HeartEdge workshops

HeartEdge is now offering three weekly online workshops - a Sermon Preparation workshop and a Community of Practitioners meeting live with Revd Dr Sam Wells and a Biblical Studies masterclass with Revd Dr Simon Woodman, all of which may be of interest to church practitioners.

Join Simon Woodman each Monday evening, 7.30-9.00pm for a Biblical Studies Masterclass: a lecture followed by discussion, with handouts. This will look at the New Testament Epistles; introducing the genre, looking at issues such as dating and authorship, and then working through each letter individually addressing key themes and issues. Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0rc-msqD8sEtE7n_X9u17Jl6R5CvzjjI5e?fbclid=IwAR0mvzTZEfQfJW1Umk511vPeWG9ogpdHlEs_xbgQnPFphLDWdqGt-vwBvGw

Every Tuesday at 4.30pm there is a live Facebook preaching workshop focusing on the forthcoming Sunday's lectionary readings. Sam Wells and Sally Hitchiner discuss the readings in the light of current events and share thoughts on approaches to the passages. See the earlier discussions in the Videos section of this page.

Every Wednesday at 4.30pm on Zoom there is also be a Community of Practitioners workshop. This is an opportunity for ministers and other leaders of HeartEdge churches to meet together to reflect on issues relating to congregational renewal through commerce, culture and compassion. We read together the book 'A Future Bigger than the Past: Catalysing kingdom communities' and support one another virtually in these unprecedented times. Join HeartEdge at https://www.heartedge.org/main/sign-up and message us (jonathan.evens@smitf.org) asking for an invitation if you want to take part.

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Buddy & Julie Miller - Thoughts At 2AM.

Early start - Sermon Preparation workshop

The weekly HeartEdge Sermon Preparation workshop will begin at the earlier time of 4.00 pm this Tuesday 7 April.

As usual, Sam Wells and Sally Hitchiner will discuss Sunday’s Lectionary readings for about 30 minutes and then there will be the opportunity to share and ask questions. They will select from the following readings for Easter Day: Acts 10.34-43 or Jeremiah 31.1-6, Psalm 118.1-2,14-24, Colossians 3.1-4 or Acts 10.34-43, John 20.1-18 or Matthew 28.1-10.

The workshop will take place on the HeartEdge Facebook page, however if we experience technical difficulties the Workshop will take place on zoom instead; details for this eventuality will be posted on the facebook page closer to the time, if needed.

We look forward to you joining us for inspiration and resources.

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Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water.

HeartEdge: March Mailer

The March Mailer from HeartEdge is a slightly plumper, Covid-19 edition this month. Read it by clicking here.

What a difference a month makes. With the spread of Covid 19, our mailer finds many of us in lockdown, routines upturned, imagining alternative futures to those from just a month ago.

The pandemic presents huge challenges for life, vocation and mission, even as many of us find ourselves in impossible contradictions - how to express compassion while maintaining social distancing? Ways to 'do church' and renew congregations, as crisis piles up - redundancy, bereavement and loss. How to grow community, respond to need, as we self isolate? How will business survive - what will our commercial activity look like locally as economies tank? How will culture flourish as artists struggle ever more precariously? Even as we confront our own fears about the virus.

Central to HeartEdge is a belief that Kingdom communities are built on wisdom and faith found in exile and rejection. Our default is church and our cultural, charitable and commercial projects nourished from a place of exile, abandonment and adversity. And here we all are.

In our context of lockdown, quarantine and exile, a rapidly shifting global pandemic and a static front room, kitchen-office or one-bed flat.Here, our emphasis turns to making connections, sharing insight and growing solidarity online.

We've had a few Zoom workshops (we're getting used to it). 100 of you joined the HeartEdge Practitioners page on Facebook. We share frustrations, find encouragement, be listened to and find resource.

Following an online workshop last week one Church-of-England vicar wrote: "As the only priest in the parish here, it feels like having some colleagues... It was just so helpful to sit with others, with uncertainty, to reflect together... in a space that I didn't have to hold, plan, prepare for, know all the answers... I could participate in, be nourished by. Just thank you."

Here's to more of this solidarity and usefulness.

Normal service is unlikely to be resumed. So, we are all working out the implications and changes together. We are trying new things and using social media, and our website to engage, equip and resource in this changed landscape. Plus our regular mailer, a slightly plumper, Covid-19 edition this month. Lockdown and our emerging way of life will remain a theme.

Let us know ideas or topics you want covered and we'll get onto it. Got articles or blogs to share? Be in touch via the website.

In the midst of these strange days, we hope you will make contact, share insight, find solace and join in.

The HeartEdge Team

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Sixpence None The Richer - Down And Out Of Time.