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Showing posts with label rennie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rennie. Show all posts

Friday, 13 March 2020

HeartEdge in Brussels

Azariah France-Williams has written a reflection on the recent HeartEdge weekend in Brussels. His full reflection can be read here. In it he says:

'We were based at Holy Trinity in Brussels, where Paul Volijk had invited several churches of the region to send representatives to gather and consider HeartEdge for their setting. Jonathan delivered a presentation which was undoing old formulas as much as it was creating head and heart space for other approaches. Approaches where people are fundamentally beautiful assets, not burdensome activities, where commerce is one of God’s ways of founding and furnishing God’s own home within the wider world. A minister called Scott Rennie gave examples from his own context in Aberdeen on how this ideology could be expressed.

The full discussion and desire to flood the room with resonant stories demonstrated Jonathan and Scott had hit the right notes. And talking about notes St Martin’s Voices arrived late morning to whisk the company away with Great Sacred Music, an evening concert, and bolstering the church choir on the Sunday morning. I loved the weekend. Jonathan preached a message on Sunday which was simple but not easy. He urged us to take seriously ‘that we were enough.’ There is so much striving and little arriving with much of Christianity. Yet Jonathan was saying that on the first Sunday of Lent ‘we were enough’ Jesus identity of ‘enoughness’ meant the temptations could not snare him. As he was full of love, so he was able to give from abundance to those in the margins. He had a full Heart so could live on the Edge.'

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Sufjan Stevens - The Transfiguration.

Monday, 21 October 2019

Reflections on the HeartEdge conference

Scott Rennie and Philip Dawson have offered thoughtful and affirming reflections on the recent HeartEdge conference in Edinburgh. See and hear their reflections at:
Scott writes:

'I had the privilege of being a speaker at the #HeartEdge Annual Conference in Edinburgh. It was a marvelous occasion which brought together leaders from the Church of Scotland, the Church of England, and other British and European Protestant Churches ... We @QueensCross joined the ecumenical #HeartEdge movement (founded by our friends at St Martin in the Fields in London @SMITF) because we share with them the belief in the renewal of the Church in our increasingly secular society, and believe that our churches to be at the heart of community life also need to find themselves on the edge.

The Network is based on 4 C’s - Compassion, Congregation, Commerce and Culture, as a means for achieving that renewal. We @QueensCross are in different ways trying to renew our life and witness through all of these pathways, and have found the encouragment of journeying with others on these paths of immense encouragement and support.

Most of all it is wonderful to work and share ecumenically with others committed to the same vision of church as we are.'

Philip writes:

In his introduction to the delegates pack for the 2019 HeartEdge Conference, Sam Wells wrote: “HeartEdge believes the Spirit is alive and working both within and beyond the church, and is especially concerned to focus on the beyond.”

Day Two of the conference sought to continue that trajectory; the first “beyond” of concern to us today being the world of finance and commerce. During Day One, I felt awash with wisdom flowing from those ‘in’ the church. Today, I felt there were times when the tide could turn the other way - when the conference might have usefully heard more from those outside. Such as the 5.5 million “micro enterprises” which make up over 96% of businesses registered in the UK today. Even if each is owned and run by just one person (people like me), that accounts for 8% of the population. Winnie Varghese said at the opening of the conference, that we “do theology with our lives.” If that is so, I think we have a lot to learn from their lives - which happen to be greater in number than those who attend church on a Sunday ...

I heard a lot of words during my first visit to Edinburgh. Some of the many that will stay with me include a quote from the Scottish poet Edwin Muir, which Peter Sutton, Minister of St Cuthbert’s Church read to me after I attended an excellent ‘Soul Space’ service there; words which perhaps serve as a warning about forgetting The Word;

“The Word made flesh here is made word again
A word made word in flourish and arrogant crook.”

October 2nd & 3rd was an excellent, stretching, affirming and challenging two days. Thank you to all involved in organising the 2019 HeartEdge Conference.'

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Voces8 - The Deer's Cry.

Friday, 8 June 2018

'At the heart. On the edge.' - Aberdeen & HeartEdge


'At the heart. On the edge' is a HeartEdge Introductory Event hosted by Revd Scott M. Rennie, Minister of Queen's Cross Parish Church and Revd Dr Sam Wells, Vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields, which features the Choral Scholars of St Martin-in-the-Fields performing Great Sacred Music.

The day includes theology, ideas, solutions and support with a programme developed jointly by Queen's Cross Parish Church and St Martin’s. Contributors to the event include:
The day will explore mission and ministry in relation to:
  • Congregation - Liturgy and worship for day-to-day communal life – gathered and local
  • Commerce – Starting and sustaining distinctive enterprise to generate finance for your church
  • Compassion – Growing participation and volunteering to address social need locally
  • Culture – Using art, music and performance to reimagine the Christian narrative in your contex
The day includes refreshments and lunch - we'll ask for a voluntary contribution towards the cost of lunch on the day.

To register for a free ticket click here.

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St Martin-in-the-Fields - Great Sacred Music.

Saturday, 12 May 2018

HeartEdge in Scotland


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

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

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



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

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

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


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

Saturday, 28 April 2018

HeartEdge Mailer | April 2018

HeartEdge is a growing ecumenical international network, passionate about nurturing Kingdom communities via four C’s - congregations, culture, commercial activity and compassion.

Each month in our Mailer we bring you commercial practice, cultural activity, community and congregational development. Inspiration, ideas and resource!

This month:
  • Tips for developing your church as a venue. Comedy clubs - examples and tactics, plus how to start that social enterprise. 
  • Anthony Wilson on ambition, Willie Jennings on inhabiting the abandoned spaces, Georgia May on radical hospitality.
  • Plus Liturgy on the Edge, previews from Ai Weiwei, free video resources and Liz Crumlish on renewal at the margins.
Forthcoming HeartEdge events include:

“Who is my Neighbour? The Global and Personal Challenge - Book Launch" London - 21 May 7pm, St Martin in the Fields: Revd Dr Sam Wells hosts Rabbi Shulamit Ambalu, Dr Megan Warner, Revd Richard Carter and Sam Ahmad Ziaee for an evening exploring themes in the book. Edited by Richard Carter and Sam Wells, “This richly challenging and deeply engaging book merits careful consideration at a time when fear of the 'other' threatens to overwhelm us.” The Rt Revd Adrian Newman Bishop of Stepney. “This brilliant book addresses one of the most urgent questions of our time: how to welcome the strangers who come seeking a home with us.” Timothy Radcliff. Register your free place here and buy the book for £10.

Thursday 24 May, 2pm - 4pm: St Martin-in-the-Fields, London: HeartEdge Start:Stop Workshop. Learn about Start:Stop, the popular 10-minute work-based reflections for people on their way to work, with Revd Jonathan Evens. Session include - growing a new congregation; engaging with working people; ministering in the workplace and communicating with busy people. Book here or call 020 7766 1127. HeartEdge members - free. Non-members - £10.

'At the Heart. On the Edge', a day hosted by Revd Scott M. Rennie, Minister of Queen's Cross Parish Church and Revd Dr Sam Wells, Vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields. Wed 13 June 2018, 10:00am – 3:30pm, Queen's Cross Parish Church, Albyn Place, Aberdeen AB10 IYN. Register at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/at-the-heart-on-the-edge-tickets-45346364196. The day includes theology, ideas, solutions and support with a programme developed jointly by Queen's Cross Parish Church and St Martin’s. The day will explore mission and ministry in relation to: Congregation - Liturgy and worship for day-to-day communal life – gathered and local; Commerce – Starting and sustaining distinctive enterprise to generate finance for your church; Compassion – Growing participation and volunteering to address social need locally; and Culture – Using art, music and performance to reimagine the Christian narrative in your context. The day includes refreshments and lunch - we'll ask for a voluntary contribution towards the cost of lunch on the day. 

24 - 27 August: Boughton House, Leicestershire, Greenbelt: Sam Wells, Vicar of HeartEdge members St Martin in the Fields will be speaking at Greenbelt Festival this August Bank-Holiday. Carol Ann Duffy, Paula Gooder and Pussy Riot also feature. Details here.

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Michael McDermott - Let A Little Light In.