 T&T
Update September 2004
News Flash
Okay….okay…
why are you getting another update so soon after the last one?
Because there is soooo
much happening. Let’s see ….
Paramin
Evangelisation Walk Music
Ministry Jesus
Explosion But
that’s not all, for the upcoming Jesus Explosion September 24th
at Preysal High School, CFC will be leading the Praise and Worship along with
Steve Kuban (International Christian recording artiste). In preparation to more effectively minister in our music,
a Music Workshop conducted by Steve Kuban will be held Tuesday and
Wednesday Sept 21 & 22 7:00
pm at Fatima Parish Hall Curepe. If
you are interested, register with Wendy Poon Tip mark_wendy@cfctrinidadandtobago.org
and see you at Fatima with your sheet music, instrument and bible. Household
CLPs Well… we have come to the end of the 1st T&T Household CLP held at the home of Jemma Wong, St. John’s Road, St. Augustine. Testimonies were glowing about the warmth, welcome and fine Christian example that was experienced by having Jemma open her home for the CLP. Below is her story. “This CLP started on Wednesday August 4th, 2004 and continued for six consecutive Wednesdays and ended on September 8th. We had five (5) committed participants of whom 3 joined CFC (2 Singles and 1 Handmaid). The other two expressed their interest, but because of other personal commitments, are unable to say “yes” at this point in time. They however expressed their spiritual growth during these past six weeks. We will continue to pray for them. I must admit that this CLP was a real challenge for me. Honestly speaking, if you asked me now, “how come you decided to have this CLP?” I would not be able to answer. What I can say is that when the Spirit says “move” you got to move! And that is what happened. Also, this phrase just repeats in my head “I am a handmaid of the Lord; do with me as you wish”. Surely, it can become trying at times but we just have to trust and depend on the Holy Spirit to lead us and we must persevere. Always focusing on God’s Glory! Another
main and important facet is TEAM SPIRIT!! There is no “I” in TEAM. We
need the support of each other in all areas. I now take this opportunity to thank all my household members and the
other Handmaids of the St. Augustine Unit for their support; Francisca, Sean
& Nicole (St. Augustine Singles) for providing music at the Laying on of
Hands; the couples – Sandra & Earl Theodore and Neil & Claire Peters
who faithfully attended all the sessions. “THANK YOU!” Marriage Enrichment Retreat (MER) Sept 9-11th 2004
The weekend was more than challenging; it was labour pains and birth pangs, but no more so for us than for the speakers. Fr. Chambers wrestled to raise our understanding "Marriage in Scriptures" from Genesis to Revelations; Christo Gouveia shared on "The Struggle of Submission to God's Will" with his and our shortcomings amusingly exposed but giving us tools for that journey. Despite his serious expression, Maldon Pantin exposed "Marriage - A Call to Holiness", and not only with scriptural and church teaching but moreso with his soul-wrenching testimony. His wife Allison was ill and could not be present with him. Then we had the Bengochea's whose honesty and vulnerability about their present pains as they shared on the "Power of the Cross in Marriage" moved us to pray for them by the end of their presentation. They and our other presenters are struggling to live the gospel. Their struggle and victory inspires us to love each other in a new way - God's way. Yet He organised the retreat so that there was fun and appreciation and tenderness: from musical chairs to picong to the two beautiful babies who shared the weekend with us. The red rose that each wife received from her husband, perfectly symbolised marriage, deep dark blood red, sharp thorns, producing soft tender petals of beauty for everyone to see and know that God is at work here. I haven't talked about the power of the Eucharist in the Healing Session led by Carl Lara or the washing of the feet that culminated the Men's forum and Women's forum. But some things are just too deep to put on paper ...... Pray for us couples that we can live this full gospel of marriage. MER testimonies included "This marriage thing serious boy." "God is at work in this marriage thing" "Whoever comes against marriage, comes against God." “Speakers were inspiring, talks were enlightening, healing was exposing, crucifixion was ..... painful and unburdening. At the end I was exhausted, but didn't want it to end. It was as if God took 20 years of complications and carefully prised them open within 2 hours. God is too, too good to me. He alone makes me worthy of His love.”
SFC General Assembly CFC
Singles for Christ held a Pro-Life Training session on August 18th
and are now following it up with a Singles General Assembly at the UWI
Catholic Chaplaincy, Carmody Road, St. Augustine. Topic is Contraception vs
Natural Family Planning. Our roving reporter spied the calibre of guest
speakers and Wow!! Our heartiest
congratulations to SFC for keeping this topic on the front burner. Whether you are a single in or out of CFC or even if you are married
and are unclear about this topic join them for this General Assembly at 2:00
pm on Saturday 25th September. Be blessed with an understanding
of Church teaching taught with practical experience. Contact person: Francisca Monsegue
663-9512 Upcoming CLPs We will be conducting 2 Christian Life Program (CLP) in Morvant & Success Village as follows: · Morvant : Thursdays & Fridays, 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM, for 3 weeks commencing Thursday 30th September 2004 and ending on Friday 15th October 2004 · Success Village: Mondays & Tuesdays, 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM for 3 weeks commencing Monday 4th October and ending on Tuesday 19th October 2004 Registration for both programs will be from 6:00 PM - 6:30 PM · Men’s Retreat organized by Fr. Dwight Merrick is being held October 18-20 that’s Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm at Fatima Parish Hall Curepe. All our men, Singles, Servants and Married are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity. You know Fr. Merrick is good stuff!! Faith Facts Do you want to know and/or understand our Lord’s teaching on Human Life? Well you should, so Lucky You!! Here follows excerpts from a Circular received just last night. “Human Life International, (HLI) under the auspices of the Antilles Episcopal Conference of Bishops, are pleased to announce the upcoming HLI 2004 Caribbean Regional Conference on Love, Life and the Family, scheduled to take place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Port of Spain, Trinidad, from 5th to 7th November, 2004. The main purpose of the Conference is as follows: · To establish a well organized network of Pro-life leaders throughout the Caribbean islands; · To provide educational materials and information to participants so that they can distribute them within their islands; · To focus on Pro-life training, especially for priests, seminarians and youth; · To serve notice to the people of the Culture of Death that it will no longer be easy for them to enact their agenda. Presentations by well known International and Caribbean Leaders will address topics such as Effects of Abortion on Women and Family; Preparing for the Legal Battle Ahead; Radical Feminism - Effects on the Family; Evangelium Vitae – the Gospel of Life; Population Controllers – Their Agendas, and much more. The Gala Dinner which will be held on Saturday 6th at 7.00 p.m. will also include an address by Dr. Jeanette Pinto of the Diocesan Human Life Committee and HLI’s Representative in Bombay, India. Preliminary information on costs is as follows:
May God Bless !
Ø Charlene (SFC St. Aug) & Stanley (SFC San Juan) pictured above who tied the knot on September 11th 2004 Ø All our SFC wedding couples this year including Stacey & Peter McCarthy - married on July 25 Tracey Gervais & Mervyn Pow married July 10 …. and next weekend’s couple .....Karen Griffith & Brent Woo Ling Ø All who prayed for our CFC family in Jamaica and Florida and expressed their love to Grenada with prayers and donations Ø Our Sangre Grande unit who always says yes when asked to serve. May we grow to be like you. Notes
to self - remember to… · pray an "Our Father" for His Holiness the pope. · copy this Update to my fellow CFC members without e-mail · pray for our young couples “dis marriage ting serious boy” · check calendar below for CFC happenings and support with PRAYER AND PRESENCE - Hire a Maxi, Bring Dong de Posse, Wear de Jersey !!
Calendar
of Events
May God Bless us All Communications Team
Check out our Archives: July Update August Update |
 |
|
|
About CFC | Family
Ministries | What's Going On | Fun
Zone | Photo Gallery | Testimonies |
The
community of Paramin was ablaze with praise as CFC gathered in Fatima junction
for worship. A comfortable walk
had brought us here as approximately 120 members, friends and newcomers were
drawn by the lively songs led by Sangre Grande Singles in Music Ministry. This was followed by a short introduction by Liston and opening remarks
by Fr. Kevin. CFC Sangre Grande
took up the baton again and ministered through the presentations of Carl Lara
and featured speaker Anthony Joseph. As
we closed in prayer, everyone agreed it was the right way to spend the night
before our nation’s Independence holiday. Congratulations to the team from Sangre Grande who came in numbers to
support the Paramin unit. That’s
the CFC Spirit.
It
was a heart-shattering experience as God had to break apart the old to
"create a new heart" in us. We had to free ourselves of our
old understanding of marriage to see it, and our spouses as God sees. 
