Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Barneys barn burns

So, the news is getting cold, the ash washed away, the walls still in doubt, the plans have begun to sprout from every amateur architect in town. But what is the end for Barneys? Or at least the building we knew by that name? Do our buildings have a place in the end? Will the God who makes all things new, do a backyard blitz on this much-loved plain-faced eminantly-combustable collection of memories and dreams? Will bricks and mortar inherit the kingdom?

Sure, sounds a little odd, but just what is the place of human actions, achievements and anticipations of God's coming age? Surely there is more to be said here than 'rain-shelter' or even 'ministry-partner'? Our hope is not for the transcendence of the physical, the passing away of the transient, the eternal trumping the quotidian, but the resurrection of the dead.
More posts on Barneys and the fire: I; II; III; IV; V; VI.
Eight points for each piece of evidence (apart from the people) in this picture that demonstrates which Barneys service it was taken at.
Photo by JKS.

16 comments:

Christopher said...

Is it true that Barth believed that the Louvre would be in heaven. Or is this another piece of hearsay that has come to me via the pulpit?

Anonymous said...

The sunlight through the east window seems to indicate that it's a morning service; the fans being blurry seems to indicate that it occurred in the warmer months of the year; a distinct lack of prams seems to indicate that it's not a "family" service; since the chalice is held, I presume Communion's in progress.

byron smith said...

It is indeed a summer communion service in a reasonably non-'family' congregation. I'll give you sixteen points. More available, esp for being able to say which service it is.

Matthew Moffitt said...

Does the presence of Chis suggest it is the 5.30 congregation?

byron smith said...

The presence of Chis does indeed indicate something, but not that it is the 5.30 service. Four points.

Matthew Moffitt said...

Easter Day service at Barneys?

byron smith said...

No, not Easter - and to get the points you need to demonstrate evidence (apart from people) which demonstrates which service it is.

Hecta said...

It's an evening service - it is dark behind the stained glass (where the fluorescent tube is gone) and it is using a projector and screen in the days before the band moved.

byron smith said...

Hecta - well done. It is indeed the evening (7.15) service, of which Jessica and I were members for six and a half years. And the main piece of evidence I had in mind was the flouro lights behind the stained glass (for those who don't know (the old, alas) Barneys, the evening service actually gives the best view of the stained glass, since the eastern end backed directly onto another wall, they basically never got much sunlight, so you could see them best when the lights behind them were on. One of the idiosyncrasies of the place.

And for also noting the location of the band and projector I'll give you a total of sixteen points. I now can't think of any of visual clues (apart from people) to indicate the service, but there may be more, so I'll leave this one open.

Matthew Moffitt said...

Hey Byron, is that you dishing out communion next to Katay? Would that indicate the 7.15 service?

byron smith said...

Yes, that's me third from stage right serving wine and so yes this is the 7.15 service. But I asked for pieces of evidence apart from people. No points.

Matthew Moffitt said...

Well, is the lack of prams a sign of 7.15?

byron smith said...

Well spotted, but Michael Canaris already pointed that out in the second comment.

byron smith said...

Although having said that, generally prams in the old building would be left down the back since the aisles were quite narrow. And 7.15 was not always entirely devoid of babies, yet any prams would be below the bottom of the photo.

Anthony Douglas said...

It's a little self-referential, but eight points isn't to be sneezed at, so try this:

Noting that the photo is uncredited, and therefore yours (nifty trick, to set the timer and get down the front, that...), it means your camera took the photo. And therefore it would be of a congregation to which you feel attached - hence it would have to be your own. Particularly in light of your choice to use it for this post, which points to the significance of human relationships in understanding what Barneys is!

byron smith said...

I guess I have to give you eight for that! (NB Photo now properly accredited too!)