WOW! We looked like the two disciples who were scrambling looking for a way to build tabernacles, when Jesus reached down and said "Do not be afraid" after God told them to listen to Jesus, his beloved son.
We had to stop "scrambling" and stop being afraid. God took care of everything!
Message after message, one automatically linked to the next! We were amazed all weekend!
Friday evening:
We went into the "Little Church in the Wildwood" and opened up with prayer.
People were still coming in, but we nearly had a full house (very small church).
I led this event. Opened up with prayer, welcomed everyone and thanking them for their support, hard work and willingness to come out and be a part of...whatever it is we are doing.
We went over the schedule (We had flyers printed up) and the purpose of being here. I also introduced our speakers for the weekend.
Then I opened it up for questions about the event.
We did not spend more than an hour, probably 45 minutes.
Then we hit the hot tub.
Saturday morning:
We gathered again at 9AM, I led this as well.
Opened up with prayer, said a few words, read the Love Chapter (1Cor 13) and commented on it. Since it was more devotional, I was not giving a sermon or spending much time. One of our musicians, Lonnie, played a guitar and sung "Amazing Grace" to the tune of "The House of the Rising Sun", which was absolutely beautiful, haunting, graceful, powerful, and awesome! It was good too!
After the song was over, I stood up and said, "I guess there isn't anything I can say after that" and we left.
That lasted about 20 minutes at most.
We decided since the chapel was rather dark, (unfinished, all natural wood) and they used minimal lighting (Oil lamps) we used the parks outdoor pavilion where they hold dances and other events. They had nice round deck tables and chairs to use. It was more casual and whole lot more comfortable. (and closer to the bathrooms).
Kevin did the first session, which I will not elaborate on. He expected feedback and comments throughout. We did. Every once in a while someone would ask a question or make a comment, Kevin was say, that is exactly where I am going next! That happened several times. It was done very well. Should have been done in an hour and a half, we went over by thirty minutes, but nobody complained.
Then we hit the hot tub.
Two PM Saturday, it was Jammies turn (happy2beadam) and he said that Kevin left off right where he wanted to start!
Again, I'll let him elaborate. This was also opened to comments as well.
We did not have singing or "Praise and worship" other than those who felt the need to "praise God" as we were being filled!
We did not have time to hit the hot tub this time. Fifteen minutes later we split up into two groups, men and women (same pavilion area, opposite corners) and Gwin headed up the womens group disussing body image.
Kevin headed up the mens group for questions and discussions about our mission, how we carry it out along with other questions about how we can relate naturism to Christianity and how we can be naturists while still serving our church at home. Conflicts, explanations, etc.
Even after it was over, we still had some who needed more answers and had more questions.
Then we jumped in the hot tub.
That was pretty much it for the day...but wait...theres more!
The discussion naturally went on the rest of the evening here and there. But later that night, after I left the hot tub (oh well) a man who is (now was?) an atheist peppered these guys with questions. According to Jammie, they did exactly what we were discussing that day! They gracefully, with fun and affection, answered his questions, listened to the man, discussed what he was talking about and in the end, though he did not yet agree, Jammie told him that he has nothing to lose if he would just go out somewhere alone, in the woods, and asked God (Jesus) if he is really there, and if so, to reveal Himself to him. If God does not exist, there is nothing more to worry about, and we are wrong, we are all going to die anyway, so what. If God does exist, then now is the time to make that connection with him, because either way, whether this man talks to God or not, God still exists and he will still have to face him.
We do not know the outcome. We are that chain of events in this mans life.
Sunday morning.
10AM, we opened up with a couple of songs, then a prayer, and then Jammie had the sermon. He was very passionate and read the scriptures with such passion and zeal, that we were very moved by it! Talked about the relationship between the transfiguration (the disciples part of it) and Isaiahs vision of the Cherubims and them touching his lips with hot coal to "cleans his lips".
Again, I'll let him elaborate.
We closed with a song (Lonnie played Jesus Loves Me but to a different tune and with "alleluahs" written into the song). That was a one hour event including the communion.
Now here is the interesting part. We concluded with a communion, but that is also the beginning for the next service by the "Wildwood" leader who led the service until 11:30.
So we had two services that day. Some of the Cherokee regulars joined our service, then we joined their service with a communion in between!
And here is some more great news! We were invited to come back again next year!
Now I still have to contact Danny, the owner of the place for next year, but as far as everyone else is concerned, we passed the test!
The session turned out far greater and so focused on Christ, that we were moved from one thing to the next. We have nothing but "Glory Glory Glory to God in the highest" (part of Jammies sermon).
then the hot tub!
After we had lunch, a big spread that the ladies put together (Gwin went out and bought a truck load of food, hamburgers, hotdogs, drinks, potato salads, etc) Myra cooked the hamburgers and hotdogs, the rest setup everything else. We had people coming in and joining our lunch.
We had a couple of big rain storms Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon, but Tennessee needed it really bad. So we look at it as Gods blessing on Tennessee for having us there!
Again, it went so smooth and so well, that we were amazed over and over again!
We will have the official notes for you later this week as we get them compiled.
PLEASE pray for the Midwest this coming weekend! If there was a way I could be there, I would, but my presence is not important. It's Gods presence that is important!
We are sending our notes and accomplishments to the MW so they can have the outline and encouragament as well. They can also add to it as the spirit moves and lead them.
Now, during all of this going on, we had a young lady (clothed) who came up to us and asked about our event being interviewed by a local alternative newspaper. She thought we knew about her coming. nope. But we let her join us and she followed us from one event to another and did some one on one interviews. They also had some pictures taken.
WE did NOT take pictures. One, too busy and forgot about it, and two, we would need to have a staff member with us and that is too much trouble.
She will send us the news article when it is ready.
No, she did not get undressed, but I think she is really impressed on both the naturism and the Christian event!
Sounds like it was really awesome! Not that I was there, but it seems like there was minimal praise and worship - which is one of the main things that I look forward to when a group like this gets together. I also prefer a capella singing, but I suppose I'd take whatever I could get...
Keep in mind, it was not meant to have "minimal" praise, but with the lack of preparation in the music side, we had so much to discuss and work on, we just did not have the time or resources to carry out that part.
And the praise was sent up via music and worship. There was plenty of worship, believe me. And there was plenty of praise.
It was all some of us could do just to get there and get the program working, let alone other events.
What we need is a good praise/music team, which is why I created the Music Forum for this purpose.
But most of those who signed up did not attend. Fortunately we had a great guitarist and I did what I could on the keyboard. Seems we try to get together to rehearse and then its time for the next event.
We were exhausted by the time we left, but everyone was very excited and pleased with the event. The lack of the expected ammount of "praise and worship" was not missed nor was it truely lacking after all in everything else we did.
However, next year, we hope for a larger attendance and musicians who can dedicate themselves to just the music while others can focus on the rest of it.
We could have done it capella. Does that mean you will make it next year?
I'm sure it was wonderful, but again - as far as I'm concerned - you could've ditched the instruments and not had to worry about getting together to rehearse. Simple a cappella singing is just fine with me!
As for making it next year, we'll have to wait and see if I'll be able to make it. I will be working, and who knows what else will be going on during that time. I'm hoping to get my carpal tunnel syndrome fixed once I am able to get on group insurance. Again, we'll have to wait and see what happens with that. Whenever you have a tentative date, post it so that we can all start saving and making tentative reservations!
Laura, you should come to CNC-MW! We'll have a keyboard, but most of the singing will be a capella or accompanied by one or other of my woodwind instruments. Besides, I have a feeling we might need more women's voices.
I can't really add much to what Boyd has described of CNC-East. The short of it is that God's fingerprints were clearly all over the place and there's no doubt in my mind that the same will apply to future gatherings as long as we keep focused on God and give it our all.
Everyone who attended stayed true to the theme "United in Christ" and I believe that the light of Christ truly did shine. I had a chance to chat with the reporter for a few minutes and she seemed genuinely impressed and touched by just how open, friendly, and welcoming everyone was. She arrived half expecting that nobody would really give her much more than the time of day but I think we were collectively effective as Ambassadors for Christ. It remains to be seen how kind the combination of editor and reporter will be but I was impressed with how thorough she was in taking notes, interviewing, and fully participating in the weekend. She attended every session throughout the weekend (except the informal hot tub sessions including sitting through both services in the "Church in the Wood". She also signed a photo release form (she said it felt like we were "signing each other's yearbooks") for possible inclusion in a future AANR Bulletin. I did manage to catch a couple of candid shots of the reporter interviewing Boyd (with the proper photo releases and direct permission from the resort owner Danny) but I missed getting any group shots once the rain scattered everybody. Hopefully someone at the MW event can do better and we can get something published.
Aside from the teachings, discussions, and, yes - the worship I highly value the friendships that were newly forged and those that were strengthened. If I'm not called home and the Lord hasn't returned yet you better believe that I'll make every human effort to make it to the next CNC and I sure hope to see even more of you there!
Something funny Eve noticed. When the reporter first came to us, she was dressed all over. Every day she spent with us, she showed up a little more undressed. The last day of CNC her shirt was undone pretty low. I didn't notice until Eve pointed it out. I had a blast at CNC! It's the most fun you can have with your clothes on...... no wait, that was one of the cool things, all weekend and no clothes! Let's burn them all!!!! happy2beadam
If it weren't subject to so many misinterpretations, that could be one of our mottos! Even so, it seems to me we ought to appropriate it and make it clear that you-know-what does NOT need to be part of that fun.
including sitting through both services in the "Church in the Wood". She also signed a photo release form (she said it felt like we were "signing each other's yearbooks") for possible inclusion in a future AANR Bulletin. I did manage to catch a couple of candid shots of the reporter interviewing Boyd (with the proper photo releases and direct permission from the resort owner Danny) but I missed getting any group shots once the rain scattered everybody. Hopefully someone at the MW event can do better and we can get something published.