Special Guests

We’re delighted to have with us several special guests this weekend who, along with others, will be guiding our thinking on and around the theme, and facilitating our worship, fellowship and creativity.

On Friday evening our Keynote address will be given by Wendy Usher. Wendy, who lives in Cranfield in rural Bedfordshire, has used creativity within church services from age 16. She is author of several books written to support children with hidden disabilities. She is also a musician, and is involved in young people and children’s ministry, including working in schools. Wendy says:

“I enjoy working with many forms of art, and I have recently had the privilege of making a new stained-glass window for St Peter and St Paul’s church in Cranfield, using glass from the 1940 bombing of the church – an amazing project, which I’ll say more about at the conference. Since retirement, my husband Martin and I enjoy building camper vans using recycled materials, and we spend as many days as possible exploring this glorious country where we find so many beautiful glimmers of God through his creation.”

For the past couple of years Bryony Wood has been taking ‘The Sound of Musings Live’ to churches up and down the country, presenting audiences with a creative and accessible way to think about life, love and faith. She writes:

“On Saturday evening you are invited to (metaphorically) don your lederhosen and wimple, and enjoy an ArtServe special presentation of songs and stories of The Sound of Musings. We’ll follow the adventures of Maria, the flibbertigibbet nun-turned-governess, as she discovers the life she was born to live. We will think about our favourite things, the challenges of climbing every mountain – and we might even make our own sounds of music. It’ll be relaxed and quite a lot of fun, even if you’ve never seen the film.”

Both Wendy and Bryony will also be leading creative workshops on Saturday, and you can read a review of Bryony’s book The Sound of Musings on page 19.

We also welcome Revd. Robert Jordan, who will be our Festival Chaplain. Born in Argentina to British parents, Robert now lives in Swindon. He writes:

“The theological college I attended was the training college for eight different churches. I was ordained in 1983, and have since ministered in the Presbyterian Church, the Argentine (Dutch) Reformed Church, and the URC. To be honest with you, I can’t draw a straight line even with a ruler, but I do love art and discovering the impact it has on life and how it helps us interpret history and life, and imagine the present and future. During my recent Sabbatical, I visited eight different cities in Europe seeing art, architecture, sculpture – and seeing how all this was an expression of life in each place and over the centuries. I look forward to meeting you all and serving as Chaplain for the Festival.”

Robert will be available for conversation and prayer all weekend, and there will be a prayer space set up for those who want to take a little time out for quiet personal prayer.

Weekend Programme

Friday 23rd October

Registration opens at 4.00 pm. Once you’ve settled into your room, there’s plenty of time to have a rest after your journey, to take a walk around the grounds, or to meet up and chat with others over a drink in the coffee lounge, before gathering for dinner at 6.30 pm.

After dinner we’ll meet in the main conference room for our opening session, including welcomes, introductions – and no doubt a few notices! Wendy Usher will deliver the keynote address on the theme of ‘Glimmers’, and we will end the session with prayer. Finally, for those who aren’t quite ready for bed yet, the bar will be open for drinks, chat, and an informal sing-along.

Saturday 24th October

In a change to previous years, our day will begin after breakfast with worship, followed by the ArtServe AGM; this will give our workshop facilitators more time to set up and prepare for their sessions, and for any day visitors to settle in. Then, after a break for refreshments, you’ll have the opportunity take part in three creative workshop sessions – one before lunch, and two in the afternoon – all focusing on different aspects of our Festival theme.

After dinner, Bryony Woods will entertain us with The Sound of Musings – an evening of fun, reflection, and singing as we explore the glimmers to be found in the iconic story of Maria, the ‘flibbertigibbet nun-turned-governess’. The evening will close with evening prayer, and once again the bar will be open.

Sunday 25th October

The day will begin with breakfast, followed by a preparation session for anyone wanting to be involved in the leading of our closing worship (e.g. reading, playing an instrument, or offering something you’ve created during the weekend). For those not involved, there will be a ‘forest church’ style prayer walk, and some ‘quick make’ activities to have a go at.

As requested in your feedback, we will meet for worship before lunch so that those needing to leave early can join in worship. After lunch there will be a final session on the theme before we close our Festival for another year.