“Rejoice in hope, endure affliction and persevere in prayer” – Rom. 12:12 Marked five (5) years of experiencing God’s hand at work in our individual and collective lives and pursuing His call for us as a Community to be “salt of the earth and light of world” symbolised by the BRIDGE (Broken individuals, Restored by Christ, and now living In the Spirit as Disciples with God being at the centre of our lives. As such, we are called to be Evangelists ) Lived out His specific call for us to “rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer” Deepened community life through the Men’s/Women’s Groups (Households) Renewed personal call for discipleship through the ECLS Established the Men’s and Women’s Council Milestones for 2009

“Rejoice in hope, endure affliction and persevere in prayer” – Rom. 12:12 Milestones for 2009

“Rejoice in hope, endure affliction and persevere in prayer” – Rom. 12:12 “For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare, not for woe! plans to give you a future full of hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11 We want to pursue Sword of the Spirit’s recommendations (through Ken Noecker’s visit): Understanding and Hearing the Call Entering into Defined Commitments Learning and Living SOS Way of Life Establishing Effective Community Care: Initiations Ongoing Care Leadership Training Practicing Fruitful Mission and Outreach Establishing Good Government Entering Good Inter–community Relations Moving Forward through 2010

“Rejoice in hope, endure affliction and persevere in prayer” – Rom. 12:12 Our Commitment (Covenant) Provides a Stable Way of Living Our Christian Way of Life

“Rejoice in hope, endure affliction and persevere in prayer” – Rom. 12:12 Sharing a “Way of Life” Not primarily meetings and activities More importantly sharing a common way of expressing our Christian life Characterized by a family spirit

“Rejoice in hope, endure affliction and persevere in prayer” – Rom. 12:12 A Practical System of Love Everyone is cared for. No one is left out. Everyone knows who they are primarily responsible to care for and who is primarily responsible to care for them.

“Rejoice in hope, endure affliction and persevere in prayer” – Rom. 12:12 Functioning as a body - a body that builds itself up

“Rejoice in hope, endure affliction and persevere in prayer” – Rom. 12:12 Eph 4:15-16 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, (16) from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every joint with which it is supplied, when each part is working properly, makes bodily growth and upbuilds itself in love.

“Rejoice in hope, endure affliction and persevere in prayer” – Rom. 12:12 1Cor 12:12-14 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. (13) For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and all were made to drink of one Spirit. (14) For the body does not consist of one member but of many...

“Rejoice in hope, endure affliction and persevere in prayer” – Rom. 12:12 1Cor 12:24-27 But God has so composed the body,... (25) that there may be no discord in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. (26) If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. (27) Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

“Rejoice in hope, endure affliction and persevere in prayer” – Rom. 12:12 Rom 12:3-10 For by the grace given to me I bid every one among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith which God has assigned him. (4) For as in one body we have many members, and all the members do not have the same function,

“Rejoice in hope, endure affliction and persevere in prayer” – Rom. 12:12 (5) so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. (6) Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them:... (9) Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; (10) love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor.

“Rejoice in hope, endure affliction and persevere in prayer” – Rom. 12:12 All Members Have a Role Each Member Has an Essential Service

“Rejoice in hope, endure affliction and persevere in prayer” – Rom. 12:12 The Most Important Positions in the Community Sons and Daughters of God _________ Brothers and Sisters of One Another

“Rejoice in hope, endure affliction and persevere in prayer” – Rom. 12:12 The Most Important Service Performed in the Community Day to Day Love of the Brethren

“Rejoice in hope, endure affliction and persevere in prayer” – Rom. 12:12 1Peter 4:10-11 As each has received a gift, employ it for one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: (11) whoever speaks, as one who utters oracles of God;

“Rejoice in hope, endure affliction and persevere in prayer” – Rom. 12:12 whoever renders service, as one who renders it by the strength which God supplies; in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

“Rejoice in hope, endure affliction and persevere in prayer” – Rom. 12:12 Our Contributions Differ Depending on Our Natural and Spiritual Gifts But Everyone Has a Contribution to Make ______________ There is No Room for Free loaders or Passivity

“Rejoice in hope, endure affliction and persevere in prayer” – Rom. 12:12 Though there are Many Recognized and Essential Community Services We Primarily Build Up One Another and the Community in Our Daily Life Expressions of Love and Service

“Rejoice in hope, endure affliction and persevere in prayer” – Rom. 12:12 1Cor. 14:33 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace One feature of our order/structure is our “practical system of love.”

“Rejoice in hope, endure affliction and persevere in prayer” – Rom. 12:12 Features of Our Pastoral System: Everyone is cared for by others –Including a Pastoral Leader Everyone is responsible to care for others. Every individual and every group cares for the whole. –This is foundational!

“Rejoice in hope, endure affliction and persevere in prayer” – Rom. 12:12 Foundations Course 1 Provides the foundation for growing in Christian maturity in a Christian community. It takes a pastoral approach. The course has a practical aim — to form people in living as Christian disciples and to form them in the community way of life. It is not mainly a course in Christian doctrine or scriptural teaching, although it includes some of that. Pastoral Plans Individual plans for living out the “spokes” Schedules 1 st Sunday – Open Prayer Meeting 3 rd Sunday – Foundation Course 1 4 th Week – Men’s/Women’s Group Meetings Leadership/Service Training Through Sword of the Spirit and Ligaya ng Panginoon For 2010

“Rejoice in hope, endure affliction and persevere in prayer” – Rom. 12:12 How can I personally contribute to Build up the Body? What do I think the Community needs to be able to further live out God’s call - its mission For Discussion

“Rejoice in hope, endure affliction and persevere in prayer” – Rom. 12:12 Let’s gather back after…