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We were delighted to have Sam Wells, the vicar of St Martin’s London, with us at our HeartEdge conference last week Jacqueline Dow made some notes. Sam gives examples from history which highlight the 4 C’s that define the HeartEdge philosophy of a church working at the coalface : Compassion, Culture, Commerce , Congregation.
COMPASSION
In 337 AD….A Roman soldier, responding to the need of a beggar, cut his cloak in 2......this was significant, even revolutionary, as at that time people only exercised compassion for their own kith and kin. He be-came a priest...then St Martin of Tours, patron saint of France and inspirator of many.
CULTURE
In 929 AD….Abd al-Rahman was the third caliph of the Caliphate of Cordoba. On his succession he demon-strated his interfaith cooperation by promising to be the political and religious leader of Muslims AND the protector of Christian and Jewish subjects (his mother and grandmother were Christians)
He built cultural centres for all. He wanted to have 1,000 flowers blooming rather than destroying infidels.
COMMERCIAL
In 1703 AD…..In Venice, Antonio Vivaldi (musician of 4 Seasons fame) was also a priest. In this year, 1703, he became chaplain to the Pieta Hospital for abandoned children. He wrote many compositions for the upper voices of the orphans, including ‘The Magnificat’. They then performed them as fund raising to rich donors....so church and faith based commercial social enterprise.
CONGREGATION
In 1948 …..The roles of William Beveridge, social economist, (Beveridge Report 1942) and William Temple, who went on to be Archbishop of Canterbury (and who both went to the same school!) in the formation of the welfare state. Before this the social care was the prerogative of the church.
This was welcomed but the separation between the church and state left the church and its congregations with only spirituality and being holy!
Church was no longer doing interesting things…..
RESULT 1990……across the UK….
The sums no longer added up. There were more people being supported by the state than those in paid work!
SO what interesting things should our churches be involved in so that the wider community might once again be interested in what we are doing …and how we respond to the Gospel of Christ
St Martins-in-the-Fields kept, and is still doing, interesting things!!!!
They kept doing social care/ culture/arts ....we need to copy that ....we need be doing interesting things on all fronts but in an achievable way.
So thinking caps on.......
To conclude ..and challenge : Sam talked about the irony of the well-known story of David and Goli-ath...we admire David but try to emulate Goliath!
Problem: the church used to be Goliath but it is no longer and we are all crying about it!
Opportunity: maybe we are supposed to be becoming David!..... I wonder what our 5 smooth stones are?
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COMPASSION : CULTURE : COMMERCIAL : CONGREGATION
QUESTION
What interesting things should and are our churches be involved in so that the wider community might once again be interested in what we are doing …and how we respond to the Gospel of Christ
OUR CHALLENGE :
Sam Wells talked about the irony of the well-known story of David and Goliath...we admire David but try to emulate Goliath!
Problem: the church used to be Goliath but it is no longer and we are all crying about it!
Opportunity: maybe we are supposed to be becoming David!.
I wonder what our 5 smooth stones are? Answers to church wardens and Jacqueline Dow
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Sam Wells and guests on mission and developing congregations, cultural activity and commercial enterprise in rural and coastal communities.
About this event
A day with Sam Wells and guests on mission, developing cultural activity and commercial enterprise in rural and coastal communities across the Southwest.
With space to share ideas, and find practical ideas and tips for developing enterprise and cultural activities this will be useful if you want to develop cultural activity or social enterprise,m working with your congregation and the wider community.
With input, practical ideas and workshops from:
- Dave Nicholson on food pantries and shifting to trading
- Sarah Rogers on establishing audiences and growing cultural events
- Plus `Transformation Cornwall
- And the School for Social Entrepreneurs
A day for church leaders and those active in their church and community. We'll look at sustaining and developing church and community involvement with tactics and approaches, helping to build a useful network.
HEARTEDGE IN PENZANCE
A day with Sam Wells and guests on mission, developing cultural activity and commercial enterprise in rural and coastal communities across the South West is taking place in Penzance on Wednesday, September 22. With space to share ideas, and find practical ideas and tips for developing enterprise and cultural activities this will be useful if you want to develop cultural activity or social enterprise, working with your congregation and the wider community. With input, practical ideas and workshops from: Dave Nicholson on cash first solutions and shifting to trading; Sarah Rogers on establishing audiences and growing cultural events; and the School for Social Entrepreneurs. The event will look at sustaining and developing church and community involvement with tactics and approaches, helping to build a useful network. Book here or by clicking the poster right.
HeartEdge conference in Penzance, facilitated by St Martin in the Fields, London.
It took place on Tuesday 24th November 2020 at The Penlee Cluster of Churches via zoom.
We are very excited to have been able to organise this Conference.
It was an exciting day and will be great to set up a HeartEdge hub in Cornwall. They will be helping us with some of our exciting projects and our mission here in this community.
Please watch the Video Recordings on https://penleecluster.org.uk/whats-on/heartedge/conference-videos/
To find out more about HeartEdge go to www.heartedge.org/
At the Heart On the Edge
HeartEdge conference in Penzance Tue 24th November : Via Zoom
10 am Welcome and instructions Andrew Yates
10.05 am Introduction to the area Jeff Risbridger
10.10 am Worship: way-marks from our history Jeff Risbridger
10.30 am Introduction of HeartEdge 4Cs and the Covid pandemic Sam Wells
10.50 am Short coffee break: what question arises for you from talk? (place comments in chat)
11.05 am Markers from Celtic Christianity into pandemic. Michelle Brow
11.25 am First Break out group: what do these people’s insights bring to your setting ?
a. What is your setting?
b. What excites and challenges you from the three presentations both
as an individual and as part of a worship community? (thoughts posted in chat)
11.45 am Intertwining insights to enrich this Cornish landscape
A conversation between Sam, Michelle, Jeff and Andrew based on questions from the groups and information presented to date.
12.30 pm Lunch Break
1 pm Outworking of 4 C’s in a Cornish context and the impact of Covid.
Compassion: The Playzone in Penzance Sian Yates
Creativity : The Cornish Celtic Way Nigel Marns
1.20 pm Second Breakout
a. What issue has come to light in your community that evokes a compassionate response from your worship community?
b. How could your building be adapted to live out that response ?
1.35 pm
Commerce: The Centre at Newlyn Jerry Drew
Congregation: All Saints Higher Town Jeremy Putnam
1.55 pm Third Break out group
a. How could commercialisation reshape your work and mission as a church?
2.10 pm HeartEdge waymarks in a Celtic Land.
Sam and Hugh Nelson to respond to groups’ discussions
2.30 pm Becoming part of a HeartEdge Hub Andy Turner
2.40 pm Curated Worship led by Sam Wells
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