We have several Fringe Dweller tour dates through to the summer. Vist the tour page getsidetracked.co/tour and click on the links there to find out event details. Here’s info on the next four.
24 May - Lodge Rd URC Birmingham 10:30am - Free, just turn up. Jonny will be taking part in the morning service.
31 May - Oasis Church Bath 10:30am Sofa Sunday. Free, just turn up. Jonny is the guest.
4 June - Assembly on Tour in Bristol. This is a full day hanging out with fringe dwellers and pioneers. You need to register for the event - £15 for the day. Jonny will be contributing from Fringe Dweller.
17 June - Westminster College Cambridge 5-7pm. Free. Book tour event. David and Jonny will be in conversation, presenting artist responses and sharing from the book. Refreshments provided. Please register.
#fringedweller #getsidetracked
Great to see a first review of Fringe Dweller in the Baptist Times. Thank you Simon Hall. The link is .uk/Articles/737068/Fringe_Dweller_by.aspx #fringedweller #getsidetracked
Proost through Lent 41 - Holy Week begins
Empire of the mustard seed
Your new empire rides in on a donkey’s back
In contrast to the imperial parade on the other side of town
Seriously is this any way to run an empire?
Your imperial council is comprised of a handful of fishermen
A couple of tax agents, a prostitute and some hangers on
Seriously is this any way to run an empire?
Members of the empire are instructed to love their enemies
Forgive their friends and give twice as much as people ask of them
Seriously is this any way to run an empire?
Your absurd values are that the last shall be first
Losers are winners and the most influential people should clean the toilets
Seriously is this any way to run an empire?
Power is wielded by washing feet
Telling stories and playing with kids
Seriously is this any way to run an empire?
You insist that these who are part of the empire shouldn’t worry about finances
The resources to run the empire are basins, towels and leftover lunches
Seriously is this any way to run an empire?
There is constant partying
Almost always with the wrong kind of people
Seriously is this any way to run an empire?
This is an extract from the book 'Fringe Dweller' by Jonny Baker and David Cotterill.
Click on the links for more.
munity/blog/holy-week-begins-with-a-liturgy-from-fringe-dweller/
/fringedwellerbook/
/lent-2026-fringe-dweller-resource/
#lent
#holyweek
#fringedweller
Fringe Dweller has reflections for Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter as folllows:
Palm Sunday: Fringe dwelling king
Maundy Thursday:: Jesus and the powers; A story of humanity
Good Friday: Expendable One; Outside the gate
Easter: Godisnowhere; As
I probably should have posted about that before now but was prompted at the lent course I was leading last night to share with people the reflections they might like to engage with personally. But for those of you who lead groups, worship or preach there are some great resources so order a book quick and we will get it out straight away. See my blog post for a couple of links to liturgies - /2026/03/holy-week-and-easter-reflections-practices-and-liturgies.html . Order from www.getsidetracked.co #fringedweller #getsidetracked
Yesterday we were looking at ‘eating with scum’ on the lent course at St Mary’s. The illustration of that by Jon Birch seems to be one that people really love. I thought you might be interested in the idea behind it. The reflection is looking at a story where Jesus invites a tax collector, Matthew, to follow him and goes to have dinner with him and his friends. The religious leaders view them as disreputable sinners and ask Jesus disciples’ why he is ‘eating with scum’. The passage is followed by a discussion of what proper religion is and the religious leaders clearly don’t think Jesus is adhering to it. He tells a parable about new and old wine where he says that new wine should be poured into new wineskins. This is often taken as an encouragement for those starting churches to create a new community rather than get people to join the existing church (and that’s a good way to take it). But what is interesting here is that the context for the story is Jesus at Matthew’s house and not a church plant. So in the illustration above, new wine is overflowing not in a church space but on Matthew’s table with the wrong kind of people! You could extend the thought to say if you want to experience that kind of new wine get round those kinds of tables. I mention that because for those of you receiving cms emails they are shortened versions of both the reflection and the liturgy in the book so you are missing out – you probably want to get the book for the full version! I thought it might be of interest to get a bit of back story to the image.The book is available at www.getsidetracked.co
Happy world book day and happy one month birthday to fringe dweller! Thank you so much everyone who has bought a copy, enthused, run a lent course, hosted a conversation. @david.cotterill and @__getsidetracked@joelarray@jonbirch_artist and I are happy and overwhelmed by month one #fringedweller
What a week! Thank you everyone for so much positive reaction to Fringe Dweller by me and @david.cotterill published by @__getsidetracked .
Next week lent begins. Here are three ideas for using the book…
1. Fringe Dweller has 40 reflections - it’s kind of ideal for lent. We did put our foot on the accelerator to get it published before lent for that reason. I have already spoken to a few people who are going to read a reflection each day (there are 46 days I think so you get a few rests). It would also work fine to just pick one that grabs your attention - stay with that for a few days and move on when you are ready. You don’t have to do all 40!
2 If you have a group of people do one reflection a week. I am going to do that at St Mary’s Ealing and know of around half a dozen other groups doing the same. If you want to see how I am doing that I am happy to share - just leave a comment or DM. But you could ask someone to take the book away each week and come back having chosen one. There are seven practices which are participative ways of reading a passage in a group so try out some different approaches. Whatever you do don’t just do a talk with the reflection - invite people into the story together.
3 If you would like a weekly email of a shortened reflection and prayer each week sign up to the @churchmissionsociety email series (see insta feed for details)#getsidetracked #fringedweller
Thank you so much everyone who celebrated the launch of Fringe Dweller with us! It was such a great evening. The venue was amazing, the place was buzzing, books were going. We had printed illustrations from the book by @jonbirch_artist and suspended them from the balcony which looked brilliant. After drinks @david.cotterill and I were interviewed by @joyfrench about the book. @joelarray who did the cover, design and layout joined as along with Jon who zoomed in. Then we had invited 6 artists to make a response to the book or one of the pieces. @tinahodgett@harrybakerpoet@martin.wroe@iaincottonart@iva_decheva and @chrisreadmusic shared poetry, sculpture, music and painting. The pieces were amazing. @digitalpilgrimz was spinning tunes. Thanks to @jeremy.woodham who took the photos . It is published by @__getsidetracked . Fringe dweller is well and truly launched. People keep asking where you can get it - getsidetracked.co is the answer. #fringedweller #getsidetracked
#Fringedweller incoming! Really looking forward to seeing you on 5th Feb at St Marys Ealing for the book launch for @bonnyjaker and Is new book. Should be a great night. Get your copy at www.getsidetracked.co.
Hi Everyone! I would love to invite you to come and celebrate the book launch of Fringe Dweller on the 5th February at St Mary’s Ealing. If you can’t come in person do drop in online.
It should be a good evening, here’s what’s happening.
Exhibition of the illustrations from the book
Conversation with the authors me and Jonny Baker
6 Artists will be presenting their reflections to the book, poetry, sculpture, music, liturgy.
Purchase your copy of the book
We’d love to see you there for what we hope will be fun night, in a beautful space!
Please use the Eventbrite link to get you ticket!!
/e/fringe-dweller-book-launch-tickets-1978236601929?aff=oddtdtcreator
