What makes a good disciple?

Hmmm, a good question? What do you think?

The word disciple comes from the Latin word for learner (discipulus), so it well worth thinking about in our quest for learning, education and development... Discipulus is variously translated as student, disciple or pupil.

How do we learn today? What do we yearn to learn? What have you learned lately? 

In our aim to share content and ideas from our member churches, we have a feature from the URC. The magazine for the United Reformed Church (URC), Reform, has been considering this question : What makes a good disciple? You can read the full article HERE. 

In the coming weeks, why not think and pray about how you might become a better disciple... a better student in Christ...?

Hymns of Hope and Healing

An exciting, diverse and compassionate new hymn collection has recently been compiled, published by Stainer & Bell. This is an excellent and thought-provoking resource for your church. 

Words and music to refresh the church’s ministry of healing. Edited by Jan Berry and Andrew Pratt, with Janet Eldred and Anne Sardeson.

Order a copy here: https://stainer.co.uk/shop/b954/ 

Acknowledging the impact of medical science in vastly expanding the range of the possible in every aspect of our living and dying, eighty-three texts tackle a rich diversity of themes: infant death, illness and suffering, ageing and dementia, the genome, mortality and bereavement, grief and lament, pain and despair – including pain and despair from the failure of healing – but also wisdom and resilience, healing as part of a spiritual holism of mind and body, and as a metaphor for social and political justice and care for the environment. The wealth of music includes new tunes and familiar ones, and the anthology concludes with a section of twelve short or repetitive texts to be used in conjunction with prayer.

Hymns of Hope and Healing is the product of many voices, from those of widely experienced authors to others taking their promising early steps in the form (including a hymn by our very own FCG Education Assistant, Sara Iles!).

It will provide a vehicle for worship and reflection for those involved in chaplaincy, in therapies and counselling, and all in the wider church with an interest in this ancient ministry. Witnessed through the life, death and resurrection of Christ, it is refreshed and re-imagined here for a time both of breathtaking scientific advance, and of an urgent need to affirm our wholeness and faith while embracing the momentous challenges to our traditional understanding of health and healing.

The Rt Revd James Langstaff, Bishop of Rochester, launches Prison Hope

Prison Hope is an exciting partnership of denominations, prison chaplains and organisations involved with prisoners, former prisoners and their families. We encourage local churches inside and outside prison to pray and share hope together.

Prison Hope connects people and organisations – encouraging prayer, volunteering and giving. We want to help churches to support prison chaplains and organisations working with prisoners and their families, both in prison and when they leave.

The video of the Rt. Revd James Langstaff, Bishop of Rochester, is available to view here.

For more information to get involved, please visit here.