Roots & Branches festival cut down in changing times

THIS YEAR'S Cross Rhythms Roots & Branches festival, originally scheduled for July 14th-l6th will now take place as a one-day event only, on Sunday July 16th. The event, held at Dudley Castle, West Midlands, is in its fifth year and developments over the last nine months indicate it is in a time of restructuring and refocus.

Said Jonathan Bellamy, Cross Rhythms' co-ordinator, "Over the last four years the festival has begun to establish itself in the West Midlands area as an annual Christian music event. For the last two years we have felt God taking us in the direction of a multicultural expression, holding a weekend of music, art and teaching that could embrace Christians of all colours and cultures. This year, in continuing this transition, we believe God has put the brakes on the event for us to take stock and find his leading for the festival's future. A combination of reasons indicate this, including an administrative error not to confirm the date and location in time that subsequently left us exploring other dates and venues and questioning the implications for the festival. Plus a number of the original committee felt they had run their course with the event and a number of new additions to the committee and its leadership necessitated re-establishing the relational foundations for effectively running the event." The outcome has been to hold a one-day free event. The centre-piece of the day will be the Sunday Service blending gospel and contemporary worship and guest ministers from different traditions. In previous years many churches in the area have chosen to close their own services to join with other fellowships at the event. Continuing the carnival feel, the afternoon will feature quality musicians and speakers plus food and children's activities to provide the "family atmosphere" of the Church exploring their common unity.