Weekly Team Message

Dear Elstow Team of Churches,

Last Tuesday I went to London to see a concert at Wembley Stadium. The statistics for the Coldplay’s current ‘Music of the Spheres’ world tour are staggering. Since kicking off in Costa Rica in March 2022, it has played to more than 12 million people, and becomes the first tour ever to gross $1 billion to become the most attended music concert in history.

Coldplay somehow remain one of the coolest bands on Earth. Especially as they age into handsome, gruff, middle-aged dad territory (it takes one to know one!) Elements that sound gimmicky on paper are staggering to witness: paper glasses handed out on arrival look like relics of the 80s, but light refractions in their lenses cleverly turn an arsenal of fireworks into love hearts. The band’s signature sustainable LED wristbands still pack a punch: the sight of 90,000 twinkling lights the perfect metaphor for the scale of Coldplay’s success, it was a humbling spectacle for the senses.

When a 3 minute song called “We Pray” quotes lines from the Bible, mentions prayer no fewer than 37 times, and duets with Elyanna, a Palestinian-Chilean musician actually born in Nazareth, then I inevitably find myself wondering what to make of it all?

“We pray” doesn’t just point towards a shift in culture by talking unashamedly about prayer, it actually is in itself a prayer, an articulation to God of yearning for justice, mercy and hope. Themes that run throughout the show.

I came out of the stadium filled full of hope. More significant to me is the knowledge at 12 million people, who might not call themselves Christian yet, have found themselves praying for help, hope and justice through the words of a song. Surely God hears and his heart is moved when he hears such a cry.

Fr. Paul

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Rev’d Fr. Paul Messam SCP,
Team Rector,
Elstow Abbey & Elstow Team Ministry.
Assistant Area Dean of BedfordAbbey Vicarage
Church End
Elstow
Bedford MK42 9XT

01234 261477
07711098209
vicar@elstow-abbey.org.uk