Living Stories
The theme for the Ministry and Mission programme at Emmanuel this year is 'Living Stories' - the stories we live by, the stories we share, and the stories through which we seek to understand and make sense of our lives. These will include stories from the Bible, retold in a variety of ways, visual, dramatic, and musical, but also the story of how they came to be written and of the people who brought them together. There will be stories about many people, famous or unknown, and opportunities to tell or reflect upon our own stories, and to learn how to tell and share them with others. Central to our theme throughout the year will be the story of our faith, and how it has shaped our lives and the lives of others. Every one needs stories, and everyone has a story to tell. This year, at Emmanuel, we are sharing our 'living stories'.
I will tell you something about stories, [he said]
They aren't just for entertainment.
Don't be fooled
They are all we have, you see,
all we have to fight off illness and death.
You don't have anything
if you don't have the stories.
[from Leslie Marmon Silko's novel Ceremony]
Living Stories Events: at Emmanuel United Reformed Church
| Date | Event | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Tue-Fri - until 8 April | Now on display exhibition of How The Bible Came to Be | 10.30am-3pm |
| Sunday 10 April | THE BIBLE IN AN HOUR A worshipful experience through a dramatic reading. A play by Margaret Harvey from the book 'Fire and Bread' - a Wild Goose Publication. Bring the family and friends. No charge - retiring collection | 6.30pm |
| Tuesdays to Fridays 12th to 28th April (closed Good Friday) | THE STORIES OF HOLY WEEK A series of stations offering opportunity for reflection | 10.30am to 3pm |
| May 7/8th | EMMANUEL - THE NEXT CHAPTER The church is holding Away Days as we try to discern God's will for our future. Worship on May 8th will be at Westminster College, Cambridge. | 9.45am |
| Thursday 12 May | VISIONARY STEEPLES Nigel Campbell Pennick will share his art and inspiring stories of despair and triumph. | at 1pm |
| Tuesdays to Fridays from 10 May to 1 June | The Visionary Steeples of Sir Christopher Wren and His Followers - the exhibition. Nigel writes: "I was brought up amid the smog-choked ruins of post-war inner-city London, the remains of a great metropolis smashed by war and brought to its knees, though victorious. Amid the harsh reality of destruction all around, despite the shortages and the crumbling houses, uneven streets and worn-out trams, were the noble and archaic, seemingly inaccessible ancient remnants of a former world. As the elder trees and willow-herb waxed defiant on the bomb sites, the towers of Wren’s churches still stood. I was told that the re-emergence and reinstatement of nature upon these desolate ruins was viewed by many as a sign of hope, the delightful pink flowers of the rose-bay willow-herb indicating that in the midst of grey destruction in that city of broken fortunes, regeneration was taking place." In the mid 1970s I started to study the London churches built after the great fire of 1666, designed by Sir Christopher Wren. Their continued presence, in spite of centuries of redevelopment, weather and war, is testimony to their greatness and reflects the spirit of post-fire London: "RESURGAM." | 10.30am to 3pm |
| Saturday 4 June | A CHURCH CRAWL Join with others as they take a walk around all the local Cambridge United Reformed Churches and discover the stories of the churches. | please call for details |
| Saturday 18 June | CELL TALK a duologue between Julian of Norwich and Margery Kempe' by Dan Bagshaw. with Jane Bower and Angela Harris and directed by Janet Bottoms. "Poignant, humorous and moving" this play was the winner of the Radius Plays 2000 competition. No charge - retiring collection. | 7.30pm |
| Saturday 2nd July | THE GREAT FEAST An opportunity to share lunch and conversation with others and hear the parable of The Great Feast as told by Jesus. All are welcome. | 12-2pm |
| Throughout July | WHO COUNTS A display considering of the plight of the homeless and those living with poverty. | 10:30am to 3pm. Further information form Church Office |
| until September 9th | A LABYRINTH An interactive spiritual journey which offers a place to:
|
Open Tuesdays to Fridays 10.30am to 3pm |
| from 20th to 30th September | HOW THE BIBLE CAME TO BE Another chance to view the display which tells the story of the development of the Bible. | Tuesdays to Fridays 10.30am to 3pm |
| Saturday 24th September | THE STORY OF JONAH Revd Dr Janet Tollington will share Jonah's story and there will be a 'scratch choir' presentation of 'Jonah Man Jazz'. | at 7pm. No charge - retiring collection |
| Saturday 8th October | CHURCH WALK An opportunity to visit all the United Reformed Churches within Cambridge and to hear their story. Participants can walk as much or as little of the route as they wish. | beginning at 1pm. Further information form Church Office |
EARTHED
Click to see details of Emmanuel's Ministry and Mission Theme for 2010 - 'EARTHED'