THE BIG READ

15/10/2009

THE BIG READ

The Gospel book for the Revised Common Lectionary Year C which begins on Advent Sunday is Luke. And next year, the BIG READ is focusing on Luke's Gospel in a variety of ways.

There are three ways into the Big Read:

(a) individual reading of the SPCK book on Luke's Gospel (Lent for Everyone -Luke)

(b) in facilitated groups (during Lent 2010 or otherwise)

(c) at larger gatherings between January and May when Bishop Tom Wright will speak on Luke's Gospel (after Easter Bishop Tom will talk on the Acts of the Apostles) - see below for more information.

Would you consider attending training so as to facilitate a Big Read group?

The training takes place in one full evening. It is for people who:

have a little experience already in helping groups learn together
will be accepting of different approaches to scriptural authority within their group
wish their group to enjoy learning together
will aim to help their group make profound links between St Luke's Gospel and their own experience

Each evening begins promptly at 7pm and finishes at 9pm. The session will be tightly packed, so please come early ready to start on time.

There will be a lively, informative introduction to Luke's Gospel given by Sister Patsy Macdonald of Ushaw College with practical guidance on how to help people get the most out of the Big Read

Dates, times and venues are as follows:

9 November, 7-9pm -St Cuthbert's Church Hall, Market Place, Darlington
11 November, 7-9pm - S t Michael's Church Hall, Canongate (B6346), Alnwick
19 November, 7-9pm -All Saints Church and Hall, Newton Hall, Carrhouse Drive, Durham DH15LT
13 January, 7-9pm -The Monastic Workshop, Hexham Abbey
16 January, l0am-12pm - Grange Road Methodist Church, Tankerville Street, Hartlepool TS26 8DU
18 January, 7-9pm - Gateshead Civic Centre

If you are interested in becoming a Big Read facilitator click here to download the information leaflet

The locations for Bishop Tom’s talks are expected to be as follows:

Before Lent - Evenings
AN INTRODUCTION TO LUKE
January 14      Stockton Tabernacle
January 21     St Nicholas Durham
January 28     All Saints Lobley Hill
February 4    St Paul's Alnwick RC

During Lent - Evenings
THE STORY OF THE PASSION IN LUKE
February 18     St Hild's School, Hartlepool
February 25     St Mary & St Cuthbert, Chester-le-Street
March 4           Newcastle Cathedral
March 10         Methodist-URC Church, Crook

After Easter - Mornings
EASTER AND BEYOND
April 24      Teesdale School, Barnard Castle
May 1        St Bede's, Lanchester
May 8        The Ven Bede School, Sunderland
May 15       West End Methodist Church, Hexham

Further details will be on the BIG READ website as and when they become available - www.thebigread.homecall.co.uk

The Lent Book Lent for Everyone - Luke will be available in the shops in December. Where churches can group together to order 100 copies or more direct from SPCK these will attract a 55% discount making each copy available at £3.15p. Present thinking is to send details to clergy immediately after Christmas on how to buy in bulk and it is expected that bulk bought orders will have on them a Big Read sticker.

The Book contains Bishop Tom’s translation from Luke for Everyone but with a completely new (shorter) accompanying text which provides people with specific things to think about. The whole of Luke can be read during Lent but for those who prefer something shorter there is a highlighted passage for each day on which Bishop Tom’s reflection is based. The Saturday reading is the Lectionary Gospel reading for the following day.

This year, the annual youth event is once again being held at Sunderland Minister and runs over two nights - Friday and Saturday, 27th & 28th November. On both nights groups of young people will take turns to read sections of Luke’s Gospel as part in the exciting new project called The Big Read with the aim to read the whole thing in one night. This will be done in the style of a news bulletin and will be filmed from beginning to end.

For more details of the Go Large event, tickets etc. go to the What's On section of this website or log on to: www.boardofed.org.uk

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