After an absence of two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Greenbelt festival and the United Reformed Church (URC) will be back at Boughton House in Kettering from 26th-29th to August.
Not only is the URC celebrating its 50th anniversary, it is also its seventh year as an Associate Partner of the festival, and this year we have opted for a bigger tent: our new venue, yoURCafé.
In our first blog, Roo Stewart, Programme Support Officer for Church and Society and Programme Manager for URC at Greenbelt, talks about our theme ‘Revolting Christians’:
Anyone who has been around churches a bit will know there are some revolting Christians around.
I can think of a few off the top of my head. There is a lady in my church who insisted on writing to every MP by hand to urge them to allow asylum seekers living in the UK to work for a living. There was a teenager in a neighbouring parish who walked to school barefoot to highlight the injustice faced by families in his area who couldn’t afford to buy both food and the school uniform.
In the last century, there was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, who had a dream, and was a key spokesperson and leader in the civil rights movement in the USA in the 1950s and 60s. Corrie Ten Boom stood up against the Nazis by hiding Jewish people in her home. Madge Saunders, the first female minister in the United Church of Jamaica, spoke out against Enoch Powell’s racist ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech.
She said: “Sometimes you have to break certain traditions and laws to bring about positive change in life.”
Sometimes, these revolting Christians are part of a wave of outcry. At other times, they are a lone voice. Sometimes they raise awareness. Often, they don’t see major change in their lifetime. But what links them all is their resolve that things are not okay and must change.
Jesus revolted too.
While we might wish that he eradicated injustice altogether, we can see in his life an example to follow: a cheek-turning, non-violent resistance (and then there was that time with the whip and the table-flipping).
At Greenbelt this year, the United Reformed Church is celebrating 50 years of being a dissenting voice. Come and join us on the Sunday of Greenbelt in the Shelter at 5pm to explore ‘Church: Pile of Poo or new Ecosystem?’ All generations are welcome, and we’ll livestream it via Zoom for folks who aren’t able to attend the festival.
We’ve got a brand-new café venue at Greenbelt this year, too. It’s called ‘yoURCafe’ and, as well as drinks and delicious cakes, it will provide meals from £5 each from our partners REfUSE Durham and Grace Kitchen at Fountains Church Bradford, featuring tasty food made from ingredients that were destined for landfill.
The food’s not revolting, but it’s part of our revolt against wasting our world’s precious resources. And the low price helps out when the cost of living is so high right now.
How do you become a revolting Christian? Or become more revolting? Visit yoURCafe and our Sunday service during the weekend and find out. We’ve got hats and socks too!
In our second blog, Jo Harris, Moderator of the URC Youth Assembly, talks about beng a young revolting Christian:
Being a young revolting Christian is often about pushing the boundaries of church and being the chatty and often frustrating young person who always has something to say – I for one love that!
For me, being a revolting Christian says a lot about who I am as a person and a Christian.
The thoughts and opinions of young Christians in a secular society are often brushed over and tainted by racist, homophobic and often ignorant uber right wing Christians, like many of Donald Trump’s supporters seem to be.
However, I feel that it is my duty to show society what it means to be Christian. I revolt against racism, homophobia and sexism and stand with my allies fighting against the hate that they receive. We see so many young people making such significant change in our world, often standing up for the little guy, supporting the outcast, and speaking out against what is wrong.
To be a revolting Christian means to share God’s love everywhere, through everything you do and through everything you say. As revolting Christians we have so much to say. So let’s shout it from the rooftops, share Gods word and work.
At Greenbelt this year, the United Reformed Church is taking over the Engine, the Greenbelt Youth Venue for those aged 12-17, for the first time. How exciting!!! There are so many exciting things on the programme.
You might want to join us for a club night with DJ Xoomie at 10:30pm on Saturday or laugh your socks off at a Laughter Workshop on Monday at 3.30- 4.30pm.
If you want something a little more creative, join us for a Bhangra and Bollywood Workshop on Sunday at 6.30-7.30pm.
How about something more discussion based? Come and take part in our three ‘Cake and Debate’ sessions, where you can explore your spirituality, lives, and be a revolting Christian.
During these sessions, we will be looking at climate change, fair trade and the refugee situation. Plus, you’ll get free cake each time you come!
To find out more, visit The URC at Greenbelt 2022.