Eclipsing Empire: Paul, Rome and the Kingdom of God (DVD) - further explorations of the life and work of Paul

Monday 25 March 2013

We shall be viewing and discussing chapters 5 and 6 of the DVD by Borg and Crossan of the pilgrimage they led to Turkey in 2006. It consists partly of a video of the sites they visited and partly of talks by one or other of them. This month we shall be looking at Paul's vocation and the cities he visited.

Location:

William Jay Room, Central URC Church Halls, Grove Street, Bath, BA1 3RA

Saving Jesus from the Cross…

Monday 25 March 2013

Crucifixion was a form of state torture. It was not meant to kill quickly. Its purpose was to degrade and humiliate a person utterly, to reduce them to a non-person. Yet, in many Christian traditions, the cross is regarded as salvific and is glorified; ‘in the cross of Christ I glory’. Can we reconcile the cross with a God of peace and unconditional love? Are there progressive understandings of the cross? What does or can the cross mean for us today? We will explore this topic further with the help of some clips from the film 'Chocolat'. All are welcome from 12.55 onwards for informal chat before the start of the meeting.

Location:

Dundee University Chaplaincy, Building number 31 on city campus map

Speaker:

Angela Smith

March meeting- Examining the Meaning of the Resurrection

Thursday 21 March 2013

We will use the Together in Hope book 'Examining the Meaning of the Resurrection' which amalgamates the essays by Bishop John Shelby Spong. We anticipate this will take us over several meetings. It will be helpful if you could contact Nicola about ordering a book approx cost £3-00. It is envisaged that we might explore two chapters per month.

Location:

Albert room, United Reformed Church, Rugby

Speaker:

Facilitated by committee member

Third Thursdays: Einstein’s God #5

Thursday 21 March 2013

Science without religion is lame. Religion without science is blind. Albert Einstein

Location:

St Columba’s, Oxford United Reformed Church (Alfred St.)

An Evening with Honest to God

Friday 15 March 2013

The book by Bishop John Robinson that caused furore in 1963 is celebrating its 50th birthday this year. The bishop knew it would be heavily criticised but thought in time it would seem not radical enough. Was he right?

Location:

Christchurch, Abbeydale, Gloucester GL4 5EQ

Speaker:

Frank Godfrey (pictured)

Prayer

Friday 15 March 2013

Location:

Eileen in Newbury

The revival of Paganisms: Anthropology-inspired religions

Thursday 7 March 2013

Chris has taught at York St John since 1988 and as head of year he oversees the progress of around 200 students. He has edited two books: Documents of the Christian Church (OUP, 1999 and 2011) and Origins of the Cult of the Virgin Mary (Continuum, 2008). His main research area over the last few years - starting with a PhD at the University of Leeds in 1991 - has been popular Catholicism, in particular the apparitions and shrines of Mary; and he has had published articles in this area and on Mary in the New Testament. He has recently started to write novels: Calling was published in 2010 and reflects his interest in apparitions of Mary but also in new and popular forms of spirituality, such as the revived interest in Paganism and Goddess Worship. It promises to be a very interesting evening.

Location:

Wesley Chapel

Speaker:

Dr Chris Maunder

Abingdon ‘Living the Questions’ Discussion Group Monthly Meeting

Tuesday 5 March 2013

This monthly meeting of the 'Living the Questions' Discussion Group will feature the fifth session from 'First Light - Jesus and the Kingdom of God' entitled 'The Lake as the World'. (Note the change of venue)

Location:

Contact Cliff Marshall for venue information

The Stories We Tell

Monday 4 March 2013

It is claimed that there are only a handful of 'basic stories' in the world! From ancient myths and folk tales, to plays and novels of great literature, to the popular movies and TV soap operas of today, there are said to be around only seven archetypal themes that recur within every kind of story telling. We’ll look at some clips from popular movies to see just how true this is! All are welcome from 12.50 onwards for informal chat before the start of the meeting.

Location:

Dundee University Chaplaincy, Building number 31 on city campus map

Speaker:

Angela Smith

Studying The Collage of God by Mark Oakley

Sunday 3 March 2013

The Collage of God - Mark Oakley Reality is not neatly mirrored in the recitation of any creed. Faith is more like a collage than a tidy system, slowly pieced together from a sprawling mixture of sources: ancient texts and contemporary experiences, prayer and poetry, silence and imagination.

Location:

14 Spencers Holt, Harrogate, HG1 3DL

Speaker:

Discussion group led by Paul Onslow

February group meeting

Wednesday 27 February 2013

Continuing our study of Marcus Borg's "Speaking Christian" we shall look at chapters 7 and 8 on Jesus and the significance of his death.

Location:

Heaton Moor

Faith in Conflict

Tuesday 26 February 2013 — Thursday 28 February 2013

Finding better ways to handle conflict in the Church
An ecumenical conference at Coventry Cathedral

Location:

Coventry Cathedral

Speaker:

Rev'd Dr Jo Bailey Wells, Rev'd Dr Sam Wells

Is the World Dying of Terminal Religion?

Monday 25 February 2013

Location:

Albrighton, St Mary's Church Centre

Speaker:

Alan Felts-Davies

Sinful thoughts! Is ‘sin’ an outdated concept?

Monday 25 February 2013

The group will explore this intriguing question in the light of Biblical teaching and present day attitudes.

Location:

William Jay Room, Central URC Church Halls, Grove Street, Bath, BA1 3RA

Speaker:

Edward Hulme

February meeting. ‘Out of a Dark wood- God, Dante and us’

Thursday 21 February 2013

Tim Brooke and Pam Siver had planned to lead this together before she died last November. In this meeting we will particularly remember Pam who was one of the original members of PCN and Rugby Interfaith Fellowship with whom this is a joint meeting.

Location:

Albert room, United Reformed church, Rugby, CV22 5AD

Speaker:

Tim Brooke

Third Thursdays: Einstein’s God #4

Thursday 21 February 2013

Science without religion is lame. Religion without science is blind. Albert Einstein

Location:

St Columba’s, Oxford United Reformed Church (Alfred St.)

Spiritual Practices

Friday 15 February 2013

Location:

Graces in Wash Common

Power and Fear

Monday 11 February 2013

We explore the inter-relationship between power and fear. ‘Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us’. (Marianne Williamson) All are welcome from 12.50 onwards for informal chat before the start of the meeting.

Location:

Dundee University Chaplaincy, Building number 31 on city campus map

Speaker:

Professor Annalu Waller

Women and the Church

Thursday 7 February 2013

A discussion of current issues surrounding women and the Church led by Ruth Tetlow, Liz Blakey and Jan Waterson

Location:

12 Woodrough Drive, Moseley, Birmingham B13 9EP

Living the Questions Group meeting

Tuesday 5 February 2013

We shall be viewing the third session of 'First Light- Jesus and the Kingdom of God' entitled God's Great Clean Up. Following the DVD material we shall be discussing the issues that emerge. All are welcome, those who have not been to previous sessions are asked to contact Cliff to obtain the associated reading materials for this session.

Location:

All Saints Methodist Church, Appleford Drive, Abingdon