BEDFORD ECUMENICAL LAY INSTITUTE
FOR EDUCATION AND FAITH
(BELIEF)
Dear Friends,
An important part of our growth as Christians is to learn more about our faith. We do this in a small way here at All Saints in our joint study groups with the Abbey, in our House Group and in confirmation classes. It is not easy, however, in a small parish to cater for all needs or to mount a full series of courses. That is why BELIEF is so exciting and why I have decided to use their publicity as the main part of this month’s newsletter.
Jo Spray
‘BELIEF is a new venture coming ‘on stream’ in a major way from Autumn 2006. It is an educational facility, which will seek to help Christians and others. The courses are open to anyone, and some are recognized by different denominations as preparation for specific ministries in the church.
The courses organized for the autumn are as follows:
1. GETTING TO GRIPS WITH LUKE’S GOSPEL:
This course will take place over 5 Wednesday evenings, beginning on September 13th. The leaders will be Mary Cotes, Jeffrey John, Julie Robb and Stephen Heap. Between them, they will provide a variety of perspectives and seek to help participants to enter into the Jesus story as told by Luke.
2. GETTING TO GRIPS WITH THE OLD TESTAMENT:
On Saturday September 30th Janet Tollington of Westminster College, Cambridge, will help us to get an overview of this important part of our scriptures which perhaps we do not know as well as we should. She will also develop some specific themes relevant for today. We had a fascinating day on Mark’s gospel in January and this day promises to be every bit as good.
3. THINKING ABOUT GOD:
This is another Wednesday evening course, beginning on November 8th and finishing on December 6th. Ian McIntosh will lead thinking on such themes as God as Creator, God in Jesus, God and suffering, God and the Holy Spirit and God as Trinity. These are central issues for us as people of faith and things we all need to think about.
4. ‘TIME TO GET UP AND DO SOMETHING: PRAYER AND ACTIVITY IN DIALOGUE’
This course is a little different. It will take the form of a retreat at Turvey Abbey, led by Brother John, a member of the community living at the Abbey.
For further details, including of times, venues and costs, please contact BELIEF’S Director, Revd Dr Stephen Heap, on 07746 014 921 or c/o St Andrew’s Church Office, Kimbolton Rd., Bedford MK40 2PF. Or pick up a leaflet from the Tithe Table at the back of the church.
Please pray for…
‘BELIEF’ and all involved in Christian education
Those who are anxious about themselves or others
All who will be ordained at Petertide
Very advance notice!
Bishop Kisembo, who is a Bishop in the church in Uganda, is coming to our Diocese in October. We are lucky enough to be able to welcome him to preach at Evensong on Sunday 15th October – we hope this will be a Deanery Service. If you were able to be at church on Ascension Day, you will know that together with our fellow Christians in Sharnbrook Deanery, we can make a very joyful noise! Do put the date in your diary now.
Coffee Mornings
The next coffee morning will be at 10:15 am on Saturday 10th June at 9 Carlton Road by kind invitation of Cindy Woods. (Please note this is a change of venue for this month.) There will be a raffle and a bring-and-buy stall for which contributions, especially of cakes and produce would be very welcome.
Last month's coffee morning raised £243 towards church funds. Many thanks to Dawn Riddle for hosting the event and to everyone who helped with and who supported it.
Ladies are you Fit and Active?
(Well, relatively!) And do you have a couple of hours to spare in the late afternoon? And do you like children? In September we are hoping to start an ‘After School Club’ for children of First School age. We should like to meet once a week from 4:00pm to 5:30pm – the day is to be decided, but it will probably be Monday or Thursday. We need a team of people to help with refreshments as the children arrive, one or two games, some more thoughtful and creative activities, story telling etc. The more of us there are to help, the more the load can be spread. We have a wonderful group of young people who come regularly to church but at present we can provide no other activity for them because we have no space for Sunday School. If you could offer anytime, however limited, I should be delighted to hear from you. It would be nice to have one or two dads/uncles/granddads involved too!
Jo Spray