The Canadian Vineyard’s National Celebration is happening this year in Kitchener, Ontario!
Monday, July 28 – Thurs, July 31.
You can register now at Vineyard Enlive!
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Flatlander’s Wintery Newsletter
Flatlanders Inn
Every valley lifted up, every mountain made low.
Flatlanders Inn is a diverse and intentional community that seeks to cultivate a positive, nurturing, and relational place to live for people who want to get their feet back under them.
Welcome, once again, to the life and stories of Flatlanders Inn. The fall and winter here have been characterized by growth and goodness. We are becoming more and more established as a positive, safe, and transformative housing situation. We are learning how to hold conflict and the tensions of hard realities with more wisdom and attention. We are celebrating many things in the lives of our residents: one of us started college, another hosted and performed in a fabulous Christmas concert, another re-learned how to sew, another committing to greater wellness through morning yoga, and another starting a job with a social enterprise! We are dreaming about creative sustainability as communal housing, and how to invest in our neighbourhood with more intentionality and a deeper, sweeter love.
Gathering as a community is a continual rhythm, with new friends often in our midst. One of whom is Julie, our administrator who also acts as “landlord”. We received a grant from the Winnipeg Grant Foundation to create this support position. Having Julie around to take care of rent collection, administration, and meeting with potential new members enables us to more deeply care for and invest in relationship with our transitional friends. New members keep moving in and we are delighted to welcome Arthur, who moved in late 2013.
Flats Family: Wayrandina, Lanzon, Ivan, Teena, and Coyllur. They have been living here since spring 2013.
Flats Feasty Feast — winter 2014. We filled our home with neighbours, friends old and new, and feasted together!
A sweet treat from neat Flats folk.
Member Profile
Meet Teena and Ivan. They have been living here for 8 months with their wild and wonderful children: Lanzon (7), Wayrandina (4), and Coyllur (1).
What has been good about life at Flatlanders?
Lanzon: There’s a big space to play, enough room to do our art–and crafts! (Wayrandina chimes in). Always running water. And, oh! community supper! I love community supper!
Teena: It’s nice connecting with people, being involved in the community. Everybody brings something to it–resources and skills.
Wayrandina: Love.
Ivan: Lots of space. I’m used to living in community. It’s a very good help for us.
What have been some of the challenges of living in community?
Teena: (laughs) Keeping quiet. And keeping things tidy.
What has it been like to be a family in this kind of space and living situation? Does it work?
Teena: Oh for sure! There’s the old adage, “It takes a community to raise a child.” We’re not isolated, there’s always someone around. There’s such a sense of family–people will ask my kids to do a puzzle or read books. There’s friendship and love and extended parenting.
Any thoughts/suggestions you’d have for people considering communal living?
Teena: Now is the time to do it. There needs to be more Flatlanders.
Please Pray:
– for our new and incoming transitional members–that their sense of safety and acceptance would grow, as well as their ability to hold hope for themselves
– for our Leadership Team as they continue to vision for the community and explore exciting opportunities in fund development through social enterprise
– for renewed love, wisdom, and creativity in the midst of the challenges of shared space, intense life circumstances, and the daily rhythms of life together
Blankets and Being Involved…
This stunning, queen-size, handmade blanket made by Northern Star Workers Co-op was raffled off and won by Mary F. It was donated by Local Investment Towards Employment (LITE) in support of Flatlanders, with all the proceeds going towards our work. Through this raffle we raised well over $500!
As Flatlanders continues to evolve, we are oh-so grateful for all of our supporters who are enabling us towards some of the hopes and visions we hold for this place. Our mandate is first and foremost, communal housing, but we are also exploring and learning about generating supplemental revenue. As our friends and partners, we want to invite you into this work and into deeper partnership in the life at Flatlanders. Consider coming out to community dinners on Tuesdays or Thursdays. Consider purchasing Flatlanders organic, fair, and flavour-full roasted coffee beans. Pray for us. Think and dream with us about financial sustainability. Ask us questions. Tell others about us.
And know that we are thinking of and praying for you, dear friends. Thank you for your partnership!
If you’d like to subscribe to our newsletter, send a message to admin(at)flatlandersinn(dot)org.
Himalayan Region Update
As 2013 has come to a close and we are well into 2014, I reflect on the past year and how God has moved and shown up in the Himalayan Region Vineyard (HRV) churches (HRV churches are located throughout Nepal and in Nepali speaking areas of India). It’s been an exciting year and wanted to share with you what God has done, is doing and what we’re looking forward too.
The churches that are in India that are part of HRV are:
- Siliguri Metaonia Vineyard, Pastor Ben and Rachana
- Darjeeling Vineyard, Pastor Anil Sitlang
- Pedong Vineyard, Pastor Ruben Gurung
- Namchi Vineyard, Pastor Silas and Sarita Rai
- Gitang Vineyard, Pastor Mikma and Angela Lepcha
- Farek Singtam Vineyard, overseer Gadup and Furmit Lepcha
- Mongmu Vineyard, Ong Tshering and dawa Lepcha
- Dhary Gaon Vineyard, overseer Bijay Rai
- Gayzing tikjuk Vineyard, overseer Phurba and NS Subba
- Mukrung Vineyard, J B Rai and J B rai
Our HRV churches in Nepal are:
- Kathmandu Vineyard with Pastor Noel Isaacs and Pastor Raju Rana
- Kotgoan Vineyard with Pastor Madan
- Chhampi Vineyard with Overseer Uddav thapa
- Gatlang Vineyard with Overseer Pram BK
- Nessing Vineyard with Overseer Kuni Prsad
- Gorkha Vineyard with Pastor Paul
We’re really excited to share about our new church plants!:
- Gangtok vineyard with pastor Silas and the Team.
- Kalmpoong Vineyard, with overseer Maken and Siliguri Vineyard (Already a number of people have started gathering)
- Possible Chruch plant next year at Pokhara, Nepal.
Overseers that are going to be Ordained as Pastors on this Aprill gathering are Uddav Thapa from Champi, Sukra Tamang and Suren Rai from Namchi, JB Rai from Ferek Vineyard and Pram BJ from Goatlang.
Ministry/Outreach
For those of you who have a part of our story or have been able to spend time with us in Nepal or India, you know that outreach and ministry is where our hearts are. Each ministry is run or headed up by either one of our partners or HRV churches.
“Ministry” can be a very vague term at times so to give you an idea of what we mean when we say “ministry” I’ve included some examples of the areas we work in.
- Orphanages
- Street Kids
- Safe housing for girls at risk
- Food Hamper at river bed areas
- Mobile Bible School
- Skill training schools for single moms
- Ministry to the blind
- Run a school for slum kids
- Run an English school for children
- Micro businesses
- Medical outreach
- Worship ministry
- Short term housing for the needy
- Rehab drop in (drug addicts)
- Pension program for old old widows.
Looking back over the history of our church, it’s very clear to be that we are in a very strong and healthy place. In 2013 alone our churches have grown by 25% with new believers! There are leadership teams in place, house groups, baptisms, we have a political voice in our own communities, and we have a growing body of believers. The youth are passionate and seeking ways to grow closer with God such as staying up all night to pray for the country and other youth. There is more going on then just our normal weekly gatherings; there is a passion for more of God and a passion to see His Kingdom come.
What 2014 will bring:
With every new year, we eagerly await to see where the Lord is leading us. While we know that every day new and exciting things come up and remind us of His goodness, but here is a taste of what we’re looking forward too.
- School of Justice (SOJ): The SOJ from Winnipeg, Canada is coming in April for one month. Our overseers and interns will join them to do a month long daily study and outreach to the poorest areas around Kathmandu and throughout Nepal. The students and all the HRV pastors will be traveling to Gorkha for the opening ceremony of the new church building.
- There will be two Mobile Bible Schools, one in Kathmandu, one in India. We are excited to have Pastor Danny Mullins from Gilbert Arizona Vineyard and pastor Andy Wood from Winnipeg Vineyard here to teach on Immanuel prayer and o the book of Genesis. Also John Rademaker from Winnipeg will be visiting and mentoring our pastors on one-to-one basis.
- All of our HRV churches are going to be doing a 40day fast and prayer. The focus of this time will be asking for the gift of healing. We long to see God move and heal those in our communities as well as those from other Vineyard churches who have asked for our prayers.
- We are excited to be taking two medical teams; one in the summer and one in he fall, to the remote areas of Nepal. We are going to be providing free health check ups and medicine to over a 1000 people.
- This past October there was the Asia Vineyard Summit in Bangalore, India. It was a time of fellowship, ministry and praise and we are excited to be apart of the planning meetings happening in Kathmandu for the conference coming in 2016.
- Personally I’m looking forward to seeing all of your faces in Kathmandu!
- Looking forward to Vineyard Himalayan women’s conference, which is happening by the end of the January 2015 in Pokhara.
Names of church’s where there is an incomplete church building project:
(All these churches have buildings however they are all still being worked on. I am sharing this as partnership means “ doing together what none of us can do alone” our budget functions like this. 3% goes to Central HRV fund. 30% goes to Compassion Fund. 30% goes to Pastoral Staff support fund and 37 % goes to Admin Fund. So your partnership is welcomes in these bigger needs of HRV)
- Silguiri Vineyard, India
- Namchi Vineyard, India
- Gitang Vineyard, India
- Darjeeling Vineyard, India
- Champi Vineyard, Nepal
I would like to send out a special thanks to Pastor Todd and Lisa Brousseau for allowing their daughter Shauna to join us over the course of six months. She was able to help us in the church as a secretary and helping plan the upcoming SOJ trip. Thanks to BLT Vineyard Community for praying for her and our family while she is with us.
While this newsletter is a lot of facts and figures we must remember that there’s more at work then we know. God has been strengthening us from the inside out and that has been especially clear to us this past year. None of this would have been possible without you and your continued partnership. To me partnership is doing together what none of us can do alone, which is also humbly learning from one another. We have been blessed, encouraged and our passion reignited to see His Kingdom come, because of our friendship.
We are encouraged by you and how you actively join our story. If you feel as though you are able to walk along side us as we do ministry or finish our incomplete building projects, we would love to hear from you! If you or your community of believers have encouraging words to pass onto myself and my fellow pastors in HRV I will make sure they are passed along them. We pray for you regularly and are so blessed to have you in our lives.
Blessings, Noel Isaacs
Director/Senior Pastor – Himalayan Region Vineyard Churches.
Photos by Matthew SawatskyThe 2nd is Up on the 3rd Again
After two months of evaluation, discussion and prayerful discernment, we’ve decided to begin the Upstairs Gathering again! A combination of practical details coming together, along with a sense of permission from God, has given the pastoral team a sense of confidence to continue the Sunday Gathering journey in this way. We’re excited to see what unfolds!
The Upstairs gathering will continue to help us with our goals of exploring diversity (smaller, quieter, more interactive), creating space for more leadership development, and providing us with room to grow.
The Upstairs Gathering will begin again on February 23 in the Flatlanders Studio on the 3rd floor. If you’re interested in being involved in either Sunday gathering, please let us know!
Doing the Dishes
Every family, every household; even every person who eats on a regular basis, produces dirty dishes. Part of being a well functioning family or household means that those dishes get done. Someone always has to take care of the domestic chores. When I was young, I had to be reminded to “clean up after yourself!”. Now I find myself encouraging the younger ones in my household with that same sentiment.
If we think of the church as a family (John 1, 1 John 3), there are certain “domestic chores” that must be done. Certainly, there are many ways to serve others in our daily lives, and we pray that everyone who is part of the WCV family can find ways to do that. There are also many opportunities when we’re gathered together on Sundays. In fact, our gatherings only happen because there are a wide variety of people giving of themselves to serve the community. These are all acts of worship, and they’re beautiful. Thanks!
We want to give everyone the opportunity to find somewhere to serve the gathered community on Sunday mornings. From greeting and making coffee, to doing sound, projection, communion prep and lighting candles. There are many areas that need someone to “do the dishes”. If you’re interested, please see the service opportunity sheet we will make available this Sunday. On it you can indicate what you’re interested in helping out with. Thanks!
Outer Circle Kick-off
This year’s Outer Circle started on Saturday with a scrumptious meal, a wonderful time of connecting in our Triads, sharing our areas of “grace received” and “grace needed”, and celebrating Communion together.
Wandering Aramean
Our series on Hospitality wrapped up in December. You can go back and listen to any Sunday (Upstairs or Downstairs) that you missed – or if you’d simply like to listen again. They are all available at our sermon page here.
The Upstairs Gathering – Evaluation
Our 12 week experiment in a second service will come to an end December 8. We are in the process of evaluating it so we can figure out if we should continue in the new year, or try something different. What do you think? Have you been at one? Did you find it encouraging, stimulating, something else?
Inspiration for Parents
Hug your kid today!