Want to understand your faith better in 2012? - Learn via the Internet with others in the diocese.
For many, Christian understanding and maturity come through prayer, worship, Bible-reading, listening to sermons and by living what they believe. Well-designed courses are valuable too but not always easy to find. So early next year, the Lay Development Team is promoting two unusual events in which anyone, anywhere, can participate… without the cost and stress of winter travel.
All you need is an Internet connection and the basic computer skills you’d need to visit a website or send an email. It’s highly interactive and relational. You ponder new material, form your opinions, share them with others in a variety of ways and listen to others’ views – a bit like a slow motion discussion group. Plus, the time you put in (perhaps 2-3 hours per week in bits and pieces) can be whenever is convenient to you and wherever is best – home, office, library, mobile iPad… This is anywhere, anytime learning!
Two courses are on offer: Knowing Jesus and Knowing the Father. Designed for ‘growing Christians’ by a team including Steve Croft (now Bishop of Sheffield) and Stephen Cottrell (now Bishop of Chelmsford), the pedigree is good. And, as Jesus gently taught the two disciples on the Emmaus road (Luke 24.13-35), the idea is of a learning journey, with other learners, with a guide (a tutor who ‘walks’ with you), and with God.
Knowing Jesus covers the topics ‘Who is Jesus?’; ‘What did Jesus teach?’ ‘Why did Jesus die?’ and ’The difference Jesus makes’. The units in Knowing the Father are ‘God, the Father of creation’; God, the Father of Jesus’; ‘God, the Father of the kingdom’; and ‘God, the Holy Trinity’. Both courses are free and start in January with an optional face-to-face meeting. Eight learning weeks plus a half-term break will take you more or less to the end of Lent: a splendid devotion (and you could participate on-line as a local group, too).
Contact Caspar James, 01603 729815, caspar.james@norwich.anglican.org
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