Marcus Borg ‘Speaking Christian’ Ch 11 Mercy

Friday 31 March 2017

Location:

Quaker Meeting House Newbury

Speaker:

Introduced by Andy Moore

The Exodus: Story or History?

Tuesday 28 March 2017

A lecture on DVD about the Exodus from Egypt followed by discussion.

Location:

Tavistock United Reformed Church, Russell Street, Tavistock, PL19 8BD

Speaker:

Dr Ziony Zevit

What is Progressive Religion?

Tuesday 28 March 2017

Beyond Belief's first meeting of 2017 is on the theme "What is Progressive Religion?" and our evening will be led by Rabbi Elizabeth Tikvah Sarah from the Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue. No cost, but please buy drinks (and food if required) from the pub who do not charge us for use of their upstairs room. Gather at around 7 pm to get refreshments, ready to start at 7.30 pm. Everyone welcome.

Location:

Craft Beer Co, 22-23 Upper North St, Brighton BN1 3FG

Speaker:

Rabbi Elizabeth Tikvah Sarah

The Sikh Faith

Monday 27 March 2017

Having travelled in most of the countries in the Middle East in less fraught times and having been to Israel/Palestine/Jordan/Sinai once every two years the Bishop thought that being the Diocesan Interfaith Adviser would keep me out of mischief in retirement. So, I liaise with interfaith groups in the Welsh Marches and the West Midlands. The initial work of telling village and town groups about the faiths of those who have come to live among us has passed and now it is dealing with the faiths working together, identifying common ground and learning to respect differences and the significance of those differences. With the leader of the local mosque I have offered to listen to and reflect on the refugees who are coming among us. I am still involved with some of those charities giving help to the suffering peoples of Israel/Palestine. I see the purpose of my visit to your group as sharing information about the Sikh faith - very different from my previous visit and much less contentious. Also looking at their place in Western society. I would hope that the visit would stimulate the group, if the people who belong are unfamiliar with Sikh life, to arrange a visit to somewhere like B'ham. That would be both enlightening and enjoyable.

Location:

St Mary's ChurchCentre,High Street,Albrighton WV7 3EQ.

Speaker:

David Roberts, Diocesan Interfaith Advisor

‘How do we talk about difficulkt things?’

Monday 27 March 2017

We plan to tackle some of the issues that are not often raised in our church communities - some of the very difficult things we meet on our journey through life and on our journey of faith. The evening will take the form of an interactive discussion, and we invite you to come along to share, to listen, to engage, and to learn from one another....

Location:

Cluny Centre, Braid Road, Edinburgh

Brighthelm Progressive Christians ... Lent or Given? ... Looking for life on the way to Easter

Saturday 25 March 2017

Brighthelm Progressive Christians are exploring 'A Progressive Lent' with our afternoon gathering "Lent or Given? - Looking for life on the way to Easter". Worship and discussion: looking at Lent without wallowing in sin or mortifying the flesh - looking for the gift of life in the wilderness. Everyone welcome

Location:

The Stanmer Room, Brighthelm Centre, North Road, Brighton BN1 1YD

Speaker:

The Rev Alex Mabbs

‘Reclaiming a Prayerful Life: Inspiration for Contemporary Christians’

Thursday 23 March 2017

“Whether we consider ourselves mature people of faith or absolute beginners many of us struggle with the question of how to pray. Magdalen Smith explores the question of what we are trying to do when we pray and develops this by looking at a variety of ideas which are and can be embedded in our own lived-out lives. Concepts like ‘still’, ‘gaze’, ‘flux’, ‘thank’, ‘dark’ and ‘shed’ explore traditional concepts of existential holy living with a contemporary spin, which simultaneously become prophetic ways of defining a Christian identity in both a secular and spiritually inquisitive age.”

Location:

Truro Cathedral Chapter House

Speaker:

Revd Magdalen Smith

group monthly meeting

Wednesday 22 March 2017

Love Free or Die. A film on DVD about Gene Robinson, the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal church

Location:

Heaton Moor united church

The Journey Of A Valleys Church

Tuesday 21 March 2017

Rev Charlotte Moss from Argoed Baptist church will be leading.

Location:

Pontprennau Community Church

Speaker:

Rev Charlotte Moss

Living the Questions

Monday 20 March 2017 — Monday 26 June 2017

Living the Questions is a "DVD based curriculum ... designed to help people wrestle with the relevance of Christianity in the 21st century."

Location:

Revolution Cafe, Truro Methodist Church, Union Place, Truro, TR1 1EP

Reclaiming the World

Tuesday 14 March 2017

Care for the environment is deeply biblical.

Location:

Tavistock United Reformed Church, Russell Street, Tavistock, PL19 8BD

Speaker:

Living the Questions II DVD

Cruelty,Christianity and the Gospel of Love

Monday 13 March 2017

David Charles-Edwards will facilitate consideration of this issue especially in relation to sexuality which alienates so many contemporary people. Please email the convenor if you hope to attend as two Church Times articles have been circulated to regular members to read beforehand and she can send you these. This topic was chosen partly by reflecting on these articles.Since then there has been coverage of the current debate in the C of E over the Bishops report following the shared conversations, and talk of radical inclusiveness,therefore our discussions may enable us to contribute to other local discussions that may be going on.

Location:

United Reformed Church, Hillmorton Rd Rugby, Prayer room

Speaker:

Facilitated by member

Regular Discussion Meeting

Tuesday 7 March 2017

The discussion will focus on the the needs of Christian ministry in the 21st century.

Location:

St Peter's Church Room, Drayton, Oxfordshire, OX14 4JS

A video evening, Rev Martin Wolfe, speaks about John Spong

Tuesday 7 March 2017

"Emerging Vision Of Religion After John Shelby Spong" by Reverend Martin Wolfe The video runs for half an hour which will give us plenty of time to discuss afterwards.

Location:

Pontprennau Community Church

Speaker:

Rev Martin Wolfe (video)

March Meeting

Monday 6 March 2017

Last month three readers presented three books and provided vigorous discussion all round. This month we'll do the same.

Location:

12 Woodrough Drive, Moseley, B13 9EP

Our attitudes to suffering

Sunday 5 March 2017

More details later.

Location:

Friends meeting house, Miller St. Newcastle under Lyme

Speaker:

John Simon Preston

March meeting: A radical church?

Thursday 2 March 2017

Child Sacrifice in the Old Testament: considering the context

Tuesday 28 February 2017

A fascinating look at child sacrifice in the O.T. - Professor Ziony Zevil will have you reading the O.T. in a whole new way.

Location:

Tavistock United Reformed Church, Russell Street, Tavistock, PL19 8BD

Speaker:

Dr Ziony Zevit - professor of Biblical Literature and Northwest Semitic Languages at the American Jewish University. (on DVD)

Liberation Theology

Monday 27 February 2017

Our theme this month is 'liberation theology', and will be introduced by Ian Moir, whose reflection on his own ministry, and that of his wife Elsie, has deepened his understanding of the potentail undergirding liberation theology. Ian will introduce the topic, hopefully share some of his own experience in its practical application, and invite others to tell of its relevance to them. We look forward to a lively discussion! The meeting is, as always, open to everyone.. Visitors welcome. Tea/coffee available from 7.15p.m.

Location:

Room 2, Cluny Centre, Braid Road, Edinburgh 10

Studying with the DVD in the “Painting the Stars” series, entitled “Mysticism”

Monday 27 February 2017

The DVD's in this series are celebrating the communion of science and faith, Painting the Stars explores the promise of evolutionary Christian spirituality. Featuring over a dozen leading theologians and progressive thinkers, the seven-session program includes a downloadable/printable participant reader (written by evolutionary theologian Bruce Sanguin) and a facilitator guide with discussion questions. The basic format for each 1-1 1/2 hour session includes conversation around the readings, a 20-minute video presentation and guided discussion. For more information please see the series web page www.livingthe questions.com Visitors are warmly welcomed to attend & take part our in meetings & join the discussion.

Location:

St Mary's ChurchCentre,High Street,Albrighton WV7 3EQ.

Speaker:

Guided discussion led by David Cotterell