Mother's course 5 weeks

2. Course in a nutshell A 5 week course to enable women who have recently had children to come together and explore the way in which their lives, relationships and spirituality have been changed, and to support and affirm each other in growing in this new stage of life.

9. Course Outline Session 1: Who am I? Session 2: Great Expectations Session 3: Body Beautiful Session 4: Stress and Pressure Session 5: Practising the Presence of God

10. Session 1: Who am I? Aim: to define ground rules for the group so as to create a safe space for women to share to find truth, affirmation and value in one’s identity, to locate one’s own story within the wider story of God and his people Key text: Mark 8:27-28 Activity centred on telling personal stories of faith and reflecting on each other’s lives

11. Session 2: Great Expectations To come in more detail later!

12. Session 3: Body Beautiful Aim: To embrace the changes that we understand to have occurred externally and see these in the light of our inner changes. Key text: Psalm 139:14 Activity: creative prayer exercise that allows for both joy and lament

13. Session 4: Stress and Pressure Aim: to discuss strategies to deal with the stress of early motherhood, with a focus on the re-negotiation of relationships to self, others and God Key text: ‘love your neighbour as yourself’ Mark 12:31 Activity: creative prayer stations and embodied prayer

14. Session 5: Practising the Presence of God Aim: to formulate a strategy for encountering God within a busy life Key text: Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Activity: creating home prayer stations and thinking about a rule of life

15. GREAT EXPECTATIONS Unto us a child is born....

19. http ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmykFKjNpdY&feature=player_embedded

22. Creative space and journal

23. CLOSING ACT OF WORSHIP

24. Blog

25. Sources and resources K. Aune, S. Sharma, & G. Vincett (2008) Women and religion in the West: Challenging Secularisation , Ashgate Brother Lawrence (2008 edition) The Practice of the Presence of God , Wilder Publications Ltd J. Fowler, KE Nipkow & F. Schweitzer (1992) Stages of Faith and Religious Development , London: SCM A. Heppenstall (2006) Wild Goose Chase: Exploring the Spirituality of Everyday Life , Iona: Wild Goose Publications J. Morley (1992) All Desires Known , London: SPCK Slee, N. (2004) Women’s Faith Development: Patterns and Processes , Ashgate Publishing