Right now, I'm still mortified and my cheeks are pink, although I also keep laughing about it so it can't be all that bad.
Picture, if you will, a church with several well known faces, and also a whole bunch of people coming along for the first time from another local church. A fab turnout for our "alternative worship". I was in the vestry ready for the pre-service prayer and we were missing one of the lovely people who had helped prepare for the service so I briefly dive back into the church to encourage her to join us. Showing on all the church monitors and screens is a you-tube clip of Nirvana, welcoming us to come as we are. Imagine my horror when just as I walk in, the screen fills with the message "listening to pop music turns you into a fucking idiot."
Oops.
Not quite the alternative I was aiming for. But as a wise friend pointed out, at least I saw it so was then able to apologise for not vetting more carefully, rather than leave them all wondering if I really am that subversive (no, no I'm not - can you feel the blush from there??).
That apart, the whole thing went well. The "bright hope/joy" zone was much better received than I anticipated - people made good use of the joke book, enjoyed the pig of happiness, and several folk blew the party blower and sent balloons whizzing round the church. And given how much I distance myself from some of the wider church's dubious activities re "healing" I was pleased that the healing zone seemed to be appreciated too.
Next time I shall watch anything I'm showing much more avidly - I must have blinked/turned away for those 3 seconds. And it can't have been all that bad - the steward at the end suggested I consider local preaching given I'm so talented at it. Hmmm.
The purpose was for us to Come as we are and Take what we need. I realise clearly what I needed was the realisation that no matter how much I muck it up, I will still be accepted (I've not been ex-communicated yet, at any rate).
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