Encountering Christ
2018 College/Young Adult Convention
"Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke and gave it to them.
31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him."
(Luke 24: 30, 31)
One Lucky participant from this year's convention will be the winner of a FREE convention registration for next year's Diocese convention. The raffle will be drawn during this upcoming convention weekend. Stay Tuned for a winner!!!
ABOUT THE EVENT /
The Holy Scripture speaks about many people whose lives were radically transformed once they had an Encounter with Christ. The Woman at the well, Zacchaeus, St. Paul and many others all had an “AHA MOMENT” where they experienced Christ and He changed their lives forever. Instead of living only for themselves or for the world, encountering Christ made them realize that He has a deeper and more significant purpose for them which is to live for Him wholeheartedly and to serve others.
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This convention will seek to explore various ways to have an Encounter with Christ.
1. We will Encounter Christ Theologically by understanding the mystery of Incarnation as well as His nature. Christ assumed all that is ours to return us back to the image of God which we had lost.
2. We will be united with Christ through the Sacramental and Liturgical life of the Church. The Divine Liturgy is an experience outside of time where we meet Christ and the disciples at the same table where Christ gave them His true body and blood.
3. We will explore several examples from Scriptures, desert fathers and mothers as well as saints who had a personal encounter with Christ which ultimately led the way for them and many others to build a personal relationship with Him.
4. We will seek how to Encounter Christ through serving the poor and marginalized “the least of these My brethren” as well as have a strong testimony and witness in our immediate surroundings.
WHEN /
January 26-28, 2018
WHERE /
Shell Island Resort
2700 N. Lumina Avenue, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480
WHO /
His Grace Bishop Peter
along with guest speaker,
Reverend Father Pishoy Salama
A.K.A. Daddy P and YOU!
SCHEDULE
Friday Jan. 26th:
5:00 PM - Registration opens
8:30 PM - Ice Breaker #1
9:00 PM - Evening Prayer; Book of the Hours
9:30 PM - Songs
9:45 PM - Lecture 1 with short Q&A
(Theological Encounter: Taking what is ours to Give Us What is His)
11:00 PM - Ice Breaker #2
11:15 PM - Group games
12:00 AM - Lights out/Bedtime
Saturday Jan 27th:
8:30 AM - Breakfast
9:30 AM - Morning Prayer; Book of the Hours
10:00 AM - Songs
10:15 AM - Lecture 2 with short Q&A
(Liturgical Encounter: Christ Present in Our Midst)
11:30 AM - Group breakouts:
12:00 PM - Quiet Time & Meditation
12:30 PM - Lunch
1:30 PM - Group Photo #1
1:45 PM - Lecture 3 with short Q&A
(Personal Encounter: Life of Contemplation & Prayer)
3:00 PM - Group Game/Competition
5:00 PM - Free Time
6:45 PM - Dinner
7:45 PM - Songs
8:00 PM - Q&A Panel with Bishop/Clergy
9:15 PM - Vespers & Evening Prayers
10:00 PM - Midnight Psalmody/Praises
12:00 AM - Lights out/Bedtime
Sunday Jan 28th:
8:00 AM - Divine Liturgy
10:30 AM - Group Photo #2
10:45 AM - Checkout of room
11:00 AM - Brunch
12:15 PM - Lecture 4 with short Q&A
(Missionary Encounter: Christ Revealed in Our Testimony)
1:15 PM - Feedback time & parting words
2:00 PM - Depart in Peace!
About Our Guest Speaker:
Fr. Pishoy was born in Giza, Egypt in 1970. He immigrated with his family to Toronto, Canada in 1984 where he completed his high school education. In 1993 he graduated from York University with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Math and Statistics. He served at St. Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Church in Toronto as a youth counsellor until he was ordained as a priest in the same church on November 14, 1999.
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On November 14, 2007, Fr. Pishoy was appointed by H.H. Pope Shenouda III to establish St. Maurice & St. Verena Coptic Orthodox Church which is the first multicultural missionary Coptic Orthodox Church in North America.
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Fr. Pishoy graduated from Tyndale Seminary in May 2006 with a Master of Divinity degree majoring in Youth and Family Ministry. In the same year of his graduation, he started his Doctor of Ministry degree at the University of Toronto and graduated in November 2012. The title of his dissertation is “Of All Nations: Exploring Intercultural Marriages in the Coptic Orthodox Church of the GTA”. In January 2013, Fr. Pishoy was appointed as an adjunct professor of Theology at the University of Trinity College in the University of Toronto.
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On January 24, 2013, Fr. Pishoy received Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his efforts in promoting diversity and multiculturalism. This medal is offered to “honour outstanding citizens for their dedicated service to peers, community and province”.
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Fr. Pishoy is married to Tasoni Sandra and has three children: Mary, David, and Andrew. His hobbies include reading and playing sports (especially basketball and soccer).
