Fasting and prayer are often solitary activities. However, Isaiah 58 implies that true fasting involves others. This kind of fasting points us in the direction of community. Isaiah admonishes us to refocus on the needs of those around us – to think first, not of ourselves, but of others. What does this look like for … [Read more…]
The ancient Celts said, “the one to whom little is not enough will not benefit from more.” They understood something about simplicity and savouring the small things. So many in our day and age have lost this perspective. Our fleshly appetites are insatiable and, like baby birds in the nest, they’re only briefly quieted when … [Read more…]
Our garbage dumps tell a story. They tell us that our society has an addiction to anything and everything new. Canadians produce more garbage per person then any other country on earth (777 kg / person / year). Certainly there are many reasons for this, but I think one of the contributing factors is our … [Read more…]
Shall we skip our fast for St. Patrick’s Day? Perhaps lay off just a little? At first glance it doesn’t seem like a good day to fast – there are too many shamrock milkshakes to drink and green cookies to eat! But it doesn’t take much digging to see that the real Patrick understood what … [Read more…]
Revelry. This isn’t a word often associated with prayer and fasting unless you really like to be hungry! Austerity, pushing through, joyless – these words are better candidates for describing many people’s experience of fasting. However, that’s not what we are aiming for in this fast, and that’s not what God wants of us either! … [Read more…]
Hey there Vineyard people. March 21 will be the final stage of the New Elder process we’ve been on since September. You’ll remember that we began by praying and asking, “who is eldering in the community already?” and “who is God inviting into formal eldership for this season?” We were looking for people who were … [Read more…]
The world around us always seems to want more from us, but gives less in return. It may be your schedule demanding more from you. Perhaps there are debtors wanting to be paid. Maybe there is a situation in your life that requires a lot of extra energy and it’s simply draining you. Or it may be one … [Read more…]
It seems that all creation really does sing. Here is an amazing little symphonic electronica number that, at this very moment, is reverberating throughout the universe. It’s well worth the 12 minute watch – kind of like a little glimpse of what God may be hearing around his throne right now – singing along with the stars and … [Read more…]
We began our current series by referencing Isaiah 27:2-3. “In that day, sing about the fruitful vineyard. 3 I, the Lord, will watch over it, watering it carefully. Day and night I will watch so no one can harm it.” Our intentions were to revisit who we are, explore the characteristics that mark us, and call us to embrace our … [Read more…]
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent for Western Christians. Lent is the 40 days that lead up to Easter. During this time Christians have engaged in a number of practices designed to prepare themselves for Easter. Often it is a season marked by fasting. We will be fasting together in March (more … [Read more…]
Hey Vineyard & Flatlander Artists, This is the official first email about the annual Vineyard and Flatlanders community art show party, which is coming up Friday, March 6th. Because the show is in spring this year, we came up with the name Awake. What’s interesting about this name is that I have begun to see this … [Read more…]
Check out what happened in the Upstairs Gathering last Sunday. Geoff Reimer shares about how God healed his toe. I checked in with him a few days later and it’s at about 90%. Don’t you love how God shows up when we ask? It may not always be how we expect, but he really does … [Read more…]
Many of you’ve been asking, and here it is. The slideshow that was shown at Raymond Funk’s funeral. Thanks, Amanda Leighton, for creating it.
