Samuel Wells

All churches have had to learn to do things differently during closure due to the coronavirus pandemic. None has been more imaginative or inventive than London’s St Martin in the Fields. Through its HeartEdge programmes, it has continued many aspects of its ministry, and developed significant new initiatives and is now a virtual college with an impressively varied programme for practitioners. Here the St Martin’s team reflects theologically and share its newly found pastoral and practical wisdom in many areas: • Finding God in Lockdown • Meeting God and One Another Online • Rediscovering Contemplative Prayer • Facing Grief amidst Separation • Preaching at Such a Time as This • Singing the Lord’s Song in a Strange Time • Hearing Scripture Together in Difficult Times • Praying through Crisis • Creating a Community of Practitioners • Finding Faith at Home • Conclusion: A Strategy for Transformation The Contributors are all on the staff at St Martin’s and key figures in HeartEdge: Sam Wells, Richard Carter, Sally Hitchiner, Fiona MacMillan, Jonathan Evens and Andrew Earis.

I en tid präglad av tvärsäkra proklamationer, svart-vita fördömanden, polarisering och stängda gränser, i en tid när beroende betraktas som en svaghet och självsäkerhet som en merit, hjälper oss prästen och teologen Samuel Wells att återupptäcka den dygd som kallas ödmjukhet. Men ödmjukhet ska inte, enligt honom, förväxlas med någon slags kuvad och tillbakadragen hållning. Tvärtom är den ett uttryck för en livshållning fylld av sådant som nyfikenhet, uppmärksamhet, förundran, tacksamhet och tålamod. I grunden handlar ödmjukhet om att lära sig se livet som en gåva att ta emot tillsammans med andra och inte som ett projekt att förverkliga eller bära på sina egna axlar.Wells skriver på ett sätt som är både enkelt och djupsinnigt, jordnära och tankfullt. Boken formar sig till en inbjudan att stanna upp för se sitt liv i ett nytt ljus – djupast sett i det ljus som strålar från den Gud som blir en av oss i Jesus Kristus – och låta sig bli överraskad av glädje. Det är en bok att läsa sakta och begrunda i stillhet.Samuel Wells (f 1965) är präst i Engelska kyrkan. Sedan 2012 har han varit kyrkoherde för St Martin-in-the-Fields i centrala London och gästprofessor i kristen etik vid King’s College London. Wells har skrivit över 35 böcker. Vandra ödmjukt är den första boken som översatts till svenska och dessutom den första i en kommande trilogi: Älska barmhärtigt och Handla rättfärdigt.Sagt om Vandra ödmjukt"Vilken pärla! I boken Vandra ödmjukt ger Samuel Wells en lockande inbjudan att våga se sin plats i världen på ett helt nytt sätt. Tänk om livet inte handlar om att utesluta slump och skapa säkerhet, utan i stället identifiera vad och vem vi kan lita på och hur vi lär oss tillit! Wells utmanar det moderna livets illusioner om kontroll och visar hur allt är en gåva. Min längtan väcks att vandra livet fram med lite mer ödmjukhet, tålamod och tacksamhet. Varje mening i denna lilla bok ger visdom och jag är djupt berörd av läsningen."Robert Eriksson, pastor och föreståndare i Betlehemskyrkan, Göteborg, författare och musiker."Det här är en bok som genom sin direkta och poetiska ton skakar om läsaren på ett retfullt men framför allt inbjudande sätt. Utifrån åtta uppmaningar – var ödmjuk, var tacksam, var din egen storlek, var mjuk, var fylld av lovsång, var trofast, var en kropp, var en välsignelse – utmanar Wells oss att stanna upp, bli nyfikna, reflektera och förundras över vår existens i världen. Boken talar till våra djupaste behov av mening och tillhörighet och pekar på det goda livet bortom oberoendet. Det här är en fantastisk liten bok om ödmjukhet som helst ska läsas långsamt och gärna flera gånger."Maria Ledstam, teolog och etiker, lärare på Akademi för ledarskap och teologi i Örebro"Om det är så som Wells säger, att tacksamhet är det ögonblick när vi slutar att se beroende som en börda och börjar se det som en gåva, då är Vandra ödmjukt en underbar gåva. Boken kommer att tas emot som ett exempel på vishet, men den är mer än det. Utan att hänvisa till ’metoder’, är Vandra ödmjukt en övning i en teologisk metafysik som hjälper oss att ’se’ våra liv i ljuset av Kristus. Läs sakta."Stanley Hauerwas, professor emeritus i teologisk etik på Duke universitet i Durham, North Carolina, USA

No. 1 Thoughts One Can't Do Without: With In this essay, Samuel Wells meditates on the paradox of contemporary life: we are more connected than ever– so why are we lonely? Drawing on secular and theological thinkers, from Iris Murdoch to Augustine of Hippo, he proposes a vision for being with one another that contrasts with working for, working with or being for each other. With is a short and powerful essay exploring issues which have recurred in the work of contemporary thinkers on community such as Jean-Luc Nancy, Roberto Esposito, and Giorgio Agamben.

Behold What You Are is written to open the possibilities of liturgy and liturgical awareness, in the church and of the church, Sunday by Sunday, season by season.In a world increasingly and sharply divided, the image of the body of Christ can provide an alternate and life-giving narrative. We don’t just gather to worship God; we gather to worship God together, even when that gathering is online. And we go forth together to be the body of Christ, that the world might be repaired and restored to God. This body is not finite and exclusive; it is porous and open to all. Our traditions are a wonderful springboard for refreshed liturgical expressions in settings within and beyond our church buildings. These expressions can connect with people who would not otherwise enter a beautiful but somewhat austere structure. With some thoughtful reflection and intentionality, the public expression and formation of the body of Christ through liturgy can become more vital for all.

The Canterbury Press Lent book for 2021 focuses on the significance of the story at the very centre of Christianity: the crucifixion. Samuel Wells writes as a theologian and pastor to explore the cross in the purposes of God and how this act brings about salvation. Three sections, each with six short chapters, explore the cross in: - the Old Testament (Covenant, Test, Passover, Atonement, Servant, Sacrifice) - the Epistles (Forgiveness, Obedience, Foolishness, Example, Reconciliation, Boast) - the Gospels (Finished, Judged, Betrayed, Pierced, Forsaken, Mocked) Written with characteristic clarity and wearing its considerable learning lightly, A Cross at the Heart of God will give readers a comprehensive understanding of the story at the heart of scripture, the central event in history and a core tenet of the Christian faith. A study guide with questions and prayers makes this ideal for Lent groups as well as individual reading.

Two contemporary theologians, Samuel Wells and Stanley Hauerwas, add their voices to the ongoing conversation about Christian life in the twenty-first century. This third book in the In Conversation series dives deeply into the theological and personal ideas and motivations for the work of two prominent Christian thinkers. Readers will discover their thoughts on the Trinity, parish ministry, and non-violence, along with anecdotes and intimate notions on marriage, family, and even baseball. Followers of Wells’s and Hauerwas’s theological and homiletical work will find out what has influenced them most, and where they’d like to go from here.A fascinating read for Episcopalians and Anglicans, and those who enjoyed the first two In Conversation books.

You may have heard that churches in Europe are vanishing. Yet church growth in London has been steady for decades, fueled by such innovations as Alpha and Fresh Expressions. What about outside the capital? Some, both inside and outside the church, say churches "cannot grow." But here they are--growing churches--in the north of England of all places. This is not only a story about England. It is about growing churches wherever you've heard they "can't" grow. God is always up to something precisely where (we think) God shouldn't be.

Love Mercy is a thoughtful and realistic exploration of forgiveness and making peace from bestselling author and broadcaster Samuel Wells. Utterly realistic about the nature and effects of the hurt we inflict both as individuals and societies, and the conditions and work that is needed to bring healing, it sees forgiveness as a twelve-step process, beginning with resolve and culminating in the newness of resurrection. With deep pastoral wisdom and insight it reflects on the issues and challenges that touch us all and offers a way of living to bring us into reconciliation with ourselves, with others, with creation and with God. Love Mercy is the sequel to 'Walk Humbly' and the second of three volumes by Samuel Wells that offer a basic introduction to Christian faith and life.

Each year in the UK, 225,000 people are diagnosed with dementia. The implications for aging church congregations, and for the Christian mission to people throughout their lives, are considerable. God In Fragments aims to equip those engaged in or preparing for ministry to people with dementia. It explores the theological and spiritual challenges of dementia, suggests practical ways to help those living with dementia participate in worship, and offers a wide range of prayers and worship outlines. • Part One offers theological reflection on living with dementia, spiritual awareness, creating dementia-friendly churches and accessible worship. • Part Two contains services, prayers, readings and activities suitable for those with dementia, for use in formal or informal church contexts, church cafés, care homes and hospitals. In an Afterword, Samuel Wells reflects on unlocking the gates of memory.

As a collection of 66 books spanning thousands of years, the Bible can be daunting in size and scope. In The Heart of It All, Samuel Wells simplifies the Bible's complexity and presents the entire sweep of its narrative in eighteen key themes. Although its contents range from history to poetry, law, narrative, letters and even apocalyptic literature, at the Bible's heart are relationships between God, creation, Jesus, the Church, the Spirit and the Kingdom. Samuel Wells argues that this provides a lens through which the whole Bible can be understood. Rooted in the best of contemporary biblical theology and scholarship, The Heart of It All will deepen understanding of the Bible and increase confidence in reading it. It includes questions for reflection, making this an ideal resource for Lent groups as well as for individual reading.

Richard Carter swapped a life of simplicity with an Anglican religious order in the Solomon Islands for parish ministry in one of London's busiest churches, St Martin-in-the-Fields. Seeing a need for monastic values in the centre of the city, he founded the Nazareth Community. Its members gather from everyday life to seek God in contemplation, to acknowledge their dependence on God’s grace and to learn to live openly and generously with all. Part story, part spiritual meditation, The City is My Monastery offers spiritual wisdom for daily life rooted in the Nazareth Community’s seven guiding principles: Silence, Service, Scripture, Sacrament, Sharing, Sabbath Time and Staying.

A Future that’s Bigger than the Past sets out a vision for renewing the local church that is energising, realistic and practical for small and large congregations alike. In response to prevailing narratives of decline, it reimagines how the church can live its vocation of receiving God’s abundance and sharing it far and wide. It recognises the surprising, exuberant and plentiful things that the Holy Spirit is doing in the world and calls the church to celebrate creation, enjoy culture and share in its flourishing. With a rich theological foundation and borne out of the practical experience of growing local church communities, this ground-breaking book will help churches discover fresh ways to bless the communities they serve.

In the spirit of the popular poem 'Desiderata', world-renowned ethicist, theologian and preacher Samuel Wells offers eight exhortations in this extended meditation on being alive in the world and making our way through life.

Max Ehrmann's prose poem "Desiderata," with its direct instructions --"go placidly," "enjoy your achievements," and others-- has inspired millions of readers.In the spirit of Ehrmann's "Desiderata," world-renowned ethicist, theologian, and preacher Samuel Wells offers eight encourage-ments to readers in Walk Humbly, his own more extended prose poem. Each simple, direct exhortation--be humble, be grateful, be your own size, be gentle, be a person of praise, be faithful, be one body, be a blessing--is accompanied by thought-provoking, insightful comments.Drawing on startlingly perceptive observations of contemporary life and reflecting a deep knowledge of philosophical and religious wisdom, Wells's Walk Humbly will inspire readers to stop, reflect, and think deeply about essential existence.

Max Ehrmann's prose poem "Desiderata," with its direct instruc-tions --"go placidly," "enjoy your achievements," and others-- has inspired millions of readers.In the spirit of Ehrmann's "Desiderata," world-renowned ethicist, theologian, and preacher Samuel Wells offers eight encourage-ments to readers in Walk Humbly, his own more extended prose poem. Each simple, direct exhortation--be humble, be grateful, be your own size, be gentle, be a person of praise, be faithful, be one body, be a blessing--is accompanied by thought-provoking, insightful comments.Drawing on startlingly perceptive observations of contemporary life and reflecting a deep knowledge of philosophical and religious wisdom, Wells's Walk Humbly will inspire readers to stop, reflect, and think deeply about essential existence.

Priests and pastoral caregivers often accompany people who are struggling to negotiate experiences of sickness, bereavement or anxiety. There are no easy answers in such situations, no formulaic remedies, no slick theological explanations. The process of being present, listening and responding is demanding and requires skills and wisdom beyond ministers’ own experience. Often, caregivers feel they receive more than they give in such encounters. Samuel Wells reflects theologically and pastorally on twenty such encounters that were both hugely challenging and hugely instructive for him. The result is a book of profound practical wisdom and understanding that will inform and enrich pastoral ministry for all who read it. An extended introduction on the nature and practice of pastoral ministry introduces these memorable and moving accounts.

This introductory textbook establishes theatrical improvisation as a model for Christian ethics, helping Christians embody their faith in the practices of discipleship. Clearly, accessibly, and creatively written, it has been well received as a text for courses in Christian ethics. The repackaged edition has updated language and recent relevant resources, and it includes a new afterword by Wesley Vander Lugt and Benjamin D. Wayman that explores the reception and ongoing significance of the text.

‘Truth’ is a difficult subject in a pluralistic culture, and ‘the truth’ is even more challenging. Yet the preacher’s call is to be a speaker of truth – the truth of God in Jesus Christ. What does it take to speak the truth faithfully as a preacher of the gospel, for that truth to be heard, and for words and ideas to generate actions and build relationships? Samuel Wells has learned that speaking the truth means telling the Christian story alongside the contemporary secular story. It means helping your hearers perceive both the harmonies and the dissonance between the two. It means inviting them, with both conviction and humility, to decide how their own story is going to be shaped by this truth. In this volume, he reflects on the practice of speaking about God, faith, the Bible, discipleship, resurrection, salvation, politics and truth, and on preaching that resonates in particular contexts. It is a book to encourage and give confidence to all preachers, and preachers in training.

This practical companion to creating pastoral liturgies arises from the vibrant ministry of St Martin-in-the-Fields and is designed to aid local ministry teams in devising forms of worship outside and beyond the scope of authorised church liturgy, yet in sympathy with its purposes and structures. It includes outline liturgies for: • regular pastoral services, such as an informal Eucharist, worship for small groups or for a church away-day, a dementia-friendly service, a healing service, interfaith ceremonies. • acute pastoral needs, such as services for communities affected by local tragedy, those experiencing loss through violence. • outreach services in the open air or welcoming people into sacred space. • special services though the year for Homelessness Sunday, Prisoners Week, Holy Week, Harvest, Remembrance, a community carol service and more. Each section is introduced with a reflection on theory and practice, and each item has a commentary on theological, liturgical and pastoral choices made with the aim of enabling practitioners to adapt and create liturgies for their own contexts.