Faith-Based Groups
Working with faith-based groups
It can be tricky developing deep, honest, authentic friendships in church. But opening up and growing in our love for and understanding of one another needn’t be scary. In fact, I have found through story and writing workshops that connecting is fun, opening up is a relief and going deep actually releases joy. If you’d like to see this happen in your church, get in touch.
Read more about the different workshops I can help you deepen church family connections with, below.
The power of story to connect your church family
Do you long to see your church family members growing closer, coming alongside one another, bearing with each other and supporting one another through life’s ups and downs?
Would you like to see connections and empathy springing up as people nod in new understanding and exclaim, “I feel the same! But I never knew you felt that way!” Or, “Ah! Now I understand where you’re coming from!”
If so, a Short Christians Story Workshop is for you.
How it works: You sit back and relax, while I read your group a story from my book, Short Christians, which I originally wrote as a resource to use in my own small group. Each story looks at a life experience for people seeking to live as Christians. Stories cover many themes and issues which can be chosen to suit your needs. You keep relaxing while I facilitate a process of reflecting on and discussing the story. As the organiser, I want you to be able to enjoy the event as much as everyone else! Workshops are a relaxed, fun, non-threatening way to talk openly and without fear of judgement about our own faith experiences, and to listen to others. I have seen how they build empathy and deepen understanding of one another, and provide space to kick an issue around a bit from different points of view.
But don’t just take my word for it!
“Best breakfast session for some time! Thank you so much. You have a wonderful engaging, relaxed, honest style that is perfect for our group. I hope you were blessed as much as you blessed us!” – Helen, church events organiser, Sidcup
‘Liz’s book is very accessible to all and a great aid in sitting and thinking about what it means to be a Christian through stories of everyday life. We found it so valuable when she came to our Women’s Prayer Breakfast to lead a group session, and I would highly recommend Liz as a speaker and group leader.” – Karien, Women’s Prayer Breakfast lead, Canterbury
“I thought the session was excellent. It was good to discuss the issues brought up from the story. It helped me think about how other people in my church might be feeling.” – Anne, group attendee, Canterbury
If you would like to see how the power of story can breathe fresh life into your group, contact Liz.
- Small group leader training forums
- Women’s/ Men’s ministry
- Weekends away
Liz can also lead writing workshops in creative writing, life writing, creative writing inspired by scripture and faith journaling – see below.
Liz is based in Kent.
As featured in Woman Alive
Pricing
Please contact me to discuss how we can make this accessible for your church here.
Creative Writing Workshop: Writing With The Psalms
Enabling refreshing creative engagement with scripture
The Psalms teach us how God loves to hear us sing to him, and it turns out he prefers a gritty, honest approach where nothing is off limits.
This day of writing and retreat uses the Psalms as a jumping off point, deepening our receiving of God’s love for us and enabling creative expression in response to that love.
I guide participants through a series of writing exercises, both individually and as a group. Everything is accessible, fun and designed to connect one another through creative pursuit, as well as to encourage one another to draw close to God in our creativity. Although the mood is light, this writing workshop enables deep, serious reflection on who God is, and who we are.
There is no pressure to share any work at any point. The emphasis is on enjoyment. Beginners and old hands will enjoy this workshop equally.
But don’t just take my word for it!
“Really engaging thank you, you’ve made me feel relaxed and able to do the things you ask… Truly brilliant experience.” – Sarah
“Thank you, Liz. A brilliant creative morning!” – Liz
“Such a wonderful morning.” – Frances
“Thank you so much. I have been so dry in spirit but this time has renewed me in God’s joy. Thank you and what a blessing!” – Andrea
“Liz led ‘The Psalms: Writing From The Heart’ with humour, spiritual insight and informality. The group were easily encouraged to participate in creating personal pieces of work and a collaborative psalm curated by Liz. We will be asking Liz to bring her natural biblical nourishment and gifted writing sills to us again in the future. Thanks Liz, it was a real joy to spend the morning with you!” – Reverend Lorraine Apps-Huggins, Lead Chaplain, The Living Well Diocesan Centre for Healing and Wholeness, Nonington, Kent
Please contact me to discuss how we can make this accessible for your church here.
To read the group psalms created from this group, visit The Living Well website here
The Power of Story in your faith journey
Creative writing days with faith at the centre
Jesus understood the power of story. In Matthew 13:34 we are told, “Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, he never spoke to them without using such parables.”
And yet, for some reason, fiction has, for decades, been viewed with suspicion by many influential Christians. There is a bizarre undercurrent of snobbery towards it, which carries the idea that we are only reading ‘proper’ Christian stuff if we have our heads in a heavy, fact-based tome.
I love a good exegesis as much as the next woman, but God has spoken to me through fiction as much as through straightforward theological text. I don’t just mean the Chronicles of Narnia, or Lord of the Rings or Treasures of the Snow (all of which have touched lives far beyond the reach of many a theological text, incidentally). I’m talking about films like Gravity (all about prayer) and books like Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine (which seemed entirely parable to me).
God works through the power of story, because he has built the blueprint for storytelling into our very being. From day one, we are introduced to themes of fall and redemption. It’s a familiar moment when a hero must lay down his or her own desires for the greater good; every story begins with an orphan in search of their true, soul’s parent, and every story takes us on a journey of finding ‘home’. Our need to tell stories is our desire to draw close to God, to make sense of this world and to see justice, redemption and love win the day.
So, tell your stories. You were born to do it.
If you’d like to join me on a creative writing day, Contact me here.
Contact Me
Book my writing services to work with your community, faith-based or dementia group.
Sharing our writing journeys…