Renewal at Epiphany
Every Liturgical year we have made provision for at least four (4) renewals at different levels.
November being the first, the renewal begins with a stewardship campaign that leads into the weekend of Advent. The Renewal begins with a "Retreat" on Friday evening continuing through to Saturday at noon. Following lunch the renewal takes the form of our A.G.M. Reports from the various ministries and organizations of the Church which are presented. Vestry members are then elected for the new year and the weekend concludes on the Sunday which is recognized as Commitment Sunday. Members make an Act of Commitment which gives us a good start for the new Church's year. A revised version of "Stewardship '94" is still being used. This weekend proves fruitful to the Church because it prepares the members for the financial year in January, the approval of the parish budget and the distribution of envelopes during the Advent season which makes for a smoother operation and individual consciousness to consistent, systematic management. Accountability for all now becomes transparent. Our second renewal has, for sometime now, taken place on the last weekend of April as a means of marking our Church's anniversary on the 23rd of April. However during the past three years we have held our renewal on the weekend of Lent 5. Prior to this year the renewal took the form of the Discovery Program written by Fr. Robert Noble. However, this year 2001, a group of persons from the parish developed a programme geared toward specific areas that warranted attention. THE THEME "Responding to God and others" laid the foundation for specific areas of Evangelistic truths during the next six months. The experiences gained from our Discovery programme in the form of table dynamics and witness talks were integrated into our new programme. The results so far of the theme for this very successful weekend proved to be most constructive. Follow ups to the program are now taking place in various positive ways. We are finding that the sense of ownership of the programme lends attention to continuing growth.
Our third renewal weekend focuses on our youth. The name given to this weekend is Karambe, its origin is Swahili, meaning "A gathering together." This weekend is held the last week in June. Confirmation, and post confirmation students up to age sixteen are in attendance. Karambe comes at a time when the majority of our high school students have completed their examinations and are preparing to move on to college. As a result the weekend has been designed to challenge their social, spiritual, physical and emotional well being. The weekend starts on Friday evening with supper, games, movie and a speaker that sets the scene for the weekend and its theme. The weekend continues with it's various activities that address social and spiritual needs of the teenager along with the teaching of the Church's Faith. It concludes on Saturday with a formal dinner in which the teenagers are exposed to social etiquette and interaction among each other. The weekend ends on Sunday at the family Eucharist where the activities partaken are shared by the youth.
For the past three years the Alpha programme gets started
in September and lasts for approximately eight weeks besides the weekly
meetings. One weekend is included during the fifth week. In addition to
our four stable renewals, the parish is now pursuing a family weekend
which will focus on family planning, education, careers, budgeting etc.
Our congregation is still relatively young and such topics, we feel, will
enhance the growth and development of family life.
It is our opinion that all these programmes are geared toward specific
needs and spirituality of the parish and the programs must be flexible
so that the resources and facilities of the church can be fully utilized.
The elements of trust, integrity and fellowship, must be paramount in
not only what is done but by whom it is done.
Overview of the Weekend
Under the theme "RESPONDING TO GOD AND OTHERS", the weekend began on Friday evening and was geared to the evaluation and deepening of our relationship as a church in molding our Christian character.
To this end we opened with a charge by the parish priest as to the spiritual development of the parish.
Also sharing in a light hearted but serious vain was the people's warden, who, in reminiscing on parish evangelistic thrust, placed emphasis on the need to know the history of our church (know our story) and to know the value of the individual in molding the church's overall character. (Heighten the individual's consciousness that he / she is a part of a whole and an awareness of his / her part to play in the whole)
Morning prayer on Saturday was followed by a layperson, who is a part of one of the ministries in the church. She shared her involvement as a "partner in mission" and the benefits derived as a result of her participation with a view to enabling members to examine their own commitment. The choice of the individual was due to her life in the church being consistent with her talk
The layperson's talk was followed by an opportunity of Christian Education in our examining Christian Formation. i.e. What is Christian Formation? Why Christian Formation?
What Christian Formations sets out to accomplish? (To be consistent with the overall Diocese objective to expose the parish to this aspect of Diocese 2000 and beyond.)
Christian Formation was shared by the Canon Missioner. Members partook in the talk through group sharing and discussion.
In the same session, a Bible Study followed about the church when two of the seven churches from the book of Revelation were compared the New Testament church as we see in the acts of apostle chapter two with emphasis on the ten characteristics in verses forty-two through forty-seven
Following the Bible study, each table was given one aspect
of the ten characteristics to discuss, with material provided on each
area along with scripture references to assist in discussion and learning.
A plenary session followed and each table presented their findings. A
serial statement was comprised by the body
On Saturday afternoon an opportunity was provided for reflections on personal deficiencies that hinder ministry. (sin)
A talk on commitment and the discipline and sacrifice required for effective ministry was given by a layperson, who demonstrates in her ministry the qualities of commitment, discipline and sacrifice. This was followed by a period of silence and the act of penance and absolution during which individuals sat alone and were invited to write down all the ills and burdens or any hindrances in their spiritual conscientiousness.
Individuals were invited to place writings in barrel to be burnt. During the burning the penitential rite and absolution took place, followed by the laying on of hands and anointing for all who were desirous of it.
Members return to the conference room for an act of affirmation of themselves, which was completed on Sunday morning at the family Eucharist.
At the family Eucharist the priest warden shared with the whole congregation the events of the weekend emphasizing that the commitment made by the members attending the weekend were on behalf of the whole parish.
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PROGRAMME
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FRIDAY EVENING MARCH
30, 2001
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TIME
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EVENT
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SPEAKER
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VENUE
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6:00 - 7:00
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Supper |
Pavillion
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7:00 - 7:15
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"Responding to God and
Others, Continuing our Pilgrimage" |
Church
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7:15 - 7:30
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Table assignment / Ice Breaker |
Fr. Archer
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Church
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7:30 - 7:45
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Praise & Worship |
Director
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Hall
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7:45 - 8:00
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"The Pleasure of the Journey, from There to Where?" |
Hall
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8:00 - 8:15
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Chart your stay from 1990 - 2001 |
Bertram Knowles
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Hall
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8:15 - 8:50
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Compline |
Participants
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Hall
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8:50 - 9:00
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Hall
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PROGRAMME
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SATURDAY MARCH 31, 2001
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TIME
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EVENT
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SPEAKER
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VENUE
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8:00 - 8:30
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Breakfast |
Hall / Church
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8:30 - 8:45
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Morning Prayer |
Church
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8:45 - 9:00
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"Responding Lovingly to God" |
C. Bethel
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Hall
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9:00 - 10:00
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Christian Formation |
Fr. Basil Tynes
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Hall
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10:00 - 10:15
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Break |
Hall
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10:15 - 10:45
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Discussion on Christian Formation |
Bertram Knowles
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Hall
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10:45 - 11:00
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Bible Study Instructor |
Participants
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Hall
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11:00 - 12:00
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Bible Study (Groups) |
Hall
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12:00 - 12:30
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Plenary Session |
Hall
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12:30 - 1:30
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Lunch |
Pavillion
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1:30 - 1:45
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Commitment and Disciplines |
Church
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1:45 - 2:45
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Penance and Absolution |
Church
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2:45 - 3:45
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Affirmation and Commitment (Tables) |
Hall
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3:45 - 4:15
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Plenary Session (Quiet Time) Closing |
Hall
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SUNDAY APRIL 1, 2001
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TIME
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EVENT
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VENUE
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7:00
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Mass (Renewal and Commitment) |
Church
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9:00
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Family Eucharist (Renewal and
Commitment) |
Church
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