Monday 21 January 2008

Experiencing Hillsong in London

Cooking rice yesterday was a challenge as my apartment doesn’t have a rice cooker. So KT came over early in the morning today to drop me his spare rice cooker. Thereafter, we headed to Tottenham Court Road station via the Central Line. As soon we went up exit 3 from that station, it was right in front of us… Hillsong Church London.
The church is currently based in a theatre, so it was quite dark. When we reached, the service has already started and it took a while before we found empty seats on the right side of the theatre church.

I have never been to a Hillsong service before; but the praise & worship (“P&W”) was just like what I have expected… very vibrant, very energetic, very passionate worship leader and… very concert-like. I have never sung any of the songs before but it doesn’t take long to pick it up. Sorry God for not concentrating during the P&W as I was busy snapping pictures along the way. It was awesome.

After P&W, there was a short time of prayer and then it was offering time and a dude came up to give a testimony about how his debts were wiped off after he tithed; pretty normal. After that, they prayed for someone who was about to get married. I think that someone, whose name is Grant (I think) is a youth pastor or something.


Then, I heard something really… different. A guy (dunno who he is) came up and talked about the forthcoming Valentines Day. He also called it the “Singles Awareness Day”. In conjunction with Singles Awareness Day, the church will be organising a party in a place called Passion… a local dance club. No kidding… the church is organising a clubbing party in a dance club… called Passion… on Valentines Day! How cool is that!?!?!

KT said it’s pretty normal. Clubbing is a form of celebration. I wouldn’t disagree. But I wonder if there will be alcohol and all. It would be interesting to attend as all, singles and attached (and married) are invited; but I don’t think I will be making it as I will be Paris that weekend. And you know what? That youth pastor Grant, who is about to get married… met his soon-to-be wife in the Valentine Clubbing session last year! Man… he is fast!

The pastor’s name is Gareth; if I am not mistaken and the message today was a continuation from last week’s message which I didn’t attend. But I think I managed to follow through and it was quite a simple and yet powerful message.

One point dropped into my take-away bag as I find it very relevant. He said the church is the body of Christ; and are people coming to know God because of the church?... Or are people staying away from God because of the church. A very simple point but yet, it is just so relevant in today’s world. I find it very relevant to the current Malaysian church arena, particular in the Klang Valley.

Anyway, I am not about to summarise the whole sermon here so… when the service was over, I went to the toilet and it was then I noticed a sign said… “cameras prohibited”… Opppsss… but KT said it should be applicable only during plays in the theatre, not the church… Phew…

Overall, it was quite a pleasant experience and I would certainly come again, if time permits. If you are staying in London and is looking for a more open minded church, this is certainly a place to be… I mean, clubbing organised by the church! What more you want? *grinned*

After church, we headed to Portobello Market. The actual market was not opened today (Sunday) but there were still a lot of shops to provide an interesting view. That will be a story for another day.

39 comments:

missironic said...

sounds very cool! hmm...a church organising a clubbing event..wat r the odds eh? lolz..

u're going to paris! Juz for Valentine is it? u noe..Paris - the city of love...hehehehe..

PabloPabla said...

Wow! I didn't know they have planted one in London. I hope it will reach out to more and more people out there and bring revival to the folks in London and UK. Afterall, their missionaries (churches from UK) brought the good news to us here in then Malaya.

frostee said...

Man, you wnet to Hillsong London??!!

*envy

Ops... envying is a sin. Forgive me God cos Zewt made me feel that way! Hahah! Just kidding!

Jokes aside... yeapp.. way cool to have churches that reaches out in 'normal' ways.

beetrice said...

Very impressive!!

Portobello Market is nice when it's open too... :) *sigh*...I wannna go back to London!!

jlshyang said...

ZEWT~!!!

OMG! Did you attend the 10.30am service?

I went to Hillsong London today as well!!

The evening service tho' coz i couldn't rise in the morning, was out til late last night.

"Joe" who is constantly craving said...

wah definitely gettin funkier eh?.

just read ur previous post..crap really makes me want to go back despite me having only a hol for 9 days there..

the life style..the shopping..the life there..and 4 SEASONS!!

Huei said...

Paris this weekend?? so nicee!!!

have fun ya!!

ahh..all singles party..that would be interesting!!

Anonymous said...

Seems you have a fun day ya :)

Azlan Zed said...

single awareness day spelled s.a.d... hehe.

Anonymous said...

Hillsong? My students gave me a Hillsong CD - "For all You've done" for my retirement (Oops! Now you know how ancient I am!). I haven't had time to listen to it...but I did go to something like that by singers from Singapore, and at the end, they called out to those who had sinned to go forward and they would pray over them for absolution! I stuck my fingers in my ears when I felt some kind of force pulling me to go forward!!! I was sure with ALL the sins I have, I would turn into a pillar of salt or just drop dead in front of everybody!! ROTFLOL!!!

ManaL said...

Is spearmint rhino gonna be part of your 2-month past-time activity schedule as well? it's around tottenham court road too ;-D

Terra Shield said...

Ah, so you're blogging from the other side of the world... so cool :)

Anonymous said...

wa...wonderful review! wokie, i reli should put this into my must-go-places! aha...

yea..tithing really is able to get someone out of debt! aha...malachi 3...aha...my fav verse to stand on...

hhmm....clubbing....never heard abt it..but it could be a kinda outreach also! aha....in a godly way!

Jayzen said...

super cool... i just got to know about hillsong's music very recently... not bad actually.. i kindda like it..before this , the only christian rock i listen to is Jars of Clay... ahaha.. and lots of christian metal (i don't think that counts isnt?? )

Anonymous said...

WWWAAAAHHH!!!! HILLSONGS!!!!! SO COOL!!!!
*envy-licious*

Sheena said...

This is so embarassing, I only got to know about this after YOU blogged about it... In my defence, though, I do know about Tim Hughes' podcasts being from London.

And didja know, Delirious is from Southampton? And Matt Redman is from Brighton?

So sakit hati, I've been here a year, and I STILL have yet to go to any Christian music festival/concert. So good on you that you made it!

Aiya, whylah I have clinic-posting on Valentine's Day... SADNESS! (Btw, I find it so convenient to be getting the updates on these London happenings from your blog :) I stay so nearby, konon...)

Cocka Doodle said...

So this cult actually acknowledges Valentine's day? which is day commemorating a catholic saint?

Anonymous said...

Interesting! Thanks for sharing your Hillsongs experience with us.

Now, I wonder what will I be doing on Valentine's Day? Hmm...

Anonymous said...

nice. london rocks. more pics ;) looks like you r enjoyin' yourself, coming back?

zewt said...

missironic - city of love... :P

pablopabla - yeah, and now, the british needs to be delivered... how ironic eh?

F.O.N @ frostee - hahaha... i guess i've sin too eh?

beetrice - come come :)

jlshyang - i was at the 10.30am service. guess u went to the evening one eh?

constant craver joe - hahaha... i will definitely blog about 4 seasons!

zewt said...

Huei - yeah, organised by a church... in a dance club! how cool is that??? haa!

cheerfulday - hello... welcome to AZAIG. very tiring too :)

alan zed - HAHAHAHAHAHAHAA... i didnt know tat!

suituapui - for all you've done? is it new album? hahahaha... well, i am sure He forgives you nonetheless... take heart!

Manal - what is spearmint rhino?

Terra Shield - yup... :)

zewt said...

Lynnwei - outreach? hmmm... i am sure it will attract a lot of ppl eh? hehe.

7thlovechild - hello... welcome! well... have you tried carman? steven curtis chapman is cool too.

mar - hehehe... dont be.

Sheena - Matt Redman sounds familiar... very familiar. eh... hillsong is a weekly thing leh. if you really have a heart... just come up one sunday! do you have a heart? :P

cocka doodle - yup...and they are doing it in the most coolest way possible. eh, no cult leh.

rinnah - take a flight to london and join this function! :)

Jed Yoong - i have go back... no choice. sigh...

Anonymous said...

There ain't many Christian in peninsular as well!

Dangerous Variable said...

Yo man! I was at Hillsongs London in August when I got there. My sister attends this church. Fairly big with lots of people!

Cool huh. Malaysian church no where near this sort of diversity!

And I think that Freddy Mercury is getting closer to God!!! Hahaha!

Bee Ean said...

This is very eye opening. I'm not sure this exist in France.

Cocka Doodle said...

Not cult meh? Then what? Sect ah?

zewt said...

jam - i think there is a huge population in klang valley.

Dangerous Variable - so you will also be here then i guess?

Bee Ean - in time, i am sure it will :)

cocka doodle - denomination is the right word...

myop101 said...

sigh...sigh....sigh....

very very jealous....

:)

zewt said...

myop101 - hehehe... come and join me...

Anonymous said...

Whoa! I feel so katak di bawah tempurung. Never knew Hillsong went all the way to London. Well, as much as people can be so high for Him, we must be also grounded in His word.

zewt said...

lynnx01 - you're not alone... unti my friend told me about it... certainly a good experience...

Anonymous said...

Every time you write something about London, I wish I could be there. And you are so right about that going to church thing. It is that very same notion that is keeping Christians segregated in this world we live in...

Anonymous said...

ahhh hillsong london!! do you know tt i didnt know tt there's a hillsong london until recently. lol.

neno said...

i been to hillsong once..n i love it..sigh..must admit i din drop by much now..din noe u r in london..kekeke..ur kitchen reminds me of my hostel's..

zewt said...

giddy tiger - yes... very true. and i really feel like blogging about it but... sigh.

ser - hello! welcome to AZAIG. nvm.. better late than never.

neno - and i have alllll that kitchen to myself hehehhe....

Anonymous said...

tottenham court road = my office area. hahaha. i everyday also go there 1 leh.

anyway, try the german burger in portobello. quite nice ;)

zewt said...

alvin lim - then how come never go church? :P

sharlydia said...

this is truely a new "church" experience huh?

zewt said...

sharlydia - indeed... next time you're here... drop by la.