Lessons from the ancient church for a new world

BY INVITATION ONLY

TURKEY " MAY 2 – 14, 2015

EVER ANCIENT

EVER NEW

You are invited to join The Roundtable on an extraordinary journey, exploring the life of the ancient church and what it offers the world today.Rikk Watts, professor of New Testament at Regent College, will guide an intimate community of 18 fellow travellers, on an exploration of the ancient church and how it shook the pagan world, offering them what eminent secular sociologist Rodney Stark

called “nothing less than their humanity.” Watts and guests will also reflect on the dramatic growth of the Church in the first five centuries and the challenging implications of the transformation from fledgling community to empire to its immenent decline.

THE WESTERN CHURCH IS IN THE MIDST OF ENORMOUS CHANGE.The Christian community, the single most formative influence in Western Civilization, is faced with a growing dislocation and ambiguity – there is a sense that we have “lost some-thing.” For many, this is inspiring a return to the ancient roots of the Christian faith to explore how the fledgling Christian communities embodied God’s new humanity in a pagan world.

Through an exploration of John’s letter to the Seven Churches, and consideration of the historic and geographic context for each city (Pergamum, Smyrna, Philadelphi, Thyatira, Laodicea, Sardis, and Ephesus), we will consider Jesus’ radically new understanding of

“god” and humanity: An understand-ing that empowered these minority communities to rise above ethnicity and build transformative societies open to all who sought forgiveness, peace, the life of this world and of the world to come.

Just as Jesus’ message spread to “the ends of the earth”, so our journey will continue to Cappadocia and the imperial city of Constantnople (Istanbul). Here we will explore how the gospel of Jesus tranformed the then-known world, and the unexpected consequences of disparate communities becoming empire – consequences that have shaped our understanding today of a faith that is ever ancient and ever new.

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INTRODUCTION

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THE SEVEN CHURCHES May 2 - 8

Izmir will be our first home base as we begin our exploration of Jesus’ identity, mission, and message. A fitting start to our tour will be a visit to the church of St. Polycarp, the first bishop of Smyrna, appointed by the Apostle John.

From there we will visit the sites of six of the churches (Pergamum, Smyrna, Philadelphia, Thyatira, Laodicea, and Ephesus) and consid-er the letters of all seven (including Sardis) in John’s Revelation. As we walk these ancient lands we will consider the Gospel’s call to the Christian Church (in the ancient pagan world and to our new world today) to be his gracious presence throughout the earth.

CAPPADOCIA & CONSTANTINOPLE May 9 - 14

This early life-giving vision of Jesus, expressed in John’s letters, won the hearts and minds of the masses. Unexpected consequences followed. We will explore these consequences in Cappadocia and in Constantinople (Istanbul).

Through the lens of these two cities and the Christians who lived there, we will explore how the rise and, in particular, the fall of Christian empire reminds us of the Jesus whom the founders of the early Church knew, unencumbered and untethered by the restraints and presumptions of empire.

Istanbul Tourism website Cappadocia Tourism website

Online Links

The tour will be divided into two parts:

AN INTIMATE TOURThe tour will be limited to 18 guests.

AN INTEGRATED TOURThe tour will integrate history, archaeology, and culture in this exploration of the faith of the ancient church and its flourishing in Asia Minor. We will consider how these weave together to speak to us today about the meaning of the gospel, its revelation of what it means to be human, and the place of the church in this ever-changing world. Much of this conversation, this immersion, will occur as we dine each evening, sampling not only the local cuisine and vintages, but also the diverse ideas emerging from our experiences during the day.

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The HostThis Tour has been created by The Roundtable which serves the philanthropic community in Canada through programs and services that inspire and inform the efforts of its members to enrich society, create culture, and care for the common good. Programs such as this tour are created on the assumption that one’s philanthropy is birthed from, and enriched by, an individual’s understanding of who they are, who their neighbor is, their understanding of the world around them and their relationship to God and to money. Greg Pennoyer, Co-Founder and Executive Director of The Roundtable, will host this tour alongside of Rikk Watts.

A WELL-PACED TOURThe tour itinerary is shaped for the enjoyment of those who wish to learn, discuss, understand, and grow in friendship together. Formal tours will be balanced with free time given for personal exploration of local artistic, natural, architectural, and cultural highlights. Evenings will be spent at table with excellent food, wine, and inspiring conversation.

A REFLECTIVE TOURReflection and contemplation are key components of the tour. Unlike traditional tours where every day is full of organized sight-seeing, ample time will be given, under the guidance of Rikk Watts, for reflection on the faith in Jesus of those early Christians and the inevitable gift of humanity that such faith provided the ancient world and this present one.

Goreme village in the twilight, Cappadocia, Turkey

REGISTRATIONFEE PAYMENT SCHEDULE$1,000.00 (USD) Upon Registration (100% non-refundable after July 1) To secure the current exchange rate, guests may pay in full and funds will be held in escrow until full payment required on January 20, 2015

$1,000.00 (USD) by October 5, 2014 (non-refundable after October 5, 2014)

$4,975.00 (USD) by January 20, 2015 (non-refundable after January 20, 2015)

TRANSCONTINENTAL FLIGHTSThese Flights are the responsibility of each registrant. Guests are asked to arrive in Izmir before the reception at 5:30 PM, May 2 and depart from Istanbul after breakfast on May 14.

AIRPORT TRANSFERSUpon arrival, guests are responsible for their ground transportation from the Izmir airport to the Key Hotel in Izmir. Upon departure from Istanbul, they are responsible for ground transportation from the Tom Tom Hotel in Istanbul to the Istanbul Airport.

DetailsCost

$6975.00 (USD)* per person including 12 nights accommodations, all breakfasts and dinners, most lunches, ground transportation to formal tour locations, entrance fees to all scheduled tour sites, all flights within Turkey.* The Single supplement is $2,150 (USD).

A 3% processing fee will be added for payments made by Credit Card.

Costs not included: lunches designated “on your own”, excursions on “day off”, hot air balloon in Cappadocia, flights from North America/Europe to Izmir and back to North America/Europe from Istanbul, as well as visas to Turkey (information to follow).

REGISTRATION DEADLINEJuly 1 or until the tour reaches its limited capacity.

TRAVEL INSURANCEIt is recommended that all registered participants confirm adequate travel insurance prior to the tour.

Additional DetailsVisas: A visa is required for travel to Turkey. The Turkish visa is $60.00 (CAD). Travellers will be required to secure this visa upon arrival at the Istanbul airport.

Walking: The tour includes plenty of walking, so please bring comfortable walking shoes.

Itinerary: A complete detailed Itinerary will be forwarded upon registration indicating all sites the tour will formally visit, plus accommodations and restaurants.

D E S I G N T O M F R O E S E . C O M

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To register, or for further information, contact Greg Pennoyer at gregpennoyer@me.com or 778.995.9424

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