Diocese of Portsmouth
The Church of England

Events

Readers’ Study Day

Start date
10 Oct 2026, 9:15 a.m.
End date
10 Oct 2026, 4 p.m.
Location
St Luke’s Church, Greetham St, Portsmouth, Southsea PO5 4LH
Portsmouth
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Preaching from Mark

The Sunday Lectionary Cycle is 3-yearly and denoted by the letters A, B and C. Each year follows through one of the Gospels: A-Matthew, B-Mark, C-Luke. The Gospel of John is proclaimed on particular Sundays in each of the years. This coming year is B.

Professor Steve Walton, Senior Research Fellow in New Testament at Trinity College Bristol, will lead the day. Attendees can learn tools and approaches to help them understand Mark’s Gospel more fully and to preach it more informatively and accessibly to their congregation.

Starting the day with coffee at 9:15am followed by worship at 9:30am, sessions with breaks for coffee and lunch, all finishing at 4pm.

Whether you have read and preached from Mark many times, or you’re preparing for your first time leading a bible study, this day will set you on the right path. It will give you new ways of looking at Mark, refresh your perspective, and help you think about how you share your revelations with your congregation in a way that is inclusive and inviting. Please join us for this, and do invite your incumbent to come along too.

  • Saturday 10th October
  • 9:15am to 4pm
  • St Luke’s Church, Southsea

Meet Mark

What are the aims for this day?

Today’s overall aim is to equip you with knowledge, tools and approaches which will enable you to understand Mark’s Gospel (the ‘controlling’ Gospel in the lectionary in 2026-27) more fully and to preach it more informatively and accessibly to your congregations. In particular, you should gain:

  • understanding of the overall plot and content of Mark
  • knowledge of some key approaches and resources for reading Mark
  • a grasp of a key theme in Mark
  • a look at Mark through the lens of a particular verse
  • opportunity to study a portion of Mark in groups with an eye on how to preach from it.

What’s the programme?

  • 9am – Arrivals and coffee
  • 9:30am – Worship
  • 10am – Welcome, Introductions, Introducing Mark
  • 11:15am – Coffee break
  • 11:45am – Looking at a Markan theme: disciples and discipleship
  • 12:45pm – Lunch
  • 1:30pm – Looking at Mark through a verse as lens
  • 2:30pm – Tea break
  • 2:45pm – Working on the text. A chance to share your findings on Mark 5:21-43 (the Gospel for 27 June 2027) in small groups, followed by plenary discussion
  • 4pm – Depart
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St Luke's Southsea

www.stlukessouthsea.church, PO5 4LH

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