Learning and Study Events

Learning from St Benedict - study groups over two years

Over the next two years Alan Hargrave will be leading a series of studies focusing on how to use the Rule of Benedict to live together well today. These will be based on a book by Macrina Wiederkehr called: 'Seven Sacred Pauses' (available from Amazon or you can order it through your local bookshops). The Benedictine Sisters of Turvey Abbey have kindly produced a study guide to this book.

The idea is to take two or three months for each chapter in order not just to read the book, but to practice living it in our daily lives. We will then meet together to share our experiences. We will be able to share together between meetings on a 'blog', open only to those doing the course.

The dates for the next few meetings (all Saturdays) will be:

• 31st October 2009
• 20th February 2010
• 19th June 2010 (Etheldreda Day)
• 15th August 2010
• 30th October 2010

We will meet at Powcher's Hall in Ely, beginning at 1pm with a 'Bring and Share' lunch and, following discussion and prayer, ending by 3.30pm.

If you would like to take part, please send Alan Hargrave a cheque for £5, payable to 'Ely Cathedral' andYou will be sent a copy of the study guide. You will also need to buy your own copy of 'Seven Sacred Pauses', as well as a copy of Benedict's Rule.

Further details from Alan Hargrave, Powcher's Hall, The College, Ely, CB7 4DL.

Ely Cathedral Open Lecture: 4004BC & All That: Darwin, Dawkins, Geology & Genesis

Tuesday 17th November, 7.30pm

Prof Martin Rudwick

Geologist and Science Historian

All welcome - free of charge

Ely Cathedral Open Lecture: Taming Desire: Freud vs the Church?

Tuesday 24th November, 7.30pm

Prof Sarah Coakley

Norris-Hulse Professor of Divinity, University of Cambridge

All welcome - free of charge

Have you thought of Workplace Chaplaincy as part of your Christian ministry?

Chaplaincy to People at Work and Workplace Ministry Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire (WMHB) are organising two half days early in 2010 delivering 5 training modules for volunteer workplace chaplains on “Exploring Faith, Work and Economic Life”. This is the culmination of two years work by a CPW group which produced a two day taster course for Associate chaplains in the summer of 2008. Since October last year we have been working with WMHB to produce a course that is more in keeping with today’s workplace and the training needs of volunteer chaplains. The modules covered will be “Towards a Theology of Work, In the marketplace, Christians at Work, Prosperity with a Purpose and Principles at Work” These will be explored in depth with participation and interaction from course participants. A comprehensive booklist has been compiled by the organising group.

The course is open to clergy and laity and references from churches will be expected.

Course participants will also be given the opportunity to visit “live” chaplaincy workplaces and those who continue with a Chaplaincy will be offered Commissioning Services in the areas covered by both Workplace Ministry Teams.

The course will also be suitable for those working as chaplains who have not yet received formal training or for those who would like a refresher course. The reasons for the course may seem obvious. Training and enlarging our skills base is important especially during a recession! Chaplaincy to workplaces is not just an extension of pastoral visiting performed by clergy and laity from local churches. For a start different approaches and skills are needed. The chaplain enters a workplace by agreement but not with the kind of authority and even prestige that a local church minister or Christian would enjoy in their parish or district. The chaplain enters a secular base that has little or no expectations of a Christian minister but plenty of doubts and uncertainties. I have just been evaluated by Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service for the year’s chaplaincy visiting to their staff that I have been exercising. One of the comments I received was that staff had been pleasantly surprised by my visits and meetings with them. They were fearful that I would try and convert them! Paul Ballard in the latest issue of Crucible in an article entitled “Locating Chaplaincy: A Theological Note” observes that there is now a wide range of chaplaincies not only in industrial and urban settings but also in retail ,sport ,travel, the emergency services and elsewhere. Those areas are reflected in the chaplaincies currently provided by CPW.

The dates and times for 2010 course are: January 16th and February 6th from 10am to 2pm. Venues to be arranged. Visits to workplaces will be by mutual arrangement with the Chaplains and Workplaces concerned. We are currently exploring what kind of commissioning service new volunteer chaplains will require.

For further details and to apply for a place on the course which will be strictly limited - Contact: admin@workplacechaplaincy.org.uk or phone 01223 276657

Be part of the solution not the problem!