*ALL LENT GROUPS AND COURSES ARE SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE – PLEASE KEEP CHECKING BACK FOR UPDATES*
What's On - Lent 2020
There’s a lot going on at St Paul’s during the season of Lent! We have our Lent Meditation Group, The Difference Course and our Lent Study Groups. Read on to find out more…
Lent Meditation Group
Our Meditation Group will meet for three special Lent sessions on Monday 2nd, 16th and 30th March from 8-9.30pm at St Paul’s Church and will focus on Christian prayer, meditation and silence.
These sessions will be convened by Alison Woolley, who will help us to explore the importance of silence as a spiritual practice in our faith journey and includes teaching as well as practice. Alison has much experience as a spiritual director, speaker and workshop leader and is the director of a Project called Seeds of Silence (www.seedsofsilence.org.uk), which exists to encourage and support people in developing their use and understanding of the ancient Christian tradition of silence as a spiritual practice and discipline of prayer.
You are welcome to join us for just these three special sessions and/or our other regular meditation sessions (Mondays from 8pm during term-time). No previous experience in meditation is required. Just come along, enjoy the peace and learn about meditation and silent prayer.
Difference
St Paul’s will be running Difference, a five-session course which aims to equip people to follow Jesus in the face of conflict and to see transformation through everyday encounters, during Lent.
Difference helps us develop the habits that will enable us to cross divides, disagree well, practice forgiveness and be the community God calls us to be. It is not mediation or conflict-resolution training; nor should it give people or churches a longer ‘to-do’ list. Instead, the focus is on formation – on the habits and practices that enable us to realise our identity as reconcilers in our own unique contexts.
The sessions comprise of: God’s Call; Crossing Divides; Disagreeing Well; Practising Forgiveness and Courage as Community.
The course begins on Tuesday 3rd March at 8pm (refreshments from 7.30pm) and each session lasts for an hour and a half. For more information, please visit www.difference.rln.global. To register your interest, please contact the Church Administrator.
Lent Study Groups
St Paul’s will also be running three additional Lent study groups, which will focus on the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent Book 2020 ‘Saying Yes to Life’ by Ruth Valerio.
‘Saying Yes to Life lifts our focus from natural, everyday concerns to issues that are having an impact on millions of lives around the world. As people made in the image of God, we are entrusted to look after what he has created: to share in God’s joy and ingenuity in making a difference for good. Foundational to Saying Yes to Life is what is means to be human, and, in particular, to be a follower of Jesus. Voices from around the world are heard throughout, and each chapter ends with discussion questions and a prayer to aid action and contemplation.’
Please find details of our study groups below, which will meet every week during Lent from week commencing 2nd March:
Lent Church Groups
- Thursday, 10-11.30am – Our Pilgrims Lent Group will meet at St Paul’s Church. All welcome – just come along!
Lent Home Groups
- Wednesday, 7.30-9pm
- Thursday, 7.30-9pm
Please contact the Church Administrator for more information about our Lent Home Groups, to register your interest and for venue details.
Shipley Christians Together (SCT) Shared Lenten Activities
Based each week at a different venue and hosted by a different faith tradition, to include a short prayer and input explaining the life of a particular Christian world communion or group of communions and, where indicated, a light evening meal. All welcome!
- Wednesday 4th March, 6pm, Salvation Army, Shipley – Introducing the Salvation Army led by Major Mike Harris. A simple meal will be provided.
- Wednesday 11th March, 6pm, Christchurch, Windhill – Looking at art and the Stations of the Cross led by Revd Mark Watson. A simple meal will be provided.
- Wednesday 18th March, 6pm, Shipley Baptist Church, Shipley – Baptists, Anabaptists and the Radicial Reformers led by Revd Dr Keith Jones. A simple meal will be provided.
- Wednesday 25th March, 6pm, St Walburga’s, Shipley – Annunciation of our Lord to the Blessed Virgin Mary led by Father Keiron Walker.
- Saturday 4th April, 11am, Saltaire United Reformed Church, Saltaire – A simple meal and meditation led by Revd Caroline Andrews.