reEquip // The Seed Project: a day on the story of Joseph in Genesis
reEquip is a monthly opportunity for those in pastoral ministry (and ministry adjacent roles) to connect and be taught & encouraged in their ministry positions.
Join us for our December reEquip day with Professor John Lennox, Emeritus Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford and author of Joseph: A Story of Love, Hate, Slavery, Power, and Forgiveness.
Rhythm of the day:
(you are most welcome to join us for community prayers beforehand at 9am)
9.30am – Meet for coffee/tea and pastries
10:00 am – Brief welcome & devotion
10:15 am – Session 1: The genesis of hatred. Joseph’s story doesn’t begin with Egypt – it begins in a fractured family. We’ll explore the roots of favouritism, sibling rivalry and betrayal, and what they teach us about pastoring our own fractured households and churches.
11:15 am – Break for coffee/tea
11.45am – Session 2: Integrity in exile. From slavery to false accusation to prison, Joseph’s character is tested in seasons with no obvious reward. We’ll think about integrity, temptation and faithfulness in the seasons of ministry where nothing seems to be happening.
1pm – Lunch
2pm – Session 3: Sovereignty and forgiveness “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” We’ll wrestle honestly with divine sovereignty and human suffering, and what it costs – and offers – to forgive as Joseph forgave.
3pm – Q&A with a cuppa
3.30pm – Finish
Please do contact hello@yarntonmanor.com if you would like to come but cost is prohibitive.
Registration closes 12pm on Monday 7th.
About Professor John Lennox – Distinguished Research Fellow at Yarnton Manor:
(From the OCCA website:) John is the President of the OCCA The Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics. He is an Emeritus Professor of Mathematics at Oxford University and speaks on the interface of science, and religion, and is a well-known biblical teacher. He has debated the likes of Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, and Peter Singer, and has lectured extensively in North America, Eastern and Western Europe, and Australasia on mathematics, the philosophy of science and the intellectual defence of Christianity.
John is also an Emeritus Fellow of Green Templeton College, Oxford University. In addition, he is a Senior Fellow with the Trinity Forum, and has written a number of books exploring the relationship between science and Christianity, among them: Where is God in a Coronavirus World? (2020), 2084: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity (2021), and Cosmic Chemistry: Do God and Science Mix? (2021). Most recently, Lennox has produced a biblical exposition, Friend of God: The Inspiration of Abraham in an Age of Doubt.
He gained his MA, MMath, and PhD at Emmanuel College, Cambridge University. He also holds an MA and DPhil from Oxford University (by incorporation), an MA in Bioethics from the University of Surrey, and a DSc from the University of Wales.
John lives near Oxford and is married to Sally. They have three grown up children and ten grandchildren
The statistics relating to pastoral ministry burn-out is high. Too high.
For many the life of church or para-church ministry can be stressful, busy and, very often, lonely.
The to-do list can be overwhelming and unending, leaving little to no space for any kind of self-study or growth – often we feel out of our depth. Often we feel like calling it quits.
reEquip seeks to support and encourage those in pastoral ministry (and ministry adjacent roles).
Come and:
(1) receive focused teaching and training that will help us in our ministry life, whether in pastoral skills, practical ministry, bible teaching or areas of theology,
(2) enjoy the company of and learn from others in similar situations and
(3) enjoy a delicious lunch together!
Yarnton Manor, Church Lane, Yarnton, Oxfordshire, OX5 1PY.
Directions –
If you’re driving from Oxford:
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Take the A44 (Oxford → Woodstock) north-west out of Oxford.
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Look out for a roundabout by the Turnpike Pub, then turn left toward Cassington Road.
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Follow Cassington Road until you see signs for Church Lane. Turn left onto Church Lane.
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Yarnton Manor will be a few hundred yards down Church Lane on the right.
By Public Transport
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The Stagecoach S3 bus route travels between Oxford train station, city centre and Yarnton (towards Chipping Norton/Charlbury.
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Get off at the Paddocks stop in Yarnton, then you’ll need to walk south to Cassington road, turn left and then right onto Church Lane
Arriving:
- Yarnton Manor entrance gates are just to the left of St. Bartholomew’s Church.
- Press ‘Call’ on the gate intercom for security to let you in.
We have accommodation on-site. How about you combine reEquip with a short ministry retreat?
Enquire above for pricing and availability.