Living God's Future Now: Making your church's heart sing

LIVING GOD’S FUTURE NOW: MAKING YOUR CHURCH’S HEART SING

Join us for “Living God’s Future Now: Making Your Church’s Heart Sing”, a transformative day of resourcing and exploration inspired by the ministries of St Martin-in-the-Fields. This event offers a unique opportunity to discover practical tools and fresh perspectives to invigorate your parishes’ mission and ministry in both rural and urban contexts. Through workshops, theological insights, and moments of worship, we aim to equip your church to flourish in compassion, creativity, and community engagement.

As Sam Wells writes in “ Living God’s Future Now”, “We are called to live as if God’s future has already arrived, nurturing the signs of that future in the present and sharing them with the world.”

This day of inspiration and renewal will include…

CONFERENCE

Venue: Swimbridge Jubilee Hall

Barnstaple Hill, Swimbridge, Barnstaple EX32 0PQ

9.30-10.00 Coffee and registration

10:00-10:30 Welcome from Revd Dr Sam Wells

Grounding the day in rich theological reflection. Interactive Sermon Preparation: Engaging clergy and lay leaders in live, collaborative sermon crafting.

Revd Dr Sam Wells has been Vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields since 2012. Sam has served as a parish priest for 27 years – 10 of those in urban priority areas. He also spent 7 years in North Carolina, where he was Dean of Duke University Chapel. He is a widely known preacher, writer, broadcaster, institutional leader and lecturer. Sam is also Visiting Professor of Christian Ethics at King’s College. He is a regular contributor to Thought for the Day on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. He has published 50 books, including works on Christian ethics, mission, ministry, scripture, liturgy, and preaching. Sam is married to Jo Wells, who is Deputy Secretary General of the Anglican Communion. They have two adult children.

10:30-11:15 Being With session

Being With is a life changing way to help people explore the Christian faith. Being With helps people consider Christian faith in new and refreshing ways, without needing prior knowledge, but a simple willingness to share what you do know or feel.

11:15-12:00 HeartEdge introduction

Practical workshops exploring the 4 Cs (Compassion, Commerce, Culture, and Congregation) for creating flourishing churches. . When scarcity could so easily dictate our thinking instead we shift to an abundance mindset, and a belief that God provides more than they need.

12:00-12:30 lunch break

Lunch and refreshments will be provided as part of the conference ticket price, and dietary options are catered for. All food offered during the day will be catered by The Jack Russell - https://www.thejackrussell.com/

12:30-13:15 Great Sacred Music session

Great Sacred Music is a 35-minute sequence of words and music which explores through song and readings the great classical music of our religious heritage. . It is a model that can be replicated and it has successfully engaged a wide spectrum of attendees.

13:15-14:00 Music Session

14:00-14:45 Growing the Gospel Together

This session offers resources for worship including a weekly reflection linked to the lectionary readings and a set of open questions for a small group to explore the scripture passages

14:45-15:00 break

15:00-15:45 Nazareth session

The Nazareth Community is a community that gathers at St Martin-in-the-Fields on the edge of Trafalgar Square, seeking God in contemplation and prayer and learning to live generously and compassionately. It follows a simple seven-fold contemporary rule of life. The Companions of Nazareth follow the same contemporary rule of life but come from all parts of the country and world and gather online for times of prayer and contemplation and each year for retreats.

15:45-16:15 HeartEdge session

What will we take away from today. Discussion session in smaller groups to help reflect on the 4 C's.

16:15-16:45 Bread for the World

Bread for the World - Closing the day with an Act of Contemplative and Contemporary Worship to give thanks for the sense of God’s presence and refreshment we have experienced in our time together

17:00-18:30 Dinner Break

The Jack Russell pub and restaurant are offering a hot meal for those staying for the concert. This is provided with refreshments at an additional cost of £10 per person. Please select the meal option when booking your tickets. During dinner there will be an opportunity for 1-2-1 conversations with the presenters to help develop ideas in your locality

CONCERT

18:30-19:30 St Martin in the Fields Concert

Venue: The Parish Church of St James the Apostle, Swimbridge

St James's Church, Swimbridge, Nr Barnstaple, Devon EX32 0PR

St Martin’s Choral Scholars will perform a concert in the evening at a nearby venue which will offer a chance to enjoy the musical talents of these gifted people.

Ticket Costs

Conference - £20 (with a friend £30)

Concert - £15 (concession £10)

Concert and Conference £25 (with a friend £40)

Hot Meal served from 5pm to 6.30pm £10

For more information

Local Diocesan Contact Revd Jeremy Putnam jeremy.putnam@exeter.anglican.org

HeartEdge Contact Andrew Yates heartedge@smitf.org