The Lab Blog

The Journey Retreat

If you missed Sunday, you missed us giving out the full details for our retreat on Friday 24th - Sunday 26th February.

Here’s a pdf of the information leaflet and the form you need to fill in to book your place. Get hold of a paper copy from one of our Sunday Gatherings or from your Small Group.

Lab Retreat 2012 - February 24th - 26th

We’re just finishing bringing all the information about this year’s retreat - you’ll find out the full details and how to book on Sunday.

In the meantime, here’s some photos of our venue - the Manorbier (pronounced Manna-Beer) Youth Hostel. It’s in an incredible area on the Pembrokeshire coast, close to the beach and a cool-looking castle. We’ve booked out the whole place, so there’s going to be loads of room, and the retreat is open to everyone including under 18s. Also, if you use your imagination, the youth hostel itself looks like a bit like a space station.

Join us on Sunday night to find out the full details and get a booking form!

View Separately

Starting this Sunday night, we’re beginning a series exploring the book of Exodus which will last us the next ten weeks leading up to Easter. Exodus is a brilliant book which tells the story of God’s people - the Israelites - being freed from slavery in Egypt and journeying with God through the wilderness towards the Promised Land.

Here’s 3 great reasons we’re really excited about the Exodus series:

The Exodus gives us a picture through which we can look at our own lives - we all feel at different times like we’re in the wilderness, like we’re suffering injustice, like we can’t see where God is and at other times with a strong sense of God’s presence with us on the journey.
The Exodus shows us what God is like - that he’s a God who won’t stand for injustice, a God who saves and a God who longs to have relationship with us.
The Exodus points towards what God does later in his story through Jesus. Jesus comes to save God’s people once and for all, not from an empire but from the real enemies of sin and death. He leads us into the true promised land - God’s Kingdom.

Looking forward to seeing you on Sunday nights as we journey together through this exciting story about God saving his people.

The Student Alpha Course

At our Big Meal on Wednesday, we announced the start of two new small groups this term - one in Maindee and one in the City Centre - both of which will be doing the Student Alpha course starting from February.

We’re really excited about the chance to explore the core elements of Christianity and discover more of who Jesus is together, and to invite friends who aren’t part of The Lab to join us.

Incase you’re wondering, here’s some details about Student Alpha:

Student Alpha is a seven week course introducing people to the Christian faith. Over the last ten years Student Alpha has proved to be one of the most effective tools for university students and young adults to explore the Christian faith, with over 600 courses now running worldwide.

Its simple format has seen courses run everywhere from churches and halls, to McDonalds restaurants, curry houses and night clubs! It contains the same material as ‘classic’ Alpha, except that it’s been ‘squeezed’ (into seven weeks), ‘squashed’ (into thirty minute talks) and ‘spiced’ (with multi-media ingredients).

The course outline looks like this:

Week 1: Who is Jesus
Week 2: Why did Jesus die?
Week 3: How can I have faith?
Week 4: Why & how should I pray?
Week 5: Why & how should I read the bible?
Week 6: What about evil & does God heal today?
Week 7: What about the church & telling others?

There will also be extra sessions where we’ll be talking about the Holy Spirit, who he is and what he does.

Joyful Giving

Last Sunday night we covered the topic of money and giving as part of our Lab community life. Listen to last night’s teaching, or if you’re interested in giving to The Lab you can find out how on our new ‘giving’ page on the website.

You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives joyfully.
- 2 Corinthians 9:7