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This June in the Netherlands

playing-with-fire

 

June 2 – 6, 2017

Whitsun fire, The gift of freedom

How do we catch the spark? How do we nurse the flame? How do we light the fire?

This conference is an excellent opportunity to meet different people from all over the world belonging to the Christian Community, to celebrate the Act of Consecration of Man, and work together on our central theme.

For our regular participants and the youth (15 – 25) we will offer different programs with lectures, workshops and other activities. A bazaar will acquaint you with all kinds of initiatives in The Christian Community around the world; here a flame is burning or maybe a whole fire? We call them ‘fire pits.’

For children age 10 – 14 there will be a special tented camp on our own campground near the village of Ruinen.

For more information, go to www.whitsunconference2017.org. On this website you will find all kinds of information concerning the conference. Soon you will be able to register as a participant or post your questions. The conference includes a children’s camp and youth festival.

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The Birth of Joy

baptism-at-the-jordanNot only do we celebrate the Three Kings on Epiphany, we also celebrate the Epiphany in the river Jordan- The baptism of Jesus. Because just like the Star of Grace that blessed the kings with its light, the Holy Spirit blessed Jesus with Christ’s light in the river Jordan.

And yet, as important as the baptism of Jesus is, being blessed by the light would be nothing on its own. Without Jesus giving himself to the death on the cross for the life of the world, the light He received at the baptism would have no meaning. Without the three kings being able to give their gifts to the Holy Child, receiving the light of the Star would have been for naught. The point is, the gifts we receive only become meaningful in as much as we are able to give back.

For all Epiphanies lead to one thing: the joy of giving something, of offering something, however humble, that has meaning for someone. Let us remember, that our old age is fulfilled in the end, not by what we have achieved or received, our lives are fulfilled only by the spiritual joy of giving for the life of the world.

Dear friends, in these times of political turmoil, unsolvable fears and anxieties about the future, epidemics of terror and violent oppression across the globe, let us remember again that the real world is not what we see on the news. Let us remember that the true world is being brought to life in this painful darkness by the Christ-filled giving of the human heart. 
This contemplation by Rev. Evans was inspired by The Baptism.