The ‘Friendly Stage Mini Festival’ is a miniature Greenbelt-like event over three days, on the theme of ‘A Better World is Possible’.
Many Christians were looking forward to attending Greenbelt this year, an annual festival of arts, faith and activism. It was unfortunately cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In its replacement, a number of Bristol churches have set up their own Greenbelt-inspired event.
Highlights include a panel discussion on race and the church, with the Revd Catherine Okoronkwo, the Bishop’s advisor on racial justice, a creative all-age craft workshop, a ‘death café, a Taize 'humming' service and other social justice focused events.
The festival comes from a place of being deeply rooted in Christianity. However, people of all faiths and none are welcome.
The events are mainly based at St Pauls Clifton and Cotham Parish Church, but will also be broadcast over Zoom.
Ruth Edmonds, organiser of the mini-festival, said, “We're running this event because the interruption in our society has offered us an opportunity to reimagine what the world should be like and we think we should take advantage of that! I also think people need hope right now - not wishy-washy everything is going to be nice hope but practical grounded hope that re-orientates us towards God and God's vision for the world.”
More details including a full programme can be found by visiting www.friendlystagebristol.org