Lent Course & Groups 2026
Exploring Social Justice:
Critical Issues Defining our Time
At the heart of Jesus’ message and ministry is a commitment to love – to love God, to love our neighbour, to love our enemies. As his teaching and example make abundantly clear, when it comes to other people, loving requires us to seek the best for them, it entails ‘justice and mercy and faith’ (Matthew 23.23). ‘Justice and mercy and faith’ – what more fitting Christian discipline could there be than to allow these five words to sink into our hearts and minds, to guide our judgements and to motivate our actions.
This year’s Lent Course will focus on what it means to seek justice for some of the most vulnerable members of society. Each session will explore social justice through the lens of one of five topics: identity; inequality; disability; asylum; social disintegration. Resource packs will include bible passages, briefings, first-hand testimonies, images, prayers, questions and reflections so that each group or individual can shape the course to reflect their interests, needs or learning styles.
A course introduction and resource pack for each session are posted below (printed copies available via the church office) and can be used by anyone who is interested in the relationship between social justice and the faith-filled life.
For those wishing to engage with the course along with others, groups will gather each week during Lent on different days, at different times, in different places, in person and online, so that as many people as possible are able to participate. Groups are listed further down this page, below 'Resources.' If you would like to join a group, please email Rachael Hand in the church office using: office@stmarkssheffield.co.uk.
Resources
Course Introduction
Identity (Week 1)
Inequality (Week 2)
Disability (Week 3)
Asylum (Week 4)
Social Fragmentation (Week 5)
Lent Groups
Group A with Sandra Newton
Monday evenings at 7.30 pm on Zoom [FULL]
Group B with Lynn Pocock & Rosie Hughes
Monday evenings at 8.00 pm in Fulwood
Group C with Michael Bayley
Tuesday mornings at 10.00 am in St Mark's Church Lounge
Group D with Sam & Felicity Cowling-Green
Tuesday evenings at 7.30 pm on Zoom
Group E with Bek & Jack Hampson
Tuesday evenings at 7.30 pm in Walkley
Group F with Tim Crome & Tricia Morgan
Wednesday evenings at 7.30 pm near Ecclesall Road [FULL]
Group G with Joy & Stephen Straits
Wednesday evenings at 7.30 pm in Grenoside
Group H with Seth Roberts & the Young Adults Group
Sundays after the 10.00 am service in St Mark's Upper Room
Group I with Robin & Joan Story, Beith Keith & Ian Wallis
Thursdays at 3.00 pm near Ecclesall Church [FULL]
Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash