Here are a few short stories from people in the Outer Circle process. They each share about the significance of the Outer Circle in their particular journeys. If you’re inspired to join go here to find out more about the Outer Circle for 2016!
Here’s Chloe Bishop:
Here’s Melody Schellenberg:
Here’s Jodi Labun:
Here’s Suhail Stephen:
Here’s Jessica Williams:
Here’s Cliff Heide:
Are you looking to give a beautiful, peaceful, and uplifting gift this Christmas? Within and Without is a wonderful option (and it will fit into a stocking too!). It’s full of wonderful tunes that most people are sure to enjoy. They’re available from the office or on Sunday mornings. $15.
Our world is pretty messed up. There’s a lot to like about our world, but there’s also much that’s just plain wrong – sickness, death, terror, fear, destruction. A quick scan of the headlines confirms that evil is present – it hasn’t always been so, and won’t always be the case.
Immediately after Adam and Eve sinned, God had a plan of for redemption and restoration of what was lost through sin (you can read Gen 3:15 for the first glimpse of a plan). He wouldn’t allow sin to have the final say in his creation. Jesus, is God’s response to sin. Our journey as followers and imitators of Jesus, is towards Christ-likeness. It’s really a journey back to the beginning. We were created in God’s very image, sin distorted that image, and Christ came to make a way for us to live into that again. To walk and talk once again with God our loving creator.
In a big sense, this is what the Outer Circle is all about. It is about th
e gift of salvation and how we participate in “working it out”. It’s our attempt to create just enough structure to help us on our journey towards being like Jesus. It’s the work of discipleship. It’s the joy and the task of submitting our wills, habits, desires, our very lives to God, who takes them and forms us into the likeness of his son.
If you are interested in joining the Outer Circle process, you are welcome to! Now is the time. The only requirement is that you have to commit to the process. Read more about it here or pick up a copy of the Outer Circle manual at the info table.
If you are currently in a Triad, now is the time to make your plan for the coming year.
The first Outer Circle gathering of the new year is Saturday, January 16 at 5:30pm.
If you need help finding a Triad, we can help. Please submit your name to the office. Also, at the first Outer Circle Gathering this year, we will have a table for newcomers who do not yet have a Triad. Our hope is that we can share together and perhaps some Triads will form naturally there.
There’s something powerful and unsettling about recognizing our own inadequacy. Abraham must have felt something of his own inability to provide, as he was witness to the miraculous conception and birth of his son Isaac. Abraham’s firstborn was God’s living, breathing promise – a skin and bone sign that God would honour his vow to make Abraham a father of many descendants. Imagine, then, what must have been going through Abraham’s head as he trudged obediently and perhaps reluctantly, up the mountain for three days to sacrifice Isaac. Was God going to turn back from his promise? Did God really ask this of him? Did he hear God correctly? What was going to happen when they got the top?
In the end, God walks with Abraham into his greatest fear and delivers him from it. Instead of sacrificing his son, like other nations around him, God provides. Jehovah Jireh is the name Abraham uses for the LORD when he sees God’s provision in the form of a Ram for the sacrifice.
“On the mountain of the Lord, it was provided for” is what they still say of that event. “On the mountain of the Lord it was seen.” The connection between God providing and God seeing a need is deep. Jehovah Jireh can be translated equally, “God who provides” and “God who sees”. Abraham knew when God sees, he also provides. Whatever was going on in his heart that day, his actions declared, “the Lord will see to it”. This same idea caused the Hebrew people to cry out, “Remember us, O LORD” (Jer. 14:21) and “Hear us, O, LORD!” (1 Kings 8:30). As soon as God remembers, it is provided. As soon as he hears, it is provided. As soon as he sees, it is provided.
In this season, we are joining with Abraham and the ancient Hebrew nation in calling out for our financial provision. We are joining together to ask God to remember us, to hear us, to see us and, ultimately, to provide. We may not feel the same kind of desperation Abraham might have felt as he ascended the mountain, but we are confident we will see provision – that God knows our situation and will hear our prayers. He walks with us into our own inadequacy and meets us there. On the mountain of the Lord it was provided for – it was seen (Gen 22:14). Let it be so in our situation as well!
Please consider joining the Pastoral and Lay Elders as we fast and pray every Tuesday in December.
The first Sunday of the Advent season is November 29. Advent is the official beginning of the “worship year” in the Christian calendar. It is a season of preparation and waiting for the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah. We celebrate his first coming – our Saviour, born in a manger. We expectantly look for his appearance in our lives today. And, our hearts are drawn to the future as we long for his final returning when he comes again.
There are many stories that compete for our attention and allegiance in this season. There is only one Light, one real story, that has the power to transform our lives and our world. This is what we’re reaching for.
This year we are going to enter the true story of Christmas together. We have a small devotional gift for you! It’s a little booklet entitled “The Light that Leads Us Home”. It contains weekly scriptures and a short thought you can read by yourself, or with others. We will be handing them out this Sunday, November 22. You can get one from an usher or at the info table. If you’re going to be in the kid’s area, Jodi will distribute them to you. Our hope is that they will enrich this season of preparation for you and those you celebrate with.
Blessings as we enter this season of waiting, anticipation and preparation together!
The Outer Circle is one of our primary discipleship tools at WCV. It’s our attempt to create just enough structure while leaving room for plenty of flexibility to help us on our journey towards being like Jesus. It’s the task of discipleship. It’s the joy and the work of submitting our wills, habits, desires, our very lives to God, who takes them and forms us into the likeness of his Son.
If you are interested in joining the Outer Circle process, the time to join is between our October and January gatherings. Everyone is welcome, but you have to commit to the process. Read more about it here or pick up a copy of the Outer Circle manual at the info table. Also, we are hosting an Outer Circle Orientation lunch right after church on Sunday, December 6th. If you are interested in coming to the orientation, please let us know by calling or emailing the office.
The first Outer Circle gathering of the new year is Saturday, January 16 at 5:30pm.
Flatlanders Inn has recently had an opening in the Administrator job position. Julie Kettle has been our administrator for the past 2 years. She has approached her job with a rare sparkle and joie de vivre. She is moving on and we thank her for the great job she has done and wish her all the best in her future endeavours.
The Flatlanders Inn Administrator position is a part-time job (12 hours / week) that exists to deal with all administrative aspects of the Flatlanders Inn community on our 2nd and 3rd floors. If you are interested, please review the Job Description and submit a resume with a cover letter and references to Andy. Applications will be closed October 26th.
Please note: this position has been filled. Thanks for your interest.
We are in the process of prayerfully discerning the expansion of our Elder team and we’d like to invite your input.
In the Vineyard, Elders function as overseers who tend to the spiritual health and vision of the community. The Elder team, while not always elders in age, are seasoned leaders and followers of Jesus. There are two kinds of elders in Winnipeg Centre Vineyard – Pastoral Elders and Lay Elders. The Lay Elders (Ben & Debra Kelly, Paul & Sherry Ansloos and Krista & Cliff Heide) keep the big picture in mind and prayerfully seek God for direction and counsel regarding all macro matters relating to church-life. The Pastoral Elders (Riegers, Woods, Rademakers & Labuns) also embrace this role with the added responsibility of implementing the daily tasks associated with the macro. While all the current elders are married couples, this is not a requirement for prospective elders, nor is it even preferable.
Lay Elders meet monthly and commit to a 3-year term.
There are four steps in the process of adding new elders to our current team. There are also a number of considerations and requirements for elders.
Will you join us in this process? We value both your prayer and input. If you’d like to nominate someone please contact one of the pastors or email or call the office. Thanks!
Here is our current Elder team (both lay and pastoral elders):
In the spirit of open communication, the Board of Directors offers this information for us all to prayerfully consider. For the past 20 years, God has provided for our financial needs. We understand this to be a result of his faithfulness expressed through both your faithfulness in tithes and offerings as well as our collective prayer for provision. These have resulted in surprising and miraculous provision over the years. With this in mind, here are the numbers to date:
2015 Budget: $448,750
Income received to date: $281,375
Funds needed to make 2015 budget: $167, 375
Revised budget for last 3 months:
“When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.” ~ Isaiah 41.17
A group standing on the temporary bridge which connects the mainland to the cut-off peninsula. This is a winter road, which needs to become an all weather “Freedom Road”.
Ever wondered where our water comes from when you turn on the tap? It turns out, that all our water in Winnipeg comes from Shoal lake – about 80 km to the east on the Manitoba – Ontario border. This lake is on Shoal Lake 40 First Nation territory. When the aqueduct connecting this lake to Winnipeg was built about 100 years ago (the same aqueduct which runs right next to our farm in Haddashville), some of their territory was expropriated and they were moved onto a peninsula on the lake. There was no consultation – the bulldozers just showed up. Shortly afterwards, a channel was cut through that peninsula to divert dirty water from Falcon lake away from the intake. This effectively cut off all access to the Shoal Lake 40 community. They have no all-weather road to access their community even though they are fairly close to the Trans-Canada highway. The ferry is unreliable and crossing the lake at freeze-up or break-up is dangerous and has resulted in fatalities. To top it off, they have been under a boil water advisory for over 15 years. Many things are wrong with this picture – and we want to stand with our neighbours to promote justice in this area. We are connected to them – they are our neighbours – we have a voice we can use. That’s why we are part of a network of churches who are responding to a direct request from the Shoal Lake 40 First Nation, to stand with them. That’s also why we put the sign up in our window on Main St.
Shoal Lake seen from the ferry.
For more info on the “Churches for Freedom Road” campaign, as well as to find out what you can do, go here.
Here is a short video showing and describing our sign.
Andy visited last Fall and the School of Justice is planning on going this winter. If you’re interested in joining them on this trip, please contact Suhail.
There was a small team from Winnipeg on the ground at the end of August. They recorded these videos to help tell the stories, report on and assess the situation and help those far away understand the situation in Kathmandu and the villages which were directly impacted by the earthquakes. As they are processed they will be posted – newest will be at the top. You can also view them directly from our Vimeo feed. As you view them, please keep a prayerful posture! Thanks for staying in touch – our HRV family deeply appreciates it – it’s more necessary now than ever.
Here’s a short update from Hanna Pätkau who is visiting with her husband Andrej. They are from the D.A.CH. Vineyard’s (Germanic Speaking Vineyards in Germany, Austria and Switzerland) who have been great partners in the recovery efforts!
hope keeps multiplying from Himalayan Region Vineyard Church on Vimeo.
Here is a tour of the prototype sample home in the Kathmandu Vineyard courtyard. Homes like this are currently being built in Chhampi and Kothgaon and plans are being made to build them in Gorkha as well. Homes in the remote mountain villages are another story (you can watch it in the “Mountain Village Part 1: Gatlang by Helicopter” video).
Nepal Recovery: New Home Tour – Hope for the Future from WCV on Vimeo.
Here’s an interview with Pastor Raju of the Kathmandu Vineyard who talks about how he sees God at work post-earthquake. Raju is a member of the Earthquake Management Team.
Nepal Recovery: Raju and Joy in Troubled Times from WCV on Vimeo.
Here, Pastor Ramesh of the Kathmandu Vineyard talks about the challenges and signs of hope in the earthquake recovery. Ramesh is candid about what the HRV can and cannot do. He is a member of the Earthquake Management Team.
Nepal Recovery: Ramesh and the Miracle of Hope from WCV on Vimeo.
This is Part 1 of 3 videos taken in the High Mountain Villages. In this trip we visited Gatlang, Nessing and Tipling. This video we take flight and land in Gatlang where we see the effects of the earthquake and learn of some of the rebuilding plans – specifically among the low-caste “Bikka” people. The Vineyard cleaned up the whole village!
Nepal Recovery: Mtn Village Part 1: Gatlang by Helicopter from WCV on Vimeo.
This is Part 2 of 3 videos of the High Mountain Villages. This video is taken in Nessing. It documents some of the destruction and shows the rebuilt church.
Nepal Recovery: Mtn Village Part 2: Nessing & a New Building from WCV on Vimeo.
This is Part 3 of 3 videos of the High Mountain Villages. This one is from Tipling. At the end Andy explains some of the recovery and rebuilding efforts.
Nepal Recovery: Mtn Vllage Part 3: Hope in Tipling from WCV on Vimeo.
There are many urban poor who are dealing with the aftermath of the earthquake. Even if their homes did not crumble about 80% of the buildings in Kathmandu have significant cracks, many are unsafe. But there are no other options. In this video, meet Susila and Monita, a mother and daughter who live in the centre of Kathmandu.
Nepal Recovery: Susila & Monita’s story from WCV on Vimeo.
A truck for delivery was one of the first large purchases we made after the earthquake. Meet the driver in this video.
Nepal Recovery: Sonam & the Truck from WCV on Vimeo.
Here, Andy shows some of the damage around some of Kathmandu’s most iconic places.
Pieces of Kathmandu from WCV on Vimeo.
While we were in Kothgaon (a small village just outside of Kathmandu), I asked Raju to explain the process for deciding who gets a new home.
Nepal Recovery: Raju explains rebuilding permanent homes from WCV on Vimeo.
Here is a report and a few stories from the village of Chhampi (a small village just outside of Kathmandu).
Nepal Recovery: The View from Chhampi from WCV on Vimeo.
Here is a quick tour of the Kathmandu Vineyard church.
Nepal Recovery: Kathmadu Vineyard Tour from WCV on Vimeo.
Ever wondered how 1,000s of Nepali people are living in the aftermath of the earthquake? This video shows a typical temporary shelter. This one is made of tin, many are made of tarps or tents.
Nepal Recovery: Temporary Shelter from WCV on Vimeo.
Here is a new home being built in the village of Kothgaon (a small village just outside of Kathmandu).
Nepal Recovery: Kothgaon – House on the Rise from WCV on Vimeo.
We’re excited for the Upstairs Gathering to begin again on October 4. After our community consultations last June we’ve been thinking, praying and planning. A small team was invited by the pastoral staff to help bring leadership to the Upstairs Gathering – this was a need that was articulated clearly in June. The leadership team is:
Andy Wood, Sean Hogan & Natasha Boone, Derek & Ashley Bergen, Michelle Santschi and Sara & Jonathan Epp.
Together we’re excited for what God has in store for this expression of WCV! We are also excited to see everyone who regularly finds themselves upstairs, to participate in meaningful ways. The goal is to facilitate a culture of “everyone get’s to play” and one in which we’re not afraid to “do the stuff”.
There are some defining elements of the Upstairs Gathering that we want to encourage. Some of these are:
These are not necessarily unique to the Upstairs Gathering, but they are what we particularly love and want to continue to develop Upstairs. We will still worship together, celebrate communion weekly and teach, but it will all be done in the unique flavour we’ve come to love.
For the Fall, we are going to explore WCV’s mission statement:
“We exist to build a safe community that invites all peoples to worship Jesus as they embrace a kingdom lifestyle that extends God’s justice on the earth.”
In particular, we are going to explore what this looks like among our 15 Core Practices (these are simply what following Jesus looks like to us in WCV’s context). If you find yourself regularly coming to the Upstairs Gathering, don’t be surprised if your asked or invited to contribute in some way – in fact, don’t wait to be asked – if you have something you’d like to do, talk to one of us. We want this gathering to be one of equipping & practice. Because it’s smaller, it’s more conducive to this and we want to take advantage of this.
On October 4, we are going to be laying out some of the ways we can all take ownership of this beautiful little gathering. See you then!
Here are a few greetings for our 20th anniversary party from friends far and wide. Thanks guys!
The Masseys are serving on staff at the Brussels Vineyard. Robb was the WCV Youth Director for a number of years, after which they planted the Vineyard in Elmwood.
Kris and Liv are pastors at the Cambridge Vineyard. They were part of WCV’s worship community leadership team.
Cynthia and Colin are from the Kelowna Vineyard. They were pastors here in the early days. Colin oversaw the renovations to the 1st and 2nd floors of 782 Main when we first got it.
The Brandon Vineyard is pastored by Ed and Lynn Creary (who were WCV House group coordinators). It was planted out of WCV.
Brad is from Abbotsford and is a long-time friend of WCV (and brother to Rod).
Jan & Coral find themselves living again in Kelowna – which is where they moved from to help plant WCV. They also planted the Brandon Vineyard. Greg planted Winnipeg South Vineyard (which is now called Village Vineyard).
Sheri works with World Vision in Toronto – she was our youth director.
Violet shares a miraculous story of provision.
