We were excited to have the opportunity to lead a worship retreat for Hinkletown Mennonite Church this weekend. The retreat was from May 15-17. It was at a beautiful cabin in a place called Waterloo.
The theme of the weekend was "A New Thing" and the theme verse was Isaiah 43:19. Jen did most of the teaching for a change since she is a worship leader and this retreat was focused on worship. She taught a lot about being ready to perceive the new things God is doing, about recognizing and learning from what God has done, but not getting so stuck there that we miss what God is doing right now. We dove into the context surrounding our theme verse to see these very concepts clearly spoken in this prophecy.
Jen taught about various spiritual aspects of worship leading and team leading. She also taught on practical things like music theory, team dynamics, and "techie stuff" like sound systems and projectors (Sean led that part!)...
Then on Saturday night we had a time of "hands on" learning and experience in "Inspirational worship". Everyone in the group got a chance to do something new and perform it for the rest of the group to inspire others to worship. It was fun!
Sunday morning was our last session and Sean spoke about God's ramah and logos words. We ended with a time of inspirational worship and individual listening for God's ramah words. Then we went around the group and welcomed everyone to share any ramah words God spoke to them during that time. Every single person in the group shared a ramah word God had given them. Some of the words were significantly life changing and led to release of spiritual gifts. There was ministry and prayer and a wonderfully sweet spirit there that morning.
We left encouraged about the good work God did in and through us this weekend and we also were glad for the new friendships we formed!
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Friday, May 1, 2009
The Fire Station ~ By Alicia Kanode
We gathered together on Friday night for the last Fire Station at the Upper Room. We had another wonderful time of worship! Jen encouraged us to let go of all the things we were carrying from the week and to just focus on God and on worshiping Him. There was a wonderful atmosphere of freedom as we all came before the Lord together!
Sean then spoke briefly from 1 Kings 18, which is the theme passage for Firestarters. The chapter tells the story of Elijah on Mount Carmel, when he built an altar and asked the Lord to send the fire. Sean commented on verse 33, where Elijah says to the people, "Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood." They did so three times - and this was during a drought! Sean said that sometimes we need to lay it all on the table, holding nothing back. "Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench" (verse 38). Sean said that when the fire of God comes, it comes not just to take the "sacrifice" - whatever we are offering - but to take it all! He also said that when we make room for Him, God wants to show up!
After Sean shared, he invited anyone who was there to give testimonies of how God had met them through Firestarters. There were numerous testimonies of healings, financial provision, release in worship, etc. Dean Benner, owner of the Upper Room, also shared what a blessing it has been to him and his family to have been able to host the Fire Station in their building for the past nine months. We are very grateful to them for allowing us to use their facility and especially to God for meeting us in this place every time we have gathered to worship Him!
Even though the Fire Station, in its current form, is now ending, we are excited to see what else God has in store as we seek to keep in step with His Spirit!
Sean then spoke briefly from 1 Kings 18, which is the theme passage for Firestarters. The chapter tells the story of Elijah on Mount Carmel, when he built an altar and asked the Lord to send the fire. Sean commented on verse 33, where Elijah says to the people, "Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood." They did so three times - and this was during a drought! Sean said that sometimes we need to lay it all on the table, holding nothing back. "Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench" (verse 38). Sean said that when the fire of God comes, it comes not just to take the "sacrifice" - whatever we are offering - but to take it all! He also said that when we make room for Him, God wants to show up!
After Sean shared, he invited anyone who was there to give testimonies of how God had met them through Firestarters. There were numerous testimonies of healings, financial provision, release in worship, etc. Dean Benner, owner of the Upper Room, also shared what a blessing it has been to him and his family to have been able to host the Fire Station in their building for the past nine months. We are very grateful to them for allowing us to use their facility and especially to God for meeting us in this place every time we have gathered to worship Him!
Even though the Fire Station, in its current form, is now ending, we are excited to see what else God has in store as we seek to keep in step with His Spirit!