NIGHTCHURCH

Important News

2011-06-22T08:07:00.000-07:00

From Canon Anna Norman-Walker:

The original vision for Night Church was to create a congregational community aimed at reaching those born post 1960 (generation X&Y) and especially those for whom more traditional forms of worship are culturally out of reach. In the early days there was a number of young pioneer disciples who gathered around this vision and Night Church became a regular feature of the Cathedral’s life.

Three years on and many of these young leaders have journeyed away and the shape of Night Church has changed and as a result we have lost touch with the very group we set out to reach. It is to this end that Night Church as it currently is, will be coming to an end in August.

After a period of rest and reflection we plan to relaunch (probably under a new name) but with a clear objective to reach out to those younger adults, so absent from our regular services. We shall be gathering on Sunday, not Friday evenings and an act of worship, with conversation groups focussed on exploring topics linked to our worship and the world around us and an opportunity to build a sense of community and belonging through social time together, will be the central ingredient. Please do pray for us as we take this next step, talk to me if you would like to be involved and do please spread the word.

If you would like to be part of the new vision, I would be delighted to hear from you and we can reflect together on the part you might play, but we all need to be clear about what it is we are about. To this end I offer you the following critical elements:

Worship - Christ centered. This will take the form of an 'act of worship' including a regular Eucharist, music and the opportunity to learn together.
Community - Belonging together with Christ. This will take the form of cafe time and smaller conversation groups and beyond.
Mission- As defined by the 'five marks of mission' * We will be committed to making new disciples and helping all to grow in their love for God (as seen in the face of Christ) and neighbour.

· Sunday evenings - regularly, but not necessarily weekly.

· Target group - Younger adults and those who find current worship patterns at the cathedral culturally out of reach.

- There may well be a home here for those who have left church and would like to give it a try again (dechurched).

- All would be welcome, however( no need to bring your birth certificate!!!)

· Joinabilty - The evenings will be structure in such a way that makes it easy to join /belong and participate.

· Theological- Generous orthodoxy; open to questions and inclusive of all who seek to belong.

· Ecclesiological - Experimental / varied / creative / contemplative / sacramental / and.......tbc

I do hope that for some of us the journey together will continue into the future......

With love and prayers,

Anna

Team email

2011-04-12T08:43:00.000-07:00

Afternoon all and sundry,

Isn’t it lovely to be in Devonia on a day like today?! I may burst into song.

Before I do, a note to say thank you to Katie and Kimwei for last week’s Night Prayer, and to Jonathan Henderson who will be leading it this coming Friday. Also this week, Conversations shall flow profoundly and tea shall be served in abundance as we meet for the last time before Easter.

Please spread the word that there is NO NIGHT CHURCH ON GOOD FRIDAY on 22^nd April, and that we will be meeting in the Old Deanery’s Great Hall for a bring and share TEAM MEETING on Friday 6^th May. Please find the form for attendance and food on the left. All are welcome whether they bring food or not. Probably.

We have planned to be open on the 29^th April which is now a holiday day too, could you make it clear to Anna this Friday whether you plan to come to Night Church that night so we can make sure there are enough of the team present to open.

You may have picked up a hint there that I’m not around again, what can I say – I’m hoping that absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Peace and sunshine to you all, have a wonderful break over Easter!

Laura

Team email

2011-03-22T08:42:00.001-07:00

Hello one and all,

So, this Friday we have Malcolm take the floor to lead Night Prayer and there will be the regular reflection, Conversation group, Prayers for Healing and Cafe to partake of.

Have a told you all that I went to the toilet with Anne Widecombe on my journey back from Jersey?

I won't be with you to share such rock and roll moments but no doubt Anna will delight with stories from the mission field in my place.

In my absence please spread the word about:

1) the Renewal Afternoon, 9th April, 2.30 - 5pm, completely free, in Exmouth. It'll be lovely and we can squeeze in anyone who wants to come.

2) the Wider Team Meeting meal on Friday 6th May, 7.30pm at the Old Deanery opposite the Cathedral garden bit. All welcome for the bring and share meal regardless of ability to bring or share and there will be no normal Night Church.

3) no Night Church on Good Friday, 22nd April. There's probably some stuff happening at the Cathedral that weekend though.

Thanks all, loving your work. See you soon!

Laura

Newsletter Spring 2011

2011-03-08T11:02:00.000-08:00

The newest Night Church Newsletter is available here

Enjoy!

Laura

March? No it can't be...

2011-03-03T03:11:00.000-08:00

...where did January and February go?!

Anyway. This week as normal, fingers crossed Jonathan's glorious flapjack makes an appearance.

Some dates for you:

9th April - Renewal Afternoon, 2 - 5pm - spaces still available and everyone's welcome. Sign up on Friday by telling me or online here

22nd April - It's Good Friday and we won't meet in the Cathedral. I take the holy weekend to hide under my duvet and rest in the Lord but if anyone wants to suggest a meeting point please do!

6th May - Wider Team Meeting - We'll be meeting at 7.30pm in the Old Deanery to eat together and share ideas for the future. All welcome!

All for now gang,

Laura

NC email 19th Jan

2011-01-19T09:35:00.000-08:00

Hidi Hi All,

All is back to normal this Friday - NightPrayer, Conversations, Prayers for Healing, Cafe and meditiations are GO...

Thank you to those who came to the Wider Team Meeting. I, for one, am feeling very positive about NC this year! (If I can stop getting flu/twisting my ankle/losing my voice, this positivity will treble no doubt)

See you on Friday!

Laura

NC Noticeboard 4th January 2011

2011-01-04T08:01:00.000-08:00

One and all,

I hope 2011 has started positively for you, and if it hasn't let's look forward together to a brighter year.

This Friday: 7th January, 7PM

Our first Friday back is this week - and this will be an open team meeting at the Old Deanery (opposite the Cathedral) at 7pm.

Bring and share for all who are able and willing – tell us what you’re bringing at on the form on the left please. And do bring your diaries.

The agenda includes a look back at 2010, a bit of Safeguarding, and introducing Anna!

Our first normal Friday is the 14^th January, 7.40pm team meeting in the Nave, 8pm doors open.

Finally, I've had swine flu and missed Christmas entirely thus if you ask me how my Christmas was I shall know you haven't read this message - because I didn't have a Christmas. If I then tell you my tale in all its gory detail, it's your own fault. No more Ms Moderately-Nice-If-A-Little-Touchy Guy. ;)

Looking forward to seeing you all (honestly, spend 8 days without seeing people so I may even hug you all) and I genuinely hope you had a restful, healthy and peaceful Christmas.

Over and Out

Laura

Team Email 20th Dec

2010-12-20T04:38:00.000-08:00

Hello snowy campers!

Well we pulled it off against the odds on Friday – ballpark 400 people, around £1200 made. I’m thrilled (anyone who saw me at 4.30pm will know just how positive I was feeling at THAT point…)

Huge thank you to all of you who came early, put the kettle on, played the oboe, put up or took down the staging, put things on chairs, moved chairs, welcomed, tidied up, put lights on signs, lugged stuff around, looked after rough sleepers, wore a tabard, organised the Eucharist and sang loudly. I know there were a few who wanted to be with us but couldn’t – my thanks to you too for keeping us in mind!

I cheekily asked Anna and Jonathan Meyrick if we could do it again next year (I have ideas, I’m sure you do too – ooh it’ll be GOOD) so can we tentatively put the 16th December in our diaries?

On to the other business:

Our first Friday back is Friday 7th January - and this will be an open team meeting at the Old Deanery (opposite the Cathedral) at 7pm. Bring and share for all who are able and willing – tell us what you’re bringing on the sign up to the left please. And do bring your diaries.
Our first normal Friday is the 14th January.

Finally – Charlotte Page sent us all a Christmas card but I forgot to show anyone on Friday. It says Merry Christmas and I miss you, or words to that effect.

A massive dollop of best wishes for a peaceful and warm Christmas, and a fantabulous start to 2011.

Festive love,

Laura
Friday Night Coordinator

Team Info for 17th Dec

2010-12-14T07:04:00.000-08:00

Hey all,

It's our last Friday Nightchurch of 2010 this week! Before the tears are too many to be wiped away, please to have a look at the format for this Friday:

4.30pm - Christian Aid team and any willing volunteers unload and decorate the Nave of the Cathedral

5.30pm - We continue to do this very quietly during evensong and a wedding rehearsal

6.30pm - Our choirs join us in the Chapter House to warm up and when possible will practice in the Nave – Could as many people as possible arrive between

6.15 and 6.30pm for a team brief and run through? Thank you!

7pm - Doors open

7.30pm - The concert part of the evening begins, and quite frankly we are all blown away. Keys team tasks include – welcoming and showing reserved seated people to their seats, and being on security throughout the night.

9pm - The concert part ends (fingers crossed), so help to hold collection buckets, talk to visitors, show them the cathedral, and collect carol sheets etc most appreciated.

After the concert part Prayers for Healing will be available.

About 10-15 minutes after the end of the concert there will be a Nightchurch Eucharist in the Quire, do go along if you can.

10pm we will gather in the Chapter House for a cuppa - please hang around if you can so we can wish each other a Merry Christmas!

All done by 10.30pm

-----------------------------------------------------------
Other things -

Frank is having breakfast again at the Imperial Wetherspoons, 10am on Saturday 18th Dec. All welcome to join him.

Our first Friday back is Friday 7th January - and this will be an open team meeting at the Old Deanery (opposite the Cathedral) at 7pm. Bring and share for all who are able and willing – tell us what you’re bringing on the form on the right please.

And finally… thank you to all who pledged sponsorship (to be collected on Friday) and offered best wishes for my 5k Santa Dash last Sunday. I made it, and I ran (a lot of) it!

See you on Friday!

Laura
Friday Night Coordinator

NC Noticeboard 30th Nov

2010-11-30T07:01:00.000-08:00

Hello one and all,

In this email:
THIS FRIDAY, NEXT FRIDAY
FRIDAY AFTER THAT ONE
BREAKFAST
JANUARY MEETING
AND FINALLY

THIS FRIDAY (3rd)
Meditations, Conversations, Café, Prayers for Healing and the Nightchurch Prayer at 8.45pm facilitated by Andrew

NEXT FRIDAY (10th)
Much the same, but with Phill facilitating the Nightchurch Prayer

FRIDAY AFTER THAT ONE (17th)
It’s our Christmas extravaganza – Night of a Thousand Voices! Anyone able to be on welcome and security at the beginning will earn themselves by appreciation.
Last Friday night I invited any suggestions which will ensure the evening has a Nightchurch identity. There’s the ‘carol concert’ part from 7.30 – 9, and a Eucharist by the Dean shortly afterwards. What else could we do e.g. the Nightchurch prayer? Last year we had 600ish people so might be worth thinking about what is practical…! Thoughts to me before the day before please.

BREAKFAST
Frank occasionally invites people to join him for breakfast at The Imperial, Wetherspoons. The next occasion is 10am this Saturday 4th December if you’d like to join him for a fried egg filled social time.

JANUARY MEETING
7.30pm Friday 7th January at (probably) Mary Arches. Bring and share dinner for those who can. Sign up to follow when Christmas stops being a nuisance to me.

Finally, thanks to all who have sponsored me for the Santa Dash I’m running (5k dressed as Father Christmas) for Christian Aid on 12th December. If any one else would like to I won’t stop you – www.justgiving.com/thesouthwestregionalteam. Training is going badly, the excuse for this week is a new cold which might possibly be actual man flu.

See you on the 17th, I’m getting my festive cheer on for the next fortnight so behave (Margaret!).

Laura
Friday Night Coordinator

Team Weekly Email

2010-10-28T04:18:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

Last Friday was a success in the Nave so we’ll be keeping that up for the next few weeks. I’m off to the West Bank on Saturday for a few weeks but will be back on the 12th November to make sure you haven’t burnt the place down.

So Elsie will take the lead this Friday 29th, and Phill will take the lead next week 5th Nov when Ian Adams will be leading the first NC Prayer and Anna Norman-Walker hopes to join us for the first time as she starts to get to grips with her new role as Canon Missioner! I know you’ll all be welcoming J

Sing ups for the next two weeks are online at www.nightchurch.org.uk now.

Also, no Nightchurch on the 19th November so get planning your crazy night out on the town.

See you on the 12th, have a good few weeks!

Laura
Friday Night Coordinator

Team email for Friday 22nd Oct

2010-10-21T03:35:00.000-07:00

Hello,

This Friday we're meeting in the NAVE as an experiment so make your way there at 7.40 if you're team meetinging. Any extra hands available a bit earlier to help set up the cafe most appreciated.

Finally, our Nightchurch leader Ian Adams has written a book!

Cave Refectory Road: monastic rhythms for contemporary living by Ian Adams is available from the publisher Canterbury Press and from Amazon:

http://tiny.cc/CRRfromCanterburyPress
http://tiny.cc/CRRfromAmazon

Ian Adams captures the essential genius of the monastic tradition and combines it with his own experience as poet, family man and abbot of a ‘new-monastic community’ to address the dis-ease of so much of our contemporary ways of living. His book gives simple, practical inspiration for ‘ordinary living’ and re-calls monks and nuns, friars and sisters to the passion of their founders as it asks: “How did the dynamic way of the passionate, scandalous re-imaginer Jesus give way to so much that is passionless, repressed and safe? How did the movement that challenged an empire become an institution parodied as weak, obsessive or irrelevant?”
-
Abbot Stuart Burns OSB Mucknell Abbey

If you know someone (perhaps yourself) who is spiritual but not religious I strongly suggest giving them this book. Ian Adams has beautifully and unabashedly mined the Christian monastic tradition and found gold for our spiritually impoverished time. You can find no better guide.
- Nadia Bolz-Weber, founding pastor of House for all Sinners and Saints, a Lutheran mission church in Denver Colorado and author of 'Salvation on the Small Screen? 24 Hours of Christian Television' (Seabury 2008).

This book is a gem. For those seeking to follow in the way of Christ today, Ian opens up the gifts and insights of religious communities in a very imaginative fashion. He manages the difficult art of writing in a way that has real depth but is still accessible and easy to grasp. It's heartfelt and inspired.

- Jonny Baker author, blogger, CMS pioneer mission leadership team leader

Laura

Friday Night Coordinator

1st October!

2010-09-27T13:21:00.000-07:00

THIS FRIDAY!

Between a Flood and the Rainbow is an evening of music, raising money for the Pakistan Flood Appeal and raising awareness of the work of Christian Aid tackling the root causes of poverty around the world.

The evening includes a show from Martin John Nicholls and Paul Field, performances from some of the Voiceworx Choir, Adelia Tisdall, Response and the Dean of Exeter, Jonathan Meyrick who will also take a communion at 10pm.

Invite everyone you know!

Laura

For the 24th September

2010-09-21T02:43:00.000-07:00

Hello one and all,

Sorry to have missed those of you who were there on Friday, three days in bed and I think I'm ready to be upright. For the record, it wasn't/isn't a cold. I'm tougher than that thankyouverymuch!

THIS WEEK

Ian will be joining us to discuss the NC Prayer further. Included in the conversation will be practical considerations like - when do we close everything to meet together? how do we manage security? where do we meet? how long should the gathering be?
Thinking equipment on please.

NEXT WEEK

1st October sees Nightchurch go all out - thank you to those who have invited their networks. We still could do with a few more performers if you have any hiding away anywhere. And do spread the publicity far and wide and long and high and merrily.

FINALLY

Do sign up for the retreat on Saturday 9th October if you are able to come, the link to the form is on the left panel.

See you (cough cough) on Friday

Laura

September eNewsletter

2010-09-16T02:35:00.001-07:00

is HERE!

This Week's team email

2010-09-14T06:43:00.000-07:00

Hey all,

Thank you to all those who came and contributed on Friday night to the team meeting. We were thinking about how we promote the spiritual thread of Friday evenings, Phill is having a go at putting some of our ideas on computer screen so watch this space [ ] .

Pakistan Floods Appeal
We also talked about holding a fundraiser for Pakistan and agreed to mash it up with the already Christian Aid themed evening on 1st October – you will be bombarded with emails as the ball rolleth through the organisation process, lucky you. Thanks for all you thoughts on this; being embroiled in the humanitarian side of this work and utterly flummoxed at how quickly the people of Pakistan have been forgotten … means that I need a good dose of your good sense and realism.

To clarify, pushing the event back DOES have a cost – people really are in desperate need of our funds right now and as each week passes the long term effects of this disaster are only escalating. However, pushing back the date DOES enable us to put on a night of quality, well publicised and with a much more alive version of the Friday Night Coordinator, therefore and without excuse raising much much much much more money.

I still need you (I may even burst into song), an emphatic thank you to those who have been in touch with your musician bookings and contact details (see, you don’t need me at all!). Also, we need a lot of cupcakes… anyone?

This Week
Sign up to say if you’re coming over on the left hand panel and read all the latest news while you're here. Also, if someone finds the mistake I only just noticed I’ll give them a CleverClogs Muffin. The Dean of Exeter is coming to lead a Communion so tell your friends (and invite them, preferably, or just boast, up to you)

Over and Out

Laura

Friday 10th, Friday 17th, Saturday 9th ...

2010-09-06T03:14:00.000-07:00

Was genuinely lovely to see those who made it on Friday night, what a team. This week is a bit different – we do not have the Cathedral so we are meeting at Mary Arches church for a team meeting and food. Sign up on the left hand side of this page.

Also, we have booked an Away Day on Saturday 9th October for the whole team to spend time together and explore the spiritual aspects of Nightchurch as well as ourselves. All are welcome, it’s free (there might be a bring and share lunch or pub lunch which won’t be included in the free-ness of the day. Details to follow, including where it is). In the meantime you can sign up over to the left side to let us start planning!

Finally - we need to get going on the Pakistan Floods Appeal fundraiser on Friday 17th September, please invite musicians, performers and punters so that we can make a significant amount of dosh for those in desperate need.

Many thanks one and all for a fab start to the season :)

Laura

We're back!

2010-09-01T06:56:00.000-07:00

Yes, it’s September already!

We’ll be meeting before Nightchurch opens the Cathedral in the Chapter House (café) at 7.40pm (whether we’re set up or not) for a quick catch up, run through the evening and reflect on the evening to come. All are welcome!

It’s always helpful to know who’s coming so do sign up by clicking the form on the left hand panel 'This week and coming up'.

This Friday we hope to be joined by some musicians and performers to give the evening a musical twist. How lovely.

It would seem that a fundraiser for the Pakistan Floods Disaster is likely for the 17th September so start getting the word out there, let’s get as many performers involved as we can and make it as good as our Haiti efforts. The scale of this disaster is bigger than the Tsunami, bigger than Haiti and will slowly be killing the people of already poor communities. Let’s make this a demonstration of what Nightchurch is about – generous, inclusive, Christ centred, justice driven action.

See you on Friday!

Laura

Friday Night Coordinator

Summer Break!

2010-07-28T09:24:00.000-07:00

Friday nights are taking a break over the summer, but will be back with a musical fest on Friday 3rd September.

All musicians, poets, storytellers, cloggers, morris dancers, jugglers and mime artists are welcome to turn up and book a slot on the night in either the Nave (main Cathedral) or the Chapter House (our cafe area). Performers can also book a space in advance by popping me an email: laura@nightchurch.org.uk.

It'll be acoustic (I'll bring a PA or two, but let's be prepared for a power cut. Not that THAT'S ever happened. Ahem.) and the audience is always transient but it's an incredible venue for creativity.

Normal Nightchurch will continue of course, with a meditation, Conversations group and free cafe.

See you there!

Laura

Welcome!

2010-07-18T03:26:00.000-07:00

You've found the new NIGHTCHURCH website! We've simplified and whilst this site is a work in progress we hope that it will have everything you need to find out about Exeter's NIGHTCHURCH community.

You can get involved at our Facebook group too.

Got questions? Send me an email at laura@nightchurch.org.uk

I'll be tweaking this site and updating it regularly, so come back soon!

All the best

Laura

(Friday Night Coordinator and website shifter)