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Overview of a typical monthly issue
A regular monthly issue of Trowel and Sword includes the following main features:
Meditation
Feature articles
Youth Scene
Resources for local churches
Reviews
News
MEDITATION
Each month’s edition of Trowel and Sword begins with
a meditation usually written by one of the ministers of the Christian
Reformed Churches of Australia.
These are designed to assist us in reflecting upon an area of our
journey of faith as God’s Spirit leads us forward in the footsteps of
Christ. For this reason they aim to be practical so as to be a help in
everyday life.
RELEVANT FEATURE ARTICLES
These provide Reformed insights on all manner of subjects. For the most
part these follow a theme but usually there is at least one article that
stands alone.
These feature articles are written not just to inform but also to provide practical information to assist the reader doing something about what they have read – be that praying in a more informed way or getting involved in some supportive or other capacity. We want our readers to go beyond just reading about what it means to be Reformed. Our goal is to stimulate and provide avenues for further action in claiming all of life for Christ.
We seek to strike a balance between 'heavier'
theological or biblical articles and easier to read items that none the
less stimulate us in a faith journey in Christ.
YOUTH SCENE
With the senior youth no longer having their own magazine (formerly
there was the ‘Youth Herald’ and then ‘Hezekiah’), a portion of
Trowel and Sword reports on what is happening on the youth scene.
Reports on various events are submitted by young people of the Christian Reformed Churches of Australia. These include:
Local and state camps
National conventions.
Mission Experiences
RESOURCE FILE
These are columns provided for those in various ministries in the
local church by delivering practical resources for Senior Youth,
Children’s Ministries, Sessions, Worship Teams / Music Groups and
Local Mission Committees. The centre four pages are a training
resource lift out. Some Resource Files will include reports about
what is happening round the churches and so foster closer links.
REDEEMING CULTURE (Reviews)
Recognising that a Reformed world and life view includes the Arts
reviews on CDs, popular books, movies, and the internet are provided
in the ‘Redeeming Culture’ section. Reviews will take up issues from
a Reformed perspective. Popular books are those that the average
member would be inclined to read.
NEWS
For many years readers have enjoyed ‘Australian Gleanings’ as well
as ‘Snippets’ and ‘What others are Saying’. To these will be added
regular items of news from the churches in both Australia and New
Zealand.
Personally we here at Trowel and Sword seek to apply the truth
shared by Rev. Bill Deenick in his paper '‘The Renewal of our Faith:
Reflections on being Reformed Bravely and Distinctly': “In every
part of its [the church’s] worship only the best will do. If there
is to be a building, it should be a good building. If there is to be
an overhead projector, it must be the best one possible..” True,
brother Deenick is speaking about corporate worship, yet we believe
all of life is worship. Here at T&S our goal is to make this the
best magazine we can produce both as to its content and its
presentation.
All material on this site © 2004 Trowel & Sword