Training for Learning
and Serving
Do you have a mind to:
ENJOY
stimulating sessions of study?
ENCOURAGE
growth in your church?
EMBARK
upon a new direction in discipleship?
EXPLORE
the Bible and Christian Thought as it applies
today?
ENGAGE
with others on a similar journey?
EQUIP
for mission and service?
ENRICH
your spirituality?
Your mind will find a home in Training for
Learning
and Serving
TLS IS:
-
A spiritual journey
-
A variety of courses in
subjects related to Christian life and Discipleship
-
A diverse learning
experience with opportunities for:
Reflective and practical work
Personal and group study
Local and residential gatherings
Basic to diploma levels of study
-
A fellowship of
friendly people
TLS COURSES INCLUDE
-
The Foundation Course
Two-years exploring some basics of Christian life, spirituality,
theology, mission and service from a practical and contextual point
of view, with specific application in a personally selected area of
service.
-
Gateways Into Worship
One-year developing deeper understandings and opening up fresh
experiences of worship to enrich personal participation and/or
equipping for leading.
-
Gateways Into Care
One-year theoretical and practical learning providing opportunities
to increase understanding of yourself, others and the gospel and to
turn new insights into active love and care.
-
Gateways Into Prayer
One-year exploring a range of past and present expressions of
spirituality to enable you to apply the insights to your own
experience and to equip you to help others to do likewise.
-
Experiencing Faith
One year broadening your knowledge and experience of other faiths
with the aim of deepening understanding and stimulating dialogue.
-
Performing Arts In
Worship
One year of discovery and experience in a selection of disciplines
from drama, dance, movement, mime, music and speaking to increase
your confidence in using individual and group performance to inspire
worship.
-
TLS LITE
Locally arranged self-contained courses on a variety of Christian
discipleship matters, with slightly less demanding material, sourced
through material available from the United Reformed Bookshop
Leaflets for each of the
courses can be downloaded by clicking on the download button on the
right hand menu or by clicking here.
Two new courses on
Community Work and Evangelism are currently in the process of being
produced.
HOW TO FIND OUT MORE, AND
TO APPLY
TO JOIN A ONE- OR TWO-YEAR COURSE:
CONTACT:
Administrator - for basic information and application forms on all
courses
TLS
Administrator
Mrs Heather
Skidmore
27 Yew Tree Road
Elkesley
Retford DN22 8AY
e-mail
tlsskid@btinternet.com
TLS Co-ordinator - if you want to discuss in more detail the overall
programme:
Revd.
Stanley Jackson
Tel: 01937 520938
E-mail:
revstan@natsver.freeserve.co.uk
HOW
DOES TLS WORK
TLS is not a
correspondence course. Working together and in the context of the real
world is important. Five integrated elements are designed to promote
these strategies.
LOCAL SERVICE:
Engagement in the life of the community and/or the Church are key
sources of learning in TLS. Apart from those following ‘LITE’ courses,
each course member declares an ‘area of service’ as their study
learning context. The area of service does not have to be ‘spectacular’,
nor great time spent in it. It might be church based - e.g., leading a
group, visiting, Eldership or as an office-holder. It might be in the
community, through voluntary service or a paid job. It is however
important as the context in which theory is applied.
HOME STUDY: Working
through Home Study Units (five a term for non-‘LITE’ courses),
fortnightly in term-time. This study - and associated reading - prepares
exercises for the local study group discussion.
LOCAL STUDY: A tutor
and up to six students meet after each Study Unit , usually fortnightly
in term, to share Bible study, to follow up the work at home study and
reflect on areas of service. Ideally, nobody travels over an hour each
way. Times and places are fixed by the group.
LOCAL SUPPORT: Each
student nominates a local support group network. This group links the
student with Christian life. It offers personal and practical support,
discusses learning goals and service opportunities, and helps with
evaluation.
WEEKENDS AWAY: Non-'LITE'
course members attend regional or national residential weekends in
September and at the end of each term. They share worship, study,
teaching and fellowship, and compare findings from the local study
groups. For ‘LITE’ courses the weekends are replaced by local Study Days
after every five Study Units.
Nothing has been mentioned
about written assignments or essays. The reason is because TLS, except
where it is used to gain certain specific qualifications, can be
completed successfully without that kind of work. Where it is necessary
however help is available if needed.
YOU CAN DO TLS
-
Just out of personal
interest, to help you be more understanding and effective in your
Christian discipleship.
-
To gain United Reformed
Church Lay Preaching accreditation at Assembly or District Level.
-
To gain a Higher
Education Certificate or Diploma.
-
Because it is designed
for people with existing responsibilities that would keep them from
full-time study in a college.
-
Because it doesn’t
matter whether you have some academic experience or none. TLS has a
course that begins where you are.
-
Because though
sponsored by the United Reformed Church it is for people of all
denominations.
You can do TLS – don’t miss the opportunity!
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