Sunday, November 13, 2005
exclusion | inclusionthe moot service focused around the idea of exclusion in the city. we reflected on who were the excluded, and rewrote some gospel texts to set them in contemporary london – including a rather strange rewriting of the story of the samaritan women at the well replacing eternal water with eternal tea-bags... ummm... we ended by reimaging london in the guise of the new jerusalem. Here's what I read: -
I saw a vision – it was last tuesday at 11pm at night.
I was standing at the top of the london eye
overlooking the whole of london.
The sun was rising and the city bathed in gold light.
The Spirit of God came upon me and breathed on my eyes,
and my eyes were opened.
I saw london the holy city coming down out of heaven;
radiant, glinting like a diamond in the morning sun;
and all were welcome in the city.
There were no more beggars or homeless people,
and fear from 7/7 had gone from peoples minds and hearts.
There was no longer any difference between Peckham and Knightsbridge.
Through the centre of the city the Thames ran with the water of life,
crystal clear, not polluted,
and all the children of london swam in it.
And the Spirit showed me the tree of life
growing in Leicester Square.
I looked out and the streets were clean,
women no longer worked the streets of Soho,
the drug addicts were gone from Kings Cross
they had been welcomed into The Priory and treated for free,
given the water of life and leaves that healed their bodies and minds.
Racist attacks were a thing of the past,
Muslims freely walked the streets in their traditional dress
and were welcomed by all.
There was no more gay bashing,
no more council estates in a run down state,
neighbours spoke with one another,
all could afford housing not just the rich,
there was no more advertising,
and women no longer had a bad body image
or felt the need to diet to be like the 'stars'
for all were equal in each others eyes.
Elite education was gone,
good schools were for all, young and old,
universities were full of students from all over london,
those who were rich and those who were poor,
all could go.
Women walked the streets safe at night,
men were full of passion and gentleness,
no children were ever beaten or abused,
and peoples sex was full of justice and joy.
An old man and women laughed for joy,
as they chatted with the students in Hyde Park.
I saw the church as one,
where there was no longer any evangelicals, charismatics,
catholics or protestants,
all were one in Christ Jesus.
All worshipped together celebrating their differences.
This is what I saw looking over london;
a city transformed,
a city resurrected,
and I believe it is possible.
Amen and yes, a loud, loud yes.
