Welcome

“Prepare a way for the Lord, make His paths straight.” (Isaiah 40:1-11; Mark: 1:1-8). To be prophetic and to proclaim the coming of the Lord is what we are all called to do during this Advent season. In the coming weeks please do consider in a very pragmatic way how you can signpost people to Jesus. There are plenty of resources to support you to take an evangelistic step. We hope that this edition of the CASE ezine will provide you with the ideas and resources to equip you to share His light in a visible and profound way.

In this edition:

    Christmas Outreach Resources     
    Yfaith’s Seasonal Materials for 11 – 13 Year Olds 
    Residential Weekend For Enquirers 
    Evangelising As A Street Pastor 
    Engaging And Supporting Parish Volunteers 
    A Christmas Present To Support Evangelisation

Christmas Outreach Resources

Research by Tearfund suggests that three million people in the UK would come to church if someone invited them. CASE is therefore offering a list of practical ideas and resources for parishes and individuals to help them reach out to people during the festive season; please see: www.caseresources.org.uk. Of particular interest to parishes is the Come Home for Christmas initiative which aims to offer a welcome to Catholics who for different reasons no longer or rarely attend Mass. CASE provides outreach posters and invitation cards, and a bespoke website for those wanting to explore reconnecting with parish life (for the latter see: www.comehomeforchristmas.co.uk ). This year Bishop Kieran Conry, who is responsible for the work of evangelisation in England and Wales, is inviting Catholic mothers in a special way to pray to St Monica for those who are distant from parish life. 

Yfaith's Seasonal Materials For 11 - 13 Year Olds

www.yfaith.co.uk is celebrating its second Christmas by interviewing a panel of 11-13 year olds about their take on the meaning of the season. The Yfaith website is designed to enable 11-13 year olds to engage with, explore and express their faith. Alongside the video vox-pops, the Christmas Bible Detectives’ Quiz and the Letter from God are among the treats in store both for young users and adults working with that age group.

Residential Weekend For Enquirers

The National Shrine of St Pio in Pantasaph in North Wales has, in recent years, been partnering with CASE to offer a programme of residential events that are designed to cater for those who are spiritual explorers and perhaps have questions to ask about Catholicism. Each weekend includes an experience of prayer, talks, discussion and fellowship. The next Catholic Experience Weekend is being offered from 22nd - 24th January 2010 and is donation only. For more information please phone 01352 - 714 848 and ask to speak to Diane. Everyone is welcome.

Evangelising As A Street Pastor

In April 2003 the first team of Street Pastors ventured out onto the streets of Brixton in the London Borough of Lambeth.  Today, only six and a half years on, there are around 150 teams with over 3,000 Street Pastors working in the UK, including 27 teams ministering in London boroughs. Now the initiative seems poised to go international. In the book Street Pastors by Les Isaac with Rosalind Davies you can track the history of the Street Pastors and discover new ways of bringing the love of Christ to the streets of our country. See: www.refreshbooks.co.uk 

Engaging And Supporting Parish Volunteers

A new work book aimed at parish leaders who work with volunteers is now available. To Love and Serve the Lord by Barbara Wallace discusses six important steps and strategies that enable and encourage greater participation in parish life and the mission of the Church. These strategies include topics such as ‘Developing the Culture of Participation’ and ‘Training and Supporting Volunteers’, and are based on prayer, Scripture and Church teaching. Barbara Wallace also offers one and two day workshops based on this work book. Copies of To Love and Serve the Lord can be ordered through Redemptorist Publications at:  http://www.rpbooks.co.uk

A Christmas Present To Support Evangelisation

Take and Read: The Gospels is an excellent, brand new resource for individuals and groups who want to engage prayerfully with the Gospels. Each volume looks at a different Gospel and presents twelve passages with explanation and accompanying quotations from the Early Church Fathers,  Church documents, Christian art and inspiring photographs, as well as suggestions for prayer and reflection. They’re available from Alive Publishing priced £9.99 each or £35.00 for the Box Set: www.alivepublishing.co.uk 

Contact CASE

All the CASE team would like to take this opportunity to wish you a very happy and holy Christmas and to thank you for your support and prayers.

The CASE Team

Tel: 020 8458 3316
Email: info@caseresources.org.uk
Website: www.caseresources.org.uk

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Unless stated, the images from in this ezine were sourced from: www.alivepublishing.co.uk, www.refreshbooks.co.uk, http://www.rpbooks.co.uk and www.istockphoto.com

CASE is not responsible for the content of sites external to the Agency.

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