WATCH
 
WATCH – We Are The CHurch is a spiritual renewal weekend designed to further your relationship with God and other Christians. It is a rare opportunity to escape from the temptations and traps of the world. Preparation is already under way for WATCH #7, which will take place on September 24-26, 2010, at Sangralea Valley. There is room for 21 guests. The WATCH community (anyone who attended a previous WATCH) has been inviting people, but if it happens that you don’t get asked personally to attend, please know that you are invited. All you have to do is fill a lift-off lemon registration form that you will soon find at the Welcome Center and turn it in to the WATCH box at the Welcome Center or the mail box in the church office. This is NOT a couples retreat. This is an individual spiritual retreat weekend. We hope to see you there. Questions? Ask one of the many people from our church who have attended. If you don’t know who those people are, ask around – you will find one of us. Below find some frequently asked WATCH Questions and Comments.

  1. Where did WATCH come from? Did someone invent it? And if so, who was he or she? Spiritual renewal weekends have become a way to call people to faith and discipleship. The whole thing started in the Catholic Church in Spain in 1944 with the introduction of “Cursillo” which in Spanish means “short course”. The Cursillo movement came to the United States in 1959. Since that time, dozens of Christian denominations have taken the concept and developed their own unique spiritual renewal weekends. One such development came out of Peoria, Illinois. This is how WATCH was born. A group of pastors and lay people adapted Cursillo into WATCH, which is written according to Lutheran doctrine. One of the key people was Pastor David Peter, at the time the pastor at Trinity Lutheran in Peoria. He was one of the originators of WATCH. It was his connection to our own former Pastor Sommerfeld which brought WATCH to our church.

  2. How many sermons will be preached? Actually, none. There will be “talks” in which people you probably know will talk to you about how God has worked in their lives. So, there won’t be any pastors there? Actually, there will be two. If the pastors aren’t going to preach sermons, what will they do? They will each give a “talk” about their faith in Christ. They will also be available for one-on-one discussion, if you so desire.

  3. I’m getting the idea this won’t be exactly like church. Does that mean I don’t have to wear “church clothes”? You don’t have to wear “church clothes” unless those kinds of clothes are what you prefer. We suggest whatever is comfortable. Most people dress casually – jeans, sweatshirts, sweat suits… You should bring something to keep you warm and shoes you can walk in comfortably.

  4. Walk! Did you say walk? Are we going to have to exercise? Calm down. No exercising is required, although an early morning walk or jog around the property would be okay if you are in to that sort of thing. If not, the most exercise you will have to do is negotiate some stairs here and there. You will also be walking about 25 yards to the building next door for meals. Please know that we have been blessed the last 4 years to have access to a golf cart for those who have bad knees.

  5. OK, so just how long is this going to take? From beginning to end, the weekend will total approximately 45.5 hours. Guests are asked to check in between 6:30 and 7:00 PM on Friday. It will wrap up by 5:00 PM on Sunday. If we were to skip sleeping, eating meals and breaks, we would have you out of there by Saturday afternoon, but that isn’t what the model we will be following suggests. You will live a somewhat normal life while you are there, minus the worldly distractions.

  6. (This one will hurt...) What about the sports contests I was planning on observing that weekend? Sports have become a huge part of our culture. While cheering on your favorite team can be a healthy endeavor, it can also cross the line into idolatry at some point. We need to establish boundaries for our pursuit of sports entertainment (and for any habit, for that matter). So cheer on the Colts (or the Packers or the Hoosiers or the Boilers), but understand that your presence or absence from the contest won’t affect the outcome. In a year or two you won’t even remember the score, or even who won the game. There is a good chance that you would remember the WATCH weekend, however. For many people, it is an experience that one cherishes for the rest of his/her life. Who knows, we might even provide you with a score or two during meal times!

  7. (This one will REALLY hurt...) What about my kids’ games I will have to miss that weekend? There is nothing more heart-warming to us parents than to see our offspring compete on the playing field. Our child may be the hero of the game or he/she may be the one who made the pass that led to the pass that led to a goal. It doesn’t matter what their contributions are – we burst with pride. To be sure, our children have special contests that no sane parent would miss – the league championship, Senior Night…BUT let us raise this question – is it necessary or even God-pleasing to be in attendance at every single contest your child participates in? This is a question for you to discuss with your Lord. There will never be any judgment on our part. And don’t forget the invention of the video-camera, which can capture the special moments you might miss.

  8. What happens during all that time? What if I get bored? Visualize the cross that Christ died on. There is a vertical part and a horizontal part. You may not realize it but a Christian should have a vertical relationship and many horizontal relationships. At WATCH, vertical and horizontal are perfectly mixed, and when that happens God’s Holy Spirit thrives! If this doesn’t make sense, come and see for yourself. At WATCH, it will become obvious, and you won’t be disappointed. And you won’t be bored – we promise.

  9. What is so great about WATCH? You have heard Pastor Allison and Pastor Akers make reference to the witnesses in their sermons or bible studies, meaning Peter, Paul, etc. Nothing against the disciples (their testimonies of the living God are central to Christian teaching), but you have to admit – they died a long time ago. At WATCH, you will hear from witnesses who are still living and breathing. They too can testify to the power of the living God, although these witnesses are not authors and speakers. Come and hear how God has touched the lives of those amongst us. It won’t be merely a worthwhile experience – it will be much more than that.

  10. You say this ends around 5:00 PM on Sunday. Are you really going to make us miss church? You won’t be worshiping here on Sunday morning, but you will be worshiping many times throughout the weekend. The whole weekend is designed to help improve your understanding of our Lord and His ways, so the experience will make going to church a more satisfying thing for you to do.

  11. “I suppose we’ll sit in little groups and share our feelings. I don’t like to do that!” WATCH guests are encouraged to absorb, think and pray, and to apply what is learned to their lives. The sharing of feelings may happen, but that is certainly the choice of the guest. There is no direct or indirect pressure to do so.

  12. How much “touchy-feely” stuff is involved? Do you mean are there any corny group activities like lying on the floor and pretending you are a cloud? No, we have nothing even remotely like that. Do you mean is there a lot of crying and hugging? Well, you will hear how God has changed people’s lives. When God starts working on people at the retreat, there are some who cry and hug; there are some who don’t. No one seems to care who does what. Here is another way to put it: You know how faith is NOT based on feelings? Rather, faith is based on the rock of God’s Word? Well, sometimes, in the exercise of our faith, feelings and emotions will emerge. Some react, and if you are one of these, you won’t be the first. And some don’t, and if you are one of these, you won’t be the first either. Please don’t allow feelings to be any part of your decision to attend WATCH.

  13. More about “touchy-feely”. (More commentary on the previous week's question - How much “touchy-feely” stuff is involved?) We have all seen the broadcasts of church services on TV in which the congregation is more, shall say, demonstrative of their faith. The Lutheran Church, as a rule, is pretty conservative in this area. That is not to say that one method of worship is better or worse than another; they are just different. Often times on a renewal weekend like WATCH, the participants experience the love and grace of God in a new way – in a way they have never known before. With such experience there is bound to be some “emotions.” These expressions are seen by others as meaningful and appropriate – never as objectionable or overbearing.

  14. “I AM WAY TOO BUSY!” Sometimes, we are busy. A family member is ill and needs our constant attention or our children are struggling and they need us. But often, “busy” means running from one thing to another. Or busy can mean fixing things (or fixing people!), cleaning things or working, working, working, meetings, meetings, meetings. Does your life require endless energy and activity but no private life with God? It has been said that “BUSY” stands for Being Under Satan’s Yoke. If you are too busy for WATCH, maybe (just maybe), you are too busy. To put all the “busyness” aside for a weekend seems like a foreign, unnatural notion. It is, but so many have trusted the testimony of a friend and taken this leap of faith and given up a weekend. And many of these people are forever grateful. Maybe God is speaking to you – can you hear Him through all the “busyness?”

  15. “I can’t imagine giving up that amount of time.” Humanly-speaking, spending Friday night to Sunday afternoon at a retreat makes no sense. That is a lot of time. That’s why so many people either don’t attend such things as WATCH or attend reluctantly. However, if you were to do an exit poll of people completing WATCH or something like WATCH, you would find that most people were pleasantly surprised. Why? Check out Isaiah 55:8-11 and ask yourself – “could God have something in store for me at WATCH?”

  16. Are you suggesting my relationship with the Lord needs “furthering?” Yes. Romans 3:23 – “ALL (emphasis added) have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” We are not immune from worldly influence by virtue of being saved by our faith in God’s plan of salvation. As believers, we will spend the rest of our lives applying the gospel to our lives and growing in relationship with God. WATCH is one of God’s many tools. The weekend offers a golden opportunity to get out of the world and focus on what God wants out of you. Your WATCH team is praying that you take advantage of this tool.

  17. Earlier, I believe you said something about eating? Yes. You will be served tasty, healthy meals (with garnish) - three on Saturday and two on Sunday. Snacks, sinful and non-sinful, will also be provided between meals. If you are on a special diet, you need only tell us, and our cook will provide you with the right kind of food. You will be able to sit back and relax, as the cooking, serving and cleaning is on us.

  18. Do I need to register before the WATCH weekend? Registration helps usunderstand who is planning to come, identify special needs and helps us plan for food and supplies. We ask that you sign up as individuals. Couples wishing to go together may but should understand that this is not a marriage retreat. Women and men will be sleeping separately and couples will be put in different small groups. Each individual should fill out his or her own form. You will be sent a confirmation letter. If you have registered and not received a confirmation, please contact Pastor Akers at church (765-453-0969) or Gene Miller (765-453-3636).

  19. What should I wear and what do I bring? Dress is casual and comfortable. There is no reason to dress formally unless you want to. After you register, you will be mailed a letter with a list of items you need to bring. The list will include things like a pillow, a sheet and blanket, toiletries, etc.