I returned yesterday from New Wine – North and East, where I had a fantastic week with my son. Why was it fantastic? Son had a wonderful time in Boulder Gang, the children’s stream he is in, and the leaders at New Wine allow him to articulate his faith in a way that the local church that I lead sometimes has failed to do.

It was brilliant to spend time with him. It was also wonderful because I am not back and immediately immersed into Parish life. The sabbatical story continues.

New Wine is a movement largely within the Church of England that allows a place for charismatic evangelicals to be nurtured. When I put it like that, I have made New Wine too small. I would not all the time want to be defined by that label.

Why was it important to me?

1. The place of worship: there was lots of singing to music with a soft rock beat. I was actually in the art place most of the week so missed much of it; however the exuberance of worship was tangible. With 7000, worship becomes an easy experience in that you can sing your socks off without interacting with the person sitting next to you. Nevertheless, the worship of Jesus as the key activity of the church was reinforced. It is, as I discovered a long time ago, what makes Christians distinctive.

2. The commitment to evangelism: I am an evangelist. The fact that the movement cherishes this gift affirms me amd gives me confidence that it is not arrogant to ask someone to follow Jesus.

3. The place of the Holy Spirit: people were healed before my eyes. I will be reflecting long and hard on this, but it seems to me that a key for Christians to move on their faith is to experience the Spirit, in whatever form that might be. For some it will be receiving the sacraments, for others sitting at the feet of a biblical teacher, and for many being prayed for.

On my sabbatical, I am learning that being prayed for is an act of divine generosity, and something that needs to be embraced and joined in with.

Here’s to New Wine 2014. Hope you will be there too?