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Dear Guest,
Welcome back after the summer. We’ve spent our summer organising training and learning for the coming year. We’ve also been welcoming our new administrator (Rhiannon) and introducing her to her new role.
It’s meant a change in pace from meeting people and working alongside lay people across the diocese. It has brought visible quietness even in the busyness of our roles. I wonder if your pace changed at all over the summer, perhaps a holiday, a quieter commute or change in your daily pattern? I’m thinking about what I learnt in the summer that I should bring with me.
After the break we’re excited to start our training and learning events again and seeing so many wonderful faces. I wonder what you might be joining us for? Perhaps you are continuing on a Pathway or you notice a particular session…we look forward to seeing you!
Anna Naish
Lay learning and training lead
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Genesis – a storyteller’s perspective
In this video, Rob Harrison introduces “Genesis – a storytellers perspective” with the help of his apple tree.
The book of Genesis is full of amazing stories which lay the foundations of the both the Jewish and Christian faiths. In this course, Rob Harrison will engage his experience as a novelist and storyteller to explore the twists and turns of the stories as they were written. From Adam through to Joseph we will encounter people struggling to make good decisions in complex situations, and through all the stories we will see the calling and the graciousness of God.
Dates: Wednesdays 24th September – 22nd October
Time: 7:30pm – 9pm
Venue: Zoom
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In this video series Rob Harrison will explore the origin and meaning of various words from the Bible which don’t usually get translated into English.
In this episode Rob explores the meaning of ‘Disciple’.
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Crafting Liturgy for Reconciliation
At the heart of Christian worship lies the understanding that we are reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. Every time we say a confession and receive absolution we are reaffirming this understanding. There will be occasions, though, when we want to highlight reconciliation in worship in particular ways. This might be to mark a national occasion – Windrush Day, or Refugee Week, or the anniversary of the Coventry Blitz – or to reflect on, and bring some healing to, a local dispute or tragedy.
In this workshop, we’ll look at existing resources for the liturgy of reconciliation and explore what will make reconciliation liturgy we craft particularly rich and resonant
This session will be led by Revd Nitano Muller (Canon for Worship and Welcome).
Tuesday 23rd September 2025, 7pm-9pm, All Saints Church, Bedworth
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Celebration of lay ministry nominations
On Saturday 20th September our annual ‘Celebration of lay ministry’ will be taking place at Coventry cathedral. During the service we license Lay Readers, recognise people who have completed lay Pathways and celebrate the breadth of lay ministries.
As part of this we would love for clergy to nominate one or two people who you’d like recognised for their service and ministry over the last year.
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Upcoming Courses & Events
Click the titles of any of the below courses and events to read more about it.
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Pastoral visits usually take place when someone is emotionally or physically vulnerable. This can make visits feel daunting for everyone involved. This session will focus on what we can do to help put people at ease before and during visits so that they feel supported, heard and safe. This will include practical things we can do (and not do), how to listen well and how to approach spiritual topics or prayer.
This session will be led by Anna Naish.
Wednesday 17th September, 10am-12pm, St Paul’s Church, Foleshill.
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A five week course to help us explore the variety of things we grieve for, understand the grieving process, its complexity and what can be helpful to those who are grieving.
This course will be led by Anne Richards and Anna Naish.
Wednesday 24th September – 22nd October, 7-9pm, St Peter and St John’s Church, Rugby
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Later this year the government will be finalising its proposals for the reorganisation of local government in England. Diocesan Synod have passed a resolution encouraging individuals and parishes to find out more, allowing them to engage with the change that is taking place.
An information session on local government reform will be held online. A panel of parishioners with experience of local government will share their perspectives, with an update on the process so far.
Thursday 2nd October, 6:30pm – 7:30pm on Zoom
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This workshop will focus on the children and young people in our church communities and neighbourhood. We will draw on Coventry Cathedral’s programme of reconciliation with children to explore how to empower our children to be agents of change as they love God with all their heart and love their neighbour as themselves.
This session will be led by Emma Griffiths (Head of Reconciliation and Education at Coventry Cathedral).
Wednesday 8th October, 7pm-9pm, St Giles Church, Coventry
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What is worship? And what forms of worship might be most appropriate in our own culture and context? These are important questions for the future of the Christian church.
Through the story of the Bible people worshiped God in a variety of ways, from slaughtering animals and sprinkling their blood on one another, to singing and reciting ancient texts.
Over five zoom sessions, Rob Harrison will explore how worship was expressed in different phases of the Bible’s story, and consider the significance of those practices within their own cultural framework
Mondays 3rd, 10th, 24th November & 1st December, 7:30pm – 9pm, on Zoom.
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Creating a worship space for everyone is no easy task, but it’s worth trying! Corporate worship is about everyone being welcomed and everyone being able to participate.
This session will be sharing ideas about how we can better involve a range on ages within the same worship. We will cover key elements:
– For creating a service that is specifically designed to be intergenerational.
– For adapting current worship to be more age inclusive.
– Big ideas and gentle shifts.
This session will be led by Anna Naish.
Thursday 23rd October, 7pm – 9pm, St Giles Church, Coventry
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What is emerging as best practice for the Growing Faith vision in Churches, Schools and Households?
These 5 sessions will offer insights into some of the latest research, insights and stories from across the Growing Faith movement to date, and help leaders and practitioners structure their practices and ministry to children and young people, built upon four core ‘connections’ which are emerging across different contexts and faith traditions within the Church of England.
This is a hybrid course which takes place in-person and over Zoom. Thursdays 6th November – 4th December. In-person sessions will take place at Holy Trinity Church, Attleborough.
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It is so easy to be distracted both in a quick chat and in a deep conversation. This session focusses on how we can choose to be active and present in a conversation so people know the value we place on them.
This session is designed for anyone; you may have a specific ministry or role that requires listening (leadership, pastoral, part of a team etc) or you may attend with your friends, family, colleagues and other relationships in mind.
This session will be led by Anna Naish.
Saturday 15th November, 10am-12pm, St Paul’s Church, Foleshill.
This training session will take place on the same day as ‘Difficult Conversations’ (see below). Active listening will be in the morning and Difficult conversations will be in the afternoon– you can register for one or both of sessions.
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Conversations can be difficult for all kinds of reasons. They are complicated more when there is tension, potential disagreement or clear disagreement.
This session will help you explore how we approach disagreement personally and how that may affect the conversation. We will also look at some key thoughts to keep in mind in the midst of a difficult conversation to engage in a helpful and honest way.
This session will be led by Anna Naish.
Saturday 15th November, 1pm-3pm, St Paul’s Church, Foleshill.
This training session will take place on the same day as ‘Active Listening’ (see above). Active listening will be in the morning and Difficult conversations will be in the afternoon– you can register for one or both of sessions.
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The Reconciliation learning course will introduce you to the Coventry story, its present expression, and the theology, theory and practical application of that story for today in the life of communities and the local church.
5 sessions taking place on Tuesdays 13th January – 10th February 2026, 7pm – 9pm at Coventry cathedral.
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Children are not just the future of the church, they are also the present church. For children in our church (and those who haven’t come along yet), it is really important to consider how they are part of the life of the whole church.
During this session we will cover key areas such as having relevant (and manageable) worship provision, the importance of rhythms, spaces for their voice to be heard and opportunities for relationship. These will also be discussed from your starting point so come as you are to learn and share.
This session will be led by Anna Naish.
Thursday 15th January 2026, 7pm – 9pm, Nuneaton
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Faith is about our whole lives not just about Sunday mornings at church or Tuesday nights at Messy church. Yet, parents, grandparents and other carers do not always feel confident in talking about faith, praying or worshipping together.
This session will help you think about your ministry space (church, schools, community etc) and how you can help families to take faith home, to share with one another and to grow in confidence. There may be big things to consider, but often small actions and changes can have a big impact!
This session will be led by Anna Naish
Thursday 5th February 2026, 7pm – 9pm,St Nicolas Church, Nuneaton
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Boost your knowledge about climate crisis and find out how you can help to care for God’s creation. Be inspired and informed as we work together to reach net zero carbon. Join in via an excellent new course created by the Church of England’s Environment Programme team.
Multiple sessions available.
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All of our upcoming courses and events can been seen on our calendar.
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Worshipping God |
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Making new disciples |
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Transforming communities |
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Worshipping God |
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Making new disciples |
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Transforming communities |
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