Items filtered by date: May 2025
Broken. A six week study course for Lent, Canon Dr Paula Gooder, Director of Mission Learning & Development Birmingham Diocese
The TV series, Broken, written by Jimmy McGovern and starring Sean Bean is set in an estate parish somewhere in the UK. The church used at the centre of the series is in Liverpool but the series never explicitly states that this is where the narrative is set. The series focuses on the life and ministry Father Michael Kerrigan, a Roman Catholic, priest who, despite past trauma and anxiety about his own inadequacies, attempts to bring the light of Christ into the lives of the people amongst whom he ministers. The series portrays real life at its most gritty and unvarnished, and in doing so raises many questions along the way about how to live faithfully when life is very hard.
This course arose out of numerous conversations I had with people after the series aired. So many people commented that they thought it would make an excellent Lent or study course that I thought it would be interesting to have a go. I have shaped the course around the principles of the series itself – which raises far more questions than it ever answers. The idea of the course is to provide the space for people to pick up the questions raised in the series and to explore how they might want to answer them.
Please click on the link below to download the sessions, leaders' notes and a list of helplines as the series contains disturbing story lines.
http://www.cofebirmingham.com/news/2018/01/23/broken-six-week-study-course-lent/
Nothing More and Nothing Less: A Lent Course based on the film I, Daniel Blake
The film I, Daniel Blake covers themes of oppression, compassion and radical response by telling the story of two people's struggles with an oppressive and dehumanising benefits system. This is a five-week Lent study, suitable for groups or individuals, that encourages readers to consider the stories of the film and how Christians may be called to respond. Chapters cover such topics as Compassion in the Darkness and the Suffering Servant. The book includes scene timings for key scenes, discussion points, meditations and suggested prayers.
Not A Tame Lion
This is a Lent course based on the Bible and related scenes and characters from the Narnia films The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Prince Caspian and the C S Lewis bio-pic Shadowlands. There are five group discussion sessions exploring themes of suffering, God’s absence and the gift of the present in Christ. Personal meditations and further studies exploring the deeper meaning of the films with reference to heaven, judgement, and the force of evil are also included.
https://chbookshop.hymnsam.co.uk/books/9780232527001/not-a-tame-lion
A Beautiful Friendship This course is based on the film classic Casablanca, which provides a great basis for discussion of themes of sacrifice, repentance, suffering, loss and hope at Lent. Its wartime setting provides additional poignancy for study at a time of continued armed conflict around the world as well as the centenary remembrance of the first world war. Miranda and Not Going Out writer Paul Kerensa makes an intriguing departure from his comedy writing, preparing this moving book with his wife, Zoe Young. It is designed to be studied by groups or individuals alongside the DVD of Casablanca. The book includes leaders' notes, timings for film clips, discussion-starters, reflections and prayers.
https://chbookshop.hymnsam.co.uk/books/9780232531404/beautiful-friendship
Finding a Voice This is a new and original Lent course by Hilary Brand which takes the film, The King's Speech, as a starting point, and explores the ways in which fear holds us back and examines how we, like Bertie, can face and overcome our fears and begin to find our authentic voice. The course is based around five weekly group sessions which each include extracts from the film, group discussion questions, exercises and meditations. There are also short introductory and follow up chapters, with related Bible passages, for individual reading each week. Also included is a suggested follow up session, along with full notes for leaders.
https://chbookshop.hymnsam.co.uk/books/9780232528930/finding-a-voice
Another Story Must Begin This Lent course based on the film, the novel and the stage adaptation of Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables. Through discussion of some of the themes and principal characters of this epic narrative, the course explores the grace of God and our own fallen state and opportunity for redemption, and helps us to reassess what we can do with our lives and for those around us. The course is based around five weekly group sessions: Fantine and Cosette, the Bishop of Digne, Jean Valjean, Javert and Redemption and Salvation. Each session includes watching scenes from the Oscar-winning movie (with timing references for the DVD), and questions and reflections for group discussion. Each session also includes introductory reading, notes for leaders, related Bible passages and suggested closing prayers.
https://chbookshop.hymnsam.co.uk/books/9780232530278/another-story-must-begin
The Mystery of Everything This Lent course by Hilary Brand takes the award-winning film about Stephen Hawking, The Theory of Everything, as its starting point. The course explores ways in which the mysteries of the universe and of everyday life - and the acceptance that we have more questions than answers - can reinvigorate our faith and spiritual journey. The course is based around five weekly group sessions entitled: the experience of wonder, the enigma of weakness, the complexity of relationships, the encounter with frailty and the hope beyond brokenness. Each session includes an extract from the film, group discussion questions and a meditation. There are also short introductory and follow up chapters for individual reading each week, and a chapter of Bible passages for further daily reading. The book supplies full notes for group course leaders.
https://chbookshop.hymnsam.co.uk/books/9780232532081/mystery-of-everything
This book provides encouragement to all those who feel the need to refresh how they pray. It looks at prayer as having the trust and belief that God is truly interested in everything that happens to us and wants to hear about it. The book leads the reader into the theological aspects of prayer and how it relates to Christ, to the Holy Spirit and to the Church. This is done without using complex theological concepts but simply through scriptural quotations. Chapters are kept brief intentionally to make the book suitable for daily reading over the Lenten period. With a foreword by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Say it to God demonstrates that the everyday, even the most mundane of tasks and situations, can be applied in deepening our practice of prayer.
The Children’s Society provide The Story of Lent, prayers and reflections
https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/what-you-can-do/your-church/pray-worship-reflect/worship/lent
Christian Aid have daily Count Your Blessings reflections for both adults and children.
https://www.christianaid.org.uk/lent-easter/lent-calendar
Life Balance
21st century living is hectic. Getting the right 'life balance' between rest, work and play seems almost impossible. In five interactive sessions, Life Balance aims to help groups explores: How to build Sabbath time into the crazy pressures of everyday life. How 'Sabbath attitudes' can transform the way we spend our time. Each session contains enough material for a 90-minute session and includes guidelines for group study, with full background notes for leaders, interactive activities, questions for discussion and multimedia ideas, and ideas for practical action.
https://chbookshop.hymnsam.co.uk/books/9780715142776/life-balance
Several people have asked ‘How do I reduce the file size of my picture to upload it on to the Strategic Buildings Review Database?’
One very simple way is to us on-line software such as www.picresize.com
If you haven’t used this type of program before, I have prepared an instructional video for you, which you can watch here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BF_PZvrwXqQ
I have chosen this software as it is very straight forward to use. There are, however, other resizing apps and programs available.
All the best, and get uploading!
This stage is designed to help the church journey toward making the changes God requires of it.
The questions in this stage are different to the questions in the other stages, in that the church needs to constantly ask them throughout the work. It may be helpful for the church’s leadership team to frame their reflection on the MAP process around these four questions as they review each time they meet.
These are the questions that the church will engage with in this stage.
Are we staying close to God?
The first core principle of the MAP process is prayerfulness. The MAP process is concerned with the church increasingly becoming the church God is calling them to be, so it is vital for them to be constantly seeking God’s direction, wisdom, discernment and equipping.
The work of the MAP process should be regularly included in the prayers of the leadership team and during times of corporate worship, but the church will also wish to find other creative ways in which to seek God concerning the work.
Are we aware of what God is doing in and through us?
The second core principle of the MAP process is leader commitment. Although much of the detailed work of the MAP process may be done by other individuals or teams, it is important that the leadership team continue to oversee and be involved in it.
We recommend that the MAP process becomes a standard item on the agenda of the leadership team’s normal meetings and that regular updates are sought by them from those involved in the work. If the work is progressing differently than expected, the leadership team will want to review why and to understand whether any changes might be needed to existing actions and plans.
Are we celebrating God’s faithfulness?
As God continues to work in and through the church, it will be important to celebrate the good things that are happening. This will remind the church of God’s faithfulness and encourage them to continue in the changes He has called them to. There are different ways to celebrate:
With those involved, thanking them and recognising God’s work in and through them.
- As a leadership team, giving thanks to God.
- With the whole church, through regular updates and an annual celebration service.
- With the wider community, sharing all that God is doing through the MAP process.
Are we communicating with others well?
The third core principle of the MAP process is integration – keeping MAP at the centre of the life of the church. People forget very easily, and will assume that if they don’t hear anything then nothing is happening. Therefore, regular and constant communication is vital.
Communication will need to happen at all the same levels as for celebrating God’s faithfulness (individuals, teams, leadership, church, wider community). The leadership will also need to communicate regularly and in different ways. The church may consider communicating via:
- personal contact (announcements, events, one to one, small groups)
- physical media (newspaper articles, newsletters, letters, information boards, posters)
- electronic media (email, website, blogs, videos)
- social media (Facebook, Twitter)
You may find the following extra resources helpful during this stage:
- Prayer and Worship Resources
Some ideas and models to help keep prayer and worship at the centre of the MAP for Derby Diocese process. - Seeking Evidence for Church Health
A resource for those looking for measures and indicators to help them assess the health of the church.
For further help or information on any aspect of using MAP for Derby Diocese, please contact:
Jason Kennedy Diocesan Missioner
e jason.kennedy@derby.anglican.org
t 07539 483733
Derby Church House, Full Street, Derby DE1 3DR
This stage is designed to help the church prepare how they will make the changes God requires of it.
This will mean creating a plan for these changes. There are three questions to answer in this stage, but the answers to each will develop together to form that detailed plan.
These are the questions that the church will engage with in this stage.
What steps should we take?
Answering this question will require the church to detail the actions that will be required to meet God’s call for them (as discerned in the previous stage). What type of actions, and how many of them there are, will depend on the changes God is calling the church to make.
There is a temptation for the church to limit their thinking to doing new things – adding in new programmes or events, starting new initiatives. This often adds further burden and pressure on the church (and usually on those who are already overstretched, especially the church leader). Whilst this stage might mean starting something new, it might equally entail:
- Stopping something
It may be that an activity or programme that the church is currently involved in is hampering the church from responding to God’s call. - Changing something
Perhaps, in taking what is already happening and changing the way it is done to reflect the church’s revealed character and purpose, the church can better respond to God’s call. - Learning something
Most often, the changes God calls His Church to make are heart changes (about who we are) rather than technical changes (what we do). This is harder, but nonetheless important. Such changes are not wrought through programmes, but through prayer, reflection, discussion, learning and repentance as God’s church.
A good indication that the church has addressed this question is that the church have a specific plan for change that will enable them to make the changes that God is calling them to, according to the previous stage.
With whom will we share the journey?
The MAP process will offer the church many opportunities to share the journey with others. To do so opens the possibility of building creative relationships in which the Good News of Jesus can be shared and the mission of God can be advanced. Such partnerships can enrich both the church and those with whom the church partners. This might mean establishing connections where there previously were none, or deepening existing connections.
The answers to the question, ‘with whom do we share our life and what do they say about us?’ in stage 2 can form the base from which to begin answering this question.
Sharing the journey might mean different things, depending on the people with whom the church is seeking connection and why. It might be information sharing, or something much more substantial.
A good indication that the church has addressed this question is that the church are developing new and existing connections with others.
From whom will we need help?
Often, one of the hardest things for a person to do is to admit they need help. The same is true of churches. Although the church’s source of help, wisdom and power will always be God, that may well come through others who can offer their support, help and advice. Sometimes churches will not embark on the work that God is calling them to because they are not sure they have the resources to complete it. Yet, the work may well be possible with the help and support of others. Commonly, churches will need help in the following areas:
- Prayer, support and encouragement
Partnering with those who will support and pray for the church. - The experience of others
Partnering with those who have already completed the work the church is planning. It can be helpful to see what worked and what didn’t, but care must be exercised in transferring models from another place without contextualisation. - Teaching, preaching, training and facilitation
Seeking help for the church to learn something effectively, or having someone from outside to facilitate, which offers a ‘critical friend’ and free them to focus on content, rather than process. - Funding
Seeking help with funding; this usually means making best uses of the assets and resources the church already has, or applying for grant funding from elsewhere. - People and resources
Obtaining required skills or other resources to complete a piece of work.
The Parish Support Office will often be able to help the church to find any of these types of help, either directly or by pointing toward others who can provide it.
A good indication that the church has addressed this question is that the church are clear and confident that they have in place all the help they need to make the changes God is calling them to, with His help.
You may find the following extra resources helpful during this stage:
- Prayer and Worship Resources
Some ideas and models to help keep prayer and worship at the centre of the MAP for Derby Diocese process. - SMART Actions
How to ensure that the tasks you set during this stage are ones that you can review and measure. - Sharing the Good News
A resource to help the local church develop effective evangelism in their context. - Measuring Church Growth and Health
A resource to help church and deanery leadership teams consider how and why we measure the health of churches. - Developing a New Worshipping Community
A guide to working through the decisions and areas of interest when starting a new worshipping community. - Where Do We Go From Here?
A special resource for moving into mission in post-COVID times.
For further help or information on any aspect of using MAP for Derby Diocese, please contact:
Jason Kennedy Diocesan Missioner
e jason.kennedy@derby.anglican.org
t 07539 483733
Derby Church House, Full Street, Derby DE1 3DR
This stage is designed to help the church discern the areas in which God is now calling them to grow and change to meet His call. Some churches call this the vision.
