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!

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

• 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~

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

Every step was filled with symbolism and really made me realize that God truly is the author of an amazing story. It’s an amazing story not only because of its message of redemption and restoration, but because of the way God carried out his plan.

I’ve always loved symbolism in literature, so seeing the symbolism in God’s story through the Tabernacle experience was very meaningful to me.

Christ’s death on the cross means even more after learning about God’s former requirements of animal sacrifice at the Brazen altar. The tearing of the curtain at Christ’s death finally made sense—it was the veil surrounding the Holy of Holies, and the tear showed that God’s presence was no longer confined to that space, that he now dwells with all people.

God’s vast love for humankind is becoming more and more apparent to me as I see how intricately he has planned for the restoration of the world. I’m drawn in to his love and I’m excited to know him more…

Vanessa
for the Sonlife team

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

This year at Cornerstone, the huge music festival set in a corn field in Illinois, there will be a formal “(re)marriage of worship and the arts.” Cornerstone is known for their music, yet it has always promoted visual arts. But this year, they are specifically focusing on their visual arts program, called Burning Brush. Part of this experience will include a Labyrinth featuring the Stations of the Cross, as well as a Pilgrimage, displaying art on the Names of God. Cornerstone also incorporates film into their 4-day celebration.

This integration of art and worship only seems natural. Created in God’s image, we have been given the amazing gift of creativity. It is something that we focus on at Merge, too, as we incorporate hands-on activities, visual arts, music and media into our daily activities. At Merge, you can also participate in walk-through experiences such as the Tabernacle and the Journey to the Cross.

In what other ways do you see a marriage of worship and the arts? How can we worship God through the arts?

Kelli

Our love to God is measured by our everyday fellowship with others and the love it displays.

~ Andrew Murray