What does it mean to bring the Hebrew Bible, in all its variety and complexity, into the context of Christian worship? Come and gain new ideas and inspiration for preaching on the Old Testament. There will be three main sessions:

1. ‘Keep these words that I am commanding you today’: Our experience and expectations of the OT
2. ‘How lonely sits the city’: Traumatic violence and the sweep of history
3. ‘Many waters cannot quench love’: Poetry, metaphor, and the creativity of language

In each one, some input and background material will be provided, but there will also be participatory activities, using OT passages which feature in the lectionary. And plenty of time to share experiences, good or bad. We will consider how to interpret difficult passages, and reflect on the differences between Jewish and Christian readings of scripture. Above all, we will discuss how to introduce our congregations to the Old Testament’s profundity, breadth, and literary beauty.

Although of particular interest to those who preach, this day is open to all – no prior knowledge or experience is required.