Living God's Future Now - w/c 25 April 2021

 

'Living God’s Future Now’ is our mini online festival of theology, ideas and practice. We’ve developed this in response to the pandemic and our changing world. The church is changing too, and - as we improvise and experiment - we can learn and support each other. This is 'Living God’s Future Now’ - talks, workshops and discussion - hosted by HeartEdge. Created to equip, encourage and energise churches - from leaders to volunteers and enquirers - at the heart and on the edge. The focal event in ‘Living God’s Future Now’ is a monthly conversation where Sam Wells explores what it means to improvise on God’s kingdom with a leading theologian or practitioner. The online programme includes: Regular weekly workshops: Biblical Studies (Mondays - fortnightly), Sermon Preparation (Tuesdays) and Community of Practitioners (Wednesdays) One-off workshops on topics relevant to lockdown such as ‘Growing online communities’ and ‘Grief, Loss & Remembering’ Monthly HeartEdge dialogue featuring Sam Wells in conversation with a noted theologian or practitioner W/c 25 April 2021 Sunday St Martin-in-the-Fields and HeartEdge Theology Group Zoom Sunday 25 April, 18:00-19:00 (BST) Register here. Each month Sam responds to questions from a member of the congregation of St Martin-in-the-Fields who also chairs the session and encourages your comments and questions. This month, it is Ben Sheridan, asking how do we encourage free speech without encouraging hate speech? Why is cancel Culture so polarising? Monday Back in the building and still online! Zoom Monday 26 April, 14:00 (BST) Register here. How can we keep it manageable and build community as we return to our buildings but try not to abandon our online connections? With Eve Powers, Digital Communications Officer, Diocese of Manchester, Bill Braviner, Parish Priest of Stockton St Peter & Elton St John, Kim Lafferty, Team Vicar in Farnworth, Kearsley and Stoneclough, Cath Duce, Assistant Vicar for Partnership Development, HeartEdge, and Andy Salmon, North West Coordinator for HeartEdge and Rector of Sacred Trinity Church in Salford. Why should the Church care about housing? Zoom Monday 26 April, 16:30 (BST) Register here. This webinar will explore ways in which all churches can get involved in housing need locally and the theological basis for doing so. With The Rt Revd Dr Graham Tomlin, Bishop of Kensington, Chris Beales, member of the Archbishops’ Commission on Housing, Church & Community, Lynne Cullens, Rector of Stockport and Brinnington and Chair of the National Estate Churches Network. In advance of this webinar Graham Tomlin has written an article explaining why the Church should care about housing, that can be read here. Biblical Studies Zoom Monday 26 April, 19:30 – 21:00 (BST) Register in advance here. Join Simon Woodman on two Monday evenings each month for a Biblical Studies class: a lecture followed by discussion, with handouts, looking at the Gospels and Acts. Art and the Liturgical Year: Bringing the Church Kalendar to Life Zoom Monday 26 April, 19:30 – 21:00 (BST) Register here. The visual arts have the power to change our perceptions and even transport us to unfamiliar places. Learn how exhibitions and installations can amplify the message of seasons like Advent or Lent and hear how this work benefits both artists and congregations. This workshop is presented by the CEEP Network in partnership with the HeartEdge Network and CARAVAN. Panellists include: Janet Broderick - Rector, All Saints Beverly Hills; Paul-Gordon Chandler - Bishop, Diocese of Wyoming (moderator); Catriona Laing - Chaplain, St. Martha & St. Mary’s Anglican Church Leuven; Ben Quash - Professor, Christianity and the Arts, King’s College London; Aaron Rosen - Professor, Religion and Visual Culture, Henry Luce III Center for the Arts and Religion. Tuesday Bishops in Dialogue: Anglicans Post-Brexit and the Pandemic Zoom Tuesday 27 April 14:00 -15:30 BST Register here. The Church’s role in contributing to God’s reconciling work in the world, in a new context. Exploring issues and challenges facing the Anglican Churches in Britain and Ireland, post-Brexit and in the light of the Covid-19 pandemic, and what the Church’s role now looks like in contributing to God’s reconciling work in the world, in this new context. Alastair McKay (facilitating), Executive Director, Reconciliation Initiatives; Sam Wells, Vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields; Guli Francis-Dehqani, Bishop of Chelmsford, Church of England; June Osborne, Bishop of Llandaff, Church in Wales; Andrew Swift, Bishop of Brechin, Scottish Episcopal Church; and Pat Storey, Bishop of Meath & Kildare, Church of Ireland. Sermon Prep Sally Hitchiner and Sam Wells Livestream Tuesday 27 April 16:30 -17:30 BST Live streamed on the HeartEdge Facebook page here. A live preaching workshop focusing on the forthcoming Sunday's lectionary readings in the light of current events and sharing of thoughts on approaches to the passages. Wednesday Community of Practitioners workshop Zoom Wednesday 28 April 16:00-17:00 BST Email Jonathan Evens here to take part. This is open to all, including ordinands and lay leaders. Church leaders join in community, share and reflect together on their recent experiences in the form of wonderings with one of the HeartEdge team. Thursday Introducing the Visual Commentary on Scripture Zoom Thursday 29 April, 14:00 (BST) Reg here The Visual Commentary on Scripture, TheVCS.org, is the first online project to introduce visitors to the entirety of Christian Scripture in the company of art and artists. TheVCS.org seeks to connect the worlds of art and religion as a ground-breaking resource for scholars, educators, churches and interested readers looking for insightful, original explorations of art and the Bible. Canon Ben Quash, the project’s director, will share some of the challenges and discoveries he has encountered so far in this ambitious undertaking. Coming Up Mission Summer School - 12 – 16 July 2021 Zoom 12-16 July 2021 For more details and to reg click here An opportunity to engage more deeply with the theology of mission and to explore how it relates to your own practice.Input structured around the four Cs of Commerce, Culture, Congregation and Compassion. A mix of teaching and conversation with leading scholars and practitioners including the Revd Dr Sam Wells, Professor Anthony Reddie, Dr Cathy Ross, and Revd Heather Cracknell, among others. Workshops to engage with the themes and issues presented. Encounters with churches, organisations and projects (HeartEdge and Fresh Expressions) to get a hands-on feel for how it works out in practice. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- T Bone Burnett, Jay Bellerose, Keefus Ciancia - Being There.