Whether it's Nigel Havers in an Oscar-winning film or a team of enthusiastic amateurs in a local school, dynamic story-telling is a vital part of our culture and mission.

In this edition of CRE Buzz, we celebrate both! Most appropriately for this special year, Chariots of Fire is re-released - while, at the same time, hundreds of 'ordinary' people will go into local schools as part of Open the Book - to tell Bible stories that engage and challenge.

Discover how your church can make the most of both initiatives at this year's CRE International (8-11 May, Sandown Park, Esher).

We look forward to seeing you there - and at CRE North, at our brand new venue in Manchester (10/11 Oct).

Lord David Puttnam, producer of arguably the most successful sports-themed movie of all time, will open this year's International CRE (Tue 8 May, Sandown Park, Esher).

Lord Puttnam (pictured), who turned the story of athlete Eric Liddell into the Oscar-winning movie Chariots of Fire, will launch a special set of church and community resources created by the Damaris Trust to accompany a re-release of the digitally re-mastered film in cinemas across the country.

'In this unique year, with the Olympics at the very top of the agenda, we are delighted to invite such a distinguished person to open the show,' said Paul Trott, head of marketing for CRE's parent company Bible Society.

'The story of Eric Liddell continues to inspire and challenge. With new resources available from Damaris we expect hundreds of UK churches to come to CRE and discover great ways to communicate to their communities before and during the London Games.'

Woman Alive celebrates its 30th birthday with a special two-day conference at CRE International. 

The monthly magazine is working with Bible Reading Fellowship (90 this year!) to bring together an exciting programme for women featuring Margaret Sentamu (pictured), Jennifer Rees Larcombe, Lucy Moore, Bryn Haworth, Veronica Zundel, Catherine Butcher, Amy Boucher Pye, Anne Le Tissier and Ali Herbert.

Editor Jackie Harris said: ‘We’re really pleased to work with BRF again, supported by many contributors and friends of the magazine. It promises to be a helpful and encouraging event.’ Admission is free by ticket only.

The conference starts before the main exhibition opens on Tue 8 May. Click here to book.

Thanks to Autosave, a 'lucky' (or providentially elected) visitor to one of our three exhibitions in 2012 must win a brand new Nissan Micra (pictured).

Richard May, of Autosave, said: 'We have supplied vehicles to churches for 28 years and become a household name to thousands of ministers and local church leaders.

Church members represent 70 per cent of our annual business and we are delighted to say thank you - and raise our profile even further - by offering CRE visitors the opportunity to win a free car.'

To buy your ticket to the Sandown Exhibition please click here.

The Arab uprisings and the summer’s civil unrest in the UK triggered reflection of faith-based, moral values - especially amongst older people.

A poll of more than 2,000 adults, conducted in December 2011 for CRE exhibitor Christian Research, discovered that the summer unrest also triggered significant reflection amongst the young.

The statistics were published in Quadrant, a bi-monthly newsletter from Christian Research containing relevant and helpful research projects from research agencies and Christian organisations around the world. Click here to sign up to CR's monthly e–bulletin.

More than 1000 British schools have already benefited from a new programme of themed and dramatised Bible stories for assemblies.

Open the Book utilises teams of Christians from local churches who tell stories in short (10-15 minute) presentations. Year One stories are taken from The Lion Storyteller Bible written by Bob Hartman and give an overview of the Bible from creation to the ascension.

Open the Book, which will be at CRE International, fulfils both OFSTED and SIAS (church school inspection) requirements for collective worship and has been used successfully in a multi-faith context.

To find out about Open the Book and the rest of the exhibitors already booked for Sandown, please click here.

CRE North (Oct 10/11 2012) looks set to be an outstanding exhibition with some 40 per cent of available stands at Manchester’s Event City (pictured) sold or reserved just a week after going on sale.

It’s nine long years since we were last in the north west and we are well aware that some of the most exciting church-based initiatives come from this strategic area. CRE North will be one of our busiest regional exhibitions with more than 150 organisations taking stands and a packed seminar programme.

The added attraction of the renowned Trafford Centre literally next door - and thousands of free parking places - makes Event City a perfect addition to your plans for the autumn. Make a note of those dates (Oct 10/11) in your diary. We're on our way!