Christmas In the Mission

When we felt led to start New Wine Anglican Mission in 2005,  I knew we were not to do church as usual.  We wanted to be "New Wine" that did not go in the old structures and forms that were not producing much fruit for the Kingdom.  We have not been perfect.  We still fight against the strong pull to return to life in the church as we knew it, but by God's grace we are trying to be different.

Last week was a great example of doing both the "old or ancient things" in a new way.   Our Monday Cell group adopted a young mom and her 2 year old son.  They have had a very rough go of things, but with the help of  a strong Christian recovery ministry they are making a new start of things.  Monday night we set aside our regular gathering and we took over presents we bought for her and her son.  We brought hot chocolate and cookies and prayed over this family in her second floor apartment on the North side of Flint.  This was not a one time encounter.  We will be following up with them in the weeks and months ahead.   We are now part of her support team.   This felt so much more like "relational ministry" rather than "arms-length" outreach which has been our habit in the past.

The Wednesday Cell group hosted their 3rd annual "Christmas Party".  Over 40 people from the senior apartment in Davison came to visit, eat and sing Christmas carols.   This was  a ministry of blessing and this cell group has been a major influence in the community life at Taecken's Terrance.  The weekly fellowship engages 15-20 people in God's Word.  We just finished our study of Matthew and will begin a book study called "Too Busy Not to Pray" by Bill Hybel.

Thursday night we then did a special Anglican "Lessons & Carols" Service at Elmcrest Senior Apartments in Flushing.  We set up our power point projector and keyboard and in their commons room made an instant church setting.   Here about 30 people gathered for a reading of the Christmas story and the singing of half a dozen appropriate carols.  The Good News is proclaimed in such a simple way in this  great service that we took to the people rather than expecting them to come to us.   Perhaps next year we could take this to an even more public gathering space.  

Finally we had over 40 people gather at the Community Room on East Street in Flint for Christmas Eve.  We broke out the silver chalice and vestments as we remembered the birth of Jesus.  He was the Light that broke into darkness 2000 years ago and can still bring light to the darkness of suffering, fear and pain in our lives today.     (This years music was once again beautiful as we have come to expect from Anne and Deb.)

Outreach and Celebrations made this one great Christmas in the Mission.


Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!!!!