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.
• Developing Community Experiences
  One year  developing understanding of  community development principles and practices in order to stimulate informed and practical engagement in such work from a faith base
• 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 Pastoral 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 Evangelism
  One year exploring biblical and theological insights into evangelism in the context of practical experience and contemporary culture with the aim of equipping people for an evangelistic life-style and ministry
• 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.
• 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.  New courses include Community Work and Evangelism.  See the TLS Lite flier for more details.

The TLS Prospectus

For full details of all that TLS can offer you, see the TLS prospectus on Issu (the PDF version of the TLS prospectus is also available).  Apply using the TLS application form.

To find out more or apply to joint 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
email: 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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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 Level.
• To gain a Higher Education Certificate or Foundation Degree.
• 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!