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	A congregation is the local community of people who wish to give shape together to their faith, who wish to become involved in a two-facetted movement: inwards - the deepening of faith in silence and concentration; outwards - the application of faith to your own life and the world about you. The work of the congregation can be divided into four fields:
	observance		The rhythm of inner searching and opening up of listening and singing, praying and speaking; it means placing yourself under God's name, sometimes hesitantly and helplessly, sometimes happily and thankfully; it finds form in the weekly church service on Sundays, sometimes also in an evening prayer or in a liturgical celebration in a small circle or in a hospital; there are church services together which the children, there are baptismal services and services in which the Lord's Supper is celebrated, there are services with the mentally handicapped.
	pastorate		Listening to one another, trying to understand the path each is following through life and sometimes walking together for part of the way, sharing sadness and joy with one another; it finds form in the ordinary contact between people, and also in the organizing of visiting work (district organization) and in talks with the minister.
	diaconate		Service to one another - in the form of money, time and practical help; help to members of the congregation but also to other people, institutions, campaigns and projects here and in other parts of the world. Care is given to the handicapped, the sick and the elderly; contributions are made to international aid projects (the worldwide diaconate) and to development co-operation (the '2% campaign').
	preparation		Listening to each other and talking to each other about a part of the Bible, a book or a question; adjusting one's way of life, views and attitudes; it means becoming both resilient and vulnerable, learning to understand God's way with people, including in what is happening today; it finds expression in discussion and working groups, conferences, retreats, meditation meetings; special attention is paid to work with children and youth - Sunday schools, weekend excursions, creative expression and religious instruction.
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voor het laatst bijgewerkt: 29/05/2007