There is, of course, another approach to church growth, which the C of E has been actively engaging in for more than 20 years: church-planting. This “Start from scratch” method has many merits to commend it. Church-plants typically engage effectively with unreached people, are almost always younger than the C of E average, and are often more diverse: qualities that have been identified as crucial for the whole Church (News, 27 November 2020).

They also seem to be highly effective at generating local leaders and ordained vocations. In my anecdotal observation, churches involved in planting seem to generate naturally more new leaders than longer-established parishes — sometimes ten times or more. This last point is particularly relevant, since many struggling parishes are finding it increasingly hard to find lay leaders and church officers.

Church-planters instinctively focus on developing a single healthy community (a new ecclesial roux), which can multiply and spread to form additional congregations. This approach also opens the door to incorporating lay leadership for congregations, a common practice in the global Church and one that initiatives such as Cultivate, Myriad, Mustard Seed, and Seedbed are currently championing.Read it all.

"Perhaps we need more mixed-ecology projects such as these: effective church-plants spreading their impact, and diverse networks of churches reproducing renewal through the parish system."https://t.co/I6SFUAxZ3H

— Church Times (@ChurchTimes) June 10, 2024

You may listen directly here:

or you may download it there.

Gospel: Today's stunning Gospel reading often shocks people: Jesus's relatives, including Mary, come to Capernaum to "restrain" or "seize" him (κρατῆσαι) because they thought "he was out of his mind." Everyone faces opposition, even Jesus. Don't let it deter you. (Mk 3:21-25) pic.twitter.com/jjKUXksH9B

— James Martin, SJ (@JamesMartinSJ) January 20, 2018

Scientists have developed a glowing dye that sticks to cancer cells and gives surgeons a “second pair of eyes” to remove them in real time and permanently eradicate the disease. Experts say the breakthrough could reduce the risk of cancer coming back and prevent debilitating side-effects.

The fluorescent dye spotlights tiny cancerous tissue that cannot be seen by the naked eye, enabling surgeons to remove every last cancer cell while preserving healthy tissue. That could mean fewer life-changing side effects after surgery.

The technique was developed by scientists and surgeons at the University of Oxford in collaboration with the California biotech company ImaginAb Inc and was funded by Cancer Research UK.

“We are giving the surgeon a second pair of eyes to see where the cancer cells are and if they have spread,” said Freddie Hamdy, professor of surgery at the University of Oxford. “With this technique, we can strip all the cancer away, including the cells that have spread from the tumour, which could give it the chance to come back later.”

Scientists develop glowing dye that sticks to cancer cells in breakthrough study https://t.co/FBYjCa8nYp

— The Guardian (@guardian) June 10, 2024

From there:

From God Christ’s deity came forth,
his manhood from humanity;
his priesthood from Melchizedek,
his royalty from David’s tree:
praised be his Oneness.

He joined with guests at wedding feast,
yet in the wilderness did fast;
he taught within the temple’s gates;
his people saw him die at last:
praised be his teaching.

The dissolute he did not scorn,
nor turn from those who were in sin;
he for the righteous did rejoice
but bade the fallen to come in:
praised be his mercy.

He did not disregard the sick;
to simple ones his word was given;
and he descended to the earth
and, his work done, went up to heaven:
praised be his coming.

Who then, my Lord, compares to you?
The Watcher slept, the Great was small,
the Pure baptized, the Life who died,
the King abased to honor all:
praised be your glory.

by Ephrem of Edessa, translated by John Howard Rhys, adapted and altered by F Bland Tucker, (Episcopal) Hymnbook 1982.

June 9th is the feast of Saint Ephrem of Nisibis, “the Harp of the Spirit”: Assyrian deacon, Son-of-the-Covenant, theologian, exegete, mystic, poet, hymnographer, heresiographer, opponent of Arianism and Gnosticism, and Doctor of the Church—who died at Edessa on this day in 373. pic.twitter.com/QtQnnRTepV

— Tradical (@NoTrueScotist) June 8, 2020

Pour out upon us, O Lord, that same Spirit by which thy deacon Ephrem rejoiced to proclaim in sacred song the mysteries of faith; and so gladden our hearts that we, like him, may be devoted to thee alone; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

9th JUNE: ST EPHREM, DEACON AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH

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1. Born about 306 in Nisibis, Turkey, St Ephrem was ordained deacon and given charge of a school of theology which later moved to Edessa. He lived an ascetic life;he taught, preached, and wrote extensively. #StEphrem pic.twitter.com/mR334KEU84

— Douay Rheims (@DouayRheims1) June 9, 2021

Grant, O Lord, that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by your providence, that your Church may joyfully serve you in quiet confidence and godly peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

Guten Morgen und einen guten Start in die neue Woche wünsche ich Euch 🙋‍♀️☕️🌸🌞🍀🌺 pic.twitter.com/OCZSKR6gnS

— Eva Rossol (@willi_katze) June 10, 2024

Be not quick to anger,
for anger lodges in the bosom of fools.
Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?”
For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.
Wisdom is good with an inheritance,
an advantage to those who see the sun.
For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money;
and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.
Consider the work of God;
who can make straight what he has made crooked?

In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.

–Ecclesiastes 7:9-14

What a beautiful start to the day – this is Whittington Castle, near Oswestry, photographed not long after sunrise. There wasn’t a breath of wind when I arrived so I was able to capture a perfect reflection in the moat of this 12th century border fortress. #Shropshire pic.twitter.com/7lfynYckrU

— ShropshireAndBeyond (@ShropsAndBeyond) June 10, 2024