ICF International Newsletter May 2009

Guten Tag ###USER_first_name### ###USER_last_name###

Heartbeat from Leo & Susanna Bigger

Dear ICF,
ICF would not be ICF, if we weren’t always on the move and changing, trying out new and getting rid of old things! On the 3rd of May doors opened for a première: for the first time a fourth celebration started on a Sunday with 200 churchgoers! The “Unplugged Celebration” is not merely a further celebration, but a possibility of all those, who prefer the dark atmosphere of a cinema to a light, energetic atmosphere, want quieter worship and Swiss-German songs, but still want to hear the same message. We are thrilled about what God does in and through each one of us when we courageously dare to do new things!
In many different areas of the church there is the possibility to help and you will surely find the perfect place for you to blossom and where you can contribute your share. Sign up at the information desk or under www.icf.ch/church-life/ministry-finder.html.
We are excited about all the new people in our celebrations!

In love,
Susanna and Leo

Ladies House, ICF Women’s Celebration

We warmly invite you to our next Ladies’ House Event on the 10th of June with the topic “Ladies’ absolutely personal”!

Ecclesiastes 3:1 “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”

As women we are confronted with and challenged by changing life situations over and over again. On this evening we will offer you four breakout sessions: Being single, Re-entering: Children – now what? Finding your place, creative worship time, looking through magazine and listening to God. We look forward to experience God in a variety of ways on this evening!

The next Ladies’ House event takes place on the 2nd of September 2009 at 7.30pm. Also write this in your agenda: The Ladies’ Lounge conference takes place on the 6th / 7th of November 2009.

Fight Club – between heaven and hell

Sunday, 17th May 09

Fight Club – between heaven and hell: The Angels

Sunday, 24th May 09

Fight Club – between heaven and hell: My Prayer

Sunday, 31st May 09 (Pentacost)

Fight Club – between heaven and hell: My Help

MyMessage As of Sunday, 7th June 2009 we will dedicate the messages of six Sundays to the topics which received most votes in our poll where you could choose from messages proposed by people in ICF. To see the topics chosen go to www.icf.ch.

New location for ICF Winterthur

The contract negotiations to rent the cinema Palace for the new location of ICF Winterthur have ended successfully – the contract was signed on the 12th of May! So the first celebration can take place on the 17th of May! Contrary to the claims made in the local newspaper after Easter, all procedures in connection with the contract negotiations were absolutely open, correct and without fraud. Consciously or without better knowledge many things were presented incorrectly or in the wrong perspective. In the mean time the storm has clammed down and we are getting to work full of confidence – reconstructing an old cinema and making it the coolest event location in Winterthur!

Expansion of the foyer in ICF-Zurich

The dust has lain down! The renovation of the new rooms is officially over, the lamps are put up, all the bills are paid. The total of the investment is 2,458 million francs. As a reminder: we financed this investment in three parts: 1,2 million from the existing building fond, 515,000.- through special offerings, 743,000.- from ICF Zurich. Our aim is to save at least 1 million in the coming three years. This will happen on the one hand by saving office rent, which has disappeared since our move to the celebration hall, and by subletting. Until April of this year we have already built up a reserve of 130,000.- francs. By taking this sum and calculating what we can save in three years, the goal we have set seems very realistic. We once again want to thank all the donators, helpers and other supporters for every contribution made in connections with the enlargement of the foyer! The necessity of this investment in a growing church like ours is obvious.

Numbers in April 09

Hospitality – ICF is open for guests

Communal living, an area of ACTS, is growing continually: In the area of hosting they find accommodation in host homes for short stays for many people from all over the world. More and more ICF-goers are living in a Community (a larger communal residence), where the daily life is shared. And the area “accompanied living” for people who need support in the daily routine, is in planning. 

People who have experienced hospitality in ICF Zurich have been touched by their warm welcome. Some can hardly believe that a host would accommodate them without knowing them beforehand.

If you would also like to open your home to experience being hospitable (for a night or a few weeks) or you are interested in the community lifestyle, then write to the e-mail wohnen@icf.ch. We look forward to getting in contact with you! 

Further information on: www.icf.ch/acts/arbeitsbereiche.html. Click on “Gemeinschaftliches Wohnen”.

Donations for ICF Zurich

UBS AG

8098 Zurich

Clearing 267

Account-No. 267-839347.01A

IBAN Nr. CH 26 0026 7267 8393 4701 A

PC Account Bank: 80-2-2

In favor of:

ICF Zurich

Hardstrasse 219

8005 Zurich