In the Beginning Was the Word
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JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018 JANUARY-FEBRUARY In the beginning was the Word Praying with the Bible PAGE 6 The lectionary – not just for Sundays! PAGE 14 One Day: Creating sacred Twenty-five years Focus On: Walking through space with a Bishop! Fountain of Life, the Bible 15 Godly Play 25 29 Ashill 30 UEA presents the Keswick Hall Lectures Thu 1 March KINDNESS IN EDUCATION Thu 8 March KINDNESS IN PUBLIC LIFE Thu 15 March KINDNESS IN THE COMMUNITY Julian Study Centre, UEA, 6.30pm Free to attend and open to all T 01603 592130 E [email protected] W uea.ac.uk/events Supported by the UEA Faith Literacy Network and the Keswick Hall Trust DEVLIN PLUMMER STAINED GLASS We work on glass dating from the early SPECIALISTS IN 14th century to the present day, the repair ALL TYPES OF of casements and ferramenta, supply and installation of window protection. Many of STAINED AND our commissions come direct from PCC’s LEADED GLASS whilst many others are initiated by architects. To discuss conservation, protection or commissions of stained glass in any space in the UK or further afield please contact our studio.01379 677111 www.devlinplummer.co.uk Undergraduate Training Scheme in Youth Ministry Diocese of Norwich in partnership with Ridley Hall Theological College, Cambridge A three year degree program with paid employment in a youth ministry context for the duration of the course. For further information please contact: Jonathan Richardson, Children, Youth & Families Development Officer Email: [email protected] Web: www.dioceseofnorwich.org/degree Applicants wanted for Sept 2018 start From the Editor Contents THE MAGAZINE | JANUARY – FEBRUARY 2018 hen we chose the could help to raise the profile of the theme for this issue, welcoming drop-ins and gatherings over a year ago, it already on offer through many of our 4 COMMENT: The Bible in seemed like a good idea churches: Places of Welcome (pg 32). a digital age at the time! When it came to planning The new anti-slavery Clewer Initiative content, the enormous scope of the of the Church of England will be 5 PAUSE BUTTON: Bringing the subjectW matter became apparent… We holding an information and training Bible to life could have filled this edition a few times event in Norwich. This will enable us over, but I hope it gives you a flavour to recognise and work together with of the many ways of encountering God others to combat modern slavery in through his word. our area (pg 28). As we start another year, it may be an So, the hope is that amid this ideal time to consider how you might smorgasbord of a Magazine, you will approach the Bible in a fresh or different find something to tempt your taste way. Keith James offers some very buds! May this New Year find you practical guidance on a couple of ways inspired to continue on your journey of praying with the Bible (pg 6) and Paul of faith as you encounter the Bible Overend talks us through the variety of afresh. translations to consider (pg 16). Three Blessings, people share their experiences of helping 6 FEATURE: others to engage with God’s word Praying with the Bible through different media (pg 12) and a Knitted Bible Festival in North Lopham offered a novel approach (pg 23). 10 REVIEWS: Books & other A host of books and other resources are shared on the Review page from resources Steve Foyster (pg 10). 12 One Bible – many encounters A new cartoon features Peter’s Cat from the cAts of the Apostles by Steve English 14 The lectionary – not just for (pg 26) and various methods of helping Sundays! children to dive into the Bible are reported on pages 15, 24 & 25. 16 Which Bible? Explanations on translations In other news, the Lent Appeal for 2018 is shared (pg 34) and the marking of 23 Festival provides tactile tales Bishop Graham’s silver anniversary of his consecration can be read on page 29. Barbara Bryant 26 NEW CARTOON: Peter’s Cat There’s an interesting new network that Editor 32 Places of Welcome – a new network The Magazine design: Get in touch Adept Design www.adeptdesign.co.uk 01603 882348 (Editor) Views expressed in this publication are not necessarily [email protected] those of the Diocese and the acceptance of advertising does not indicate editorial endorsement. Diocesan House, 109 Dereham Road, Cover photo: Members of the Christian Union of the Easton, Norwich NR9 5ES Norwich University of Arts meet for regular Bible Study www.dioceseofnorwich.org/magazine at St Andrew’s, Norwich © www.lukewbryant.com facebook.com/dioceseofnorwich @DioceseNorwich 34 The next issue (deadline Lent Appeal 2018 – enabling Monday15 January) focuses on prayer and Pentecost. local mission in Simbai To advertise in The Magazine please contact Sally on 37 That all may be free: week of 01603 882322 or email [email protected] prayer for Christian unity 3 The Bible in COMMENT a digital age remember at Sunday school singing flannelgraphs, puppets and magic. These was a good move. Life contains both Old “the best book to read is the Bible”! can seem old-fashioned for those who and New Testaments, the life of Jesus, How does this relate to the digital grew up with them but in a digital age what he said and did, his death and age in which we live? Doing a lot they are a fresh revelation to many. My resurrection, presented using a variety of travelling in my job, I spend a lot of new job running the Life Exhibition of media to pupils in primary schools time listening to audio books, the Bible www.lifeexpo.co.uk uses a mixture of (mainly in Y5 & Y6) on android tablets. Ibeing one of them. Although I still think old and new media to speak out the One thing I am often reminded of is the nothing compares to turning a page and Bible to thousands of children every year. way God often unexpectedly reveals reading what comes next. If we can immerse ourselves in God’s new things to me, things I’ve never word it won’t take much for it to seep out I had a revelation a few years ago seen but read a hundred times. “One and affect the lives of those around us. while in Jerusalem on Temple Mount: I generation shall tell another” and, as a witnessed lots of small groups gathered “66 books, 1089 chapters, 72 hours cover new grandparent in an age of biblical around listening and then all speaking. It to cover”: that’s what it says on the label illiteracy, I need to become “all things to transpired they were learning the Quran, of my audio Bible. I try and read the Bible all men” both ancient and modern. the traditional way. Jesus explained though every year and am thankful we gospel truths in the oral tradition 2000 have the freedom to read it but how years ago. How did we lose a love for does it affect my life, my daily walk, my Kevin Baldwin has a heart retelling stories? When did we lose a family and friends? for children’s work love for reading? Can we tell the story in and was a Counties How does all of this fit with my role as a different way, or is it the story that we evangelist in Norfolk coordinator for the Life Exhibition? I am for 13 years before have to live out? passionate about the Book and want to taking on the role as Life Exhibition When I was a Counties evangelist in West get it into as many hands as possible. Co-ordinator. This Norfolk one of the things that I enjoyed Moving from local evangelist to national involves site visits, was putting the stories I had grown up coordinator seemed a good step forward promotion, bookings and the general running of the exhibition. As Field loving into interesting ways that children and with Life Expo being not “the Word Team Leader he also supports operations of Key would enjoy. I used paint-boards, made flesh” but the “word made tech” it to Life and GSUS Live. www.countiesuk.org 4 Bringing the Bible to life hen I sat down one day This is why I am so heartened and at university to write encouraged when I visit benefices around an essay on the story the Diocese and meet the wonderful of King Saul and King ‘Open the Book’ teams that go out from David, I found to my surprise that I knew many of our churches to bring to life the the text in quite precise detail. As I read stories of the Bible for the young and open throughW the first and second books of minds of children in our schools. It seems Samuel in the Old Testament, my mind to be a ministry that’s popular with the was flooded with familiar images. children, with the teachers and with those who take part. Any chance to raid the Here was the young David, harp in hand, dressing-up box seems to be embraced hiding behind a pillar, to avoid the angry enthusiastically by many in our churches, Saul’s spear thrown in his direction. There and in this case, it’s for such a good cause. was David, crouching in a cave, cutting a square from Saul’s robe, when he visited I am sure that in years to come there the cave for what the Hebrew describes will be many adults in our churches as “covering his feet” – famously who will trace their journey of faith translated in an American version as “to back to learning the stories of the Bible visit the bathroom”! in primary school, from those slightly eccentric, but wonderful adults who What I was remembering was part of a came into the school hall, with tea towels children’s picture Bible I had as a child on their heads.