Prayer is the vital life breath of our relationship with God. We encourage many forms of prayer within our church.
Corporate prayer takes place during our worship, at most of our meetings, at house fellowship groups and at our prayer meeting on Tuesday morning.
Prayer Team: our trained team offers prayer ministry after morning worship and by request. Our Prayer team have held prayers for healing for individuals and different situations. Please contact the minister, Simon Helme, 01453 542344 or email minister@dursleytab.org.uk
The Tuesday Prayer Meeting starts at 9.30am in the chapel. There are periods of silence and simple responses. We share in reading a psalm and listen for God’s word through the reading of scriptures that link into our Sunday morning worship lectionary. Open prayer is offered for people and situations (the names from our prayer book are remembered at this point). People can pray out loud or in silence. A blessing is given to close the period of prayer and coffee is shared after the meeting. All are welcome.
Personal prayer and devotions are encouraged through the use of the URC Prayer Handbook. This is a series of readings and reflections and prayers linked to the Lectionary Bible Readings for Sunday Worship. The Handbook gives suggestions on how to pray and allows you to further reflect on that week’s readings. http://www.urcshop.co.uk/
Reform Magazine is the monthly publication of the national URC and is full of interesting articles to encourage and enlarge your faith http://www.reform-magazine.co.uk/
Bible Reading notes, Fresh from the Word, by the International Bible Reading Association (IBRA), provides bible readings, commentaries and prayers for every day of the year. It is an excellent way to meditate on scripture every day and to discover the wide range of writings in the Bible. https://shop.christianeducation.org.uk/freshfromtheword/
From time to time we offer various courses looking at prayer and spirituality. If you wish to receive details of these please contact the minister.
TLS Courses (Training for Learning & Serving)
The National URC runs training courses deepening people’s understanding and practice of their faith. A number of our members have done these courses (on pastoral care, theology and biblical studies) and have found them very helpful. More details from the URC website or from the minister. http://www.urc.org.uk/discipleship/education-and-learning/training-for-learning-and-serving.html
Christian Doctrine Course
Starts Thursday 4th July 7.30pm
Christian Doctrine looks at what we believe about God, ourselves and the world based on the biblical revelation. Are you interested in joining a group of us looking at the breadth of Christian teaching to help and equip us as Christians in the modern world?
When you are in an official position doing teaching and preaching and leading others you need to know what you believe and why and how you can help answer people’s questions and challenges.
Even if you are just needing a deeper understanding of your faith, maybe to give an account of the hope you have, then this course may help.
Back in 2020 during the pandemic I did this as an online course for the church which a dozen people participated in. It was all on zoom so it had its challenges. This time around I plan to do it in person so hopefully that will help conversations and participation.
The meetings will be based on the book Christian Doctrine ( 50th Anniversary Edition preferably!) by Shirley C. Guthrie Jr.
Westminster John Knox Press, ISBN: 978-0-664-26450-5
You don’t need to buy the book but it would help and be a good reference.
Christian Doctrine has introduced thousands of laity, students, and theologians to the tenets of the Christian faith. This edition reflects changes in the church and society since the publication of the first edition and takes into account new works in Reformed theology, gender references in the Bible, racism, pluralism, ecological developments, and liberation theologies.
The book gives us opportunity to lay a firm foundation for our faith and to drill down deeply into what we believe as Christians. The aim is to be more confident in our faith and answer objections or see falsehoods towards it. The Bible encourages us to have ‘sound doctrine’ (Titus 2.1) so that we can make our lives attractive through the teaching (Titus 2.10). When you are clear about what you believe you can be more effective in leadership, in evangelism, in pastoral care and encouragement.
You can see below the titles of the chapters of the book and the questions they answer.
Contents:
METHOD AND TASK OF THEOLOGY
Who is a Theologian?
Who says so? – the problem of authority
GOD AND HUMAN BEINGS
How can we find God? – Doctrine of General Revelation
How does God find us? – Doctrine of Special Revelation
Who is God? – Doctrine of the Trinity
What is God like? – Doctrine of the Attributes of God
What does God want with us? – Doctrine of Predestination
GOD THE CREATOR AND CREATION
What are we doing here? – Doctrine of Creation
Why doesn’t God do something about it? – Doctrine of Providence and the Problem of Evil
Who are we? – Doctrine of Human Beings
Why don’t you just be yourself? – Doctrine of Sin
GOD IN CHRIST AND RECONCILIATION
Where is God? – Doctrine of Incarnation
Is God against us? – Doctrine of Atonement
Who’s in charge here? – Doctrine of the Resurrection
GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT AND NEW LIFE
What’s new? – Doctrine of the Holy Spirit
Are you a Christian? – Doctrine of Justification
Are you a Christian? – Doctrine of Sanctification
Living or Dead? – Doctrine of the Church
What’s going to happen to us? – Doctrine of the Christian Hope for the Future.
Meetings will take place on Thursday evenings during the summer months at Dursley Tab
4th, 18th, 25th July, 8th, 15th, 29th August, 5th, 12th, 19th September
Please let Simon know if you are interested in being on the course. minister@dursleytab.org.uk
Would you be willing to purchase the book?
You can get it from the following web pages:
https://www.eden.co.uk/shop/christian-doctrine-4685669.html
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Christian-Doctrine-Anniversary-Shirley-Guthrie/dp/0664264506
https://www.abebooks.co.uk/book-search/title/christian-doctrine-revised-edition-teachings/author/guthrie-shirley/