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Over the past twenty years we have covered a wide range of theological subjects in our annual Lent Course. This year I have decided to explore the teachings of Saint Paul.

Having explored the missionary journeys of Paul in a preveious Lent Course, this year I want to concentrate on his thinking and teaching. Paul, as Bishop Bill Godfrey reminded us when he came to visit, was the most prolific and influential missionary and "Church planter" the Church has ever had. Fortunately for us, much of Paul’s teaching is preserved in the epistles, the letters, he wrote to various Christian communities but much of what he wrote is, quite frankly, often difficult for we twenty first century Christians to understand. What I hope to achieve in this year’s Lent Course is to “unpack” much of the content of his teaching and try to explain it in terms relevant to today. I want to try to “get to grips with St Paul”!!

A Lent Course provides us with an excellent opportunity to learn more about our faith. As in former years the Course will consist of five lectures. Each will be completed in less than 45 minutes and will be given in the church hall on Sunday evenings at 7pm and repeated on Monday afternoons at 2pm beginning on Sunday 21st February.

In the past our Lent Courses have been well attended - usually fifty to sixty people - so if you would like to join us this year please make a note in your diary. If you haven’t attended a Lent Course before please feel free to come and join us. No previous knowledge is necessary but it would be helpful if you could bring a Bible with you.

As a missionary Paul’s genius lay in the fact that he was able to share his faith and beliefs with both Jews and Gentiles; with those well versed in the scriptures and others, in the wider world, who were ignorant of the salvation history central to Jewish belief and fundamentally important if we are to understand the role of Jesus and the Gospel he commands us, his disciples, to preach.

Come to this year’s Lent Course and find out how he managed to do it!

Lent Course sessions are open to everyone.

If you would like to attend this year's course please e mail me indicating whether you intend attending the Sunday evening or Monday afternoon sessions - it helps to know how many chairs to put out!

brucemh@globalnet.co.uk

or

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