Scholar-in-Residence weekend
John Bell will lead sessions, including a Big Sing on Saturday 1st October at 7pm, and will preach at the two Sunday morning services. john-bell-oct-1-2-2016-flyer
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John L. Bell
weeWONDERBOX: The Wee Song Box
John in NLightsA bi-monthly gathering for lovers of communal singing. No Divas need drive up. Just bring your own, beautifully ordinary and unique tonsils and delight in singing in up to 4 parts with a wheen of similarly beautiful others.
God Provoke Us With Your Presence
This retreat led by John Bell will include sessions on Freeing Jesus from Respectability, The Anatomy of Change, and The Contemporary Imperative, opening with a 'Big World Big Sing'!
$115 – $130
Songs for the Sabbath
Designing and Leading Christian WorshipHymn Festival led by John Bell exploring the concepts of Sanctuary and Sabbath.
Spirituality for a Complicated World
Questions of Our TimesAutumn Leadership event for the Southeast and North/West Lower Michigan Synods, led by John Bell, and including sessions on Ancient Gifts for Modern Times, Imagination as a Resource for Faith, The Engaged Spirituality of Jesus, and Developing Personal Spirituality.
Ancient Celtic Gifts for Modern Times
Wild Goose Resource Group - EVENTS 2022Plymouth Congregational UCC Visiting Scholar Series. John Bell will lead workshops and preach at all three Sunday services.
Big Sing
DSC06792In aid of the IONA ABBEY REFURBISHMENT APPEAL, John L. Bell and Jo Love from the Wild Goose Resource Group will lead an evening of singing - magnificent melodies, hearty harmonies - a glorious sound and all from you! £5 at the door
weeWONDERBOX: Missing Women
John in NLightsweeWONDERBOX: Missing Women - A search for sturdy females, with John L. Bell.
A 4 week series looking at the stories of women overlooked in the Biblical narrative.
Mission & Worship
Sounds of Iona July 2022An evening exploring mission and worship with John Bell, hosted by South Holderness Methodist Circuit.
The Psalms for Today
Iona: Macleod Centre... reading, praying and singing the Psalms with John Bell. £15 per person.
weeWONDERBOX: Entertaining Advent
John in NLightsA weeWONDERBOX 2016-17 afternoon retreat in the city for Advent An afternoon retreat in the heart of the city for those who want to get away from the crowds or who prefer to be downtown by day. This afternoon Advent retreat, led by John L. Bell and Pat Bennett, provides a chance to step back
RSCM Music Day
Visit & Stay (Drop Down Menu)Workshop day on congregational song with John Bell. (Bradford Cathedral and Bradford Area RSCM)
Towards a Larger Christ
The Big one david coleman 4Cuthman Lecture by John L. Bell The Cuthman Lectures are designed to explore issues relating to religion, belief, ethics and morals in a contemporary world. The aim is to have speakers from a wide variety of backgrounds; some will have religious affiliations and others will have none. The lectures are open to anyone who is
The Danger & Delight of Congregational Song
ColumbaFest 2023John L. Bell speaks at the St. Peter's Methodist Contemporary Theology Group meeting. Open to all interested in honest and lively discussions on contemporary themes in theology and religion. £3 at the door.
The Social Injustice Imperatives of Biblical Women – POSTPONED
POSTPONED - more info to follow John L. Bell delivers a public lecture as part of a series at Leeds Trinity University.
A Spring Sing
The Glasgow WeekendJohn L. Bell leads a Big Sing with songs from the Church of Scotland Hymnary. The focus will be on short & a cappella songs from CH4, highlighting how effective unaccompanied singing can be. Clackmannan Parish Church will be 200 years old this year (hence the timing of the event!)
Songs from Iona and the World
The Glasgow WeekendA two day interactive workshop with John Bell. With inspirational music and song by the Iona Community's Wild Goose Resource Group.
Big Sing
John L. Bell enables the singing of familiar repertoire in a new way, with music appropriate to seasons of the church year.
10 Things They Never Told Me About Jesus
Much is spoken and sung about the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus, but not so much about his life. We sing about our love for Jesus and our willingness to follow Him, but what exactly does that mean? Many aspects of Jesus’ life are sadly underplayed, such as the groundedness of His spirituality, His
Looking for a Larger Christ
Iona: Macleod CentreThe adjectives most commonly used regarding Jesus are 'kind and gentle'; the predominant images of him in the song and physical artwork of the church are mostly passive, and there is limited expectation that he might have an interest in the issues of the day apart from those associated with charitable causes. So is he
Fault Lines & Fantasies
A Wee Sing at the General AssemblyAt this Two23 Network gathering, John L. Bell will speak on 'Fault Lines & Fantasies - how Christians cope with failure'. Two23 is a network of Christians, connected by LGBT issues. We hold five key meetings a year in a central London location on a Saturday afternoon. These involve some prayer and worship as well
Nameless Women & Missing Men
John L. Bell opens up stories of little known Biblical characters, which might challenge presumptions, and encourage our discipleship. Traditionally we have encouraged children to ‘Dare to be a Daniel’ or a Samson, David or even a Moses, through songs and bible story books. We are not so quick to encourage children to dare to
Songs from the Iona Community
John L. Bell will lead worship at the Bicentenary Celebration Service for Preston Central Methodist Church.
Songs for the Real Jesus
A workshop including psalms, world music and WGRG songs, led by John L. Bell.
The Tangibility of Jesus
John L. Bell talks on ‘The Tangibility of Jesus’ at the Godly Play Childhood Spirituality Conference.
Keeping Faith in an Age of Consumerism
John L. Bell looks at how the Church can still be an important and relevant part of the community.
Songs of The Iona Community
John L. Bell leads a Big Sing as part of Ainsdale Methodist Church's 150th anniversary.
Reclaiming the Bible
AfricaFor many people today, the Bible is not so much a closed book as an unopened book. For several years, John L. Bell and his colleagues have been enabling lay people as well as clergy to make friends with the Bible, and discover it more as a family album than an academic textbook. In this
Rediscovering the Bible as the People’s Book
North East USAFor some people the Bible is a book of problems which only ordained people can solve. For others it is full of contradictions and is at odds with science. Other people still remember it from their childhood but have not looked at it much since. This workshop led by John L. Bell looks at the
Why Do God’s People Sing?
North East USA... hopefully for better reasons than that the next hymn has been announced. Rarely do we explore reasons for singing, but when we do, the enjoyment of the congregational song increases. This is a session led by John L. Bell for everyone, not just for the “musically gifted”.
Big Sing
North East USA‘Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs’. The title comes from St Paul, but the material comes from many centuries and around the world. Songs shared here by John L. Bell have been gathered or written by people in the Iona Community over the last 30 years and are now sung all over the world. However the
Diocesan Gathering
ColumbaFest 2023John L. Bell will be keynote speaker and Jo Love will lead a creative workshop at this gathering of laity and clergy from the Scottish Episcopal Diocese of St. Andrew's, Dunkeld and Dunblane, to celebrate the work of God in their congregations, and to be encouraged and equipped to participate in the Mission of God
The Anatomy of Change
The Glasgow WeekendThroughout the traditional denominations of the western church the word 'change' both unites and polarises people. There is general agreement that some things should change; but which things – music, liturgy, buildings, organisational structures? And when it comes to alternatives there is rarely unanimity. Rather than become embroiled in the detail of which colour to
The Future Without a Blueprint
What changes are Christians likely to face in the future and how will we cope with these changes in a positive way, given that most Christians are resistant to change? This is the first session in the Moving Forward in Song day led by John L. Bell.
Songs That Matter
Churches don't normally sing about pastoral and political issues - depression, ageing, refugees, multi-faith societies. These new songs will include several new texts set to known tunes; sing theology that helps enable a larger understanding of God's presence in the world around us. This is the second session in the Moving Forward in Song day
Ways with Words Celebratory Service
VacanciesFestival of Words and Ideas 2017 Celebratory Service, with speaker John L. Bell and poet Ian Adams.
The Glorious Ambiguity of Communication
VacanciesAs part of the 'Ways With Words' Festival, John L. Bell explores how, in novels and poetry as much as in direct speech, we are always dealing with experience, imagination and nuances which colour our reception of the communications we receive.
Change Without Decay
9. Camas primary school 1A week with the Wild Goose Resource Group on Iona For many people in churches, change is a no-go area, a source of stress and the cause of major disagreement.Yet change is the central dynamic of the Christian faith: Jesus both changes people and in the resurrection moves from being a corpse to a living
Faith in Ageing
John L. Bell will participate in this JUST FESTIVAL Panel Conversation chaired by the Rt Rev Bruce Cameron. Discussions surrounding ageing often tend to focus on the negative aspects of old age rather than the contribution made by older people to society. Religion and spiritual needs are often overlooked due to a stronger emphasis put
Greenbelt Festival
Challenging RacismThe Wild Goose Resource Group and The Iona Community @ Greenbelt Festival. Northern Lights our partnership venue featuring - Iona Community, WGRG, Church Action on Poverty, Fischy Music new location – find us near the ‘junction’ between the two halves of the festival field (near where the Tiny Tea Tent was last year!) NL programme is
John Bell in South Africa
Between 1st and 13th September, John L. Bell will be working in South Africa at venues which include the following: Bedfordview Methodist Church, Johannesburg Community in Christ, Johannesburg The University of Johannesburg St. George's Anglican Church, Parktown, Johannesburg St. John's Anglican Church, Walmer, Port Elizabeth The Cathedral Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Port Elizabeth Cathedral of
wWBOX: Where Three Streams Meet
John in NLightsDanish / Scottish conversations on Liturgy Monday 18 – Wednesday 20 September 2017 Denmark is a predominantly Lutheran nation, Scotland, a predominantly Calvinist one, in terms of their respective Christian heritage. There are distinctive spiritual streams, but each in practice, incorporates other significant influences. So in this year, marking 500 years since the Reformation, a
Glory of God in the Church
Wales and the MarchesA one-day conference for leadership and laity, envisioning and discovering God's glory in the Church. John L. Bell is one of the keynote speakers, in the area of Devotion.
WWBOX: The Wee Music Box
John in NLightsA monthly workshop course on music – its purpose and potential, how to use it imaginatively in congregations and much more.
Led by John L. Bell, Jane Bentley & Carol McArthur.
The course is open to all who are interested in the potential of music in the church – its importance in worship, pastoral work, and spirituality. Each evening is self-contained, so that participants may come for the whole course or specific evenings.
Singing in Time with the Rest of the World
Time and Space 3 or 6 Nights (FULLY BOOKED) Isle of Iona, United KingdomJohn L. Bell presents an exploration of world music and its influence on the Western church.
Things They Never Told Me About Congregational Song
Time and Space 3 or 6 Nights (FULLY BOOKED) Isle of Iona, United KingdomSunday morning adult education hour with John L. Bell.
The Gifts Outsiders Bring
Time and Space 3 or 6 Nights (FULLY BOOKED) Isle of Iona, United KingdomJohn L. Bell is guest preacher at Central Presbyterian's Sunday morning worship.
Harmony
VacanciesAt the Hymn Society's Center for Congregational Song launch event, John L. Bell will lead a session entitled Sing and Serve.
USA North East