ICF International Newsletter No. 12/2011

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HEARTBEAT FROM LEO AND SUSANNA BIGGER

Dear friends

Just before Christmas, we may once again greet you with the latest news of our ICF Church.

Repeatedly, we are asked by people who have just gotten to know ICF: "How is all this possible?" This is a good question to which we ourselves as leaders of the church have only one answer: Jesus is building His church and He takes cares of what is needed to do this. And in recent weeks He has proved this, more than ever before.

While a considerable crew of people are on a musical tour in German-speaking Europe, all Celebrations are being held in all locations without exceptions. At the same time the reconstruction work is underway at full speed for our new location in the freight yard (Güterbahnhof). We have a big move ahead of us and will also celebrate another New Year's Eve party! How is all this possible? Exactly!

We look forward to the crowded halls wherever "California King" will be hosted. Thank you for bringing your VIPs. They can see church in a new way through this.

From our hearts we wish you and your loved ones a beautiful and peaceful Christmas and a good start in the New Year!

With a warm embrace

Leo & Susanna Bigger

CALIFORNIA KING – THE MUSICAL

For the third time in its history, ICF Zurich is going on a big tour in Germany, Austria and Switzerland with a new Christmas Musical. From the 1^st to the 25^th of December 2011 the audience will follow Zorro’s trail in Mexico and experience a fast-paced adventurous story with wonderful music, a lot of action and depth. Under Nicu Bachmann’s direction the rehearsals and preparations have been running at full speed since August.

Of course, “California King” will not miss coming through our doors: Performances take place in all locations; in ICF Zurich even on two weekends.

Look forward to a fresh, lively Christmas musical with Latin influence.

¡Vamos a México!

PERFORMANCE DATES IN ZURICH AND IN THE LOCATIONS

ICF Zürich, Celebrationhall, Hardstrasse 219, 8005 Zürich
Sat. 17^th Dec. 2011, 8 pm
Sun. 18^th Dec. 2011, 11 am* / traduction française / traduzione italiana
Sun. 18^th Dec. 2011, 5 pm* / English subtitles / subtitulos en Español / tradução em Português
Sun. 18^th Dec. 2011, 8 pm

ICF Wetzikon, Hotel Restaurant Drei Linden, Bahnhofstrasse 73, 8620 Wetzikon
Fri. 23^rd Dec. 2011, 8 pm

ICF Zurich, Celebrationhall, Hardstrasse 219, 8005 Zürich
Sun. 25^th Dec. 2011, 5 pm*
Sun. 25^th Dec. 2011, 8 pm * / English subtitles / subtitulos en Español

* with separate children’s programme

Free entrance, collection. The musical is suitable for children over 12 years of age. Further information and tour dates: www.californiaking.icf.ch

CELEBRATIONS IN JANUARY 2012

1^st January 2012
«BYE-BYE MAAG AREAL!»-CELEBRATION
We say farewell to our old Celebrationhall at the Maag-Areal with two evening celebrations:
5 pm: GENX-Celebration* **
7 pm: GENX-Celebration

8^th January 2012
OPENING CELEBRATIONS
Opening Celebrations in the new ICF rooms Zurich at the usual Celebration times. Further information: www.icf.ch
Hohlstrasse 150, 8004 Zurich

9:30 am: UNPLUGGED-Celebration *
11:00 am: GENX-Celebration *
5 pm: INTERNATIONAL UNITED-Celebration * **
7 pm: GENX-Celebration

* with separate children’s programme for 0 to 12 year olds
** English translation / traducción en Español

NEW SERIES

ELIJAH – THE LIFE OF ELIJAH

Elijah was a man with a great passion for God and a deep longing for a better future, but also a human being with strengths and weaknesses, successes and setbacks, with fears and doubts.

In the series "ELIJAH", we want to learn how we can live our faith enthusiastically and inspiringly despite opposition, setbacks, fear or doubt. Let's take a stand!

Dates
8^th January 2012: EliJaH – Take a stand!
15^th January 2012: EliJaH – Raise your voice!
22^nd January 2012: EliJaH – Make a choice!
29^th January 2012: EliJaH – Walk the talk!
5^th February 2012: EliJaH – Never give up!
12^th February 2012: EliJaH – Change tomorrow today!
19^th February 2012: EliJaH – Guest speaker Matthias Bölsterli

EVENTS

New Year's Party – the last party in the ICF (Maag) Celebration hall

Programme:
10:30 pm: Doors open
11:00 – 11:40 pm: Worship & Message
11:40 pm: Live-Band with countdown
00:00 – 4:00 am: Music with DJ Nuggi & S.Trehler; from 1980s to today’s hits!
Dress code: Building site style
Entrance fee: CHF 15.-

Worship

"Take a Stand", the brand new worship album has arrived!

"Take a Stand" is the new live album of ICF Zurich. The fourteen English worship songs were recorded live in the Celebration Hall of ICF in Zurich in July 2011. The album "Take a Stand" convinces with strong songs, authentic lyrics and great musicianship.

The entire worship session of about an hour is also captured on the included DVD for the first time! Through the expressive video images, the listener will really be engulfed in the unique atmosphere of this rousing worship experience. As bonus material, the DVD contains exclusive interviews with the ICF Zurich songwriters and worship leaders as well as other interesting features.

The album can be purchased in the ICF Media Store or can be ordered online.

Order online at: www.icf-media.ch

iTunes (only audio): itunes.apple.com/ch/album/take-a-stand-live-worship/id478083070

Listening samples and videos: www.icf-music.ch/

NUMBER OF THE MONTH

8

For once, the smaller the number, the higher the rating. The current number of the month is for the placement of our new album "Take a Stand" on iTunes in the week 48. It gets even better: as of 11/12/2011 the album has been in the Swiss charts, at number 96 (for multiplication Freaks: 96 = 12 x 8).

Even more interesting details about the number 8:

on www.bibelkreis.ch/themen/symbedz.htm you can read the following, among other things, about the symbolic meaning of number 8: "The number 8 simply indicates a fulfilment in that it shows a new beginning." Comment is superfluous, right?

ICF TELEVISION

Update

On 25 August 2010, our long-standing ICF dream to broadcast our Celebrations on TV came true. Since then, we broadcast weekly on STAR TV and DAS VIERTE. After exactly one year we doubled it and came to two other stations: AUSTRIA 9 and RHEINMAIN TV. But if that was not enough, last month more doors opened: from January 2012 ICF Celebrations is on GOD TV, the largest Christian private station with a potential of 500 million viewers, and can also be seen on SUPER RTL. That our dream would take on such large dimensions exceeded our wildest expectations.

By the way, we are building a follow-up team to answer viewer emails and letters, and also (later) to call them.

ACTS

The Kinderoase (Children's Oasis) Christmas celebration

Once again this year, the Kinderoase (children's oasis), the children's project of the ACTS Foundation, is celebrating Christmas on the farm. The children from the District 5, their parents and the Kinderoase team will meet for a delicious meal at the farm Hof Wiesengrund in Oberglatt. As a climax, the children will perform a musical and tell their parents the Christmas story in this way. After that, gifts will be distributed, which were lovingly prepared by Youthplanet and Zwänzger.

ACTS makes the GOOD-JOB job portal available

In the summer of 2009, the ACTS foundation launched the job placement platform www.good-job.ch. The advertising volumes remained below expectations and the targets could not be achieved due to a lot of administrative effort.

We are now looking for a successor who would take over and continue the job portal. If you are interested in continuing to develop the platform further, then get in touch with us at acts@icf.ch.

MOVEMENT

Big Bang ICF Langenthal

On the 6th November 2011 a new ICF Location was born in Langenthal, a town with 15000 inhabitants, well, located between Bern and Oftringen.

Phil Stern Bauer, pastor of ICF Mittelland, opened his first ICF location.

It was celebrated at the Park Hotel Langenthal with a dance show, an interactive and inspiring message, the ceremonial cutting through the red tape and subsequent party on the side stage with a lounge.

320 visitors were expected - 512 came! Wow!

Congratulations, Christian and Manuela Bänziger (location manager Langenthal ICF), on your ICF!

Video Big Bang: vimeo.com/31793188
Video English: vimeo.com/32089498

ICF WINTERTHUR

Doin’ a work for Jesus!

The California-king-musical-crew has seen it with its own eyes that the rear part of the cinema upstairs has a new shine to it!

The whole second half of November more than a dozen ICFlers were busy painting. The result is a backstage area with comfy sofas, inviting our artists, technicians and staff to relax.

It was awesome to see how many people sacrificed their time and were splattered with paint from top to bottom in order to build God's kingdom! Thank you!

Dominic and Gloria Laim

ICF RAPPERSWIL

Highlights with depth

The month of December 2011 is full of highlights! At the premiere of "California King" we had 360 visitors who were touched and inspired. On Sunday, 4 December, we celebrated a fantastic family day with Santa Claus and Sunday brunch, with fun and games for everyone.

We are not celebrating the Christmas and New Year Celebrations at the usual times, but at 5:00 pm (with Chinderexpress). A beautiful Christmas programme in a festive atmosphere can be expected on Sunday 25 December. We will also begin our New Year on Sunday 1st January 2012 with only one Celebration at 5:00 pm. The evening before, of course, is our legendary New Year's Eve Party at 19:30 clock in the Event House in Rapperswil.

The musical, parties, Christmas Celebrations and special Celebrations crown our year-end. In all this we hope that God deeply touches our hearts and many new hearts and shapes them by His love.

Maese and Gisi Hager

ICF ZÜRCHER OBERLAND

A strong team for a strong Chinderexpress

"Hurray, I can go to Chinderexpress again today!" cries the little blond boy and ran to the check-in. Currently, 35 to 40 kids attend our Chinderexpress every Sunday, just like this boy. Many thanks go to all who work with dedication for our children. We are delighted that children in our Church can make friends and get to know Jesus.

At the end of year, Claudia Farner will finish her part-time employment for the Chinderexpress. Thanks to her marvellous work in the recent years the Chinderexpress is now run again by a strong volunteer core team: Sina Schrag (Baby World), Ursula Schmitter (Milkyway and producer), Claudia Farner (Little Stars), Sandy Schilling (programme), Deborah Rychlik (office) Maja and Morf (decoration). We are grateful to start with a motivated team in the New Year.

Ursula and Jani Schmitter

BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS FOR DONATIONS

ICF Zurich:
Raiffeisenbank Zurich, 8001 Zurich
Clearing number: 81487
Account number: 89622.47
IBAN: CH85 8148 7000 0089 6224 7
SWIFT-BIC: RAIFCH22
Paid to: ICF Zurich, Hardstrasse 219, 8005 Zurich

ICF Rapperswil:
Raiffeisenbank Zurich, 8001 Zurich
Clearing number: 81487
Account number: 89622.50
IBAN: CH04 8148 7000 0089 6225 0
SWIFT-BIC: RAIFCH22
Paid to: ICF Zurich, Rapperswil, Hardstrasse 219, 8005 Zurich

ICF Winterthur:
Raiffeisenbank Zurich, 8001 Zurich
Clearing number: 81487
Account number: 89622.24
IBAN: CH27 8148 7000 0089 6222 4
SWIFT-BIC: RAIFCH22
Paid to: ICF Zurich, Winterthur, Hardstrasse 219, 8005 Zurich

ICF Zürcher Oberland:
Raiffeisenbank Zurich, 8001 Zurich
Clearing number: 81487
Account number: 89622.43
IBAN: CH96 8148 7000 0089 6224 3
SWIFT-BIC: RAIFCH22
Paid to: ICF Zurich, Züri Oberland, Hardstrasse 219, 8005 Zurich

ACTS:
Raiffeisenbank Zurich, 8001 Zurich
Clearing number: 81487
Account number: 96475.41
IBAN: CH91 8148 7000 0096 4754 1
SWIFT-BIC: RAIFCH22
Paid to: ACTS Stiftung, c/o ICF Zurich, Hardstrasse 219, 8005 Zurich