Why? A Programme of Exploration
Why? is our new programme for exploring our faith together. Throughout 2025 there will be a series of events intended to deepen our understanding of faith and discipleship. This year’s programme has been drawn together by a small group within the congregation – it is our hope that as the year progresses more questions will be asked, or further areas of exploration will be uncovered. This can then form the programme for 2026 and the years ahead. There will be the opportunity to provide feedback after each session, so that we can understand what worked well, what didn’t work so well and what more you might like to do.
Discipleship is a lifelong journey. There is no end to it. We are all learning, growing and developing together. We are always learning what it means to be ‘good Christians’ and ‘better Disciples’.
As we meet together, we hope that you will learn more about your personal faith, the faith of our Church, and the Christian faith. Deeping our own understanding and working together to help share Jesus’ love with our community.
All the sessions will take place in one of our churches, and last 1.5 hours. Most sessions will follow a structure of talk, table discussion, Q&A. There are some exceptions to this, which will be detailed in the event descriptions. Some will invite external speakers, and some will be led ‘in-house’. Refreshments will be available at all. We have also tried to vary the time and day to allow it to be accessible to as many as possible. You don’t need to attend them all, they are standalone sessions, but we hope you will attend as many as you are able. We also hope that you might attend something slightly outside of your comfort zone, something which maybe doesn’t immediately appeal to you or directly affect you.
Whilst there is no specific need to book for these sessions, we are asking that you sign up, either in church or online. This gives us an idea of numbers for refreshments, resources and tables.
Why are Interfaith Dialogues important?
Tuesday 14th January
7.30-9.00pm
Holy Trinity, Prestwood
Panel discussion with Rabbi Neil Janes, South Bucks Jewish Community, and Imam Haseeb, Chaplain at Bucks New Uni.
Rabbi Neil Janes is the rabbi for SBJC (South Bucks Jewish Community), a Liberal synagogue whose members are drawn from South Bucks and West Herts. He is a lecturer at the Leo Baeck College where he teaches rabbinic students. A member of Bucks SACRE (Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education) and a founding member of Bucks Faith Network, Neil is also a member of the Thames Valley Civic and Faith Leaders group and a member of the executive committee of Slough Faiths Standing Together. He was previously the school rabbi at a primary school and taught Jewish studies to 6-11 year olds. He also worked as the Judaism Advisor on Silent Witness, the BBC drama. He is researching for a PhD at King’s College London, where he is studying rabbinic literature and its representations of identity and culture.
Why: Praying at Home?
Saturday 8th February
2.00-3.30pm
Holy Trinity, Prestwood
How do you pray at home? Would you like to learn different techniques? Some people struggle to pray at home, feeling uncomfortable or unsure of what to do. This session is an opportunity to share your praying at home practices and techniques, and to engage with creative or different ways including colouring and journalling. No artistic skills needed. Just come along and try something new or different. This session will be led by the Clergy.
Why: Women of the Old Testament?
Sunday 16th March
3.00-4.30pm
Holy Trinity, Prestwood
Some women of the Old Testament are well known, but many are barely remembered and even when they are we often don’t pause on them long enough to think what we might learn from them. Revd Clare Hayns with her son Micah talk about their book “Unveiled– the Women of the Old Testament and the choices they made”. This talk will ‘unveil’ come lesser known ‘rebel women’, and you will have a chance to hear from Micah about the process of creating forty original pieces of art for the book. Books and prints will be available to purchase.
Why: Intercessory Prayers?
Tuesday 8th April
7.30-9.00pm
St Mary Magdalene, Great Hampden
Have you ever wondered why we have a section in our services called ‘Intercessions’, and what exactly it means? We know that at that point someone will get up and pray for things, but what is the purpose. This session is for anyone and is intended to explore why we have intercessory prayers, and what their purpose is in the context of our worship. It is not intended as training on how to write intercessions, but instead will focus on the history and help us to develop a deeper understanding of what they’re for, what they mean, and how we receive them. This session will be led by the Clergy.
Why: Living in Love and Faith?
Tuesday 6th May
7.30-9.00pm
St Mary Magdalene, Great Hampden
A conversation on Living in Love and Faith, and the Prayers of Love and Faith. We will be joined by Hannah Ling, Diocesan Social Justice Adviser, along with members of the Diocesan LGBTQIA+ Chaplaincy Team and Resource Team.
Why: Dementia and Faith?
Sunday 1st June
3.00-4.30pm
Holy Trinity, Prestwood
How does living with Dementia affect someone’s faith, and what can we do to help or understand this further. This session will be led by The Reverend Joanna Collicutt. Joanna is a chartered clinical psychologist and registered specialist neuropsychologist. After many years working in the British National Health Service, she moved into the field of psychology of religion and was director of the MA programme at Heythrop College, University of London, moving back to Oxford in 2010 to take up posts as Lecturer in Psychology and Spirituality at Ripon College Cuddesdon, and Older People’s Adviser for the Diocese of Oxford (until 2020). Her interests are wide ranging, reflected in publications on positive psychology, brain and behaviour, natural theology, psychological and visual approaches to the Bible, psychological trauma, the spirituality of children and people with special needs, theology and death, and medical ethics.
Why is our Liturgy the way it is?
Tuesday 15th July
7.30-9.00pm
St Mary Magdalene, Great Hampden
Our liturgy has a structure and, whilst the content may vary week by week and season by season, this structure remains the same. It is a constant, we know where we are in the service and where we are going next. It can be easy for regular churchgoers, and Clergy alike, to navigate the service on ‘auto-pilot’. But why is our liturgy the way it is? What is it purpose? And what does it say about what we as a worshipping community believe. This session will be led by the Clergy and will focus on the liturgy within Common Worship, perhaps touching on the Book of Common Prayer which is ordered differently.
Why: Art & Christianity?
Tuesday 9th September 7.30-9.00pm
or
Saturday 15th November 2.00-3.30pm
St Mary Magdalene, Great Hampden
“Art and Christianity seeks to foster and explore the dialogue between art, Christianity and other religious faiths.” https://artandchristianity.org We hope to be joined by one of the trustees from Art & Christianity for this session.
Why do we share in a meal?
Sunday 5th October
3.00-4.30pm
Holy Trinity, Prestwood
Following the success of our Agape Meal in Holy Week 2024, this will be another opportunity to gather together for food and fellowship. During this session we will explore why it is that we share a meal, and what it means to be a community offering Eucharistic Hospitality. There will also be the opportunity to explore Eucharistic theologies, and a discussion on what is happening during the Eucharistic Prayer.
Why is God always referred to as a man?
Tuesday 9th September 7.30-9.00pm
or
Saturday 15th November 2.00-3.30pm
St Mary Magdalene, Great Hampden
A slimmed down version of her dissertation, ‘Why is exclusively male language when talking about God potentially damaging?’, Kayleigh will explore the language we have to talk about God, and how this impacts our relationship. Is there scope to use feminine language to talk about God? Why is it that we have come to always use male gendered language when we talk about God?
Why explore Personal Discipleship?
Tuesday 9th December
7.30-9.00pm
Holy Trinity, Prestwood
The final session of 2025 will end with a conversation around Personal Discipleship, led by The Reverend Joanna Gallant. Joanna was ordained in 2002 and has a broad experience of ministering in both rural and urban parishes. She is now Head of Discipleship and Social Justice in the Oxford Diocese with responsibility for enabling and resourcing adult discipleship and Christian formation. Joanna is passionate about enabling others to grow as disciples of Jesus, and to confidently live out their faith in ways that bring real Kingdom-shaped change to every aspect of life. Joanna has an MA in Christian Spirituality from Heythrop College, enjoys pilgrimage and loves walking with her husband and their black Labrador by the coast.