Living Peacefully in a World of Conflict
A series of meetings for Lent 2025 organised by the Churches of the Bowland and Ewecross Deanery with Churches Together in Settle and District, Bradford Cathedral and The Peace Museum, Saltaire. Hosted by Holy Ascension Church, Settle.
On this page you will find links to recordings of the presentations in this Lent Series, and other related materials, for use personally or in your local groups
The series aims: to broaden our understanding of ‘peace’ and what it entails; to encourage us that peace is possible (as demonstrated through history and experience), and that we are all capable of being peace-makers and peace-builders.
CLICK HERE to watch back all YouTube video recordings from this series. Links to individual presentations are also included on the list below. (With thanks to the Castleberg Churches for hosting on their YouTube Live page)
Details of all five Sessions
11 March: What does ‘peace’ mean to you? [DOWNLOAD PROGRAMME]
Questions for conversations around tables on arrival:
*What does peace mean to you?
*Is peace just an absence of conflict/war?
*Is peace achievable or an ideal?
Speaker: Dr Clive Barrett, Chair of Trustees, The Peace Museum, Saltaire [CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO]
Scripture for Pause for Thought Revd John Davies [DOWNLOAD TEXT]:
“Blessed are the peacemakers, because they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5.9)
18 March: Being a ‘Peace’ Church [DOWNLOAD PROGRAMME]
Questions for table conversations:
*Conflict and violence are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same thing. Discuss.
*Conflicts are inevitable and must not be repressed or ignored but worked through painfully and carefully. Discuss.
*What does the word conflict mean to you, what images come to mind?
*What conflict has shaped your understanding of peacemaking?
*What can we learn from Jesus’ life and teaching about violence?
Speaker(s): John Asher, Marian McNichol and Sue Vickerman from Settle Friends on Quaker values, faith, and practice [CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO]
CLICK THESE LINKS TO DOWNLOAD other materials from tonight's presentation:
Peace Worskshop Powerpoint Presentation
Quaker Peace Testimony Powerpoint Slides
Scripture for Pause for Thought Revd Sue McWhinney [DOWNLOAD TEXT]:
“Love your neighbour as yourself”(Mark 12.31)
25 March: Peace between Faiths [DOWNLOAD PROGRAMME]
Questions for table conversations:
*Is peace primarily a political, religious, philosophical, practical, or personal concern?
*Discuss your response to the Interfaith Iftars held in Bradford at Ramadan, 2024 and 2025. [CLICK HERE FOR NEWS ITEM]
*Can you think of examples of where faith groups have helped overcome differences and build understanding?
*Can you think of people who you regard as good examples of what it means to be a peacemaker?
Speakers [CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO]:
Canon Ned Lunn (Bradford Cathedral) [Download Powerpoint slides]
Emma Goodway, Commonweal Collection Outreach Worker [Download Powerpoint slides]
Scripture for Pause for Thought (Revd Canon Ian Greenhalgh):
“Love your enemies”(Matthew 5.44)
1 April: Ecumenical Peace-building [DOWNLOAD PROGRAMME]
Questions for table conversations:
*How has my faith story been influenced by different Christian/spiritual traditions?
*What have I learned from people who worship God in different ways to me?
*Are there any limits to peace-making action (referencing the newspaper reports on the police raid on Westminster Meeting House / Youth Demand - CLICK HERE FOR REPORTS)?
Speakers [CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO]:
Margery Toller on the Iona Community's Common Concern Network.
John Davies on Belfast’s 4 Corners Festival. [CLICK HERE FOR TEXT]
Scripture for Pause for Thought (Revd John Davies) [DOWNLOAD TEXT]:
“Pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5.44)
including a reading of an extract from Seamus Heaney's The Cure at Troy.
8 April: Practicing Peace [DOWNLOAD PROGRAMME]
Question for table conversations:
*Do you think the world is becoming more of less peaceful? Why?.
Workshop sessions
My Peace Testimony
A discussion and reflection exercise hosted by Revd John Davies. Contributors Chris Bolas and Marian McNichol spoke on their ‘peace testimony’; then all participants were invited to complete our ‘Peace Testimony Dove’. Some participants took their testimonies home; others can be read here: [CLICK HERE TO READ THE PEACE TESTIMONIES]
Conflict Management revisited
We revisited the Conflict Management Styles model introduced in Session Two (see above) and considered how this may help us in situations we are involved in.
A Moving Meditation
All were invited to write on a post-it note what we have gained from this series, what we will take with us into our community, what our intentions are for being involved in peacemaking in the future. [CLICK HERE TO READ THE POST-IT NOTE COMMENTS]
Scripture for Pause for Thought (Stephen Hogg) [DOWNLOAD TEXT]:
“If you hold anything against anyone, forgive them” (Mark 11.25)