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Sermons & Ponderings
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 From Pen and Pulpit...
Every week
the Team clergy and readers reflect on our faith and the scriptures in
their sermons
and
Geoffrey writes a ponderings column in
the weekly Newsletter. Click on
the links to see the archive and read what they have to say...
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Started Autumn 2009 -
Christian
Learning
Programme
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Meeting
Jesus
in
the
Gospels
A new series of Sunday evening explorations beginning this
autumn. All sessions will be held at St John's Church, start at
6pm and are in the form of a talk followed by discussion and fellowship.
The first two talks were held on 18th October when the
Rector spoke on Jesus as described by Luke. It was a talk
followed by time to discuss the ideas over coffee, then feedback our
ideas generally.
The second talk was given by the Reverend John Brown of the
Barking Programme, who used art to discuss the two portrayals of the
nativity story in Luke and Matthew's Gospels, and what other ideas the
Gospels were imparting through their approach and he returned in
February to look at the Art of the Passion.
Other talks have looked at the Outrageous Claims of Jesus,
Glory, the Gospel stories as depicted in St John's Church, the Role of
John the Baptist, pilgrimages and journeys.
Coming up next:
Sunday 19th
September 2010
6:00pm
The Turin Shroud - Fact or Fake
A
talk by Reader Diana Lowry, who visited the Turin Shroud earlier this
year. She says: "If you come, I am sure you will be
amazed to hear about the journey of the Shroud and how studying can
bring our faith alive!"
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Confirmation Groups
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We run a range of courses for people interested in pursuing
confirmation.
If you live in the parish and are interested in joining one
of our adult confirmation groups please can you speak to Geoffrey or
contact us at the Team Office to work out the most suitable way of
preparation.
Please would any young
person wanting to think about confirmation this autumn please
contact Bryony
Morrison by clicking the e-mail
link or on 01992 573672. There is a service held in the deanery
in November each year, rotating between St John's Church, Epping,
Waltham Abbey and Loughton. The 2010 service will be held on 22
November 2010 at St John's Church, Loughton.
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The
Way
of
the Spirit
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Marjorie Austin and Kate Collin are offering a new Study
Course beginning in the autumn, The Way
of the Spirit Bible Reading Course which covers the
whole Bible in four six month modules, tracing the activity of the Holy
Spirit in the lives of God's people. Each module consists of
daily readings and questions, covering Old and New Testament
scriptures, showing Jesus as Priest, King, Prophet and Lord.
It is a Bible reading course rather than an academic study or series of
meditations, but John McKay,
who
wrote
it, was a Bible scholar, ordained and for a time Professor of
Theology at Hull University. Alongside the daily Bible readings
is a text book, with one chapter devoted to each week's readings.
This gives depth and breadth to the reading, through the background
histories, politics, geography and etc. There is a series of
talks by John, (recordings of his talks to to Bible college students)
but for the most part, Kate and Marjorie will cover the teaching
element (it is very difficult to listen to a tape/CD in a group setting)
Marjorie has completed this course about four times, and trained under
John McKay when he was director of studies at Kingdom Faith Bible
College and has a certificate as a Prophetic Bible teacher from
there.
The aim of this course is to help the reader to deepen understanding of
the Bible and to enjoy a closer walk with God. The course
materials comprise a Bible Reading Guide (textbook), workbook
containing 23 weekly studies and a Bible.
Contact Marjorie Austin or Kate Collin for
details or phone the Team Office on 01992 575570 or e-mail the
Team
Office by clicking the link |
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Study Groups
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 A number of study groups
meet through
the year to explore the scriptures together and to share their
faith.
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Bible Study
meets monthly on the 2nd Monday in the month at
12 Bury Road;
contact Roger Lowry via the Team Office.
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Living Word
Nurture Group
meets fortnightly on a
Monday evening to look in more depth at aspects of our faith.
Sessions include some exploration of the Bible, discussion and
meditation. Contact Piers
Northam or Ros Scanlan for more details.
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Spiritual Book Club
meets every 4 to 6 weeks to discuss a
spiritual book. Contact Diana Lowry via the
Team Office.
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Lent or Eastertide Groups
We followed Life
Calling, a five session course on our vocations as Christians -
living our lives shaped and directed by God's Call, during Lent
2010. News of the 2011 course will be posted here.
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 There
is
an
extensive
Parish Library at the back of St John's Church with a wide
range of religious and spiritual books to borrow.
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Resources
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 Bible reading notes are available from
Janice Wold,
who supplies the BRF
materials.
Others Bible reading materials being
used in the Congregation are the Scripture Union Bible readings,
IBRA Words for
Today or
Reflections for Daily Prayer which will be available from 28
November 2010, Advent, from the
Rector as a book for the year
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