If you haven't yet organised a Lent course for 2027, why not consider the Living Gently on the Earth resources which have been developed by members of both the Cathedral and the diocesan Climate Crisis group.
At a time when our society is facing many challenges, the award-winning Living Gently on the Earth programme looks objectively at the issues that we face, and how we can respond with hope and action.
In 2024, Worcester Cathedral’s programme Living Gently on the Earth won the Church Times Green Church award in the education category. Now a team from the cathedral and the diocesan Climate Crisis group have worked together to bring a version of this programme to parishes.
The resources are rich in depth and breadth, and are designed to be easy for parishes to use and adapt at a high standard without having to put excessive effort into preparation. The videos give practical current-world context to the bible study material, encouraging discussion and engagement. They are headlined by Bishop Hugh and Bishop Martin, to provide gravitas and underline the importance of the matters that arise.
The materials are free to use, and will be available from 1 January 2027 on the diocesan website.
The course is in five sessions based, first and foremost, in scripture. Each session is accompanied by a video designed to build on those foundations by setting out the practical implications. There are study notes and a
leader’s guide for each session.
Session 1: Beyond Greed to Abundance
Scripture: Luke 12: 15-21; Video: Consumerism
We think about how we live generously with one another, take collective responsibility, and respect the resources that others also depend on.
Session 2: Liberating Creation
Scripture: Romans 8:18-25; Video: Climate
Hope calls us to the healing and liberation of creation, tackling injustice and poverty, and making our own practical lifestyle changes.
Session 3: Empowered for Good
Scripture: Genesis 1:24-2:15; Video: Food
This session takes three perspectives, dominion, stewardship, and kinship and applies them to our approaches to food. As humans, we are fellow creatures, formed from the same ground and sharing the same breath of life.
Session 4: The Community of Creation
Scripture: Psalm 104; Video: Habitats
The psalm leads us to see creation as an interdependent community of life and gives us a reason to live gently on the earth rather than exploit it.
Session 5: Justice in Action
Scripture: Luke 10:25-37; Video: Justice
The final session looks at environmental action through the lens of justice. What can we do, as individuals and as churches, through both personal and collective action, to be agents of justice for all God’s creation?
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally will visit the Diocese over the weekend of 6 and 7 February. She will spend two days in the Diocese visiting churches and meeting with a range of people; hearing some of our stories and offering encouragement.
At the recent Clergy Conference, the diocesan stewardship team launched a Boomerang offering, to help activate generosity across the Diocese. Each person was given a £5 note to take home, pray with and see what act of generosity God was calling them towards. We also asked them to share their stories of how the money was used.
Many of our churches hosted ‘light parties’ at the end of October as a popular alternative to Halloween. Some of our renewal churches hosted the biggest celebrations.
The Revd Sarah Gillard-Faulkner has been appointed as the new Managing Chaplain at HMP Long Lartin. She took up the role in mid-October and was officially licensed by Bishop Martin in Cathedral Evensong on Monday.
Our diocese has been awarded £3.6 million to continue to support churches as part of phase two of our programme to ensure our churches are healthy and sustainable for the future.
Kelly Gordon is a member of Wordsley Parish in Greater Dudley Deanery. She has recently been selected as one of only three people in the UK to be part of the Leaders Europe programme within the Obama Foundation.
St Peter’s CE Academy and St Peter’s Church in the Saltway Team have been awarded a silver Church and School Partnership Award recognising the close relationship between the church, school and local community.
Bishop Hugh's address at the latest Diocesan Synod focussed on Artificial Intelligence. Read it below.
This year’s Church of England Advent and Christmas theme focuses on the first and greatest Christmas gift of all: the gift of God being born as one of us in Jesus Christ.
An article from Archdeacon Mark for December editions of parish magazines.
