St Philip and St James Church are putting on a dramatised reading of the Book of Job this weekend.
All are welcome to attend at 5pm on Sunday, 24th September, after which there will be a discussion at 6pm followed by Evensong at 6.30pm.
Rev Robin Pye said "Scholars believe that the Book of Job may be the oldest book in the Hebrew Scripture. Using a new translation by Professor Philip Alexander, Professor of Jewish Studies at Manchester University, members of the congregation will seek to bring this ancient tale to life.
The story concerns a good man called Job. God and the devil become engaged in an argument about Job. The devil says that Job is only good because he experiences good fortune. To prove him wrong, God brings misfortune on Job. Job and his friends try to make sense of what is happening to him. The story sheds light on how we maintain our relationship with God in good times and in bad.
Robin Pye, vicar of St Philip and St James, said, 'Job really only works if you read the book all the way through. We don't normally have time to do that in church so for that reason Job rarely figures in our services. Our dramatised reading addresses that and opens up these theological ideas in an engaging way which is what this text was designed to do originally, of course."
All are welcome, entrance is free and free refreshments will be served afterwards.
