If you’re thinking ‘hang on, I didn’t know the diocese did a lent course’ that’s because we don’t. But all that is about to change.
You may be aware that in September of this year, Bishop Tim took the Diocesan Synod and guests away for 3 days on a conference in order to create the strategic priorities for the Diocese as we move forward in our calling to live the mission of Jesus. And if ‘strategic priorities’ sounds as dull as dishwater then you need to check this out:
Under God, delighting in his grace and rooted in the Diocesan rule of life, we will be a diocese in which:
- We grow authentic disciples
- We re-imagine the church
- We are agents of social transformation
- We belong together in Christ, practising sacrificial living and good stewardship of all that God has entrusted to us.
These amazing statements will form the basis of all that we do as a diocese as we move forward in the coming years. But regardless of how good those words sound, if all they ever do is remain on a few pieces of paper tucked in desk drawers, they will make no difference to our communities.
So +Tim has asked Pete and Andy to head up a fantastically gifted team of people to create a lent course that not only seeks to help everyone in the diocese get to grips with the four strategic priorities, but to discover how they can become a part of our day by day discipleship. And we really do mean everyone. So as well as adult small group material and sermon notes, we have also prepared resource for children’s groups, youth groups and even an outline for a Messy Church service.
Clergy across the diocese have been sent a letter from +Tim encouraging churches to commit to the diocesan course, so speak to them if you would like to get your children’s, youth and Messy Church groups involved. They have also been sent an outline of the themes for each week, a copy of which you can download here. Training is provided around the Diocese on the dates below – we would love to see you there.
We’re really excited about the Lent Course, and would love to tell you more about it – please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Pete or Andy if you have any questions.
· on Tuesday 14 January at St Paul’s Church Centre in Andover (7.15pm – 9.45pm)
· on Wednesday 15 January at Christ Church, Chineham in Basingstoke (one session 2.00pm-4.30pm, one session 7.15pm – 9.45pm)
· on Thursday 16 January at St Barnabas, Weeke in Winchester (7.15pm – 9.45pm)
· on Tuesday 21 January at St Paul’s, Throop in Bournemouth (7.15pm – 9.45pm)
· on Wednesday 22 January at St Andrew’s, Dibden Purlieu in the New Forest (one session 2.00pm-4.30pm, one session 7.15pm – 9.45pm)
· on Thursday 23 January at the Church of the Ascension, Bitterne Park in Southampton (7.15pm – 9.45pm)
· in Guernsey and in Jersey on a date to be confirmed between 28 and 30 January.