Make sure you check out the new videos and photos from Merge 2007!
Click on the links above for photos and videos.
We want to hear about your experience at Merge 2007.
Share with us on the “your stories” comment section,
send us your artwork to post, or post photos on Merge Flickr account!
Thanks for making Merge 2007 great!
It’s hard to believe that Merge 2007 is already over with! I don’t know about you, but I had an absolute BLAST learning more about God’s story and what that means for my life, as well as hanging out with students and youth workers.
Now that we’re back at home and settled into our routines again, what are some things that God is continuing to teach and speak to you about? I think for me, one of the things that I was challenged to think about through out my time at Merge was seeing God’s story in a new way and acknowledging its relevance in my life. I think a lot of times it is easy for us to go about our life and just think of God’s story as something that happened a long time ago, with nothing that could possibly apply to our lives. At Merge, however, we realized that God’s story is alive and more exciting than ever today! More than that, we are actually privileged enough to be a PART of His action packed story! That makes me so excited and I hope it makes you excited to!
What are some ways that you see the relevance of God’s story in your life? How do you see your role in God’s story? Does it make you excited!? We would love to hear what you think and what God has been teaching you since you left Merge!
Amanda
For the Sonlife Team
All of the experiences at Merge are centered on stories from the Bible that are told each morning in the Story Gathering:
- Creation
- Separation
- People of Promise
- God-With-Us
- Death to Life
- The Church
The narratives shared at Merge are woven together from many biblical texts to create an accurate, detailed account of these life-changing stories.
Want to hear these stories? We’ve got audio recordings by our very own Kelly Dolan available here.
Also, visit echothestory.com to find out more about the development of these stories. There you can find the entire 22 story set available for download.
~Vanessa~
My favorite experience so far at Merge: Response Time.
Each evening after a day full of stories, discussion, reflection and interaction, we all come together for an opportunity to respond to God and all He’s been doing in our hearts and minds.
We get to choose from one of three places to process and express our thoughts: the Art Station (HEART), Prayer Room (SOUL) and Study and Discussion (MIND). These stations cultivate a heart of worship, sensitivity, and reflection that create environments conducive to connecting with God and the discovery of how He is speaking into our lives.
After the stations, we gather as a whole group to share, answering these questions:
Where did you notice God working today? How?
What parts of the story have caused you to think about your own life?
What do you think God is saying to you through his story?
Students are sharing insights into God’s story that seem to come from a wisdom well beyond their years. Their comments are intelligent, insightful and inspiring. It has been amazing to hear about all that God is doing.
Vanessa
During your week at Merge, we will be looking at the concept of Storying… taking basic Bible stories and really digging into them in order to better understand what they mean for our lives and the lives of others. The purpose of Storying (short for Chronological Bible Storying) is to create an environment for us to connect with God through his Story.
At Merge, we will be using a set of stories or narratives created by Michael Novelli and Caesar Kalinowski. You can now download an extended set of these narratives for individual and local church use (free of charge!) at Echo The Story.
Storying can inspire you and your students to truly find yourselves in God’s amazing Story. So check out this great resource! We also encourage you to take a look at these before coming to Merge to get a sneak peek of what your week will be like!
Amanda
For the Sonlife Team
I came across this quote the other day that makes me think of one of the things we explore at Merge—how our love for others reflects our love for God… take a look at it and tell me what you think!
Our love to God is measured by our everyday fellowship with others and the love it displays.
~ Andrew Murray
On Saturday, May 12th you can help end hunger in your community! All you have to do is place non-perishable items in a bag beside your mailbox and your letter carrier will pick up the items and deliver them to local food banks! What a great opportunity to extend the love of Christ to those who are in need.
Visit www.helpstampouthunger.com to find out:
• if your post office will be participating
• what items are recommended to donate
• how you can spread the word
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.
