Between: inspired to follow

Showing posts with label inspired to follow. Show all posts

Saturday, 11 December 2021

Living God's Future Now - w/c 12 December 2021

Living God’s Future Now is our online festival of theology, ideas and practice. Join us for talks, workshops and discussions. Living God's Future Now is designed to equip, encourage and energise churches—from leaders to volunteers and enquirers—at the heart and on the edge.

The online programme includes:

Regular weekly workshops: Sermon Preparation (Tuesdays) and Community of Practitioners (Wednesdays)
One-off workshops on topics relevant to lockdown such as ‘Growing online communities’ and ‘Grief, Loss & Remembering’

Find recordings of earlier Living God’s Future Now sessions here.

For future events, check out the revamped events section of our website. HeartEdge partners can now promote their own events through the HeartEdge website. Just log in to the Partners' Area to submit your event details for both online and in-person events.

Tuesday

Sam and Sally's Sermon Preparation Workshop
Livestream
Tuesday 14 December, 16:30-17:30 (GMT)
Livestreamed on HE Facebook Page here.

Sam Wells and Sally Hitchiner discuss this Sunday's readings and offer practical tips on preaching.

Wednesday

Community of Practitioners
Zoom
Wednesday 15 December 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 work of theology. This week we will be discussing the first three chapters of Wendell Berry's The Hidden Wound, an extended essay on racism in the United States. Newcomers are very welcome.

Friday

Inspired to Follow: The Four Last Things
Zoom
Friday 17 December, 16.30-17.30 (GMT)
Register here.
This four-week course explores the big themes of Advent—death, judgement, heaven and hell—using fine art paintings from the National Gallery, Biblical stories, theological reflection and conversation with others. This final session will explore the theme of Hell through reflection on Luke 16:19-30 and ‘The Rich Man being led to Hell’ by David Teniers the Younger. All are welcome.

Sunday

Theology Group
In-person at St Martin-in-the-Fields Church Hall.
Sunday 19 December, 12:00-13:00
Join us after Sunday's service at St Martin-at-the-Fields for a conversation on eschatology with Sam Wells and Sheppard Scholar Rose Lyddon, chaired by Lawrence Warner, Professor of Medieval English at King's College London and a member of our congregation at St Martin's. The season of Advent calls us to reflect not only on the incarnation of Christ, but also on his second adventus at the end of days. How do we understand the end of the world today in the face of climate crisis and pandemic? How does the Last Judgement relate to heaven, hell and salvation? Are we in an age of secular eschatology and, if so, how should we engage with these issues as Christians? We'll kick off the discussion at 12.00 in the Church Hall after coffee.

Coming up soon

Pioneer Practice with Jonny Baker and Guests | Zoom
13 January — 3 February

Pioneer Practice is a four-week series of webinars exploring the practicalities of on the ground pioneer ministry. 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. Register here to attend the series and for access to recordings.

Catch up with missed sessions...

Why not catch up with the lectures, workshops and conversation you've missed in the last 14 months or so? If you head over to one of the following platforms you will find a wealth of resources that will inspire and equip for your work, whether you are ordained, lay, or simply enquiring.

Facebook | YouTube | St Martin's Digital

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Julie Miller - River Where Mercy Flows.

Saturday, 4 December 2021

Living God's Future Now - w/c 5 December 2021

Living God’s Future Now is the HeartEdge online festival of theology, ideas and practice. Join us for talks, workshops and discussions. Living God's Future Now is designed to equip, encourage and energise churches—from leaders to volunteers and enquirers—at the heart and on the edge.

The online programme includes:

Regular weekly workshops: Sermon Preparation (Tuesdays) and Community of Practitioners (Wednesdays)
One-off workshops on topics relevant to lockdown such as ‘Growing online communities’ and ‘Grief, Loss & Remembering’

13 January: Be You
20 January: See
27 January: Build
3 February: Change

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.

Catch up with missed sessions...

Why not catch up with the lectures, workshops and conversation you've missed in the last 14 months or so? If you head over to one of the following platforms you will find a wealth of resources that will inspire and equip for your work, whether you are ordained, lay, or simply enquiring.

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theHeartEdge
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWUH-ngsbTAKMxCJmoIc7mQ
St Martin's Digital - https://stmartins.digital/heartedge/

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Chrissie Hynde - Every Grain Of Sand.

Friday, 19 November 2021

Living God's Future Now: w/c 21 November 2021

Weekly events (Sunday 21st November)

Living God’s Future Now is our online festival of theology, ideas and practice. Join us for talks, workshops and discussions. Living God's Future Now is designed to equip, encourage and energise churches—from leaders to volunteers and enquirers—at the heart and on the edge.

The online programme includes:

Regular weekly workshops: Sermon Preparation (Tuesdays) and Community of Practitioners (Wednesdays)
One-off workshops on topics relevant to lockdown such as ‘Growing online communities’ and ‘Grief, Loss & Remembering’

Find recordings of earlier Living God’s Future Now sessions here.

For future events, check out the revamped events section of our website. HeartEdge partners can now promote their own events through the HeartEdge website. Just log in to the Partners' Area to submit your event details for both online and in-person events.

What's on this week
Sunday

Theology Group
Sunday 21 November, 12:00-13:00
In-person at St Martin-in-the-Fields Church Hall.

Join us after Sunday's service at St Martin-at-the-Fields for a conversation with Sam Wells on the theology behind the Feast of Christ the King. What do we mean by the kingship and sovereignty of God? How can we understand temporal power and authority in the light of Christ's kingship? We will start at 12.00 in the Church Hall after coffee.

Monday

HeartEdge Culture Clinic
Monday 22 November, 11:00-12:00 (GMT), Zoom.
Register here.

Culture Clinic is the new monthly offer for anyone and everyone looking for support in developing their church cultural engagement— from setting up a gallery space to hosting gigs, comedy or movie nights. The Clinic offers practical 1:1 support with Sarah Rogers, HeartEdge Culture Development Coordinator.

Tuesday

Sam and Sally's Sermon Preparation Workshop
Tuesday 23 November, 16:30-17:30 (GMT)
Livestreamed on the HeartEdge Facebook Page.

Sam Wells and Sally Hitchiner discuss this Sunday's readings and offer practical tips on preaching.

Wednesday

Community of Practitioners
Wednesday 24 November 16:00-17:00 (GMT)
Email Rose Lyddon here 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 work of theology. This week will be an informal sharing space focused on 'Wonderings', which help us to reflect and pray on what has stood out for each of us in the last week. Newcomers are very welcome.

Friday

Inspired to Follow: The Four Last Things
Friday 26 November, 16.30-17.30, Zoom.
Register here.

This four-week course explores the big themes of Advent—death, judgement, heaven and hell—using fine art paintings from the National Gallery, Biblical stories, theological reflection and conversation with others. This Friday we begin to reflect on the theme of death, considering Mark 15:33-45 and Rembrandt's The Lamentation over the Dead Christ. All are welcome.

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T-Bone Burnett - Power of Love.

Tuesday, 6 April 2021

Visual Arts and HeartEdge (2)

HeartEdge is programming some excellent sessions on the visual arts over the next few weeks:

Art and the Liturgical Year: Bringing the Church Kalendar to Life
Monday, April 26th, 3:00pm EDT

Please register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/149461829355.

The visual arts have the power to change our perceptions and even transport us to unfamiliar places. Think about how you feel when you sit quietly and contemplate a stained-glass window or wander the halls of an art museum. Art offers us opportunities to transform our vision and perspective and to step into someone else’s shoes and community.

Imagine the way art influences our thinking about our faith - a painting in an English cathedral will likely bring a much different perspective of Jesus than one portrayed in a Coptic icon. In viewing each, we expand our vision of what our faith means and how different cultures express fundamental truths. Art is a means to stir our imagination and bring fresh meaning to our faith.

During this workshop, our panel will discuss engaging artists with parishes and congregations to explore art in the context of the Church calendar. We’ll also look at how our liturgical year can be a source of inspiration for artists and explore how artists can use their talents to open up our understandings of the faith in new ways.

Attendees will leave with tangible approaches to using visual arts in conjunction with scripture and our Church calendar to bring concepts from the liturgical year to life for congregations. Learn how exhibitions and installations can amplify the message of seasons like Advent or Lent and hear how this work benefits both artists and congregations. This workshop is presented by the CEEP Network in partnership with the HeartEdge Network and CARAVAN.

Panelists include:

Janet Broderick - Rector, All Saints Beverly Hills; Beverly Hills, California
Paul-Gordon Chandler - Bishop, Diocese of Wyoming; Jackson Hole, Wyoming (moderator)
Catriona Laing - Chaplain, St. Martha & St. Mary’s Anglican Church Leuven; Associate Chaplain, Holy Trinity Brussels; Brussels, Belgium
Ben Quash - Professor, Christianity and the Arts & Director, Center for Arts and the Sacred, King’s College London; Director, Visual Commentary on Scripture Project; London, United Kingdom
Aaron Rosen - Professor, Religion and Visual Culture; Director, Henry Luce III Center for the Arts and Religion, Wesley Theological Seminary; Co-founder, Stations of the Cross Public Art Project; Washington, D.C.

Introducing the Visual Commentary on Scripture

Thu, 29 April 2021, 14:00 – 15:30 BST. Register for a Zoom invite at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/introducing-the-visual-commentary-on-scripture-tickets-148377347641.

The Visual Commentary on Scripture, TheVCS.org, is the first online project to introduce visitors to the entirety of Christian Scripture in the company of art and artists.

Celebrated with a launch event in November 2018 at Tate Modern, TheVCS.org seeks to connect the worlds of art and religion as a ground-breaking resource for scholars, educators, churches and interested readers looking for insightful, original explorations of art and the Bible.

In this talk, Canon Ben Quash, the project’s director, will share some of the challenges and discoveries he has encountered so far in this ambitious undertaking.

Ben Quash came to King’s College London as its first Professor of Christianity and the Arts in 2007. Prior to that, he was a Fellow of Fitzwilliam College and then of Peterhouse, Cambridge, and lecturer in the Faculty of Divinity in the University of Cambridge. He is fascinated by how the arts can renew people’s engagement with the Bible and Christian tradition, and is directing a major 7-year project to create an online Visual Commentary on Scripture. He runs an MA in Christianity and the Arts in association with the National Gallery, London, and broadcasts frequently on BBC radio. He is a Trustee of Art and Christianity Enquiry, and Canon Theologian of both Coventry and Bradford Cathedrals.

His publications include Abiding: The Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent Book 2013 (Bloomsbury, 2012) and Found Theology: History, Imagination and the Holy Spirit (T&T Clark, 2014), and he has written catalogue essays for exhibitions at Ben Uri Gallery, London, the Inigo Rooms in Somerset House, and the Vatican Pavilion at the Venice Biennale 2015.

Inspired to Follow: Art and the Bible Story

‘Inspired to Follow: Art and the Bible Story’ helps people explore the Christian faith, using paintings and Biblical story as the starting points. The course uses fine art paintings in the National Gallery’s collection as a springboard for exploring questions of faith.

Register for a Zoom invitation at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/inspired-to-follow-art-and-the-bible-story-tickets-148401610211.

Sunday 2 May, Session 16: The Resurrection. Text: Luke 24:25-35. Image: ‘The Supper at Emmaus’, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, 1601, NG172.
Sunday 9 May, Session 17: The Ascension. Text: Acts 1:1-12. Image: ‘The Incredulity of Saint Thomas’, Giovanni Battista Cima da Conegliano, about.1502-4, NG816.
Sunday 16 May, Session 18: Pentecost. Text: Acts 2:1-39 (extracts). Image: ‘Pentecost’, Giotto and Workshop, about.1310-18, NG5360.
Sunday 23 May, Session 19: Death of Stephen. Text: Acts 6:8 – 7:60 (extracts). Image: ‘The Martyrdom of Saint Stephen’, Possibly by Antonio Carracci, about1610, NG77.
Sunday 30 May, Session 20: Saint Peter. Text: Acts 10:30-48. Image: ‘Christ appearing to Saint Peter on the Appian Way (Domine, Quo Vadis?)’, Annibale Carracci, 1601-2, NG9.
Sunday 6 June, Session 21: Saint Paul. Text: Acts 9:1-19. Image: ‘The Conversion of Saint Paul’, Karel Dujardin, 1662, NG6296.
Sunday 13 June, Session 22: The New Jerusalem. Text: Revelation 21:1-5, 9-11, 22-27, & 22:1-5. Image: ‘Christ Glorified in the Court of Heaven’; central predella panel, probably by Fra Angelico, about 1423-4, NG663.1.

Navigating the Dark: A conversation between an artist and a theologian

Thu, 6 May 2021, 19:00 – 20:00 BST. Register for a Zoom invite at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/navigating-the-dark-tickets-148323582829.

Join us as artist Jake Lever is interviewed by Dr Paula Gooder, Chancellor of St Paul’s Cathedral, London.

Jake Lever is an artist who is interested in the power of visual art to draw us into an encounter with the sacred. He seeks to make work that invites a slowing down, a return to the liminal and the "real". During the pandemic, he has developed a new participatory project, making hundreds of tiny, gilded boats that people have sent by post as tokens of love, gratitude and solidarity to family and friends around the world. Website: www.leverarts.org.

Dr Paula Gooder is a writer and lecturer in Biblical Studies. Her research areas focus on the writings of Paul the Apostle, with a particular focus on 2 Corinthians and on Paul’s understanding of the Body. Her passion is to ignite people’s enthusiasm for reading the Bible today, by presenting the best of biblical scholarship in an accessible and interesting way. She is currently the Chancellor of St Paul’s Cathedral in London. Website: www.gooder.me.uk.

Art, Scripture and Contemporary Issues

In a short series, curators for the Visual Commentary on Scripture will speak about their experience of curating for VCS in order to assist in understanding more deeply the value and potential uses to which the VCS exhibitions can be put by churches.

The sessions will demonstrate a central premise of the VCS’s approach i.e. that the ‘world(s)’ of experience and action that the Scriptures describe can speak meaningfully to the ‘world(s)’ that present-day interpreters of the Scriptures continue to inhabit; and that the ‘world(s)’ to which art has responded in every epoch can speak meaningfully to both.

Session 1: Tue, 11 May 2021, 14:00 – 15:00 BST. Register for a Zoom invite at: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/art-scripture-and-contemporary-issues-tickets-149131206453?aff=erelpanelorg. In this session Deborah Lewer will speak about her experience of curating an exhibition on Proverbs 11 exploring why she made the choices and decisions she did in relation to both text and images. Proverbs 11 is part of the oldest collection of proverbs in the book. It opens with a statement about the righteousness of true and accurate measures: Yahweh abhors a ‘false balance’ and delights in ‘an accurate weight’. Balance, uprightness, constancy, steadfastness, and diligence are characteristic of the ordered worldview of the proverbs. When their equilibrium is upset—by wickedness, crookedness, cruelty, avarice, folly, and violence—the ensuing consequences are both just and inevitable. Debbie is Senior Lecturer in History of Art at the University of Glasgow. In addition to her specialism in 20th-century German art, she is interested in relationships between visual art, faith and theology. She works extensively as a retreat leader and with churches, clergy and ordinands to open up the potential of a wide spectrum of visual art in worship, theological reflection and in pastoral contexts.

Session 2: Thu, May 13, 2021, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM BST. Register for a Zoom invite at: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/art-scripture-contemporary-issues-tickets-149683719033. In this session Caleb Froehlich will speak about his experience of curating the Cities of Refuge exhibition exploring why he made the choices and decisions he did in relation to both text and images. Numbers 35, Joshua 20, and Deuteronomy 4:41–43 record the appointment of six Levitical cities as ‘cities of refuge’ to ensure that if there was an accidental killing, the accused killer could flee to one of these cities and be protected from the menace of the ‘avenger of blood’. This session will consider the provisions of the biblical cities of refuge from the perspective of sanctuary-seekers. Caleb Froehlich is a researcher for the St Andrews Encyclopaedia of Theology and an editor for De Gruyter’s Encyclopedia of the Bible and its Reception. He holds a PhD in Religion, Art, and Culture from the University of St Andrews and has two principal areas of research: the intersection between religion and popular culture (with a focus on twentieth and twenty-first century religious history) and culturally engaged theology (with a focus on art and media as spiritual, religious, and/or theological in potentia).

Session 3: Tue, 25 May 2021, 14:00 – 15:00 BSThttps://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/art-scripture-contemporary-issues-tickets-148748287131?aff=erelpanelorg. In this session Susanna Snyder will speak about her experience of curating the Ruth 3-4 exhibition exploring why she made the choices and decisions she did in relation to both text and images. The brevity of the book of Ruth belies its significance. It offers an answer to some of the most important questions the people of Israel grapple with throughout the Old Testament. How are we to respond to refugees? How should we understand and inhabit boundaries? Susanna Snyder is Lecturer in Ethics and Theology at Ripon College, Cuddesdon, and an Associate of the Centre for Theology and Modern European Thought, University of Oxford.

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T Bone Burnett - Image.

Monday, 29 March 2021

Visual Arts and HeartEdge

HeartEdge is programming some excellent sessions on the visual arts over the next few weeks:

Stations of the Cross

Thu, 1 April 2021, 16:00 – 17:30 BST. Register for a Zoom invite at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/stations-of-the-cross-tickets-147886712137.

Monuments to the Future, Global, 2021, is an exhibition that uses art and reflection to explore the way in which, for people of all faiths and none, the Stations of the Cross speak into issues of injustice.

The exhibition takes viewers on a virtual journey around the world. Each station responds to a monument or memorial, reflecting a tumultuous year in which fresh memorials sprung up to grieve the dead and historic monuments to prejudice were toppled and dismantled.

In this workshop Revd Dr Catriona Laing, Dr Aaron Rosen and guest artists featured in the exhibition will reflect on the relevance of the Stations of the Cross, the way in which they speak into issues of injustice and the virtues of the physical experience of the first four years versus this year’s online experience.

Revd Dr Catriona Laing’s call to the priesthood was influenced by her desire to join those building the Kingdom of God with the poor and marginalized. Her academic interests, which stem from a childhood spent in the Middle East, are in the area of Muslim Christian relations and specifically the role of prayer in deepening inter-faith relations. Before coming to Brussels, she worked in parishes in London and Washington D.C.. In addition to serving St Martha & St Mary’s Anglican Church Leuven, Catriona is Associate Chaplain at Holy Trinity with a particular remit to encourage the chaplaincy’s social justice ministry.

Dr. Aaron Rosen is Professor of Religion & Visual Culture and Director of the Henry Luce III Center for the Arts & Religion at Wesley Theological Seminary. As director of the Luce Center, he overseas research, teaching, and outreach, as well as exhibitions at the seminary's Dadian Gallery. He is also Visiting Professor at King’s College London, where he was previously Senior Lecturer in Sacred Traditions & the Arts and Deputy Director of the Center for the Arts and the Sacred.

Inspired to Follow: Art and the Bible Story

‘Inspired to Follow: Art and the Bible Story’ helps people explore the Christian faith, using paintings and Biblical story as the starting points. The course uses fine art paintings in the National Gallery’s collection as a springboard for exploring questions of faith.

Register for a Zoom invitation at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/inspired-to-follow-art-and-the-bible-story-tickets-148401610211.

Sunday 2 May, Session 16: The Resurrection. Text: Luke 24:25-35. Image: ‘The Supper at Emmaus’, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, 1601, NG172.

Sunday 9 May, Session 17: The Ascension. Text: Acts 1:1-12. Image: ‘The Incredulity of Saint Thomas’, Giovanni Battista Cima da Conegliano, about.1502-4, NG816.

Sunday 16 May, Session 18: Pentecost. Text: Acts 2:1-39 (extracts). Image: ‘Pentecost’, Giotto and Workshop, about.1310-18, NG5360.

Sunday 23 May, Session 19: Death of Stephen. Text: Acts 6:8 – 7:60 (extracts). Image: ‘The Martyrdom of Saint Stephen’, Possibly by Antonio Carracci, about1610, NG77.

Sunday 30 May, Session 20: Saint Peter. Text: Acts 10:30-48. Image: ‘Christ appearing to Saint Peter on the Appian Way (Domine, Quo Vadis?)’, Annibale Carracci, 1601-2, NG9.

Sunday 6 June, Session 21: Saint Paul. Text: Acts 9:1-19. Image: ‘The Conversion of Saint Paul’, Karel Dujardin, 1662, NG6296.

Sunday 13 June, Session 22: The New Jerusalem. Text: Revelation 21:1-5, 9-11, 22-27, & 22:1-5. Image: ‘Christ Glorified in the Court of Heaven’; central predella panel, probably by Fra Angelico, about 1423-4, NG663.1.

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The Band - When I Paint My Masterpiece.

Tuesday, 9 February 2021

Lent Courses: St Martin-in-the-Fields and HeartEdge

There are a wealth of options for Lent available through St Martin-in-the-Fields and HeartEdge:

Lent Study Course 2021 - St Martin-in-the-Fields

When I first read Stephen Verney’s book “Water into Wine” it changed the way I read this Gospel. He helped me to see for myself: “heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” Stephen Verney talks about his love affair with John’s Gospel that lasted all of his life and his book helps to enter into that love too- tasting the water which through Christ has become the best wine of all and to understand John’s Gospel in a new way.

This thoughtful, insightful and beautifully written book is the product of a life-time’s immersion in the Gospel; ‘Stephen Verney’s life was a stained-glass window through which St John’s Gospel Light flowed in abundance”.

Wednesdays 6.30 – 8.45pm (online)
17, 24 February, 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 March

17 February – Ash Wednesday: Come and See
24 February – Water into Wine- An Introduction (John1-2.11)
3 March- Born from Above (John 2.12-4.45)
10 March- Healing (John 4.46-9)
17 March- Freedom (John10-12.50)
24 March- Transformative Love (John 13-17)
31 March- Life through Death (John 18-20, 1.1-18)

Click here to book your place

Inspired to Follow: Who is my neighbour?

A course which journeys through Lent by exploring different dimensions of the question, ‘Who is my neighbour?’

Inspired to Follow: ‘Who is my Neighbour? – A journey through Lent’ – Sundays in Lent, 14:00 (GMT), Zoom meeting.

Register here to receive a zoom invitation - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/inspired-to-follow-who-is-my-neighbour-tickets-133589749537.

‘Inspired to Follow: Art and the Bible Story’ helps people explore the Christian faith, using paintings and Biblical story as the starting points. The course uses fine art paintings in the National Gallery’s collection as a spring board for exploring questions of faith.

Sunday 21 February: Session 1 - Being Waited on by Angel Neighbours
Sunday 28 February: Session 2 - Being a Neighbour to Those Close to Us
Sunday 7 March: Session 3 - Giving Hospitality to Strangers
Sunday 14 March: Session 4 - Standing Up for the Oppressed
Sunday 21 March: Session 5 - Carrying Another’s Load (Simon of Cyrene)
Sunday 28 March: Session 6 - Being a Neighbour to Those on the Road

Lent Course: Creating a New Communion

Lent 2021 at HeartEdge

Tuesdays @ 10.00am GMT for 90 minutes

23 February, 02 March, 09 March, 16 March, 23 March

Register for a zoom invite at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lent-course-creating-a-new-communion-tickets-138238445913.

Creating a New Communion

Exploring how generosity, gratitude, giving and fundraising call us into communion with God and with one another.

Suitably for clergy and lay leaders

Inspired by Henri Nouwen and his wonderful book The Spirituality of Fundraising join this five-session free online study and discussion series, hosted by HeartEdge, and facilitated by the Dioceses of Hereford and York.

Through Lent we’ll explore together Nouwen’s deep conviction that the ground of our common humanity and our life’s work is to accept the “call to be deeply, deeply connected with unconditional love, with our own fragile humanity, and with brothers and sisters everywhere.” What does this mean for you? For your ministry? For the church of today? For generosity, gratitude, giving and fundraising?

Here are the contributors:

Jo Beacroft Mitchell, Generous Giving Team Leader, Diocese of York – Having worked extensively with churches as they develop their mission and funding programmes, Through the course, Jo is keen to explore how the often necessary and challenging discussions around our practical needs as communities of faith, can in fact lead to transformative discussions about what we are ‘for’ as a church and what it means to live out an incarnational and practical faith in community with others.

Stewart Graham, is Director of Fundraising at The Archbishop of York Youth Trust. An experienced fundraiser in individual giving, legacies and donor relationships and partnerships, he focuses on changing cultures to inspire and engage people to fundraise and to look at how they can help change the world!

Richard Jones is Lead Parish Giving Adviser within the Diocese of Hereford. He is currently negotiating the challenges of emigration to the USA amidst politics and pandemic! He has previously served within two dioceses within the Church in Wales; altogether working with matters of generous giving and stewardship for eighteen years. He is passionate about resourcing the mission and ministry of the church, especially the rural church – which is fortunate as he now serves in the most rural diocese within all of the Church of England!

Mark Simmons is Parish Giving Adviser (Ministry Development) within the Diocese of Hereford and brings a wealth of experience from his many voluntary and paid roles including his role as Chair of the UK & Ireland board of the Community of the Cross of Nails. He is an experienced mediator and negotiator, he has worked mostly in peace building, international development, human rights, and educational leadership, notably in youth leadership programmes in North Africa, the Middle East and Europe. He has spent the last two years training for local licensed ministry and is a serving Churchwarden at his local village church in rural Herefordshire.

Pre-session reading of ‘The Spirituality of Fundraising’, by Henri Nouwen although not essential, is recommended.

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Water Into Wine Band - I Have Seen The Lord.

Sunday, 17 January 2021

Art, theology and preaching

I was asked recently about resources for bringing together art, theology and preaching.

The request came from someone already using 'Inspired to Follow: Art and the Bible Story' a free resource to help people explore the Christian faith, using paintings and Biblical story as the starting points. It’s been created by St Martin-in-the-Fields in partnership with the National Gallery. The course uses fine art paintings in the National Gallery’s collection, along with a theological reflection and a Biblical text, as a spring board for exploring these two questions:

How can I deepen my faith in God?
What does it mean to follow Jesus today?

Find out more at https://www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org/life-st-martins/discipleship/inspired-to-follow/.

Additionally I suggested the following:

The Visual Commentary on Scripture as a great resource for bringing together art, theology and preaching - https://thevcs.org/. The Visual Commentary on Scripture (VCS) is a freely accessible online publication that provides theological commentary on the Bible in dialogue with works of art.

The Visual Meditations at the Artway site (some of which I have written) are always good value - https://www.artway.eu/artway.php?lang=en.

Former Vicar at St Martin's +Nicholas Holtam wrote a book of reflections on paintings in the National Gallery's collection - https://www.nationalgallery.co.uk/products/the-art-of-worship-paintings-prayers-and-readings-for-meditation-hb/p_1032035.

The Art of Worship: Paintings, Prayers, and Readings for Meditation represents a unique collaboration between two famous Trafalgar Square institutions: the National Gallery and the church of St Martin-in-the-Fields. In this beautifully illustrated book, the Reverend Nicholas Holtam – then vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields – presents his favourite paintings from the National Gallery.

I find Sister Wendy Beckett's books of meditations on art helpful. As you'll be aware there are many of them. The Art of Lent is the one for this season - https://spckpublishing.co.uk/the-art-of-lent - but 'Art and the Sacred' and 'The Gaze of Love' are also great.

Join Sister Wendy on a journey through Lent, and discover the timeless wisdom to be found in some of the world’s greatest paintings. Illustrated in full colour with over forty famous and lesser-known masterpieces of Western art, this beautiful book will lead you into a deeply prayerful response to all that these paintings convey to the discerning eye.

Stephen Cottrell's Christ in the Wilderness is a book in a similar vein - https://spckpublishing.co.uk/christ-in-the-wilderness

The Calvin Institute of Worship has a useful page on Art that Preaches - https://worship.calvin.edu/resources/resource-library/art-that-preaches
Art That Preaches. Call it "the preacher's friend." Certain types of visual art are especially good for helping people worship because they direct attention beyond the artist or artwork to God.

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Nickel Creek - He Will Listen To You.

Friday, 27 November 2020

Living God's Future Now - December 2020

Living God's Future Now - December 2020

'Living God’s Future Now’ is HeartEdge's mini online festival of theology, ideas and practice.

We’ve developed this in response to the pandemic and our changing world. The church is changing too, and - as we improvise and experiment - we can learn and support each other.

This is 'Living God’s Future Now’ - talks, workshops and discussion - hosted by HeartEdge. Created to equip, encourage and energise churches - from leaders to volunteers and enquirers - at the heart and on the edge.

The focal event in ‘Living God’s Future Now’ is a monthly conversation where Sam Wells explores what it means to improvise on God’s kingdom with a leading theologian or practitioner.

The online programme includes:

Regular weekly workshops: Biblical Studies (Mondays), Sermon Preparation (Tuesdays) and Community of Practitioners (Wednesdays)
One-off workshops on topics relevant to lockdown such as ‘Growing online communities’ and ‘Grief, Loss & Remembering’
Monthly HeartEdge dialogue featuring Sam Wells in conversation with a noted theologian or practitioner

Find earlier Living God’s Future Now sessions at https://www.facebook.com/pg/theHeartEdge/videos/?ref=page_internal.

Weekly

Mondays: Biblical Studies class, 19:30-21:00 (GMT), Zoom meeting. Register in advance: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMrcOmgrTgsHt2ceY7LepLhQYqQxS1G1ix9.
Tuesdays: Sermon Preparation Workshop, 16:30 (GMT), livestreamed at https://www.facebook.com/theHeartEdge/.
Wednesdays: Community of Practitioners workshop, 16:30 (GMT), Zoom meeting. Email jonathan.evens@smitf.org to register.

December

Inspired to Follow: Art and the Bible Story: Sunday 6 December, 14:00 (GMT), Zoom meeting - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/inspired-to-follow-advent-course-tickets-126549205079. ‘The Advent Wreath’ exploring the Patriarchs, the Prophets, John the Baptist and Mary. Session 2, The Prophets - Isaiah 53:1-12. ‘The Forerunners of Christ with Saints and Martyrs’ probably by Fra Angelico, around 1423-4, NG663.3. ‘Inspired to Follow: Art and the Bible Story’ helps people explore the Christian faith, using paintings and Biblical story as the starting points. The course uses fine art paintings in the National Gallery’s collection as a spring board for exploring questions of faith.

‘Living God’s Future Now’ - HeartEdge monthly dialogue: Thursday 10 December, 18:00 (GMT), Zoom meeting - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/living-gods-future-now-conversation-steve-chalke-tickets-128886385649. Sam Wells in dialogue on improvising the kingdom with Steve Chalke. Rev Steve Chalke is a Baptist minister, former United Nations' Special Adviser on Human Trafficking and founder of Oasis - a community transformation movement, working in and beyond the UK across Housing, Education, and anti-trafficking and much more. He was awarded an MBE in 2004, installed as an ecumenical Canon of Southwark Cathedral in 2017 and most recently was awarded the Spirit of London award.

Inspired to Follow: Art and the Bible Story: Sunday 13 December, 16:00 (GMT), Zoom meeting - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/inspired-to-follow-advent-course-tickets-126549205079. ‘The Advent Wreath’ exploring the Patriarchs, the Prophets, John the Baptist and Mary. Session 3, John the Baptist - Mark 6:14-29. ‘Salome receives the Head of John the Baptist’ Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, about 1609-10, NG6389. ‘Inspired to Follow: Art and the Bible Story’ helps people explore the Christian faith, using paintings and Biblical story as the starting points. The course uses fine art paintings in the National Gallery’s collection as a spring board for exploring questions of faith.

Theology Group: Sunday 13 December, 18:00 (GMT), zoom - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/st-martin-in-the-fields-heartedge-theology-group-tickets-130239589117. An opportunity to reflect theologically on issues of today and questions of forever with Sam Wells, who will be responding to questions from Alaine Dodds, a member of the congregation of St Martin-in-the-Fields. Alaine will also chair the session and encourage your comments and questions.

Inspired to Follow: Art and the Bible Story: Sunday 20 December, 16:00 (GMT), Zoom meeting - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/inspired-to-follow-advent-course-tickets-126549205079. ‘The Advent Wreath’ exploring the Patriarchs, the Prophets, John the Baptist and Mary. Session 4, Mary - Matthew 2:1-15. ‘The Flight into Egypt’ Workshop of Goossen van der Weyden, about 1516, NG1084. ‘Inspired to Follow: Art and the Bible Story’ helps people explore the Christian faith, using paintings and Biblical story as the starting points. The course uses fine art paintings in the National Gallery’s collection as a spring board for exploring questions of faith.

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Robert Randolph and the Family Band - Baptise Me.

Sunday, 1 November 2020

Inspired to Follow: Art and the Bible Story - Sin

Here's the reflection from today's 'Inspired to Follow: Art and the Bible Story' session based on the National Gallery's 'Sin' exhibition:

‘Inspired to Follow: Art and the Bible Story’
Session 3: Sin

Text: Song of Songs 7
Image: Bronzino. An Allegory with Venus and Cupid. About 1545. © The National Gallery, London

Reflection:

There’s a lot of sex in scripture, as there is, too, in the ‘Sin’ exhibition. In many people’s minds sin and sex have become irretrievably intertwined. 1 Corinthians 6.8 tells us to flee from sexual immorality and for many in our culture, that might sum up their understanding of Christianity’s view of sex; one that is sexually repressive in the extreme. Yet, the Bible includes reference to a wide range of consensual and non-consensual sexual activity. The Bible often reflects the norms of the patriarchal society in which its stories and laws were first made while, at other points, challenges patriarchy and advocates mutuality and equality within relationships.

Song of Songs, also known as The Song of Solomon, encapsulates some of this ambiguity being an erotic love song which has often been neutered by being viewed as an allegory of God’s love for his people. The reference to Solomon is unlikely to relate to its creation, although the wedding of Solomon is described. It reminds us, however, of some of the ways in which Bible stories link sex and sin. Solomon was born from the adulterous relationship between King David and Bathsheba which resulted in David commanding the murder of Bathsheba’s husband. Solomon was known both for his wisdom and for his 700 wives and 300 concubines. The Book of Kings claims that these relationships led Solomon into idolatry. Song of Songs is set at the beginning of a relationship and expresses open sexual longing and desire in the context of a first coming together. Yet we also find references to concubines and violence meaning that this poem is not entirely free of patriarchy and power.

A similar combination of ambiguity about sex and sensuality is apparent in Bronzino’s Allegory with Venus and Cupid. Bronzino was the leading painter of mid-16th-century Florence and is classed as a Mannerist. The refined and stylish artificiality associated with Mannerism can be best appreciated in this 'Allegory' but his frescoes and other religious paintings are also stylish, carefully designed works. An example is his 'Madonna and Child' in the National Gallery’s Collection, where the pose of the Virgin and Child chastely mirrors the sensuality of Venus and Cupid in the Allegory. As a result, the Allegory has been called the ‘anti-Virgin and Child’.

The Allegory is one of Bronzino’s most complex and enigmatic paintings. Its intended meaning is not entirely certain. It is likely to be the painting mentioned in Vasari’s ‘Life of Bronzino’ of 1568: ‘He made a picture of singular beauty, which was sent to King Francis in France; in which was a nude Venus with Cupid kissing her, and on one side Pleasure and Play with other Loves; and on the other, Fraud, Jealousy, and other passions of love.’ The erotic yet erudite subject matter of the painting was well suited to the tastes of King Francis I of France, who was notoriously lecherous. It was probably sent to him as a gift from Cosimo I de‘ Medici, ruler of Florence, who employed Bronzino as a court painter.

The picture contains a tangle of moral messages, presented in a sexually explicit image. Venus, goddess of love, steals an arrow from her son Cupid’s quiver as she kisses him on the lips. Venus holds the golden apple which Paris presented to her as the most beautiful of all goddesses. Cupid squats with his bare buttocks provocatively thrust out and fondles Venus’ breast, squeezing her nipple as he returns her kiss, while attempting to steal her crown. The masks at Venus’ feet suggest that she and Cupid exploit lust to mask deception. The smiling little boy with the anklet of bells is foolish Pleasure, who is about to shower the pair with rose petals. He doesn’t seem to notice the thorn piercing his right foot – Pleasure is frequently followed by Pain. Fraud or Deceit, the pretty girl behind Pleasure, offers Cupid a honeycomb. However, her concealed serpent’s body suggests that her offer of sweetness literally has a sting in its tail. In the background is winged Father Time, identified by his hourglass. He holds a blue cloth with which he attempts either to conceal or reveal this series of deceits. He glares towards another figure in the background whose head appears to have no back or contents and who may represent Oblivion, also holding the cloth. Time may be attempting to stop Oblivion from concealing Venus and Cupid’s actions.

The figure clutching their head behind Cupid has been variously identified as Suffering, Jealously and Syphilis, displaying some of the symptoms of the disease. However, such an overt reference to syphilis would have been inappropriate in a painting for the French king – the illness was known at the time as ‘the French disease’ because it was believed to have been brought to Italy by French troops. The painting’s message may have been about Beauty curbing Passion to protect us from Jealousy, Fraud and Folly, and enabling Time to combat the Oblivion that Passion entails. Equally it may be about the painful consequences of unchaste love, presided over by pleasure and deceit. Unravelling the painting’s meaning would have been part of its appeal – a pleasure to both the eye and the intellect – a duality frequently referred to in Bronzino’s poetry.

Bronzino’s image is complicated in the same way that the inclusion of Songs of Songs in scripture is complicated. Neither depict sex as simply or wholly sinful and yet they recognise that desire can lead to deceit or violence as easily as to union and love. Exploring and unravelling are part of the pleasure of paintings and passages that while seeming to reveal all actually leave much that is still to be teased out if we are genuinely to understand our human desires one for the other.

The next Inspired to Follow course is an Advent Course which takes us through Advent in terms of the candles on ‘The Advent Wreath,’ exploring the Patriarchs, the Prophets, John the Baptist, and Mary. Register at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/inspired-to-follow-advent-course-tickets-126549205079.

Inspired to Follow: Art and the Bible Story helps people explore the Christian faith, using paintings and Biblical story as the starting points. The course uses fine art paintings in the National Gallery’s collection as a spring board for exploring questions of faith.

Sunday 29 November: The Patriarchs - Genesis 12:1-10.‘The Departure of Abraham’; Workshop or imitator of Jacopo Bassano, about 1570-90, NG2148.
Sunday 6 December: The Prophets - Isaiah 53:1-12. ‘The Forerunners of Christ with Saints and Martyrs’ probably by Fra Angelico, around 1423-4, NG663.3.
Sunday 13 December: John the Baptist - Mark 6:14-29. ‘Salome receives the Head of John the Baptist’ Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, about 1609-10, NG6389.
Sunday 20 December: Mary - Matthew 2:1-15. ‘The Flight into Egypt’ Workshop of Goossen van der Weyden, about 1516, NG1084.

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Ryan Malone - Song Of Songs.

Sunday, 11 October 2020

Inspired to Follow: Art and the Bible Story' - Sin

Here's the reflection from today's 'Inspired to Follow: Art and the Bible Story' session based on the National Gallery's 'Sin' exhibition:

Text: Genesis 3: 8-24
Image: Jan Gossaert (Jean Gossart). The Virgin and Child. 1527. © The National Gallery, London

Jan Gossaert was a French-speaking painter from the Low Countries. He was one of the first painters of Dutch and Flemish Renaissance painting to visit Italy and Rome, which he did in 1508–09, and a leader of the style known as Romanism, which brought elements of Italian Renaissance painting to the north. He worked most of his professional career as a court artist devoting his attention to biblical and devotional themes, mostly those of Adam and Eve, the Virgin and Child, and episodes from the Passion of Christ. What was new to Northern art of the time was his introduction of mythological themes with nude figures portrayed with heightened eroticism. His interest was in the human body exploring myriad possibilities for the interaction of figures, and pursuing a sculptural approach to them. These aspects of Gossart’s art played an important role in his paintings and drawings of Adam and Eve and the Virgin and Child.

In this small painting, the Virgin Mary is seated on a grey stone bench surrounded by a wooden frame; an altar-like space. Christ stands on his mother's lap poised for action, arms held out pre figuring the cross. The focus is his incarnation but the crucifixion is also in the frame. Mary wears a red mantle and uses both hands to gently restrain the naked Christ Child as he leaps forward with his arms outstretched. Inserted into the moulding of the arch are the gilded letters of a Latin inscription which cast complicated shadows on the concave surface behind them. The inscription paraphrases Genesis 3: 15, which describes how, after tempting Adam and Eve, the serpent was told by God that Eve’s descendant – Christ – would once day crush its head.

In the book for the ‘Sin’ exhibition, Joost Joustra, the curator, writes: ‘We can translate Gossaert’s inscription as: ‘The seed of the woman has bruised the head of the serpent.’ In the same passage where Saint Paul referenced an idea of Original Sin, he developed the idea expressed here of Christ being the enemy of evil (Romans 5:18): ‘Therefore just as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all’, the latter ‘one man’ being Christ …

A … sonnet … by the Roman jurist Marzio Milesi celebrates … the hopeful message …: On account of Adam’s sin miserable humanity strayed in anger from its maker, but when God was made man, humankind was reborn, and hoped [the Saviour] would reopen for it the path to heaven. Whence that serpent who was the cause of original sin was trampled down and oppressed by the mother and the son ...’

This picture, then, is a Nativity image that connects us with the creation stories of Genesis where the serpent symbolizes the devil, temptation and sin. God's promise as recorded in Genesis is that all these will be overcome when the head of the serpent is trampled underfoot. The picture makes this connection in order to show Christ to us as the second Adam achieving this victory over sin. Christ is shown incarnate as a child, with arms outstretched prefiguring the crucifixion and, by means of the altar-like setting, as the body that is taken in the Eucharist.

All these are part of the picture and in the frame when it comes to understanding the way in which Christ conquers sin. The artist can, however, only point us to these things. The image cannot explain or interpret them and they have, of course, been understood and interpreted in a variety of different ways throughout church history.

Which model or models of the atonement we use depends, in large part, on what we understand the problem of sin to be; is it, for example, a breaking of God's law requiring penal substitution or is it an issue of isolation from God, from ourselves, from others and from creation? There are many models for understanding the atonement, but here at St Martin's, we work on the basis that the fundamental human problem is that of isolation. The Genesis stories themselves can be understand as describing the reality of our being out of relationship with God and others and don’t have to be understood as literal statements of how that dislocation and isolation occurred.

In this picture we see relationship depicted and shared. There is the wonderful relationship between the Christ-child and Mary. Christ is energetically reaching into his future but is supported and held by Mary in doing so. Mary is not holding her child to herself but giving him support while offering him to us the viewer.

Similarly, Christ is reaching out to us as we view the image. As we have mentioned Christ is offering himself in relationship to us here on a twofold basis. Firstly, as God come among us as one of us; God having moved into our neighbourhood to be God with us. Secondly, God with us in the body that we take into our lives at the Eucharist in the bread we consume; God with us in life, in death, and in the Eucharist. That is how God tramples the serpent's head and destroys sin.

Inspired to Follow – Autumn 2020:

Three sessions exploring paintings in the National Gallery’s ‘Sin’ exhibition (11^th, 18^th and 25^th October). Register for a zoom invite at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/inspired-to-follow-art-and-the-bible-story-tickets-122769198979h.

Inspired to Follow Advent Course (29 Nov, 6^th, 13^th and 20^th Dec). ‘The Advent Wreath’ explores the Patriarchs, the Prophets, John the Baptist and Mary.

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The Holmes Brothers - I Want Jesus To Walk With Me.

Friday, 9 October 2020

National Gallery: Sin

The National Gallery's Sin exhibition brings together works of art that span centuries – from Bruegel and Velázquez to Andy Warhol and Tracey Emin – this exhibition explores the concept of sin in art.

Defined universally as a regrettable fault, offence or omission, sin is something everyone can relate to. In Christianity, it is considered a transgression against divine law and many of the world’s major religions have similar concepts.

This exhibition looks at complex theological ideas and depictions of ‘sinful’ everyday behaviour that blur the boundaries between religious and secular art.

The new series of 'Inspired to Follow: Art and the Bible Story' also explores the concept of sin in art using paintings included in the National Gallery's 'Sin' exhibition. Register for a zoom invite at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/inspired-to-follow-art-and-the-bible-story-tickets-122769198979.

'Inspired to Follow: Art and the Bible Story’ helps people explore the Christian faith, using paintings and Biblical story as the starting points. It’s been created by St Martin-in-the-Fields in partnership with the National Gallery.

The course uses fine art paintings in the National Gallery’s collection, along with a theological reflection and a Biblical text, as a spring board for exploring these two questions: How can I deepen my faith in God? What does it mean to follow Jesus today?

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Pet Shop Boys - It's A Sin.

Friday, 12 June 2020

HeartEdge and the visual arts

Lots of art-related resources have been added to the HeartEdge video resource over the past two weeks.

I have interviewed the artists Sophie Hacker and Matthew Askey on the theme of 'Imaging the Invisible'. View these interviews here and here.

Additionally I have begun a new ongoing series entitled 'Seeing Salvation - Art in churches' shares practical approaches to using art in church settings.

Initial sessions are:

5 June - Session 1: Art Trails.
12 June - Session 2: Art and contemplation.
19 June - Session 3: Art workshops.
26 June - Session 4: Art meditations.
3 July - Session 5: Arts Festivals.
10 July - Session 6: Art exhibitions.
17 July - Session 7: Art projects.

The first two sessions in the series can be viewed here and here. Register for a zoom invitation for the remainder of the series at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/seeing-salvation-art-in-churches-tickets-108959314242?fbclid=IwAR38qSNIiWLSwIL1rCp5YX6zOOqIVZsMBUHlJo2YPHMU-UfoK1BB9yDY9Mc.

Inspired to Follow: Art and the Bible Story uses fine art paintings that can be found in the collection of the National Gallery as a spring board for exploring these two questions. The course provides a way of deepening one’s Christian faith and exploring what it means to follow Jesus today.

What’s the programme?

7 June: Luke 1:26-38 / ‘The Annunciation’ Fra Filippo Lippi, about 1450-3, NG666
14 June: Luke 1:26-38 / ‘Mystic Nativity’, Sandro Botticelli, 1500, NG1034
21 June: Mark 1: 1-12 / ‘The Baptism of Christ’; predella panel, Giovanni di Paolo, 1454, NG5451
28 June: Luke 10:25-42 / ‘Christ in the House of Martha and Mary’, Diego Velásquez, probably 1618, NG1375
5 July: Mark 11: 4-12 & 15-19 / ‘Christ driving the Traders from the Temple’, El Greco, about.1600, NG1457
12 July: Mark 11: 4-12 & 15-19 / Christ washing the Feet of the Disciples, Jacopo Tintoretto, about.1575-80, NG1130
19 July: Matthew 26: 36-54 / ‘The Agony in the Garden’ by Giovanni Bellini, about.1465, NG726
26 July: Matthew 26:57-68 / ‘Christ before the High Priest’, Gerrit van Honthorst, about.1617, NG3679
2 August: Luke 23:26-38 / ‘Christ carrying the Cross’, Italian, Venetian, about. 1500, NG6655

Email jonathan.evens@smitf.org for a zoom invite.

Additionally I was interviewed on art and HeartEdge today for 1.17 at All We Can. Every day at 1.17pm, All We Can is sharing positive and uplifting content on the theme of ‘Colossians 1:17 – All Things Hold Together’ – a series of encouraging broadcasts that you can watch and join in with from the comfort of your home. You can catch them every day on their Facebook page. View the interview that I gave here.

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Ola Gjeilo - Sanctus.

Saturday, 6 June 2020

Seeing Salvation, Imaging the Invisible and Inspired to Follow

Seeing Salvation is a new weekly session on visual arts which I am leading each Friday at 2.30 pm as part of the HeartEdge Living God's Future Now programme.

Seeing Salvation will examine a different initiative for connecting art and church. The series began by looking at art trails and continues on Friday 12 June by exploring art and contemplation. The first session in the series can be viewed here - https://www.facebook.com/theHeartEdge/videos/982654498816775/?v=982654498816775.

Also part of the growing library of Living God's Future Now videos are two interviews on the theme of Imaging the Invisible with the artists Sophie Hacker and Matthew Askey. These can be viewed at https://www.facebook.com/theHeartEdge/videos/298207657875091/?v=298207657875091 and https://www.facebook.com/theHeartEdge/videos/864429110744217/?v=864429110744217.

A further art related element to the Living God's Future Now programme is Inspired to Follow: Art and the Bible Story. This programme of hour-long gatherings covers the Biblical story from Creation to Apocalypse. It uses fine art paintings that can be found in the collection of the National Gallery as a spring board for exploring two questions; What does it mean to follow Jesus today? How can I deepen my faith in God? The course provides a way of deepening one’s Christian faith and exploring what it means to follow Jesus today.

What’s the programme?

7 June: Luke 1:26-38 / ‘The Annunciation’ Fra Filippo Lippi, about 1450-3, NG666
14 June: Luke 1:26-38 / ‘Mystic Nativity’, Sandro Botticelli, 1500, NG1034
21 June: Mark 1: 1-12 / ‘The Baptism of Christ’; predella panel, Giovanni di Paolo, 1454, NG5451
28 June: Luke 10:25-42 / ‘Christ in the House of Martha and Mary’, Diego Velásquez, probably 1618, NG1375
5 July: Mark 11: 4-12 & 15-19 / ‘Christ driving the Traders from the Temple’, El Greco, about.1600, NG1457
12 July: Mark 11: 4-12 & 15-19 / Christ washing the Feet of the Disciples, Jacopo Tintoretto, about.1575-80, NG1130
19 July: Matthew 26: 36-54 / ‘The Agony in the Garden’ by Giovanni Bellini, about.1465, NG726
26 July: Matthew 26:57-68 / ‘Christ before the High Priest’, Gerrit van Honthorst, about.1617, NG3679
2 August: Luke 23:26-38 / ‘Christ carrying the Cross’, Italian, Venetian, about. 1500, NG6655

For both Seeing Salvation and Inspired to Follow email me at jonathan.evens@smitf.org for a zoom invite.

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Michael McDermott - No Matter What.

Sunday, 31 May 2020

Living God's Future Now - new groups and workshops

This week HeartEdge shares several new offerings within the Living God's Future Now programme. For the full Living God's Future Now programme click here.

Imaging the Invisible

Tomorrow at 4.30pm on the HeartEdge facebook page (https://facebook.com/theHeartEdge/) we premiere a short interview with the artist Sophie Hacker. In this interview with Jonathan Evens, Sophie explores her understandings of imaging the invisible.

Sophie Hacker specialises in Church Art, including stained glass windows, vestments and re-ordering liturgical space. Since 2006 she has been Arts and Exhibitions Consultant for Winchester Cathedral, with particular responsibility for curating. Recent commissions include collaborations with musicians and poets, and numerous ecclesiastical projects.

Wellbeing Group

The HeartEdge Wellbeing Group is a reflective group providing opportunities to share thoughts and feelings as ongoing support in these unusual times. Even once a new normality has been established and restrictions further lifted, Covid and all that is associated is still going to be part of our lives. The group is limited to eight participants and will initially meet for six sessions, evolving to meet the needs of those who join. Participants need to commit to all six sessions (from 4 June to 9 July, 2.00 - 3.00 pm).

The group facilitator will be Kate Woodhouse, an experienced counsellor, registered and accredited with BACP. Kate has a wealth of experience in working with a range of mental health and wellbeing challenges, with particular experience in working with dying, death, loss, grief and bereavement.

Join the group here - https://bit.ly/2XyhFTe

For this group, HeartEdge offers a two-tier ticket option (£30 or £50 for the whole six session series). You choose the rate that best suits your needs. No matter your choice, you will receive the same experience. Those who pay more will help support the content and costs of HeartEdge events. Thank you.

Seeing Salvation: Fridays, 2.30pm, zoom meeting.

Jonathan Evens shares practical approaches to using art in church settings.

Initial sessions are:

5 June - Session 1: Art Trails.
12 June - Session 2: Art and contemplation.
19 June - Session 3: Art workshops.
26 June - Session 4: Art meditations.
3 July - Session 4: Exhibitions – solo shows.

Email jonathan.evens@smitf.org for an invitation.

Inspired to Follow: Art and the Bible Story

What does it mean to follow Jesus today? How can I deepen my faith in God? This programme of hour-long gatherings covers the Biblical story from Creation to Apocalypse. It uses fine art paintings that can be found in the collection of the National Gallery as a spring board for exploring these two questions. The course provides a way of deepening one’s Christian faith and exploring what it means to follow Jesus today.

What’s the programme?

7 June: Luke 1:26-38 / ‘The Annunciation’ Fra Filippo Lippi, about 1450-3, NG666
14 June: Luke 1:26-38 / ‘Mystic Nativity’, Sandro Botticelli, 1500, NG1034
21 June: Mark 1: 1-12 / ‘The Baptism of Christ’; predella panel, Giovanni di Paolo, 1454, NG5451
28 June: Luke 10:25-42 / ‘Christ in the House of Martha and Mary’, Diego Velásquez, probably 1618, NG1375
5 July: Mark 11: 4-12 & 15-19 / ‘Christ driving the Traders from the Temple’, El Greco, about.1600, NG1457
12 July: Mark 11: 4-12 & 15-19 / Christ washing the Feet of the Disciples, Jacopo Tintoretto, about.1575-80, NG1130
19 July: Matthew 26: 36-54 / ‘The Agony in the Garden’ by Giovanni Bellini, about.1465, NG726
26 July: Matthew 26:57-68 / ‘Christ before the High Priest’, Gerrit van Honthorst, about.1617, NG3679
2 August: Luke 23:26-38 / ‘Christ carrying the Cross’, Italian, Venetian, about. 1500, NG6655

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The Brilliance - Breathe.