acts2fellowship

The highlight of November at a2f was definitely the Thanksgiving Retreat that many of us attended up in the Bay Area.  On Thursday night, we packed into sedans and vans and started the journey up the I-5 to NorCal.  Arriving there little after midnight, we were welcomed by all our hosts in Alameda who cooked up a storm for us to feed our hungry stomachs.

Friday- We woke up early in the morning and received a grand tour of the Bay area- SF, Pier 39, Funny Hat Store, Clam Chowder Soup, Bay Bridge, Golden Gate Bridge, Richmond Bridge and not to forget the UC Berkeley campus tour.  Despite the intermittent rain, we had a grand old time– special thanks to all our Berkeley friends who planned these tours and volunteered to be our official tour guides! =)

Friday night through Sunday- The long awaited Thanksgiving Retreat was finally here!  We started off the retreat with a very powerful and moving presentation by all the students who became Christians in this past year.  One by one, each came forward and shared how they have been changed through Christ and how now their lives were transformed.  Some of our very own Riverside students got to participate in this, and as a church as a whole, we marveled at all that God had done in our midst in this past year!

On Saturday, we had a packed day starting with the Gracepoint-wide orchestra performance, followed by videos & sharings from all of our ministries recapping what has happened in this past year, and we ended the day with a pseudo talent show as everyone showcased their dancing, cheerleading, rapping and breakdancing skills.  Who knew that such talent and creative ideas could emerge from only 1 hour of practice?

From Berkeley college, to Joyland, Impact, ECM, IGSM, VSM, Interhigh, Element, Davis, Taiwan, Austin, Minnesota, San Diego and Riverside, we got a glimpse of all that has been happening throughout the Gracepoint-wide ministries in 2011.  I think I speak for all of us when saying that we were all challenged by the videos and sharings, and that we are thankful that we can be the body of Christ together!

Class competitions!  Each class showcased their talents (including our young adult department) and while the young ones may have much energy and enthusiasm, I think in the end the more wise & experienced post grads still win the prize with their 1 word skit using “duuuude.”

Well, all in all, Thanksgiving retreat was an incredible and unforgettable experience.  Big thanks especially to all those who hosted us, opened up their homes for us to stay in and cooked us yummy meals.  We are thankful for all the new friends we met in Berkeley, and we look forward to seeing you soon again!