Growing in Faith Together
Our primary focus as a community of faith is the worship that we offer to the Lord week by week in our Churches.
Jesus commanded his people to remember him using the bread and wine of the Eucharist so this is our main service every Sunday.
Jesus also commanded his people to baptise and most Sundays we also meet around the font, as he would want, to celebrate a new life and offer a welcome into the Lord's family.
Together we are the Body of Christ in this place, encouraged and renewed in faith as we meet with him and he meets with us in the experience of worship
Because we are his body, his people, about his work, more is involved than just one service a week, the Christian calling is to a life of worship, fellowship and service.
To do this most effectively, it is vitally important for every Christian to learn more about the faith. To this end we offer a variety of opportunities to take part in Continuing Christian Education and Spiritual Formation.
The programmes we use include "Open the Book", "Education for Discipleship", "Lectio Divina" and seasonal material from "Churches Together in Britain and Ireland" as well as home grown courses of a seasonal nature.
Our three parishes are part of Stroud Deanery, within the Diocese of Gloucester and the Province of Canterbury within the Church of England.
The Deanery of Stroud is a grouping of 42 parishes, which lie south of the city of Gloucester on the south side of the River Severn.
The Diocese of Gloucester Mission Statement begins...
"We are called in the power and grace of the Holy Spirit: to proclaim and live the Gospel of Jesus Christ, transforming lives and communities, advancing the Kingdom of God".
For this task we need the fellowship and encouragement of the Holy Spirit and other Christians locally and across the world.
Study Courses and Christian Education
We use a variety of courses and projects as a study basis for ongoing Christian Education including Education for Discipleship. Study notes are provided ahead of each session and we enjoy the discussions and study together.
We have also used a series of studies based on films to explore Christian themes.
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Lectio Divina Group in our Benefice
Studying God's Word together
Lectio Divina is Latin for divine reading, it is a method of Bible Study which is gathering popularity in our Diocese and being explored in many parishes, a way of praying with Scripture that gives time to study, ponder, listen and, finally, pray and rejoice in God's Word, within the soul. We run this style of Bible Study seasonally throughout the year.
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Open the Book Programme
Presenting dramatised Bible stories
Our team of volunteer storytellers use drama, mime, props, costume - even the children themselves to present Bible stories in ways that are lively, engaging, informative ... so we "Open the Book" at Hardwicke and Longney Schools and occasionally in our "Storyteller" Eucharist at Hardwicke and Longney Churches.
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Confirmation Preparation 2012
Strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit
This year's Confirmation will take place on Saturday May 12th 2012 in our Mother Church, Gloucester Cathedral. It is a wonderful service during which the candidates and congregation move from the west end of the Cathedral, through the Nave where they are Confirmed to the High Altar in the east where they receive Communion for the first time.
The next preparation classes for adults (and also separately for Y6 age youngsters) will be in the New Year 2013. If you are interested in being prepared for Confirmation or if you have been confirmed and would like to be part of these courses as a "refresher", please let Fr Andrew know.
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Peaceful Prayers
A quiet space to reflect with others
A comfortable space, meditative music, candles and prayer material provided. This is a monthly informal prayer opportunity designed to refresh the soul. Enjoy the space and quiet, leave when you wish, a formal close after an hour.
For more information about any of the activities outlined on this page, or the ongoing life of our Churches, please email us by using the links at the foot of each page.
(Latest revision April 2012)
