Tuesday, August 29, 2006
The Chapel, Federal University of Santa Catarina
We are passing through an important moment in the life of the Peregrinos, with the possible use of the University Chapel. A slot has opened up between 5 and 7 on Sundays: not perfect, especially in the heat of summer, but it would be a good base. And once in there, a slot at a better time might open up.
Please pray for this: we have had no joy in finding a larger home which would suit as a church base, and the numbers in the flat each Sunday are quite difficult. There is no room for growth, quite apart from the potential annoyance to neighbours.
The move will change things for us, there is no doubt. Instead of the homeliness and freedom to go on chatting in our present set-up, we would have to vacate the building by 7.00 for Adventists to do their Sunday school. Our prayer meeting on Fridays would continue at home, but we will probably need to make some changes to the programme and specific efforts not to end up "formalised" in Sundays. The snack after the meeting is a vital part of our church life!
The move will also imply work in terms of moving stuff around each Sunday, more organisation and preparation of the programme, and a certain change to teaching style, simply because of the very different physical space.
This is all not yet certain. Matters need to be sorted with the UFSC authorities. Please pray for all of these things.
The chapel seats around 300, but with this efficient seating layout it feels adequately filled with far fewer. There are some drawbacks, but we feel that it could well be an excellent provision in order to launch a far more aggressive proclamation and presence in the University area.
We are passing through an important moment in the life of the Peregrinos, with the possible use of the University Chapel. A slot has opened up between 5 and 7 on Sundays: not perfect, especially in the heat of summer, but it would be a good base. And once in there, a slot at a better time might open up.
Please pray for this: we have had no joy in finding a larger home which would suit as a church base, and the numbers in the flat each Sunday are quite difficult. There is no room for growth, quite apart from the potential annoyance to neighbours.
The move will change things for us, there is no doubt. Instead of the homeliness and freedom to go on chatting in our present set-up, we would have to vacate the building by 7.00 for Adventists to do their Sunday school. Our prayer meeting on Fridays would continue at home, but we will probably need to make some changes to the programme and specific efforts not to end up "formalised" in Sundays. The snack after the meeting is a vital part of our church life!
The move will also imply work in terms of moving stuff around each Sunday, more organisation and preparation of the programme, and a certain change to teaching style, simply because of the very different physical space.
This is all not yet certain. Matters need to be sorted with the UFSC authorities. Please pray for all of these things.
The chapel seats around 300, but with this efficient seating layout it feels adequately filled with far fewer. There are some drawbacks, but we feel that it could well be an excellent provision in order to launch a far more aggressive proclamation and presence in the University area.
# posted by Andrew and Cora @ 3:07:00 pm 
