HeartEdge update & events

We had a great day yesterday at the HeartEdge Deepening Spirituality day with the London Centre for Spiritual Direction.

We experienced different approaches to deepening the spirituality of congregations and individuals with: Nigel Rooms, Partnership for Missional Church UK, CMS; Richard Carter, Associate Vicar for Mission, St Martin-in-the-Fields; and Antonia Lynn, Community Warden and Referrals Coordinator, LCSD. A wide range of approaches were shared through presentations, interactive exercises, table talks and workshops. Lots of people came and there was lots of interest. Also, lots of wisdom in the room and lots of insights shared.

Upcoming events from HeartEdge and our partners include:

• Greyfriars church, Edinburgh are 400 years young! At that age you'll be celebrating and they are. Visit here for details from their minister Richard Frazer and a year long programme of celebrations.
• 11th February, Urban Spirituality: Looking at living out your faith in a city: 7:30-9:30pm St Thomas Derby. Do Christians need to retreat to country to find God? Explore living out your Christian faith in a city environment with Simon Cartwright and the St Thomas' community. Book here.
• 12 February, 10:00 – 3:30pm, East of England HeartEdge Day, St Peter Mancroft: Exploring mission, sharing ideas, uncovering solutions and finding support, this is an ecumenical day with Sam Wells and guests. Book here.
• 12th February 2020 from 6.30 - 7.30 pm, My Spirit Sang All Day, St Peter Mancroft, Hay Hill, Norwich NR2 1QQ. A Choral Concert with singers from St Peter Mancroft and St-Martin-in-the-Fields. Tallis - Gjeilo - Ireland - Finzi. St Peter Mancroft Choral Scholars & St Martin's Voices. Jody James - Conductor. Andrew Earis - Conductor. Free - Retiring Collection. More information here.
• 19 March, 2.00-4.30pm ‘Inspired to Follow: Art & the Bible Story’ Mission Model workshop, St Martin-in-the-Fields. An opportunity to experience one of the sessions of ‘Inspired to Follow’ and to learn how to make the most of the resource. Free to HeartEdge partners, £10 for others. Book here.
• 1 April 2020, Liverpool HeartEdge Day: Exploring mission, sharing ideas, uncovering solutions and finding support, this is an ecumenical day with Sam Wells and guests. Book here.
• 29 April. West Cornwall HeartEdge Day: Details to follow!
• May 18 - 20 San Antonio - Texas. Faith+Finance: Reimagining God’s Economy is a new gathering with a bias for action. We are bringing together pastors and impact investors, theologians and social entrepreneurs to respond with courage and imagination to the most urgent and demanding economic, social, environmental, and spiritual challenges of our day.
• 19 May, 10.00am – 3.30pm, Wessex HeartEdge Day: Christchurch Priory. Exploring mission, sharing ideas, uncovering solutions and finding support, this is an ecumenical day with Sam Wells and guests. Book here.
• 21 -22 September - London: HeartEdge Annual Gathering - an exciting smorgasbord of theology, ideas and 'how-to' plus curry, catching up, sharing stories and making connections. Make a weekend of it - from Sunday evening's Sacred Space to Wednesday visiting projects. Save the date - more details next time.

This month the HeartEdge mailer includes:

• Kelly Brown Douglas on befriending the outcast. St Isidore Episcopal church on food pantries, plus 'how to' set up a 'Soft Play' project.
• Walter Brueggemann and Kenyatta Gilbert on economics and Marilyn Robinson on Trump and the battle for good and evil.
• Sarah Cave and Rupert Loydell on poetry, Plus Barbara Glasson on inter-faith, and politics and preaching with Doug Gay.

Plus Lucy Winkett writes on looking back, making plans and avoiding the dead eye in the 2020s.

Click here to read the January Mailer.

HeartEdge are hiring - we have an exciting 6-month research and development project, that might be just right for you. Interested? Details plus the application pack here.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Arcade Fire - Neon Bible.

HeartEdge in Derby

Nearly 60 people from Nottingham and Derby attended the latest HeartEdge Introductory Day which was held at St Thomas' Church in Derby. 

Sam Wells spoke about going beyond the benefactor and steward in funding mission. A panel of representatives from Derby City of Sanctuary and local churches then responded thoughtfully to the challenges posed by Sam in his talk. 

Simon Cartwright, the minister at St Thomas', shared progress and future plans in re-opening this formerly closed church. The day ended with workshops on art, enterprise, liturgy and support for refugees using local examples of the 4 Cs.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Harbour Lights - Five Senses.

HeartEdge Introductory Days

The latest HeartEdge Introductory Day was held at Jesmond URC in Newcastle on 11 June and drew together an engaged group from across the denominations. 

Sam Wells began the day by speaking about going beyond the benefactor and steward in the way we fund churches. Then we heard about local initiatives exemplifying the 4 Cs: Faith in Our Community CAFÉ Together in Easington Colliery run a community lunch once a week with cookery classes, summer activities and a pop-up restaurant also happening regularly; Forget Me Knot organise a community pantomime with the URC church and community in Roker; St Michael's in Byker work with youth and community to rebuild the church and its activities; and Churches’ Key Project in South Tyneside provide young people with accommodation, mediation with family members and life skills to help them find their way. 

Jonathan Evens described HeartEdge as a ‘movement for renewal fuelled by its members’. After a wonderful lunch provided by Social Chef, we heard from Sunderland University Chaplain Chris Howson on healing communities in the midst of Brexit. The afternoon was spent in workshops including how to … run a community lunch, develop enterprise, engage your community at Christmas and nurture good mental health. Speakers were from community projects across the region and gave participants a more in-depth look at how to set up these kinds of projects and what challenges and rewards they give us. The day closed with some Theological reflections from Fr. Chris Hughes and Sam Wells. 

Feedback after the event included:

• ‘The day at Jesmond URC was a wonderful time of learning, sharing and fellowship with a real and obvious enthusiasm from both speakers and participants for getting involved in the community.’
• ‘What an interesting and lively day at Jesmond yesterday. I'm so glad to have been there. There's plenty to consider prayerfully and challenges to broaden what being church is about.’
• ‘I especially liked the view of church as Congregation, Compassion, Culture and Commerce emphasising that a church was not solely spirituality.’

The next HeartEdge Introductory Day is on Thursday 27 June at St Thomas' Derby. Working across Derby, Nottingham and the surrounding area? Urban, suburban or rural? We would love you to join this practical one-day intensive introduction to HeartEdge with Sam Wells and guests. We're ecumenical and open to all. The day will explore approaches to mission, do theology, develop ideas and help build on the community of practice in Derby. Book in here.

In addition to Sam Wells, the programme also includes: Paul Morris (St Peter’s Derby), Christopher Harrison (St Peter’s Nottingham), Joseph Chivayo (Derby City of Sanctuary), Simon Cartwright (St Thomas'), Michael Gladwell (Derby Language School), Beth Honey (Derwent Oak), Pat McMenemy & Courtney Smith (Women of Faith Nottingham) and Julian Penfold (St James Riddings).

To register for a free ticket click here.

The day will explore approaches to mission, do theology, develop ideas and help build on the community of practice in Derby and Nottingham. We'll do this by referring to:

• Congregation: Liturgy, worship & new congregations
• Commerce: Being entrepreneurial, growing income via enterprise
• Compassion: Grow participation to address social need
• Culture: Art, music connecting with communities

We'll start with refreshments from 10am and a programme from 10.30am.

• Programme will include panel discussion and practical ‘how to’ session.
• Lots of opportunity to build networks, make connections, with time to meet over lunch & refreshments.

Practical, inspiring with lots to celebrate and take away - we hope you can join us.

HeartEdge is a growing ecumenical network of churches and other organisations, in the UK and overseas, initiated by St Martin-in-the-Fields. Joining HeartEdge is easy - find out more here.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lifehouse - Everything.

HeartEdge in Newcastle, Derby & Edinburgh

HeartEdge has two Introductory Days coming up which will explore approaches to mission, do theology, develop ideas and help build on the community of practice. We'll do this by referring to:

• Congregation: Liturgy, worship & new congregations
• Commerce: Being entrepreneurial, growing income via enterprise
• Compassion: Grow participation to address social need
• Culture: Art, music connecting with communities

We'll start with refreshments from 10am and a programme from 10.30am.

• All our contributors are practitioners - a community learning by experience.
• Programme will include panel discussion and practical ‘how to’ session.
• Lots of opportunity to build networks, make connections, with time to meet over lunch and refreshments. 

Practical, inspiring with lots to celebrate and take away - we hope you can join us:

• 11 June 'Newcastle HeartEdge Day' with Sam Wells and guests. A unique programme of theological reflection and local contributors. HeartEdge days focus around our HeartEdge 4 Cs with an emphasis on practical insight and ideas to take away. Book in here.

• 27 June 'Derby HeartEdge Day' with Sam Wells and guests - working across Derby and the surrounding area? Urban, suburban or rural? We would love you to join this practical one-day intensive introduction to HeartEdge with Sam Wells and guests. We're ecumenical and open to all. The day will explore approaches to mission, do theology, develop ideas and help build on the community of practice in Derby. Book in here.

The HeartEdge annual conference 'On Earth as it is in Heaven' will happen from 2 - 3 October in Edinburgh. The 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. This year contributors include Winnie Varghese, Sally Hitchiner, Sam Wells, Mark Strange, Colin Sinclair, Sheena McDonald, Deborah Lewer, ID Campbell, Cormac Russell and many others.

2 & 3 October 2019 - Day 1 at The Parish Church of St Cuthbert, 5 Lothian Road, Edinburgh EH1 2EP and Day 2 at St John's Church, Princes Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4BJ. 

Further information from Revd Jonathan Evens, Associate Vicar HeartEdge, St Martin-in-the-Fields - Tel: 020 7766 1127, Email: jonathan.evens@smitf.org. To book in early-bird visit here.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Arvo Pärt - Vater Unser.

HeartEdge in Amsterdam, Bradford & Kendal

This is a busy week for HeartEdge. Most of the team have been in Amsterdam where an excellent HeartEdge Introductory Day with the Protestant Church of the Netherlands was preceded by an evening event at which Sam Wells spoke on 'Improvisation'. I have been at the Greater Churches Network conference at which I spoke in Kendal Parish Church on 'Resourcing Innovative Mission', giving examples drawn from HeartEdge churches and speaking of the way missional networks provide resource while highlighting the extent to the HeartEdge model of mission comes with resourcing inbuilt. Today we are involved with and looking forward to a Bishop's Study Day in Bradford.

Future HeartEdge events include:

• 11 June 'Newcastle HeartEdge Day' with Sam Wells and guests. A unique programme of theological reflection and local contributors. HeartEdge days focus around our HeartEdge 4 Cs with an emphasis on practical insight and ideas to take away. Book in here.
• 27 June 'Derby HeartEdge Day' with Sam Wells and guests - working across Derby and the surrounding area? Urban, suburban or rural? We would love you to join this practical one-day intensive introduction to HeartEdge with Sam Wells and guests. We're ecumenical and open to all. The day will explore approaches to mission, do theology, develop ideas and help build on the community of practice in Derby. Book in here.
• 2 - 3 October, Edinburgh. The HeartEdge annual conference: 'On Earth as it is in Heaven' - a practical, two-day intensive of ideas, theology and connecting. Includes workshops on enterprise and commerce, launching cultural projects, developing congregations and sustaining community response. This year contributors include Sam Wells, Cormac Russell and Winnie Varghese. To book in early-bird visit here.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sofia Gubaidulina - Repentance.

HeartEdge Conference & Introductory Days

11 June 'Newcastle HeartEdge Day' with Sam Wells and guests. A unique programme of theological reflection and local contributors. HeartEdge days focus around our HeartEdge 4 Cs with an emphasis on practical insight and ideas to take away. Full details to be announced - don't miss out, we get great feedback about these events. Book in here. 

27 June HeartEdge Day - Derby: Working across Derby and the surrounding area? Urban, suburban or rural? We would love you to join this practical one-day intensive introduction to HeartEdge with Sam Wells and guests. We're ecumenical and open to all. The day will explore approaches to mission, do theology, develop ideas and help build on the community of practice in Derby. We'll do this by referring to:

• - Congregation: Liturgy, worship & new congregations
• - Commerce: Being entrepreneurial, growing income via enterprise
• - Compassion: Grow participation to address social need
• - Culture: Art, music connecting with communities

We'll start with refreshments from 10am and a programme from 10.30am.

• - Programme will include panel discussion and practical ‘how to’ session.
• - Lots of opportunity to build networks, make connections, with tiime to meet over lunch & refreshments.

Practical, inspiring with lots to celebrate and take away - we hope you can join us. Register for free here


2 - 3 October, Edinburgh. The HeartEdge annual conference: 'On Earth as it is in Heaven' - a practical, two-day intensive of ideas, theology and connecting. Includes workshops on enterprise and commerce, launching cultural projects, developing congregations and sustaining community response. This year contributors include Sam Wells and Winnie Varghese. Winnie is a Huffington Post blogger; author of 'Church Meets World'; editor of 'What We Shall Become' and Priest and Chief Justice and Reconciliation Officer at Trinity Church Wall Street, New York City. For initial contributors and to book in early-bird visit here.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bob Chilcott - The Lord's Prayer.