jonnybaker

online conversation about pioneer practice with fresh expressions next week

next wednesday 1pm i am hosting a conversation about pioneer practice with some wonderful pioneers - see below for info

Join us next Wednesday 1-2 pm UK LIVE* right here on our fresh expressionms Facebook Page and YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCR_uSFxBT4XjGeyUZggcZSA for a conversation with:

Jonny Baker founder of Church Mission Society (CMS) pioneer training where he is director of mission education and loves all things creative. His latest venture is GETsidetracked the first project of which is the full colour book Pioneer Practice which is out this month. 

Anna Hembury - an experienced pioneer practitioner who's been based in Hull for 20 years

David Harrigan - a pioneer who started a Fresh Expression through boxing

Sue Steer - a new housing pioneer

And Ann Marie Wilson - a pioneer campaigning to end FGM in 28 countries in Africa

 

Practice is about how pioneering actually happens on the ground. Jonny will present practical wisdom gleaned over the last decade and collated over the last year of lockdown on themes such as soulwork, money and dealing with the powers that be. Expect a mix of findings from some new research, stories and reflections discussed with 4 guests who are are involved in a range of pioneer practice.

Join us live next week and bring your questions, stories and reflections from your context

*if you can't join the conversation live then you can watch later on as the broadcast will be saved to our Facebook Page and YouTube Channel

blossom watch

the national trust have a blossom watch day encouraging you to find a tree (or more) and take some photos and enjoy the wonder that is blossom. And tag your photos with #blossomwatch so I thought I'd join in... a few photos here

gather was a blast

gather went really well. it was inevitably chaotic at first with it being new to so many people and navigating the technology and so on. but people seemed to love it and it had a real buzz to it. the site was amazing - james fox robinson had gone the extra mile with the design and effort he put in to create something really special. there's a lovely write up on it by jeremy woodham on the pioneer blog here - 

positive vibes for virtual pioneer festival

thanks everyone who came and who contributed!

a child's view

flo, one of my granddaughters loves taking my camera and taking photos. the camera is huge and very heavy so it's quite impressive to be able to use it even. she is 5. last week we met up outside at prospect wood and she took a lot of photos which i have put into an album - flo's debut. i love the way you get a child's eye view of things - looking up. it reminded me of alec soth's exhibition at brighton biennial a few years back where he was not granted a work visa so his daughter (i think) took the photos he exhibited.

preview of gather programme

gather is next week and there is now a full programme available to see here. ticket sales end monday night. it looks incredible and it's been put together by volunteers co-ordinating various venues and spaces. hope to see you there - i am so looking forward to it. it's not very often you get involved in planning something that is so new that you can't quite visualise what it is going to be like!

aerial a1 tent

about a year ago i backed a kickstarter. it took a while due to various lockdown challenges but finally the aerial a1 tent from opeongo.camp arrived. it suspends between two trees and whilst it looks hammock like it has two straps which mean it is very stable by comparison. it happened to be the coldest night for a long time so was glad i had got the underquilt with it! it's perfect for prospect wood as we have so many straight conifers and not a lot of flat floor space that is bramble free.

grace low sat night

grace sat night

The Sunday after Easter is known as Low Sunday. Maybe it’s the lull after Easter? This is the season of the stories of resurrection, but Low Sunday is often associated with Thomas and his doubt. He is a reassuring disciple. We don’t meet on Sunday but we thought we’d go with the fLOW anyway.

So do come along to Grace this Saturday to reflect on stories of doubt and absence, and stories of hope and presence. We will be on Zoom - do get in touch if you would like the link.

woop woop - kickstarted!

now to finish it off and get the book printed...

happy easter!

fire in the bones

the publisher scm gave cms permission to publish the foreword i wrote to the go between god by john taylor - fire in the bones

sneak preview - nearly there

last update on the kickstarter - we have reached our stretch target - so grateful to everyone. the design is now finished bar a view tweaks. you can get a sneak preview on the latest update from jon here. the kickstarter finishes on sunday - do pre-order if you haven't and the offers inspire a friend and network catalyst are better than you'll get after the kickstarter!