I think I have the rare privilege of being able to practise my faith in my work. I am a LLM, 'converted' from the URC and Methodist Church, where I was a local preacher, mainly serving small rural churches in Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire and adjoining counties.

In my previous life I was a chartered surveyor and was eventually responsible for about 50 churches in those counties. At that time I spent a lot of time and energy (and passion) in helping the church community see their buildings as assets rather than liabilities, and, in some cases, support them in some inspiring schemes that turned otherwise underused, cold and often depressing buildings into living centres that beamed the Good News to those that passed (and often then entered) the doors. The construction industry is a great industry for creating disputes and I was involved in, but thankfully didn't create, many disputes that went to arbitration or to the courts and which were resolved badly. That is not, of course, restricted to the construction industry. The church process for resolving disputes is just as bad. Inhuman, unjust, unChristian. You see, people see the same facts and events differently - due to age, education, culture, gender, politics and principles and many other reasons - and it doesn't necessarily mean that they are any more right, or wrong, just different. And any system of resolution that says one person's truth is more right than the other, and so decides that person wins and the other loses, must be inherently unjust. Life just isn't like that.

Which is why I am a Mediator - I help people resolve disputes without going to court. I help people find a settlement (their settlement) to their differences, that is anywhere along the spectrum of outright win and outright lose. And often, en route, help them restore fractured relationships and reconcile their differences. What could be closer to the commission that we should be reconcilers and peacemakers? That is why I started by saying that I have the privilege of being able to practise my faith in my work.

However, I have spent nearly twenty years since I trained and became a Mediator, trying to convince the church authorities, of various denominations, that mediation is a Christian activity and that the church should not only be embracing it into its' culture but also offering it to the community that it serves. It has largely been twenty years of frustration! A process that so obviously fits into the teaching of Christ is still being ignored. Having said that, I see and hear now of many seeds that are becoming shoots around the country, not because of enlightened church officials, but because of local, passionate and committed people who are making it happen. A fragmented, unorganised collection, but one that gives hope the church will awaken to its mission of peacemaking and reconciliation.

It may seem a distant dream, and one that I may never see fulfilled, but I want every church to be a mediation centre, where people can bring their differences, big and small, and know that someone outside their problem who has love (ie GOD) at their heart, will help them resolve their differences. What greater opportunity could there be for the Christian church in the 21st Century?

Judy Taylor writes about an initiative she took in setting up a Quiet Day with reflective areas in her church to which all in the local village were invited. She was encouraged by the number who came to visit.

I had a power point screen showing a series of pictures of our beautiful world, sea, flowers, sunsets, fields, some with a biblical text but not all. I also had music playing quietly all the time so trying to create a place of peace and stillness.

I arranged four tables in the church which represented the four seasons, the theme being giving thanks for creation. Each table had a relevant display, spring had bulbs, branches with catkins (which I found in October)! And a small Easter display with an Easter tree. Summer had shells laying in sand with votive candles here and there and some summer flowers. Autumn was easier, lots of lovely leaves, berries and nuts. Winter was holly, a large candle and my nativity set made from olive wood which I bought in the Holy land when I visited 12 years ago. I also had a lantern with a candle in it. As people entered the church they given a leaflet to help them reflect upon the theme, some of the text I have included here and invited to take a leaf on to which I had tied a cotton loop and use it to reflect on many things, the shape, the colour and it's uniqueness, "- like you, a part of God's creation. Reflect on the seasons and of the seasons of your life and the stages of rebirth and hope, that are part of a cycle which applies to each and every one of us.

Throughout each season the roots, the part of the tree we cannot see continue to grow and are nourished and even in Winter when the leaves are gone ad the branches bare, the tree is still alive and waiting for Spring to come again. When you are ready to leave you may like to hang your leaf on the tree or take it with you. It can be a reminder that in all things, there is a purpose and we never need to feel alone in whatever season of our life we are in at the moment.

The roots of our faith are like the tree, sometimes our life is fruitful and joyful, at other times it may not be able to grow and flourish. Always remember, like the unseen roots, Gods love remains as surely as Spring follows Winter. Unlike the tree which has a finite life, we can be strengthened in the knowledge that God has promised us eternal life through Jesus."

I had arranged some bare branches in a pot so that the leaves could be hung there. It looked lovely as people added their leaves, they looked as if they were suspended because the thin cotton didn't really show up. We kept the 'tree' on a windowsill in the church right up until Christmas, it was a lovely reminder of the day. I was moved to notice how long people stayed, some for 2 hours or more and the feedback was very encouraging. This is the second Quiet Day I have done and hope to do another later this year.

2011 is the 400th Anniversary of the publication of the King James Bible Let's make the most of the chance to celebrate God's Word!

Can we share ideas, and resources here?

Sheila writes:

What are we doing at our church?
We're starting on Palm Sunday evening with a full reading of the Gospels' account of the trial and crucifixion of Jesus.

We're planning a Bible exhibition in church for June with a display of different Bibles, some treasured old Bibles with their personal stories attached, some testimonies, ideas for Bible reading, free Gospels and laminated texts to give out. We'll invite neighbours in the local community and groups from our local school to visit.

We're encouraging those who come to our Café Church to start reading through Mark's Gospel with some very simple notes to guide them.

We're offering the chance to join a small informal group giving a very basic introduction to the Bible for enquirers "Getting to know the Bible" There is also a short, lively, active "Getting to know the Bible" course for children of primary school age. [NOTE: The adult course is already printed and available for £15. The children's course I hope to get printed this year]

What are other Lay Ministers doing? Do share your ideas!

If you were asked what you feel you need or would like at the moment what would your answer be? Perhaps you need rest or would like a closer walk with God, time to get away from it all and reflect on life. The pace which is deemed appropriate in modern living soon leads to exhaustion and a loss of personal identity. A regular place to rest, reflect and be looked after is not only desirable but essential.

Rest
Retreat houses offer a place to come apart and rest awhile. A place which will look after you, provide comfortable accommodation and wholesome food at a reasonable cost and, which is more important, a place to be still and rediscover yourself. Just like coming home!

Reflect
There are many types of retreat and for a first timer a quiet day is a good place to start. A guided relaxation and meditation might be followed by some time for personal prayer, a walk in the countryside or the use of some art materials to explore a theme. Longer retreats might be based on a theme or on working with a spiritual guide who will suggest passages of scripture to pray with. There will be plenty of time to come close to God and hear his still, small voice calling your name.

Return
The greatest benefit of a retreat whether for half a day, a week or longer is that faith can be deepened and personal prayer life revived. This means that when you return it is possible to be more God centred and therefore attuned to his will, whatever your daily life entails.