Over the last few weeks we have been focusing on Discipleship – Following Jesus one step at a time. On Sunday we looked at building, so some of our younger members of church and some young at heart decided to build something. Check it out!!
Church Camp
From Friday the 10th of March to Sunday the 12th we gathered at the Waipara Adventure Centre, ready for an adventure of our own. There is something special about getting away and breaking up our normal routines. Camps are great for deepening relationships and creating shared experiences and awesome memories.
We started on Friday night with some fun and games to get everyone on the same page. Saturday morning we spent working our way through several reflective stations that called us into deeper relationship and challenged us.
Food at camp can sometimes be a tricky situation…not with the awesome team at KBC! Food is actually a highlight, great food and great company mean that meal times become moments where people continue to connect and share life stories.
In the afternoon even though the weather was wet a few hardy souls braved the elements and ventured onto the water slide and even went for a swim. The competition to see who could go further was intense and was a close call between Angus and Menzo!
The evening was all about deepening community. A formal dinner of epic proportions (so much food, good food!) followed by a camp tradition of a Talent Show. Now if you have been around Kaiapoi Baptist for a while you know we have some talented individuals in our midst. It was great to see it on show on Saturday night. From dancing (including one of our Pastors getting in on it!) to an amazing machine that could shrink things, even a person.
The night ended with a late night movie and then bed around midnight.
Sunday morning we gathered as we normally do, spending time in worship and Annette lead us in a lectio divina based around Mark 4:35-41. We then sat down to another fine meal.
Then it was a quick tidy up, all hands on deck to get the place looking great. We ended camp with a poroporoaki – which is a Maori tradition that occurs at the end of a hui (gathering). It is a chance for everyone to reflect on camp, to express thoughts and feelings about the shared time together. It was great to hear that people had not only enjoyed their time at camp, but that God had also met them and in some cases ministered to them deeply.
God is good!