LENT COURSE 2026: DIFFERENCE
Make your faith count in a complex and divided world.
Join us to explore what the Christian faith has to say about how we live with difference. In a divided and fractured world, it can be hard to know where to begin with the issues that surround us. Difference is a five-session course – part of the Reconciling Leaders Network – that equips you to see transformation through everyday encounters. Each session includes films, Bible readings, prayer, discussion and interactive exercises and will be on Saturday mornings in the Cloister Room 10-11.30am beginning on 21 February.
God's Call | Saturday 21 February
God is at work to renew and reconcile all things and he calls us to be caught up in what he is doing. We are invited to find hope and to bring hope in a messy and complex world. This session introduces you to the three formational habits central to Difference - Be Curious, Be Present and Reimagine..
Crossing Divides | Saturday 28th February
It is easy to distrust and feel wary of those who are different from us. We often find ourselves in echo chambers, drawn to voices that reinforce our own perspective or experience. It is increasingly easy to avoid or shut out those who make us uncomfortable or fearful, creating a dividing wall between us. This session is about responding to God’s invitation to know ourselves better by seeing our walls and the people on the other side.
Navigating Disagreement | Saturday 7 March
We all encounter conflict and it rarely feels comfortable, but we don’t need to be overwhelmed by it. Jesus’ example shows us that we can respond to disagreement with curiosity and generosity without compromising our convictions. In fact, sometimes conflict can be an opportunity to deepen and strengthen relationships in ways we have never imagined.
Practising Forgiveness | Saturday 14 March
Jesus teaches again and again about forgiveness in the Gospels. This suggests two things: firstly, that it is a crucial part of finding life in all its fullness; secondly, that forgiveness is pretty hard to get our heads around and even harder to live out every day. This session is about allowing ourselves to be open to the possibilities of forgiveness in our relationships, while being honest about the places we get stuck.
Risking Hope | Saturday 21 March
Pursuing healed, restored relationships can be risky, costly and complex. It’s easy to be overwhelmed when we struggle with forgiveness, feel powerless, or meet resistance in ourselves and others. But these aren’t signs that we should give up. We can expect to encounter difficulties when we are living out a new way which interrupts the values and power structures that surround us. This session is about finding ways to keep going as we try to live this out day by day.
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