The Living Word conference, at St John the Evangelist Church, will focus on how best to face up to the challenge we all face of forgiving those who hurt us, escaping the weight of personal guilt, and covering over shame.

The conference is an annual gathering, resourced by the leaders and musicians from a range of Carlisle churches, to support and equip all churches through focussed Bible teaching and is part of the wider fellowship of the Keswick Convention.

The Rev Tudor Boddam-Whetham, vicar of St John’s and chair of the Living Word committee, said: “All of us know the pain of being hurt by others, the scars it can leave, and the bitterness that can get hold of us. If we’re honest, we also know guilt and shame for things we have done or failed to do and how that profoundly affects us.

“Even if we know something of God’s forgiveness in Jesus and the freedom He gives, Christians can still struggle more than we care to admit. By dealing specifically with these distinct areas of forgiveness, guilt and shame from the Bible’s deep wisdom, we’re equipping Christians to take an even greater hold of the healing we have in Jesus, and the freedom this gives us to love.”

The conference’s guest speaker is Richard Underwood, who has experience both as a Church Minister, and as a Director of the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC) working with Churches dealing with conflict and hurt. He continues to support church leaders as an Associate for Living Leadership, as well as serving in his local church.

He said: “Forgiving is one the most beautiful words we know, and one of the hardest things we’re ever asked to do. It sounds noble until you attach it to a real wound, a real betrayal, a real person who hurt you. When asked about this Jesus tells a story that hits like a punch in the solar plexus and I’m looking forward to exploring this and more with those at the conference.”

This year’s event - ‘Forgiveness’ - will run from Tuesday 5 to Thursday 7 May, with sessions running from 10.30am and repeated at 7.30pm. Each session will run for approximately 90 minutes.

Churches across the Carlisle area collaborate for these times of Bible teaching, musical worship and prayer, plus food, bookstall, and other stands.

All are welcome to attend.