***Scroll down for Update (8/8/19)***
Summer is here and for our community that means an opportunity to change our rhythm of gathering and build in some moments of rest and refreshment. You can find out all the summer plans and gathering dates here.
One thing to highlight is the OpenSkies Festival which runs each year at Shane's Castle in Antrim. Open Skies is a 3 day worship festival that makes space for people to worship and encounter God with a strong focus on prophetic and spirit filled worship without limitations.
“We love to leave time for God to move and encounter us the way we know He desires! We provide a space for people to retreat from the stresses and pressures of life, to camp around His presence, and to realize what it is to enter into His rest.”
Redeemer on tour
Over the past 3 or 4 years some of us from Redeemer have camped at the festival spending time together hanging out, meeting old and new friends and enjoying time to worship and encounter more of God’s presence. It’s always been a refreshing and restorative time for us and as well as a lot of fun. This year the festival takes place 9th - 11th August and we would love our whole church to engage with the festival this year. Here are the ways to do so:
Come for the whole weekend
Some of us are planning to camp at the festival over the 3 days. We would love to see a corner of the field taken up with a Redeemer camp. Why not book a weekend ticket, bring your tent and join us. You can come for the full weekend or dip in for one night. Lots of families bring caravans or camp on site and in previous years some of our own families have done so. OpenSkies is a low key festival and family friendly. If camping isn’t for you then you have the option to drive up each day as Shane’s Castle is within reasonable driving distance of Belfast.
Sunday Morning
On Sunday 11th August, instead of our normal gathering at 101, we are taking Redeemer on tour and attending the OpenSkies morning session from 10am - 1pm at the Big Top. The morning session usually takes place around worship and communion. Even if you are not attending the whole festival we want to encourage you to join us that morning at OpenSkies. We’ll sit together, worship and have lunch afterwards. It should be a fun Sunday and we hope to see you there. We’re hoping that the morning session will be free entry and we’ll share more details closer to the time.
Line-up
This year there is an incredible line-up of worship leaders and special guest Jonathan Martin — will be a speaker over the weekend. This is one not to miss. Jonathan is an important voice in the church in these days and carries a message of ‘finding beauty in brokenness, grace in grit, God in the ambiguity of the in-between.’
Tickets and Information
For more information or to buy tickets visit https://www.openskies.ie
***Update (8/8/19)***
Open Skies Festival
Sunday 11 Aug • 10am - 1pm • Shane's Castle, Antrim
This Sunday 11th August, instead of our normal gathering at 101, we are taking Redeemer on tour and attending the Open Skies morning session from 10am - 1pm at the Big Top. (Note: 1 hour pre-service worship time from 10am. Sunday Service starts at 11am).
Come on down for 10am onwards… We want to encourage everyone to get down for the morning! It’s a great event and a good time for us as a church to be together. Look out for fellow Redeemer folk in the Big Top tent and we’ll sit together followed by lunch afterwards.
What’s happening
The Sunday Service takes place around worship and communion. Worship will be led by Pat Barrett (writer of ‘Good Good Father’) and Jason Upton. Jonathan Martin — a favourite speaker, author and podcaster of mine — will be speaking on ‘Finding God at the intersections’. There is also prayer ministry available and lots going on on the site.
What to Bring
Although not essential we would recommend you bring a camp chair to sit on. Although a wet weekend is forecast the weather on Sunday looks to be much better. However, best to bring a coat too.
Lunch
After the “Sunday Service” we’ll eat lunch together back. You can either bring a packed lunch or there are food trucks available on site too.
Does it cost anything?
The organisers are kindly allowing us free entry on Sunday Morning…all you have to do is mention at the gate that you are from Redeemer Central. Later, if you decide to stay on for the rest of the day on Sunday you can upgrade to a day ticket at 1pm for a reduced cost of £20.
Redeemer Camping at the festival
There are a number of us camping the whole weekend at the festival. The Armstrongs, Hawthornes, Saunders and more will be setting up a Redeemer Camp so if you fancy pitching your tent for the whole weekend come join us.
Coming for a day or evening
There are day and evening tickets available on Open Skies website for the Friday, Saturday and Sunday. If you are down for any day or evening over the weekend look out for the Redeemer campsite and come and hang out!
Any questions or issues email me dave@redeemercentral.com