Christian Union Restore Event 2022: What’s it all about?

The Lancaster Christian Union are running a Missions Week in County Square from Monday 21st to Thursday 24th of February. The event includes lunchtime and dinner functions each day, with talks on topics such as finding hope in a post-pandemic world and free meals provided alongside a café that is open all day every day. Talks for the rest of the week include “Can I Find True Connection in an Isolated World?” and “Am I More Than Just My Degree?”.

The CU has also opened this opportunity to reach out to students who had to evacuate their accommodation due to the storm, offering free meals and is open all day as a place to study. Talks taking place at 12 pm and 1 pm will have a free lunch available, and talks at 7 pm will include a free dinner.

The timetable for the week is as follows:

Monday 21st: 5.30 pm – talk “Restoring Connections: Uncertainty and Change”, 7 pm – talk “Restoring Society”.

Tuesday 22nd: 12 pm – talk “Can I find inner peace in an anxious world?”, 1 pm – talk “Can I find lasting joy in a hurting world?”, 7 pm – “Student Story and Q&A panel”.

Wednesday 23rd: 12 pm – talk “Can I find true connection in an isolated world?”, 1 pm – talk “Can I recover from loss?”, 5.30 pm – talk “Restoring Connections – Belonging”, 7 pm – talk “Restoring Relationships”.

Thursday 24th: 12 pm – talk “Who am I when I can be anything?”, 1 pm – talk “Am I more than just my degree?”, 7 pm – talk “Restoring me”.

via @lancscu on Instagram

We spoke to Natalie, the Missions Week co-ordinator, who told us that the aim for the week is to “bless the students on campus, providing a place they can come for tea, cake and a chat, and ask any questions they have in a safe and comfortable space.” For anyone interested in coming along, the event is “a really cool way to meet other people and get to know the Christian Union, find out more about Christianity, or simply enjoy the free food!”

Hassan and Farhan, who dropped into the marquee on Monday, said: “We just saw the tent and hadn’t seen anything like it before, so we came in, everyone has been so friendly, and we got free cake!”

Lydia, who came for one of the talks, told The Lancaster Tab: “It’s been really great to have a chance to think through the claims of Christianity and be given an opportunity to ask questions. We all come with lots of preconceptions about Christianity, and looking at it afresh has shown me where I got it wrong.”

So far, the events appear to have been a great success, with lots of people visiting the cafe throughout the day and many visitors at the talks; Natalie tells us that on Monday evening, so many guests came that there were no seats left, which was highly encouraging.

There are still lots of events to go to, and the CU would love to see you there.

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