Milestones in Our Lives

Today is the 49th birthday of my gorgeous wife and soul mate, Esther Yvonne Schultz! She surely doesn't look or seem that old to me. Like a good wine, she has aged well. Choosing her to be my wife was one off the smartest decisions I've ever made. Hard to believe that in one more year I will be able to say that I'm married to a 50 year old woman. Though Esther isn't much for a lot of hooplah or drawing attention to herself, I want her to feel special. She is throwing a party Friday and all you lady folk have received an invite. There will be some ladies from the community at the party as well. If you can't make it, no worries. Feel free to phone her or come on Sunday as we'll celebrate her life with some prayer and cake. If any of you feel inspired and want to make a cake let me know. If I don't hear from anyone on making a cake, I'll buy one.

To top it all off this year we will be celebrating 25 years of being married. Wow, it sounds like we are so ancient...though we don't feel that way. To think that if kids had arrived a year after getting married, we could be grandparents by now. We truly do not take this milestone for granted as we know that some of you have suffered the heartache of divorce and gone through some painful relational stuff! It really has been the grace of God.

Here are the gathering opportunities for the next few weeks:

• This Sunday we will gather at 10:30am at our place-if you are coming and want to hang out over lunch bring a main dish to share with all. For those of you that were there last week, remember the one or two things that you wanted to practice this week in answering the question: How can I make a difference in learning to live from the heart? We shared these things with each other so we could be accountable for following through. Boy have my kids been keeping me accountable for what I voiced. Talk about mutual accountability that you can't hide from:--)
• Next Saturday there will be a Worship Circle at Mac and Jo's place starting @ 6pm. Bring a main dish and desert or salad to share as we eat together as part of our time. Their address is 2163 Country Hills Circle NW
• Sunday is the Super Bowl: For any of the men or ladies that like football you are welcome...bring some wings, or munchies and your favourite beer!
• Monday, Jan. 30th is the last day to get the early bird deal for the Simply Jesus conference on March 2-3. So go to www.themosaicnetwork.net to register and pay online. Keep praying for this event as it will be a wonderful opportunity to be encouraged and equipped.

Love,

Tim and Esther

Gathering In Bowness

Hope you are all surviving this cold snap of the last week! Wouldn't it be nice if we could all jump on a plane together and head off to Cuba for the week. Hey, not a bad idea if one of us wins the lotto in the next week or so.

Congratulations to Stephanie on her new job posting right here in the hood at the Boys and Girls Club! We know that Jesus has some cool stuff in store for you as you connect with kids and their families here in Bowness. Hope you and your mom can join us this Sunday.

This Sunday we will gather at Beth's cozy home right here in Bowness at 10:30am. The address is 4301A - 70st NW. Phone # is 403-237-8477. We look forward to worshiping Jesus, sharing the highs and lows of our last week, digging in to the Bible, and praying for one another. If you are coming and want to stay for lunch please bring a main dish and salad or desert to share with all.

A reminder to get your registration in for the Simply Jesus Missional Training Event by Jan. 30th if you want to get in on the early bird deal. Momentum is growing for this, and you will not want to miss hearing Carl and all the cool stories of how he has seen Jesus at work in the Middle East, and in America in mosques, bars, and with folks we would have considered our enemies...stories of the Good Samaritan in our day! You will be deeply encouraged, and the Holy Spirit will stir faith in you. Some of his stories make you laugh, and some will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up!

The cool thing is that what Carl shares is not just for the 'jedi type' evangelists but a way of talking about Jesus that is real, natural, and attainable for all. The main sessions are family friendly for kids ages 5 and up. We'll also have some of our local friends share how they are living a missional 24/7 lifestyle with the poor, oppressed girls off the streets, youth, through the arts, in their neighbourhoods and work places, and are seeing Jesus communities form around tribes on the margins of our culture. There will be forms of worship that are Celtic, Vineyard, and even some Next Gen. stuff. We will pray for the sick and see how God might show up!

So go to www.themosaicnetwork.net and sign up this weekend! Get the word out to your friends as well!

Love you all,

Tim and Esther

A Happy New Year to You All

A Blessed, Joyful, Healthy, and Peaceful 2012 to you all,

It's been so nice to unwind, get together with family and friends, play games, eat great food especially chocolate, and celebrate the coming of Jesus.

We will be gathering at 10:30 am this Sunday at our place for the first gathering of the New Year. We want to reflect back and give thanks to the Father for all that He has done for us in 2011. We will do this through a prayer exercise called the Examen in which we share our Consolations (Highlights) and Desolations (Low-lights) of the past year. We then want to pray for one another in pressing into God for some things on our hearts for 2012.

If you haven't registered for the "Simply Jesus-Missional Training Event our Mosaic Network is hosting on March 2-3rd, do so before Jan.3o to take advantage of the early bird registration of $49...there is a family rate as well. The 3 main sessions are family friendly. Duane and Laura will have a team of folks from YWAM mentoring kids 5 and up as they create an artistic master piece right in the sessions. We highly value the family worshiping together and 'family on mission together'. We want to see youth and kids soaking in God's presence and becoming a part of sharing Jesus in natural and supernatural ways. To register go to www.themosaicnetwork.net and click on the Events tab!

The motivational speaker we are bringing in is Carl Medearis. He's a man who walks the talk, who is down to earth, and will inspire you to become involved in what Jesus is doing here and around the world. So invite your friends as well and help us get the word out!

There will be break-out sessions on how to live out justice, reaching youth, arts and beauty as a way to communicate the Good News of the Kingdom, starting missional communities where people belong before they believe, becoming ' healed up and whole' apprentices of Jesus through authentic community, and such. We want to hear stories of how people are coming into the Kingdom, share some tools that may help us in sharing Jesus with are friends, neighbors, and family, and leave with a couple practical actions steps to live out.

Love,

Tim and Esther

Rhythms For December

Seasons Greetings to You All,

Yes, it is almost Christmas folks! Time to get the Christmas decorations and tree up. If you're like us, that tradition usually happens later rather than sooner with all the other stuff like hockey, school programs, homework, work, and other Christmas events going on filling our schedules. We're really looking forward to the break and chilling out over the break. With that in mind, we don't want to fill our calendars up with to many other meetings, yet we'd love to catch up with some of you and celebrate Jesus and have some fun!

We thought we would propose two intentional gatherings:

• This Sunday we'll meet at 10:30 am at our house for an Advent celebration of God coming as Jesus and moving into the neighborhood. I love how The Message translates John 1: 14 "The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish."
• The other gathering we are proposing would be either a pre-Christmas carol sing on the Friday night Dec. 23rd or a skating/hot chocolate party at Bowness park after New Years...more info to come on this! Let us know if you are interested in either of these ways of connecting.

A reminder that if you haven't signed up for the Simply Jesus Conference on March 2nd-3rd 2012 and want to get in on the early bird deal, do so before Jan.10. If you haven't heard Carl Medearis speak, you won't want to miss this event. He has some incredible stories of how Jesus is showing up and drawing people to Himself from the Muslim world to the bars of Denver, Colorado. You will be inspired and encouraged through 'normal' people who will be sharing their stories of how the Kingdom of God is coming in their neighborhoods through friendships, hospitality, and simply loving the widow, the foreigner, and the orphan. There will also opportunity to connect to God through worship and ministry to one another.

If you get a chance, ask Doug about what is happening up in his neck of the woods. Some cool stuff going on as he simply practices the rhythms of being present and available with and for his neighbors. Through simple acts of kindness he is tripping into the Kingdom in the midst of the mess and chaos of people's lives! Or ask Beth what she has seen happening through her work with Servants Anonymous as she cares for women at risk.

Esther and I hope you all have a rich time with family and friends over this holiday season. Take some time to dial down and reflect on all the blessings we have and ask the question: "What has Jesus done for me or us lately."

Love,

Tim and Esther

Rhythms For November

I leave for Asia this Thursday for two weeks...so we wanted to get the word out on our gathering times for this next month.

This weekend there will be no Close2Home gathering in Bowness. Doug will be hosting a potluck up in the S.E. with some of his neighbors and friends who are on a journey to becoming followers of Jesus. If you do want to join him for this, please let him know before hand. We don't want to inundate this gathering with to many 'Christians' that are not living in close proximity to his neighborhood. Yet, Doug's desire is to form a small team of Jesus followers from that end of town who would want to see apprentices of Jesus developed. So go for it Joel and Amy if that is how the HS is leading you. We keep praying that a community of folks who are Jesus followers and those on their way into the Kingdom would form over the next year. Great job, Doug at being faithful in practicing friendship, hospitality, and loving your neighbors and friends!

On Sunday, Nov. 20th there will be a Close2Home gathering in Bowness at our place @ 10:30am. Just let Esther know if you're coming and whether you would like to facilitate a worship time or if God puts something on your heart to share from the Book.

I would really appreciate your prayers for my trip to Asia. I leave on Thursday and return on Weds. the 23rd. I think most of you get our prayer letter which has the details of my trip in it...so I won't bore you by repeating the details in this post.

If you haven't registered for the Simply Jesus Event on March 2nd and 3rd, we would encourage you to register now before the Christmas rush. The early bird price lasts till Jan. 10 and then the price goes up. Go to www.themosaicnetwork.net site to register if you didn't get the poster.

We love you all,

Tim and Esther

Goin To Taber

A belated Happy Thanksgiving to all of you, especially those we haven't seen in awhile.

Thanks, Beth for hosting us last week. Your home oozes warmth and a welcoming spirit. So cool to have Emily with us and to see her freedom to share so openly. Loved watching all the kids connect so naturally. There truly was a feeling of real, not forced, community and family. We really sense that the Holy Spirit wants to work in our kids and the next generation. In moving forward we want to create space for them to express worship in their style, and be cheer leaders for them as they explore and experiment with what church would look like for them. We are brain storming about some ideas of how to do this.

Doug, it's so cool to hear how God is connecting you to your neighbours and other like minded Jesus followers in your neck of the woods in the S. E. We pray that a community of Muslims, single parents, and seekers forms around a longing to learn how to love one another and be Jesus followers...the belonging before believing way! You should check out the Carl Medearis tool called Engage. It may be the tool that you are looking for to take the next steps with some seekers without them feeling like you are trying to convert them. Mac has order the Engage tool and will be trying it out with some from his tribe.

We had a sweet time of worship with Mac and Jo's circle a couple of weeks ago. It is so rewarding to see the kids involved in singing and your daughter's passion for Jesus. A hearty amen to your groaning 'to hear the church sing'. It really happened that night. Love hearing the kids participating in the ministry time as well. Oh that Jesus would not just be a word or a theory for them or us. Esther and I long that our boys develop a real relationship of their own with God and take risks to see Him show up in the mundane and the miraculous!

So here's our rhythm for the next few weeks for you to dive into as you can:

• This weekend Esther and I will be heading down to Taber with Mac and Jo to join the Taber and beyond circle of the Mosaic that is forming with Mike and Andrea. Don and Kerstin will be coming from Three Hills as well. We'll have some Mosaic advisory team business to cover on Saturday afternoon, and then we get to have some fun...rumour has it that Mike and Andrea will be taking us to the roller derby. We'll miss not having you, Doug. For those of you that are not aware our Mosaic board is made up of Mike and Andrea from Taber, Don and Kerstin from Three Hills, Mac and Jo from Calgary, and Doug Rempel from Calgary. On the Sunday we will be diving in with the community that is forming down there. Love the green shoots of the Mosaic that are sprouting up. May the Father water and guard over them! Thus this Sunday there will be no Close2Home gathering.
• Next Friday, October 28th from 10am - 3pm we are hosting a day retreat at Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre. It costs $50 for the day including lunch. If you want to join us let me know. It will be a chance to prayer, sleep, be in silence and be introduced to simple forms of prayer. We hope to do these one day retreats 6 times a year alternating between a Friday and a Saturday depending on what works for folks
• On Sunday the 30th we will meet at our place @ 10:30am for a time of worship and discussing or applying the words of Jesus.
• Nov. 5th is possibly another Worship Circle at Mac and Jo's. Will let Mac confirm if this is a go
• A heads up that on March 2-3rd we will be having a Missional Training event with Carl Medearis called Simply Jesus...so get these dates on the calendar. In the next couple of weeks you will be able to register and get the early bird special. Go to www.themosaicnetwork.net and click on the event page to register. If you haven't heard of Carl get his book Speaking of Jesus: The Art of not-evangelism. It will be a family friendly event for kids 5 and up. Duane and Laura will be doing a work of art in the main sessions over the two days with the kids...yippee!

Well that's enough stuff for now.

Peace on you all,

Tim and Esther

Wow, does the summer ever seem to go so fast. Here it is the middle of September already with the leaves starting to change colour, the sun rising later and setting earlier, and the kids back into school routines. Though many of us hate to see summer go, we are looking forward to all that the fall has in store, including for me the upcoming hunting season:) We hope all of you had a restful summer and got the opportunity to slow down and hang with your family and friends.

After a summer of spontaneous gatherings, we are ready to be get back into the rhythm of some more structured gatherings. Last weekend some of us were able to participate at the Urban Sanctuary Retreat. What a sweet time we had together exploring ancient yet simple and practical forms of praying from various streams of the church. The FCJ Centre run by a branch of the Catholic Church in the heart of Calgary was the perfect place to learn together how to create sacred space in the middle of the chaos of city life. We hope to plan some day retreats sprinkled through out the year to help us be intentional about the disciplines of silence, solitude, and slowing down. If you would be interested in this let us know.

Here are some forms of Gathering over the next 3 weeks to put on your calendars:

This Sunday we'll be gathering at our place @ 10:30am for a time of worship, reading and applying the Scriptures, storytelling, sharing our joys and struggles, and praying for one another. If you would like to hang out over lunch feel free to bring it along. Remember to bring or make enough to share with others. Eating together will give us a chance to catch up and hear about each others summer adventures.

On Sept. 25th we want to gather some of our neighbours and friends to see Africa pix, and hear some of our stories. It will be a potluck/barbie. If you would like to come please RSVP and let us know as soon as possible for our planning.

On Sat. night Oct. the 1st we are thinking of gathering @ Mac and Jo's for a time of worship and encountering God by listening to His voice and responding through prophetic words, prayer for healing and such. We want to create a context for our kids and their friends "to do the stuff" with us grey heads cheering them on and coaching a little bit as needed. More details to come on this.

Well I think that's enough details for now. Look forward to seeing some of you who we haven't seen face to face for some time.

We love you all,

Tim and Esther