by very weary car park stewards as people set off on their homeward journeys.
It was a learning curve for everyone, and I know things will be different another time. However, this was for me the very essence of the Gospel message being worked out as you stewards served sacrificially.
The response to the day has been overwhelming, with many stories of people being significantly affected starting to pour in. The Police and the Foreign Office Security Guards on the House said they had never witnessed such a well organised and happy event. Congratulations to Tim for a job well done, and the deepest thanks to all those of you who gave all you’ve got to serve others at expense to yourselves. Thank you so much.
David Thatcher
Filed under: Thought of the Week
1 Comment Add your own
1. Thomas Foster | June 2nd, 2009 at 10:10 pm
Just wanted to say a great big thank you to all who served at this event. As both me and my wife sort of grew up through the early Cutting Edge events many years ago, it was a thrill to take our 3 sons to the Big Church Day Out.
The organization was amazing. The music fantastic. The number of toilets a great relief! The children’s play area was so welcome - both the bouncy castles, and the soft play. I don’t think we have ever eaten so much fudge brownies in a single day :-)
We booked in months ago because we wanted our boys to see God’s church, in all its multi-coloured beauty, gathered in numbers, enjoying his presence. We were not disappointed.
At the latter end of the day as I moved between dancing to Delirious with my youngest (9 months) in my arms, to playing frisbee with my oldest (5.5!), I felt the pleasure of God over the whole thing. He is such a generous and wonderful God, and as
M.W.Smith said, we really do sense that “God is on the move” in this country.
Thanks again. Looking forward to the next one.
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