Fellowship
For many, our fellowship groups are one of the highlights of the week, and they are a great opportunity to reflect and discuss what you’ve heard throughout Aber25 as well giving you the chance to think biblically through some of the issues facing us today. Details of the programme can be found below and in the calendar.
Aber Lounge
There will be a number of informal gatherings during the week that will be great for those who wish to meet others. Those leading the conference will be there to introduce themselves, chat with you and answer any questions you may have — and the coffee is on us!
Extra Time:
Extratime is a series of events (morning, afternoon and evening) for 16-22 year olds.
There is a full programme of events that can be seen here
Examples include:
Morning Sessions:
Start your day with us in the International Politics Building for breakfast, devotions, and prayer as we dive into what genuine friendship means—especially the friendship we have in Jesus.
What does True Friendship look like? What does God’s Word tell us about friendship? Who is the model of our friendship today? In a world of fleeting connections, God's word offers a timeless guide to meaningful relationships. Guided by Vaughan Robert’s book, we’ll explore this together through daily themes.
Evening Sessions:
Evenings are a chance to dive into some of the tough questions we face as Christians today—issues the world talks about a lot, but the church can sometimes shy away from. We’ll explore why staying silent isn’t an option and how God’s truth helps us respond with grace and confidence.
Take Time:
Take Time is focused on those in their twenties and thirties and take place in the evening 8:30pm (Medrus 1). They also join Extratime for the morning seminar options (International Politics).
Mike and Susana Chalmers, and Dafydd Williams are leading Take Time.
Sunday -Sunday - Take Time: Introductions
A social opportunity to renew friendships and make new ones as we chat over a cuppa as the week begins.
Monday - In conversation with Vaughan Roberts
We'll be hearing from our main speaker for the week, Vaughan Roberts. It'll be a great chance to hear something of his story and to get a flavour of what he'll be speaking on during the week.
Tuesday - What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
We know that prayer is a vital part of the Christian life and yet often we find it a struggle. We'll be thinking about prayer together, encouraging each other in the privilege of prayer and hopefully inspiring us to keep on praying once we leave Aber.
Wednesday - Therefore Go...
It's easy to forget we're part of something much bigger than ourselves and the churches we're a part of. So in this session we'll meet real life missionaries who will share about gospel work in the wider world. There'll be something to inspire us as well as the opportunity to pray for mission work too.
Thursday - Take Time Q&A
We'll finish the week together with the chance for you to come and ask any questions about the Christian faith! A great space to work through some big questions with each other.
Time Out:
Leaders: Jonathan & Caroline Hodgins.
A relaxed space to unwind, reflect on what you’ve heard, and enjoy fellowship together for those in mid-life.
Evening Sessions (C22)
Monday – We’re not in Kansas Anymore Welcome to Time Out at Aber. If this is your first visit or your twenty-first you’re very welcome to join us for chats, snacks and a short devotion as we begin our week together.
Tuesday – Off To See The Wizard Come and spend time with our main speaker Vaughan Roberts where he will tell us a bit about himself, his plans for the week and answer some of your questions.
Wednesday – The Man Behind the Curtain “Films, fens and first slip” – An evening with James Muldoon exploring what makes him him, what makes us, us and why that really matters in our walk with the Lord.
Thursday – If I Only Had The Nerve Elaine Macdonald speaks about mentoring: who needs it, how she does it and why this is probably the ideal time to start doing it.
The meetings take place in the evening (8:30pm) in C22.
Prime Time:
Prime Time fellowship group meetings are aimed at "those in their prime" and usually attract a good number of people (around 80) with an age range of 55-80. The meetings, this year, will be held Monday to Thursday evenings inclusive in the Round Studio which is close to the Main Hall. There should be plenty of space and good acoustics. The meetings will run from 8-30pm-9-30pm approximately.
The aim is to be quite informal with coffee and biscuits beforehand. The speaker for the evening is then introduced and speaks for about 15-20 minutes on the topic for the evening. This will be followed by questions/discussion for a further 15-20 minutes.
This year, the theme for the week is – “Dealing with Disappointments". The overall aim is to help us, as Christians, to deal with disappointments in a God-honouring way and to be equipped to grow in grace through disappointments, with the help of the Holy Spirit.
The plan for the week is as follows:
a) Monday 11 August - "Dealing with disappointments in the family" - James Muldoon
This is very wide ranging area. James and Jenny Muldoon have written about the specific challenges they have had to face in their family and James is therefore well equipped to speak to this topic and hopefully help us deal with our own disappointments in this area of life.
b) Tuesday 12 August - "Dealing with disappointments in church" - Jeremy Bailey
Jeremy has been in ministry for a good number of years, and will hopefully share his experiences and wisdom on this topic to challenge us not to be overcome by issues that inevitably arise in churches which cause us to be disappointed with our leaders and/or other church members but to encourage us to continually show grace and grow in grace through such disappointments.
c) Wednesday 13 August - "Dealing with disappointments in ministry" - Vaughan Roberts
The aim here is to have Vaughan help us gain a greater appreciation of the various challenges that ministers often have to face in their ministry and to provide help for us to prayerfully and practically provide support for pastors and elders when they face setbacks.
d) Thursday 14 August - "Dealing with disappointments in our own spiritual life" - Paul Gamston
This again is potentially very wide-ranging but the aim is for Paul to provide help for us all, as Christians, to be better-equipped to face, deal with and overcome setbacks and disappointments in our spiritual lives.
We are looking forward to having you join us at Prime Time this year whether for the first time or as a returning regular attendee at this fellowship group.
Alan and Elizabeth Gilmore.
