Called to Serve is a course for Christians exploring what it means to be Christ's disciples today. It is designed for Christians who want to grow and to serve God more fully. Taster events are being run county-wide during June. Put up a poster if you can. All course dates and programme information can be found here.

Discussion and sharing on the role of silence – a brief guide to the inner life of each faith and how this is practised, e.g. prayer, contemplations and meditation. 2-4pm; Brook Street School, Edward Street, Carlisle. Enquiries.

The Growing Leaders course will be run Sept 13 - June 14 by the Archdeaconry of Westmorland and Furness and is open ecumenically. Designed to develop lay leadership. 8 evening sessions,an all-day Saturday session and a 24 hour residential. Each participant will be allocated a mentor. Cost: £200 including all materials and the residential, help might be available for anyone to whom this might be a barrier. Introductory evenings, with coffee and cakes, to inform people about the course so a decision whether to participate or can be made: 4th June at St Mary's Church, Church Road, Allithwaite, LA11 7RD; 4th June at St Pauls Church, Abbey Road / Hawcoat Lane, Barrow-in-Furness - contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if interested in attending either: 015395 32437.

Training day led by Neil Hudson, Director of the ‘Imagine Project’ at the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity (LICC), author of ‘Imagine Church: Releasing Whole-Life disciples’. For those who want to see their church growing and equipping people to be disciples of Jesus from Monday to Saturday as well as on Sunday.  About imagining ourselves as followers of Jesus 7 days a week wherever our lives take us…..office, workplace, school gate, kitchen sink, shops, street. 9.30am - 4pm; Kirkland Hall, Holy Trinity Church, Kendal, LA9 5AF. £15. Bring own lunch; tea and coffee provided. More information and bookings.

Find out and get involved in the IF campaign, targetting the G8 meeting in the UK, 8- 17th June 2013 (London and Enniskillen). Nearly one billion people go to bed hungry every night and two million children die from malnutrition every year. We've made progress in other areas, but hunger is still the great scandal of our age. All around the world, even in the UK, people are struggling to feed their families. In 2013, the government has promised to provide 0.7% of national income for aid and to host a Hunger Summit. We must make sure they keep these promises. In June, the world’s most powerful leaders will meet in the UK at the G8. This is our best opportunity to tackle hunger. We must make IF happen.

Retreat, relax, re-energise… a day of rest and recuperation for NHS Staff led by Stephen Wright of the Sacred Space Foundation at Rydal Hall near Ambleside, on June 13th. 09.30-16.30. Cost: £25. More information.

Every 2 years CTiC's Social Responsibility Forum organises a conference for church members across the county. The 2013 conference will highlight the vast range of chaplaincy provision across Cumbria and give church folk the opportunity to meet local chaplains and hear first hand about their work. Keynote speakers: Rt Rev James Newcome, Bishop of Carlisle, on chaplaincy & discipleship; Kevin Duffy, national Methodist Church Chaplaincy Development Project Officer. Chair: Rev Richard Teal, Cumbria Methodist District. Panel & seminars on emregency service, auction mart, industrial, university, school, hospital, hospice, care home, sport and prison chaplaincies in Cumbria. 10am - 4pm; Ambleside Church Centre. Poster & booking details.

Practical Nonviolence, a workshop with Sarah Ludford on Saturday 22th June 10am-5pm at The Friends Meeting House, Keswick. More information here.

Theologian Val Webb will speak at this event, organised by Kendal Ecumenical Group, about her 1995 book 'In Defence of Doubt'. Light lunch at 12 noon followed by address and discussion 1-4pm; Stonecross Manor Hotel, Kendal, LA9 5EP. £10; ages 11 to 20 free. Poster. Booking essential: text 0784 747 7424; phone 01539 737432. Payment to: Kendal Ecumenical Group, 29 Kirkbie Green, Kendal LA9 7AJ.

Following the great interest in the public meetings on the importance for us all of considering setting up Lasting Power of Attorney under the Mental Capacity Act run by Churches Together in Cumbria in Keswick and Lancaster in 2012, we are holding another such meeting in Kendal on the morning of 6th July this year in order to help more people plan for themselves and their loved ones in the event of losing the ability to make decisions, e.g. due to dementia or accident. Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to register an interest in attending.

Suicide rates in Cumbria are higher than the national average. How can we support those in need? This two-day certified course is led by Carlisle/Eden MIND, funded by the Methodist Church, and supported by Churches Together in Cumbria. More information and to book here.

A day of meditation and music led by Kath Dodd, minister of Hawkshead Hill Baptist Chapel and a classically trained pianist. The day will encourage participants to discern and discover the place that music has, or could have, in enriching their spiritual lives. Hawkshead Hill Baptist Chapel LA22 0PW. Full 2013 programme of Christian Meditation in Cumbria.

Run by Christian Meditation in Cumbria. Full 2013 programme of Christian Meditation in Cumbria.

Discussion and sharing on teaching and leading – who teaches and who leads in your faith  – and is the nature of either of these changing over time? 2-4pm; Brook Street School, Edward Street, Carlisle. Enquiries.

Retreat, relax, re-energise… a day of rest and recuperation for NHS Staff led by Stephen Wright of the Sacred Space Foundation at Rydal Hall near Ambleside, on September 4th, October 31st, November 28th (for those who have attended previous sessions). 09.30-16.30. Cost: £35. More information.