Jesus' promise of life to the full is the theme for the second Festival of Faith from the Upper Holme Valley team.
And they’ve issued an open invitation for people to come and find out what this means for them by experiencing the richness of that unique part of God’s own county with the launch of their Festival brochure for the week long festival that starts with a song on July 1.
Singer-songwriter, Gareth Davies-Jones will run a workshop on Friday June 30 for people to come and help him write a special song for the Festival – but being a stranger to the Holmfirth and the Holme Valley, he needs some help.
This is a special opportunity to work with a first rate songwriter and hear the piece performed on stage on Saturday and have the opportunity to join him on stage as a backing vocalist!
The idea behind this year’s festival is to encourage visitors to find their relationship with God where they are; whether it is as a lover of nature, a film buff, a writer, musician, or as an animal lover, there are plenty of opportunities to follow your own interests and wonder how these might connect to the Christian faith.
From an open-mike night for young people, family forest church, a conversation about reading, writing and faith, exploring new monasticism and rhythms of life, to God Loves Your Dog, a celebration of our relationship with our pets and what that teaches us.
The former Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Revd John Pritchard will be at Holy Trinity Churhc Holmfirth on Sunday 2 July to share his Seven Stories and later on July 7 bringing his own insight into Brexit, Europe, fake news and Trump.
And at the heart of the festival are the six students – some training for ordination at the Community of the Resurrection – all with their own journeys to share and to help visitors find their own way.
Organised by the local Anglican churches with a generous grant from the Bishop’s Development Fund, the Upper Holme Valley Festival of Faith will run from 1-7th July. Brochures now available and you can find them in Church House, Leeds; Wakefield Cathedral and churches across the Huddersfield Episcopal Area.
You can find them online at www.holmevalleyfestivaloffaith.org
And on facebook and twitter.