Celebrating Christ the Healer

Diocese of Leicester in Association with Acorn Christian Healing Foundation

Celebrating Christ the Healer

A day of encouragement for the ministry of Wholeness & Healing with teaching, workshops, worship and healing prayer to enable us to journey towards wholeness

Saturday 14th May, 9.30am – 4.00pm at Leicester Cathedral & St Martins House

Key note speaker: Revd Dr Russ Parker, Director of Acorn.

A chance to experience the wonderful facilities at St Martins House where most of the workshops will be held. For Programme for the day & booking contact Claire Stapletonclaire.stapleton@leccofe.org or call 0116 261 5317. Booking Fee £5.00. Please book before 7th May.

Download the conference brochure here

The Big Society in Action

Last night 100 key leaders from the nine mainstream denominations of the Christian Church in Leicester and Leicestershire gathered to discuss how they might work together over the next three years to most effectively continue to serve the communities of which they are part.

A recent survey concluded that Christians in the UK contribute seventy two million hours a year of voluntary time serving their local communities. Over the next four years groups of Christian churches in villages and market towns across Leicestershire, as well as in the city are partnering together to build on these 72m hour in a range of initiatives. These initiatives will focus on serving those in need both in practical ways and by sharing the message of life, hope and love found in Jesus Christ which lies at the heart of all they do.

Last night’s event, held at Leicester College, was addressed passionately by a range of speakers keen to build on the many positive things already going on. In closing the evening the Bishop of Leicester, Rt Revd Tim Stevens said, “Tonight’s gathering has reminded us all of the urgent need for the churches to get active in serving our communities and especially the poor as we enter ‘the age of austerity’. It has offered us a vision of what the Big Society could be.”

Revd Dianne Tidball of the East Midlands Baptist Association, and chair of the Churches Together in Leicestershire group, commented, it was “great to be amongst so many people enthusiastic for the mission of God and inspiring to hear of so many initiatives to connect our communities with Christ’s love”

The aim of the evening was to provide a ‘missional menu’ of opportunities for churches working together to engage in mission over the coming four years. This vision casting included exploring the possibilities surrounding the Olympic and Para-Olympic Games through ‘More than Gold’, the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible through Biblefresh and keynote speaker Roy Crowne, Executive Director of Hope Together shared an inspiring vision of churches working together in word and deed evangelism.

For more information on any of these and how you church might be involved please contact Diocesan Mission Enabler, Revd Barry Hill, barry.hill@leccofe.org

From attending to Belonging to Contributing: as simple as ABC?

Over the past year over 1,300 people, who weren’t previously members of any church, joined the worshipping communities that make up the Church of England in Leicester and Leicestershire. This is great news, but it also presents a challenge.

Many of those that are new haven’t grown up with the Christian story, language, symbols or being part of any church, in any way. Added to which the experience of many is that often church communities, with their strong sense of fellowship, can be difficult places to join in their own right. How then might we help those who are new to church to become fully a part of our worshipping communities, able to contribute their gifts and grow deeper as disciples of Jesus?

We are delighted to welcome Bob Jackson to help us think further about this. Bob is the best selling author of Hope for the Church and The Road to Growth, co-author of major new welcome course, Everybody Welcome, experienced parish priest, and former Archdeacon of Walsall & Growth Officer for the Diocese of Lichfield. Whether you are a church leader, member of a church council, Churchwarden, Sidesperson, part of a welcome team, Mission Partnership Convenor, Mission Action Group member, Area Dean, archdeacon mission committee member or just interested in the topic, you are most welcome to join Bob for this special one-off gathering organised under the banner of Shaped by God: the diocesan vision for mission.

As the topic is so important, the session will run twice. Once in a slightly extended format in the morning and once in the evening on the same day:
Wednesday 13th October 2010

Extended morning session
Time: 9:30am-1:00pm (with coffee and pastries from 9:15am)
Location: St Paul’s Church, Hamble Road, Oadby, Leicester
Free parking in St. Paul’s car park

Repeated evening session
Time: 7:30-9:30pm (with coffee and pastries from 7:15pm)
Location: Emmanuel Church, Forest Road, Loughborough
Free parking in Emmanuel’s two car parks

Both sessions are free to attend, but, with demand expected to be high and limited places, book soon to avoid disappointment!).
Bookings to Carol (carol.gibbons@leccofe.org or 0116 248 7411).
For more information contact Mission Enabler, Barry Hill, barry.hill@leccofe.org or 0116 248 7435.

Evening for lay members of Mission Action Groups (PMAGs)

Wednesday 23rd June, 7:45pm – 9:30pm, St. Paul’s, Oadby
A new addition to this years timetable, a gathering for just lay members of Partnership Mission Action Groups. Based on an idea from Watermead Mission Partnership, which worked really well, it’s an opportunity to share, discuss and pray together. There is no cost for the evening, but booking at least a week before hand is essential. Bookings to Carol (carol.gibbons@leccofe.org or 0116 248 7411).

Reasons to be cheerful; sharing faith in everyday life

Saturday 14th November, Samworth Enterprise Academy, Trenant Road, Leicester, LE2 6TF - 9.15am - 3.30pm

This is an opportunity for laity to spend a day with the Bishop of Leicester reflecting on how it is that we can both enjoy and share our faith more fully in everyday life with guest speaker the Rt. Revd Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Reading.

Bishop Stephen has worked in parishes in London, Chichester, as Pastor of Peterborough Cathedral, as Missioner in the Wakefield Diocese and as part of Springboard, the Archbishop's evangelism team. He has written widely about evangelism, spirituality and discipleship. Among his recent books are 'From the Abundance of the Heart: Catholic Evangelism for all Christians (DLT 2006), Do Nothing to Change your Life; discovering what happens when you stop (CHP 2007), Hit the Ground Kneeling; seeing leadership differently (CHP 2008) and a book of Lent and Holy Week meditations The Things He Carried (SPCK 2008). He is married to Rebecca and they have three boys.

The Programme

9.15 - Arrival and Registration

9.14 - Introductions

10.15 - Bishop Stephen Cottrell

11.00 - Coffee

11.30 - Bishop Stephen Cottrell

12.00 - Group discussions

12.45 - Lunch (please bring your own)

1.45 - Questions & Answers with Bishop Stephen

2.15 - Questions & Answers with Bishop Tim

2.45 - Worship

3.30 - Close

NO COST - ALL WELCOME

Refreshments provided

Visit the diocesan website and download the booking form

Bishop's Lay Congress 2009

At Samworth Enterprise Academy
09.15am - 3.30pm

“Reasons to be cheerful”: Sharing faith in everyday life

Spend a day with the Bishop of Leicester reflecting on how it is that we can both enjoy and share our faith more fully in everyday life.

With guest-speaker, Stephen Cotterell, Bishop of Reading. Bishop Stephen has worked in parishes in London and Chichester, as Pastor of Peterborough Cathedral, as Missioner in the Wakefield diocese and as part of “Springboard”, the Archbishop’s evangelism team. He has written widely about evangelism, spirituality and discipleship.

Among Bishop Stephen’s recent books are: From the Abundance of the Heart: catholic evangelism for all Christians (DLT 2006); Do Nothing to Change your Life; discovering what happens when you stop (CHP 2007); Hit the Ground Kneeling; seeing leadership differently (CHP 2008) and a book of Lent and Holy Week meditations The Things He Carried (SPCK 2008). He is married to Rebecca and they have three boys.

Please put the date in your diary - further information will be available in the summer.

Mike Harrison - Director of Mission and Ministry; Leicester Diocese

email: Mike.Harrison@LecCofE.org Email: Claire.Stapleton@LecCofE.org

Tel 0116 248-7428 / 0116 248-7417