Mac & Jo's New Year's Eve Gathering

Hey folks!


We're gathering a few friends and families from Close2Home, The Mosaic and The Arts Farm on New Year's Eve to welcome in the New Year and we're hoping you can come!

We'll be gathering at 2000 (8:00 pm). Please bring an appetizer/snack/dessert and a beverage. There will be time to visit with friends, eat, play board games, build puzzles and just hang out. Around 1100, we'll gather everyone for a song or two, perhaps some poetry, sharing, and prayer. And after we welcome the new year in, there'll be a light meal for those that want to stay a little longer.


So there you have it! Please let us know if you can make it and I'll send you the address.


Merry Christmas!


Mac
8--|~

The Master Story Teller

God. Master of all master story-tellers; his voice a feather floating gently upon the wind and then, all at once - without warning - a raging, uncontainable tempest of burning passion. Author of the greatest story ever told; his pen forever deftly skimming across the pages of time and space, filling it with lives, stories and history. God. Producer and Director of the Divine Cosmic Drama we know as 'life'.

Photo credit: Lars Hammar, Tuscon, Arizona

As I was preparing to worship God in the sharing of Bread and Wine last week, I began to write down these and a few other thoughts about God and how He has weaved His story into the very fabric of our lives and into the simplest of things and the humblest of practices; the practice of followers of Christ sharing Bread and Wine for instance. Here is some of what I wrote that day:

***

“This bread and this wine…this is God’s story. Jesus on the night that He died, said “Do this in remberance of me.” Who is Jesus, but God himself? Incarnate and clothed in humanity. So, this my friends, is God’s story (speaking of the bread and wine) - from the beginning to the end - from creation to re-creation - climaxing at the cross; complete, though we do not see it’s completion just yet.

This is The Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit- Three In One - the mysterious Trinity - imagining, thinking, speaking, and working to create a world of unparalleled beauty; setting in place the lands and the seas and all that is seen and unseen.

This is the Creation of Humanity, whom God created in His own image - spirit, soul and body - flesh and blood - to be like him in every way.

This is Paradise Lost, when sin entered the world through a single act of selfishness and disobedience resulting in chaos and death. It’s Cain mudering his own brother out of selfishness and envy. It’s the broken body of Abel, his lifeblood flowing out on soil that had never known the taste of blood.

This is a Broken, Bloody World; a world in chaos. It is pain, suffering, brokeness, and the struggle for power, prestige and wealth. It is the taint and stench of sin; an insidious poison which only leads to death and eternal separation from God. It is war, homelessness, and poverty, known in every age of human history. It is the blood of the martyrs down through the ages who gave their lives in the service of God, but who’s message was rejected by a world consumed by it’s own lusts and desires.

This is The Incarnation of God clothed in flesh, born of a woman, becoming one of us; living among us, teaching us, healing us, calling us, guiding us and helping us when we were helpless to help ourselves.

This is The Death Of Christ, the God-man who of his own free will, took upon himself the punishment for every selfish thought, intention, dream, act and deed that ever was, is and shall be - by every person that ever lived, lives and shall live. It is Jesus, God in human form, freeing us from the power of sin and death, who’s body was broken on a cross and who’s blood was poured out on the rocks of the hill known as Golgotha, for our salvation.

This The Resurrection of Christ, who’s mangled body was placed in a tomb with the full expectation that it would remain there until time turned it’s essence to dust. It is the mystery of Jesus Himself, descending into the place of the dead, preaching liberty and freedom to the captives. It is Jesus awakening from his mortal slumber, breaking free from the clutches of cold Death and rising from the dead, immortal, yet in bodily form; conquering sin and death once and for all, that all who believe in Him will live in freedom and know eternal life. This is Jesus, who met with his disciples, showing Himself to them; sharing meals with them, talking with them, teaching them, allowing them to see and feel His wounds; putting to rest their doubts and fears and settling in their hearts and minds once and for all that He is truly alive!

This is The Ascension of Jesus, who, as He was blessing his disciples was taken up into Heaven and who now sits at the right-hand of the Father, interceding for us.

This is the Coming of The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, who is equally God and who, as our friend, helper, teacher, guide and comforter walks with us as Jesus did with His disciples during His time on earth. This is the Holy Spirit who reveals Christ to us, leads us to salvation, abides in us, performs the work of sanctification and who is faithful to empower us to live as followers of Christ upon the earth until we are all brought to the perfection of Christ on the day of Christ’s return.

This is The Church, the body of Christ, who has gathered in many forms throughout the millenia, sometimes in homes and sometimes in Cathedrals, to worship, pray, learn, fellowship, give, help and become the incarnation of Christ in every culture, language, and generation. This is the Church gathering here and now, to break the Bread and share the Wine of Life.

This is the Kingdom Come, the redemptive work of God in the world throughout time, as the Holy Spirit continues to change the hearts and lives of people everywhere and in every age. It is the will of God being done on earth as it is in heaven.

This is the Completion of God’s Work. Though it is complete in the finished work of Jesus Christ, we who live in linear time still do not see it’s completion and will not until the day that Christ comes again to establish His physical Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven. Until then, God’s work continues and His people, in anticipation of the Coming say, along with the Holy Spirit, “Come Lord Jesus.”

This is the Great Celebration, where the the people of God from the beginning of time itself, will gather in the presence of God to celebrate the completion of God’s work. It is the great promised Rest for those who will not give up, but who with the help of the Holy Spirit, will perservere to the end and enter into Eternal Life where we will be with God, and enjoy Him forever."

***

Pax vobiscum.

Mac

Photo credit: Lars Hammar, Tuscon, Arizona.http://www.flickr.com/people/7603557@N08/

An Early Merry Christmas to You All,

For church this weekend, we're planning to head downtown on Sat.(tomorrow) at 1pm from our place to give away coats, socks, gloves, sweaters and such to our street friends. We want to put into practice Proverbs 19:17 which says, "He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward him for what he has done." and I John 3:17 "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need, but has no pity on him how can the love of God be in him. Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

So if you can make it bring any of the above items and meet at our house at 1pm.

Next weekend is Christmas and with all the family shindigs going on we will not be gathering.

On New Year's Eve, we're planning a party at Mac and Joanne's place. If you're interested in coming let us know. I will post their address and further details in the next couple of weeks.

Peace and rest on you all,

Tim and Esther

Just a little note

Hi dear all of you.

Just a little note from the 5 of us. 11 more days until Christmas. Oh my are the days flying by. We just wanted to write you that we are so thankful that you are all part of our lives. We so enjoy each one of you and are looking forward on spending more time with you all. What a journey we are on. Thanks everyone for wanting to get to know us. For loving our kids and loving us.

We pray God will be close to each one of you when we enter in this new year! That he will surprise you and encourage you. Don't give up on Him.

Stay close to Him and have a sweet Christmas with all the ones you love!

Shalom, Scott, Pauline, Reuben, Rachel and Naomi Kolochuk

Hello Everyone from the Schultz Clan,

We had a sweet time last Saturday evening at our house. What I really enjoyed and what brought a smile to my face was watching how 'interactive' and 'participatory' our gathering was- "everyone got to play", and it was totally intergenerational...two values that Esther and I so believe in. It was so cool to watch the kids dive in on the 'Lectio Divina'- an ancient way of reading the Bible and letting the Scriptures speak to us right where we're at. What an amazing thing when 6 active boys are actually attentive and engaged in worship and the Scriptures. Thanks, Mac for taking the complicated and making it simple! Oh yeah, the food was awesome capped off with celebrating Jesus around the table with communion. We ended the evening with our families gathered around the globe and praying for some nations and current events. I love it when I see kids praying out loud with really insightful stuff.

This week we will again be gathering on Saturday evening at 5pm at the Schultz abode. We are experimenting with Saturday evenings to give folks Sunday off or to facilitate anyone who wants to go to a larger Sunday gathering.

We start with a potluck so bring your favourite main dishes and a salad or desert. A few drinks would also be helpful. Beth will be sharing a Christmas poem or two that she's written. Mac will facilitate us in a time of worship, and Esther creatively teaching us about community from Phil. 2. Mike has offered to lead us in our time of prayer for friends or folks we are relating who have not entered the Kingdom yet as well as praying for a country together.

Next week we would like to do something missional together. The idea we had was to gather some of our 'extra' jackets, sweaters, sleeping bages, or socks and on Sat. or Sunday down to the bottle depot on 10th and give these items away to the street folk who need them. If someone would like to make some hot chocolate or if we'd like to take sandwhiches down that would be cool to. We'll talk about it this Sat. and come up with a game plan.

Doug, will be invloved in the Christmas Concert and Play going on at 1st Alliance this weekend. So if he comes to mind pray for him. Have a great weekend, Doug and we'll be cheering you on. I know you've invited some work friends to come, so we'll be praying for their spiritual eyes and ears to be opened to the Father's invitation for them to return home to Him. Let us know what happens.

A new thing on the horizon for us is that we are formally getting Mosaic Ministries licenced with the gov't. Mosaic Ministries will be an umbrella for Esther and I as missionaries and as coaches/catalysts to other simple churches, as well as a home for other simple churches like Close2Home to link into if they want. The board of Global Hope Society has decided that the mandate of Gobal Hope Society is done, and all have agreed to shut it down. Thus for all of you who are financially supporting us, cheques in the New Year will be made out to Mosaic Ministries not GHS. We are forming a board for Mosaic which will include Doug R. and Mac from our community, and a couple others from other simple churches we have relationship with. So without further adieu, and so I don't put you to sleep, I'll stop with that. Keep praying for us as we take the next 'faith steps' forward and for financial provision for us as a family. The Rocky Mountain College teaching opportunity for this winter did not pan out, so we're trusting the Father to provide in other ways. If you have any questions let us know.

We love you all and remember to keep initiating with each other outside the context of our regluar gatherings.

Tim and Esther

Hey All,

You're all welcome to come to our home for a potluck at 5pm this Saturday. Bring a main dish and salad or desert. We want to celebrate and welcome Jesus through a time of communion and sharing any stories of how you see Jesus at work in your spheres of influence. We will then have a time of participatory worship and discussion from the book of James flowing into a time of prayer or application.

A quick reminder that if you are interested in going to Christmas program that Doug Rempel is a part of at 1st Alliance let him know this Sunday. Last time I checked the tickets were almost sold out.

See all of you who can make it on Saturday.

Tim and Esther