Sign In Sign-Up

Welcome!

Close

Would you like to make this site your homepage? It's fast and easy...

Yes, Please make this my home page!

No Thanks

  Don't show this to me again.

Close

                                                                                                                                                23.04.01        

Mrs. Menon changes the time concept.

The morning worship was led by Mrs. Menon, local Presbyter in Charge, a lady full of energy who changed the whole concept of time.  You cannot predict what will be her next move.  Yes, she may ask you to pray, she may ask you to dance or anything.  During this morning worship she brought with her Goan singers and dancers.  At times the participants felt that they were dancing after dinner. It was almost a celebration with the local culture and traditions.  Naturally the participants of the conference were happy to sing and dance while the organisers of the conference had a difficult time to keep to the programme schedule.  At one point almost all the participants started dancing to the music.  Ms. Francis brought the music and dance to an end, even though the participants wanted to continue dancing.

The first session started with developing some Ground Rules for building community.  Rev. Prince Dibeela facilitated the session with the help of Rev. Cheryl Dibeela.  Some of the rules were that,

            -           Every contribution is important

            -           No question or contribution

 is irrelevant

            -           Keep time

            -           Be patient with each other

            -           Respect confidentiality

            -           Listen to each other

            -           Acknowledge and respect

our differences

 “CWM is ‘we’ in the Churches” – says Ms. Francis

  CWM is ‘we’ in the Churches and not the staff working in the office, said Ms. Francis during her introductory session on 23^rd morning.  She gave the historical background of the programme and stated that this conference is the climax of ten years of work.  She explained about the regional conferences and its recommendations as well. She explained how the process started early in 1991.  She brought the three main areas of work, which were 1. Advocacy, 2. Training and 3. Networking.  She ran through  document ‘A’, earlier circulated to the participants.  She hoped that the participants would play the role of advocates in their Church situations and help the CWM in the process to review and to launch the new programme.  At the end she said that learning is painful but has to be done as we are at a crucial juncture.    

“The wealth of CWM lies within the member Churches”

– says Rev. Philip Woods

The wealth of CWM lies within its member Churches, said Rev. Philip during his session.  He said that the strength is not based on money alone.  It is the experience, culture and its members in which the strength lies.  He said that the CWM is based on equal partnership of all Churches.  It is based on sharing Ideas, People and Money.  He also clarified a number of questions raised by the participants.  

The participants were divided in to three groups and given a task to accomplish.  It was an Awareness Exercise.  Sets of papers were given to participants to go through and discuss within the group.  The outcome would be shared the next day.

  The afternoon session started with preparation to present issues from the regions.  There was hectic activity in all the regions.  We noticed that every one was so busy in preparing charts, cutting magazines, painting, picking up articles and so on.  One group even brought a big loaf of cake to put up on their display.  When the tea was served many of the members forgot to go out but still carried on working.  It was a lovely time of community building in a practical sense.  The planning group members deserve appreciation for it. 

All the groups’ presentations were superb.  One group put up a small skit to explain the problem of AIDS and another one to demonstrate the problem of Dowry.  Someone sang a song and even fed the group to give a taste of their region.  There were visuals, actions, stories and lectures.  Everyone tried their best and showed the community spirit in their actions. 

During the evening worship Rev. Verna celebrated a love feast.  She emphasised that it is not  Holy Communion but a love feast as a sign of commitment to each other.  This was done within the region first, then the members moved to other regions.  She concluded by saying that if we trust in each other with small things then we also could trust each other with big things.     

Participants’ Page

A Thought

If, as one psychologist claims, Women are from Venus and Men from Mars, perhaps Earth is the right place for us to meet to share and celebrate our difference.

Best things to say if caught sleeping at your desk….

“I wasn’t sleeping! I was meditating on the Mission Statement and envisioning a new paradigm.”  

Spectacular job

One day a man spotted a lamp by the roadside.  He picked it up, rubbed it vigorously, and a genie appeared.  “ I’ll grant you your fondest wish,” the genie said.  The man thought for a moment, then said, “I want a spectacular job- a job that no man has ever succeeded at or has ever even dared to try.”  “Poof!”  said the genie.  “You’re a housewife.”

Produced by:

S. Thangavel, Church of North India,

For the Council for World Mission, reporting from Goa.

E-Mail:  shona@nagpur.dot.net.in