Events
Please note - with all events advertised below, whilst we are publicising them, the views and comments expressed are not necessarily approved by the Association - unless they have been organised specifically by the Association.
Forgiveness (Life Issues)
Saturday 27 April 2024, 10am–12.30pm (coffee available from 9.30am)
Godalming Baptist Church
Led by Revd Dr Tim Carter
When we are hurt or disappointed resentment can be hard to avoid, especially if our instinct is often to seek revenge, but long-term bitterness can cause more harm to ourselves than to the person or situation that caused it in the first place. What can we do to protect ourselves and to help us let go of the sorrows that threaten to overwhelm us?
The morning’s session will look at all aspects of forgiveness:
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What it is and why it’s important
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How forgiveness can be achieved
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Ways of de-escalating conflict in any relationship
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Whether forgiveness can be unconditional
Forgiveness may be a long, difficult and costly process, but learning to speak the truth in love, and to let go of our resentment and bitterness can be healing, empowering and liberating.
Join us to find out more and consider taking the first steps along this sometimesoverlooked pathway to a different future. The session will be free of charge, but a voluntary donation is invited for The Forgiveness Project
To help with managing numbers please reserve a place, by Friday 19 April
For more details on any of the courses, or to make a reservation, please contact: Sally Pollard pollard3@hotmail.co.uk / 01483 428646
A Company of Preachers
Saturday 18 May 2024, 9.30am-3.30pm
Guildford Baptist Church
£25 per ticket - lunch provided
Bishop Emma Ineson | Rev Dr Peter Morden | Rev Dr Ian Stackhouse
A Company of Preachers is a day conference for anyone wanting to deepen their understanding of the preaching ministry of the church, as well as sharpen their skills in the pulpit. In addition to three plenary sessions, there will be seminars in the early afternoon, details to follow.
Bishop Emma Ineson ‘Preaching as a Woman’ The Rt Revd Dr Emma Ineson is the Bishop of Kensington in the Diocese of London. She was formerly Bishop to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, the Bishop of Penrith in the Diocese of Carlisle, and Principal of Trinity College, Bristol. She is the author of several books, including, ‘Failure: What Jesus said about sin, mistakes and messing stuff up’. She lives in London with her husband, who is also a priest. They have two grown-up children; a son and a daughter, and a granddaughter.
Rev Dr Peter Morden ‘Preaching: Learning from the Wisdom of the Past’ Peter Morden is Principal of Bristol Baptist College. He is the author The Message of Discipleship: Authentic Followers of Jesus in Today’s World in the Bible Speaks Today Bible themes series and has also written extensively on Baptist and Evangelical history. Peter is passionate about preaching and in the conference will seek to draw on the wisdom of the past to inspire and shape our present practice.
Rev Dr Ian Stackhouse ‘Living with a Text: The Weekly Discipline of Preparing to Preach’ Ian Stackhouse is the Senior Pastor of Millmead, Guildford Baptist Church. He has authored several books and is coeditor of Text Message: The Centrality of Scripture in Preaching (Pickwick, 2014). Ian regards preaching as central to the vocation of pastoral leadership and will be celebrating in his session the romance of living each week with a text of scripture.
Sign up here: www.guildfordbaptist.org/companyofpreachers
Ladywell Retreat Centre Away Day
A day of refreshment& encouragement for Ecumenical women, in the peace and beautiful surroundings of Ladywell Retreat Centre, Godalming
Saturday 18 May 2024, 10am–4pm
Led by Revd Canon Hazel Whitehead
Women in Scripture
Back by popular demand, Hazel Whitehead will be leading our Retreat Day for women, aptly focusing on women in scripture! What women, you may ask? The day will mine the Bible for the significant, insignificant women and consider their continuing impact on us today.
Please bring a Bible, pens and paper, and join us in withdrawing from the usual busy pace of life to take the opportunity to learn and reflect.
Cost £28 per person (to include lunch & refreshments) - to reserve your place (by Friday 12 April) please contact: Sally Pollard pollard3@hotmail.co.uk / 01483 428646
Isn't Everyone Going to Heaven Anyway?
Saturday 8 June 2024, 2pm
Trafalgar Road Baptist Church
A Seminar with Revd Dr Stephen Finamore (President of Baptists Together 2024-25)
Drawing on his extensive work on the Apostle Paul and particularly his letter to the Romans, Stephen will unpack this subject, often called 'universalism' in a way that will help us better understand the Good News of Jesus. This seminar will encourage the church in being a people who reach out to those who need to hear the message of Christianity.
There will also be a short interview about how Steve sees his role as newly-elected President of Baptists Together and time for Q&A about the whole seminar. Stephen will also be preaching at TRBC the following morning.
Please email events@trbc.info if you intend on attending (so they have a rough idea of numbers. There is a suggested donation of £5 for the seminar.
All the Lonely People (Life Issues)
Saturday 22 June 2024, 10am–12.30pm (coffee available from 9.30am)
Godalming Baptist Church
Led by Revd Peter Jackson
Do you feel lonely – sometimes or all the time? Is loneliness different to being alone? Can you be lonely even in a relationship, or in a crowd? What are some causes and symptoms of loneliness? Are there ways we can deal with loneliness in ourselves and others? We will try to address these questions during the morning.
The session will be free of charge, but a voluntary donation is invited for Silverline, a telephone helpline service offering friendship, conversation and support 24/7 to those who are over 55 years old, and especially those experiencing feelings loneliness or isolation.
To help with managing numbers, please reserve a place, by Friday 14 June
For more details on any of the courses, or to make a reservation, please contact: Sally Pollard pollard3@hotmail.co.uk / 01483 428646
Living with Anxious Thoughts (Life Issues)
Saturday 19 October 2024, 10am-12.30pm (coffee available from 9.30am)
Godalming Baptist Church
Led by Dr Martin Brunet, GP at Binscombe Medical Centre
and Dr Jenna McKeown, Clinical Psychologist
Living with anxious thoughts can be very difficult. The morning’s session will look at all aspects of anxious thoughts, including intrusive thoughts and health anxiety, and aims to help with understanding where these thoughts come from and how best to manage them.
The session will be free of charge, but there will be an opportunity to give a voluntary donation, towards the Farncombe Community Garden – see the link to the garden Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Farncombecommunitygarden
Please reserve a place, by contacting Sally Pollard pollard3@hotmail.co.uk tel. 01483 428646 by Friday 4 October