Only 44 Days until the Wild Goose Festival

There are now 44 days til the Wild Goose Festival.

Here are a few names from the huge list of great folks who will be with us and some of the topics they'll be exploring. We have so many talented and courageous people speaking and performing.

Pete Majendie from New Zealand - magnificent performer (and worship-leading house-painter to boot) will bring his moving, funny, and thoughtful one man show about the life and work of Vincent van Gogh to Wild Goose.  Many people don't know that Vincent wanted to be a minister, but felt like a failure, and so painted to raise money to fund his own brother's missionary work.  Pete's show is inspirational to any of us who have wondered what we're doing with our lives, and where our gifts truly lie.

Derek Webb writes songs that face reality with a degree of fearlessness that is rare in so-called 'Christian music' (a term which Derek himself would disavow); and he also believes that Wild Goose could be the start of a very good story in US culture.  He & Mike Morell made a video for us to let us know this.  He'll be performing at the festival.  The blog post and video are here.

Margot Starbuck is a delightful writer, and even more delightful presence: she's one of those people who manages to talk about pain in a way that liberates.  She'll be with us to discuss issues pertaining to body image and questions to which none of us know the answer.

Richard Twiss believes that Christians who aren't Native American should experience missionary work on Native reservations - but as recipients, not evangelists.  He brings people to reservations for experiences of immersion in indigenous culture; learning and unlearning lessons about the history of this country, and his people, so that we might all build relationships that serve the vision of the beloved community inspired by Jesus. 

And our social justice program will include significant participation from people who have been on both sides of the criminal justice system: as the survivors of crime, and those who have been through prison.  Thistle Farms is a fantastic initiative that works with women, some of whom have been in prison, all of whom have been marginalized, to build a community of love that genuinely transforms the lives of participants.  They're bringing music and stories, and lots of their community members to the festival.

Those are just five examples of who and what will be available at the experimental, informal, farm-based, eco-friendly, non-hierarchical, sun-baked, brand new, God-bathed Wild Goose Festival.  I think we have the beginnings of something that can be a culture-shaping movement in the United States.  Do whatever you can to be at the Wild Goose festival to interact with issues about which you care about, to learn and be provoked, and to bring your own gifts to the table.

Ticket prices go up next Monday, the 16th May.  Visit the festival website here, and  buy your tickets here, The first Wild Goose Festival is an event you don't want to miss.

Comments

[cHaRiTy!]

i am one click away from making this our summer family vacation - besides pilgrimmage...but i'm, of course, instantly drawn to the VOLUNTEER section?!..what to do :o)...either way looking forward to whatever is to come!

[Mike King]

I would love for you guys to be there...