Discipleship
Jesus’ desire for us is that his joy might be in us and our joy might be complete. His desire for us is that we might know his peace. His desire for us is that we might know that we are loved by God. (Read the gospel of St John, chapters 14 to 16) |
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But how can we know that at a time when so many of the world’s people live in absolute poverty, when the very fabric of our environment is threatened and our own country is increasingly a land of many faiths and cultures that are often suspicious and sometimes openly hostile to one another?
How do we do that with all the challenges facing our churches and with a declining number of paid clergy?
These are challenges that face all of us who are a part of the human story and a part of the story of the church in the Diocese of Worcester. To be a disciple of Jesus Christ is live in the midst of the challenges of life as responsible and joyful people. And we do that as Archbishop Rowan Williams says, by “watching with a degree of inner stillness that allows the unexpected world-changing to occur.” It’s about learning to see things in a way that is shaped by being in the company of Jesus Christ.
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Exploring Christian Faith
(Learning to see things in a new way)
The main way that most of us learn how to see things in a new way is by living in the communities of family, friendships, neighbourhood, work, voluntary associations and church in the company of Jesus. It is learning to desire for those communities all that Jesus desires for us.
- Living faithfully in our communities through all the joys and sorrows, the highs and the lows,
- By learning how to pray, both in the company of others in regular worship (especially in Holy Communion) and alone,
- By learning how to read the Bible,
- In getting to know the great spiritual writers,
- And by joining together with others to learn and to do all these things, and to enjoy and encourage each other as we do so.
One way in which many in the Diocese of Worcester have been able to do this has been through The Bishop’s Certificate Course. In this course you will learn what is at the heart of the Christian faith by joining a group near your home. To find out more follow the link or contact Judy Baker.
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If you have already done the Bishop’s Certificate course and want to learn more then here are a few suggestions: |
The Next Step Saturday 14th June 2008 - Ipsley Church Centre, Redditch: 'Living One's Own Life in a Runaway World' - places strictly limited so please book by contacting Judy Baker jbaker@cofe-worcester.org.uk
Three times a year the Dept of Training and Development runs a special day to think about one of the challenges of being a follower of Jesus Christ in the world today. Watch this space for details of the next day and how you can join in.
The Next Step Saturday 14 June 2008 at the Ipsley Church Centre, Redditch: 'Living One's Own Life in a Runaway World'. Places strictly limited so please book by contacting Judy Baker
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Bookgroups
An increasingly popular way of joining together with others to think about something and to see it with the eyes of Christian faith is through reading a book together. Right now groups are meeting in different parts of the Diocese of Worcester and are reading a variety of differnet texts.
If you have a group in your area why not tell us what you are reading and how others can join you.
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I would like to think about...
Have you ever wanted to think about something that bothers you with a small group? Would you like to have someone come along to help you with you your thinking? Contact Stephen Winter and he will find someone to help your group. Alternatively why not visit this site, which aims
to provide an accessible and non-technical introduction to the academic research of the Old and New Testament.
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Exchange and Mart
If you are running a course, or have a special speaker why not let us know about it. Send us details and we will advertise your event here. Or why not tell us if you have found a particular course helpful and we will pass the details on to others who might be able to use it too.
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