“On Earth as it is in Heaven” – The 2019 HeartEdge Conference - Report from Day 2

Cormac Russell addresses the HeartEdge Conference, speaking about Asset Based Community Development

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.

“On Earth as it is in Heaven” – The 2019 HeartEdge Conference - Report from Day 1

Reverend Winnie Varghese with Reverend Fiona Smith

Built on the edge of a drained loch, the 2019 HeartEdge Conference was hosted first at St Cuthbert’s Church and then at St John’s Church in Edinburgh. Inside, it was a challenge to stay afloat as an impressive panel of speakers showered us with their wisdom.

BOOK REVIEW : Liturgy on the Edge edited by Reverend Sam Wells

There is something captivating about seeing glimpses “behind the scenes.” I know it’s a bit geeky but I always found it quite exciting when I came across sermons and preachers notes when tidying up the church and seeing how different they were! Bishop Richard’s sermons were perfectly typed in largeish print, double spaced with page numbers and arranged on the page so that there were no awkward page turns halfway through a paragraph. Fr Peter Delaney, the former Archdeacon of London, underlines his typed script in red pen to show emphasis and dynamics - like an actor or voice artist (perhaps an echo of his previous work in the film industry in Hollywood?) Fr Luke, the current Archdeacon, hand writes “word maps” on the order of service - with key words to remind him what to say - I have seen him adapting these right up to the start of the service - but he still delivers a flawless sermon, without reading word for word from a script. Impressive! 

This latest book from St Martin in the Fields is perfect for anyone, like me, who loves having a nose behind the scenes to find out how things were done. But “Liturgy on the Edge” does much more than that. Through succinct commentaries by members of the clergy, music staff, PCC and members of the congregation, the book makes clear the connection between what was done and why - surely something all those involved in “doing liturgy” should be asking, all the time?