Angels, a Philadelphia Eagles football player, complete with cheerleader,
Hermione from Harry Potter, a pastor wearing his clothes inside out, Nero
and his entourage, a samurai warrior as well as an Egyptian princess all together at once.
So, what does this mean? If you guessed you just stepped through the looking glass into Alice in Wonderland, you guessed wrong.
However, if you guessed the First Annual Vuzrazhdane Church Carnival, held on April 2, you are right on the money!
International Teams hosted this time of fun, fellowship and friendship at Samaritans Association’s sports hall. This Stara Zagora team of five Bulgarians and three from the States danced the cha-cha, with their children.
Some of the adults participating in this activity VERY quickly discovered that being a professional dancer was NOT their calling.
Graciously, Vuzrazhdane opened this event up to other non-churched people in the Stara Zagora community. All of us were happy to see and meet new people that have no relationship with the Father. We are all hoping and praying that more pre-Christians will attend this carnival the next time it is held.
After all, it is a great way to make inroads to non-believers in a completely non-threatening and informal way.
After the opening activities, which included some clowns, and their silly antics, children were all invited to participate in games.
These games varied from fishing for prizes, a basketball activity toss, bowling, a three legged race, and a Greek dance open to all.
Then, naturally, there was a costume contest. Actually, some of the participants in the carnival did NOT want to seriously embarrass themselves, by possibly winning the contest without a costume or mask. So, to prevent this from happening, some free masks were passed out at the door.
First, the kids strutted their stuff, while admiring adults applauded them. Some of the costumes truly were amazing. Their creativity and talents to come up with something, nearly out of nothing, was simply terrific.
Then it was time for the more elderly people to have their turn.
After all of this, prizes were awarded for the best costumes.
Towards the end, goodies were served and a great time was had by all.
As a concluding event, pieces of colored paper were passed out to everyone. We divided up into groups, according to colors. When this was done, all of the groups worked to puzzle out a part of a Bible verse. Then phrases were read aloud by one person from each group. When all read in order, it end up as a very meaningful Bible verse. It truly was a tremendous example of Christian unity.
According to Pastor Dimitar Luchev, celebrating this carnival was very positive to the church as a whole. He shared the example of a very serious older Christian woman. To see others laughing and having fun in a carnival hosted by the church truly did effect her. It proved, to this very devout Christian lady, that you could play and celebrate together as part of the Body of Christ.
So, dust off those old costumes, don’t throw away that old Halloween mask from 1982, keep your old worn out clothes from the 1970s, and save some of your wife’s old make-up. The 2nd Vuzrazhdane Church Carnival is just around the corner!
Hermione from Harry Potter, a pastor wearing his clothes inside out, Nero
and his entourage, a samurai warrior as well as an Egyptian princess all together at once.So, what does this mean? If you guessed you just stepped through the looking glass into Alice in Wonderland, you guessed wrong.
However, if you guessed the First Annual Vuzrazhdane Church Carnival, held on April 2, you are right on the money!
International Teams hosted this time of fun, fellowship and friendship at Samaritans Association’s sports hall. This Stara Zagora team of five Bulgarians and three from the States danced the cha-cha, with their children.
Some of the adults participating in this activity VERY quickly discovered that being a professional dancer was NOT their calling.
Graciously, Vuzrazhdane opened this event up to other non-churched people in the Stara Zagora community. All of us were happy to see and meet new people that have no relationship with the Father. We are all hoping and praying that more pre-Christians will attend this carnival the next time it is held.
After all, it is a great way to make inroads to non-believers in a completely non-threatening and informal way.
After the opening activities, which included some clowns, and their silly antics, children were all invited to participate in games.
These games varied from fishing for prizes, a basketball activity toss, bowling, a three legged race, and a Greek dance open to all.
Then, naturally, there was a costume contest. Actually, some of the participants in the carnival did NOT want to seriously embarrass themselves, by possibly winning the contest without a costume or mask. So, to prevent this from happening, some free masks were passed out at the door.
First, the kids strutted their stuff, while admiring adults applauded them. Some of the costumes truly were amazing. Their creativity and talents to come up with something, nearly out of nothing, was simply terrific.
Then it was time for the more elderly people to have their turn.
After all of this, prizes were awarded for the best costumes.
Towards the end, goodies were served and a great time was had by all.
As a concluding event, pieces of colored paper were passed out to everyone. We divided up into groups, according to colors. When this was done, all of the groups worked to puzzle out a part of a Bible verse. Then phrases were read aloud by one person from each group. When all read in order, it end up as a very meaningful Bible verse. It truly was a tremendous example of Christian unity.
According to Pastor Dimitar Luchev, celebrating this carnival was very positive to the church as a whole. He shared the example of a very serious older Christian woman. To see others laughing and having fun in a carnival hosted by the church truly did effect her. It proved, to this very devout Christian lady, that you could play and celebrate together as part of the Body of Christ.
So, dust off those old costumes, don’t throw away that old Halloween mask from 1982, keep your old worn out clothes from the 1970s, and save some of your wife’s old make-up. The 2nd Vuzrazhdane Church Carnival is just around the corner!
Keith Brown
