humbler church Bigger God w/c Sunday 27 February 2022

 

Welcome to our exciting HeartEdge programme for 2022. We hope you will be able to join us, whether at online events or at our in-person events around the world. You can find all our events on our website — and if you're a HeartEdge partner, you can upload your own events through the members' area.

Last year, we launched Living God's Future Now, an online festival of theology and practice. We hosted workshops, webinars, spaces to gather and share ideas, lecture series, and more. This year, we're continuing our programming with a new theme — humbler church, Bigger God.

HeartEdge is fundamentally about a recognition of the activity of the Holy Spirit beyond and outside the church, and about a church that flourishes when it seeks to catch up with what the Spirit is already doing in the world. There was a time when church meant a group that believed it could control access to God – access that only happened in its language on its terms. But God is bigger than that, and the church needs to be humbler than that. Kingdom churches anticipate the way things are with God forever – a culture of creativity, mercy, discovery and grace – and are grateful for the ways God renews the church through those it has despised, rejected, or ignored.

We hope this reflects the lessons we've learnt from the past year: still trying to live God's future now, re-imagining our faith and our calling as a Church in a changing world. Thank you for joining us for the journey — we can't wait to see what the next year brings.

Contemplation as a Gift to the Church: Humbler Church, Bigger God – Monday 28 February, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM GMT. Register at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/contemplation-as-a-gift-to-the-church-humbler-church-bigger-god-tickets-242389342047. It can sometimes feel like the church is preoccupied with methods of church growth, discussing strategy, developing mission action plans, and resourcing leadership. During lockdown it was fascinating to see the resurgence of contemplative prayer and contemplative practices as people sought new ways to deepen their roots in the Christian faith.

Music and Liturgy for Lent - Mon, 28 February 2022 18:00 – 19:15 GMT Sacred Trinity Church, Chapel Street, Salford, M3 5DW. Register at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/music-and-liturgy-for-lent-tickets-230380122147. Andy Salmon (North West Co-ordinator of HeartEdge and Rector of Sacred Trinity Church) will give tips about creative liturgical resources for Lent whilst Andrew Earis (Director of Music at St Martin-in-the-Fields) and the Manchester HeartEdge Choral Scholars will share musical resources to help freshen up your lenten experience. We will be broadcasting on Zoom but people are also welcome to come in person. On 19 March we will run a sister event on Music and Liturgy for Easter.

Church History course - Monday 28 February, 19:45–21:00 GMT, Zoom. Click here to register. This course provides an introduction to and an overview of church history. If we are to see a humbler Church and a bigger God, we need to deal with the history of the Church to understand where we are now, and why? Ruth Gouldbourne has been a Baptist minister for more than 30 years. Week 3 - Creeds, Councils and Controversies.

Sermon Preparation with Sally Hitchiner and Sam Wells: Tuesday 1st March, 16:30 – 17:30pm GMT live-streamed at https://www.facebook.com/theHeartEdge. Join us for our weekly discussion of the lectionary readings for the coming Sunday with Sam Wells and Sally Hitchiner.

Community of Practitioners workshop: Wednesday 2nd March, 16:00-17.00 (GMT), Zoom. Email jonathan.evens@smitf.org to register. This is a space for practitioners, lay and ordained, to reflect on theology and practice. Each week, we alternate between 'Wonderings' and discussion of a theology book. This week we will be discussing ‘Improvisation’ by Sam Wells.

Faith in the time of the ‘new normal’ - Thursday 3rd March, 7:15pm. Register at https://form.jotform.com/212773252401043. A series of Lenten conversations hosted by The Queen’s Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education. This series aims to help congregations and house groups reflect on how Christians may understand the changes we’ve been through as a society, and the new ‘place’ we may be entering. Where are we now? This session will explore where we are culturally in the wake of the pandemic, drawing on the Psalms to consider change, struggle and growth as an anchor for reflection.

Shut in Shut Out Shut Up: Disability & Church: Intersectionality- Friday 4th March 4.30pm- 6pm Zoom. Register at Shut In Shut Out Shut Up Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite. Exploring experience of disability and neurodiversity, gender, mental health, sexuality, race and poverty, with Fiona MacMillan and guests including: Molly Boot, Alex Clare-Young, Lamar Hardwick, Ann Memmott, Rachel Noel, Alexis Padilla.

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Aretha Franklin - Climbing Higher Mountains.

humbler church Bigger God - March 2022

HeartEdge is fundamentally about a recognition of the activity of the Holy Spirit beyond and outside the church, and about a church that flourishes when it seeks to catch up with what the Spirit is already doing in the world. There was a time when church meant a group that believed it could control access to God – access that only happened in its language on its terms. But God is bigger than that, and the church needs to be humbler than that. Kingdom churches anticipate the way things are with God forever – a culture of creativity, mercy, discovery and grace – and are grateful for the ways God renews the church through those it has despised, rejected, or ignored.

‘humbler church Bigger God’ is the new title for our ongoing online festival of theology, ideas and practice. We’ve developed this in response to our changing world. The church is changing too, and - as we improvise and experiment - we can learn and support each other. This is ‘humbler church Bigger God’’ - 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 online programme includes:

Regular workshops: Church History (Fortnightly on Mondays), Sermon Preparation (Weekly on Tuesdays) and Community of Practitioners (Weekly on Wednesdays)
One-off workshops and series on topics relevant to renewal of the broad church including Contemplation as a Gift to the Church and Reconciling Mission: Being Better Neighbours.

February's humbler church Bigger God programme includes:

Church History course:

A new course providing an introduction to and an overview of church history. If we are to see a humbler Church and a bigger God, we need to deal with the history of the Church to understand where we are now, and why. The course starts on Monday 24 January and runs twice a month at 7.45 pm on Mondays until 25 July (see below for dates and topics). It will be led by Rev Ruth Gouldbourne who has been a Baptist minister for more than 30 years, ministering in churches in Bedford, London and Cheadle Hulme, as well as being a tutor at Bristol Baptist College. An Associate Fellow of Spurgeon's College, she is also Senior Research Fellow of IBTSC Amsterdam, and a Research Fellow of Bristol Baptist College.

The schedule is as follows: Week 4 - Augustine towers over us all March 14; Week 5 - Christendom; love it or hate it, you need to deal with it March 28; Week 6 - A thousand years when nothing happened April 11; Week 7 - Middle ages; Light April 25; Week 8 - Middle Ages; Dark May 9; Week 9 - Middle Ages; Shadow May 23; Week 10 - Reform of all shapes and sizes June 6; Week 11 - Reason and romanticism June 27; Week 12 - Expansion and disintegration July 11; Week 13 - Reconfiguration – and nothing new under the sun. July 25.

Register for the Zoom link at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/church-history-course-tickets-280175220627.

Sermon Preparation with Sally Hitchiner and Sam Wells

Tuesdays, 16:30-17:30 GMT live-streamed at https://www.facebook.com/theHeartEdge. Join us for our weekly discussion of the lectionary readings for the coming Sunday with Sam Wells and Sally Hitchiner.

Community of Practitioners workshop:

Wednesdays at 16:00 (GMT), Zoom meeting. Email jonathan.evens@smitf.org to register. This is a space for practitioners, lay and ordained, to reflect on theology and practice. Each week, we alternate between 'Wonderings' and discussion of a work of theology. The book to be read is ‘Improvisation’ by Sam Wells. 'Wonderings' help us to reflect and pray on what has stood out for each of us in the last week. Newcomers are very welcome.

Shut In Shut Out Shut Up: Disability and Church: Intersectionality – Fridays, 4, 11, 18 March, 16:30 GMT. Register at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/shut-in-shut-out-shut-up-tickets-275653155007. Intersectionality is a way of describing how social categories (eg disability, race) combine to create overlapping systems of discrimination or disadvantage. In this 4th series of Shut In, Shut Out, Shut Up we explore the intersectional experience of disability and neurodiversity, gender, mental health, sexuality, race and poverty. What are the key issues in the context of faith? What are our calls to the church? Since 2012 the Living Edge conference has held space for disabled and neurodivergent people to gather, to resource each other and the church. These HeartEdge events share some of this experience, providing new space to ask challenging questions. Join us for more honest conversations.

Speakers: hosted by Fiona MacMillan with guests including: Molly Boot, Alex Clare-Young, Lamar Hardwick, Kate Harford, Ann Memmott, Rachel Noel, Alexis Padilla.

Topics
4 March - Disability & Neurodiversity
11 March - Gender
18 March - Mental Health
10 June - Sexuality
17 June - Race
24 June - Poverty

Access information
Image description: Church building behind iron gates; gates are shut and locked with a padlock and metal chain.
90 minutes on Zoom in meeting mode. Each session combines input from speakers with time in small groups and plenary discussion.
BSL and automatic captions are available.
Sessions will be recorded and posted on the HeartEdge YouTube channel.
Previous series of Shut In Shut Out Shut Up can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLO43Y1gJDjYT5iOQlxc3vpRbo8EfFWU80

Speakers

Fiona MacMillan (she/her) is a disability advocate, practitioner, speaker and writer. She chairs the Disability Advisory Group at St Martin in the Fields and is a trustee of Inclusive Church. Fiona leads the planning team for the annual Living Edge disability conference, now in its 11th year.
https://www.plough.com/en/topics/justice/politics/human-rights/calling-from-the-edge
Calling from the Edge (2017) & Something Worth Sharing (2019) (editor). Calls, ideas & practical resources for creating change - https://www.inclusive-church.org/disability
Fiona is on twitter @jpuddlegoose

Alex Clare-Young (they/them/Alex) is a pioneer minister in the United Reformed Church with a particular call towards working alongside those marginalised in church and society for social justice and equity for all. Alex’s lived experiences as a transmasculine non-binary person who is multiply neurodivergent and disabled inspires this call.
https://alexclareyoung.co.uk/ - Alex’s website
https://www.ionabooks.com/product/transgender-christian-human/ - Alex’s book
Alex is on twitter @alex_clareyoung and on Instagram @alex.clareyoung

Ann Memmott (she/they) is the author of the Church of England autism guidelines, and a member of the St Martin in the Fields/Inclusive Church disability conference planning team. Ann is autistic & disabled, and is a carer. Ann works nationally as an adviser on neurodivergent inclusion, working with a variety of organisations, and has been a regular contributor to Radio 4's Prayer for the Day.
https://d3hgrlq6yacptf.cloudfront.net/61f2fd86f0ee5/content/pages/documents/20211006-doc-mission-ministry-welcoming-autism-church-guidelines-v01.pdf
Ann's autism blog https://annsautism.blogspot.com/
Ann is on twitter @AnnMemmott

Rachel Noël (she/her), known locally as the Pink Vicar, is Priest in Charge of St Mark’s Church, Pennington, a HeartEdge church in the Diocese of Winchester. Creative, colourful, enthusiastic, autistic, ADHD, bipolar, and vulnerable to covid, she is passionate about diversity and inclusion. Rachel is a member of the Community of Hopeweavers.
Rachel's blog: thepinkvicar.com
Rachel is on twitter: @ThePinkVicar

Faith in the time of the ‘new normal’: Session one - Where are we now?: 3rd March 7:15pm. Register at https://form.jotform.com/212773252401043. A series of Lenten conversations hosted by The Queen’s Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education. This series aims to help congregations and house groups reflect on how Christians may understand the changes we’ve been through as a society, and the new ‘place’ we may be entering. It will draw on and introduce participants to resources from the tradition and offer them some tools for reflection to carry forward towards Easter. Sessions will take place on Thursday evenings during Lent and will be streamed live from the Queen's chapel to groups gathered online. Resources will be provided for the weeks where there are no hosted sessions. Thursday 3rd March: Where are we now? This session will explore where we are culturally in the wake of the pandemic, drawing on the Psalms to consider change, struggle and growth as an anchor for reflection.

Faith in the time of the ‘new normal’: Session two - Living in the tension: 17th March 7:15pm. Register at https://form.jotform.com/212773252401043. A series of Lenten conversations hosted by The Queen’s Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education. This series aims to help congregations and house groups reflect on how Christians may understand the changes we’ve been through as a society, and the new ‘place’ we may be entering. It will draw on and introduce participants to resources from the tradition and offer them some tools for reflection to carry forward towards Easter. Sessions will take place on Thursday evenings during Lent and will be streamed live from the Queen's chapel to groups gathered online. Resources will be provided for the weeks where there are no hosted sessions.

Music and Liturgy for Easter: Saturday 19 March, 11:00 – 12:00 GMT, Sacred Trinity Church, Chapel Street, Salford M3 5DW.

Theology Group: Sunday, 20 March, 19:00 – 20:00 BST, zoom - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/theology-group-tickets-248745844517. The St Martin-in-the-Fields and HeartEdge Theology Group provides a monthly opportunity to reflect theologically on issues of today and questions of forever with Sam Wells. 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. In March the chair will be Jonathan Evens, who will be exploring with Sam the extent to which we can be co-creators with God.

How to Thrive Post-Covid: New Frameworks of Discovery - Thursday 24 March, 19:00 – 20:00, Zoom. Register at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/how-to-thrive-post-covid-new-frameworks-of-discovery-tickets-260228770257. The three steps of design thinking are discovery, ideas, and trying. The process can also be used on existing ideas to see if they’re still working. This workshop will focus on several frameworks that can be useful in discerning what to keep and what to let go of post-Covid. Rather than simply relying on a “gut feeling,” we can use clear frameworks to penetrate the surface of an issue to identify what really matters at its core. This course is taught by the Rev. Lorenzo Lebrija, the founding director of the TryTank Experimental Lab, a joint venture for innovation in the church from Virginia Theological Seminary and General Theological Seminary. He is also the author of the “How to Try” book which came out July 20, 2021 from Church Publishing.

TryTank meet and greet - Thursday 24 March, 20:00 – 21:00, Zoom. Register at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/trytank-meet-and-greet-tickets-262572029007. TryTank is the experimental lab for church innovation. Our work is to look ahead 10 years to where the church might be headed and use that foresight to inform our actions today. If you want to learn more about our work and perhaps partner on an experiment, join a conversation with the Rev. Lorenzo Lebrija, the director of TryTank.

Faith in the time of the ‘new normal’: Session three - Same boat or same storm?: 31st March 7:15pm. Register at https://form.jotform.com/212773252401043. A series of Lenten conversations hosted by The Queen’s Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education. This series aims to help congregations and house groups reflect on how Christians may understand the changes we’ve been through as a society, and the new ‘place’ we may be entering. It will draw on and introduce participants to resources from the tradition and offer them some tools for reflection to carry forward towards Easter. Sessions will take place on Thursday evenings during Lent and will be streamed live from the Queen's chapel to groups gathered online. Resources will be provided for the weeks where there are no hosted sessions.

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Al Green - Chariots Of Fire.

Shut In Shut Out Shut Up: Disability and Church: Intersectionality

Fridays, 4, 11, 18 March, 16:30 GMT. Register at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/shut-in-shut-out-shut-up-tickets-275653155007.

Intersectionality is a way of describing how social categories (eg disability, race) combine to create overlapping systems of discrimination or disadvantage. In this 4th series of Shut In, Shut Out, Shut Up we explore the intersectional experience of disability and neurodiversity, gender, mental health, sexuality, race and poverty. What are the key issues in the context of faith? What are our calls to the church?

Since 2012 the Living Edge conference has held space for disabled and neurodivergent people to gather, to resource each other and the church. These HeartEdge events share some of this experience, providing new space to ask challenging questions. Join us for more honest conversations.

Speakers

hosted by Fiona MacMillan with guests including: Molly Boot, Alex Clare-Young, Lamar Hardwick, Kate Harford, Ann Memmott, Rachel Noel, Alexis Padilla.

Topics

• 4 March - Disability & Neurodiversity
• 11 March - Gender
• 18 March - Mental Health
• 10 June - Sexuality
• 17 June - Race
• 24 June - Poverty

Access information

• Image description: Church building behind iron gates; gates are shut and locked with a padlock and metal chain.
• 90 minutes on Zoom in meeting mode. Each session combines input from speakers with time in small groups and plenary discussion.
• BSL and automatic captions are available.
• Sessions will be recorded and posted on the HeartEdge YouTube channel.
• Previous series of Shut In Shut Out Shut Up can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLO43Y1gJDjYT5iOQlxc3vpRbo8EfFWU80

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The Byrds - Glory, Glory.

Windows on the world (368)

London, 2020

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Fleet Foxes - Can I Believe You.

A prayer for the Ukraine

God of peace, your prophet Isaiah promised
swords would be turned into ploughshares,
and your son’s mother Mary proclaimed
the mighty would be put down and the humble exalted:
visit the people of Ukraine;
deliver them from fear, violence,
attack, injury, destruction, death;
and give them courage, solidarity and allies
in their hour of vulnerability and sorrow.
Turn the hearts of those bent on war and invasion.
Strengthen the hand of all seeking to halt conflict,
restore order, and pursue justice.
And make this moment of peril
an occasion for your Holy Spirit to show your world
the cost of conflict and our dependence on one another.
In Christ our Lord, who went to his death because of our hatred,
and rose again because our hatred
is never stronger than your indomitable love. Amen

Revd Dr Sam Wells, Vicar, St Martin-in-the-Fields

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Tenebrae -  Miserere mei, Deus.

humbler church Bigger God conference

This September HeartEdge welcomes Scottish hymn writer and Church of Scotland minister John Bell, Anglican priest, poet and feminist theologian Rachel Mann, Global South theologian Anderson Jeremiah and many other exciting contributors, for a two-day conference: “humbler church, Bigger God” – a gathering of the HeartEdge community in Manchester (27 & 28 September 2022).

The programme also includes Andrew Graystone, Grace Thomas, Molly Boot, Kathy Versfeld, Anthony Reddie, Azariah France-Williams and of course, our own Sam Wells. There will be many other contributors, and every participant brings their own insights and perspective.

On the Tuesday evening the Conference will include, in partnership with the Church Times and SCM press, the annual Theology Slam.



The HeartEdge Conference is a practical, two-day intensive of ideas, theology and connecting. It includes workshops on enterprise and commerce, launching cultural projects, developing congregations and sustaining community response, plus time to make connections and find encouragements. This two-day intensive will pack in lots and prioritise practical input and resources.

The conference venue is Ascension Church Hulme on the southern edge of Manchester City Centre. Some of the sessions will happen in other community venues in Hulme or around the City Centre.

Further information is available from: andy.salmon@smitf.org

Ticket Prices:
Early Bird £110 (before 30 June)
Full price £150
Under 25 £75

Day rate:
Early Bird £55 (before 30 June)
Full price £75
Under 25 £35

For tickets go to: https://bit.ly/3s8wACW

We don’t want ticket prices to be a barrier to anyone coming so get in touch if you think they may be.

For those wanting accommodation for the conference, Luther King House is offering rooms at the reduced rate of £40 a night single (£50 a night double or twin) including breakfast. Limited availability. To book, email reception@lkh.co.uk or call 0161 224 6404 and quote ‘HeartEdge Conference’.

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Mark Heard - Rise From The Ruins.

Renewing the Church from the edge with disruptive prophets and uncomfortable conversations

“If the Church is to be renewed from the edge it must make space for the edge to come to the centre. That space needs to be open to disruptive prophets and uncomfortable conversations – and accessible,” say Fiona MacMillan and The Rev’d Jonathan Evens from St Martin-in-the-Fields writing for anglican focus, the news site of the Anglican Church Southern Queensland.

Our article can be found here.

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The Byrds - 5D (Fifth Dimension).

A Memorial Service for Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and Ambassador Lindiwe Mabusa: Prayers

Here are the prayers I prepared for today's Service of Celebration and Thanksgiving for Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Ambassador Lindiwe Mabuza at St Martin-in-the-Fields:

God of justice, we give you thanks for your prophets, prophets like Desmond Tutu, who advocate for love, justice and human rights in the struggles against apartheid, oppression and exploitation and for climate justice, peace in Palestine and Israel, equal rights for the LGBTI community, equality, fairness and justice across the world. Like the Arch, may we come to see that all humans are of infinite worth intrinsically because all are created in Your image and that systems such as apartheid are blasphemous because they treat the children of God as if they are less than Your own. Challenge us through your prophets to create societies wherein people count and where all have equal access to the good things of life, with equal opportunity to live, work and be educated. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

God of culture, we thank you for your poets, poets like Lindiwe Mabuza, for whom art was an essential part of the struggle and poetry a part of a whole arsenal of weaponry to be used against apartheid. We thank you for all who shape their words to get to the heart of the matter and move their hearers. We thank you for all who kneel, where road-blocks to life pile precariously, and scoop earth, raising mounds of hope, who oath with their lives to immortalise each footprint left, each grain of soil that flesh shed, each little globe of blood dropped in the struggle upon the zigzag path of revolution. We thank you for those who saw that Soweto's blood red road would not dry up until the fields of revolution were fully mellow tilled, always to bloom again. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

God of unity, we give thanks for your reconcilers, reconcilers like Desmond Tutu, who do the demanding, sometimes agonising, sometimes traumatic work of truth-telling, testimony, confession, listening, reparation and rehabilitation. We thank you for all who helped investigate the violations that took place in South Africa between 1960 and 1994, provided support and reparation to victims and their families, and compiled a full and objective record of the effects of apartheid on South African society. Remind us that while we are not responsible for what breaks us, we can be responsible for what puts us back together again and naming the hurt is how we begin to repair our broken parts. That, as the Arch reminded us, in our own ways, we are all broken and out of that brokenness, we hurt others. May forgiveness be the journey we take toward healing the broken parts and become whole once again. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

God of relationships, we give thanks for your Ambassadors, Ambassadors like Lindiwe Mabuza, who succeed in promoting their countries and cultures winning new friends from across many fields, from business to tourism, music, literature and arts and culture. Give us the gift of bringing people together and of polishing rough diamonds until they themselves know how brightly they shine. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

God of freedom, we give thanks for 27 years of freedom since South Africans voted in their first democratic elections. We give thanks for the lives and work of Desmond Tutu and Lindiwe Mabuza and the part that each played in the anti-apartheid movement. We give thanks for those of all faiths and none who contributed to the anti-apartheid movement. We give thanks that Trafalgar Square became a global focal point for the movement and for the part that St Martin-in-the-Fields played within that movement. We give thanks for the ongoing partnership between St Martin’s and St Mary’s Cathedral in Johannesburg. We give thanks for the work of the High Commission in the UK as it contributes to the creation of a better South Africa through its engagement with the government and people of the United Kingdom. God Bless South Africa; Guard her children; Guide her leaders And give her peace, for Jesus Christ's sake. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Merciful God, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

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David Fanshawe - Dona Nobis Pacem - A Hymn for World Peace.

A Memorial Service for Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and Ambassador Lindiwe Mabusa

 

A Memorial Service for Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and Ambassador Lindiwe Mabusa will be held at St Martin-in-the-Fields on Monday 21 February, 2.00pm. The service, which is being organised with the South African High Commission, will include tributes to the Archbishop Emeritus and the Ambassador from those who knew them, an Address from Revd Dr Sam Wells, and music from St Martin’s Voices. Those wishing to attend should RSVP to events@southafricahouse.uk, the service will also be livestreamed on stmartins.digital and the St Martin's Facebook page.

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James Whitbourn - A Prayer of Desmond Tutu.

Windows on the world (367)

Merville, 2019

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Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Can't Let Go.

New Grace podcast

"Prophetic and fearless... and deep solidarity..." Azariah and Winnie on Recent Loss and Remembering

Grace Podcast

Winnie Varghese and Azariah France-Williams on recent deaths and loss, remembering bell hooks; "She uses her grandmother's name... and doesn't capitalise her name... she decides to stand away from the institution that grant honour in different ways..."; Desmond Tutu, "his always outspoken support for LGBTQ people... his prophetic and profound commitment to justice, in ways that aren't what your PR consultant would recommend..."; and Harold Lewis, "Prophetic and fearless... and deep solidarity...", "He organised all of the funds... when our church still doesn't have that will, that bite, to provide what's necessary for people to flourish and thrive."

Talking about life, death and remembering "You note the lives of these icons and wonder if we're doing them justice, if there is another generation emerging in the same way..."

Listen to the Grace podcasts here.

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Charles Bradley - This World (Is Going Up In Flames). 

HeartEdge Mailer - February 2022

HeartEdge is an international, ecumenical movement of churches shaped by pastoral ministry, fostering an appetite for compassionate, cultural and commercial opportunities.

We're about:

• Expanding the imagination of a church captivated by scarcity.
• Church being fully-alive, transforming church and society through commerce, culture, compassion and congregational life.

This month in our Mailer:

• HeartEdge Gathering - Manchester - 27 / 28 September
• Nomtombi Naomi Tutu on one South Africa and another, Sarah Rogers on Social Media, Pádraig Ó Tuama on story telling.
• Talking death and loss with Juliet Stephenson, also, community emergency, and using church as a space to grow food.
• Plus new book extract 'Abba Amma' by Nicola Slee.

Read the Mailer here. Sign up to receive it regularly here.

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Sixpence None The Richer - Melody Of You.

Church Times - Rachel Feinstein: Mirror at Gagosian Gallery, Davies Street, London

My latest review for Church Times is of 'Rachel Feinstein: Mirror' at Gagosian Gallery:

'After 9/11, Feinstein found solace in Old Master works of Jesus and Mary feeling their own pain, especially Matthias Grünewald’s Deposition paintings. The potential to empathise with the Gospel characters which is opened by Feinstein’s “Mirror” paintings, through eyes that reflect our features, enables the viewer to find solace similarly.'

For more on Rachel Feinstein, see my February Diary piece for Artlyst here.

Other of my pieces for Church Times can be found here.

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The Velvet Underground - I'll Be Your Mirror.

Artlyst: Marcus Lyon Creates Fields of Vision At St Martin-in-the-Fields London

My latest preview piece for Artlyst is on Fields of Vision, an immersive exterior projection created by Marcus Lyon in collaboration with St Martin-in-the-Fields. 

The work, covering the whole church façade, explores concepts of freedom, service and community in our modern world through oral histories, large scale portraits and ancestral DNA mapping, with music by Brian Eno. The piece weaves together the narratives of 28 extraordinary individuals from across the globe, chosen by their own communities, to tell a deeper story of our interdependence and the extraordinary power of collaboration:

'His Human Atlas projects hold a mirror up to society and encourage audiences to question their own roles and responsibilities to their communities, cities and fellow human beings. A Human Atlas is a social impact art project that brings together a specified number of nominated change agents to tell a deeper story about how we self-author and co-author a more hopeful future through portraits, interviews, soundscapes and DNA mapping.

Lyon’s third Human Atlas project was the award-winning i.Detroit, which was named Book of the Year, Best Self-Published Book and Best British Book by the British Book and Production Awards 2021. Earlier Human Atlas projects were in Brazil and Germany. All three Human Atlas projects will feature in Fields of Vision. Lyon and his team have recently begun production on their fourth Atlas, De.Coded: a Human Atlas of Silicon Valley, this book will highlight 101 change agents of the valley.

When I interviewed Lyon for Artlyst in 2020 he said his intention with the Human Atlas projects is: “to give people a chance to experience something more powerfully and with more depth. I think that’s the gift we’re trying to give. I’m very intentionally and practically building processes to help people slow down in a fast world. I think within the Human Atlas process our endeavour is to facilitate a deeper meditation on what it means to be you, what it means to be me and what it means to be we.”'

My Artlyst interview with Marcus Lyon can be viewed here and my survey of art at St Martin-in-the-Fields here.

My other pieces for Artlyst are:

Interviews -

• Sidney Nolan’s Africa: Interview With Andrew Turley
• Ilona Bossanyi: Tate’s Ervin Bossanyi Stained Glass Window Mothballed After 2011 Redevelopment
• Louis Carreon: Sampling Art History
• Modus Operandi - What Makes Successful Public Art: Vivien Lovell Interviewed
• Genesis Tramaine: A Queer Devotional Painter
• Lakwena Maciver: Review-Interview Hastings Contemporary
• Nicola Ravenscroft - Sculpture With A Peaceful Stillness
• Artist Hannah Rose Thomas – Tears of Gold – Interview
• Marcus Lyon: Human Atlas Explorations
• Elizabeth Kwant Interview
• Helaine Blumenfeld: Undulating Structures
• National Gallery Explores ‘Sin’ In New Exhibition – Interview Dr Joost Joustra Curator
• Betty Spackman: Posthumanism Debates
• Christopher Clack: Connecting The Material And Immaterial
• Peter Howson Artlyst Interview
• Marleen Hengelaar-Rookmaaker On The Legacy Of ArtWay
• Alastair Gordon A Testament To His Faith
• Katrina Moss Chaiya Art Awards Interview: Where is God in our 21st century world?
• Apocalypse Now: Michael Takeo Magruder Interviewed
• Jonathan Anderson: Religious Inspirations Behind Modernism
• Caravan – An Interview With Rev Paul Gordon Chandler On Arts Peacebuilding
• Art Awakening Humanity Alexander de Cadenet Interviewed
• Michael Pendry New Installation Lights Up St Martin In The Fields
• Mark Dean Projects Stations of the Cross Videos On Henry Moore Altar

Articles -

• My Art Diary And Other Thoughts February 2022
• Van Gogh Self Portraits The Infinite And The Ordinary
• Marvellous Icons: The London Jesuit Centre
• And On An Art Note: End Of Year Diary 2021
• Albrecht Dürer Travels Of A Renaissance Artist – National Gallery London
• Diasporan Identities: Life Between Islands Caribbean British Art – Tate Britain
• Isamu Noguchi: Socially Engaged Art – Barbican Centre
• Pablo Bronstein: A This-World Vision Of Hell
• Bosco Sodi: In The Beginning Of Wisdom
• George Condo Lockdown Works Hauser & Wirth
• Theaster Gates Clay As A Profound Metaphor
• Mark Rothko: Mesmerising And Intimate Works On Paper
• International Autumn Art Exhibition Reviews
• Roger Cecil: A Once In A Generation Welsh Painter
• Tino Sehgal: Location, Nature And Pandemic – Blenheim Palace
• Michael Armitage And The Power Of Art – Royal Academy
• Marie Raymond And Post-War Avant Garde Painting In Paris
• Rachel Kneebone: A Complex Tableau Of Organic And Geometric Forms
• Rodin: Suffering And Conflict – Tate Modern
• Barbara Hepworth: Symbols Of Art & Life – Hepworth Wakefield
• 20th Century Women Artists Challenging Conventions In Britain
• Chaiya Art Awards 2021 Gallery OXO
• Marc Chagall’s Exquisite Stained Glass Window Commissions
• George Gittoes Equal parts artist and warrior
• Keith Haring: Personal Spiritual Imagery
• Sean Scully: Philosophical Poetic Pastoral The 12 / Dark Windows
• Arthur Jafa: The Art Of Cutting And Pasting
• Blackpentecostal Breath: Spirit-Led Movement Jumps From Music To Visual Art
• Made in USA Ed Ruscha An American Perspective
• Robert Smithson: The Archetypal Nature Of Things
• If Jesus Is A Man Of Colour Why Did We Make Him Aryan?
• Cosmic Patches And Quilts Five Exhibitions
• Everyday Heroes: Southbank Exhibition Celebrates Low-paid Key Workers
• Entwining Spiritualism And Art – Three Shows
• Of Church And The Visual Arts
• Has The Word Master Reached Its Sell-By Date?
• The People Behind Community Is Kindness Billboard Campaign
• André Daughtry: Art, Rebellion And Racial Justice
• Salisbury Cathedral 800 Years Of Art And Spirit
• Home Alone Together Twenty Five Artists
• Botanical Mind Online: Art, Mysticism and the Cosmic Tree
• Salvador Dalí The Enigma of Faith
• Art And Faith A Time For Seeing
• Andy Warhol: Catholicism His Work, Faith And Legacy
• Kiki Smith: Embodied Art
• Art and Christianity Awards A Positive New Millennium Legacy
• Arnulf Rainer: 90th Birthday Exhibition Celebrated At Albertina Museum
• A Belonging Project And Exiles Loss and Displacement
• Robert Polidori: Fra Angelico Opus Operantis
• Art, Faith, Church Patronage and Modernity
• Contemplating the Spiritual in Contemporary Art
• Mat Collishaw Challenges Faith Perspectives With Ushaw Installation
• Waterloo Festival Launches At St. John’s Waterloo
• John Bellany Alan Davie Spiritual Joy and Magic
• RIFT Unites 17 Art and Science MA Graduates At Central St Martins
• Visionary Cities: Michael Takeo Magruder – British Library
• Van Gogh’s Religious Journey Around London
• William Congdon Holy Sites And The Kettle’s Yard Connection
• Mark Dean Premieres Pastiche Mass At Banqueting Hall Chelsea College of Arts
• John Kirby: The Torment
• Underlying The Civilised Facade
• Curating Spiritual Sensibilities In Changing Times
• Homeless Highlighted: New Beau Exhibition At St Martin-in-the-Fields
• Ken Currie: Protest Defeat And Victory
• Bosco Sodi: A Moment Of Genesis
• Bill Viola And The Art Of Contemplation
• Art In Churches 2018: Spiritual Combinations Explored
• Sister Wendy Beckett – A Reminiscence
• Guido Guidi: Per Strada Flowers Gallery London
• Peter Howson: The play is over – Flowers Gallery
• Camille Henrot: Scientific History And Creation Story Mash Up
• Nicola Green Explores Recent And Contemporary Religious Leaders – St Martin-in-the-Fields
• Art And The Consequences Of War Explored In Two Exhibitions
• Helaine Blumenfeld Translating Her Vision
• Sam Ivin: Physically Scratched Portraits Of Asylum Seekers Exhibited
• Sacred Noise: Explores Religion, Faith And Divinity
• Bill Viola: Quiet Contemplative Video Installation St Cuthbert’s Church Edinburgh
• The ground-breaking work of Sister Corita Kent
• Picasso To Souza: The Crucifixion Imagery Rarely Exhibited
• Michael Takeo Magruder: De / coding the Apocalypse – Panacea Museum
• Giorgio Griffa: The Golden Ratio And Inexplicable Knowledge
• Arabella Dorman Unveils New Installation At St James Church Piccadilly
• Can Art Transform Society?
• Art Awakening Humanity Conference Report
• Central St Martins in the Fields Design Then And Now
• The Sacramental And Liturgical Nature Of Conceptual Art
• Polish Art In Britain: Centenary Marked At London’s Ben Uri Gallery
• Refugee Artists: Learning from The Lives Of Others
• The Religious Impulses Of Robert Rauschenberg
• The Christian Science Connection Within The British Modern Art Movement
• Artists Rebranding The Christmas Tree Tradition
• Art Impacted - A Radical Response To Radicalisation
• The Art of St Martin-in-the-Fields
• Was Caravaggio A Good Christian?

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Brian Eno - I'll Come Running.

Windows on the world (366)

 Canary Wharf, 2021

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Tom Jones - Not Dark Yet.

Fields of Vision: A Human Atlas Projection

 

March 5th, 6th & 7th (18:00 – 20:00)

Fields of Vision is an immersive exterior projection created by Marcus Lyon in collaboration with St Martin-in-the-Fields.

The work, covering the whole church façade, explores concepts of freedom, service and community in our modern world through oral histories, large scale portraits and ancestral DNA mapping, with music by Brian Eno.

The piece weaves together the narratives of 28 extraordinary individuals from across the globe, chosen by their own communities, to tell a deeper story of our interdependence and the extraordinary power of collaboration.

Marcus Lyon says: “We create our Human Atlas projects to inspire new generations to see the power of social change – each large-scale portrait, inspirational oral history and DNA map allows the audience to witness the extraordinary vision of those who answer the call to serve our communities across the globe”

30-minute shows from 18:00 – 20:00 in the St Martin-in-the-Fields Courtyard

Start times 6:00, 6:40 and 7:20

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Brian Eno - Prophecy Theme.

humbler church Bigger God - w/c 13 February 2022

 

Welcome to our exciting HeartEdge programme for 2022. We hope you will be able to join us, whether at online events or at our in-person events around the world. You can find all our events on our website — and if you're a HeartEdge partner, you can upload your own events through the members' area.

Last year, we launched Living God's Future Now, an online festival of theology and practice. We hosted workshops, webinars, spaces to gather and share ideas, lecture series, and more. This year, we're continuing our programming with a new theme — humbler church, Bigger God.

HeartEdge is fundamentally about a recognition of the activity of the Holy Spirit beyond and outside the church, and about a church that flourishes when it seeks to catch up with what the Spirit is already doing in the world. There was a time when church meant a group that believed it could control access to God – access that only happened in its language on its terms. But God is bigger than that, and the church needs to be humbler than that. Kingdom churches anticipate the way things are with God forever – a culture of creativity, mercy, discovery and grace – and are grateful for the ways God renews the church through those it has despised, rejected, or ignored.

We hope this reflects the lessons we've learnt from the past year: still trying to live God's future now, re-imagining our faith and our calling as a Church in a changing world. Thank you for joining us for the journey — we can't wait to see what the next year brings.

Tuesday

Being Better Neighbours

Tuesday, 15 February, 14:00. Click here to register.

What does it look like for Christians and our churches to be better neighbours to those in our local communities? With: Alastair McKay (facilitating), Executive Director, Reconciliation Initiatives; Al Barrett, Vicar of Hodge Hill, Diocese of Birmingham; Ellen Loudon, Director of Social Justice & Canon Chancellor, Liverpool Diocese; Karen Lund, Archdeacon of Manchester, Diocese of Manchester; and Tom Wilson, Director, St Philip’s Centre, Leicester.

Sermon Preparation with Sally Hitchiner and Sam Wells

Join us for our weekly discussion of the lectionary readings for the coming Sunday with Sam Wells and Sally Hitchiner.

Tuesdays 4.30 - 5.30pm BST live-streamed here.

Wednesday

Community of Practitioners workshop

Wednesday 16 February, 16:00–17.00 GMT, Zoom. Email jonathan.evens@smitf.org to register.

This is a space for practitioners, lay and ordained, to reflect on theology and practice. Each week, we alternate between 'Wonderings' and discussion of a theology book. This week we will be discussing ‘The Hidden Wound’ by Wendell Berry.

Saturday

Music and Liturgy for Lent

Saturday 19 February, 11:00–12:00 GMT, Sacred Trinity Church, Chapel Street, Salford M3 5DW. Click here to register.

Andy Salmon (North West Co-ordinator of HeartEdge and Rector of Sacred Trinity Church will give tips about creative liturgical resources for Lent whilst Andrew Earis (Director of Music at St Martin-in-the-Fields) and the Manchester HeartEdge Choral Scholars will share musical resources to help freshen up your lenten experience. We will be broadcasting on Zoom but people are also welcome to come in person. On 19 March we will run a sister event on Music and Liturgy for Easter.

Sunday

Theology Group

Sunday 20 February, 19:00–20:00 GMT, Zoom. Click here to register.

The St Martin-in-the-Fields and HeartEdge Theology Group provides a monthly opportunity to reflect theologically on issues of today and questions of forever with Sam Wells. 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. With Rachel Godden as chair.

Advance Notice

Faith in the time of the ‘new normal’
3, 17 & 31 March, 7 April, 7:15pm. Register here.

A series of Lenten conversations hosted by The Queen’s Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education. This series aims to help congregations and house groups reflect on how Christians may understand the changes we’ve been through as a society, and the new ‘place’ we may be entering.

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St Martin's Voices - Gloria.

Foyer display: Rosalind Beeton

 

St Martin-in-the-Fields is home to several commissions and permanent installations by contemporary artists. We also have an exciting programme of temporary exhibitions, as well as a group of artists and craftspeople from the St Martin’s community who show artwork and organise art projects on a temporary basis.

One of the initiatives from this group is a changing display of work by the group members. Each month a different member of the group will show an example of their work, so, if you are able, do return to see the changing display.

This month we are showing landscapes from China, Suffolk and Wales in watercolour or oil by Rosalind Beeton. Rosalind writes of how she finds music in nature, the trees, the birds, the hills, the cosmos. She says: ‘I studied music for my B.Ed degree, learning about classical harmonic structures and how to compose pieces. I also spent many years training in art. I have played the piano since I was 7 and have played various instruments over the years but my great love has always been the cello, the music of which touches my heart deeply, so I am attempting to learn this beautiful instrument. Now I am also enjoying words in poetry that I write, enjoying the evocative musical sounds and colours that words can evoke and create. I feel privileged and happy to be a member of the Nazareth Contemplative Community here at St Martins-in-the-Fields.’

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Academy of St Martin in the Fields, St Martin's Voices, Andrew Earis - Hallelujah.

Zi Ling: Royal Cambrian Academy & Ken Griffiths Bureau

 

Great to be with Zi Ling on Wednesday for the PV of HRH Princess Margaret 20 Years 20 Artworks.

Zi Ling RI is taking part in two mixed exhibitions in January and February. The first exhibition:

The Royal Cambrian Academy

8 JAN 22 – 26 FEB 22
ANNUAL OPEN ART EXHIBITION 2022

Featuring 200 stunning pieces of artwork selected from over 600 entries. Every year, members of the public are invited to submit artwork to this renowned show. The exhibition celebrates a broad range of painting, drawing, print, photography, textiles, sculpture and film. Successful entrants come from across Wales, the UK and beyond. Ling has two pieces selected, ‘Holiday’ and ‘King Lear’

https://rcaconwy.org/exhibitions/annual-open-art-exhibition-2022-1

The second exhibition:

HRH Princess Margaret 20 Years 20 Artworks

9 – 20 FEBRUARY 2022

On a historically significant date, February 9th, the 20th anniversary of HRH Princess Margaret’s death, we will present 20 artworks celebrating the iconic photograph taken in 1985 by Ken Griffiths. Unpublished until the Princess’ death, on the 9th of February 2002, when it appeared on The Telegraph’s front cover, the image made a comeback in 2020, when a copy of the pillow was made for the acclaimed Netflix series The Crown.

An incredible array of 22 national and international artists, including Zi Ling RI, has been invited to reinterpret the photograph in line with their own vision and style, exposing a different narrative which they have carved from beneath the picture. ​

A book detailing the interpretation made by each artist and retracing the history of the image and its rebirth in the contemporary art world will be released on the opening night.

Visit at 15 Bateman Street, in Soho, London. The exhibition will remain open to the public until the 20th of February 2022.
https://www.kengriffithsbureau.co.uk/exhibitions-hrhprincessmargaret-20-years-20-artworks

For more information also check out this diary piece for Artlyst - https://www.artlyst.com/reviews/marvellous-icons-the-london-jesuit-centre-revd-jonathan-evans/ 

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Karen Peris - Superhero.

Church Times - Art review: ‘Jump Paintings’ and 'Back in the Air' by Lakwena

My latest review for Church Times is of ‘Jump Paintings’ and 'Back in the Air' by Lakwena Maciver:

'Lakwena says that she creates painted prayers and meditations, although her kaleidoscopic works, which zing and fizz with colour, life, and energy, are not what most would imagine by simply reading that phrase without having seen her work. The vibrancy of adornment in her work signifies value and glory, while her content is wholly future-orientated, looking for a future that is higher, deeper, fuller, sweeter, older, newer, bolder, brighter, and more glorious.

With the “Jump Paintings” and the Back in the Air installation, she brings us a glimpse of earthly paradise, inspiring us to seek and soar to higher ground by means of a higher power.'

For more on Lakwena, see my Artlyst interview here, a visual meditation here, my latest Diary piece for Artlyst, and an article about emerging religious artists here.

Other of my pieces for Church Times can be found here.

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Jackie Wilson - (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher & Higher.