So this one is sure to raise some ambivalence – but no one processing religion, faith, and spirituality in a post* world can afford to ignore Matthew Fox – tempestuous, flamboyant, inventive; priest, artist, liturgist and theologian. The defrocked Catholic-turned-Episcopal priest was (with the unlikely influence-pairing of Vineyard revitalizer John Wimber) responsible for inspiring what was arguably the first ever emerging/postmodern congregation in the mid-1980s – the brilliant, controversial, combustible Nine O’ Clock Service. Inspired by a Wimber prophecy at St. Thom‘s in Sheffield and nurtured by Fox’s Creation Spirituality amongst working-class rave culture, the NOS was a potpourri of influences and expression.
Even after it’s untimely demise, the UK’s ‘Planetary Mass’ idea – shades of Teilhard de Chardin‘s Mass on the World – re-caught the attention of Fox himself, who brought it back to the US as a ‘Techno-Cosmic Mass.’ To this day, there are many interested in applying the ideas of Original Blessing and Creation Spirituality to communal expressions, as well as many of more staidly orthodox persuasion interested in alternative worship expressions.
(Click to play video – it won’t embed. Grr…)
For a compendium alt.worship resources, go here. Also see Fox’s YouTube channel.
zoecarnate 
I really thought this was going to be a Lost post.
LOL!
thanks Mike…….. yeppers…. yeppers….. yeppers. thanks for reminding too!!! blessings.
xocat
hi Mike … I’m lovin’ me some Matthew Fox … his book Creativity is simply inspired …. thank God for someone SO wise…. excellent clip
I, too, love the message of Matthew Fox. Have you read his “95 Theses”?
Thanks Cathryn!
Yes, Mary, I enjoy ‘Creativity’ too.
Jeff, haven’t read 95 Theses – my faves are Original Blessing, Becoming a Musical, Mystical Bear, The Coming of the Cosmic Christ, and his translation/commentary on Meister Eckhart (amazing if you haven’t read it).
And any heresy-hunters out there, this disclaimer is for you:
WhileIappreciatetheworkofMatthewFoxappreciationisnottobemistakenforcollusionineveryjotandtittle. 🙂
aww. it cut off. My disclaimer is meant to finish:
nottobemistakenforcollusionineveryjotandtittle.
I hope that clears things up!
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I’m learning about Matt Fox – Have read Original Blessing and his new bio – Confessions. I’m not a Catholic, and regard myself more as a Progressive Christian now. Fox is forthright, charismatic and totally open, seeing the Christ as one with Buddha-nature for the Buddhist. The Quakers say there is ‘ that of God in everyman.’ – so true. Doesn’t John say that the light ‘lighteth every man that cometh into the world.’
There is a blog by a Fr Z which has deeply unkind and entirely unchristian things to say – enough to turn me well off, but clearly the unhappy Father feels better for uttering them publicly. I’m sad for him. Your video link has gone and I believe hackers have been at Fox’s site as well.
But carry on the good work! Is there anywhere in the UK where a planetary mass is continuing after the so sad death of the 9.0’clock service in Sheffield in the ’90’s? At 80 am I young enough to jump around to the Good News?!
Norman