Thank you for transforming lent this year
Please give generously and put this form, with a cheque, in an envelope
and hand it in at your church or send it to:
Lent Challenge 2017, The Diocese of Guildford, Diocesan House, Quarry
Street, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 3XG.
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Visit www.cofeguildford.org.uk/lent
The Bishop of Guildford’s
Lent Challenge 2017
transform ing
lent
transforming lent
transforming lent online – a six-week course
“Transformation lies at the very heart of the Christian Good News: the community
transformation that emerges when Christians truly live out their calling to ‘shine as
a light in the world to the glory of God the Father’; the personal transformation that
comes from knowing ourselves ‘ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven’ through the
death and resurrection of God the Son; and the transformation brought about by the
refreshing, renewing, disturbing work of God the Holy Spirit who ‘blows where He
wills’, often in the most unexpected of people and places.
New this year to support the Lent Challenge is a six-week online Lent Course.
The material draws on the key themes of our new diocesan vision
Transforming Church, Transforming Lives - including prayer and growth;
transformation and the mission of God; the people of God, Church and Kingdom.
“My Lent Challenge to parishes this year draws on our diocesan vision, Transforming
Church, Transforming Lives, and especially on the theological themes that underpin
it:
Prayer
The Mission of God
Kingdom and Church
Transformation
Growth
The People of God
“A six-week online Lent course accompanies the challenge, for those churches that
wish to take part - and I pray that many will - and meanwhile we seek to raise at least
£20,000 to be shared equally between a major water project in the diocese of Kebbi
in North-West Nigeria and the Bishop of Guildford’s Foundation (BGF) - a charity
which funds local church-based projects in areas of particular need. You will find
more information on both of these Lenten funding opportunities - one local and one
further afield - in this leaflet and online at www.cofeguildford.org.uk/lent
“It is my prayer that Lent this year will prove to be a transforming season for
individuals, churches and communities alike as together we pray and give and serve.”
Bishop Andrew
Each session involves reflection on a passage of scripture; an opportunity to respond
to questions and engage with practical actions related to projects supported by the
Bishop of Guildford’s Foundation and the Diocese of Kebbi in Nigeria.
“Transformation is brought about through the power of the refreshing, renewing
and empowering work of God through the Holy Spirit,” explains
the Revd Dr Julie Gittoes, Canon of Education, who helped develop the online
course. “Such transformation is personal and corporate; it is rooted in God’s love for
the world revealed in Jesus Christ. It is hoped that this Lent Course will deepen our
relationships in prayer, fellowship and service for the sake of the Kingdom.”
Week 5: March 27th-April 2nd - Growth
Week 1: March 1st-5th - Prayer
5/7 Weekday Actions: Each day in Lent commit to praying the ancient prayer,
‘Veni Sancte Spiritus’, ‘Come Holy Spirit’ through the day, inviting the Spirit to
be about God’s transforming work in you and through you. Choose to fast on one
day a week, or for part of a day perhaps.
2/7 Weekend Actions: Pray and find out more about our diocesan link with
the Church of Nigeria http://anglican-nig.org/ in what is the longest standing
partnership link in the Anglican Communion. Born out of the Anglican Conference
in Toronto in 1963, formal resolutions were made in December 1964 in Guildford.
Today, Nigeria is one of the new centres of Christianity; the Anglican Church of
Nigeria alone has over 18 million members.
It is a vibrant and fast growing church increasing by 70 dioceses between 2002
and 2013 www.cofeguildford.org.uk/Nigeria
Your prayers for the Church of Nigeria have made a difference in the past and will
continue to do so in the future.
Week 2: March 6th-12th - The Mission of God
5/7 Weekday Actions: Remind yourself of the ‘5 Marks of Mission’
(http://bit.ly/2fFjoin the focus of our Lent Call in 2016) and commit yourself to
living out at least one of those marks of mission during the week in your care for
individuals, communities and the planet.
2/7 Weekend Actions: Over the weekend of March 11th-12th find out more
about www.jigsawwoking.org - The BGF has provided funding for the Jigsaw
project in Woking, which provides clothing, toys and equipment as part of its
role to support families with pre-school children who are in need. Jigsaw’s work
alleviates the significant hardship many children experience and provides a
foothold to recover from their circumstances. A study by Surrey County Council
revealed that more than 1 in 10 under 19s in the borough live in poverty.
The BGF can only continue to support the work of projects like Jigsaw through
your generous Lent Challenge donations.
5/7 Weekday Actions: A growing church can make a more significant impact
on the individuals and communities it serves. Pray for the growth of God’s Church
locally and across the diocese, and start to invite people to one of the services for
Holy Week and Easter to share the Christian story.
2/7 Weekend Actions: Find out more about church school growth in Nigeria.
Years ago, the military regime in Nigeria took over all the church and mission
schools. In subsequent years, through neglect and under investment, nearly all
deteriorated to offer only poor education. When offered back to the churches,
most churches refused, being in no position to revitalise and run the schools.
Okrika Diocese in the Niger Delta decided otherwise and undertook to run
and refurbish Okrika Grammar School (a former CMS school) – which had a
distinguished reputation. Buildings have been repaired, new buildings erected and
several hundred boys are now educated there.
Guildford Diocese has supported this courageous project through helping with
training seminars and contributions to teacher training, including bringing teachers
to our diocese to gain experience.
Your support for the Lent Challenge will help those in need, both locally and
abroad.
Week 6: April 3rd-9th - The People of God
5/7 Weekday Actions: All of God’s people are needed if God’s mission to the
world is to be accomplished. No-one is dispensable. Look for opportunities to
recognise the gifts in other people this week, and to speak them out, so that
more people can be released in Christian service.
2/7 Weekend Actions: Over the weekend of April 8th-9th find out more about
www.bhcgodalming.org - The BGF is helping to fund a Befriending Network run
by St John the Baptist Church in Busbridge. The project supports those who find
themselves isolated, lonely and vulnerable, and those who would benefit from
receiving regular visits and help finding appropriate services. The scheme has
grown significantly and the BGF grant will help fund a co-ordinator to manage a
team of volunteers spread throughout the Waverley area.
Does this service exist in your area? Your donation could help that happen and
help transform the life of others.
Week 3: March 13th-19th - Kingdom and Church
Week 7: April 10th-16th - Holy Week
5/7 Weekday Actions: Pray the Lord’s Prayer each day, and ask the question:
What might it look like if the Kingdom of God were to come to your home, your
workplace, your family, your neighbourhood this week? Take a little heavenly
action each day - a random act of kindness - in response.
As we enter Holy Week, commit to reading and reflecting on one chapter of
Luke’s Gospel each day from Monday to Saturday - beginning at chapter 19 and
ending at chapter 24 – praying that our characters might become more like his
as Lent draws to a close and we await Christ’s resurrection and ascension into
Heaven.
2/7 Weekend Actions: Pray for the Pure Water project in the Diocese of Kebbi
in north-west Nigeria - an area badly affected by the activity of Boko Haram - has
applied for funding from the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Anglican Communion
Fund to build a pure water factory. The factory will produce safe, clean water
for the area and the income generated from this will help fund the important
ongoing work of the diocese.
Your support for the Lent Challenge and the Pure Water project will help
transform the lives of so many people in Kebbi Diocese.
Week 4: March 20th-26th - Transformation
5/7 Weekday Actions: St Paul writes that as Christians we are being
‘transformed from one degree of glory to another’ (2 Corinthians 3:18). Spend
some time this week focussing on areas of your life that need to be transformed
- attitudes, words and actions that are not worthy of your Christian calling - and
bring them to God in fasting, repentance and prayer.
2/7 Weekend Actions: Over the weekend of March 25th-26th find out more
about www.oakleaf-enterprise.org - The BGF has provided funding for Oakleaf
Enterprise, a Surrey-based charity which helps people with mental health
difficulties to lead independent, productive, fulfilling lives. Specifically, BGF has
helped finance training in horticulture and upholstery. Oakleaf assesses the needs
of individuals referred, designs training packages and helps them develop new
skills and gain qualifications.
Your generous donations during Lent provide the BGF with the funds to continue
to support local charities like this.
Luke’s Gospel – The Easter story - In brief…
Chapter 19 - Jesus rides in triumph into Jerusalem, weeps over the city, and
cleanses the temple.
Chapter 20 - The chief priests oppose Jesus - He gives the parable of the wicked
husbandmen - render unto Caesar and God that which is theirs - Jesus teaches
the law of marriage.
Chapter 21 - Jesus foretells the destruction of the temple and of Jerusalem - He
tells of the signs to precede His Second Coming and gives the parable of the fig
tree.
Chapter 22 - Jesus institutes the sacrament - He suffers in Gethsemane and is
betrayed and arrested - Peter denies knowing Him - Jesus is mocked.
Chapter 23 - Jesus is taken before Pilate and Herod - Barabbas is released - Jesus
is crucified and buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea.
Chapter 24 - Angels announce the resurrection of Christ - He walks on the
Emmaus road, testifies of His divinity, and promises the Holy Spirit - He ascends
into heaven.
Find out more about Lent Challenge 2017 online at
www.cofeguildford.org.uk/lent