St Edward's provides a Christian centre for spiritual seekers from diverse
backgrounds, and fosters meditative Christianity, spiritual growth, and pastoral
care. We are committed to Christ and celebrate the glory of the Christian
tradition, but we try to be open to the Spirit of God everywhere, not only
in the Church but also outside it. Canon Fraser Watts
is the Vicar-chaplain of St Edward's.
On Sundays there are three services at St Edward's. At 8.00am there is the BCP Holy Communion. The 11.00am service is richly varied, but always focusses on a topical theme in a thoughtful way. At 5.00pm we have a Meditative Eucharist, with space, stillness and bread and wine.
On many Tuesdays there is a talk with discussion, normally at 5.30pm.
On alternate Wednesdays there is On the Edge, with contemporary music and challenging themes.
Upcoming services and events
Today :: Friday 18 May
| 10.30am | Holy Communion | |
| 5.30pm | Silent Meditation | The meditation group meets on Fridays at 5.30 pm.Led by Fraser Watts |
Saturday 19 May
| 10.30am | Annual Pilgrimage to Little GiddingStarting at Leighton Bromswold | Malcolm will be leading a group of people going on the annual pilgrimage to Little Gidding. It begins with a Eucharist with the Bishop of Ely at Leighton Bromswold at 10.30 am, and then, after lunch, a pilgrimage walk to Little Gidding for evensong and tea. Let Malcolm know if you would like to go.Led by Malcolm Guite |
Sunday 20 May
| 8.00am | BCP Holy Communion | Ascension 1 |
| 11.00am | Sunday at Eleven | Ascension-tide Eucharist: Lifted by LoveIn the transition from Ascension Day to Pentecost we see two apparently contrasting movements; Christ ascends from earth to heaven, the Spirit descends from heaven to earth. Malcolm will explore how these two movements are complementary and reciprocal, and between them release the new energy for living, a constant exchange of love between Heaven and Earth in and through each of us.Preacher: Malcolm Guite |
| 5.00pm | Meditative Eucharist | Ascension Sunday: The Cosmic ChristThe focus this Ascension-tide will be on the Christ who holds a supreme role in the whole cosmos, and on the possibility of mystical union with the Cosmic Christ.Preacher: Fraser Watts |
Tuesday 22 May
| 5.30pm | Health & Holistic Spirituality | The Word and the World Malcolm will explore the prologue to St John’s Gospel, as a prelude to a series of four talks on core themes in St John’s gospel (light, life, love, and glory) that he will give on Tuesdays in June.Preacher: Malcolm Guite |
Thursday 24 May
| 12.30pm | Lunchtime Prayers | Starting today and taking place every Thursday at 12.30pm. The particular focus will be on praying for the world, for reconciliation, and the coming of God’s kingdom. It will often be led by Matt Russell, and will last c.15-20 minutes.Preacher: Matt Russell |
Friday 25 May
| 10.30am | Holy Communion | |
| 3.00pm | Flowers | A workshop for those interested in how to do Church flowers. Further information from Jillian Wilkinson.Led by Tessa Wilkinson |
| 5.30pm | Silent Meditation | The meditation group meets on Fridays at 5.30 pm.Led by Fraser Watts |
Sunday 27 May
| 8.00am | BCP Holy Communion | Whit Sunday |
| 11.00am | Sunday at Eleven | Pentecost Service: Love’s Energy and ExchangeIn the transition from Ascension Day to Pentecost we see two apparently contrasting movements; Christ ascends from earth to heaven, the Spirit descends from heaven to earth. Malcolm will explore how these two movements are complementary and reciprocal, and between them release the new energy for living, a constant exchange of love between Heaven and Earth in and through each of us.Preacher: Malcolm Guite |
| 5.00pm | Meditative Eucharist | Pentecost: Movements of the SpiritThe Spirit is known in movement and action, calling us to discern what He is doing, and to respond positively. It is through the Spirit that we encounter the God whose very name means ‘something is happening’.Preacher: Fraser Watts |
Wednesday 30 May
| 8.00pm | On the Edge | Keening for the DawnPreacher: Malcolm Guite |
Thursday 31 May
| 12.30pm | Lunchtime Prayers | The particular focus will be on praying for the world, for reconciliation, and the coming of God’s kingdom.Preacher: Matt Russell |
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The meditation group, led by Fraser, meets on Fridays at 5.30pm.
The new Chapter comprises: clergy: Fraser Watts, Malcolm Guite; church-wardens: Steve Mastin (lay vice-chairman) and Judith Tonry; Synod members: Geoff Barnes (treasurer) and Elizabeth Edwards; elected members: Rachel Blanchflower, Derek Birch, Penny Flint, Ann Kember, Mike Lee, Ruth Lynden-Bell, Dani Redhead, Simon Redhead, Adrian Stacey and Jillian Wilkinson (clerk). The deputy church-wardens are Geoff Barnes and Ann Kember. On Fridays there is a BCP service of Holy Communion at 10.30 am. There will be an opportunity, after this service, for those who wish to sit down together for half an hour or so, over a cup of tea or coffee, and share whatever is on our minds. The St Edward's house group is an informal gathering of people who want to know more about each other and about God. For more information see here. We have a good and varied library from which members of the congregation are welcome to borrow. Just sign books out and return them when finished. |
Chaplain's Letter for MayI believe that this will be a really significant month in the development of Christian work at St Edward’s. We have recently set ourselves to find a way of balancing our strong emphasis on spirituality with an equally strong emphasis on working as Christians for the renewal of society. I hope that this is something that our whole community at St Edward’s is ready to support, though different people will be involved in different ways, and many just through prayer, goodwill and interest. I want to frame this work in terms of the Christian ministry of ‘reconciliation. At its broadest, that means working to restore the whole of the created order to what God intended. It also has a specific focus on overcoming divisions in society, and on finding ways to help and support those who find themselves on the margins of society. That follows the clear pattern of Jesus’ own ministry, with its emphasis on reaching out to those that society regarded as outcasts. At the 11.00 am service on May 13th, we will give expression to this growing commitment amongst us to work to build a society in which people are reconciled to God and to one another. I have been bringing together a group of about a dozen people who will spear-head this work, giving time, thought and energy to it in a way that will not be possible for everyone. However, they obviously won’t be the only people giving Christian service to society. I welcome the fact that many of us are already doing so, and this new initiative will only be an extension of what many are already doing. In due course we may want to bring together other ministry teams, such as those involved with mental health problems in one way of another. Please pray that God will bless this extension of our Christian work at St Edward’s, and that it will help us to witness better to the love of God for his creation. Fraser Watts |
Transcripts and audio
More transcripts and audio are available here.
- Susan Durber on gender and God (docx)
- George Newlands on Christian Unity (doc)
- Gregory Seach on Discerning the Holy in literature (docx)
- Colin Slee on All the men in grey mitres
- The 2010 Patronal Festival sermon by Fraser (pdf) for 2010
- The 2009 Patronal Festival sermon by Fraser (Word format) and the sermons from the three hour devotion on Good Friday
- Fraser Watts (audio) on Christ's baptism, contentment, reconciliation ( 1, 2, 3 and 4), Christ's resurrection, the dark side of Christmas, Peter and self-deception
- Malcolm Guite (audio) on aging, the baptism of Christ, Bethesda, Blake, 'fallen', homelessness, Jesus, friend of sinners, the Magi, the mountains and valleys, the rivers and the sea, St Francis and the transfiguration.
- Joanna Jepson (audio) on living breathing words.
- Rupert Sheldrake (audio) on sacred places.
Weekly e-mail list
To join our weekly e-mail list for details of the weeks services and events, sign up here.
Contact
If you encounter difficulties with the weekly e-mail list, need more help, or have comments on the website, please contact Simon or Ryan.