Introduction from Revd Leonard Doolan, Vicar of Cirencester
The School of Faith for 2010 has expanded its horizons not only in content, but in the audience it might attract. The School could become a resource throughout the Cotswolds.
The courses on offer are more varied than last year. We offer sessions on ‘Sin and Evil’, mysticism, spirituality, New Testament, Christ, the Holy Spirit, death and dying, and more. The size of the groups this year is limited to allow practical group work to take place where necessary, though the lectures and the Lent talks are open to any without limitation on numbers. In order for this to operate there is a booking form at the back of this booklet and each course has a reference number. A nominal charge is made for each course in order to defray costs.
Churches Together in Cirencester have endorsed the School of Faith formally, so it is with great delight that the venues are varied also, making use of the Friend’s Meeting House, the Parish Church, the Baptist Church, as well as the Parish Centre and the Vicarage. At each session a welcomer and ‘host’ for the evening will be present and these now also come from across the churches.
In advance I would like to thank all those who are offering their time and expertise in the delivery of this learning programme in 2010, and also those who will decide to participate. It is a wonderful opportunity for everyone, however much you feel you already know, or feel you don’t know, to engage with the process of learning about the faith, and, through this learning, forming your discipleship in Christ. This School offers opportunities for information, so that formation can take place, and through this lead to the transformation of our lives.
St. Benedict, who has had a profound influence on the development of Christianity in Europe, and is in many ways the ‘patron saint’ of Europe begins his Rule like this:
‘Listen carefully, my son, to the master’s instructions, and attend to them with the ear of the heart.’
I hope and pray that this School of Faith will go at least some of the way to help us as Christians locally in our pursuit to love God more deeply, and to follow his Christ more nearly.
Leonard Doolan, Vicar of Cirencester.
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