Up through the atmosphere

Members of the mayBe community took their worship  into the open air once again on Ascension Day this year.
The group marked the day with kite flying in South Park, Oxford, and despite gathering storm clouds and a little  wind still managed to get airborn.

Adults and children alike had enjoyed a kite-making workshop during the week as preparation for the event, which was the community’s way of exploring the Ascension story.

The Revd Ian Adams, mayBe’s minister, said: ‘as part of our exploration of Ascension Day we have looked at ancient customs associated with the mysterious story of Jesus’ ascension into heaven.

‘One medieval tradition included making a figure of Christ rise through a hole in the church roof above the altar. Our use of kites is a contemporary take on traditions such as these.

‘Our members enjoyed the  symbolism of making the kites and tried very hard to fly them on 25 May, though the weather was against us. The smaller kites still managed quite well.’

The mayBe community is part of the ‘Cutting Edge Ministries’ set up by the Diocese of Oxford in 2002 to encourage and support new forms of emerging Church.

It is one of the diocese’s newest Church communities and generally meets informally in people’s homes, or in cafes and open spaces, rather than using a traditional church building, ‘exploring creative, simple, engaged and playful living in the way of Jesus’.

Ian told the DOOR: ‘We are trying to grow a modern Christian community from Anglican tradition. Our activities as a community are an adventure into God-centred living.

‘Predominantly mayBe members are in their 20s and 30s, though we have some members as young as two years old and people in their 70s. The Ascension Day worship was for all ages and went down very well.’

To find out more about mayBe log on to their website: www.maybe.org.uk