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Banquet Weekend

Everything for the current weekend lives here, schedules, location, prayer sign-ups, and agape letters.

Agape Letters

Need to write a letter to a guest or team member? Click below to see how to send it.

How to Send an Agape Letter

Handwritten letters are always the best. There is something special about holding a letter someone took the time to write by hand, and if you are able, we encourage you to write yours that way.

We also understand that many of our guests' and team members' friends and family live around the country. If you are not able to get a handwritten letter to us, please email your letter to agape@scigreatbanquet.org and put the guest's name in the subject line. Our Agape team will print it and make sure it reaches them during the weekend.

Example Request for Agape Letter

Dear __________________,

I am writing to invite you to write a personal letter to (guest's name), who will be attending a Great Banquet weekend at South Central Indiana Great Banquet on (dates of weekend). This 3-day spiritual retreat provides an opportunity for personal reflection and renewal.

A special part of the weekend is the surprise delivery of personal letters, and (guest's name) does not know they will be receiving these letters. Your letter will serve as an affirmation and encouragement. Here are some ideas to help you get started:

  • Express your love, admiration, and/or respect for the person
  • Share how much they mean to you
  • Recall special memories, whether serious or humorous
  • Share your hopes and dreams for them
  • Express how grateful you are to write this letter

Your letter will remain confidential, so feel free to be as personal as you wish. Any length is appreciated and will enhance (guest's name) experience.

How to Submit Your Letter:

  1. Physical Letter
  2. Email

If you choose to write a physical letter, please place it in a sealed envelope with (guest's name) written on the front. Mark an "F" in the top right corner to indicate it is from friends and family. Please return it directly to me, (guest's name)'s sponsor, by mail or in person, not to the Community office.

If you prefer to send an email, send it to me directly and I will print it, place it in an envelope, and label it in the same manner.

Please ensure your letter reaches me by (date) so I can deliver it in time for the retreat.

Thank you for taking the time to share your love and encouragement. Your letter will mean so much to (guest's name) during this special weekend.

Warm regards,
Your Name
Home Address
Phone
Email Address

Prayer Sign-Up

Cover the weekend in prayer, around the clock, for our guests and team.

Men's Weekend: Prayer Sign-Up Women's Weekend: Prayer Sign-Up
Sign-up sheets go live once weekend dates are confirmed.
Location

Weekends are held at Orleans Wesleyan Campgrounds.

1617 S Maple St
Orleans, IN 47452

Open in Google Maps
Schedules

Please plan to arrive 30 minutes before a meal to help with instructions and final preparations, and stay after to help clean up for the next one, many hands make light work! We also need volunteers to run the dishwasher and mop the kitchen, stop by the kitchen any time during the weekend to help.

Our own weekend schedule isn't finalized yet. The outline below is adapted from a sister Great Banquet community's weekend as a starting template, so the Community can see roughly how the weekend flows, exact talk order, titles, and times will be updated once ours is set.
Thursday
7:00 Registration
7:30 Send-off
Guests to Conference Room
Announcements
"My New Best Friend"
SD Introductions
9:05 LD Talk
9:15 Go to Chapel
Meditative Song / Silence
10:00 Guests to Bed
10:00 Team Meeting
Friday
7:15 Morning Chapel: Morning Prayers, SD Meditation (Prodigal Son), Holy Communion
7:50 Breakfast
9:00 LD Talk / Table Assignments
9:15 Talk #1: Discovering Priorities (table discussions, summaries, posters or skits)
10:40 Group Photo
10:55 SD: History of the Great Banquet
11:15 Talk #2: God's Gift of Grace
12:30 Lunch
1:40 Talk #3: The Ministry of All Believers
3:00 Talk #4: Our Response to Grace
4:20 Long Break
5:30 Dinner
6:55 Talk #5: The Way of Relationships
7:25 LD Talk
7:30 To Chapel: SD Meditation (23rd Psalm)
Back to Conference Room for discussions, summaries, posters or skits
8:30 Poster & Summary Presentations
9:30 Chapel for Evening Prayers / "Goodnight"
10:15 Team Meeting
Saturday
7:00 Morning Chapel: "In His Time", SD Meditation (Pictures of Jesus), Prayers for the Body
7:30 Breakfast
8:30 Talk #6: Truth Through Study; LD Talk: hand cross / book table
Practice music for Communion Service
10:00 Talk #7: Sacramental Grace
11:30 Dying Moments Communion in Chapel
12:30 Lunch
1:00 Long Break
2:30 Talk #8: The Life of Christian Action
3:50 SD explains Chapel Visits & Dump Truck
4:00 Chapel Visits Begin
4:35 Reconvene in Conference Room / Sing
5:00 Talk #9: Obstacles to God's Grace
6:15 Break upstairs
6:30 Cross Dinner
7:30 Praise & Worship Concert
8:30 Talk #10: Disciples
9:40 Restroom break, line up for Candlelight
10:00 Candlelight: urge retirement at a reasonable time
Community celebrates Holy Communion and prays for each guest and team member by name
Sunday
7:15 Morning Chapel: Morning Prayers, SD Meditation (Jesus' Humanity), LD Meditation
7:45 Breakfast
8:30 Talk #11: Changing Our Environment
9:30 Talk #12: A Life of Grace
11:00 Talk #13: The Body of Christ
12:00 Lunch
12:45 Reconvene & Sing
1:20 Talk #14: Staying Power
2:15 Show Speakers' Prayer Chart
2:25 Talk #15: Establishing Priorities
3:15 Distribute talk-home packs; SD reviews materials
Agape Letter reading time
4:20 To Chapel: Cross Service
4:45 Prepare for Closing
5:00 Closing
Speaker Pray-In Schedule
Talk # Talk Title Pray-In Talk Time Pray-Out
Friday
1Discovering Priorities8:35am9:15am9:45am
2God's Gift of Grace11:00am11:15am11:45am
3The Ministry of All Believers1:20pm1:40pm2:10pm
4Our Response to Grace2:40pm3:00pm3:35pm
5The Way of Relationships6:35pm6:55pm7:25pm
Saturday
6The Truth Through Study8:10am8:30am9:00am
7Sacramental Grace9:45am10:00am10:30am
8The Life of Christian Action1:30pm1:45pm2:15pm
9Obstacles to Grace4:45pm5:00pm5:30pm
10Disciples8:15pm8:30pm9:00pm
Sunday
11Changing Our Environment8:15am8:30am9:00am
12A Life of Grace9:15am9:30am10:00am
13The Body of Christ10:45am11:00am11:30am
14Staying Power1:05pm1:20pm1:50pm
15Establishing Priorities2:10pm2:25pm2:55pm
If you'd like to pray in a speaker or just sit in on a talk, look for an Agape team member to help you find a seat.
Get In Touch

Questions about the weekend?

Reach out to Community leadership and we'll help you find what you need.

Email the Community