HeartEdge is about sharing, connecting, growing support and developing - finding new ways of being at the heart on the edge.
18th April 2021
'Living God’s Future Now’ is our 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.
18th April 2021
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.
16th April 2021
In his authoritative, ground-breaking guide, 'Elites: Can you rise to the top without losing your soul?', Douglas Board suggests that true fulfilment demands an adventure into the unknown inside ourselves: why do we seek what we seek? Prepare to be surprised as you find out more in this HeartEdge workshop exploring themes from this 'interesting,' 'profound' and 'controversial' book.
The focal event in 'Living God's Future Now' is a monthly conversation (on the second Thursday in each month) in which Sam Wells explores what it means to improvise on God’s kingdom with a leading theologian or practitioner.
Earlier conversations were with Walter Brueggemann, John McKnight, Chine McDonald, +Rachel Treweek, Stanley Hauerwas, Barbara Brown Taylor, Kelly Brown Douglas, Steve Chalke, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and Sarah Coakley, among others. Find these conversations at https://www.facebook.com/pg/theHeartEdge/videos/?ref=page_internal.
See here for details of the next in this series.
zoom, 12 – 16 July 2021
An opportunity to engage more deeply with the theology of mission and to explore how it relates to your own practice. Input structured around the four Cs of Commerce, Culture, Congregation and Compassion. A mix of teaching and conversation with leading scholars and practitioners including the Revd Dr Sam Wells, Professor Anthony Reddie, Dr Cathy Ross, and Revd Heather Cracknell, among others. Workshops to engage with the themes and issues presented. Encounters with churches, organisations and projects (HeartEdge and Fresh Expressions) to get a hands-on feel for how it works out in practice. In partnership with St Augustine's College of Theology.
Details here.
'Living God’s Future Now' describes a series of online seminars, discussions and presentations hosted by HeartEdge. They are designed to equip, encourage and energise church leaders, laypeople and enquirers alike, in areas such as preaching, growing a church, shifting online, deepening spirituality in a congregation and responding to social need.
Congregations developing open, hospitable, welcoming approaches to day-to-day communal life, liturgy and worship.
We think it’s possible to be a church without being defensive or closed-minded. The Holy Spirit works as much beyond the church as within it - we look for God at work and join in.
God wants us to live before death as well as after.
HeartEdge is about deepening and widening the congregation.
Engaging local need and addressing social justice.
We do unbelievable things when we start with our assets rather than deficits.
It’s possible to be compassionate with those excluded or in trouble, in a way that enhances community.
Care comes not from altruism but recognition of our own need, and desire to be transformed by the strangers God sends us.
Visual and performing art and ideas, re-imagining the Christian narrative for the present moment.
Exploring new avenues of arts from expand and encourage new cultures within church and the community.
Commercial activity generating finance, creatively extending and enhancing mission.
We think it is possible to have commercial activities available within Church that demonstrates a wider understanding of the Faith.
By allowing our assets - likes buildings and facilities - to broaden and appeal to a larger market we remain at the centre of our community, valued and considered by all.
Day-to-day communal life, liturgy and worship
Congregations developing open, hospitable, welcoming approaches to day-to-day communal life, liturgy and worship.
We think it’s possible to be a church without being defensive or closed-minded. The Holy Spirit works as much beyond the church as within it - we look for God at work and join in.
God wants us to live before death as well as after.
HeartEdge is about deepening and widening the congregation.
Partnering with others in forming relationships, releasing the gifts of strangers
Engaging local need and addressing social justice.
We do unbelievable things when we start with our assets rather than deficits.
It’s possible to be compassionate with those excluded or in trouble, in a way that enhances community.
Care comes not from altruism but recognition of our own need, and desire to be transformed by the strangers God sends us.
Re-imagining the Christian narrative for the present
Visual and performing art and ideas, re-imagining the Christian narrative for the present moment.
Exploring new avenues of arts from expand and encourage new cultures within church and the community.
Finding income streams to achieve financial sustainability and grow flourishing programmes
Commercial activity generating finance, creatively extending and enhancing mission.
We think it is possible to have commercial activities available within Church that demonstrates a wider understanding of the Faith.
By allowing our assets - likes buildings and facilities - to broaden and appeal to a larger market we remain at the centre of our community, valued and considered by all.
Log-in to access resources. Share what works for you and what you need, and make useful connections with other churches. HeartEdge is about sharing what we have and finding what we need. Start here:
Make contact and connections via a growing collective. Find help for your church developing commercial, cultural and community activity.
Find insight and knowledge to help your practice, learning from others with lived-experience and alternative approaches.
Find those with lived experience relevant to your situation. Learn from other stories and grow solidarity.
Not a consultancy selling techniques, we will take time to locate and introduce you to possible mentors with lived experience and professional support useful for you.
Update on gatherings and events useful to your context.
Not a single branded technique - find a mix of useful videos, access books, articles and newsletters and the latest HeartEdge publications.
Update on activities and alternative approaches, trying out something new (or old or borrowed).
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