The BBC prestigious Lent Talks are offered to six people each Easter to reflect on Jesus’ ministry and passion from the perspective of their own personal and professional experience.
John Lennox’s, noted Christian apologist and acclaimed Oxford University Mathematician, was asked to give one of these Lent Talks, on BBC Radio Four.
In this talk, Professor Lennox said: “God and science are not alternative explanations. God is the agent who designed and upholds the universe; science tells us about how the universe works and about the laws that govern its behaviour. God no more conflicts with science as an explanation for the universe than Sir Frank Whittle conflicts with the laws and mechanisms of jet propulsion as an explanation for the jet engine.…..
As I scientist then, I am not ashamed or embarrassed to be a Christian. After all, Christianity played a large part in giving me my subject.”
For the entire text of John’s talk. Click here
posted by barry
Diamond Jubilee. Olympic and Paralympic Games. Harvest. Plus much more. Given the many opportunities that 2012 brings it might be easy to see Back to Church Sunday as another thing to add to an already burgeoning list of possibilities to invite those who aren’t yet fully part of the worshipping community to. It might be easy to see it as one invitational hiccup amongst many! However, with most people new to church needing more than a single invitation to make the step from being on the fringe (or beyond) to being fully part, hopefully Back to Church Sunday offers another step in a process – part of a heartbeat of invitation. As Rowan Williams said recently, “What Back to Church Sunday has more than anything demonstrated is you don’t have to dig too far to find that desire for connection.”
Last year more people than ever came back to church, and over the past years the average number of visitors has increased from 12 to 19 per a church taking part. Around one in eight of those that come back are still worshipping in the church six months later
A simplified process
This year’s theme is designed to echo the words one might say when extending an invitation: ‘I’m inviting you’. The registration and ordering process has been simplified (no more need for passwords, or need to register one month but wait to the next to order). Registration and ordering opened last Friday. You can input your details at http://www.backtochurch.co.uk/taking-part and then will get an instant link in your inbox to order resources. Packs can be shared between churches, but it is helpful if each individual church in a team or benefice registers individually so those enquiring can be pointed in the direction of their local church taking part. For the first time this year all churches that register will appear on a map so those interested can simply find a church near them taking part. Liturgical resources are also being refreshed, with sermon outlines, templates for services of the Word and Holy Communion and much more all available free from the website later in the Summer.
A simplified pack
The invitational pack is also simpler and cheaper than in previous years. Each pack of 50 invitations/prayer cards costs just £10 (half the price of last year, but no longer containing the posters or gift cards as many churches fed back that they weren’t used).. New for this year is a event pack with balloons, bunting and a 2.5m long weatherproof banner available for just £80. Hospitality and t-shirt packs remain available. See more on what is available here: http://www.backtochurch.co.uk/btcs-2012-resources-brochure
There’s more resources online here and a leaflet with more details is attached. If you’ve never tried and would like to be put in touch with a church that has please contact Barry here. Registrations are now open here
posted by barry
Literally hundreds of events are being planned by churches around the Olympic and Paralympic Games – from community fun days to prayer relays, from sports quiz nights to village Olympics, from sports coaching for young people to board-game Olympic’s in residential care homes, from inter-school sports quizzes to sports versions of explore faith courses, from holiday clubs to a prayerful relay going from school to school across the whole county and city.
It’s not too late to get involved (in Australia the majority of churches didn’t get involved until the last three months!). If interested the best two first steps are to download the ’15 practical ideas and resources’ brochure available here and to sign up as a Gold Champion (to get occasional e-mails with ideas) visit here.
Here’s a taster of just a few of the events being planned:
Coalville: During the Olympic Games, the Run the Race café will be open in Coalville town centre. This will be the hub of local celebration and will also be the base for community action by young people from the local area. The Games will be shown on Big Screen, with refreshments available and an opportunity to chat about life’s big issues. It will also be a place to find out about other special events being laid on during the Games. In response to the proposals, the owners of Coalville Precinct said “This is a positive event for the town that we want to fully support”.
Youth Roadshow: Matt Brown writes, “We had a grand total of 35 which was a great number to have on the first Roadshow. When we first told our youth groups about the Roadshow there wasn’t much excitement about it, but God put it on their hearts and before we knew it, our numbers had almost doubled. This was a great encouragement to all of those involved and showed us that God is backing us up in all that we do. The purpose of this first “Roadshow” was to get our young people inspired about the Olympics and how we can use the London Olympics this summer to do mission throughout the country. This was a chance for them to get together and work out some ideas on how they could implement this goal.” Two more roadshows are happening over Spring and Summer, check diomail for more details.
Braunstone Park: St Peter’s in Woodshawe Rise, Leicester “is holding their summer festival and fayre for the weekend of 15th – 17th June. The summer festival’s theme is Sport and the Olympics. We’re planning displays about local sports clubs, there will be local sports celebrities attending and a sports quiz at the local pub. The quiz is being supplied by Christians in Sport. We’re hoping for a penalty shoot-out, a parachute for games, a bouncy castle, a story session supplied by the library with sporty stories and even the flower displays
will have a sports theme. Each of the fayre’s stall holders are being encouraged to make their stall look olympic or sporty and the Fayre will be opened by the Braunstone Park runners arriving with local young woman Paige Murray who champions opportunities for people with disabilities.” Roz Burch
Ironstone Villages have run a few events already open to all across the benefice, “all with a sports/Olympic theme – Wii 10 pin bowling (where we had 3 Wiis set up one on big screen); carpet bowls and recently around forty people of all ages came together for fencing (or Wii fencing!) or had a cream tea while having their nails painted (well the mums did!). We were very pleased with the event and the turnout, especially as it was competing with mother’s day.
Our forthcoming events include two further fencing sessions after school, three sessions of archery, sailing and raftbuilding at Rutland Water, a sports quiz, a walk/run/cycle between three of the benefice churches, and another carpet bowls event. We are looking at a themed topic for our home/cell groups. We are also tying into our Village open gardens with the church being open for floral displays (Olympic or jubilee themed) and produce sale.” Mike Alexander
Hoby: One small village is having an Olympic notice board put up in the Church yard identifying a number of sports competitions e.g. Tennis, Badminton and Table Tennis. It will show results of games and venues for a variety of competitions around the village over a weekend. Also the Church is working with other groups and organisations: the local pub will hold the following sports of petanque, darts, dominoes and skittles. Competing for ‘chocolate’ medals to be presented at the end of an Olympic weekend which is taking place before the end of the school term and before the London Olympics start. The medals ceremony will be on the childrens playing field followed by a barbeque.
Aylestone: A number of churches, including St Andrew’s Anglican Church, New Life Apostolic Church, St Edward’s Roman Catholic Church and Aylestone Baptist Church, are collaborating to organise an Olympic themed fun day on 1st July. With a taste of the community spirit in Aylestone, various activities and games that bring celebration and fun and where the participants are the stars are planned. With the opportunity to explore more of the Christian faith, it’s a lovely example of teamwork and shared vision.
And finally, a date for the diary:
On the evening of Tuesday 18th September the former chaplain of Leicester City Football Club and head of Sports Chaplaincy UK, will be hosting an evening in Leicester for those interested in exploring offering chaplaincy to a local sports club. Could being a ‘chaplain’ to your local bowls club, children’s football team or health club be a mission opportunity worth exploring? Come along to explore more (and please don’t assume this is for clergy only, it’s not!). More details from here.
posted by barry
A Souvenir Diamond Jubilee edition of the New Testament has been created to give out at schools, churches and street parties. Available at just £50 for 100 copies (50p a copy, down from the normal price of £4 each!), plus postage, and includes 8 pages of photographs from the Coronation and the Queen’s life, words from the Queen about her own faith plus Bible references to help readers understand the Good News of Jesus and its relevance today. Amazingly, we have already received 110,000 advance orders from churches across the nation who are planning to give away thousands of copies to pupils, shoppers, day care centres and at community events as we celebrate. Put your provisional order in for Diamond Jubilee Bibles here. More on the Diamond Jubilee New Testament here. This is a joint initiative between the Church of England, Hope Together and publisher Biblica. For more details contact Barry here.
posted by barry
Following a resourcing for mission weekend a couple of weeks ago a participant sent us something to think about:
posted by barry
Tags:
Following hot on the heels of the Royal Visit to Leicester last week, the Queen has this week approved a special grace for use at The Big Lunch (community lunches churches are being encouraged to get involved with as the main expression of mission over the Jubilee weekend). Hope Together have also produced an excellent eight page booklet for those interested in hosting Big Lunches, together with suggested games and activities and much more. See the six resources below:
1. Download the booklet here
2. Download a specially designed A4 sheet with the grace on here (or read it at the bottom of this post)
3. And for more details on The Big Lunch, including a video from the national mission and evangelism officer for the Church of England on why and how to be involved go here.
4. For a booklet of suggested games and activities go here.
5. And for even more resources and ideas for mission around the Diamond Jubilee go here.
6. And finally, a special brochure, including the Queen writing of her own faith, designed to give away to guests is available to preview and pre-order here.
Grace for Diamond Jubilee Lunches
O God, the author of peace and lover of concord,
we give You thanks for the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth;
for her steadfast faith and for her royal service to this nation
and all the peoples of the Commonwealth.
Bless the food before us and the people beside us;
may the sharing of this meal strengthen our communities,
and nurture the bonds between us of friendship, hope and trust.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ who reigns as Servant of all.
Amen
posted by barry
Earlier today, around sixty people from the Church of England and Methodist Church in Leicestershire, Northamptonshire graduated from the 18 month Mission Shaped Ministry (MSM) course. MSM is designed for people involved in starting new forms of church, sometimes called Fresh Expressions. Bishop Tim joined Bishop John and Chair of District Peter Hancock from the other partners to celebrate what God is doing in providing such a wonderful group of pioneers to develop new churches.
One ‘graduate’ Lesley Birtwhistle said, “msm convinced me that we need to be where people are, demonstrating the message of the Gospel. It opened my eyes to different ways of doing this and was a great opportunity to meet with others travelling the same path to share ideas, experiences and expertise.” Songs of Praise presenter Diane Louise Jordan says of MSM, it’s “ideal for all those wanting to embrace new ways of being church in a practical way and vital for those already engaged in fresh expressions.” And the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams add, “The next big step in taking fresh expressions of church forward is making the right kind of training available in every part of the country. The course is making a major contribution here and I’m delighted to commend it.”
If you’re involved in a Fresh Expression of Church, like café church or messy church, or interesting in starting one, or looking to learn from new forms of church for your existing worshipping community then the Mission Shaped Ministry might be for you! Starting this September, with nine sessions over 18 months, we are partnering with the Methodist, Baptist and URC churches in the area. The course will be led by a range of well respected national figures as well as some good local practitioners. Download a flyer from here For more information contact barry.hill@leccofe.org / 0116 261 5335 or Stuart.Burns@LecCofE.org / 0116 261 5354. Book before the end of June for an early bird discount! We are particularly keen to encourage groups, with discounts available for more than three people coming together.
posted by barry
‘The File’ is a major new library of resources to support mission and ministry across the diocese. Launched today, it’s a series of sessions mostly designed to be led and run locally, plus some longer courses. Compiled by the Mission and Ministry team, they offer opportunities to learn together, to release and engage new ministries and gifts, and above all for people to participate in developing the mission and ministry of their local Church or Christian Community. Read more and download a list of sessions here.
posted by barry
Tags: Bible, Children, Community, Courses, Evangelism, Fresh Expressions, Mission, Mission Action Planning, Mission Partnership, Noticeboard, Poverty, Publicity, Rural, Sacramental, Small Group, Urban, Weddings, Welcome, Worship, Young Families
24-7 prayer are spending lent travelling through the Gospel of John.
Each day there is a 5 minute video to focus minds and fuel prayers. From Ash Wednesday on 22nd February until Easter Sunday (8th April) 24-7 Spaces will be released each day and available to download or watch online. You can subscribe through itunes or YouTube and there’ll be sharing them on our Facebook page as well as tweeting the messages each day. As well as the videos they are offering a free downloadable guide to explore the weekly themes in more detail.
See them at http://www.24-7prayer.com/podcasts/category/spaces
posted by barry
+ Involved in a Fresh Expression of Church, like café church or messy church?
+ Interesting in starting a Fresh Expression?
+ Looking to learn from new forms of church for your existing worshipping community?
If the answers to any of the above is yes, then Mission Shaped Ministry might be for you! Following on the success of the course just finishing, Leicester Diocese is pleased to co-host another Mission Shaped Ministry course. Starting this September, with nine sessions over 18 months, we are partnering with the Methodist, Baptist and URC churches in the area. The course will be led by a range of well respected national figures as well as some good local practitioners. Download a flyer from here. For more information contact Stuart Burns or Barry Hill. We are particularly keen to encourage groups, with discounts available for more than three people coming together.
posted by barry
Falling under the shadow of Christ led by Bishop Lindsay Urwin
a Shaped by God event to resource and encourage mission – open to all
Over the past two years, over 2,000 people who weren’t previously part of any church have joined churches in Leicester diocese. Whilst this is encouraging it obviously brings with it considerable challenge. With so many Sunday services being Eucharistic or containing Baptisms or thanksgivings for the gift of a child, what can we do (and be) to ensure the sacraments are a key part of effective evangelism?
Wednesday 10th October, 9:30-3pm, St Martins House, Leicester
Download the flyer here
Bishop Lindsay
Lindsay Urwin OGS, MA, DD was born in Australia in 1956 and travelled to England in 1976 for an ‘adventure’ that led to his ordination as a priest in this country in 1981. After serving in inner London, first at the Elephant and Castle and then in the shadow of Kings College Hospital as a parish priest, he moved to Sussex as diocesan missioner in the Anglican diocese of Chichester.
There began a ministry of preaching and teaching that took him into the variety of traditions in the Church of England. In 1993, at the age of 37 he was appointed Area bishop of Horsham in the same diocese, making him the youngest bishop in England for over 60 years.
In 2009 he resigned in order to lead the ministry at the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham in Norfolk, a place of pilgrimage and healing originally founded in 1061. Today thousands of pilgrims make their way to the Shrine seeking healing and renewal in body and soul, and there is a considerable ministry with young people. He is also the Archbishop of Canterbury’s bishop for school chaplains and Provost of the Southern Region of the Woodard Corporation of Schools.
Booking
It promises to be a fascinating, encouraging and challenging day. It is free to attend, but, with demand ex pected to be high and limited places, book soon to avoid disappointment! Bookings to Beth (beth.marvin@covlec.org or 0116 261 5348).
Venue and Parking
St Martin’s House is just next to Leicester Cathedral (7 Peacock Lane, Leicester, LE1 5PZ). It is serviced by several pay car parks.
The closest is directly across the road and costs £5 for a day’s parking. Alternatively there is an NCP car park on the Holiday Inn roundabout about three minutes walk away. A handful of spaces for those with disabilities are also available onsite, please mention at the time of booking.
posted by barry
Probably the last preparation day before the 2012 Games is in Nottingham on Saturday 28th April. A day led by More Than Gold (the ecumenical group supported by all main streams and denominations of the Christian church) where you’ll leave with new ideas, strategies, skills and resources. All so your church can make the most of the 2012 Games. With a range of big name speakers, choose four subjects from twelve to look at, such as prayer, impacting sportspeople, young people or social justice. Download the leaflet with details of all the workshops, venues, how to book and much more here.
posted by barry
Tags: 2012 Olympic & Para-Olympic Games, Bible, Children, Community, Conferences, Evangelism, Fitness, Mission, Poverty, Rural, Urban, Welcome, Young Families
Not many children?
a Shaped by God event to resource and encourage mission – open to all
Wednesday 14th March, 7:30-9:30pm
As we work towards one of the marks of mission ‘becoming child friendly’, we are delighted to welcome Rona Orme for a special evening looking at how we can help children grow as disciples, especially in churches with only a small number of children at services. If it feels hardwork coming up with ideas for ministry amongst children, or you are not sure what to do with just a handful of children then this is for you!
As Children’s Missioner in Peterborough Diocese, Rona brings a wealth of experience working across small rural congregations through to city centre churches. She is a Reader in the Church of England, as well as now working to develop midweek all-age worship in a school on a suburban estate. She is author of a recent book packed full of practical mission ideas for all ages.
The venue for the evening is Costa Coffee shop in Lutterworth (close to St Mary’s Church, 26 Church Street, LE17 4AL). Some on road parking or a pay and display a minutes walk away). The event starts at 7:30pm but coffee and pastries will be available to buy from 7pm. This one off session is free to attend, but, with places limited to seventy, book soon to avoid disappointment! Bookings to Beth Marvin (beth.marvin@covlec.org or 0116 261 5348). As of 13th February there are just ten places left…..
posted by barry
A number of churches have used Table Talk to good effect. It’s a gently evangelistic ‘conversational game’ that creates space to explore some of life’s more important questions. It can work well over a meal, in a small group or as a course to use before something like Alpha. In each pack six big questions are explored over six sessions through the use of 16 conversational cards. Ideal for groups of 6-8 people. People gather around a table – someone reads a two minute introduction and then 16 question cards are placed up on the table – anyone chooses a question which is then discussed, then someone picks another one and so on.
Table Talk for Easter is produced in association with Hope Together. Find out more and get a taster of a few of the questions here.
There is also a Table Talk for all age messy moments, produced in association with Messy Church and Table Talk for Uni Students. All are available on loan from the Mission and Ministry team (contact Barry here) or to purchase at www.table-talk.org
posted by barry
With thanks to Christine Butcher (licensed evangelist in Mountsorrel) for the link, here’s an interesting article on why some people new to church leave. Based on 72 interviews over a twelve month period it picks up two ’spikes’ in when and why people leave. Read it here. According to their research 86% of people leave during the first year and this offers some of the answers as to why (albeit it with a caution this is US based research and the latest we have from our diocese indicates it is a little less than this, although still sadly high).
If you’d like to explore these themes further, Bonnie Appleton has written a Grove booklet on the same topic. ‘Closing the backdoor’ draws on a range of research to understand some of the reasons why so many people leave church during their first twelve months. It is available online here or in print from here.
posted by barry
