Pastoral Musicians Summer Conference: 'Christ be our light'

Marty Haugen and John Bell at NNPM Conference

The 2024 National Network of Pastoral Musicians Summer Conference will take place 26-28 July at the Hayes Centre in Derbyshire. The theme is 'Christ be our light - Shine in our hearts, shine through the darkness,' taken from the chorus of Bernadette Farrell's famous hymn. All are welcome.

Participants can come for the whole weekend, or just for Saturday 27 July, an open day of workshops, worship and song.

The keynote speaker on Saturday is John Bell of the Iona Community's Wild Goose Resource Group. His theme is 'Jesus, be our Way.'

The keynote speaker on Sunday is Tina Beattie on the theme of, 'The Dark Night and the Flickering Light'. A theologian, writer and broadcaster, she says: "I shall explore questions of how liturgical worship, including music, might allow space for those struggling with faith and those on the margins, either because they are seeking meaning or because they are alienated by their experiences of church."

On Saturday afternoon, Rebekah Okpoti, who lectures in Musicology at Liverpool Hope University and is a Concert Organist will lead a session.

Workshop details:

Chris WALKER Backwards or forwards? Where is church music going?

Tina BEATTIE Listening to Silence: exploring prayer when there's nobody there

Nick BATY Illuminating the word with song

Marty HAUGEN Singing for Our Lives

The NNPM is an informal group of people of many denominations whose aim is to meet to learn from each other and experience prayer and music in common.

For fuller details and to book contact Jennifer Burrudge at: jburridge@mac.com or visit: https://nnpm.org/NNPM/Welcome.html