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.

Here are a few stories of people talking about the significance of the Outer Circle in their lives.

For those of you who were not in the Downstairs Gathering last Sunday, this little update is for you.  There have been changes in Flatlanders Inn.

Tara

We want to welcome Tara Glowacki as our new Flatlanders Inn Administrator!  Tara began working on a part-time basis last week.  We’re excited for the passion, connection and expertise she brings to the position.  Welcome, Tara!

We have also had some changes to the Leadership Team.  Jeff & Amanda Leighton have been around a long time and are founding members.  Laura Dahl has recently finished a prospective Leader phase and we’re excited to have her as a full-on Leadership Team member!  Ian & Jessica Williams moved in a year ago to explore what living at Flatlanders was like.  Together, we’ve been feeling like they should be exploring what being leaders in Flatlanders looks like.  So we’ve invited them to be prospective Leadership team members.  This is a 6 month process which is meant to see if it’s a good fit for them.  Andy Wood is also on the Leadership team and provides pastoral oversight.

Kelly & Brendan Dvorak have recently moved out after having lived and led in the community for the last 5 years.  They’ve been a tremendous blessing in so many ways.  We sincerely thank them for all they’ve done and the ways they’ve opened their lives up to those who have called Flatlanders Inn home these past years.  While community living with people who are at risk of homelessness always has challenges, the past season has been more difficult than normal.  It’s a sad and hard departure.

On Sunday, we prayed for the current team.  They appreciated it and felt the love and support of the church family.  Thanks for that!

More info on Flatlanders Inn.

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:

• the spontaneity & flexibility,
• the space for quite, reflective contemplation,
• a sense of togetherness, rawness and vulnerability,
• the ability to practice Kingdom stuff / hands-on discipleship
• a growing sense of expectation for God to show up

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!

Welcome!

We are so grateful you’ve come to celebrate what God has done in and through this unique community called Winnipeg Centre Vineyard.  It’s been 20 years since the prayer meetings in David and Anita’s living room morphed into public gatherings.  If you were around in those early days in 1995, and haven’t been here in awhile, welcome back!  If you’ve more recently found yourself part of the WCV family, we hope this weekend will help you become more rooted in our story.

The Elder team at our 2015 retreat.

A wise man once told us to “Walk backwards into the future”.  In other words, where we come from will influence where we’re going.  As we meet in this place – this traditional Anishinabe and Treaty One territory – we want to recall the stories that have formed us and the powerful ways God has shaped us.  However, we don’t want to get caught in mere nostalgia, simply telling stories of the “good ole days”.  Our hope is that something will stir in our spirits as we trace the arc of WCV’s narrative and, in doing so, that we will be inspired into our future together.
As Paul said, “[…] he who began a good work in you will complete it.”  It’s a plural “you”.  God has been working since those early prayer meetings in the Ruis’ living room, and he’s still moving and active among us; forming us into his likeness.  Our prayer is that we will come out of this Vineyard Fest! celebration with a deep sense of gratitude for the past and renewed vision to propel us into the future.

~Andy for the pastoral team

Schedule:

Friday, 7pm

Worship led by David Ruis

“Stories that Shaped Us – Vision to Call Us” – staff telling pivotal WCV stories.

Saturday, 11am – 5:30pm

Neighbourhood Party (see below for details)

Saturday, 7pm

Worship led by WCV band

“Stories that Shaped Us – Vision to Call Us” – David and Anita Ruis

Sunday, 10am

Worship led by David Ruis

“Stories that Shaped Us – Vision to Call Us” – Noel Isaacs & Others

Neighbourhood Party

Since we never do anything without the thought of inviting others along for the journey, we have invited our neighbourhood to come and celebrate with us.  We want our celebration to be an actual blessing to our neighbours; one that will launch us into a new season of everything God has for us and our neighbourhood.

The Neighbourhood party will be in the Greenspace, parking lot and Vineyard Memorial Path and will include the following:

•       Pancake Brunch: 11am – 12 noon
•       Kids’ Activities (pony rides, bouncy castle, face painting): 11am – 2pm
•       Live Music in the Greenspace: 11am – 5pm
•       Prayer Tents: 12 – 5pm
•       BBQ Feast: 4:30pm – 5:30pm

Share Your Stories

Unfortunately, there won’t be time this weekend to hear about all the ways God has worked in and through WCV over the years.  Nonetheless, we’d love to collect your thoughts, pivotal stories or prayers for WCV as we look to the future.  If you have something to share, please record a short video and post it to our Facebook page.  Some of these will be collected and shown in our Main Sessions.  Please keep them short (2 mins max, 30 seconds is great).  You can post them on our WCV Facebook Page.

Child Care

There is no childcare or kids’ programming scheduled during the Friday and Saturday Main Sessions.  The Sunday morning session will have our normal “Kids’ Church” activities.  All children must be signed into our Kid Check system, which is set up at the South Door Foyer (by the elevator).  The Neighbourhood Party is totally for kids!

The Nursing Moms’ room is available at any time during the main sessions for those who want some more privacy.  It’s located in the North-West corner of the sanctuary (opposite end from the Kitchen).

WCV Timeline

We know that any timeline will do a disservice to the numerous big and small things God has done in our life together.  Many people have contributed to WCV over the years – too many to list here.  This is simply a brief overview of significant events, incidents and leadership over the past 20 years.

1994 – David and Anita Ruis – The heart in the heartland!  They meet John and Violet Rademaker at a worship event in BC.

1995 Summer – A small group begins to meet in the Ruis’ living room in Winnipeg to pray and articulate vision.

1995 Fall – 960 Main St. is acquired for office space and a Ministry Centre.  Weekday prayer meetings and Drop-in begin.

1995 Oct – First public Sunday morning gathering at Living Bible Explorers.

1995 Nov – Sunday gatherings begin at Jubilee Place @ MBCI.  During this period the Pastoral team includes various combinations of: David & Anita Ruis, Jan & Coral Steffan, John & Violet Rademaker, and Brian & Shannon Creary.  Colin & Cynthia Lees later join the pastoral team.  Many others were also involved in various capacities, coming and going throughout the years.

1996 Sept – The Fragrance of Justice conference with John Wimber & Jackie Pullinger.

1996 – Sunday gatherings begin in Bethlehem Aboriginal Fellowship’s building on Burrows and Charles.

1998 – Noel & Dona Isaacs visit for 3 months and are sent out to plant the Kathmandu Vineyard in Nepal.  “Fragrant Oil” worship album released.

1999 – Nathan & Kendra Rieger join the pastoral team.  Andy & Beckie Wood start the first Vineyard School of Justice.  “Shake off the Dust” worship album released.

2001 – “The Mystery” & North End Artist’s Collective “No Fixed Address” albums released.

2002 Spring – David and Anita move to Los Angeles.

2002 Summer – WCV moves out of Burrows and meets in David Livingstone School, 960 Main St. and Winnipeg Christian Centre on Provencher while we search for a permanent home.

2002 – 782 Main St. is given to WCV after giving our building fund to the Kathmandu Vineyard for them to purchase their home.  Renovations to main floor and ½ of 2nd floor.

2003 Spring – Move to 782 Main St. & sell 960 Main St.

2005 – Mike & Jodi join pastoral team as Children’s Pastors.  A group leaves to start Sanctuary House of Prayer.

2006 – Andy & Beckie Wood join Pastoral team.

2007 Mar – Flatlanders Inn opens (1st phase on the 2nd floor)

2009 Mar – Flatlanders Inn expands (2nd phase on the 3rd floor)

2010 Dec – Flatlanders Inn expands (3rd phase on the 3rd floor)

2011 Spring – Flatlanders Studio opens

2013 – Suhail Stephen reboots the Vineyard School of Justice

2015 April – Earthquake hits Himalayan Region – WCV coordinates world-wide response.

2015 – Suhail Stephen joins staff team as Drop-in Pastor.

2015 – “Within and Without” worship album released.

Our youth have had a number of directors and leaders serve them over the years including: Nolan Clark, Jason & Loraleigh Epp, Sheri McConnell (who also spearheaded Student Revival & Downpour Youth events), Adria Penner, Tim & Tara Klassen, Robb Massey, Jeff Leighton, Sebas & Beckah Hodder, Cornelius & Tania Martens, Ian Williams and currently James & Lynelle Ryan.

Our children have had a number of Children’s coordinators / directors serving them including: Lilian Poetker, Cathy Barclay, Nancy Saura, Joyska Schmidt, Mike Labun and currently Jodi Labun.

Other various ministries and communities have spun out of WCV or have been part of the swirl in one way or another.  These include Andrew & Tami Smith, Rik & Zara Leaf and Kim Johnson who were part of the Artists Collective.  Jan and Coral Steffan planted the Brandon Vineyard which is now pastored by Ed & Lynn Creary who were part of WCV in the early days.  Joe Eapen, Derek & Joy Eidse, Jason & Theresa Eheler, Greg & Theresa Trask, Doug & Rachelle Houlbrook & David & Anita Ruis and others spearheaded the Freedom House.  Gregg & Irene Musselmen, Lindsay & Lois Ward and Sean & Natasha Hogan with the Winnipeg South Vineyard (which is now the Village Vineyard).  Robb and Christa Massey and a team of people from WCV planted the Vineyard in Elmwood.

Nepal and the Himalayan Region has seen many trips (too many to mention).  Many families from WCV have spent time and sown into this vital relationship.  The “multi-month club” include Kevin & Heather Attkey, Ken & Bonnie Lewis & family, Rod & Elisa Jersak & family, Mike & Jodi Labun & family and others.

Mercy In Action in the Philippines has also been a significant connection for WCV.  Andy & Beckie Wood, Steve & Susan Wintoniw, Jason & Theresa Eheler, Jennifer Stephen, Karina Lewis, and Jon & Tracy Mullet and others have all spent significant time cultivating this relationship.

Flatlanders Inn began in prayer in 2005 and came to fruition in 2007.  Since then the Leadership team has included Andy & Beckie Wood, Jeff & Amanda Leighton, Adam Ward, Sarah Coloumbe, Luke Mayhew, Sarah Hildebrand, Brendan & Kelly Dvorak and Laura Dahl with many others contributing, serving and learning in this context as Transitional Members or Interns.

Of course there are many other people who could be listed who have served and led in various capacities over the years (like Lillian Poetker our amazing bookkeeper and Jason & Yvonne Parks in worship).  We are grateful for the rich heritage of leadership and service in WCV.  Thanks to all and thanks to God!  Here’s to the Kingdom Come!