HeartEdge Introductory Days

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

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

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

Feedback after the event included:

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

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

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

To register for a free ticket click here.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Lifehouse - Everything.

HeartEdge in Newcastle, Derby & Edinburgh

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The HeartEdge annual conference 'On Earth as it is in Heaven' will happen from 2 - 3 October in Edinburgh. The conference is a practical, two-day intensive of ideas, theology and connecting. It includes workshops on enterprise and commerce, launching cultural projects, developing congregations and sustaining community response. This year contributors include Winnie Varghese, Sally Hitchiner, Sam Wells, Mark Strange, Colin Sinclair, Sheena McDonald, Deborah Lewer, ID Campbell, Cormac Russell and many others.

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

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

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Arvo Pärt - Vater Unser.

HeartEdge in Amsterdam, Bradford & Kendal

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

Future HeartEdge events include:

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

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Sofia Gubaidulina - Repentance.

HeartEdge Conference & Introductory Days

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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Bob Chilcott - The Lord's Prayer.

HeartEdge developments

Deepening Spirituality is a Churches & Congregations day (Thursday 11 April 2019,
10:00 – 15:30) exploring ways to deepen the spirituality of congregations.

Explore approaches to deepening the spirituality of congregations including accompanied prayer, art, Godly Play, lay communities, open door retreats, spiritual direction, and more. An opportunity for personal refreshment also.

The day is being running in partnership between members of the team from London Centre for Spiritual Direction and HeartEdge members.

Contributors include:

• Neil Evans, Director of Ministry, Diocese of London
• Alison Christian, Advisor and Advocate for Spiritual Direction
• Richard Carter, Associate Vicar for Mission, St Martin-in-the-Fields
• Julie Dunstan, Director for Formation and Professional Development, LCSD
• Antonia Lynn, Community Warden and Referrals Coordinator, LCSD

To book free tickets go to https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/deepening-spirituality-tickets-56331233235?aff=ebdssbdestsearch. For further information, please contact Jonathan Evens at jonathan.evens@smitf.org.


HeartEdge | Newcastle, Tue, 11 June, 10:00 – 15:30, Jesmond United Reformed Church, Burdon Terrace, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 3AE

Exploring mission, sharing ideas, uncovering solutions and finding support. A day with Sam Wells and guests.

• Congregation: Liturgy, worship & new congregations.
• Commerce: Being entrepreneurial, rethinking church buildings, growing income via enterprise
• Compassion: Growing participation addressing social need
• Culture: Art, music & ideas connecting with communities
• Refreshments 10am. Programme 10.30am. Finish 3.30pm
• Panel discussion, theology and practical ‘how to’.
• Networking. Connecting. Lunch & refreshments

Register for free tickets here -  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/heartedge-newcastle-tickets-57644431045?fbclid=IwAR26jmMF5TNHUKEewL3XzHW0xvYWPtv7T_HLQwn81abXIl_sRC-9TjKxwkA. 

Sheppard Scholars

We are looking for two enthusiastic Sheppard Scholars (new Pastoral Assistant scheme) to support new and refreshed mission and ministry projects. Both roles will take part in the worshiping life of St Martin-in-Fields, with the opportunity to share the life of the Nazareth Community. This is an exciting and inspirational year-long programme offering two people a unique chance to learn and grow with us.

These are interesting, wide ranging and supporting roles requiring a broad range of skills. You will be working closely with Clergy, congregation, office admin, verging team, events, catering, concerts, retail teams, contractors and others. Therefore, excellent communication and relationship building skills are a key part of this role, as well as an ability to be pastorally sensitive in all communications.

These roles offer not only breadth of experience but also a range of responsibilities from participation and involvement to roles of leadership. The aim is to be able to give a wide experience of ministry at the heart of the life of this church and at the same time to draw on the Pastoral Assistant’s own gifts and faith at a time of growth in the life of St Martin’s and HeartEdge.

Full details can be found on www.smitf.org. To apply: please submit a supporting statement and your full CV to hr@smitf.org. Interviews will be by appointment on 7 May 2019.

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Eric Bibb - I Want Jesus To Walk With Me.