Supporting Streetwork in Advent

Posted on December 10, 2012 by

homelessTHE Centre for Living Christianity is interested in exploring faith as a way of life, not as a set of beliefs abstracted from it. That means thought and action go together.

We are therefore very pleased to report an Advent initiative happening on Wednesday 12th December at St John’s Church in Edinburgh (corner of Princes Street and Lothian Road), which is CLiC’s base.

The team who bring you the Festival of Spirituality and Peace each year have linked up with homelessness charity Streetwork for a ‘street porridge sale’ from 8am to 1pm that day, outside St John’s.

Money raised will go to help the activities of Streetwork, who offer direct support for homeless people. It will also raise further awareness of the issue, and of the plight of many people over the Christmas season… those for whom “no room at the inn” is not a quaint biblical story, but a daily reality.

For more information about this specific event, contact Annika Wolf, St John’s Church, Edinburgh, EH2 4BJ. Email: info@festivalofspirituality.org.uk Phone: 0131 2284249

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

‘Disorganised Religion’ update

Posted on December 2, 2012 by

rescheduleUPDATE: an initial small group met for a discussion recently. If you have emailed and were not part of that event, you will be hearing shortly about another one in the New Year!

Thanks to all who have expressed an interest in the ‘Disorganised Religion’ seminar / workshop / discussion. We have had over a dozen people wanting to come… however, unfortunately, most have difficulty with a Sunday lunchtime.

We therefore decided not to go ahead on 21st October, but instead to look for a fresh date which would enable more people to attend.

Further information will be published here, and mailed out to those who have contacted us, as soon as possible.

For further information, or to be kept in touch, please email: Simon Barrow and mark the subject line ‘Disorganised Religion’.

Posted in Disorganised Religion, News, Programme 2012 | Leave a comment

Forthcoming at CLiC…

Posted on November 14, 2012 by

Here’s the forthcoming programme for the Centre for Living Christianity, organised in date order, with links to further details.

Disorganised Religion (TBA – new date being looked at)
God Matters: an introduction (runs from 24 October)
Exploring ‘the New Monasticism’ (11 November)
Faith in Film (dates tba)
In a Strange Land: dementia (date tba)
Faith in Children (date tba, 2013)
‘Speaking Christian’: New language for old? (dates tba, 2013)
Pentecostal Ecumenism (date tba, 2013)
Faith in the Planet (date tba, 2013)
Faith in Ourselves; inner journeys (date tba, 2013)

Posted in Ecumenism, Environment, Facing Dementia, Faith and Film, Faith in Children, Future Church, God Matters, New Monasticism, Programme 2012, Programme 2013, Speaking Christian | Leave a comment

(How) does God matter to you?

Posted on October 8, 2012 by

From cheers to jeers to plain old ‘meh’, everyone seems to have some kind of view or question about God. What’s yours?

The German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, whose faith led him to resist the Nazis, and who paid for it with his life, once said: “May we always live aware that God is near and present with us.”

For some that’s very true. For others it may make little or no sense. In any case, which God are we talking about? The name of God is evoked in praise and as a curse. To bring life and to destroy it. For Christians, what difference does it make to talk of the God of Jesus, for instance?

Whatever comments or questions you have about “God matters” – whether you’re reading this as a believer or sceptic, religious or not, we’d like to hear from you.

CLiC aims to put on events and discussions which respond to the real concerns and questions that people have about God, faith and (not least) Christianity in a diverse world.

We need your input for that – though please, keep comments, however passionate, polite and respectful to others.

We look forward to hearing from you – just add your response below.

Meanwhile, here’s a few more pithy responses to “God matters” from Bonhoeffer:

* Our relationship to God is a new life in “being there for others,” through participation in the being of Jesus.

* We should find God in what we know, not in what we do not know.

* God is the centre of life and doesn’t just “turn up” when we have unsolved problems to be solved.

* God is near to lowliness – in loving the lost, the neglected, the unseemly, the excluded, the weak, and the broken.

CLiC’s own God Matters course starts on 24 October 2012. 

Posted in God Matters, Questions | 1 Comment

Exploring ‘the New Monasticism’

Posted on October 8, 2012 by

CLiC is delighted to announce an evening event on Sunday 11 November 2012. Full details below.

In recent years many people in different countries, denominations and faith communities have begun to feel a growing desire to learn something of the wisdom of the historic disciplines of the monastic tradition.

Alongside long-established dispersed orders such as the Third Order Franciscans and the Iona Community and the more recent Northumbria Community and Community of Aidan and Hilda, local Christians here in Edinburgh are beginning to explore the rich discipleship resources of the Rule of St Benedict, as well as ideas emerging from new communities across the UK and beyond.

Writers such as Shane Claibourne (Irresistible Revolution, Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals) show how the new monastic movement is tapping into a desire to go further and deeper in the Christian life in a way that crosses all denominational barriers, and draws on the best, most enduring and most life-giving of our Christian spiritualities and traditions.

Please come along to join in the discussion about the roots of this new movement and its expression in Edinburgh and beyond.

With Andrew Bain and Elspeth Strachan

Sunday 11 November
7pm – 9pm
Emmaus House, 14 Gilmore Place, Edinburgh
EH3 9NQ

To express interest, write to: Elspeth Strachan

Posted in New Monasticism, Programme 2012 | 1 Comment

CLiC launches with wine, food and a song

Posted on October 8, 2012 by

Many thanks to all who came along to the ‘First Supper’ yesterday (Sunday 7 October) to celebrate the launch of the Centre for Living Christianity in Edinburgh.

Over 50 people turned up to hear about CLiC, meet one another, enjoy some food and wine provided by Hendersons Cafe, and even to have a bit of a sing – as you can see and hear.

Donald Reid from St John’s introduced the ideas behind the new Centre and its future possibilities as well as the team behind it. He stressed that CLiC is for those inside and outside the church, those “clinging on by their fingernails”, and enquirers everywhere. It’s about shared exploration, not labels.

More to follow here on what CLiC is planning, and on the banner and “God matters” invitation to be unveiled later today…

Posted in Launch, News | Leave a comment

Your invitation to the First Supper!

Posted on October 4, 2012 by

The new Centre for Living Christianity, dubbed CLiC for short, is starting up in Edinburgh this weekend with an informal social event reflecting its “relaxed but thoughtful” approach to exploring religious faith in a sceptical age.

CLiC’s ‘First Supper’, from 7 to 8.30 pm on Sunday October 7, takes place at Henderson’s Café at St John’s Church, located at the corner of Princes Street and Lothian Road, in the heart of the Scottish capital.

There will be food and refreshments, plus an opportunity to hear about the vision and plans for the new initiative, which describes itself as “exploring faith at the crossroads.”

The full CLiC programme can be viewed and downloaded on the Centre’s new website.

The ‘First Supper’ at 7pm on Sunday 7 October is open to all. There will be a charge of £5 to help cover costs.

Those planning to attend are asked to drop a note to: Donald Reid

Posted in Programme 2012 | 1 Comment