MISSION WEEK 2006 REPORT
Background
The idea of a Mission Week was born at a Parish Leadership Quiet Day held in April 2004 at the Bishop's House where our Parish Vision was also created. It was held for the first time last year in June after which the congregation recommended we host it annually.
The mission week has a threefold purpose being:
Celebration of the goodness of God in our individual and communal lives.
Evangelism
Help people encounter God and thus change their lifestyles especially the young people.
Preparations
Preparations begins at the beginning of each year with biweekly prayer meetings held by the parish prayer team; followed by the strategic planning meetings once a month. The participation clergy also meet in prayer and reflection months before the week to discern God's message for the forthcoming revival and thus come up with the theme. The prayer team then reflects in their ongoing prayer meetings on the theme.
A joint participant's prayer meeting comprising of the clergy team, prayer team, music team and counseling team is then held the Sunday before the start of the week to spiritually prepare ourselves for the week ahead. The membership of the clergy, prayer and counseling teams is drawn not only from Anglicans but from other denominations as well.
Mission Week
The 2006 Mission Week began on Wednesday, the 7th June and ended on Sunday, the 11th June.
There were three priests leading and sharing on God's word throughout the week being Fr. Steve Moreo, Fr. Charles May and Fr. Xolani Dlwati. Pastor Philip Dungulu from the Living Waters Church in Dobsonville who was to be our guest preacher was unable to join us due to the death of his father in the Eastern Cape. Our condolences go to him and his entire family.
We had guest visitors from the USA being Pastor Alphonso & Mrs. Westly; Pastor Gilbert Paneng from the local church and Fr. Dan Nqumeya from Goodshepered Tladi who also took part through prayer and sharing during the week.
The Parish Junior Choir born out of the previous years (2005) mission week joyously led worship and blessed the week. They were accompanied by the key board and other music instruments donated by parishners who felt blessed by the last year's revival.
The programme for each day comprised of Praise & Worship, Sharing of the Word, Laying of Hands & Prayer, Time of testimony and Celebration through song and dance. During the proceedings the prayer team prays with those in need of special prayers while the counseling team assists those in need of counseling.
There were three highlights in this year's revival being:
High presence of young people who were opening up to and were excited about the gospel despite the challenges and pressures they face daily.
The interdenominational presence; as there were young and old from across the denominational affiliations who together worshipped God sincerely despite their differences.
Presence of a counseling team under the oversight of our resident Anglicare counselor which seemed to have been overworked.
The visit on Saturday morning to the Boikhotso Community Home Based Care Centre in Tshepisong.
This years theme was "Break the Camp" (Deut 1 vs. 6-7) following up on last years theme "Christ our Healer". The first day focused on Who am I?; the second and third day, on Who am I with?; fourth day, Life at the camp & the necessity of breaking it; and the fifth day, on A God who never forsakes us!
On Saturday we visited the Boikhotso centre and held a service together with the staff, patients and the surrounding community. Together we shared on our joys and pains; prayed and worshipped God despite the challenges before us. There was also a mixture of presence in relation to age, gender and denominational affiliation who embraced each other in the Lord. We were deeply moved and challenged as a parish by the poverty, unemployment and how HIV/AIDS is destroying God's creation in that area.
Conclusion
Following the Mission Week each team holds its evaluation of the event separately and at a later stage a joint evaluation is held which ends with a thanksgiving service, and this will be held in August 2006.
We give thanks to God for all persons and institutions that contributed with cash, skills, talents, ideas, time, prayers and their presence to ensure the great success of this year's Mission Week. Our special word of thanks goes to the St. Thomas congregation; the participating clergy, counseling and prayer teams; Boikhotso Centre; Hospitality Portfolio; Spiritual Growth Portfolio and Junior Choir & Lungelo Moti (keyboard player).
Most importantly our heartfelt appreciation goes to the following that sponsored this year's revival:
Parish of St. Michaels and All Angels, Weltervreden Park.
Parish of St. Michaels, Brynston.
Bishop Brian Germond.
Dr C M Tlou-Mosime, Kagiso 1.
Elizabeth Tlholoe
Parish of St. Thomas Council, Group Leaders & Congregation.
Many thanks
| The
Ven. Revd. Xolani Dlwati Priest in Charge |
Mrs.
Sheila Rammila Coordinator Spiritual Growth Portfolio |
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