Over the last six years, the Diocese of Oxford has been offering new resources to support parishes and individuals in Lent. Every year we offer a big, warm, open invitation to the whole diocese to “Come and See”.
The invitation echoes Jesus first words to two would be disciples who want to discover more about him in John 1.39. They are almost the first words Jesus speaks in the entire Gospel of John:
The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!”
The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following he said to them, “What are you looking for?”
They said to him, “Rabbi… where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.”
An (imperfect) example
Come and See has its roots in the COVID lockdowns of 2020 and 2021. For some years I’d been trying to encourage clergy and parishes to give serious time in Lent each year to Christian formation and to invite men and women and young people to explore faith and come to baptism and confirmation – building on the long, deep tradition of catechesis explored in the last post.
All the clergy I met and spoke with recognised the importance of this ministry and how life giving it can be. For some it comes naturally. But many struggle to find time and motivation. I wrestled (like Augustine) with the reasons for this.
Eventually I came to a deep conviction that perhaps the most helpful thing I could do was try and set an (imperfect) example of making this ministry a priority rather than nag people to do something they were finding it difficult to do. My sense was that God’s call to me was to find a way simply to do this rather than focus on enabling others. But how?
Church at Home
The answer came through the lockdowns, which were so very difficult for clergy and for churches.
We made the decision early in the first lockdown to provide a weekly Sunday service as a diocese every Sunday to support local churches. Church at Home drew on the gifts of many different clergy, lay leaders and musicians across the diocese and was co-ordinated by a small creative team.
There was a wide take-up – even though many churches quickly adapted to livestreaming or recording services. One of the very good memories of a difficult time was sharing in worship with friends across the diocese each Sunday morning from the sofa.
Building on what was happening through Church at Home, we decided to try and offer something during Lent 2021 to support clergy and parishes who simply did not have the energy to develop programmes for Lent.
I believe in God, the Father almighty
The first Come and See focused on the Apostles’ Creed. We thought it was just for that Lent. I produced a simple video for churches and individuals for each Sunday. We used daily bible readings already prepared for the Pilgrim Journeys series of reflections and sent them out to subscribers by email each day. Our diocesan team produced some notes for small groups.
It was all very last minute and hand to mouth – but the take-up was much higher than anticipated and the feedback very positive, except that (understandably) there was a request to have the materials further in advance to give parishes more time to prepare. Some rural churches began incorporating the videos into their Sunday worship. Small groups met online. Over a thousand people listened to or read the daily reflections and prayers.
I had discovered a way in which a bishop could join in this core work of Christian formation with the help of a very creative team. Over the next few years, we based Come and See around the other three texts which have been at the core of Christian formation: the Lord’s Prayer, the Beatitudes, and the Commandments. Last year we focused on baptism (under the themes of earth, water, wind and fire).
This year Come and See focuses on meeting Jesus in the Eucharist. You can find full details (and materials from previous years) online.
Contemplative, compassionate, courageous
Participation has grown each year. Groups moved from online to onsite, when that was possible. We’ve added prayer exercises linked to our Space Makers material based on Ignatian spiritual exercises. The team have developed materials for young people, for families, and for schools.
We always invite feedback and try to improve year on year. Although I still write and record the videos and the daily reflections, a whole team is involved behind the scenes in editing, writing, production, design and distribution.
Year by year it’s been a joy to hear of people who have made the journey into Christian faith through engaging with Come and See through their local church. It’s been a joy as well to connect with so many churches across the diocese who have used the material in different ways.
My sense is that Come and See has been a particular help to smaller churches and to rural churches, and, I hope, has given clergy in particular confidence to shape and lead this kind of course and develop their own material in due course.
The experience of Come and See has given the diocese insights which have fed into our online learning hub and wider reflection on discipleship.
One of the unexpected insights has been visiting churches across the diocese and people saying to me:
“It’s very good to meet you in person because we’ve watched you on Come and See across these last years”.
No bishop can be everywhere at once in person – but its good to use this kind of technology to offer some teaching and to connect.
Come and see for yourself
This year, as an experiment, we are offering the six Come and See reflections on the Eucharist through my Substack in audio and text. Anyone inside or beyond the diocese can sign up to receive the daily reflections and the videos here. We’d be glad of feedback as ever.
There is so much still to explore in Christian faith. Come and see…