Transforming Lives Transforming Communities From Lent 2008

Transforming Lives The Story so far …  In 2005 there was Everyday God  People asked for more  For something that was bigger:  Vision Building  Equipping  Sending Out

Transforming Lives Study Material Spiritual Direction Children & Young People Liturgical Resources Bible Study Daily Prayer Transforming Lives Interview Lent 2008

Transforming Lives WEEK 4 Transforming Lives: the cost of following Jesus ICEBREAKER (10 minutes) What do you see? How many legs?Rabbit or duck?Woman’s face or saxophonist? ICEBREAKER (10 minutes) What do you see? How many legs?Rabbit or duck?Woman’s face or saxophonist? Jesus heals a blind man, and people react – John 9:1-41 Jesus heals a blind man but the change provokes controversy and comes at a cost. OPENING PRAYER As your living Word brings light out of darkness, O Lord, so may your Spirit renew the face of the earth, bending our wills to the gentle rule of your love, now and for ever. Amen. READING This long reading will work well with different people reading the various characters (narrator, Jesus, disciples, neighbours, other people, the man born blind, Pharisees 1, Pharisees 2, his parents). John 9:1-41 Narrator: As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been born blind. Disciples: Teacher, whose sin caused him to be born blind? Was it his own or his parents’ sin? Study Material Icebreakers Opening Prayer Reading Discussion Worship

Transforming Lives Spiritual Direction  Book a spirituality helper for your parish  Help people talk about their spiritual journey  One to one or in groups

Transforming Lives Transforming Lives Interview Weekly Interviews in Church  How long have people gone to church?  What makes it important?  How does it make a difference?

Transforming Lives Liturgical Resources Visual Symbols Liturgy ideas Lenten Pebble Other resources

Transforming Lives Transforming Lives - Daily Prayer If practical, you may wish to light a candle or use incense to set this time and place apart for prayer. You might like to incorporate other symbols suggested for this week in Transforming Lives. Preparation Take a moment to be still and become aware of God’s presence. Hold before God everyone in the diocese who is praying with Transforming Lives today. Praise the Lord, O my soul! All that is within me praise his holy name! The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love for those who fear him. from Psalm 103 Almighty God, by the prayer and discipline of Lent may we enter into the mystery of Christ’s sufferings, and by following in his Way come to share in his glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Praise Sing a song or hymn, play a tape or CD, or use this canticle, A Song of Joy O be joyful in the Lord, all the earth; serve the Lord with gladness and come before his presence with a song. Know that the Lord is God; it is he that has made us and we are his; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and bless his name. For the Lord is gracious; his steadfast love is everlasting and his faithfulness endures from generation to generation. from Psalm 100 Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now and shall be for ever. Amen. Bible Reading You could use the Transforming Lives Bible reading notes or the Common Worship daily lectionary. Prayers The prayers include: The world (including local concerns) The Church Those in need (including those known personally) The Lord’s Prayer Our Father in heaven,Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your name, hallowed be thy name; your kingdom come, thy kingdom come; your will be done, thy will be done; on earth as in heaven. on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those as we forgive those who sin against us. who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, For thine is the kingdom, and the glory are yours the power, and the glory, now and for ever. Amen. for ever and ever. Amen. Conclusion In darkness and in light, in trouble and in joy, help us, heavenly Father, to trust your love, to serve your purpose, and to praise your name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Praise be to God, who holds each moment and shapes every day! Amen. Some material reproduced here is copyright © The Archbishops’ Council. Daily Prayer Simple Form Any time, any place Alone or in groups Transforming Lives Prayer Transforming Lives- Daily Prayer

Transforming Lives Bible Reading Notes Stands alone Or with Daily Prayer

Transforming Lives Children and Young People Ideas for: 0-11’s and 11-18’s Collective Worship Multigenerational Worship Year of the Child 2009

What to do next? Begin your planning Get your resources Look forward to Lent Keep in touch

The Big Picture Vision Building Equipping Sending Out

Transforming Lives Vision Building January – May 2008 Sermons Cluster services Lent Groups Interviews Deanery Celebrations

Transforming Lives Equipping May 2008 – Lent 2009 Faith Sharing Training Courses Parish Courses

Transforming Lives Sending Out Lent to Pentecost 2009 Lent Groups Mission Plans Diocesan Celebration

Transforming Lives “Transforming Lives is a process and resources offered to every parish and every Christian in the diocese to help us deepen our faith and our commitment to Christ and service in the Church and the World. Parishes begin an engagement now and continue with resources through 2008 and into 2009.”

Transforming Lives Transforming Communities “Towards the end of the process each parish will be invited to respond by making a commitment to Christian life and service and by asking for the resources they need to continue”

Transforming Lives Transforming Communities Lent 2008 to Pentecost