August - Hazel Hallas

Dear Friends

Sandra Larden and I recently completed the Birmingham Diocesan 3D Course; nine months study, culminating in the closing ceremony at Birmingham Cathedral on Wednesday 14th July. A joyful occasion shared with fellow Christians from around Birmingham who had all felt a need to join the Course. Many of you have already completed it and I am grateful for the encouragement I received from some of you last year, to enrol.

I won’t pretend it was easy. Time had to be found for the preparation work for each lesson and some of the topics covered were very testing, thought provoking and often extremely difficult. Our journey started in the Old Testament and progressed through the New Testament, covering a wide range of subjects. Often, the brain continued debating into the early hours! There was winter to contend with – cold, wet or snowy nights! Next, an interregnum!! With God’s help we struggled manfully on, gladdened at the end of each lesson we had made the effort to attend.

Sandra and I had been warmly welcomed to St. James Hill at the first lesson. The warmth, friendship and care which build up within the group and of course, with our Leader, Adele Reece, over the nine month period, was a pleasure in itself and helped us all grow in confidence. Sixteen commenced our Course and thirteen of us completed it. Sadly, three left due to ill health.

Many of you now know Adele, who has become a familiar figure at St. Peters during our interregnum. She was an inspiring Tutor as she gently guided our progression through the Bible, encouraging and supporting us. We enjoyed a visit to a Birmingham Synagogue, a Passover meal and at the end of the course, a relaxing, reflective, quiet day at The Hermitage, Beaudesert, Cannock Chase.

The bond we now share encouraged our resolve to continue to meet occasionally, to further explore our faith, to revisit some of the difficult subjects and generally stay in contact with each other; regrettably without Adele, who moves to South London in August and will be missed by us all. I encourage anyone who is considering this as a way to explore and develop their own faith, to enrol on the Course. Closing date 13th August. If you wish to know a little more about what is involved, please come and have a chat.

May God be ever present on our journey of discipleship.

Hazel Hallas