News from Ridley - Spring 2008 issue

Spring 2008

NEWS from

Ridley grateful for many years of service

STOP PRESS: As we go to press, it has been announced that Christopher Cocksworth is to be the next Bishop of Coventry. We congratulate the Principal on his new appointment, and we pray for him, Charlotte, and their family as they move from leadership in theological education to the challenge of leading the Diocese of Coventry.

Further details enclosed John MacLean

Eugene Peterson to be Simeon Conference keynote speaker

Eugene Peterson

It is helpful to get an early warning – and this is one! Ridley’s newly-established Simeon Centre for Prayer and the Spiritual Life will be holding its first International Conference from September 3–6, 2009.

While the conference is still being planned, we are delighted to announce that Eugene Peterson will be the keynote speaker.

Eugene Peterson hails from Montana and is probably best known today for The Message, a contemporary free translation of the Bible that has made the truths of scripture accessible to an unchurched generation. Dr Peterson’s writing and speaking is wide-ranging and has been edifying lay and ordained Christians for more than thirty years. At present he is working on a five volume series focused on the breadth and depth of biblical spiritual theology.

The theme of the conference will be Restoring Prayer, and will seek to respond to Jeremiah’s words: Ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls (6:16). It will be based at Ridley Hall and will make use of Selwyn, our neighbouring college, and the nearby Lady Mitchell Hall.

In addition to three keynote addresses there will be other speakers coupled with a wide range of workshops dealing with prayer in the life of the local church, and the spiritual disciplines. These workshops will provide both teaching and practice in prayer.

Planning is in the early stages and we expect a high level of interest from home and overseas. We are producing a pre-booking form for those who want to keep in touch, so please keep your eye on our website: www.ridley.cam.ac.uk/scnews.html

In the twelve years since John MacLean started work at Ridley in Spring 1996 he has seen the College transformed, and indeed, he himself has done much to transform it.

There were three good reasons why John was given his job here, against some quite stiff competition. First, like Jesus he is a joiner and carpenter; second, when asked why he was so keen to take the post, he said “it’s those buildings Cont’d inside...

Also in this issue: COMING UP: JUNE 2008 Bishop Tom Wright to give inaugural C.F.D. Moule Memorial lecture RE RESOUNDING TRUTH Jeremy Begbie’s latest book, “charged with energy and insight – and not just for musicians and theologians”

“THE AIR I BREATHE...”

Janice Moore, a member of Ridley’s domestic team, talks about prayer THINKING ABOUT STEWARDSHIP? New Development Director Richard Kew offers advice from a wealth of experience

(...cont’d) – they need so much doing”; and third, we would be getting the added benefit of his own power tools! And there was a bonus – being a Steward at his local Methodist Church, John is the sort of person who applies a real sense of method and stewardship to everything he does.

Touring the College buildings, John could point out his handiwork all around, but since it blends in so well you would never know. He is a stickler for sound work, and woe betide anyone, whether individual, specialist trade or builder that falls short of his own high standards.

Long before the term 24/7 came into use John was perpetually on call to deal with any emergency. I remember the occasion when several rooms were flooded out. Typical of his dedication, John hastily fetched his own industrial vacuum from home to suck up the gallons of water.

John will be 70 in August next year. We thank him profoundly for his dedicated work at Ridley which marks the peak of his involvement in a long line of distinguished Cambridge buildings.

We wish both John and Diane every happiness in the future.

Janine Stewart, College Administrator

Resounding Truth – a musical offering “Very few new books in theology or religious studies show this level of freshness and imagination.”

So says Archbishop Rowan Williams of the latest book written by Ridley’s Associate Principal and Lecturer in Doctrine, Jeremy Begbie. And very few, it might be added, cover so much ground with both clarity and insight. Part 1, ‘Music in Action’, asks the deceptively simple question of what music is – spotlighting many of our own contemporary assumptions on the way – and goes on to survey music in biblical times.

Part 2 takes us on a fascinating tour of ‘Encounters’ with musicians and thinkers ranging from St Augustine to Luther to Bach and Scottish composer James MacMillan, drawing on a rich history of mutual engagement between music and theology.

The final part sets out a Christian ‘ecology’ – a framework of beliefs which shape our view of the world – and asks what it might mean for our singing, playing and listening to understand music as a gift with distinctive powers we are called to discover, respect, develop – and enjoy. “Joy”, we read, “is the air the Christian breathes as he or she pursues a vocation.”

The subtitle says it all: ‘Christian wisdom in the world of music’....

Jeremy Begbie’s book, Resounding Truth (416pp), is published by Baker Academic/SPCK (2007) and available for £12.99 from Amazon

Thinking about Stewardship?

“I believe that giving is just about the greatest privilege God gives to us,” says the Revd Richard Kew, Ridley’s new Development Director, “And as much fun as giving is walking beside Christians as they are making discoveries of this kind.”

You might expect a Development Director to say such things, but Richard speaks from a lifetime of experience on both sides of the Atlantic that has included the leadership and funding of several parishes, the launch and gestation of the South American Missionary Society in the USA, and ten years spent as the first Director of the American branch of SPCK. These experiences have convinced him how important is the stewardship of time, talents, and especially treasure for healthy Christian living and the advance of the Kingdom.

Having been trained and ordained in England, the Revd Richard Kew joined the staff at Ridley in September 2007. He is eager to share experience and expertise in biblical stewardship with groups, deaneries, or parishes. Events can be tailored to suit the needs and challenges of your setting.

To find out more call the Development Office at Ridley (01223 741069 or 741079) or email rk383@cam.ac.uk

“The air I breathe...”

Janice Moore

Our College relies on a multitude of people behind the scenes, and recently I met up with one of them – Janice Moore, who joined the Ridley domestic team in April 2001.

Having previously worked for the National Health Service for 22 years she has a habit of sticking around jobs for a long time, so we confidently expect her to be here for many years to come!

Janice has always lived in the Cambridge area. She grew up in nearby Cottenham, moving to Cambridge in 1979 – it proved a good move, for this is where she met her husband Brian, who she married two years later! Following a chronic muscular condition, the Lord took Brian in October 2000. “He was strong in his gentleness and lived his faith” says Janice, speaking fondly of her years with Brian. She spoke also of similarly influential people in her life – in particular her grandfather, a great example of sacrificial living. When Janice talks about her faith, Grandad Victor in particular features as a strong inspiration. His death left a big gap in Janice’s life, but as she tried to live without him, she gradually realised that someone else had been with her all along: this was Jesus. “I had to make a choice to follow him” Janice told me. At the age of 24 she was baptised.

Last year she completed a lay ministry course and is now a pastoral assistant. Not satisfied with this, she will soon begin a Cruise Training Course – getting involved with their helpline service, coffee mornings and visiting people at home. She hopes also to serve others by working in bereavement care, drawing on her own life experience and the grace of God to enable people to see the love of God, even at such times when faith can be challenged so much.

Courses for Readers & Local Lay Ministers At Ridley Hall we take lay leadership very seriously. Resource & Refresh, a training programme for Readers and Local Lay Ministers, draws on the imagination, skill and expertise of our own staff and that of other theological colleges and universities around the country. The conferences are designed to spur on Readers in their own ministry “The whole intellectually, experience practically and was a joy” personally.

Coming up....

15–17 April 2008 The Resonant Voice of Old Testament Narrative with Penny Frank, author of The Lion Story Bible Transforming Worship with Peter Craig-Wild, author of Tools for Transformation: Making Worship Work

Prayer is “just like the air I breathe” Janice told me. Working with wonderful people is not the only advantage for those on Ridley’s payroll: Janice learned a lot from a College course on Prayer Counselling!

She expressed gratitude to those who have prayed with her, and it’s clear as she speaks that working in an environment where people pray and live out their faith is vital to her. Prayer, she says with her characteristic quiet humility, is one thing she can and does do for Janice’s favourite biblical passage: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, people. “If you can pray togethhis mercies never come to an end; er, all kinds of things happen... they are new every morning; You realise you are not alone.” great is your faithfulness; ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, To Janice, God is ever merciful, ‘therefore I will hope in him.’ ever eager to wash our feet, to The Lord is good to those who wait for him, break bread with us, to give us To the soul that seeks him.

It is good that one should wait quietly his Spirit and his Son.

2–4 September 2008

Gita Bond, Ridley Student

www.ridley.cam.ac.uk/readers.html

For the salvation of the Lord.”

Lamentations 3:22–26

The Gospel of Mark

with John Proctor, author of the People’s Bible Commentary on Matthew Stepping into God’s glory: Mediating God’s presence in ministry with Ron Jackson, chaplain and tutor at Trinity College, Bristol Return the slip overleaf for more information, or call 01223 741079 to book your place now.

Find out more....

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Simeon Conference 2009 Moule Memorial Lecture Resource & Refresh

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Welcome.... ....to Trevor Bossley, our new Premises Manager who joined us in March. Trevor comes to us from St Bede’s Inter-Church School, where he was Site Officer. He is married to Maria and they have two sons and a daughter. Trevor’s interests include gardening, fishing, playing the guitar and listening to jazz.

Trevor Bossley

First annual

C.F.D. MOULE MEMORIAL LECTURE

Simeon Programme 2008 Stewardship events Studying at Ridley

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Thursday, June 5th 2008 5pm at Ridley Hall

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The Rt Revd N.T. Wright, Bishop of Durham

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For more details contact: The Development Office, Ridley Hall Tel: 01223 741079 Email: development@ridley.cam.ac.uk

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