As you’ll no doubt be aware by now, next year marks 1700 years since the Council of Nicaea took place. From it came a creed that later evolved into the Nicene Creed we say each Sunday, a vital statement of orthodox Christian belief. Nicaea is now Iznik in modern day Turkey, and is in our diocese. Within the Anglican Communion we therefore have a unique reason to mark this anniversary, which we’re calling Celebrating Nicaea. One of the aspects of this celebration is a special Lent course. Designed for members of our chaplaincies who regularly say the Creed together in a Sunday service, the course will enable us to spend five sessions during Lent looking closely at the words of the Creed, and seeking to understand their meaning and significance more deeply. 

The course will need a leader in each place, who could be a Reader or an ordained minister. Resources for leading the course will be available from the middle of January, to give you time to prepare before Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, 5 March. We will offer an introductory session for course leaders on Zoom (choose between 10am CET on Friday 7 February and 7pm CET on Monday 10 February), where we will explain how the course works and answer any questions you may have.  We will also have a help line functioning during Lent in case questions arise. 

Bishop Robert writes: “I warmly commend the Lent Course Celebrating Nicaea which has been specially commissioned and written for chaplaincies in our diocese to use in 2025. Please do consider engaging with the course in your Chaplaincy this Lent. As we are all conscious of the pressures of secularism, 2025 is a unique opportunity to join in celebrating with the global church the marvellous and mysterious faith we share in the Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit."