Lent – an invitation to Life

Posted on March 5, 2019March 5, 2019 by Andy Wood

Ash Wednesday (March 6) marks the beginning of the Lenten season in the Western Christian calendar. These 40 days (excluding Sundays) culminate in the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection on Easter Sunday.
Lent is about preparation, self examination and meditation on Jesus’ life and suffering. It’s about journeying with him to become like him. It’s about taking up our cross prior to being raised with him. Before being raised to life on Sunday, Jesus was lifted up on Friday.

Lent is about finding life – the true source of life

Our culture shuns anything that remotely hints of denial. “Why should I have to give up anything?” we ask, if not with words then through how we conduct our lives. Examining the deep inner contours of our hearts is not something we do naturally – yet it is what followers of Jesus have done for centuries during this season and have found deep life in the process. This, of course, is the point. Lent is about finding life – finding the true source of life – the very author of life. In Lent we give up other embraces to make room to be more fully be embraced by Jesus.

This season, you may want to embark on a journey asking the question, “what in my life is crowding out the very source of life?” This is the essence of fasting – another practical marker of Lent. Jesus wants to bring us to a place of being more fully alive and yet he won’t do it without our partnership. As we posture ourselves toward him, the Holy Spirit will transform our self-centred lives into new lives of community and justice. Lent prepares us to live worshipful lives of compassion, generosity and all embracing love. This sounds like a good definition of being fully alive to me – how about you?

Here are a few resources that may help on your Lenten journey:

Pray As You Go

A daily contemplative podcast that leads the listener through a series of meditative prayers and scripture readings. Each episode is about 10 – 13 minutes long. You can listen right from their website or subscribe to it via iTunes podcasts.

Lent for Everyone

This is an online devotional created by N.T. Wright. It includes daily scripture and a well-crafted and thoughtful devotion by one of the foremost New Testament scholars of our time. (You have to sign up to view it).

Living Lent Daily

Features prayers, thoughts and more each day to inspire you throughout your Lenten journey. A new article will become available daily throughout Lent. These are quite short.

And a few WCV inspirations:

Lenten Devotional

There is a guided Lenten devotional centred around the book “Sacred & Desecrated: 40 days with Wendel Berry“. It includes daily readings and various challenges designed to deepen our connection with God while preparing us for Good Friday and Easter. The group meets Wednesday evenings beginning March 6th, 7:30-8:30. Contact Amanda for more info.

Empty the Pantry – a Flatlanders Lenten Tradition

The folks in Flatlanders Inn have been doing this for 9 years or so – you may want to try it in your living situation.

“Each year during this season, we dig out the accumulated boxes, tins, and bags from our cupboards and make a deliberate choice to use up the food that we wouldn’t usually choose to use.

Doing this helps us to remember that not everyone has the luxury of choosing what they want to eat. Many people simply have to find ways to use up what they have. Doing this also reminds us to be grateful – on a regular basis, we actually get to choose what we want to eat. We have enough food to have all of these extras.

At the end of Lent, we calculate how much money we have saved on groceries, and then use that money to bless others.”

Feature Image credit: Jenson Stidham

One Step at a Time – AGM & other meetings

Posted on February 21, 2019March 18, 2019 by Andy Wood

The past season has been quite a season – an understatement perhaps, but good to acknowledge nonetheless. It has been complicated and difficult in many ways.

Throughout this time I’ve often been reminded of the passage in Hebrews that says of Jesus, “for the joy set before him, he endured the cross.” There was a grit to Jesus’ path to the cross – a dogged “just keep putting one foot in front of the other” kind of determination that I see in him. But there was also something beyond the cross that seemed to impel him forward – something that held his vision. He both worked with what was right in front of him – “one step at a time” as Alcoholics Anonymous wisdom recommends, and he kept his “eye on the prize”, so to speak. I believe the same is to be true of us in this complex time. We need to keep our eyes on Jesus, and be obedient to the small steps along the way – one step at a time – a “long obedience in the same direction” as Eugene Peterson famously put it.

We do have a few steps laid out for us in the coming months. These plans will simply help us be together as a community in a way that we haven’t been able to be for the past little while. This means, getting together, talking about where we’re at and where we’re going as well as hearing what is stirring amongst each other. It means praying together and asking questions of each other. We know there are many conversations happening amongst the community – working through the continued implications of Nathan’s arrest, trial, conviction and recent sentencing, questions about leadership in WCV, the 2019 budget, opinions about where we are heading, where we should be heading and what God is calling us to – these and others are all relevant topics for discussion and prayer. We need to hear each other, and in the midst of it, we need to hear God. This kind of conversation and dialogue together will be healing in many ways, and will also help us discern where we’re at, and where we need to be heading. But it begins, like Jesus, with one step at a time.

Here are a few of the next steps:

Our Annual General Meeting will be Monday, March 11, 7pm. At this meeting we will review our finances (as is required by the Charities Act) as well as provide lots of space for questions and dialogue. Additionally, we’ll have some clarity about leadership roles and responsibilities in WCV.

Secondly, we’re going to be having Community Meetings at which we can further our discussions as well as get some helpful input from you. These will be times to hear each other, hear God, and provide the leadership with a venue for community discernment. We are working on getting some input and inspiration from David and Anita Ruis who will help us unpack what leadership looks like in a Kingdom of God context. Watch for the exact dates of these Community Meetings but the first one will be during the last week in April, and we will likely have another in May.

…we fasten our gaze onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection. His example is this: Because his heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be his, he endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation, and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God!

Hebrews 12:2 (TPT)

Vineyard Prayer and Worship Summit – Edmonton

Posted on February 7, 2019 by Andy Wood

Every year, there is a national Vineyard event held in Edmonton called the Vineyard Prayer & Worship Summit. It is a time of gathering together to simply “seek the face of the Lord and worship him.” It is two days of worship and prayer and is always an impactful and encouraging time. Also, there is a pre-summit symposium that is designed to offer some training and teaching around particular topics. This year there are two symposium tracks: 1) How to develop a culture of prayer in your church community, and 2) Prophetic movement through dance.

>> Prayer and Worship Summit: March 1 & 2, 2019

>> Pre-Summit Symposium: February 28, 2019

>> Edmonton

>> Visit the website for more details and to register.

Carol Wimber @ SVS

Posted on February 7, 2019February 7, 2019 by Andy Wood

There are very few environments like the Society of Vineyard Scholars (SVS). Passionate, Spirit-filled, community minded followers of Jesus with distinctly Vineyard sensibilities gathering to discuss, dialogue, pray and worship with their whole hearts and their whole minds. I (Andy) have been going to the annual gathering for the past few years, and if I’m honest, have been stalking SVS since it began 10 year ago. 😉 Every interaction I’ve had, whether it has been downloading a paper from the SVS forum or going to an actual event, I always come away enriched and encouraged. What we think really does make a difference in how we live, and the SVS is a great place to think about God (do theology) in community.

My first year I was sitting next to a guy I had just met. We were chatting and then in mid conversation the tone shifted. I interrupted him and said, “wait a minute, are you giving me a word right now?!” In a distinctly Californian accent he said, “ya, that’s how we do it”, and continued to share with me three prophetic words that turned out to be very accurate and important in my life. At that same event I was further enriched by quality teaching, lively dialogue, creative expressions of worship and practical ideas to try out in WCV – I came away with a full heart and a full mind.

This coming year, the SVS gathering is within driving distance for us… it’s in Minneapolis. And, this year will be a special one because Carol Wimber will be interviewed in one of the plenary sessions. This is a rare opportunity to hear Carol as well as Bob and Penny Fulton, all pivotal people in the development of the Vineyard, reflect on the early history, identity and influences of our movement.

This conference is for academics, pastors and leaders… but it’s not just for people with lots of letters behind their name – it’s really for anyone who loves to think deeply – for anyone who loves to worship with their whole selves, including their minds! How about we go together?!

Here’s Caleb Maskell, one of the SVS founders:

Who should come?:

>>May 2 – 4, 2019

>>Minneapolis, MN.

>>Hosted at Mercy Vineyard

>>This year’s theme is “The Coming of the Spirit and the Life of the Church.”

If you are interested in going, let Andy know and we’ll see if we can caravan together!

More info on SVS here.

A Community Letter Regarding Nathan

Posted on January 10, 2019February 13, 2019 by Andy Wood

Dear WCV Community,

This past season has been a difficult one. Thank you for hanging in there. The purpose of this letter is to communicate what’s been going on in Winnipeg Centre Vineyard since the shocking news of Nathan’s arrest on August 10, 2018, his immediate resignation from WCV, and his conviction on December 14, 2018.

We know the events and information surrounding this ordeal have been hard to digest. Each new media report stirred up many emotions. For some of you this has triggered past trauma – for others you’re ready to put it all in the past. We want you to know that no matter where you find yourself we are committed to walk this out in the best way possible.

Our Pastoral Staff, Board of Directors and Elders learned about Nathan’s arrest between August 12 -14. Immediately we sought counsel from the Vineyard Canada National Team, legal advice, and the Winnipeg Police. A joint leadership team meeting occurred on August 17th, and the community was informed of Nathan’s arrest on August 18th at our Sunday morning gathering and via email.

Corporately there have been three grief and prayer evenings, a grief run, as well as one sharing circle time. Resources on grief, trauma, and talking to children and youth about loss have been compiled. Many hours of pastoral care have been given to those most vulnerable and most directly affected. Some have also accessed our list of available and qualified counsellors who are willing to support WCV people through this season. (If you’d like to receive this kind of care please contact anyone on the leadership team). Additionally, we’ve accessed outside support from other Vineyard pastors and leaders, including members of the Vineyard Canada National Team who have come to be with us at regular intervals. This national support will continue.

This situation has magnified a few weaknesses in our leadership structures as a church. We sought wisdom and guidance from leaders in Vineyard Canada and elsewhere in order to strengthen how we work together as a leadership team.

Since August, the Pastoral Elders and Staff, the Lay Elders, and the Board of Directors have begun meeting together as a whole “Leadership Team” in order to increase collaboration, communication and effectiveness. This coming together has allowed for more voices to be in the mix while at the same time maintaining each team’s unique function. Besides leading the congregation through this time, the team has initiated a number of conversations looking at staff roles, leadership functions, policies and procedures. Specifically, our abuse policy, kid-check system, as well as support and accountability structures for leaders in WCV have been reviewed and are being updated accordingly.

To make this work, the team is relying on Ben Kelly (BOD Chair), Krista Heide (Lay Elder Point Person) and Andy Wood (Pastoral Executive) to provide leadership and collaboration.

Many of you have inquired about care for Nathan throughout this past season. Our Vineyard Canada National Directors, David and Anita Ruis, have been walking alongside Nathan since the beginning and are committed to carrying this for the next season. We recognize that there are many vulnerable and affected people in our community, and for this reason, as David Ruis stated in our gathering on December 9, Nathan will not be returning to Winnipeg Centre Vineyard. As time goes on, there will be talks about how and what reconciliation looks like, but this will not happen on a Sunday morning and will not be forced. We commit to do everything we can to provide a safe place for those who are most vulnerable in this situation.

We are all deeply affected and grieved by this situation. We apologize for the parts of our functioning that is clunky. As we seek to follow God’s leading we are committed to continue to grow and improve as well as continue to care for those most vulnerable.

This process of helping our community and any others affected will take considerable time. As we continue to offer resources, gatherings and support, please know that we want to make a safe place for healing to happen. If you need support, want to share concerns or want to have someone meet with you, please contact anyone from our leadership team.

In the end the church is built on one person: Jesus. Hard situations make this even more clear. Though this season has been difficult, it has been so good to see our level of desperation and focus increase. Jesus truly is our centre, our strength, and our light – especially in suffering. Just as we regularly pray for our whole church, would you keep praying for us?

If you have any questions or need to talk for any reason, we’re here.

Sincerely,

The WCV Leadership Team

Pastoral Elders

Andy (Pastoral Executive)

& Beckie Wood

John & Violet Rademaker

Jodi & Mike Labun

Lay Elders

Krista (Lay Elder Point Person)

& Cliff Heide

Paul & Sherry Ansloos

Jason & Theresa Eheler

Rod & Elisa Jersak

Board of Directors

Ben Kelly (Chairperson)

Stephen Fligg

Paul Ansloos

Andrew Chan

Marlese Hazeu

Cornelius Martens

John Rademaker

A Common Prayer

Posted on November 1, 2018November 29, 2018 by Andy Wood

Here’s a prayer we’re praying along with the rest of Vineyard Canada:

And as we pray, let’s also remember these wise words from Eugene Peterson:

Moving Through – some encouragements

Posted on September 13, 2018September 13, 2018 by Andy Wood

We want to take this opportunity to encourage you, wherever you’re at and whatever you’re feeling regarding the news we’ve received about Nathan. Like we’ve been acknowledging as a leadership team and like we’ve been hearing directly from many of you, there is a whole range of reactions, responses and ways of dealing with this situation that each of us will engage in. In the spirit of the Psalms, and with a posture of dependence and prayer, let’s bring whatever we’re carrying, whatever we’re feeling, to the feet of the Lord. This begins by acknowledging where we’re at. By being real, honest and vulnerable – by worshipping in spirit and in the truth of where we’re at. As we do this, our Father will lift us – Jesus, our Immanuel will be with us – the Holy Spirit will fill us. We will be met wherever we’re at, and God will be with us as we move through this. This is our hope.

As we continue to work through all the implications of this news we want to draw your attention to some opportunities for corporate prayer.

Pre-Gathering Prayer:

Our Pre-Gathering Prayer gathering happens in the Comfy Couch Room from 9:15 – 9:45 every Sunday morning. It is specifically a time to hold the church in prayer and to listen to what God may be saying for that gathering. It isn’t a time for personal ministry, although that sometimes happens.

Prayer Evening:

Thursday September 27 will be another Prayer evening similar to the one we hosted a few weeks ago. Please put this on your calendars.

Other Resources:

If you feel like you need to discuss this situation with someone in leadership, please don’t hesitate to reach out. If you don’t know who to contact, please just call the office and one of the Pastors, Elders or BOD members will return your call.

Lastly, we want to encourage those of you who need it, to access counselling. We know this situation has been triggering for some. We can help you find an appropriate and safe place to work through it. Contact the office.

When the Church Seeks First the Kingdom

Posted on September 10, 2018November 1, 2018 by Andy Wood

Here is an important message given by David Ruis at our National Gathering in Montreal this past summer. Situating us as a Vineyard movement in Canada in the context of where we’re coming from and where God is leading us. It’s an inspired talk. Please take the time to listen – especially in this time of shaking.

>>Click here to download the talk and to view the speaking notes.

The end game was never to be signs and wonders. The end game was never to be the published song. The end game was to be “Jesus getting his church back.”

Zeus. Poseidon. Aphrodite. Mammon. Consumerism. Racism. Privilege. Abusive power. Lust. Rage. Insanity. Greed. The Lamb has disarmed you, making a public spectacle of you at the cross. We will not bow. We will not submit.

“The other really disarming thing for me was the current fruit of a Quaker branch, this capacity to wait. To rest. To not hype or coerce not only the work of the Spirit, but our engagement in the church. All of this impacted the worship. Not only the songs themselves, which reached for a level of intimacy and authenticity like I had never experienced but “why” the songs were not only sung, but set in this certain sacramental way full of expectation and hope, yet not afraid of an almost uncomfortable ease with the place of brokenness.

“Oh Lord, have mercy on me. And heal me.
Oh Lord, have mercy on me. And free me.
Place my feet upon a rock.
Put a new song in my heart. In my heart.
Oh Lord. Have mercy on me.”

We were to continue to grow up and into these aspects of “our lane.” Peter Davids, I think, nailed it in 2004. We were not to camp here. The racial middle of 2018 is not perhaps the radical middle of 1987.”

You’re part of something that is in motion and will not stop in its violent commitment to reach, to dream, to prophetically embody and cooperate with, surrender to and engage in in the transforming power of this kingdom coming. This kingdom here.

Repent.

Think again.

Reach again.

Believe again.

Dream again.

The kingdom is upon us. It is here, now, and yet with still a whole lot more to come.

Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus. The Spirit and the Bride cry out. Creation groans. Can you hear the cries of the oppressed? The hurting? The dying? Those entangled by the power of their greed? Their need to consume? Their need to belong? To be something?

The endless cycle of the oppressor and the oppressed. The relentless whirlpool of wounding and revenge. The crippling disease of a consumerism that will never. Never. Be enough.

Come. Come all who thirst. Come all who bleed. Come out all who are hiding. Come all who long.

Winnipeg Centre Vineyard

Worship . Community . Justice