Preaching Easter to Pentecost

Saturday, 7 February, 10.30-13.00 | online via Zoom

Workshop leader: Martin Little

Easter is the great festival of the Christian Church - the heart of the good news of Jesus. But the story of Easter doesn't end at Easter - Jesus' disciples encountered the risen Christ numerous times, culminating in the Ascension, and Jesus post-resurrection ministry was sealed with the coming of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church at Pentecost. In this workshop, we will explore how to preach for the three festivals of Easter, Ascension, and Pentecost, and will also look at the post-resurrection encounters that take us through the season of Eastertide.

This workshop will be led by The Revd Martin Little, Vicar of Holy Trinity, Headington Quarry, Oxford. Martin studied History of Art at The University of Edinburgh, and completed an MA in Theology, Ministry, and Mission at Cranmer Hall in Durham in 2017, where he was taught by the biblical scholar Professor Walter Moberly and The Revd Dr Kate Bruce. After a short-lived stint in banking, he spent ten years in youth and music ministry before ordination in the Church of England. Martin has previously ministered in an area of significant social deprivation within Somerset where, together with The Revd Jo Stobart, he was part of the initiative Grass Roots Theology, bringing free open-access theology days to locations around Somerset.

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Ticket prices: general, £15; ministry student, £12

Booking closes 4 February 2026

Preaching with Power: How to Prepare & Deliver Effective Sermons

Thursday, 12 February, 10.30am | online via Zoom

Workshop leader: Samuel Thomas

Powerful preaching enables us to reach hearts and minds, to challenge, to comfort, and to present the good news of Jesus in a persuasive way. A powerful sermon requires careful preparation, clear structure, and effective delivery. This workshop will look at how we as preachers can prepare and deliver sermons that enable us to preach with power. In our preparation and delivery, Holy Spirit is present with us.

The Revd Samuel A Thomas, MTh, FRSA is an ordained bishop and pastor in the New Testament Church of God (UK) Pentecostal denomination. He has over 30 years preaching experience. Samuel is at the final stage of his PhD(homiletics) University of Roehampton, London. He is a visiting university lecturer and a regular guest presenter at the EPTA Conference (European Pentecostal Theological Association). Samuel has published several academic articles on preaching. His work on preaching has featured at the Church of God Paul L. Walker Centre for Pentecostal Preaching (Lee University) Cleveland Tennessee. USA.

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Ticket prices: general, £15; ministry student, £12

Booking closes 9 February 2026

Preaching with the Lectionary

Thursday, 12 March, 10.30-13.00 | online via Zoom

Workshop leader: Stephen Wright

For preachers in those denominations that use the lectionary, it can be a powerful tool. The lectionary provides a guard against only preaching our favourite Bible passages or those that we find comfortable. It takes us through the liturgical year, with readings fitted to each season, and it can help us make connections between Old and New Testaments that we might otherwise overlook. But the lectionary can also sometimes feel restrictive. This workshop will look at how we can best use the lectionary to create meaningful sermons that bring the scriptures to life for our congregations today.

This workshop will be led by the Revd Dr Stephen Wright. Prior to his retirement, Stephen was Vice-Principal of Spurgeon's College. He is an experienced tutor in biblical studies and practical theology. He was formerly Director of the College of Preachers, and has authored several books on preaching. He has been in Anglican ministry since 1986 and continues to preach regularly in his local parish church and elsewhere.

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Ticket prices: general, £15; ministry student, £12

Booking closes 9 March 2026

How to Use Humour in Preaching

Monday, 23 March, 10.30-12.00 | online via Zoom

Workshop leader: Paul Kerensa

You may already use humour in your preaching. You may have run a mile from it. You may know what style of humour works for you. You may have no idea. Let’s look at some ideas for writing comedy and using it in your storytelling - as we bring the greatest story ever told to fresh ears. Come ready to write and get creative - and bring some jokes or tales if you like… but no pressure!

This workshop will be led by Paul Kerensa. Paul is a writer, comedian and broadcaster, working in TV, radio, print and the stage. Paul has been on the writing team for numerous BBC sitcoms and other programmes. As a broadcaster, he regularly presents Radio 2’s Pause For Thought and Radio 4’s Daily Service, and has appeared on Radio 4’s Sunday programme, Christmas Meditation, Beyond Belief, and BBC1’s Songs of Praise and Sunday Morning Live. Paul's 3,000+ gigs having included The Comedy Store, Leicester Cathedral, Montreal Comedy Festival and a dozen Edinburgh Fringe solo shows. He was the winner of ITV’s Take the Mike and was a finalist in the BBC New Comedy Awards. He has taught writing for BBC Writers Room, London Screenwriter’s Festival and the University of Winchester. His books include So a Comedian Walks Into a Church (DLT), Hark! The Biography of Christmas (Lion), and a range of children’s books, including the new Fantastically Faithful series (SPCK).

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Ticket prices: general, £12; ministry student, £10

Booking closes 19 March 2026

Preaching and Poetry

Monday 16 March, 10.30–13.00 | online via Zoom

Workshop leader: Michael Hopkins

Poetry has always been part of God’s way of speaking: woven through the psalms, the prophets, and even the words of Jesus himself.  Yet in our preaching, poetry can often be overlooked or flattened into prose.  This workshop will explore how poetry can deepen our preaching: by sharpening imagery, stirring the imagination, and helping us proclaim God’s truth in ways that touch both heart and mind.  Together we will read and hear poetry, discover how Scripture itself is shaped by poetic form, and even try writing and preaching with poetry.  This workshop aims to leave participants with practical tools and renewed confidence to let the music and mystery of words enrich their sermons.

This workshop will be led by the Revd Dr Michael Hopkins.  Michael is an ordained minister in the United Reformed Church with more than 25 years' preaching experience.  He currently serves as Moderator of the URC's Wessex Synod, and has previously served and Clerk of the URC General Assembly.  Michael has previously taught a course on the History and Ethos of the URC, and was a local tutor for the STETS ministry training course.

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Ticket prices: general, £15; ministry student, £12

Booking closes 12 March 2026

Preaching to the Non-Religious

Wednesday, 15 April, 18.30-20.30 | online via Zoom

Workshop leader: Gus Tanner-Ihm

All preachers will have moments when their congregations will include those who are non-religious. How can we preach in ways that will speak to them and communicate the gospel effectively? In this workshop, we will explore this question, looking at language and style of preaching and how we can reach the non-religious with an invitation to hear and respond to the Good News.

This workshop will be led by the Revd Dr Gus Tanner-Ihm. Gus is a Church of England priest in the Diocese of Manchester. He is actively engaged in racial justice initiatives and efforts to help the Church grow younger by fostering greater engagement with children, youth, and young adults. In addition to his parish ministry, Gus is also a theological educator.

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Ticket prices: general, £15; ministry student, £12

Booking closes 10 April 2026

Lessons for the Preacher to Learn from Jack Reacher

Monday, 27 April, 14.00-16.30 | online via Zoom

Workshop leader: Laurence Twaddle

We, as preachers, have a lot to learn from the discipline of keeping our content and presentation tight, stripped of padding, focused on the idea. The Jack Reacher style of communication has pace, vividness, and engagement while avoiding jargon, showmanship and ego. All of which makes for good communication. Attention-grabbing without being overly dramatic, it is an effective and direct form of communication. In this workshop, we will explore how we, as preachers, can learn to harness this style of communication to convey the great truths of the Gospel.

This workshop will be led by Laurence Twaddle. Now retired, Laurence was for many years a Church of Scotland minister whose ministry covered parishes in town and countryside and latterly eight years in Geneva. In the course of his ministry, he supervised several new ministers in training. He is a regular contributor to The Preacher magazine.

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Ticket prices: general, £15; ministry student, £12

Booking closes 23 April 2026