7th International Christian Dance And Creative Arts Conference
When? 11-17 July 2009.
Where? The conference is in the beautiful historic city of St. Andrews, Scotland. Travel details can be found here.
What is happening? See details of the conference, and the workshops and teachers. Find out about the theme and the logo.
How do I reserve my place? You can book by post and online. Book now!
How much does it cost? Costs are listed here.
“Ancient Paths - New Horizons”
(Jeremiah 6:16)
The Lord said to his people “Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask for the ancient paths and where the best road is. Walk on it, and you will live in peace.” (Good News Bible)
The Bible tells us that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews chapter 13, verse 8), and the theme of the conference speaks to us of the past, the present and the future.
Have you ever been in a race, maybe at school, when you could hear the sounds of the spectators shouting your name and encouraging you on to the finishing line? This is what our Christian journey is also like. The Bible says that we are surrounded by a “crowd of witnesses”, (Hebrews chapter 12 verse 1) these are the people who have gone before us in the past. The heroes of the Bible, the disciples who walked with Jesus, saints of a long time ago, like Aidan, Patrick and Cuthbert who brought the message of Jesus and God’s love to the British Isles and Ireland, those who we have known, or family members we have loved, who have encouraged us but are no longer with us. Our lives are interwoven by the lives of others, some who have touched us by physical contact or by the story of their lives. In this sense we understand the communion of the saints.
Like a well worn path through a forest, their lives are an encouragement to us. Indeed God encourages us to look to the past, to where the ancient paths are. Why? Because we can learn from these wonderful saints and how they lived, which helps us in our journeys today. This conference will give you the opportunity to stand in the places where Christians have stood, to worship and pray in a place which has been a place of pilgrimage and worship for 1600 years. A chance to look for the actual spot where Christians have paid the ultimate sacrifice and been martyred for their faith.
The horizon is very clear when you stand on a beach and look out to sea, the place where the sky and sea apparently meet. But the horizon also refers to the limits of our thoughts, aspirations or faith. In a similar way as the sky does not actually touch the sea, there is no limit to our God.
This conference will give you an opportunity to stretch your faith and help you on your journey, to give you new horizons and visions, to make a way for the future. Giving you the chance to consider, if you have learned so much from your brothers and sisters in the past, what are you passing on to future generations in order to make a difference in our world?