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CHURCH CALENDAR
LENT
Bigger
Conversations
Time
to dust off your Bible for 2011’s Big Read People
across Great Britain are getting ready to take a fresh look at the Gospel of
Matthew during Lent with the Big Read. The Big
Read is part of the Big
Bible project, an online digital community that promotes regular Bible reading
and engagement with contemporary culture. After the success of last
year’s Big Read, which was based in the North East, this year’s project is
bigger and better as it aims for a wider outreach. This year
the project takes full advantage of social media tools like Twitter and Facebook,
as well as adding multimedia resources available through the Big
Bible blog, with a blend of physical and digital materials. The
latest statistics show that the website has more than doubled its visitors
between November 2010 and February 2011*. The Project is
launching this year’s Big Read with Tom
Wright's Lent for Everyone: Matthew. As well as using the book,
house groups will be able to take advantage of free online study materials from
a range of contributors, including week-by-week group resources, videos and
audio reflections, and a challenge to carry that learning through the week. The
Big Bible website also allows people to discuss the text with people all over
the world, from a range of different perspectives. Bex Lewis, Big
Bible Project Manager: “People become really comfortable in their own house
groups, staying in the same one for years. The Big Read offers another layer of
conversation in the online forums, where they can engage with others and where
thinking can be challenged.” Revd Dr Peter
Phillips, CODEC: “Researchers at Durham University have found that although
three quarters of the population own at least one Bible, only one fifth of
people commit to reading it week by week. BigBible offers a great
opportunity to dust off your bible, share with your friends and neighbours and
learn more about what God wants for your life.”
EASTER Egging on Easter with a
seasonal gift The richly illustrated A Gift of Easter is filled with encouraging words from the Bible, as well as prayers and reflections. It also features popular prints from the Methodist Art Collection.
Revd Alison Tomlin, President of the Methodist Conference, said: “Easter is about God's love, it’s about discovering the cost and rejoicing in the gift. I trust this booklet will help people to do just that.
“The A Gift Of series is simple, attractive and accessible. The pricing means that even small church communities can afford to give them away. I highly recommend A Gift of Easter to everyone.”
The booklet is the third in the A Gift Of series. A pack of 50 booklets costs £5 (including postage and packaging). Copies can be ordered from Methodist Publishing on 01733 235962 and online at www.methodistpublishing.org.uk .
A free PowerPoint version will soon be available at www.methodist.org.uk/gift and on the Twelve Baskets website at www.twelvebaskets.co.uk/
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