It's been a good week. Seeing old friends and making new ones. Enjoying the beauty of the Rocky Mountains. Witnessing the fruition of long-worked-on dreams and plans. Playing with the family. Being surrounded by the wonderful people who are the Covenant Church. It's been good.
The Feast was marvelous. Individuals and families experiencing the Spirit through learning experiences, worship, and play. Friendships breaking out all over. From early morning to late at night, people took advantage of opportunities to try new things out, to relax, to learn, to rest in the Lord. My part (Awakenings and Spiritual Learning Experiences) pretty much met or exceeded our expectations. Families did dress-up bible stories. Some learned of prayer through the music of Johnny Cash and Ralph Stanley. Others learned how to use a camera as an avenue of meeting God. Ancient prayers and prayer in a wired-world held the attention of small groups. Some met Christ in the pool, others on a morning jog. Attention was paid to the Spirit's presence along a mountain trail. And some learned better how to see God in the people around them. My only sorrow is that it was all over so soon.
The Covenant Annual meeting has been good, as well. We are a blessed people. Mission is strong, the budget is healthy, the leadership maintain a strong dependence on the Spirit. Worship remains rich. meetings are punctuated by lightheartedness. Yet there are painful moments - the list of those being removed from ministry roles included friends of mine. Time has been spent remembering ministers, missionaries, and spouses who have died in the last year. Churches have been closed.
Through it all, a strong spirit of unity prevails - that great Covenant freedom in unity.
Life is full of unexpected twists and turns; random conversations lead to entirely new worlds. I could be just about anywhere right now. And I find myself wondering how I am so blessed to be part of this great Covenant mission. How marvelous, how wonderful, is my savior's love for me.
Archived pictures of the Feast can be found here: http://www.covchurch.org/feast/photos/
Archived video of the Feast (including the highlight video) can be found here: http://covchurch.tv/category/events/the-feast/
Photos of the Annual Meeting can be found at: http://www.covchurch.org/am/photos/
Video of the Annual Meeting is being posted at: http://covchurch.tv/category/events/annual-meeting/annual-meeting-2011/
Showing posts with label The Feast. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Feast. Show all posts
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Friday, November 13, 2009
So, the Feast
Since nobody seems to know what it is I'm working on out here. . .
The Feast is a spiritual life event hosted every three years by the Evangelical Covenant Church, preceding the denominational annual meeting. The focus of The Feast is to bring a representation of the Whole Covenant family (and all others who want to come) together for a few days of prayer, worship, rest, challenge, and growth. An emphasis this coming Feast will be the intergenerational aspects of Christian Life together, creating a space in which young and old, single and extended family are welcome and valued at the table. We also are working hard to continue the Covenant's passion for being a true multi-ethnic, multi-lingual family worshiping, learning, and playing together.
The next Feast will be in June, 2011, at Estes Park, CO, and that's what we just spent the last few days planning and dreaming and hoping and seeking. There will be a lot at the Feast - worship, recreation, Spiritual Life Experiences, relaxing, growing, eating, singing, creating, meeting, and primarily being met by the Spirit of God.
I've been given co-leadership of two particular areas, sharing the work with Deb Steinkamp from Bellingham. We are responsible for the early-morning activities (by early we mean 6:00 a.m), and the 'spiritual life experience' sessions (think seminars) later in the morning. Our hope is to offer multiple outlets for people to experience God in a variety of ways - through exercise, creativity, lecture, family experiences, prayer exercises, spiritual listening, early morning worship, dance, and more traditional Bible study. And a bunch of other stuff to which we trust God will lead us.
The Feast will offer more 'traditional' worship formats, as well as truly intergenerational worship times. There are a lot of outdoor activites, from horseriding to fishing to a high ropes course to swimming to a skate park, we're hoping to have open mic nights and music jams and an art tent and lots of time to relax and rest and enjoy the Kingdom of God.
That's it in a nutshell. . .expect much more to come.
The Feast is a spiritual life event hosted every three years by the Evangelical Covenant Church, preceding the denominational annual meeting. The focus of The Feast is to bring a representation of the Whole Covenant family (and all others who want to come) together for a few days of prayer, worship, rest, challenge, and growth. An emphasis this coming Feast will be the intergenerational aspects of Christian Life together, creating a space in which young and old, single and extended family are welcome and valued at the table. We also are working hard to continue the Covenant's passion for being a true multi-ethnic, multi-lingual family worshiping, learning, and playing together.
The next Feast will be in June, 2011, at Estes Park, CO, and that's what we just spent the last few days planning and dreaming and hoping and seeking. There will be a lot at the Feast - worship, recreation, Spiritual Life Experiences, relaxing, growing, eating, singing, creating, meeting, and primarily being met by the Spirit of God.
I've been given co-leadership of two particular areas, sharing the work with Deb Steinkamp from Bellingham. We are responsible for the early-morning activities (by early we mean 6:00 a.m), and the 'spiritual life experience' sessions (think seminars) later in the morning. Our hope is to offer multiple outlets for people to experience God in a variety of ways - through exercise, creativity, lecture, family experiences, prayer exercises, spiritual listening, early morning worship, dance, and more traditional Bible study. And a bunch of other stuff to which we trust God will lead us.
The Feast will offer more 'traditional' worship formats, as well as truly intergenerational worship times. There are a lot of outdoor activites, from horseriding to fishing to a high ropes course to swimming to a skate park, we're hoping to have open mic nights and music jams and an art tent and lots of time to relax and rest and enjoy the Kingdom of God.
That's it in a nutshell. . .expect much more to come.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Truly Rocky Mountain High
Climbed a hill today. Realized we're at higher altitude here.
But it's been "Sunshine on my Shoulders" all week, snow-capped peaks all around. A herd of elk wandered by. Wandered over toward Rocky Mountain National Park today.
Good meetings, great discussions, a lot of fun and laughter, worship and prayer. The Feast is going to be pretty special, if this planning team is a reflection. The location, the plans, the people. . .I'm excited.
Tomorrow I head down to Denver for an afternoon and night with Joel and his wife, then back to Lakebay on Friday. Hopefully, I can bring some of this sunshine with me.
But it's been "Sunshine on my Shoulders" all week, snow-capped peaks all around. A herd of elk wandered by. Wandered over toward Rocky Mountain National Park today.
Good meetings, great discussions, a lot of fun and laughter, worship and prayer. The Feast is going to be pretty special, if this planning team is a reflection. The location, the plans, the people. . .I'm excited.
Tomorrow I head down to Denver for an afternoon and night with Joel and his wife, then back to Lakebay on Friday. Hopefully, I can bring some of this sunshine with me.
Sunday, November 08, 2009
Rocky Mountain High
I'm heading off to Colorado tomorrow, to join with the planning committee of Feast 2011. The Feast is the Covenant's once-every-three-years family camp, always preceding the denominational annual meeting. In 2011, it will be held at the YMCA of the Rockies, so that's where we're gathering for this first planning meeting. It's always a blessing to be a part of these things, meeting and hanging out with other good Covenant people, enjoying the excitement of anticipating the many ways God's going to use this group and these plans to touch people's lives. I think I know about 1/2 of the team already, and look forward to meeting the rest.
Before all is said and done, I get to spend a night with a friend and former youth group member, now living in Denver as well. So, really, this should be a good week.
Except for this little head cold, and the prospect of leaving Karina home with two sick kids. So if you get a chance to pray for all of us. . .we'd appreciate it.
In the meantime, they tell me there's wireless internet up there in the Rockies (what would John Denver have said about that?) so expect some updates from there.
Before all is said and done, I get to spend a night with a friend and former youth group member, now living in Denver as well. So, really, this should be a good week.
Except for this little head cold, and the prospect of leaving Karina home with two sick kids. So if you get a chance to pray for all of us. . .we'd appreciate it.
In the meantime, they tell me there's wireless internet up there in the Rockies (what would John Denver have said about that?) so expect some updates from there.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)