Faith in the Village Sessions

Timing & Content

We meet at 11am and have coffee and biscuits
The session starts between 11.15am – 11.20am
 
We usually include:

• 3 hymns
• Prayers (the closing prayer includes any prayers added to the prayer tree)
• Bible reading
• Reflections/Thoughts

 
We sometimes include:

• Role play/drama
• Quizzes
• Discussions
• Show & tell (items that illustrate the talk)
• Listening to a cd track
• Poetry

 
The session lasts until 11.50am, i.e. 30 minutes in length.  (We definitely make sure we don’t go past 12 noon!)

Informal & Interactive

The sessions are informal and relaxed and the people gathered are happy to join in with comments when asked, and sometimes when not!

There is space for discussion and space for quiet; people are happy with both.
 
It is usual to involve other people through readings and prayers, etc.

The hymn words are printed onto a sheet handed out at the start of each session - we usually sing three and they have to be well-know by all types of churches! 

Themes

​Most session are based on issues from life, (unless it is an obvious Christian festival), e.g. journeys, celebration, relationships, and this is then related to the life of Christian faith
We consider what the Bible and Jesus' teaching has to say about the issue, how can our faith help to guide us, etc.?  Recently Carmel led a session on 'experiencing God's presence in the everyday'.  
 
Personal stories are also shared, relating to the theme.

One of our earlier sessions when we thought about the theme of Birthdays and Celebrations and how they relate to our faith lives. 

Supported by Churches Together in Stoke