How to Pilgrimage in a time of Pandemic

Today at 3.00 pm. Register for a zoom invite at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/how-to-pilgrimage-in-a-time-of-pandemic-tickets-109203239830.

For centuries pilgrimages have awakened seekers from all walks of life. ‘Solvitur ambulando’ is a Latin phrase meaning it is solved by walking. Join us for a workshop to hear from some serial pilgrims about their discoveries, insights and encounters on ancient Christian paths. In these difficult days of lockdown panellists Richard Frazer, Beth Jusino and Ian Smith will share how they have adapted to these unusual circumstances and share ideas for how to awaken seekers locally through a passion for walking.

Richard Frazer has been minister at Greyfriars Kirk, (Church of Scotland) www.greyfriarskirk.com since 2003. During that time, he has founded the Grassmarket Community Project www.grassmarket.org that supports some of the city’s most vulnerable adults and has also established the Greyfriars Charteris Centre, www.charteriscentre.com a place for wellbeing, social enterprise and building community, which has strong links to Edinburgh University. At Greyfriars, there is a ministry team dedicated to creating an inclusive and affirming community for those of faith and others exploring their spirituality through worship, reflective space and other volunteering opportunities. Richard has a passion for pilgrimage walking and has recently published a book, Travels with a Stick, about his journey on the Camino de Santiago. minister@greyfriarskirk.com

Beth Jusino is an editor, writer, and unlikely pilgrim who lives in Seattle, Washington. In the past 5 years, she’s spent more than 100 days on various parts of the Way of St James, and is an active member and volunteer newsletter editor for the American Pilgrims on the Camino. Her award-winning memoir about her pilgrimage from Le Puy, France, to Finisterre, Spain, is Walking to the End of the World: A Thousand Miles on the Camino de Santiago. You can find her stories, essays, and Camino photos at www.caminotimestwo.com or on Instagram and Twitter @bethjusino.

Ian Smith is a writer and serial pilgrim. His non-fiction books include “The Good Parish Management Guide” (Canterbury Press) and “Stepping out” (Redleg Publications) written with his wife, Alison Gelder. His latest novel is “Redemption Song” and poetry collection, “The Woodland Suite” (both Redleg Publications). Ian has been involved in walking and organising pilgrimages since 1983 and has (with his wife) walked a number of Camino routes as well as many Cross-carrying pilgrimages to Walsingham and Iona. Longer walks include a pilgrimage from Walsingham to Santiago in 2010 and London to Rome via Lourdes in 2017. He is currently planning a pilgrimage from London to Istanbul, mainly following the Rhine and Danube rivers. Ian lives with his wife in central London.

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U2 - Walk On.

HeartEdge in Scotland

Heart & Voice Uniting, Tuesday 12 June, 2.15 – 7.00pm, Greenbank Parish Church, Braidburn Terrace, Edinburgh EH10 6ES. 

A HeartEdge Churches & Culture event with contributions from: Sam Wells (Vicar, St Martin-in-the-Fields), Richard Frazer (Minister, Greyfriars Kirk), Choral Scholars of St Martin-in-the-Fields, Andrew Earis (Director of Music, St Martin-in-the-Fields) and Martin Ritchie (Minister, Greenbank Parish Church). 

The Choral Scholars of St Martin-in-the-Fields will perform 'Great Sacred Music’, a 35-minute lunchtime sequence speaking to heart, head, and soul that explores through song and readings the great classical music of our religious heritage. Following this performance will be input on and discussion of approaches to using music in mission, including attractional worship. The event will end with 'Sing Joyfully’, a concert at 6.00pm with the Choral Scholars of St Martin-in-the-Fields. 

Register at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/heart-voice-uniting-tickets-45971004512.

'At the Heart. On the Edge', Wednesday 13 June, 10.00am - 3.30pm, Queen's Cross Parish Church, Albyn Place, Aberdeen AB10 IYN. 

A day hosted by Revd Scott M. Rennie, Minister of Queen's Cross Parish Church and Revd Dr Sam Wells, Vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields, which features the Choral Scholars of St Martin-in-the-Fields performing Great Sacred Music. The day includes theology, ideas, solutions and support with a programme developed jointly by Queen's Cross Parish Church and St Martin’s.

The day will explore mission and ministry in relation to: Congregation - Liturgy and worship for day-to-day communal life – gathered and local; Commerce – Starting and sustaining distinctive enterprise to generate finance for your church; Compassion – Growing participation and volunteering to address social need locally; and Culture – Using art, music and performance to reimagine the Christian narrative in your context. The day includes refreshments and lunch. 

Register at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/at-the-heart-on-the-edge-tickets-45346364196.

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Choral Scholars of St Martin-in-the-Fields - Nunc Dimittis.

HeartEdge Churches & Commerce event

 

 

HeartEdge's Churches & Commerce event was a day to explore the benefits of commercial activities for churches (including social enterprise).

Many churches struggle to cover the costs of their buildings and the ministry needed in their area. Finding other sources of income in addition to congregational giving can help significantly and can also extend the church’s engagement in God’s mission. ‘Churches & Commerce’ was for anyone interested in making churches sustainable in their mission.

This event at St Martin in the Bull Ring enabled participants to hear from people for whom commercial activities, including social enterprises, are making a real difference, not only to their church finances but also to their wider mission.

Allyson Hargreaves told the story of St Martin-in-the-Fields in regard to commerce. Within her telling of our story, Allyson highlighted support structures at different stages of development and issues regarding the balancing of commerce and mission. Richard Frazer, Minister at Greyfriars Kirk, shared his thoughts on approaches to a theology for entrepreneurs and Richard Higginson, Director of Faith in Business, shared results of research with 50 UK Christian entrepreneurs from a variety of business sectors.

Representatives of Anthony Collins Solicitors, Cinnamon Network, Grassmarket Community Project (recently named Social Enterprise of the Year in Scotland), Jericho Foundation, Mindful Business Services, NexGen Marketing Ltd, Salt Business Network, and The Bridge at Waterloo shared insights and expertise in relation to: Digital Futures, Legal Structures, Marketing, Outsourcing, Partnership projects, Scaling up, Values and Wood recycling. 

Delegates had travelled from as far afield as Aberdeen and Chatham for what proved to be a day full of ideas, inspiration and information. Find out more about HeartEdge at https://www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org/life-st-martins/mission/heartedge/.

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Eric Bibb - Don't Let Nobody Drag Your Spirit Down.

HeartEdge: Churches & Commerce

Many churches struggle to cover the costs of their buildings and the ministry needed in their area. Finding other sources of income in addition to congregational giving can help significantly and can also extend the church’s engagement in God’s mission.

Organised by HeartEdge, ‘Churches & Commerce’ is a day at St Martin in the Bull Ring (Edgbaston St, Birmingham B5 5BB) on 7 March (10.00am – 3.30pm) for anyone interested in making churches sustainable in their mission. This event enables you to hear from people for whom commercial activities, including social enterprises, are making a real difference, not only to their church finances but also to their wider mission.

Contributors include: 

Allyson Hargreaves (Executive Director, St Martin-in-the-Fields Limited), Revd Dr Richard Frazer (Minister, Greyfriars Kirk) and Dr Richard Higginson (Director, Faith in Business), Revd Canon Giles Goddard (St John’s Waterloo), plus Anthony Collins Solicitors, Cinnamon Network, Grassmarket Community Project (recently named Social Enterprise of the Year in Scotland), Jericho Foundation, NexGen Marketing Ltd, Salt Business Network, and The Bridge at Waterloo. 

The programme includes sessions on: Christian Entrepreneurs; Entrepreneurial Theology; and Structuring Missional Commerce. Additionally, there will be a panel discussion with entrepreneurs and small group input sessions led by specialists (on specific aspects of commercial activity e.g. structures, marketing etc or particular commercial opportunities e.g. social enterprise, training programmes etc).

To book contact me on jonathan.evens@smitf.org or 020 7766 1127.

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The Style Council - Our Favourite Shop.

Greyfriars Kirk

I had an inspiring HeartEdge visit to Greyfriars Kirk last Wednesday to meet the Minister Revd. Dr. Richard E Frazer and the Associate Minister Revd. Lezley Stewart. 

Greyfriars is a worshipping congregation of the Church of Scotland in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town where a church has stood since 1620. The Kirk seeks to be a welcoming, inclusive community and to respond to local needs in a variety of ways. Worship takes place during the week as well as on Sundays in English and Gaelic.

The Kirk is a major venue for the arts, a tourist destination and through the Grassmarket Community Project supports many vulnerable citizens. Greyfriars community outreach takes many forms but is primarily focused around their centre in the Kirkhouse on Candlemaker Row. The project is now managed by Grassmarket Community Project Ltd. - a partnership between Greyfriars Kirk and Grassmarket Mission.

Throughout the week the Grassmarket Community Project offers a variety of workshops aimed at developing people’s self worth, social networks and skills.

Craft, art and community are all central themes in their work. Participants have the opportunity to join in with GRoW wood workshop, the Plough to Plate cookery and gardening program, the Grassroots Textiles workshop, Greyfriars Herb Garden or one of their many arts and education activities.

Although primarily aimed at individuals facing deep social exclusion, the Grassmarket Community Project encourages members of the local community to join in and work side by side with participants from all walks of life.

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Ricky Ross - Trouble Came Looking.

A line drawn in sand?

A line has been drawn in the sand by the Bishop of London's decision to ask Pete Broadbent, the Bishop of Willesden, to withdraw from public duties as a result of his facebook comments about the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

As several commentators on the decision have noted, bishops in the Church of England and the Anglican Communion "can refuse to attend the Lambeth Conference, criticise the Archbishop publicly, announce how much they hate the CofE and that they intend to leave it, even liken supporters of women's elevation to the episcopate to Nazis" (Alan Frazer) and "claim that married couples who choose not to have children are selfish (Michael Nazir-Ali, former Bishop of Rochester); that Muslims are creating “no-go” areas for non-Muslims in Britain (also Nazir-Ali); and that the Cumbrian floods were in part caused by God's judgment on civil partnerships (Graham Dow, Bishop of Carlisle)" (Symon Hill); all with apparent impunity. But, as Alan Frazer writes, "the one thing that finally provokes unequivocal condemnation and 'suspension' is a Bishop's semi-private moan about a royal wedding."

Together with Symon Hill I think it is clear that, through this decision, the Church of England has given the impression that it regards insults to members of the Windsor family as a more serious offence than those routinely traded in debating these other issues. It would be valuable, although probably unrealistic, to seek to eradicate the culture of insulting opponents in debate but, in the absence of such a development, seeking to establish a hierarchy of those who can and cannot be insulted, as the Bishop of London seems to be doing, is entirely the wrong way to proceed.  

This whole incident also reinforces one of the main points made by the Bishop of Willesden in his original comments and that is the disproportionate power possessed by the media which can destroy reputations and careers (and, as the Bishop was predicting, marriages) with apparent impunity.

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The Clash - Wrong 'Em Boyo.