25th Annual NCRC Convention News
...from our..."NCRC Inside Reporter" – Gaye Hyde
This Convention will be the biggest Catholic charismatic event
in Northern CA in 25 years. Will YOU be there?
There is growing excitement and anticipation among convention planners about this year's celebration. We'd like to share with you some of the things that make this year's convention different.
EXPANDED PROGRAM
First of all, there is an expanded program. The Convention will begin Friday afternoon with a keynote address from Ralph Martin, recently appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as a Consultor to the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization.
PRAISE CONCERT
After Friday evening's opening Mass with Bishop Tom Daly, several music ministries will combine their talents for a "praise explosion" -- a praise concert paying tribute to JESUS!
FOOD COURT
New this year will be a Food Court in Exhibit Hall A-3. You will no longer have to go across the street to the hotel restaurant or have to drive off-site for meals. Starting Saturday morning, light breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be available on-site in the same hall as the bookstore and other vendors.
JAVA NIGHT
The Young Adults (20-35-ish) are planning a JAVA Night for Saturday night. As of this printing, they are keeping the details a surprise for now. This social time for young adults has been requested for a number of years, but is now coming to reality.
FIVE GENERAL SESSIONS
There will be five General Sessions instead of three! You will not want to miss any of these. The Lord is blessing us with an amazing slate of speakers. Most share their gifts on radio and/or television, and minister personally both nationally and internationally. Most of all, they are each mature servants of the Lord who have said YES to the Holy Spirit's call on their lives.
VARIETY OF MUSIC MINISTRIES
We will also experience a dozen different music ministries throughout the weekend whose ministry will be a constant reminder to keep our focus on JESUS.
"How good and pleasant it is for God's people to dwell together in harmony!" Ps. 133:1 As the NorCal Convention draws near, we see that this is an event where God's people are invited to come together in harmony, in the unity of Holy Spirit. This opportunity is a special grace from God. When we come together as one Body, we recognize the giftedness in the Body of Christ. We appreciate how God uses each part of the body, how we complement each other, how we need one another and encourage one another, and how He knits us together in love.
As the Lord draws together His people from the seven dioceses of Northern California into one venue, we see that our small local prayer groups are part of a much larger picture. As charismatics, we are part of a sovereign move of the Holy Spirit in our day to manifest the gifts of the Spirit which were given to believers through Baptism and Confirmation. Sometimes we can be tempted to feel isolated from the rest of our parish. But as we come together, we see that we are in the mainstream of our church, taking the Word of God and the Vatican II documents (which say we have a right and a duty to use the gifts God has given us) seriously. We are strengthened in our faith and in our focus on Jesus. We are renewed and sent forth in the Lord's strength for the next part of our spiritual journey.
Through the praise and worship at a large gathering, we are lifted to an experience of the presence of God in the gathered assembly. The music ministries, under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, seek to create the environment of praise; and we who make the choice to join in the praise, have the potential of lifting the spiritual roof of the Convention Center to experience a new level of worship. If praise is weak in the local prayer meeting, the example of high praise in a large gathering can bring new freedom and can be a special gift we can bring back to our own local prayer meetings.
There is a mighty release of Holy Spirit power when the broader community comes together to pray with one heart and mind. The prayer of the church at the Convention liturgies can tear down the strongholds of the enemy. It will be an awesome privilege to be part of the prayer coverage that ushers in God's victory, God's will, and God's kingdom. As St. Paul told the Corinthians, "with so many people praying for our deliverance, there will be many to give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor God has shown to us."
Needless to say, most of our individual prayer groups cannot afford to bring in Spirit-filled well-known speakers from far and near. But with the combined resources of the Nor-Cal charismatic community, the Convention is able to offer teaching from dynamic, anointed speakers who have been serving the Renewal for many years in the US and abroad. The Lord has developed the giftedness and anointed the ministry of each of the speakers. From the depths of their maturity in the Spirit, we are invited to "hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches".
Why should I leave the comfort of my little prayer meeting and travel all the way to Santa Clara to attend the Convention? Perhaps that is the wrong question. Perhaps the question is: why not take advantage of this Spirit-given opportunity to gather as the Northern California Catholic charismatic family and celebrate Jesus, Who makes us one! See you there!
All glory and honor and praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
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