All Saints at New Wine

"All Hallows Eve", the night before "All Saints Day", is my least favorite time of the year.  So many of the Christian Feasts celebrate significant events in the life of Christ or the Church.   It would be so typical of our fallen nature that a worldly way of thinking would begin to twist something good -  "remembering the lives of faithful people who have gone before" - to something dark and even frightful and at times down right gruesome.   This fall at New Wine we have chosen to sit at the feet of saints and ask "how did they draw near to the Lord?"    Based on a book Longing For God we focused on 7 different saints.  (check out the audio sermons page at www.NewWineMission.com )  This day we truly celebrate the saints that have gone before and still teach us today.

Now we turn our sights to mission outreach and deeds of kindness and service.  Join us November 7 when we host 2 dinners at Taekens Terrace in Davison and Roxbury Court in Clio and then watch Billy Graham's last national sermon.  Call (810) 659-0432 for more information.    Our Flushing Cell group is collecting (till the end of the year) extra tubes of toothpaste for needy people in our community.  But I was reminded of the hands on outreach of the food and clothes closet that we help support when I dropped in on the FCOC last week and found several of our cell group members hard at work serving the needy of our community.  FCOC (Flushing Christian Outreach Center) served more than 149 families which is over 404 individuals in the last reported month. 

So as we look ahead, we are thinking and praying for the Family, Friends and Neighbors (FFN's) the Lord is putting in our lives this holiday season.   We are asking "For the sake of the kingdom,  how will we love more, serve more and be in the Word more?"  This was the challenge brought to us in our last listening day this Fall.  Pray we do not just listen but do what the Lord is calling us to do as we end 2013.

New Wine Report - September 2013

Life at New Wine has been good over the summer. Our last Report was end of June. July and August seem like a blur. People away on trips and the slow passing of summer included two significant departures from New Wine Mission. First we said good-bye to the Robinson Family as they moved to North Carolina for Mike to take a new JR. ROTC position near New Bern. The plus is that they are already involved in an Anglican Church - All Saints, Morehead City. They have been part of a small group with some young Marines at Camp Lejeune and just a week ago had their first cell group in their new home. Our loss but the Kingdom's gain. We also said farewell to Cameron and Hannah as they start their 3 year seminary experience at Nashotah House in MN. We will see the MacMillans later this month when they return to Michigan for a family event. We hope periodic visits will be a regular occurrence over their seminary experience. We are supporting them both in prayer and financially as a church and individually.

We certainly feel the absence of these two dear New Wine families, but we have added to our numbers with several twenty something folks who have started regularly coming the past two months. This fall we are seeing Tim Goodrich step up as our new worship leader and he is doing a great job. Finding the balance of contemporary songs that speak our praise and love to God and yet remaining connected to the songs of the church in ages past is the goal. Over the summer we have seen a new Thursday Evening - Contemplative Cell group emerge. Meeting in downtown Flint at Tim's Shoe Shop they transform the space into a simple worship space for quiet evening prayer and reflection on the daily readings. Calm, quiet and sacred this hour long gathering is often completed with fellowship at a local pub. Laughter, conversation, tales true and imagined, mixed with a little theology is creating a great relational setting for a new way of doing church.

This fall we are continuing to look to do ministry around the table. Several of our cells will participate in the "My Hope America" event on November 7 hosted by the Billy Graham Association, but it is designed to be around a dinner in a home or other gathering places. We hope to host four "Matthew Parties" modeled after St. Matthew throwing a party so his friends could meet Jesus. We are also looking to go deeper with the Lord as we embark on a 7 week sermon series based on a book by Robert Foster called "Longing for God."

Finances have been tight starting early this summer. Once again we were surprised on two occasions when two families beyond our immediate church family tithed unexpected money to our work. Just when expenses exceeded income, the first check came, then just a few weeks ago the second one came again just in the time of greatest need. We can express what a blessing both these gifts have been at a time we did not know how our needs would be met. We can only receive these as a sign that we are to keep pursuing the vision of establishing a self supporting Anglican ministry which Loves People and Loves God, around the Communion Table and through authentic house church communities in Genesee County.

In the beginning of August we held another listening day. We sensed the Spirit saying keep focused on "More Word, More Love, More Service". Let me end with a verse the Lord directed me to during my quiet time that confirmed to me I was to stay the course here in Flint:

Judges 9:13 "But the vine said to them 'Shall I leave my new wine, which cheers God and men, and go to war over the trees?'" and the implied answer is "NO".

When God is at work, and I believe He is at New Wine, we are to stay the course though things are lean or our numbers thin. God is at work and He has not said pull up the stakes and move the tent. This gives me hope for the weeks and months ahead. May we see a great harvest in His vineyard.

Listening Day Summary

Started the day with Morning Prayer and the assigned daily readings:

2 Samuel 16 (Account of King David's fleeing Jerusalem after Absalom's revolt)

Act 22:17-29 (Paul's suffering in Jerusalem)

Psalm 107: 33-43 (Life changing God lifts up the faithful)

Mark 1:1-11 (Jesus' triumphant entry in Jerusalem)

From the readings we hear how the city of God, Jerusalem, holds both times of hardship, adversity and triumph. So New Wine is in a time when finances are getting tight, our membership has declined due to the recent relocation of two active families, and we seem to once again need to hear a word of encouragement from the Lord.

After over 2 hours of listening prayer time, we shared our sense of what the Spirit was speaking to us in the quiet of listening prayer. Rob Robertson shared this prophetic Word of encouragement that seemed to capture the tone of our morning of listening time:

"You are my children. I am so very fond of you. You seek me out, each in your own way, but often we do not connect. I want more than this for you, a faith that is more than form and substance, but a place where we can deeply abide together; where we can listen to each other's words, think each other's thoughts, a place to go beyond the here and now that gives you just a glimpse of eternity. My love is not dependent on your response, although even I long for your embrace. Turn to me and lean into me, feel my touch...gentle and affirming. Let me hold you and know that you are safe in my embrace. Trust me and know this is all going to work out. I have not led you to this point to abandon you, but to allow you to know me in a new way. Know that I am your God and know that I am with you...that you have nothing to fear, your provision comes through me. I will make your path straight, every obstacle I will overcome. I will show you what to do and each of you will take back a piece of the Kingdom, belonging to you as heirs to the Kingdom."

This word to go deep, to trust more, to love more and fret less resounded through several other people's reflections.

From Hebrews 4:16 we were reminded to "draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need". The invitation was to "come be used, come to listen, come to see what the Lord has for us."

From Psalm 107 we were challenged to "Give Thanks", for the wayward, rebellious, evil and lost will not prosper, the redeemed will see the hand of God and give testimony in the "assembly of the elders". This reminded us again of the high value we place on testimony giving at New Wine.

From Hebrews again (10:32-35) we were exhorted to "remember the former days" of God's presence and action in our midst, particularly to give us hope in our current times of struggle. We were called to not "loss the confidence" which comes from the fact that we have seen God work in the past and He will in the days to come, as lean and difficult as they may appear at the present time.

From one who was drawn to several readings in Proverbs we were warned to be wary of enticements and distractions that draw us from the things of God, particularly from our relationship with the Father. We are to seek Wisdom which begins with "the fear (reverence) of the Lord". A similar word came to one of us even after our listening day: "Keep your eyes on the prize" (which is Wisdom, Jesus, etc.) Don't be distracted by side issues (congregation size, recruitment). The line from the movie "Field of Dreams" comes to mind: "If you build it, they will come". "It" being upholding Godly Wisdom, the person of Jesus, Kingdom values of healing and restoration. This is what will draw people into fellowship.

A second warning came in the form of a question: Have you heard a hard Word? Are you listening for or willing to receive a Word of correction? We are not to just grab hold of things that encourage but be willing to hear a Word for correction.

Romans 15:4 was shared: "...whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." Remembering God's action in the life of Israel, in the early church, and even in our own experience, helps us get through the hard or trying times we may currently be experiencing..

This call to to be people of the Word , was re-enforced in the image of Jesus being the Vine and we being the branches (John 15). If we are to produce Kingdom fruit we must abide in the vine. We abide in Jesus by being in the Word (his teaching) and doing what He commands. More Word, more love and more serving seemed to be the theme again and again.

The Spirit also spoke to us about our expectations. In 1 Kings 19 the Lord did not speak in outward big and flashy ways but in the still small voice. God does not always act in ways we expect. In this comes the warning to pray God's will and not our expectations. The emphasis here was on "listening" over "seeing". God's promise is that his Kingdom will come. God's promise is that He will be with us and never forsake us. The promises to those who abide, draw near, go deep with God are many. But those who walk in their own ways, they do not receive the grace of those promises. We are not to fret, but walk in faith that if a door closes another will open, if the Kingdom is near it will be clear by his blessing and provision.

Practically this means we move forward trusting He will provide until He clearly directs us otherwise. Keep our eyes on Kingdom values and goals. Kingdom people love, care and serve others, as we have been loved and cared for by the Father. One among us was reminded us that reaching others may be more about serving people rather than preaching at them and certainly not helped by arguing with them. How are we loving? How are we serving? How can we serve more?

Word More, Love More, Serve More.

Listening Day - Aug 17, 2013

Serveral of us from New Wine gathered for a morning of listening prayer.  We met at Mt Zion Catholic Center north of Flushing, MI.  After opening order of Morning Prayer and Bible Readings we spread out for 2 our silent retreat.  The weather was wonderful and the church was peacful and quiet.  When we returned we shared what we sense the Spirit saying. 

Over all it seemed to be a word of encouragement to keep moving forward though the time was lean and the work is hard.  I felt a good summer were capture in this phrase I wrote in my journal during the listening time:  "More Word, More Love, More Service".

Here is a prophetic word given through Rob Robertson that captures the tone.  God is so good.

"You are my children. I am so very fond of you. You seek me out, each in your own way, but often we do not connect. I want more than this for you, a faith that is more than form and substance, but a place where we can deeply abide together; where we can listen to each other's words, think each other's thoughts, a place to go beyond the here and now that gives you just a glimpse of eternity. My love is not dependent on your response, although even I long for your embrace. Turn to me and lean into me, feel my touch...gentle and affirming. Let me hold you and know that you are safe in my embrace. Trust me and know this is all going to work out. I have not led you to this point to abandon you, but to allow you to know me in a new way. Know that I am your God and know that I am with you...that you have nothing to fear, your provision comes through me. I will make your path straight, every obstacle I will overcome. I will show you what to do and each of you will take back a piece of the Kingdom, belonging to you as heirs to the Kingdom."

New Wine Report - June 2013

Its been a while since we wrote, but its not because the Lord has not been working among us at New Wine. First, we want to express our thanks for those who were praying for Jenny, our oldest daughter who lives in Nashville. She is now fully recovered from a very bad and scarey staph infection that put her in the hospital for over a week. We were all once again reminded how very fragile this life is and count every day with each other as a gift.

We are continuing to ask the Lord to give us opportunities to meet new people and, if given the chance, to share about our faith. As I had asked last time that I would specifically have a chance for "contact work", the Lord gave me a chance to catch up with the Revive Flint door-to-door prayer ministry that came to my home town of Flushing just after I wrote. I had a great morning of ministry door-to-door and for me it was a direct answer to my prayer request.

Last month I also was able to fulfill my hope to spend time outdoors this year by going on an all day hike on a Michigan nature trail. Five hours and 11 miles later, Jim Smith, a member of New Wine, and I completed a great hike on an old railroad bed trail. We had a perfect day and even better time of great conversation. We hope to add to our numbers on other such day-long hikes over the summer as Jim prepares to tackle another 4 day trek on the Appalachian Trail with his son this Fall. (Contact me if you want to join us!)

 

 

We just said our good-byes and helped the Robinson family pack up their earthly possessions and make the move to a new job in New Bern, North Carolina. We have heard that they have made it there safely. We feel good in knowing we sent them off with our blessing and better equipped to be Jesus people and mission-minded followers of Christ in a new community where people need to know the Lord. The risk of building a church that focuses on authentic intentional relationships is that when someone leaves it leaves a great hole. The "short and momentary sadness" is worth the cost in order to experience a depth of fellowship and the quality of love that Christ wants for His people. I think we can say many of us went "deep" and we are blessed because we did.

Our blessing also took on another form this month. At the first of June, for the first time since we started New Wine in 2005 there was not enough money in our account to cover all the expenses. This year the Trustees had extended, in a step of faith, the compensation afforded Deb and I to match more closely our increasing living expenses by about $1000 more a month. Just as the leaders readjusted our compensation down, we received an unexpected donation of $3000 in the mail. What was amazing is that this gift was not from one of our members, or from someone who was particularly aware of our need, but from a friend of the ministry from of all places - OHIO! :) The Lord once again showed us how faithful He is in our time of need!

Finally, we just had a first in our ministry. Last night we had a "Shoe Shop Blessing". As you might remember, Tim Goodrich, a member of our church, is opening a new business as a shoemaker. Last night we did a "Shop Blessing" based on an Anglican Service of House Blessing. You can experience this unique service and watch the 26 minute video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?hl=en&client=mv-google&gl=US&v=Xow4Jevl-b8&nomobile=1

Pray that over the next few months the Lord will clearly guide and direct us as we enter a new season of ministry at New Wine. We really need your prayer for numerical growth and resources. We seriously covet your prayers. Please be intentional and walk with us over the next few months as you keep our needs before Jehovah Jireh, Our Provider.

New Wine Report - May 2013

I wish you all could have joined us the last few weeks in our Sunday worship times. We have had Tim, Carolann, Tyler and Hannah all join Deb and Anne to form a new music ministry team. The addition of vocals, rhythm and guitars has been a blessing. But as one parishioner said to me the other day "It was more than the music". We seem to be drawing closer or dare I say "deeper" in our times of adoration and praise. People have been sharing Scriptures, testimonies and even visions that seem to be Spirit inspired. One person shared how she had been singing all last week before the service the children's praise chorus "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands". Then in church on Sunday the image that appeared in the middle of the power point was hands holding a globe!. (Sermon Title was "Serve Locally Think Globally".)  http://www.newwinemission.com/Audio_Sermons/    A coincidence or a God-incidence?

 

We had several opportunities last month to serve locally. We joined over 800 Christian volunteers for a City Clean Up day called "Be the Church". We helped clean up over 150 abandoned houses one cold Saturday in April. Our 10 member team joined with a group of young college guys and cleaned up 11 yards. Then just two weeks later 4 of us were able to help clean up a park in our Central Park neighborhood where we meet on Sundays. We pray that helping hands will open doors for significant relationships with those around us.

We have also completed the process of discernment with two of our members who are seeking ordination in the Anglican Church. One is Cameron MacMillan, who has been provisionally accepted to Nashotah House, a residential seminary in Wisconsin. Jim Sartor has applied to be a Permanent Deacon and will be doing preparation locally at New Wine. We are not a large fellowship but God has given us the privilage of impacting the church far beyond our local context with potential leaders like these two men.

With mixed emotions we have learned that the Robinson family will be leaving us in June. Mike, one of our trustees, has taken a new Jr. ROTC instructor position near New Bern, NC. Anne is our worship team leader and keyboardist, and Kate has facilitated our White House Cafe (Young Adult outreach) the last two years. Cindy is a prayer warrior and exercised her extraordinary gifts of hospitality on numerous occasions over the 5 years they have been with us. We cannot help but already grieve their absence but with great joy send them off knowing we have helped equip them for new ministries in NC. They already have met some people from a new work Doc Loomis, our former Bishop, is involved with in New Bern. It almost feels like this is a "God Thing" :)

 

Several of us also attended our first annual diocesan gathering in Akron, Ohio. We were encouraged to hear how God is working around the midwest. Rob Robertson, Congregation President, said the high point was not the great worship and teaching, but came when seated in a local pub with a group of young guys all involved with leadership in our diocese. They all were deeply passionate about the Lord and reaching this generation for Christ. Rob said he was moved to tears, who, like Simeon, got a glimpse of the Lords' work and the future of the church.

We covert your prayers as we approach a season of transition. We look to the Lord to keep growing us both spiritually and numerically. Deb continues to look for part-time work that fits. I ask your prayers as I look to be more intentional in spending time doing contact work. Finally, as most of you know our eldest daughter Jenny has been very ill with a staph infection. She is doing much better, even as I write, but still unable to work. Pray for her complete and full recovery.

New Wine Report - April 2013

It is the beginning of the great 50 days of the Easter Season. We had a wonderful time of worship and celebration at New Wine Easter Sunday. We had around 27 people in attendance and we were reminded that we are "Risen People" because we follow a "Risen Lord". Risen People see life differently because we understand everything from an eternal perspective. Risen People value things that last. Chiefly we value our relationships with the Lord and each other. We also understand that Risen People are created to reproduce other followers of Christ. Thus, at New Wine our challenge and purpose is to "Love God and Love People".

Last month I attended an Anglican Church Planters Conference in Wheaton, IL. We were challenged to intentionally work on reproducing Christians and in turn churches. The Anglican "123 Challenge" is that every congregation strive to help start one new congregation in the next two years using one of three methods. The methods are one, by joining with a group of congregations in supporting a new work in the area. This is called the "Jurisdictional Method". The second is by birthing a new congregation by sending out members of our own congregations to start a new work. This is the Congregational Method. The third is called the "Pioneering Method", where you sponsor a missioner to start a new work around a target community or service.

I was encouraged realizing that New Wine is already about the business of reproducing even using forms of these methods already. We have been instrumental in helping several people enter the work of ministry in the past. Mike Cupp is currently planting a new work; Grand Rapids Anglican Church. We pray for them, advocate for them in our new Diocese and I am in a mentoring relationship with Mike as they get started. This is a "Jurisdictional" model of planting. But we are also raising up another young man, Cameron MacMillan from our midst who is just completing his Parish Discernment Process and will probably be going off to seminary this Fall. Though it is years away Cameron and Hannah are being sent off by us to do a new work either as an Apologist and Christian Writer or academician or possibly a church planter. This may fit in the Congregational model definition. And currently we are raising up Tim Goodrich, one of our own, who is looking to develop an intentional missional community via establishing a Christian business, a cobbler shop, in the heart of an economically depressed city. His vision, which we believe the Lord is giving him, is to intentionally build relationships with artisans in the city, mentor young urban students and possibly form an intentional residential community around a "rule" that mirrors some of St. Patrick's methodology while evangelizing Ireland. This is a Pioneering strategy.

Our newest cell group meets in Clio, north of Flint, at Roxbury Court Apartments. We meet on Thursday night with Sim, Fran and Peggy from our church giving leadership. Several other residents join us in our study on "Grace". Holy week they took a break from their study to host our Maundy Thursday service. Crammed into the third floor lounge we held an "Instructional Eucharist". Other members of our congregation came and we all sensed the Spirit amongst us as Christ made Himself known to us in the "breaking of the bread". This was not the first time we have held our special service offsite and at one of our cell groups. One year we actually went to the home of an elderly aunt of a member. She was shut in and Catholic, but appreciated communion being brought to her. But as we all left she was overheard saying, "Does the priest always bring his whole family with him?" We love living out of the "box" taking the church to people. Its a new way of doing church.