For so many of us who invest our August bank Holiday at Greenbelt, it’s more than a festival. Greenbelt is community, it’s church, it’s a taste of the kingdom - a kind of homecoming!
The festival this year was no exception. It was an awesome weekend enjoyed and engaged with by 19,000 people; the largest crowd since moving to Cheltenham. And then there are the 1,500 fantastic volunteers who believe so much in what Greenbelt is and does that they give up their weekend (and in many cases, a great deal more time during the year) to make it happen. It’s a huge event but that is not what makes it great.
What Greenbelters love is the way in which the festival welcomes all, not just notionally but actually. Lots of people have commented on the way in which they feel accepted at the festival regardless of churchmanship (or lack of), nationality, ability, looks, age or any other label that is often so judgmentally applied in society (and sadly sometimes in the church).
Such acceptance at Greenbelt gives rise to a level of community that is wonderful to experience. You can pretty much talk to anyone and it just kind of happens. The inevitable queues become a communal experience with conversation and humour, not isolation and frustration.
As for the content of the festival, it’s a creative celebration that honours and points to our creator. The worship is varied, engaging and participative. It ranges from the traditional to the experimental. The highlight is always the Sunday morning communion when thousands worship, pray, laugh, receive and commit together.
The most edgy and exciting part of the festival for me though is it’s heartbeat, a heartbeat centred in Christ that longs for and works towards justice and freedom. Greenbelt welcomes as its own all those whose faith drives them to make a difference to the poor, the marginalized, the captive. It’s the place where there is no divide between faith and action, a place that doesn’t just ask ‘What would Jesus do?’ but wrestles with ‘How should we go about it?’
In this year’s mix of regular features and great surprises a real serendipity moment for me was the Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain whose diverse musical programme and humour were a true crowd pleaser.
Two of the biggest musical draws to mainstage were long-time Greenbelter Martyn Joseph and a first-time performance from Daniel Beddingfield.
The speaking programme was, as always, vibrant, dynamic and challenging. Peace Campaigner Norman Kember received a standing ovation from more than three thousand people. Other highlights were Jim Wallis (founder of Soujourners), Jackie Pullinger and John Bell.
The breadth of speakers and topics is well worth a look at on Greenbelt’s website where the talks can be bought and downloaded from the Greenbelt site.
Christian Aid were at Greenbelt once more, this year literally drumming home the Trade Justice message with their ‘the beat goes on’ campaign. Campaigning for global and social justice is increasingly becoming a major part of many young people’s faiths. Signing petitions, attending rallies and even trying to break drumming world records are things that God is calling us to act on. A real expression of putting faith into action.
The worship programme had more than 70 events and services. Contemplative Fire (from this diocese) ran popular reflective acts of worship each morning and evening.
The Taize service was extremely well-received.
And, as usual, the Sunday morning service was a great joy - an engaging and imaginative act of worship and communion on a truly ‘mass’ scale.
It was great to bump into so many people from the Oxford Diocese including many young people. The feeling of community and belonging across the spectrums of age, race, experience and churchmanship was very special.
But don’t just take my word for it. A quick look online yields comments such as:
‘Greenbelt was entirely integral and vital to my developing into a human being, helping me deal with increasing levels of discomfort at what was happening in the various churches I attended, and also providing me with the link between social and political activism and faith.
‘Greenbelt has always been about the intersection of the arts, spirituality and social activism - using the arts to reflect on what our spirituality compels us to do.’
Taken from: steve.anthropiccollective.org
Or: ‘It’s [Greenbelt] overflowing with love, acceptance and grace. It set my heart free to be me and meet with God in a profoundly deeper and more meaningful way than I had ever imagined possible...’
Taken from notre religion blog
Even: ‘I was challenged in my discipleship. I found a new depth to God’s grace. I worshipped with hear, soul, mind and body.’
link
But, next year, why not come along and see for yourself?
Ian Macdonald is the Diocesan Youth Worker
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