Norwich minister revives spirit of 'flower power'
 Norwich church minister Rev Margaret Whitaker is reviving the age of “flower power” and Woodstock of the 1960s and 70s and asking if the hope and optimism of those times is still alive.
“The spirit of the Joni Mitchell song Woodstock was an anthem of hope symbolising the optimism of the late sixties, early seventies,” said Margaret. “Those of us of that generation were going to change the world – the world was our oyster. Nothing could stop us, we had “free love”, we had the Pill, we could make our own choices; we were free of the moral shackles that had imprisoned our parents and grandparents – we thought.
“We left the Church in droves – we had no space in our thinking for the traditions and rules of that outmoded institution – it was not relevant to us and the lives we wanted to live.
“Where are we now? Have we found Nirvana? Are we joyous and content in our skins as the years roll on? Or have these same years brought their toll of disappointment and dreams shattered by the reality of life?,” asks Margaret.
She is inviting people to join her in an exploration of the themes of Hope, Love, Peace and Forgiveness, loosely based on the words of the song “Woodstock” and some other songs of that era.
Now the Assistant Priest at Christ Church New Catton (foot of Constitution Hill), Margaret will also look at what the historical person of Jesus might have to say in those situations.
“We might be surprised to find what he does say, to those without hope, to those whose quest for love has taken them into some hurtful places, to those who thought they “had it made” and found there was still work to do. We shall also look at some contemporary people for whom tragedy has challenged their deeply held convictions,” said Margaret
This course is open to all who feel they would like to find a way back to what they were once, who want to feel “brand new” again. As Joni said, “We are stardust, we are golden, And we’ve got to get ourselves back to the garden,” said Margaret
“A friend of a friend who has reviewed the course work has described it as ‘edgy, contemporary and challenging’. So come along and be challenged!”
The course will meet in the Christ Church Centre on Magdalen Road (opposite the end of Waterloo Road) on Tuesday evenings in March, starting on the 10th to the 31st at 7.30. Coffee and cake will be provided to get us in the mood!
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