For All The Saints!

Sunday November 6th we celebrated "All Saints" day at New Wine Mission.  We had a great day of worship and perhaps most notable no sermon.   That may sound funny coming from the preacher, but we had others speaking to us with the testimony of their lives.  During the course of the Liturgy of the Word and the Prayers we paused to give thanks for over a dozen saints that had touch many of our lives.  Members of our community stood prayed remembrance prayers as we celebrated the lives of the saints who has touch our own lives.  Some were Bible heroes like  Father Abraham.  Here is the prayer we prayed:

"We begin our All Saints Day remembrance today by giving thanks for the life of our Spiritual forefather, Abraham. By faith he stepped out and left the comfort of what was familiar and known, to sojourn in an unknown land, simply because he heard the Lord's call. By faith he turned from his own plans to produce an heir and trusted in God. By faith he acted in obedience to God and offered his one true son Isaac as an altar sacrifice believing God would still provide. Not perfect, but faithful, Abraham was used of God and from his family line the Savior was born."

Here is our prayer for an Anglican Hero, Thomas Cranmer:

" We give thanks for the life of Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, who in the midst of great political drama helped established The Church of England. Protestant in theology, he was partly responsible for the dissemination of the Bible into the vernacular of the people. He developed the first Book of Common Prayer which allowed the people of England to worship the Lord in their own language. Under Mary Tudor's pressure (better known as Bloody Mary) he was charged to return the church back to Rome. He refused and was tried for heresy. Under the threat of death he recanted his protestant teaching, but would later publicly renounce this lapse. Bishop Cranmer died among the protestant martyrs during Mary's reign in 1556. He was burned at the sake courageously placing his hand that he signed his recantation in the flames first. For his leadership, legacy and courage we give thanks."  

In place of the sermon we prayed this prayer of thanks:

"We give thanks for faithful priests, pastors and preachers who have faithfully "handled the word of God". We thank you for those who have labored in study and prayer as they prepared to share the Good News of Jesus in pulpits, classrooms and even stadiums. We think of Anglican priests and bishops like Phil Zampino, Niles Blatz, Michael Schulenberg and our own bishop, Doc Loomis. But, we also give thanks for powerful communicators like Ravi Zacharia and Billy Graham and other faithful teachers of Your Word. The truths they proclaimed have moved and transformed our hearts and minds. We know we are a different and better people because of their faithful service to your word. We pray for the next generation of preachers. We pray for men like Micah Chisholm and Mike Cupp who you are allowing us to help raise up. Give people everywhere ears to hear and hearts to receive the truth of the Gospel especially in this community where we live."

But perhaps one of the most inspiring was our prayer for George Muller who died in 1898:

" We are grateful for the life of George Muller who was a Christian evangelist, director of the Asley Down orphanage in Bristol, England, and who cared for over 10,000 orphans in his life. He was well-known for providing an education to the children under his care, to the point where he was accused of raising the poor above their natural station in life. He also established 117 schools which offered Christian education to over 120,000 children, many of them orphans. George and his wife remind us that work in your Kingdom is never done. At the age of 70 George left the work of the orphanage in his daughter's hands and went off on a preaching mission to Europe, America, India, Australia and China extending over a period of 17 years! Let us never think our work for you is done and be open to your leading even in the twilight years of our earthly pilgrimage."

With these, and several others we entered into a rich time of worship with good liturgy and inspirational songs and hymns.  We give thanks today for such a special time in the Lord and "For ALL The Saints"!

Five Receptions

No, I am not talking about Detroit Lions Football (though they are making many of their fans ROAR this season).   New Wine had five of our people officially received into the work of the Anglican Mission in America.  Pat & Judy Self, Jim & Barb Sartor, and Peggy Hott all were welcomed into the Mission by our Bishop Doc Loomis Sunday, October 5th at a regional service in Livonia, MI. 

The Bishop suggested that we not see this action as some sort of time to extend the "handshake of fellowship" to these persons, but that its another opportunity to pray for them as Spirit-filled missionaries who have been called by name and loved by our Father.   Doc took time to pray with and over each of the 8 people who came forward Sunday night.  Three AMIA churches had people being recieved and being sent out to join us in mission.

I know each of our members are already strong, Spirit-filled believers.   I was recently reminded how special our church is.  Though not large in numbers yet we have people who are ministering in our community and abroad.  Here are just a few of the ministries the people of New Wine are involved in:  A 2 year missionary in China,  A Board Member of Open Arms Orphanage in Columbia,  Member of Christ Enrichment Center Finance Committee, an ESL tutor for immigrants in Flint,  Team Leader at Flushing Outreach Center,  Blood Drive Coordinator, several Cell Group Facilitators,  Mentor to a fatherless man who had been in legal trouble.  

To be a mission-minded church it takes fully-devoted followers of Christ who are committed to going in His power into the World.  We are thankful for the opportunity to sacramentally celebrate this reality with our Bishop last night. 

Bishops & Angels

BISHOPS

Bishop Doc Loomis will lead a Confirmation/Reception Service for the Lighthouse Network Sunday, October 30th at 5pm. in Livonia (Madonna Univ. Kresge Hall).   It will be a great time of worship and teaching as we gather together from several congregations in mid-Michigan.   Five members of New Wine will be offically "Received" in the Anglican Mission in America.  As a missionary branch of the Anglican Church of Rwanda, we are all encouraged to see ourselves as missionaries to our family, friends and neighbors.  We have endeavored to keep the mission emphasis before us even in our official name "New Wine Anglican Mission".    Let us never lose our missionary edge!

ANGELS

Last Sunday we heard a precious testimony from one of our members about an "angel".    Though we believe in the reality of heavenly messengers, this story was about a statue of an angel.  Our member shared that she and her late husband had an angel statue that was a special keepsake, but that it had broken since his death.  She ran into the artist Jim Shore recently in Frankenmuth and shared about the statue's current condition.  To her delight this past week she got a special package sent to her home from Mr. Shore.  It was a replacement angel for her broken one called the "watcher of villages and valleys".  Our member saw in this gesture of kindness the Father in heaven reminding her that He cares even about the small things.   God is watching over her in her valley.

Empty Chair

The Empty Chair

The "Empty Chair" is often pulled into our cell groups.  It can have various purposes. 

First and foremost we hope someone will fill it.  We pray that new people will be invited and join us in our times of study, caring and laughing together.   The joys of authentic Christian community are not meant to be kept to a chosen few.  We need to remember to pull the empty chair into our circle on occasion because it reminds us of the people not present.  The chair reminds us to pray for those who are absent that night and for those who are yet to come.

The Chair also reminds us of Jesus who promises to be with us whenever 2 or 3 gather in His Name.  Much like at the Jewish Passover meal, where a empty place is set for the prophet who was to come before the Messiah, we look to Jesus joining us in the circle.   We look forward to Christ being present with us in His Word, in our time of prayer and even as we speak of His mighty deeds in our church and in our lives.

Next time you see the "Empty" Chair in your Cell Group, pray that it might be filled.

A Word: Be Ready!

One of our New Wine members has the gift of encouragement and it is often expressed in prophetic words.  Two weeks ago in prayer they sensed the Lord speaking to to His people:

"My dear ones - Look not unto yourselves -  Here I am.  Here is my living Holy Spirit which I so gladly give.  Let Go.

Here I am with all the gifts you need.  Reach down within your soul and find My Spirit there.  Use it!

Make way - for I will and am coming -  Be Ready!"   9-23-11

October Newsletter

NEW WINE REPORT by  Dave & Deb Kulchar

Our daughter Katie has made it safely to the YWAM Base in Christ Church, New Zealand. She has made several posts to her blog:

http://kkulchar.blogspot.com/

You can follow her on mission the next 6 months as she makes regular posts about what the Lord is doing in her and through her.

September has blown by at New Wine Mission. We are just finishing a 4 week preaching series on Christian Love called "What's Love Got To Do With It?" We all know it has everything to do with it. We are praying that the Lord would broaden our ability and desire to love as He has loved us.

In this ever increasing "Network Culture", where people can connect in a click of a button, we are challenged to love and care for each other as a healthy family cares for each other. Who are the people we are connected with? Do we see everyone as a person who is loved by God and has a unique story to tell and a unique story to live. Erwin McManus, author of one of my favorite books, "The Barbarian Way", recently reminded me not to try to inject God into the nonbeliever's "story", He is already there! We are called to walk alongside them and help them see where God is working and how being open to His presence will help them fullfill the story that could be! This shift in perspective helps evangelism to be more about a treasure to discover than a set of facts to preach. It is less oppositional and more cooperative.

Last month, one of our Cell Groups hosted a luncheon for a clean up crew at our local food pantry. These were a group of special needs adults who with the help of a coach work together to do special clean up and community service work. It was a blessing to get to know them over lunch and to be a blessing to those who serve. There is something good about serving together that builds our lives in faith.

Several people in our community are in need of work. Deb is still looking. Also Angelo, a Sudanese student at UM Flint, who is without housing is staying at our home as he goes to school and looks for work to meet his living expenses. Others are under employed and the funds are not enough to meet expenses. Pray for gainful work and open doors.

Last Saturday several of our Cell group leaders and potenial leaders met for a time of training. It is always good to step back from the regular routine of meeting and look at the big picture. We are hoping to start one or two new cells this Fall and praying existing ones grow in number, depth and mission.

At New Wine this month pray that we may see where God is at work in our network of family, friends, neighbors and aquaintances.

Praying for Flint

Saturday October 8th -  Pastor Kulchar and Pastor Kim went out with some 30 other Flint Area Christians knocking on doors.  We were simply asking how we could pray for their neighborhood as we were part of an effort to pray over every house and street in Flint.  This approach has literally opened up hundreds of doors.  We have met many faithful people and been a great encouragement to them, but we have also had many good conversations with pre-Christians.  There has even been opportunity to share the Gospel and some have asked Jesus into their hearts.

We have knocked on over 11,000 doors since last spring. This effort is called "Revive Flint".  Any Christian near or far can join us in this effort.  For more information  you can explore:   www.ReviveFlint.com

Last Saturday also included another special prayer event called the "Flint Prayer Chain Day".  This event reported nearly 90 churches organizing people to form a massive prayer chain down Saginaw Street in Flint, to pray for the city on this day.  Our door-knocking teams joined a kick-off rally on the front lawn of City Hall for a noon prayer rally.   It appears the Holy Spirit is stirring the hearts of His people, hopefully preparing us for a great spiritual awakening in our community. 

Join us at New Wine Anglican Mission on Sunday October 16 at 10:30am  as we pray for each other, our city and the nation.  www.NewWineMission.com