The best thing about being on the DC team were monthly 'planning' meetings - brunch at James' pad, praying together, mucking about on his audio/visual equipment and researching other alternative worship events.
Rex, the vicar of St Alban's church in Golders Green (and James' boss) kindly let us use the church for the event. It's a great venue - lovely, old features -stained glass windows, statues of religious figures and all. I just love it.
Katie appointed me 'Creative Director' (CD) because " You are a techie, so you know the stuff!"
It's hard to describe what a CD does! Decorate the venue? My brother who is a part time DJ, said he would lend me his 4 disco lights, but as time drew nearer, and my reminders were met with responses like,
"Don't worry about it, I'll sort you out. When's the thing again?"
"Like I've told you gazillion times before, including the beginning of this conversation, and the beginning and end of the one we had yesterday, IT'S ON THE 31'st!!"
I had to come up with Plan B - Enter DH!
I love DH... I truly do! He means well - but he could do with some help with his interpersonal skills. He just seems to piss off everyone he works with - and he DOES kind of takeover which I find quite annoying. BUT we needed him as he was the source of all necessary (free) equipment for the event i.e. data projector, disco lights with gels, drapes, extra cables - in short... everything. He insisted on coming down to the venue to visualise it and see what equipment we'd need, then him and James went into 'techie speak' and completely lost me. Okay yeah I am a techie, but I don't know names of things - that grey button turns up the volume in that black speaker, and when the red light flashes it means the speaker is going to blow, unless I turn down the red button. I rolled my eyes at DH's girlfriend, who'd tagged along for support. There was a pause in the men's conversation,
"Umm sorry Kim, we don't mean to take over here - after all you are the Creative Director. What would you like us to do?"
"Just carry on! Don't mind me. After all YOU are the experts" *you f@%king bastards*
People walked through the canopy to get to the stage - like the High Priests would have done in the Old Testament Tabernacle and going into the Holy of Holies (DH's idea)The event itself was a blast for us, the DC team. James and Katie had invited church folk who didn't show up. No surprises there... they just don't get dance music.
My crew - Stuart & Mikey came! Some newbies to church came as well. One of them was so bowled over about clubbing in church that she gave an appreciation speech at the end. It was well... a bit... awkward"
It felt a bit like a private party.
Nigel the DJ had prepared really good set, including that Blaze track featuring Barbara Tucker - Most Precious Love. Matti prepared a visual presentation based on the themes of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh (Epiphany commemorates the 3 wise men presenting their gifts to Jesus). James and Katie had composed a couple of dance tracks, which she sung to (she's got an amazing voice)
Did I connect with God? Hard to tell. I know I had a good time. I'd been feeling like a waste of space - what have I really contributed to this event - but a bible verse came into mind- about all of us Christians having different gifts but it is the same Spirit that gives them.(It's in 1 Corinthians 12)
Some gifts may be more noticeable than others i.e. Katie, Matti and Nigels gifts, but my 'invisible' gifts of behind the scenes service and of encouragement are just as important - probably not in the world or church's eyes, but definitely before God. So I was happy with that.
