Fixed on Jesus Creative Reflections

Come to the Table

by Johanna Giesbrecht – Yarn and metal.

As we were approaching our “Fixed on Jesus” sermon series I was part of a discussion about how each of us come to worship together with our own thoughts and feelings; we come with our own theories about life and our spirituality. This is represented in the variety of colours and texture of this piece.

We often fool ourselves into believing that every person around us sees the world as we do and it is a shock when we uncover the ways that we differ. This shock can often result in trying to push out the voices that are different and lift up the voices that best match our own.

The questions were, “how do we make space for God?”… “how do we keep God at the centre of it all?”

This piece was born out of that conversation. It is the idea of a round table where every voice is allowed a seat and that a important part of making space for God means making space for each other.

 

Rooted In Love

by Krista Heide – acrylic and collage on canvas, 16″ x 20″

When I choose to embark on a reflective painting, I come with a hint of an idea. For this particular piece, I came with the idea of Ephesians 3: 17, “being rooted and grounded in love.” I allowed myself to become curious about this imagery. How would this look collectively? What is the basis of love that we can draw from? How would growing into love connect us to one another?

I decided to begin with a heart. I spent a few hours combing through scriptures and an old hymnal, collecting and cutting out passages that spoke of love. God as love, loving our neighbour, loving our enemy, love bearing all things, enduring all things, hoping all things, love never gives up, being slow to speak and quick to listen, bearing one another in love, love is patient and kind, the fruit of the spirit, etc. These words and songs represent the well from which we can draw from. The legacy of love that is so beautifully demonstrated in God’s deep self emptying love for us, and in the songs our tradition has formed in reflecting on this beauty.

Once the heart was created, it came time for the trees. I began painting individual tree trunks – each tree representing a different person in our community. Many beautiful people, choosing to live lives alongside one another. Walking with one another. Witnessing each others journey. Seeing, and encouraging one another towards growth.

Then came the roots. As I began to paint the roots I could see that as these trees would dig deeper into their source of life (love / God), the roots would become enmeshed. Entangled with one another in the quest to drink deeply from love. The taller and stronger these trees would grow, the harder it would be to be able to decipher where the roots of one tree ended and another began. Deep, unseen connection.

And then the canopy. Have you ever noticed how trees growing next to each other need to make space to accommodate one another? The branches dance – finding new pathways, making space for their neighbour, all extending outwards and upwards, farther towards the light. A canopy extending far and wide, providing coverage, shelter, shade. And fruit.

Fruit. The result reaching deep into love, and extending wide and tall towards light. Fruit is a beautiful offering — ready to be extended, freely offered anyone who come near. This outward giving is not the source of love, but rather the expression of deep roots. Giving of this fruit does not have to exhaust the trees, for deep roots connected to an unending source mean a new crop of fruit is always at hand.

This is my prayer for our community. That we can dig deep into love. Loving God through choosing to love one another. That on this journey towards love, our roots can become enmeshed, and our branches can make space for one another, creating a canopy that can provide shade and protection for anyone who needs, and fruit that we can freely offer to anyone who comes hungry, knowing that our God, our source and giver of love is limitless.

Lord, let it be so.

 

God Have Mercy On the Middle

by Stephanie Woelke

As we have grappled with diversity, we have (understandably) mainly given voice to those with diverse views. However, I wanted to express something which represented the experience of being somewhere in the middle and validate that experience as a place of wrestling conscience and sifting new information as opposed to passive ambivalence. Here’s the poem:

God have mercy on the middle
With arms stretched up to the sky
Unable to reach,
Intercept or even
Hold
Your lob pass
Or
Your lob pass
Don’t mistake my empty hands
As feeble or small minded
I heard you
And then
I heard you
And was compelled by your humanity
More than your arguments
I will not be hurried onto any bandwagon
With my skirt getting caught in the wheel
Of anyone’s sureness of their own insight
Or confidence in what knowledge can be gained
From a mountaintop either born on or travailed to
Because I heard what you said
And then
I heard what you said
(Both going back to the original, cultural, metaphorical, literal meaning which is right there staring back at us if the lighting is just right and you squint just a little….)
Don’t mistake me
I learned a long time ago that
Certainty can be a bully
But passivity a silent witness
And Harm is done both ways
Let me be clear
I want no part of that
But for now I must stay here with my arms
stretched right out
Reaching straight up
Towards God
Wrestling this side
And
Wrestling this side

I will search for wisdom
I will search for compassion
until I can cradle peace
and hold it to my chest
God have mercy on the middle

 

Beating Through a Wall

Sherry Ansloos also shared a poem for us (it was read on March 4 during the gathering) and it was previously posted here.

 

Outer Circle Reboot & AGM

The inspiration for the Outer Circle was a result of a prophetic word given a number of years ago. It’s the picture of Musk Oxen who form a protective circle around the vulnerable members of the herd in times of trouble. This is a glimpse of the kind of community God has called us to be. This hasn’t changed. However, the Outer Circle has changed over the years. This year we’re doing a complete reboot. Here’s what it’ll look like:

Three simple words: Transformation, Training and Togetherness.

When we gather we will have a short inspirational training and practice on a particular spiritual exercise. It is designed for anyone in a Triad or a House Group, as well as for anyone else who gets together with others for the purpose of pursuing spiritual growth on a regular basis. Everyone is welcome to any of the gatherings.

Everything that was part of the Outer Circle gatherings and process in the past has changed, except the existence of Triads and the actual gatherings, which will be less involved and more focussed on equipping (and dessert) – keep reading!

Transformation

Being formed in Christlikeness is arguably the primary task (or result) of following Jesus. While it most certainly involves us, this formation is primarily a work of the Holy Spirit. However it isn’t only about our own transformation. As we grow closer to God we get closer to the heart of God which, at its core, is missional. You’ll never catch God navel gazing! The journey inward will always lead outward. The question is, what do I find on the inward journey and what kind of person will I be on the outward journey? How does my world experience me? Do I bring with me the hope, peace, love and joy of the gospel or am I offering something else? In reality we’re all a mix of both – but the point is we bring who we are. The purpose of the Outer Circle is to focus on spiritual transformation so that we can become the kind of people – the kind of community – that God is calling us to become. This means getting in touch with God, our core desires and longings and watching the process unfold!

 The purpose of the Outer Circle is to focus on spiritual transformation so that we can become the kind of people – the kind of community – that God is calling us to become.

Training

Some of the most basic building blocks of spiritual transformation are practices that have been around many years. A number of us have been exploring some of these practices as a result of our involvement in the Schools of Spiritual Direction – and we can tell you, they’re transformative! At each Outer Circle gathering we will focus on a particular practice, or exercise. We will teach it and then practice it right there together. The purpose is to expose you to a way of being with God that you may not have experienced before. This will be helpful in the moment but will also prove valuable for House Group leaders, Triads, and for any other groups you may be in. They are tools that can be used in other places. Certainly some of the exercises are meant to be practiced alone. These too will produce fruit and will be useful for sharing in Triads and House Groups. Each Outer Circle gathering will have practical resource to take home (experience & hand-outs).

Together

The Outer Circle is a place of connection. Life isn’t meant to be walked alone. Beyond Sunday mornings, people connect in a number of important and life-giving ways. Triads are small groups of people (usually 2 – 4) who regularly meet together to support, care for, share and pray for one another. House Groups are a little larger but have the same basic reason for being. Some House Groups will have a more specific focus than others, but connection and support for the journey are always key components. There are a variety of other ways people connect in WCV. The Outer Circle is a place for these groups to receive encouragement, training and support. The Outer Circle is meant to serve what’s happening elsewhere.

>>What’s Changed?

  • Less involved gatherings (no more meals with childcare).
  • More focussed gatherings emphasizing transformation & training.
  • No more “Prayer, People, Plan process”.
  • No more annual renewal.
  • Don’t have to commit to an annual process.
  • The purpose of Triads is connection and support – not to keep track of each other’s plans.
  • The time (7pm – 9pm).

>>What stays the same?:

  • Triads are still an essential and live-giving way to find connection and support in the Vineyard.
  • Triads and House Groups are still primary ways of belonging in the Vineyard (but not the only ways).
  • The basic vision of encouraging growth remains the same.
  • The day (still on Saturdays).

A Word about Membership at the Vineyard

Membership at the Vineyard is spelled out here. In short it means “Belong, Serve, Give”. Participation in a Triad in the Outer Circle process has been one of the markers of belonging (as has being part of a House Group). This isn’t changing.

 

>>Saturday, March 10, 7pm – 9pm

  • 6:50pm: dessert & coffee

  • 7pm: AGM – 2017 financial report & 2018 budget

  • 8pm: Outer Circle – Vision and Exercise

NOTE: There will no longer be childcare.

 

 

 

 

Empowered to Connect Conference

There is a simulcast conference coming up that we’d like to encourage you to consider attending. It’s hosted by Forever Families of Canada. Empowered to Connect is two days of practical & game-changing TBRI®: Trust-Based Relational Intervention® education that will help you in caring for children & families. 

It’s ideal for:

  • Parents (birth, foster, adoptive, grandparents)
  • Professionals (social workers, therapists, educators, pastors)
  • Caregivers (community respite, children’s ministry volunteers)

LIVE SIMULCAST in WINNIPEG

APRIL 13 – 14 (9am-5pm)

1445 CALLSBECK AVENUE

$35 per person for both days. (registration required, includes lunches & snacks). A limited number of registration subsidies are available from WCV. Contact the office to inquire.

>>Register here.

 

 

 

LGBTQ Hot Button Evening #2

So many conversations are happening right now – so many questions are being asked – this is great. Let’s keep it moving forward in a positive direction. To that end, we want to have another evening specifically dedicated to doing GYVE with the LGBTQ topic. This time we will have Debbie Chan (traditional) and Cornelius Buller (affirming) share. We encourage you to come out and participate in this evening. There will likely be opportunity to share more.

>>Sunday, March 18, 7 – 9pm

Also, in the spirit of moving forward in a positive direction, we’ve compiled a list of questions to grapple with regarding LGBTQ for both the traditional and the affirming perspectives to deal with.

>>Read more about these questions here.

Ma’wa’chi’hi’to’tan – Journeying in a Good Way

The Journey Continues…

Ma’wa’chi’hi’to’tan is Plains Cree for “let us gather together.” The conversation and gathering continues this year and we hope you’ll consider being part of it. If you are indigenous, or you work directly with indigenous people this gathering is for you.

>>Info and registration here.

>>View the Brochure

Note: WCV is a partner in this event. The registration is handled by Inner City Youth Alive (the primary sponsor). However, any WCVers who want to attend and who need a registration subsidy can request one by contacting Vanessa by April 10. If you do this, you still must register with Inner City Youth Alive.


Plenary Sessions
▪ Casey Church (Potawatomi) – Contextualization: A Christian Indigenous Practitioner’s View
▪ Casey Church (Potawatomi) – All Tribes Gathering: How We Started a Contextual Ministry 22 Years Ago
▪ Terry LeBlanc (Mi’kmaq-Acadian) – The Old Testament of Indigenous Peoples
▪ Terry LeBlanc (Mi’kmaq-Acadian) – Culture and Conscience: A New Testament Perspective
▪ Shari Russell (Saulteaux) – Stepping into the Circle: Indigenous Leadership Principles

Workshops
▪ Anita Keith (Algonquin/Mohawk) – Walking in my Moccasins: Indigenous Realities in 2018 in Canada
▪ Larry Wilson (Cree) – Blanket Exercise
▪ Casey Church (Potawatomi) – The “How To” of Contextualizing Rituals and Ceremonies
▪ Arlene Mason (Settler/Ally) – Addiction, Trauma, and Recovery in Community
▪ Howard Jolly (James Bay Cree) – Journeying with the Tension of Faith and Culture
▪ Shari Russell (Saulteaux) – Peace Together: Reconciling our Identity as Indigenous Followers of Jesus
▪ Terry LeBlanc (Mi’kmaq-Acadian) – Community as a Context for Healing: Asset-based Ministry

Schedule
Friday, April 20, 8:30am – 9:00pm
▪ Welcome
▪ Plenary Session
▪ Workshops
▪ Lunch (provided)
▪ Plenary Session
▪ Workshops
▪ Supper (provided)

Saturday, April 21, 9:00am – 8:00pm
▪ Plenary Session
▪ Workshops
▪ Lunch (provided)
▪ Plenary Session
▪ Panel Discussion
▪ Feast (provided)

Cost:
General Admission: $60
Food Voucher: $20 (includes 2 lunches & 2 dinners)

Location:
Jubilee Place, 173 Talbot Ave, Winnipeg, MB

Sponsor:
Inner City Youth Alive

Partners:
Winnipeg Centre Vineyard, North End Family Centre, First Nations Community Church

Presenters:
Indigenous Pathways

Questions? Contact Kristin (from Inner City Youth Alive):
(204) 582-8779

 

How Good are Your Answers? (Questions to grapple with re LGBTQ)

In the spirit of graciousness, understanding and respect, we have been posturing ourselves to hear multiple perspectives on the issues surrounding human sexuality and gender. We’ve learned that “listening is love” and that we don’t have to agree with someone in order to listen to them. We’ve also said that “every voice matters” but also, “not every voice has equal weight.” In other words, we are attempting to be a community under the direction of the Holy Spirit, that listens and loves deeply while not always agreeing with each other. We have genuine differences but we’re still part of one body. Unity is not uniformity.

At times we are able to hold a simple position on an issue because we have not faced the tough questions that other perspectives ask. This applies to both sides in this dialogue! The only credible positions, postures, or biblical interpretations are ones that have heard and answered the most powerful critiques from the other side.

We’ve compiled a list of questions that the two primary perspectives we’ve been dialoguing with regarding LGBTQ must deal with. These hard questions are intended to help you deal with scripture faithfully and others kindly. In other words, they’re both theological and practical. We know the greatest commandment is love (God and each other). However, the test comes in how we treat those with whom we disagree. These questions will foster a “love your adversary” mentality as well as drive you deeper in understanding other people’s perspectives as well as your own. If you find that you are able to answer these quickly, it may be that you have oversimplified these issues. May God give us grace to take the time and care we need to wrestle with ourselves, each other, and the scriptures to find good and beautiful answers to our questions.

>>If you’d like to access these questions, please contact the office or pick one up from the Info Wall.

 

Prayer for our Gatherings

Colossians 4:2 “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”

Prayer changes things. It changes the world around us, and it changes us. Various kinds of prayer are part of our regular practices here at the Vineyard. Prayer Ministry, Intercession and Prophecy are three of our Core Practices that relate to prayer. Like we often say, “can I pray for you?” and “will you pray for me?” are two questions we want to hear often in our community.

Pre-Service Prayer is a meeting before our gatherings for our gatherings. It is an intentional time of prayer that we all benefit from. The prayers that are prayed and the things Gods speaks in that prayer time directly impact our gathered times together. Prayer really makes a difference.

Pre-service prayer is a time we all benefit from.

We’re going to change this time up a bit to make it a more accessible, visible and focussed – we invite you to participate!

Every Sunday morning, at 9:45am a group will gather on the stage to pray for everything related to the gatherings that morning. This will be led by the Prayer Captain for the morning who will ensure the meeting starts on time and stays focussed. It’s ok to request prayer for something unrelated to the service that morning… just not at the Pre-service prayer. We’re going to keep it focussed on our gatherings. We pray – which means both speaking and listening. Often God gives nuggets that have significant impact on the ministry times during the service. It is one simple way we can devote ourselves to prayer that we will all benefit from!

 

>> Pre-Service Prayer – Every Sunday, 9:45am on the stage.

 

Hot Button Evening Recording on LGBTQ

For those people who are part of WCV and who were not able to attend our Hot Button evening on Feb 11, we want you to know you missed a beautiful thing. People deeply listening to each other from opposing perspectives is a sacred thing. If you missed, no problem – you can still listen in. However, due to the sensitive nature of the material, and to protect those who shared, we won’t be posting the audio in a public forum (like this website). If you would like to access the recording, please contact Vanessa and request a link to the audio file. We only ask that you use this for your own personal use and do not share or post it anywhere else. If you’re not part of WCV we’re sure you’ll understand that this is part of a long process we’ve been on as a community – this was kind of like very personal family business that we’re only sharing with other WCVers. Thanks for understanding!

Vineyard Canada National Gathering – “Portage: when the church seeks first the Kingdom”

Make your plans! The quadrennial Vineyard Canada National Gathering is this summer in Montréal. July 23-26. We’re calling this time together “Portage – When the Church seeks first the Kingdom”. In this video, National Director David Ruis unpacks this for us. Register here.

 

 

Listening In & Speaking Up

Speaking Up

Thank you for all your participation in our series thus far. Many of you have voiced appreciation, apprehension, curiosity, concern and a whole host of other feelings and related thoughts. We deeply appreciate this. These are all signs of engagement. We also deeply appreciate your prayers. They are critical. However, we’re also aware that we haven’t heard everybody. We know that there may be some who are waiting silently in the wings – waiting to see what we’ll say, how we’ll act, waiting for courage…

We know that there may be some who are waiting silently in the wings

There is a small piece of graffiti on the wall in the church sanctuary. It’s on stage left and is obviously from another era. Well before our time in the building. It reads “Don’t go away mad. Just go away.” Can I encourage us all not to do that! Part of our vision statement is to “build a safe community”. Can we try to be that for everyone in these conversations? Can I encourage you, if you’re one of those waiting in the wings, who haven’t voiced your thoughts or feelings to anyone in leadership – when you’re ready, we’re ready. For real. Even if you’re not in the wings, so to speak, if you need to chat with someone in leadership, please know that we’re all ready for that – we welcome it. The pastoral and lay elders are here to hear.

Listening In

Also, we are keenly aware that we’re being watched. Not in a creepy way, but there haven’t been too many churches in our circles who have attempted to do what we’re doing. There are some and we’ve learned from their mistakes and successes. However, this also means that we want to be careful about the audio we post – especially the audio from our Hot Button evenings. For the first Hot Button evening we posted a recording of the two people doing GYVE together as well as the commentary by the facilitator. However, we did not post any of the discussion afterwards. If you came you’ll know that the discussion was rich. If you missed it, you can request a link to the audio, but we will not be sharing it with anyone outside of WCV.

For the 2nd Hot Button evening on Feb 11, we will not be posting any of the audio. However, if you’re part of WCV, you can certainly request a link to the audio.

Thanks for understanding!

 

>>Here is the audio from our first Hot Button evening.

 

>>If you want to request the conversation afterwards, email Vanessa at the office.

 

 

Outer Circle Update

A few quick notes about the Outer Circle:

  • We have postponed the January Outer Circle due to the Hot Button Evenings that are scheduled for Jan and Feb. We didn’t want to overload people’s evenings any more than necessary.
  • The next scheduled Outer Circle is March 10. This is also our Annual General Meeting night.
  • If your are currently in a Triad, please keep meeting, praying for each other, and connecting / encouraging each other as normal!
  • To those who participated in the Outer Circle survey, thanks! We will be in touch regarding 2018 plans for the Outer Circle soon.

Join the Conversation – Hot Button Evenings

We’d like to remind you – and invite you – to join the conversations around the Hot Button topics. We know that many of you are having conversations among yourselves. This is great! Please keep having them.

Also, please make sure you participate in our two Hot Button evenings. We’ve intentionally tried to keep the next two months free of any major community events in the evenings (postponed the Outer Circle for example) in order to make it as easy as possible for as many people as possible to participate in these. It would be best if you came to both. One of the primary purposes of these evenings is to model how to do GYVE well. You’ll recall that GYVE is a tool for how to love well in diversity – it’s about listening deeply to someone from another position and uncovering some of the underlying values and stories that formed their values, which has led to their position. It’s a wonderful model, and often amazing things happen as people submit to the Holy Spirit in this process.

>>Jan 21, 7pm – Creationism & Evolution (Our origins)

>>Feb 11, 7pm – Affirming & Traditional (Human sexuality & gender)

P.S. We may schedule more Hot Button evenings at a later date. Let us know what you think!

 

>>Listen to the sermons here.

>>Read the articles here.

>>Read about GYVE here (or download it as a booklet).

Here’s the complete schedule our our series:

  • January 14: Introduction & Call to Prayer
  • January 21: Creationism & Evolution
  • January 21 Evening: Doing GYVE with Creationism & Evolution.
  • January 28: Nailed it, Failed it
  • February 4: Affirming & Traditional
  • February 11: Nailed it, Failed it
  • February 11 Evening: Doing GYVE with Affirming & Traditional
  • February 18: Celebration Service
  • February 25: Poverty & Prosperity