Liturgy on the Edge: Pastoral and attractional worship

There are a growing number of HeartEdge-themed resources now available, including a selection of HeartEdge branded books.

These resources include ‘Inspired to Follow: Art and the Bible Story’, the online discipleship course which St Martin-in-the-Fields launched at Greenbelt 2017 and which has now been downloaded more than 400 times. HeartEdge-branded books include: ‘For Good: The Church and the Future of Welfare’, ‘Who Is My Neighbour? The Global and Personal Challenge’ and ‘Liturgy on the Edge: Pastoral and Attractional Worship’. These are books which speak into key issues and situations of our time in ways that have been described as timely, valuable and courageous. They are commended as richly challenging, deeply engaging and as being outstanding guides.

The most recent is Liturgy on the Edge: Pastoral and attractional worship; a practical companion to creating pastoral liturgies arises from the vibrant ministry of St Martin-in-the-Fields which is designed to aid local ministry teams in devising forms of worship outside and beyond the scope of authorised church liturgy, yet in sympathy with its purposes and structures.

It includes outline liturgies for:

• regular pastoral services, such as an informal Eucharist, worship for small groups or for a church away-day, a dementia-friendly service, a healing service, interfaith ceremonies.
• acute pastoral needs, such as services for communities affected by local tragedy, those experiencing loss through violence.
• outreach services in the open air or welcoming people into sacred space.
• special services though the year for Homelessness Sunday, Prisoners Week, Holy Week, Harvest, Remembrance, a community carol service and more.

Each section is introduced with a reflection on theory and practice, and each item has a commentary on theological, liturgical and pastoral choices made with the aim of enabling practitioners to adapt and create liturgies for their own contexts.

Liturgy on the Edge: Pastoral and attractional worship is edited by Sam Wells with contributions from Richard Carter, Andrew Earis, Caroline Essex, Jonathan Evens, Katherine Hedderly, Alison Lyon, Alastair McKay, Fiona MacMillan and Will Morris.

My contribution to the book concerns Start:Stop and I will be leading a HeartEdge workshop about Start:Stop at St Martin's on Thursday 24 May from 2.00 - 4.00pm. This is an opportunity to learn about this popular 10-minute work-based reflection for people on their way to work. The session includes: growing a new congregation; engaging with working people; ministering in the workplace and communicating with busy people. Book by emailing me at jonathan.evens@smitf.org or by calling on 020 7766 1127. HeartEdge members - free. Non-members - £10.

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Will Todd - Call Of Wisdom.