A course to help you explore faith through the lens of your own life experiences is being offered at St Catharine’s Church, Gloucester. Designed by Sam Wells and Sally Hitchiner at St Martin-in-the-Fields, ‘Being With’ is about recognising that God is already at work in our lives, and seeing the ways in which our personal stories intersect with His greater story.
The ‘Being With’ course has been running at St Catharine’s for the past few years with the help of Jonathan Evans, a retired vicar with 25 years of ministry experience. He would love to run it again in a small group which will allow people to really reflect deeply on how God is and has been with them at every stage of their lives.
Jonathan said: “The approach of the Being With course is quite different to anything I have come across before. In essence, it’s a process of realising that faith is not something distant or separate from everyday life; it’s already woven into our very existence.
“There are no right or wrong answers, no pressure to ‘get it right’. It’s just a shared journey of discovery, similar in some ways to group therapy, where people can speak freely, share honestly, and even be surprised by their own thoughts.”
Each session includes open-ended ‘wonderings’, with questions designed to spark thought and reflection. For example, ‘I wonder what it’s like to feel part of a community?’ These questions encourage discussion, and participants will explore how their personal experiences connect with faith. A short talk follows, offering insights into key themes, and the group is then invited to make connections between their own stories and Christian teaching.
“The course is free of charge and anyone can attend; I think it could be the perfect step for people who have already begun asking broader questions about life, or for people who are willing to link their experiences with faith, no matter how far they are along the faith journey. There’s no need for prior knowledge, just a willingness to reflect and listen.”
If you are interested in participating in ‘Being With’, email Jonathan at moc.d1745951426uolci1745951426@snav1745951426eanah1745951426tanoj1745951426.
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