THE LAUNCH - FOCUS & FEAST |
NB: Please fill in the RSVP form at the bottom of the page!
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Introduction
Let the gears start turning! The first part of our work is to create a process to support as many members and churches that are willing on a path of personal renewal and refocus on God's mission and our calling as churches. We hope to do this in two ways: a Focus Time and a Feast Day. The two ways will now be introduced and explained shortly.
The Time of Focus
A focus time in a church is when the whole church commit themselves for a certain time to focus sharply on a particular topic. We wrote a Focus Time booklet covering six weeks to be followed by the whole church. The guide covers the six themes of the Church Growth Ministry in a manageable way for churches to explore. The guide contains tips for preaching, daily devotions and group studies for each of the themes.
We propose that church councils consider participating in this focus time during the six weeks prior to the end of October 2015 (or the local feast day). In this way the members are prepared to participate in the feast day in a meaningful way. If the Focus Time does not fit in with the planning of the church it can be followed at any later stage. The guide can also be used if you do not plan to participate in the feast day.
You can download the guide on this LINK.
You can undertake the Focustime with us. Join our FOKUSTYD FORUM. The titles are in Afrikaans, but you may post in English. DIRECTIONS: Click on this LINK. You will land on the INTERAKSIE page. The Forum is right at the top. First join as a member. Then click the 'FOKUSTYD' forum and then on the 'NEEM DEEL AAN DIE FOKUSTYD' topic. You can now post to that topic. If you want email updates on postings, mark the bottom block 'subscribe'.
Churches are encouraged to use and distribute it electronically as far as possible to save costs. Please also print some copies in A5 booklet format for members who will not be able to use it electronically. Please also assist churches in your classis with printing cost were necessary. The deputies will have a limited number of printed guides available in both languages for churches that have no other way out.
Let the gears start turning! The first part of our work is to create a process to support as many members and churches that are willing on a path of personal renewal and refocus on God's mission and our calling as churches. We hope to do this in two ways: a Focus Time and a Feast Day. The two ways will now be introduced and explained shortly.
The Time of Focus
A focus time in a church is when the whole church commit themselves for a certain time to focus sharply on a particular topic. We wrote a Focus Time booklet covering six weeks to be followed by the whole church. The guide covers the six themes of the Church Growth Ministry in a manageable way for churches to explore. The guide contains tips for preaching, daily devotions and group studies for each of the themes.
We propose that church councils consider participating in this focus time during the six weeks prior to the end of October 2015 (or the local feast day). In this way the members are prepared to participate in the feast day in a meaningful way. If the Focus Time does not fit in with the planning of the church it can be followed at any later stage. The guide can also be used if you do not plan to participate in the feast day.
You can download the guide on this LINK.
You can undertake the Focustime with us. Join our FOKUSTYD FORUM. The titles are in Afrikaans, but you may post in English. DIRECTIONS: Click on this LINK. You will land on the INTERAKSIE page. The Forum is right at the top. First join as a member. Then click the 'FOKUSTYD' forum and then on the 'NEEM DEEL AAN DIE FOKUSTYD' topic. You can now post to that topic. If you want email updates on postings, mark the bottom block 'subscribe'.
Churches are encouraged to use and distribute it electronically as far as possible to save costs. Please also print some copies in A5 booklet format for members who will not be able to use it electronically. Please also assist churches in your classis with printing cost were necessary. The deputies will have a limited number of printed guides available in both languages for churches that have no other way out.
The Feastday
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Feast days Planning:
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What is proposed?
Churches and members of the Reformed Churches (and even wider) come together in local regions to do together three things:
How does the regions work and who will organize the event?
The ideal region would be a classis or two (depending on how widely the churches are dispursed). We hope to conduct the rest of our work as deputies in the classes to really encourage and build each other. This opportunity already starts with that process. The approach is decentralization and contextualization.
Any church or two in a particular region can offer to organize and host the event. Churches interested to host such an event should provide met with the following details as soon as possible: a) conform that they want to lead it, b) the date they consider and c) the size of the region that they are able to invite/accommodate. We have already received confirmation from some churches. If it overlaps we will follow up with you.
It may also be that no church in a particular classis or region are willing or able to organize the event. In that case the churches / members of that classis can participate in their next closest event.
When does it happen?
Any Saturday or Sunday suitable for the classis/region close to the end of October in the light of Reformation Sunday on 25 October 2015. It does not have to fall on October 25.
How can the day be set up practically?
There are no specific requirements except that the three focuses above be addressed. It is left to the host church(es) to set it up in a way that would best serve their context. The event can have different formats for eg .:
Churches and members of the Reformed Churches (and even wider) come together in local regions to do together three things:
- Set themselves openly before God to confess their sins and shortcomings.
- Delight themselves with heartfelt joy in the gospel: the message of the cross of Christ as the power of God for salvation - even though we have failed much. Immerse themselves in Christ, in whom all the hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge is hidden! Praise God the Father, Son and Spirit's infinite goodness with thanksgiving. "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."
- Recommit themselves, compelled by the love of Christ, as living and holy sacrifices to following Jesus and proclaiming the wonderful deeds of Him who called them out of darkness into his marvellous light!
How does the regions work and who will organize the event?
The ideal region would be a classis or two (depending on how widely the churches are dispursed). We hope to conduct the rest of our work as deputies in the classes to really encourage and build each other. This opportunity already starts with that process. The approach is decentralization and contextualization.
Any church or two in a particular region can offer to organize and host the event. Churches interested to host such an event should provide met with the following details as soon as possible: a) conform that they want to lead it, b) the date they consider and c) the size of the region that they are able to invite/accommodate. We have already received confirmation from some churches. If it overlaps we will follow up with you.
It may also be that no church in a particular classis or region are willing or able to organize the event. In that case the churches / members of that classis can participate in their next closest event.
When does it happen?
Any Saturday or Sunday suitable for the classis/region close to the end of October in the light of Reformation Sunday on 25 October 2015. It does not have to fall on October 25.
How can the day be set up practically?
There are no specific requirements except that the three focuses above be addressed. It is left to the host church(es) to set it up in a way that would best serve their context. The event can have different formats for eg .:
- A Saturday afternoon meeting with an afternoon program of group discussions and prayer leading up to an evening program with dinner, a speaker or preacher and singing.
- A joint morning or evening worship service on Sunday with special opportunities for prayers and songs before, during or after the service.
- A Saturday morning conference with speakers, workshops and prayer sessions.
- Special attention can be given to involve young people and the diversity of our churches in the process.
