Weekends

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2002 Knees Worn Through

This was our last weekend at Annan Court

Worship leaders included Edd Burrell, John Dixon, Adam Knight, Rob Mold,
Carol Raven

Other songs from this weekend are available on the TFG Worship Album

TFG SENIOR WEEKEND – JANUARY 2002       

Twyford Fellowship Group is probably the thing that has helped me most in maintaining and developing my faith while at school, which I think has to be one of the most challenging times for Christians to face. It is a starting point for ministry throughout school, and gives Christians at Twyford a place to get together to make friends, learn more about God and encourage one another. Every year TFG holds weekends away for different age groups, organised and run by Geoff Lumley. These times are always really special, both challenging and fun. The best thing is that it’s a great chance to get to know God better and improve your own faith in a relaxing and inhospitable environment. From my first weekend in Year Seven I personally have taken every opportunity I’ve had to go on a TFG weekend, I have seen God move in a big way through myself and others over the years.

This year’s senior TFG weekend was no exception. Titled ‘Knees Worn Through’ it focused on prayer, specifically the Lords prayer as Jesus said we should pray. Provisions had been made this year to accommodate as many as possible so that TFG regulars could invite friends with no experience of this type of Christianity, or with no relationship with God at all. The excited, friendly atmosphere of the weekend began long before we reached Annan Court. The age range of this group started at year 10, fourteen/fifteen year olds and included all the years of upper school and the sixth form. Students who have left Twyford return to participate year after year including a large group in their mid twenties, who represent TFG’s original members.

Luggage was brought in true TFG style (grap anything and dump it inside), rooms were allocated and then it was time for everyone to compose themselves and congregate for the first challenge of the weekend, the evening meal. The first meeting after supper was a welcome and a chance to throw ourselves into a weekend with Jesus, listening and learning and basically refreshing ourselves.  TFG has some really gifted worship leaders and musicians, focused and serious about using their talents for God. Worship is a big part of our weekend because it reminds us that is all about Jesus, about thanking him and receiving his love. This makes it so much more than Christians gathered round to sing songs because we’re actually speaking to someone real whom we know has wonderful things to give us, and after a while we were more than ready to receive.

The first talk included some amusing and thought provoking video footage helping us to see and get in touch with God in new ways. Geoff explained the importance of prayer, the Lord’s Prayer so that as we say it, it ceases to be a recital to be chanted every now and then, a trap so easy to fall into. It might seem a little simplistic to base a whole weekend on ten lines of scripture but it just shows; God doesn’t make his message difficult does he? 

Saturday mornings meeting picked up from this positive point refreshed and open ready for a day of focus and opportunity to increase understanding of the Bible. Geoff gave us some ideas for interpretation and then we formed groups in order to study and look into different lines of the Lord’s prayer according to what we related to most, with a mission to formulate a prayer based on our ideas of that line, and relating it to our lives, nowadays.

Within my group I was able to speak to people I hadn’t really known previously and we discussed the line “Forgive us our sins…” After coffee we were instructed to find some way to present what we had learned within our groups to everyone else. This allows everybody to express themselves in a way best for them. Song, music, poetry, drama, art and photography are mediums that have been used on past weekends making the feedback times invaluable in entertainment and in learning from one another. After lunch we had the afternoon free. The weather was wet and windy so few ventured out into the usually pleasant grounds and surrounding countryside. Activities varied including; sleeping, homework, snooker, watching football, board games and a particularly annoying very noisy game called ‘Bop it’.

Before five we all went back to the meeting hall for worship, followed by group presentations, which were very varied, knowledge developing interpretations of the Lords prayer, some funny and others very moving. Worship continued after dinner and became more serious, encapsulating all we had learned in the last few days. Geoff’s talk for this meeting was on how it all could relate directly to us as individuals, and opened a question for many people to what God wanted for them. This became a powerful time of ministry where we prayed for each other. A few asked God into their lives for the very first time. Almost all of us asked God to show us his direction for our lives, or for the affirmation of our faith.

Afterwards, feeling positive and happy, some people changed and feeling more fulfilled, social activities; games, talks and general fun continued. Nobody wanted to go to bed, having too good a time, when the power cut out, (not an unusual occurrence for East Sussex during bad weather) and we were plunged into darkness which left going to bed really the only option.

Sunday morning and we were able to engage in enriched worship and follow up talk from events of the previous night. The communion service was held by the Bishop of Willsden who we were pleased to have with us for the morning. Another Guest was Ms Hudson, acting head teacher of Twyford and her three children. Prayers from the groups were offered.  Our Communion took place after coffee (an extended giving of signs of peace) and the culmination of our fellowship with one another and with Jesus. After this and some music we were led into a time of sharing of testimonies of people and what they had felt over the last two days. This was, as it always is, one of the most powerful parts of the weekend and shows how much God can work in such a small space of time. It was incredibly encouraging and the essence of a real Christian community. This time led then to the singing of praise to God which lasted a long time, and then lunch, our last meal together of roast pork, veg and roast potatoes for which thanks was enthusiastically offered musically by two year 10 girls.

A less inspiring event followed; tidy up time when Annan court had to be cleaned, packed up and hoovered etc, before everybody made their various journeys home.

I know myself that TFG is probably the best thing that could have happened to me regarding my Christian life at school, and in relating to the church in general. Many people share my opinion no matter what stage of school/uni/employment life they are at. Sonia, a girl in Year 11 told me,
      “Its such a strong threshold, something I can really lean on, a great source of unity”. One boy, who had never been on a TFG weekend before exclaimed unprompted to me “I’m amazed, its been brilliant” Other responses were equally as encouraging. Overall it was a great weekend and I think everyone brought something back because TFG starts at school but the fruits carry on throughout life and go on now and in the future to do amazing things for God.
Katrina Morrison

Responses;

Kingsley, Year 12
   “I like TFG, its very friendly, its very different to what I’m used to but its been good.”

Carol, Ex-student
      “It’s been great, the music last night was wonderful. I’ve been coming to TFG for about fifteen years now, its brilliant, I’m going to keep coming.”

Sarah, Year 10

         “I’ve been coming since year seven, I’ve been on lots of TFG weekends they are lots of fun. It helps me be stronger in my relationship with God. Its very important to me.”

Andrew, Year 11

            “All I can say about the weekend is ‘Wow!’”

Nick Fish & Nick Hillman, Ex-students

“ …I feel old, its changed a lot since we were at school, but its still inspiring …TFG is good, that’s why we keep coming. The weekend is a blessing…(Geoff hasn’t changed  - we love him)”

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