Archive for May, 2007

Have you ever wondered what life would be like without the Spirit? Imagine Jesus ascended into heaven leaving just His words. Leaving us just history to study. Leaving companionship only as a promise for the future, leaving us alone.

I find it easy to imagine, because thats how I live. Dead sometimes, studying history and talking to the roof. I’m not alone. Well I feel alone but I know there are others like me whose duracell has run flat, whose candle has burnt to a stump, and who have forgotten that the switch that could flood space with light is right at our fingertips…

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Grace is without doubt the most beautiful concept in life. Not just a concept mind you, but a manifestation of unmerited favor, by the God who loves to the ones who don’t deserve that love.

Grace is brought to life in the story of the prodigal son, the son who received unmerited favor and blessings from the father. A ring, a robe, sandals and a party. Authority, character, freedom and a celebration.

The story encapsulates grace as we know it. ‘Encapsulates’ is actually a poor word choice, because one of the beauties of grace is that it can’t be contained. Grace doesn’t stop with the prodigal son. There is another character in the story, an older brother, and the antagonist through whom grace is re-awakened in another form. There’s grace that takes you home, and grace that keeps you home…

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“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” John 4:23

I’ll never grow tired of discovering contemporary truth in ancient scripture. There is a worship revolution taking place in this country and beyond, and it’s happening now. The time has indeed come; the Father’s glory is being revealed in the light shining from every tribe, tongue and nation joining together to lift up His name.

It was truly uplifting to see hundreds of young people show up for Ignite recently, a gathering with the sole purpose of uniting the body in corporate worship. But what’s even more exciting is to see that God is carrying out His plan not just through a select bunch of people, but through independent groups all over the place. In Cape Town the same vision is being carried by Simply Worship. Young people are encountering God at the praise parties and “battles of the bands” organised by various local churches.

Of course all of these events are not an end in themselves, but serve to set the hearts of believers aflame so that their hearts may be changed, and eventually the world would be transformed by our lives lived out as acts of worship.

Here are some gatherings coming up during the next few weeks in and around Jo’burg:

• Friday 18 May 2007 6pm: Worship at Trinity Methodist in Linden
• Friday 25 May 2007 6:30pm: Aflame at Northfield Methodist in Benoni (youth)
• Saturday 2 June 2007 8am: Jubilee Worship Seminar at Alberton Methodist Church
• Saturday 9 June 2007 4pm: Battle of the Bands at Dutch Reformed Church Mondeor (youth)

For more details about any of these, check the calendar.

Praise the Lord!

Alberton Methodist Church is hosting a world-class worship seminar on Saturday 2 June 2007. This is a valuable opportunity for worship leaders and their teams to come and grow in their ministry. All worshippers will benefit from attending though, not only those in leadership positions.

Leading worship at the seminar will be Evan Rogers, the Music Director of Jubilee Community Church in Cape Town.

Keynote speakers:
Rev. Dr. Dion Forster
Rev. Barry Marshall

Workshop leaders:
Evan Rogers
Barry Marshall
Dion Forster
Rowan Rogers
Mandla Gamede
Brian Smith
Gary & Jacqui Rivas

Download Registration Form & Programme

Cost for the day is R50 plus a non-perishable food item for the poor. A packed lunch is optional and will cost R15 extra.

For more information email Bronwen (or phone her during the day on 011-907-2807).