SKIPPING church for the pub won't be such a sin in Gordon [Victoria] anymore. Now you can have a beer as you listen to the weekly church sermon. Anglican minister David Oulton will lead the first Sunday service at the Gordon Hotel this weekend then again on the first Sunday of each month.
I've done mass in many homes and on camps in the bush, but never in a pub," the Ballan-based minister said. "It's generated an enormous amount of conversation already."
Fr Oulton said the idea came after talking to a series of people about religious services in hotels everywhere, Gordon's population boom, its location as the centre of Ballan-Bungaree-Morrisons parish and sale of the town's former Anglican church.
"The Bishop agreed to the idea and the hotel owners were also OK," he said. Sunday's service will include pre-recorded music and communion - but there will be no alcohol from the bar.
"Parents will be responsible for making sure alcohol is not serviced to children at the hotel, but they should be OK if they wish to have wine at communion," Fr Oulton said. "This will be for anyone who for whatever reason is afraid to cross the threshold of a church and everyone is welcome."
The 5pm Gordon service will be reviewed at the end of the year.
I am quite interested to see how this service turns out. I am impressed by the research by the pastor, but I question its contextualisation with the "pre-recorded music" and all.
I am reminded by "A tale of two pubs" that Mike and Allan review in their book The shaping of things to come, pp.9-13 which discusses the contextual approach of churches and pubs.
I think I will go along at some time to check it out.
What are you thoughts on the article above?
6 comments:
sounds interesting Jen- but seems to be more of an atempt to move traditional church into another setting- which might make it rather uncomfortable- I guess it depends on how it'll be set up- what the music is and who comes...
We do regular services in a viallage Social club- where the punters come along buy a drink sit at tables and listen, join in- its all rather relaxed and deffinetly inter-active... not sure about what this article is describing!
please blog about your visit!
David and I plan to go along soon - hopefully next month.
Yes, my fears are that it is just changing venue and not concept. But I hope to be mistaken!
Thanks Sally :)
Mmmm. When I was working in North Sydney I occasionally attended pub talks run by a workplace ministry. I felt decidedly awkward being the only one with a beer and wondered about the wisdom of simple transplantation. If I felt awkward what about non-Christians? Not sure if this is equivalent. Would be good to read your thoughts when you've checked it out personally.
Good morning Jen,
Fr. David here...
Thank you for you attention and publicity to the Gordon Pub Mass. I am delighted that this has been picked up and publicised. Just a one thing that might need clarification.
Um.. there is alcohol from the bar afterwards..
The drinks and nibbles afterwards actually goes for just as long if not longer than the Mass itself.
We've had 2 of these Masses now. The first time there were 14 people there. The next time there were 21 there. I'm curious as to see what might happen next time. it might be a disaster or might be that extensions are needed
The music is just a little choral music before the mass and is on a very gentle volume. Nothing too confronting.
Some of the people are faithful who for good reason missed on the sunday Morning. some are curious, some just want to make links with the Gordon community.
I hope that you and any of your readers may feel free to contact me or come along.
My email adress is dro@vic.chariot.net.au
Thanks again
Fr. David
We are so much like Jesus’ first disciples. – Our Lord leads us into gospel opportunities and our response is to stand back and question him.
“contextualisation…what the music will be…how it is set up” (earlier blogs on this subject).
Did Zacchaeus wonder what he had left playing on the Sound System when Jesus said he was going home with him?
Did Jairus wonder how the furniture was arranged (or if the house was tidy) when Jesus went in to heal his daughter?
Jesus’ rebuke to his disciples (Mark 9:19) might well apply to us: “You faithless generation, how much longer must I be among you? How much longer must I put up with you?”
Jesus’ command to every disciple is to ‘GO’ and make other disciples. This command in Mathew 28:19 (Go therefore and make disciples of all ‘nations’ ) has the Greek word ‘ethne’ which we translate as ‘nations’ but could also mean ‘gentiles’ – it is clearly a command to go to those on the ‘outside’ . And we all know how Matthew ends; “and remember I am with you always” – at the Gordon pub as much as at High Mass at the cathedral.
Good morning Jen,
More good news about the pub Mass.
Bishop Michael Hough our Anglican Bishop will be at the Gordon Hotel for the next one at 5:00pm on April 1st. Hope to see you and a few others there.
Cheers
Fr. David
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