Swalecliffe St Johns
St John's Parish Church
Swalecliffe with Chestfield
Led by Revd Simon Tillotson, the Pilgrim Course promises to be a course to help all who wish to grow in their faith.
The course manual costs £6.99 - participants are invited to pay for this if they can afford it, if not the Church will pay for it.
Please let Simon know if you intend to join the course so that he can order the manuals in plenty of time (let Simon know if you would like the Church to purchase a manual for you).
Email Simon at simon@teamvicar.org or text him on 07833448287 if you are interested in joining.
See below for more information.
The Beatitudes Module
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Material: This module explores the Christian vision for the world as laid out in Jesus' teachings, specifically the Beatitudes. It aims to help participants build their lives on the example and teachings of Jesus.
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Key Themes: The course delves into themes such as "openness to God", "thirsting for what is right", "peacemaking" and "living as citizens of God's kingdom".
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Structure: The Beatitudes Module is a six-session course. Each session follows a simple framework that includes:
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A simple prayer
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Biblical reflection, often in the lectio divina style (listening to the word and then reflecting in silence
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An article by a modern Christian writer
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Video input from a DVD
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Time for group discussion and reflection
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Target Audience: While part of the 'Follow' stage for those new to faith, the course is also suitable for anyone at any point on their Christian journey, and mature Christians will equally benefit
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Supporting Resources: The course is supported by a Leader's Guide and online audio-visual resources, including video reflections for each session.
What are the Beatitudes?
The Beatitudes are a series of blessings recounted by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, found in the Gospel of Matthew (5:3-12). Each statement begins with "Blessed are..." (from the Latin word beatus, meaning "blessed" or "happy") and promises a divine favour for a specific virtue or circumstance. The eight Beatitudes from Matthew are:
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Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
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Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted
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Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth
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Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled
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Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy
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Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God
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Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called Children of God
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Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven
Some interpretations also include the blessing in Matthew 5:11-12 as part of the Beatitudes. The Pilgrim coure uses these profound teachings to help participants understand and live out Christian life rooted in love and humility.