“Thank you for providing this oasis. It has been a life saver” Comment in Messy space comment book
We have just arrived back from greenbelt. We were running Messy Space again this year, along with a worship service. Photos are attached. So often when you are working at greenbelt it can be so busy that the festival passes you by. This year I really want to encounter God, to have a glimpse of his presence and I did!. there were a few special moments for me these were:
Seeing Angela and Laurence working so well with a 17 yr old very disabled boy with cerebral palsy. They enabled him to paint a picture and for his parents to sit in the cafe and have a drink.
Harry and Joel Baker in proost, I was so proud of them, the little boys I once knew have grown into exceptionally talented, confident lovely young men.
Agents of the future- their worship is infectious, creative, mad and wonderful- I really feel I have so much to learn- haven’t got my head round it fully but wow what a session they ran in centaur.
These are just a few moments for me, where I caught glimpses of God’s wonderful multi faceted creation. What were yours?
okay… here are my moments…
performing with harry and tyte… what a laugh!
spending time with harry, joel, imogen et al and feeling very loved by them.
knowing that ‘the apples’ were backstage after their gig and hearing the crowd singing one of their tunes. that would have made them feel brilliant and they deserved it.
seeing more of carole and phil and getting that amazing feeling that you’ve known them all your life when it’s just been a year or two. their level of warmth and encouragement is a rare thing.
seeing angela interact with young people. utterly brilliant. also doug and his sharing with us late at night some of his life story… a real privilege.
sonia telling us off at 4am. priceless.
feeling good about what proost are up to and thinking people might be starting to get it… and the much needed reminder of why we do it.
spending time with the old familiars at the campsite and feeling like i belong there.
getting through it even though it was hard.
By: jonbirch on September 1, 2009
at 11:42 am
Hi Sonia!
First lovely bit was meeting you and Iain minutes after arriving on the village. After meeting you all last year I was really looking forward to seeing you again – so at that point, I felt my Greenbelt was starting in earnest.
I loved every moment spent with the ASBO/Sanctuary family. I got such a buzz out of seeing you, Iain, Jon and Clare again…but then to also meet Dave, Tiggy, JanetP and Caroline Too was even better. Wanted to have a proper chat, Dave, but you always seemed busy when I saw you. We will save it for next time. Met a lovely girl called Lizzie at Messy Space and had a nice chat – don’t know where she comes from but she knows you guys. Met Dennis and his good lady, Sharron in ‘NUN’ and got to know each other as Jonny Baker providing the musical backdrop. Lovely venue though the wine gave me heartburn.
Seeing my mate Mo enjoy her first Greenbelt was great. Though as a newbie, she set herself a very busy agenda. We just wanted to absorb the atmosphere so she did quite a bit on her own. I can’t be doing with waiting in queues and the talks I did go to I had difficulty staying awake – no reflection on the talks, it just happens as soon as I sit down!
I loved the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble. It reminded me of those sassy brass sections in bands like Earth, Wind and Fire which I loved in my youth. Anyway they had me shakin’ my rump to the funk on a Bank Holiday Monday on Cheltenham Racecourse. I hope no-one saw me!
The Proost stuff was great – especially Dubb, Tyte and Jon. Jon, you are very kind – all I can say is that the feeling is entirely mutual. Phil and I are both overwhelmed by the level of warmth and friendship that you have shown to us. Long may it continue! Love you, big guy!
Must ask, who is that man who was working in Messy Space? With the bold colour style and the natty little skull cap type hat? Could have easily been mistaken for Jon’s big brother. Haven’t a clue who he was but found him quite mesmeric!
By: Carole on September 1, 2009
at 2:32 pm
That is Laurence your describing Carole!, a great sculptor and wonderful man, an essential member of the team!. Sorry I didn’t get chance to talk to you guys properly, but the quick moments I had with you were great.
Jon- me telling you off at 4am!- I think I did well to leave it until Monday night!.
By: soniamain on September 1, 2009
at 2:42 pm
sonia.
carole… right back atcha!.. except the ‘big guy’ bit. of course.
oh, and i based my look on laurence and then went too far.
laurence is a great man, he brought me to greenbelt in his car and kept me together on the journey. next year i want to go, free from anxiety… then i will come away saying ‘i really enjoyed that’. i’m blessed that i had times of real joy amidst the cloying adrenalin… next time i’d like to go for the unadulterated pure joy. 
By: jonbirch on September 1, 2009
at 5:42 pm
funny old greenbelt for me this year – migraine had me confined to my tent from Saturday afternoon until Monday morning so I missed a lot! Despite that, I think this Greenbelt has been all about belonging for me. It was amazing to be at Unusual Suspects on Friday, there was a great vibe and for me a wonderful feeling of being surrounded by so many of those I call family who sadly are usually more far flung! I felt very blessed as I looked around the room and saw so many familiar and much loved faces.
Lying in my tent in the darkness with a pounding head I was trying to practise the Jesus prayer. The breathing was helping me to manage the pain but as usual my mind was wandering. Suddenly it began to rain. If you’ve been in a tent in the dark in the rain you will know that even the lightest shower sounds dramatic! As I lay there hearing the sound of rain pour down on me (but thankfully escaping the wetness which usually comes with that experience), I had a profound sense of the vastness of God’s presence. It was somehow especially amazing to me to meet with God in such a way when I was feeling so ill.
When I finally emerged, I was really touched by everyone’s kindness to me, and in the final debrief for Messy Space I was really proud to have been a (very small) part of something which has been so positive for so many families.
By: sanctuarybath on September 1, 2009
at 9:18 pm
Hi Carol – great to meet you – ironic i was so busy given my last posting on Sanctuary!! yes – lets save it for next GB – was great..
I loved the facce painting – that moment when someone sees themselves in a new light is special! Enjoyed The Unusual Suspects a lot and best of all was chilling with friends back at the camp site… loved it!
Lovely story re the rain Clare – so glad it didn’t add to the pain.
Well done Sonia et al for making Messy Space a blast!
By: Dave on September 1, 2009
at 11:36 pm
It was great having you face painting again Dave, and for Sam, Jon and others helping. I heard so many comments from parents “wow they are doing face painting for free!.”
It was great to have such a hard working dedicated team again this year, thanks to everyone who worked so hard. Once again the feedback on the space was amazing. It was my last year of doing Messy space, I’ve had the privilege of being able to to set something up, see it flourish and now hand it on to a fantastic team. It’s time for me to do something different and for someone else to run with messy space- but it’s been great to do Messy space for 3 yrs.
By: soniamain on September 2, 2009
at 9:12 am
i’m raising a virtual glass to you, sonia. as it’s not yet mid morning it is virtual V8. very proud of what you have achieved with the lads and lasses.
By: jonbirch on September 2, 2009
at 10:16 am
oh yeh… pie minister is always a highlight! i had 3 this year! pete rollins was given a free one with his purchase and as he’d already eaten one he couldn’t manage it. he offered it to me, and i, not wanting to see a friend so distressed by his awful situation, helped him out the best i could in the only way i knew… i ate the pie! moo and blue… delicious!
By: jonbirch on September 2, 2009
at 10:20 am
So, now we know who ate all the pies! I waited patiently the whole weekend and when I got there they had neither of the flavours I’d set my heart on.
By: Carole on September 2, 2009
at 10:56 am
Carole: gutted. I feel your pain – I was too nauseous to manage anything except mash. And I’d been looking forward to that pie all year…. !!!!
and I think we should all raise a glass to Sonia (maybe in fact we should go down the pub and raise a real one!!) for bringing messy space to life – not just all the practical slog of making it happen on a budget of £2.50, or all the negotiating with Greenbelt over venues, volunteers, risk assessments and other fun-killing red tape, but for dreaming it up in the first place and for sticking to her guns when people like me said it could never work and would be carnage. Well I was kind of right about the carnage bit 
but so wrong in every other way!!! So here’s to Sonia – a proper pioneer and play heroine extraordinaire!
Jon: you are so sacrificial
By: sanctuarybath on September 4, 2009
at 10:51 pm
I’d forgotten you said that Clare
. You were kind of right! and thankfully the budget was a bit more than £2.50- but not much more!. I think everyone going for a drink is a great idea.
By: soniamain on September 5, 2009
at 8:45 am
I’ll drink to that, Clare! Messy Space is a fantastic facility, nay, a blessing, for families and aficionados of a rather fine cup of filter coffee at a fraction of the price of the bilge water masquerading as coffee elsewhere. And darn handy for the loos, too!
By: Carole on September 5, 2009
at 6:10 pm