Leading the Faith at Work Course. What is Faith at Work? Aim: to enable participants to relate their faith to what they do/are in their working lives

Leading the Faith at Work Course

What is Faith at Work?

Aim: to enable participants to relate their faith to what they do/are in their working lives (not forgetting those not ‘traditionally employed’ such as home carers, students, unemployed, retirees)

Rationale: to overcome the experience expressed in Faith in the Countryside report “Spirituality in the countryside [workplace] is one of the hardest things”.

Faith at work: spirituality and discipleship for today's world


Two meanings: The title has two meanings. The course is relevant for people who are at work and want to discover how they can live out that faith in the work context.

It can also be used to consider how we all need a faith that works in our daily lives.

Some of the material is more specific to work than others, so consider your context.



This six-week course is not designed to give clear cut answers, or to arrive at any definite outcomes, but rather to

draw a response from participants that will lead to action and response on their part.



Objectives: by the end of the course, participants will be:• Enthused about their discipleship• Engaging with a lively spirituality• Encouraged by telling their stories & being listened to• Enlightened by hearing others’ stories• Enabled to make connections between their faith and

their daily occupation• Equipped with tools to continue their reflections• Energised to be actively involved in debate and

practical action


Who is it for?• Church leaders• Lay People• Those in work / those

out of work• All denominations• Para church groups• Workplace Christian

Unions

When can it be run?• Lent course• In Cell Groups• As a Churches

Together Group• As a church ‘study’• In workplaces• With other interested

groups• At any time!


Session 1 – The CALLING

To be a disciple throughout the week

Session 2 – The CHALLENGE

Remaining faithful despite everything


Session 3 – The CLOCK ticks on

How do we fit it all in?

Session 4 – The moral COMPASS

How do we keep our integrity?



Session 5 – Showing COMPASSION

Spirituality in action

Session 6 – Making CONNECTIONS

We’re all in this together!


• Download the poster from the Faith at Work website

• Target people specifically with a personal invite

• Possibly use the first postcard as an invitation

• Target events happening locally

• Reach as wide an audience as possible

• Use ecumenical contacts and links

Publicity for Faith at Work?

Example of publicity

Insert your own information:

• Venue

• Date

• Time

• Refreshments

• Any other information required

Shaping a Faith at Work session

Preparation

• The first time you use this course you will need to allow plenty of time to prepare for delivering the course and familiarising yourself with the course materials.

• Look at the course material and choose which parts are most relevant. Note what’s on each postcard to link with.

• Remember that people learn in different ways and you may need to use a variety of learning styles depending on your group.


Your group may have a set format but you might want to explore something different…..

• Possibly using 2 presenters – or sharing leadership in other ways

• Create a relaxed atmosphere• Think about meeting in a non-church environment• With large groups, possibly meet Café style, treats on the

tables, refreshments• With small groups, use comfortable chairs, possibly have

refreshments whilst group is running rather than before• Be creative!



Equipment you may need• DVD Player and TV if you’re in a house or similar• Laptop (for playing the DVD if you have no TV)• Tablet device (possibly use this instead of laptop or TV)• Data Projector (for larger venues)• Screen (for larger venues)• Sound System (for larger venues)• CD player (useful for playing music in some sessions)

• You may wish to ask someone to be responsible for the technical side of things.

• For smaller groups you may wish to print off the notes and use these instead. (We may add transcripts of the video clips to the website to further enable this)



Materials required to run the course

• DVDs – 1 per group• Postcards – 1 per participant per session• Candles or other focus for prayer• Pens, paper, possibly flip chart pads or similar• A Bible – the leader needs one - each participant may want

one, depending on how you run the session • A prayer box



How a session is made up

• Welcome

• Word

• Worship

• Witness



Welcome

An activity, often including a video clip from church leaders, to help get to know the people in the group and to introduce the weeks theme.

Give opportunity to hear about the impact of the session the week before.

Provide a prayer box for each session, where people can write prayers to be used in the witness section of the session.



Word

• Scripture to unpack the theme with theological reflection

• Non scriptural quotes/readings about the theme

• Videos

• Follow up questions for discussion



WORSHIP

• Singing (you can choose how/if this happens!)

• Meditation

• Prayer

• Other

• Create worship from the gifts and resources you have within the group



WITNESS

• How do we put what we have learnt and discussed into practice

• Prayer

• Things to go away to think and do



Too much material

• We’ve provided at least two and a half hours’ of material• Decide how long your session will be• Read through the material and see what you may change

or leave out.• If you miss things out, don’t omit the whole of one section

(ie Welcome, Word, Worship, or Witness)• A balanced session needs at least one item from each of

Welcome, Word, Worship or Witness• It is possible to do the course without all the technical stuff

if you need or want to



Evaluation

• Downloadable from the Faith at Work website

• Important in developing the course

• Forward information to Lincolnshire Chaplaincy Services



Copyright and Resources

Please ensure the appropriate copyright licenses have been obtained for the delivery of the course, for example you may need one for any songs you print off words for (www.ccli.co.uk) or video clips you actually download. You will also need to get copyright clearance, where relevant, for any material that you change in the resource material provided.Copyright owners are noted on the leaders’ notes, with a fuller list on the website. Where no other name is given, copyright lies with Lincolnshire Chaplaincy Services.(A fuller copyright notice is on the website.)


http://www.ccli.co.uk/


Discussion and sharing times are important. Encourage people to talk to one another. Take advantage of the discussion and group work times in the programme.

The key is to get the information across in a fun and informative way that will encourage and challenge

participants rather than speak down to them.



www.faithatwork.info

@FaithAtWork_LCS

www.facebook.com/FaithAtWork.LCS

www.lentinlincoln.org

www.lincschaplaincy.org.uk

@FaithAtWork_LCS

www.facebook.com/FaithAtWork.LCS

www.lentinlincoln.org

www.lincschaplaincy.org.uk


The Course Material

Postcard

Postcard

Seven postcards, one for each session plus a prayer card

Can be used….. • for a stand alone session, if you don’t have access to IT

equipment

• to accompany the DVD and website material

• for Personal Reflection during and after the session

• A4 copies can be downloaded from the website if needed

DVD

• Interviews from Church Leaders

• Stories and testimonies of local people about life and faith

• Worship resources

• Quotes and other support material

• You will need to pause the DVD at various sections before it moves on. Get to know the DVD before you lead the session

Leaders’ Notes

• Support about how to lead a group

• Offers suggestions how to lead the course

• Details about each section and activity

• Additional materials

• Ideas for discussion and thoughts for theological reflection

Website

• Leaders’ Notes• Additional material and links to other resources• Downloadable resources and notes for all material• Videos• Our YouTube channel• Links to other YouTube clips• Further resources

Order your packs through the Lincolnshire Chaplaincy Services

office

[email protected]

01522 504072

Documents

Leading the Faith at Work Course. What is Faith at Work? Aim: to enable participants to relate their faith to what they do/are in their working lives