Saint Michael’s Church
Windhill, Bishop’s Stortford. Well Worth the Walk!
Outreach Section
Good News Course
What is it?
The Good News course is a simple course about the Christian faith.
Who is it for?
It is for anyone in Bishop's Stortford who wants to find out more about the Christian faith and who is interested in sorting out for themselves whether Christianity is true and relevant to the world today.
What does it cover?
It consists of an introduction and five sessions based on the life and teaching of Jesus Christ. During the course we look at various passages in the Bible in an easy-to-read modern English version which we provide. We hope these passages will stimulate discussion, as well as give information about what Jesus actually said and did. In our experience, many people have rather hazy ideas about these things – all they can recall are snippets of half-correct information from RE lessons at school, or perhaps what they have heard on television or on an occasional visit to church. Many people, too, have lots of unanswered questions and welcome the opportunity to discuss them with someone who may be able to help point them towards an answer.
How does it work?
We will send you a team of three people, who are ordinary members of the congregation at St Michael’s, to work through the course with you over six weekly sessions. They are volunteers and not experts, and they may not be able to answer all your questions on the spot, but they will be able to share with you what they have found to be true about the Christian faith in their own experience, and they will always try to find a satisfactory answer to your queries.
When does it happen?
The team will come to your home on an evening that is mutually convenient and will stay as long or short a time as you want them to – normally an hour and a half is a good length. We try to stick to the same evening each week, but this is not always possible.
What if I want to do the course?
If you want to try the course, or want to find out more, please contact the Parish Office. If you decide to go ahead, a team leader will then contact you to arrange suitable dates for the visits.
How much does it cost?
Nothing – the course and all course materials will be provided free.
Is this just designed to get me into church?
The course is designed for you to get to know more about Jesus and his life and teaching – that is the point of the course. At the end of the course, we will ask you whether you want to take things further and make a commitment, but there will be no pressure to do so and you are free to say no. Equally, if at any time during the course you feel you do not want to continue, you should let us know and there will be no pressure to continue. However, if at the end of the course you do wish to make some commitment and want to carry on learning more about the Christian faith by finding out what we do at St. Michael’s, then you will be made welcome, but this is entirely up to you.
I’m quite interested, but my partner’s not sure
The course works well if both partners in a couple take part, but equally, we are happy to send a team if only one of you is interested. Clearly, we will not send a team if one partner actively does not want us to come. If your partner is not sure about taking part, then we are happy for them to sit in on the first session to see how the course works, and then to decide whether to continue to participate or not – ultimately, we are relying on your hospitality in inviting us into your home.
I’m very interested, when can you start?
If you decide to go ahead, it then usually takes a couple of weeks or so for us to put together a team and fix dates. The course co-ordinator will be able to give you an idea of when a team might be available.
Co-ordinator: Roger Sudbury
Details from: The Parish Office
How may we help you?
Office Address:
St. Michael’s Church
Windhill
Bishops Stortford
Hertfordshire
CM23 2ND