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Covid-19 & WCV

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These are certainly interesting times. We want to update you on some active steps we’re taking to care for our community and plans being made in a season that can be quite unsettling for many. In the midst of these stormy waters we say, like the Psalmist before us, that the Lord is a “solid rock under our feet; breathing room for our souls” (Ps 62). We can stand firm and protected amidst what can feel like crashing waves and not be shaken. Even in those times when we are swept away by a wave of insecurity or instability, we can always find our way back to the solid rock and find space to breathe. Phew.

Sunday Gatherings Cancelled

As of this morning (March 17), the Government of Manitoba recommended that “all gatherings of 50 people or more should be cancelled”. This is to help contain the Coronavirus in a strategy to help “flatten the curve”. More specifically, it will provide some level of protection for the most vulnerable among us as well as some relief to what could quickly become an overburdened health care system. We will follow the direction of the health officials in this matter.

Starting this Sunday (March 22) we will not be gathering at 782 Main St as normal. This will be for at least the next three weeks (up to and including April 5). In addition, we will be cancelling our Youth, men’s and women’s groups for the same time period. House Groups will gather based on their own discretion. We ask that you take all the proper and necessary protocols that our health authorities are recommending: Don’t attend if you’ve recently travelled internationally or are feeling sick. If you do gather, don’t share food, do practice social distancing and do wash your hands properly! Please watch for updates on the duration of this cancellation.

But Wait – there are Options…

Instead of meeting in person, we will be meeting online. We will be preparing a simple live-streaming service so that we can still gather together to worship, pray and be encouraged by a meditation from scripture. This will be done on Facebook. You can go to WCV’s Facebook page to access this. Watch for more details about this in the coming days.

Caring for the Vulnerable

In an effort to care for the most vulnerable among us, as well as to care for those who do not have access to internet, we will have a small team of people present at 782 Main St to meet with, pray together, and offer a small bag of lunch for those who come not knowing we’ve cancelled Sunday gatherings. We want to ensure that those who are less-privileged than us who are reading this, are cared for as we are able.

Additionally, we want to take this opportunity to encourage you to notice who may be falling through the cracks of care.

Do you or someone you know need:

  • A visit?
  • An encouraging phone call?
  • Prayer?
  • Food?
  • A ride to an appointment?
  • Help with shopping?
  • Toilet paper?!
  • Something else?

Let’s think about our neighbours and fellow community members with the eyes of Jesus and respond as needed. If you have specific needs, or you know of someone else who does, let’s be the hands and feet of Jesus in this time. Go for it! Practice safe social distancing, and wash your hands a lot, but go for it! This is what the church has always done in times like these.

You can always call the office or contact anyone on the Leadership Team if you’re not sure what to do, or if you need some assistance yourself.

I’m Bored / Scared / Lonely…

In times of isolation, you may find yourself with a little more time on your hands. Right now there are many resources popping up to bring encouragement, peace and teaching to the people of God. Here are a few:

  • Music. Vineyard Worship has been posting live worship sessions. They’re simple, beautiful and intimate. You can access them on their Facebook Page here.
  • Prayer. There are a number of churches and organizations helping people connect with God in a variety of ways. Vineyard Ann Arbor has made Fixed Hour Prayers using Phyllis Tickle’s books available. You can select the Central Time Zone and the appropriate prayers for that time of day will be displayed.
  • Community Prayer Nights. Currently we are still planning on having our community prayer nights (unless the recommendations for groups gathering shrinks below 50 people). Watch for details about when and where these are.
  • Teaching on Philippians. N.T. Wright mentions that Paul wrote the letter to the Philippians from jail and in a time of great unrest and personal crisis. He thinks that Philippians may be timely to this season of alarm and unrest. He is making his online course, “Paul and His Letter to the Philippians: Small Group Edition“, available free of charge for the next three days (starting today). Email Andy for more information on how to enrol. Sara Epp – thanks for the tip!
  • Do you have any resources that are helping you? Leave your recommendations in the comments below!

Giving

Lastly, we want to be upfront and honest about our financial situation. We are currently behind budget for the year, carrying a deficit of $15,600 (as of March 15). Cancelling Sunday Gatherings likely won’t help. Can we encourage you to keep regularly giving to the church? For the next few weeks we won’t have baskets to pass around, but we do have online ways to give. E-transfer is the best. Simply send tithes and offerings to vanessa@wcvchurch.ca.

Thank you for your faithfulness in this matter.

May the peace of God which nobody can completely understand guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Amen! (Phil 4:7).

CarePortal Vision

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CarePortal is an online platform specifically designed to connect real-time needs of children and families with local partnering churches. Congregation members & community are promptly able to respond relationally to local needs through the local church.

God is using the church to have a direct impact on Child Welfare! Please take a look at the 2-minute testimonial video about CarePortal and the impact they are having on lives in our community.

We will be launching CarePortal in our own church very soon! We will host an interest lunch after Sunday morning service in the coming weeks. Please stay posted for more details!

CarePortal Launch @ WCV

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CarePortal is an online platform specifically designed to connect real-time needs of children and families (identified by partnering child serving organizations, such as SafeFamilies & CFS) with local partnering churches. Congregation members & community are promptly able to respond relationally to local needs through the local church.

CarePortal started piloting in Winnipeg May 2019 and officially launched November 2019. So far, they have 12 churches working together to serve the needs of 2 referring agencies. They have seen 51 children’s needs met through CarePortal and are looking forward to being a part of the greater number of over 50,000 children served through CarePortal Internationally.

God is using the church to have a direct impact on Child Welfare and they are answering the call by saying yes to caring for the vulnerable children and families in our communities.

>>>Please note: WCV is postponing its launch date and interest lunch that was scheduled for this Sunday, March 22nd.

Kenny Lacquette

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Our dear friend and long-time WCVer, Kenny Lacquette passed away on February 20, 2020 at St. Boniface Hospital. He was admitted earlier in a state of “general decline”.

Kenny was an active member of our community since near the beginning. Drop-in, the School of Justice, Freedom House, Flatlanders and Sunday mornings were all enlivened by his smile, laughter and camaraderie. He even made a trip to Nepal to visit the Vineyards there.

He will be missed.

A memorial service will be held. We’re just working out the details and will let you know as soon as plans are finalized.

Up From The Ground

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Thursday, March 12th. An Invitation to share, and create.

Hi friends,

Next Thursday, March 12, we are hosting a WCV community sharing night called “Up from the Ground”. The hope is to have members of our community share pieces they have created over the past 2 years. This could come in the shape of song, poetry, art, craft, dance, etc. You are invited to come and share, or come and receive. All are welcome.

We will also begin a community art project together that will culminate on Easter morning. Sometimes when difficult seasons strike it feels like we’ve been shattered. Lent gives us an opportunity to share in the grief and the unknown nature of our hard seasons.

For our art project, we are inviting you to bring something breakable that you are willing to smash. It could be a cup, a pot, a plate, a piece of pottery, a small sculpture, etc. At some point in the evening on Thursday we will take a moment to shatter our pieces, and collectively surrender these things to God.

On Easter Sunday some members of our creative team will rebuild these pieces into a community art piece.

If you have a piece of art you can share on Thursday, please contact Krista Heide or Sherry Ansloos so we can plan accordingly.

And please, think about what sort of breakable item you can bring along to contribute to our collective Lent art project.

Please feel free to share this invitation. Youth are invited to participate as well.

Thank you!

Richard Sinclair

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It’s with great sadness that we need to let you know that our dear friend and brother, Richard, has passed away. He died in his sleep early Monday morning. Richard was a dearly loved and long-time member of our community. His smile, laugh, faith and presence will be missed. Our deepest condolences go out to his many family members, but especially Edna, his wife of 47 years.

There will be a Wake held at 782 Main St on Tuesday March 3, 7 – 10pm.

Funeral Service, Wednesday March 4, 11am at 782 Main St. There will be a feast to follow. Afterwards he will be laid to rest in Traverse Bay, MB.

If you’d like to contribute to the feast, please contact Jocelyn Armbruster, or the office.

If you have pictures of Richard, the family would appreciate having them. Please send them to Andy.

Lent 2020 – Having the Mind of Christ

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This year throughout the season of Lent (from Ash Wednesday until Good Friday) we will be exploring Philippians 2:1-11. This passage is such a beautiful and poetic description of one of the major themes of Lent: letting go. In our pursuit to follow Jesus (be disciples, work out our salvation, etc) we are to be imitators of Jesus. This means that we are to follow in Christ’s footsteps and, as Paul enjoins, to have the mind of Christ – the same attitude – follow in his footsteps.

5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

6 Though he was God,
    he did not think of equality with God
    as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
    he took the humble position of a slave
    and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
8     he humbled himself in obedience to God
    and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
    and gave him the name above all other names,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

Image Credit: Tree Top View Vectors by Vecteezy

Workshop #2: The Peaceful Way of Life – with guest psychologist Sarah Juchnowski

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We are hosting a workshop designed to help us understand the effects of stress and the importance of self-care in difficult seasons of our lives. We will learn about how the brain responds to life’s challenging situations and some practical self-care strategies to combat stress and negativity. The overall goal is to promote wellness.

We’re bringing in Sarah Juchnowski to facilitate this event. Sarah is a psychologist with St. James Assiniboia School Division. Her passion is working with children and families and sharing her knowledge about the brain and mental health in an accessible and practical ways. She comes to us with experience in dealing with stress, anxiety and negative thinking. With a deeper understanding of how stress affects us we can empower change towards a more healthy and peaceful way of life.

Tuesday, Feb 25, 7-9pm

782 Main St.

Anyone is welcome.

>>>Read about our First Workshop Here

KidUnique Workshop

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WCV is hosting a parenting workshop with guest speaker Cathy Dyck.

Due to low registrations this workshop will be cancelled. Stay tuned for a future KidUnique workshop.

The goal of the workshop is to equip parents, leaders and other adults who have a relationship of influence in the life of a child or a teen, to intentionally reflect God’s heart to the kids they care about, helping them begin to discover who it is that He has created them to be and what He has created them to do.

Participants will:
• Get an overview of ways in which culture is impacting their children and their families.
• Identify character qualities that they as parents can cultivate that will help them engage with their kids in positive and meaningful ways.
• Receive practical tools and ideas which will help them get and stay close to the kids they care about, using the 4 window model.
• Create 1 or 2 doable actions steps which will have a positive impact on the relationship they have with the kid they care about whether they are 5 or 15.
• Have opportunity to consider an optional workbook that is both a guide and a journal.

This is an excellent opportunity to learn strategies for engaging with your kids and youth, to walk alongside them as they navigate the challenges of developing a deep relationship with God in a digital era.

>>>The Details:

  • February 22, 2020
  • 10:00 am – 2:30 pm
  • There is a $10 fee to help cover a light lunch.  To register contact Andy Arthur or the WCV Office.

The Sacrament of Baptism

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One does not slowly become baptized. It is a singular point in one’s history. In fact it’s more than just a moment – it is an act of obedience to anyone who has decided to follow Jesus. Jesus, Paul, and Peter all had significant things to say about baptism (Mark 16, Romans 6, & 1 Peter 3 respectively). This sacrament which Jesus even participated in himself, is in God’s plans for every one of his children. Participating in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection are the primary realities demonstrated through baptism. Somehow we can access his post resurrection life now – it can become part of us. This is possible only through his death (which we celebrate during Communion). When we are brought up out of the water, we are cleansed and born into a new community, and are participating with Jesus in his new life! This is why there is often a fresh sense of being filled with the Holy Spirit at the time of baptism.

Jesus said, “believe and be baptized” (Mark 16:16). In other words, believing is never just an internal reality – it always finds expression and is made practical, in our real lives. Baptism is an outward expression of an inward reality and one that followers of Jesus have participated in ever since Jesus himself was baptized by his cousin, John the Baptist.

If you believe in Jesus and haven’t yet taken this step, we invite you to think and pray about it. Call or contact the office if you’re interested and we’ll be in touch with you.

Workshop #1: Understanding Trauma Responses & Establishing Healthy Boundaries – with guest Jaymie Friesen

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We are hosting a workshop designed to help us understand our responses to traumatic events and how to establish good boundaries in traumatic relationships. Understanding our own and other people’s responses and the way they deal with difficult news or situations as well as learning what appropriate boundaries might be are two topics that will be covered in this evening workshop.

We’re bringing in Jaymie Friesen from MCC to facilitate this event. Jaymie is the Abuse Response and Prevention Coordinator for MCC in Manitoba and comes to us with experience in helping churches and communities deal with the impacts of betrayal of trust, sexual misconduct and other similar topics. You can read her bio here.

Wed, Feb 5, 7-9pm

782 Main St.

Anyone is welcome.

>>>Read more about our Second Workshop

Pastoral Resource Job Positions

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Exciting news! We have identified three areas in which the Winnipeg Centre Vineyard church community needs more support and have created three positions that will help meet those needs. We are looking to expand our staff team with the following Pastoral Resource positions:

1) Community Care & Development. The purpose of this position is to provide leadership for the development and care of House Groups, Triads and volunteer engagement in WCV. Expectations include promoting, developing and envisioning participation in life-building relationships for those who call WCV home as well as creating systems and processes that promote a flourishing volunteer culture.

2) Neighbourhood Engagement & Outreach. This position is responsible for the care and development of Winnipeg Centre Vineyard’s (WCV) relationships with the neighbourhood including the Street Parish, outreach activities and Care Portal.

3) Enfolding & Hospitality. The purpose of this position is to care for all aspects of welcome and hospitality in Winnipeg Centre Vineyard (WCV). This position is responsible for creating, envisioning and tending pathways for new people to become part of WCV. Additionally this role cares for people in difficult or transition stages of life.

These positions are all part-time. We are open to one person filling all three positions if they have the gifts and skills for doing so. Alternately, we may have one separate person for each position. We are excited to see what God wants and who God brings to meet these needs.

View the Job Descriptions:

Pastoral Resource: Community Care & DevelopmentDownload
Pastoral Resource: Neighbourhood Engagement & OutreachDownload
Pastoral Resource: Enfolding & HospitalityDownload

To Apply:

  • Please forward a cover letter and resume to: andy@wcvchurch.ca
  • Should you be invited to participate in the next stage of the hiring process, we will be asking for three references, one from each of the following categories:
    • Current or recent leader you have served with.
    • Spiritual mentor.
    • Team member or co-worker.
  • Applications will be accepted until February 9, 2020.

UPDATE (Feb 10, 2020): Please note we are no longer receiving applications for this posting. Thanks.

Resources relevant to this post:

Vineyard Prayer Summit

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It’s that time of the year again… when folks from all across our country gather in Edmonton for the annual Vineyard Prayer Summit.

Here’s the purpose:

Since 2003 the Canadian Vineyard family has gathered together every year to simply seek the face of the Lord and worship Him. Come join us this year and take the opportunity to devote two days for this very purpose. 

Summit: February 28 & 29
Symposiums: February 27 (Suhail is speaking at one of the Symposiums)

Check out the website for more information including registration, location, schedule, etc.

Who wants to go? If you are planning on going we’d like to know about it – please let Ang Falk know.