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Great Sacred Music - Vivaldi Gloria.
Showing posts with label humbler church bigger god. Show all posts
Showing posts with label humbler church bigger god. Show all posts
Wednesday, 5 October 2022
humbler church Bigger God
It was a real joy to be at St Edmund's Roundhay last week for the HeartEdge Humbler Church Bigger God conference. The conference included the launch of the Being With Course and the Course books. Here's some of who and what I saw and heard from the full and fascinating programme:
Friday, 8 April 2022
humbler church Bigger God w/c Sunday 10 April 2022
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Saturday, 26 March 2022
humbler church Bigger God w/c Sunday 27th March 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 this year brings.
Church History course: 19.45 (GMT) Monday 28 March- Christendom; love it or hate it, you need to deal with it. 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, 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. Register here.
Sermon Preparation with Sally Hitchiner and Sam Wells: 16:30 (GMT) Tuesday 29 March, livestreamed here. Sam Wells and Sally Hitchiner discuss Sunday's readings and offer practical tips on preaching.
Community of Practitioners workshop: 16:00 (GMT) Wednesday 30 March, 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. 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.
Faith in the time of the ‘new normal’: Session three - Same boat or same storm?: 31st March 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. 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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St Martin's Voices - Gloria.
Sunday, 27 February 2022
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.
Tuesday, 22 February 2022
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.
Friday, 11 February 2022
humbler church Bigger God - w/c 13 February 2022
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.
Friday, 4 February 2022
humbler church Bigger God - w/c 6 February 2022
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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.
Monday
Contemplation as a Gift to the Church: Humbler Church, Bigger God
Monday 7 February, 14:00 – 15:30 GMT. Register here.
A four-week series exploring different examples of how contemplation is a gift to the church. Week One will look at the Nazareth Community and the Companions of Nazareth. This workshop will be led by Revd Richard Carter and Revd Catherine Duce, and is an opportunity to learn about the life of the community, and to consider how it could be applied in your own contexts.
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.
4.30 - 5.30pm BST live-streamed here.
Church History course
Monday 7 February, 19:45-21:00 GMT. Register here.
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? With Ruth Gouldbourne, who has been a Baptist minister for more than 30 years. Week 2; The Fathers – who they?
Wednesday
Community of Practitioners workshop
Wednesday 19 January, 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 using 'Wonderings' to reflect on the past week.
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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Dissident Prophet - Unconditional Love.
Sunday, 30 January 2022
humbler church Bigger God - February 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.
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 1 - Introduction; why church history? Jan 24; Week 2 - The Fathers – who they? Feb 7; Week 3 - Creeds, Councils and Controversies Feb 28; 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-258950496907.
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. Please note that for w/c 6 February the Sermon Preparation Workshop will be on Monday 7 February at 4.30 pm, not on Tuesday.
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. Books to be read include ‘The Hidden Wound’ by Wendell Berry and ‘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.
Pioneer Practice... In Congregations | Compassion | Culture | Commerce with Jonny Baker and guests
Thursday 3 February, 8.00 pm. Change. Register at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pioneer-practice-tickets-212413463387. As a pioneer you see something - a possibility, an idea, a way that things could be better or new of different. Then you make something happen out of what you see. This webinar series explores over four weeks how pioneering happens in practice. Its focus is how things happen on the ground. Each week Jonny will have two or three guests and get into the gritty day to day of how they pioneer. It’s ideal for you if you have started something or if you have an inkling or an idea you want to explore and get started. It would also be really useful to attend with a couple of others who you might pioneer something with. If you are a church leader it would be great for you too and do think of people in your church who might have the pioneer gift, whether they know it or not, and encourage them to come along. That idea might be starting a new Congregation - the Church of England for example is encouraging every parish to pioneer one. It might also be an idea related to Compassion in your community. It might be related to Commerce as a way of making good in the world through enterprise. Or it might be related to Culture. These are the four Cs of the HeartEdge network. Free! If you can’t make a session, recordings will be made available for those signed up to the series.
Contemplation as a Gift to the Church: Humbler Church, Bigger God
A four week series exploring different examples of how contemplation is a gift to the church. It can sometimes feel like the church is preoccupied with methods of church growth, discussing strategy, developing mission action plans, and resourcing leadership. During lockdowns it fascinating to see the resurgence of contemplative prayer and contemplative practices as people sought new ways to deepen their roots in the Christian faith. Religious community life for centuries has pointed to the riches of the Christian tradition. This series of four Monday afternoons 2-3.30pm will explore four contemplative communities that have emerged in the last decade that seek to anchor people in the roots of the Christian tradition with an openness, a humility and a joy. Come and immerse yourself each week in the charism of a particular community. Come ready to share your experiences of contemplation being a gift to the church.
- Monday 7 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-227021115267. Week One will look at the Nazareth Community and the Companions of Nazareth. The Nazareth Community was established at St Martin’s in March 2018, now with over eighty members. This workshop will be led by Revd Richard Carter and Revd Catherine Duce, and is an opportunity to learn about the life of the community, and to consider how it could be applied in your own contexts. Richard is the leader of the Nazareth Community and author of The City is My Monastery: a Contemporary Rule of Life; published by Canterbury Press in 2019. Revd Catherine Duce is Chaplain to the Companions of Nazareth which is a worldwide worshiping community that gathers online to help people to root their faith and local service in the 7 S's of the Nazareth Community - silence, sacrament, scripture, service, sharing, sabbath and staying with.
- Monday 14 February, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM GMT. Week two details to follow.
- Monday 21 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-242405931667. Week three focuses on St Thomas' Community in Derby. St Thomas Church is based in the heart of multicultural inner-city Derby. Over the last ten years, as St Thomas church building has been restored, the St Thomas’ Community has emerged. They are a small group exploring a new approach to church based on a deep commitment to prayer, hospitality and mission. St Thomas’ Community are affiliated to the Society of the Holy Trinity. This is an acknowledged Anglican Religious Society which is a community of communities focused on: Working in urban areas, intensifying people’s discipleship, serving the mission of the local church and growing the Kingdom of God. The twelve members of St Thomas’ Community have adopted a rhythm of life based on eight commitments: To prayer and worship; to learning and reconciliation; to service and hospitality; and to work and wellbeing. Presenters: Revd Dr Simon Cartwright – Prior. Passionate about seeking to share the love of God through mission and social justice. Simon has over 25 years experience in urban ministry - starting in regeneration and now as a Prior of the Community. Parish Priest and Area Dean of Derby City. Simon has a particular interest in urban theology, new monasticism and community development. In his spare time he loves working with wood, camping and sitting around a bonfire. Beth Hawkins – Sub Prior. Beth has been part of the St Thomas’ community from its beginning, prompted by her interest in local mission and new monasticism. She has spent that last 5 years working as a stay at home mum to two children. Before that Beth mainly worked in libraries, which happily combined her love of books and desire to help people.
- 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. Religious community life for centuries has pointed to the riches of the Christian tradition. This series of four Monday afternoons 2-3.30pm will explore four contemplative communities that have emerged in the last decade that seek to anchor people in the roots of the Christian tradition with an openness, a humility and a joy. Come and immerse yourself each week in the charism of a particular community. Come ready too to share your experiences of contemplation being a gift to the church. Monday 28 February 2-3.30pm. Week Four will be led by the contemplative worshiping community of Foundation in Bristol. Foundation is a contemplative Christian community in Bristol, within the Anglican tradition. Our worship is shaped by ancient and contemporary sources, ranging from monastic and mystical traditions to creative and multimedia reflections. With a vision to be a Mystical/Contemplative, Socially Engaged, Inclusive and Creative community, we seek to be shaped by, and embody, these values through our shared life together. Contributors: Revd David Stephenson - Priest Accompanier of Foundation Bristol, Co-Interim Area Dean Bristol City Deanery, Vicar of Cotham Parish Church and St Paul’s Clifton. Simon Rotheram - Member of Foundation Bristol.
Tuesday, 15 February, 2:00pm. Register at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/being-better-neighbours-tickets-230437273087. What does it look like for Christians and our churches to be better neighbours to those in our local communities? This conversation will explore how our churches can be good neighbours, including shifting from seeing ourselves as the benefactors of local communities, to being companions, collaborative hosts and recipients of neighbourly love. Thus recognising that the Holy Spirit can work through our neighbours, as much as through confessing Christians, and noticing that the blessing is always two-way. 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.
Music and Liturgy for Lent
Saturday 19 February, 11:00 – 12:00 GMT, Sacred Trinity Church, Chapel Street, Salford M3 5DW. Register at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/music-and-liturgy-for-lent-tickets-230380122147. With Andrew Earis and the HeartEdge Choral Scholars teaching songs, hymns and chants for Lent. 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.
Theology Group
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.
Advance dates for Theology Group meetings online are: Feb 20, March 20. On 20 Feb the chair will be Rachel Godden. Register at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/theology-group-tickets-248741942847.
Find our archive of Living God’s Future Now sessions at - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWUH-ngsbTAKMxCJmoIc7mQ.
The humbler church Bigger Church series also coincides with the publication of Samuel Wells, 'Humbler Faith, Bigger God: Finding a Faith to Live By', a major new articulation of the Christian faith that sees criticism as a gift to foster renewal. https://canterburypress.hymnsam.co.uk/books/9781786224187/humbler-faith-bigger-god (Pub date 29 April 2021)
“I’m not sure who else alive could have written this book. Scholars are not usually this accessible. Pastors not usually this sharp-eyed. Critics not usually this devastating. Advocates not usually so beautiful. This unusual book calls to mind Augustine’s heart, Aquinas’s mind, Day’s activism, Temple’s leadership. You say I exaggerate? Take up and read before you tell me I’m wrong.”
— Jason Byassee, Butler Professor of Homiletics and Biblical Hermeneutics at Vancouver School of Theology
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Friday, 28 January 2022
humbler church Bigger God - w/c 30 January 2022
Welcome 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.
Sunday
Theology Reading Group
30 January 2022, 19:00-20:00, Online. Click here to register.
Join Revd Dr Sam Wells for our termly theology reading group, hosted by HeartEdge in collaboration with St Martin-in-the-Fields. Sam will lead the discussion and ask participants to share their thoughts and reflections on the book.
This term, we've selected Herbert McCabe's God Matters, essays and sermons covering themes from the problem of evil to the incarnation, Eucharistic theology to class struggle and hunger strikes.
Monday
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.
Monday 31 January 16:30 - 17:30 GMT (normally Tuesdays - please note the change for this week and next) live-streamed here.
Ableism and the Church: Disabled People and Marginalization
Monday 31 January, 15:00 ET /20:00 GMT, Zoom. Click here to register.
Ableism is discrimination and social prejudice which favours non-disabled people. In this conversation disabled ministers, academics and practitioners explore ableism and the church.
With: Rev. Tim Goode, Rector of St Margaret’s Lee and Disability Advisor to the Southwark Diocese; Fiona MacMillan, Chair of St Martin-in-the-Fields' Disability Advisory Group, Inclusive Church Trustee; Miriam Spies, University of Toronto; Sharon Becher, Independent Scholar; Lamar Hardwick, Tri-Cities Church and ‘Autism Pastor'; and Rev. Twila Smith, Partnership Canon for Mission Program, The Dioceses of WNY and NWPA.
Wednesday
Community of Practitioners workshop
Wednesday 2 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 using 'Wonderings' to reflect on the past week.
Thursday
Pioneer Practice with Jonny Baker and guests
Thursday 3 February, 20:00-21:00 (GMT), Zoom. Register here.
In our four-part webinar series, Jonny Baker will be joined each week in conversation with guests to explore on-the-ground practicalities of pioneer ministry. Come along if you’re thinking of starting a new congregation or initiative, want to brainstorm practical solutions to problems in pioneer ministry, or just want to learn more about pioneering.
Coming soon
Faith in the time of the 'new normal'
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.
During Lent, four sessions will take place at the Queen's chapel and will also be streamed live to groups gathered in person or online. Resources will be provided for the weeks where there are no hosted sessions.
Each live session will run 7-8:45pm and will include a 30-minute talk plus 50 minutes for reflection in groups.
Register here.
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Bill Fay - Salt Of The Earth.
Saturday, 22 January 2022
humbler church Bigger God - w/c 23 January 2022
We're looking forward to welcoming you to an exciting new HeartEdge programme for 2022 and 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. 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.
Sunday
Theology Group
Zoom,
Sunday 23 January, 19:00-20:00 GMT
Register here.
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. This month, the chair will be Wendy Quill and we will explore how we might bring Mary into theology in a way that celebrates rather than ignores her vital role in the life of Christ.
Monday
Church History course
Zoom
Monday 24 January, 19:45 - 21:00 GMT
Register here.
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? With Ruth Gouldbourne, who has been a Baptist minister for more than 30 years. Week 1 Introduction; why church history?
Tuesday
Sermon Preparation workshop with Sally Hitchiner and Sam Wells
Livestream
Tuesday 25 January, 16:30 -17:30 GMT
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 share thoughts on approaches to the passages.
Wednesday
Community of Practitioners workshop
Zoom
Wednesday 26 January, 16:00-17:00 GMT
Email Jonathan Evens on jonathan.evens@smitf.org to take part.
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.
Thursday
Pioneer Practice
Zoom
Thursday 27 January, 20:00-21:10 GMT
Register here.
In our four-part webinar series, Jonny Baker will be joined each week in conversation with guests to explore on-the-ground practicalities of pioneer ministry. Come along if you’re thinking of starting a new congregation or initiative, want to brainstorm practical solutions to problems in pioneer ministry, or just want to learn more about pioneering.
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Delirious? - Stare The Monster Down.
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