Happy New Year!
I just heard the fireworks go off. Our two youngest children ran out onto the deck to see where they were coming from. 2006 is here!!!
Our family was invited to a New Years Eve party with fellow "Wheatland Missioners" (whew, we need better nicknames) at the home of Ted and Michelle Snodgrass. Thanks for the great time guys. All the old fogeys, those of us between the age of 30-45, celebrated the entrance of the New Year live with our brothers and sisters on the East Coast. Celebrating is hard work!
Tonight was another great night of worship and this time it was led by Joe Wilson with the able help of Andy, Matt, Calana, Richard and Rosie. Thanks all for giving of your time and effort. I also want to express my appreciation to a few other folks who help in some very special ways: Nicole and Pam (help lead our children's ministries), John and Matt (run sound for us), Paul R. (puts the words on the screen and that cool candle flame too!), Ross T and Michele G (manage the church finances), Lara (bakes our communion bread each week and sets up communion), Tom and Rox (get the coffee brewing), our other singers and players (Ty, Leigh, Marci, David, and Laurie) and I would be remiss if I didn't give a big shout out to Russ Morton and The Foundry who graciously share their space with us.
There are many others of you give of yourselves in a variety of ways to the ministry of the Wheatland Mission and to you I want to say thanks as well. The Hill's count it a privilege to be on this journey of faith with each of you and we are looking forward to an exciting 2006 with The Wheatland Mission.
God's Peace to You Tonight and Always!
Paul
Happy New Year!
I just heard the fireworks go off. Our two youngest children ran out onto the deck to see where they were coming from. 2006 is here!!!
Our family was invited to a New Years Eve party with fellow "Wheatland Missioners" (whew, we need better nicknames) at the home of Ted and Michelle Snodgrass. Thanks for the great time guys. All the old fogeys, those of us between the age of 30-45, celebrated the entrance of the New Year live with our brothers and sisters on the East Coast. Celebrating is hard work!
Tonight was another great night of worship and this time it was led by Joe Wilson with the able help of Andy, Matt, Calana, Richard and Rosie. Thanks all for giving of your time and effort. I also want to express my appreciation to a few other folks who help in some very special ways: Nicole and Pam (help lead our children's ministries), John and Matt (run sound for us), Paul R. (puts the words on the screen and that cool candle flame too!), Ross T and Michele G (manage the church finances), Lara (bakes our communion bread each week and sets up communion), Tom and Rox (get the coffee brewing), our other singers and players (Ty, Leigh, Marci, David, and Laurie) and we would be remiss if we didn't give a big shout out to Russ Morton and The Foundry who graciously share their space with us.
There are many others of you give of yourselves in a variety of ways to the ministry of the Wheatland Mission and to you I want to say thanks as well. The Hill's count it a privilege to be on this journey of faith with you all and we are looking forward to an exciting 2006 with you all.
God's Peace to You Tonight and Always!
Paul
Worship With Us...Saturday At 5:30!
The Wheatland Mission will have our worship gathering this Saturday at 5:30 at The Foundry. This will be a great way to welcome in the New Year. See you there...
Merry Christmas From Paul and Calana
I must say that worship tonight was simply wonderful. Everyone who participated in the candle light and communion service added something very special to our time together. It was a very blessed evening.
Calana and I want to wish all of you the Merriest of Christmases and our prayer is that you would find a deep, peaceful and abiding joy in Christ this season. In addition, we are looking forward to what God has in store for our future together. The months to come appear to be full of God's blessings.
Remember, in the mist of familial crises, dashed expectations and holiday fatigue stands Christ. Born again in our hearts this Christmas time.
Peace of Christ to You,
Paul, Calana and family (Tatiana, Savannah, Harrison, and Shelby...the dog)
Oops!
On the invitation to our home this Thursday I inadvertently said that the date is Thursday the 23rd. Instead it will be Thursday the 22nd. Come join us any time after 6:00 PM for an evening of food and friendship.
It is a come and go affair so please feel free to drop in and stay as long as you like. See you Thursday.
The Concept of Christian Time
"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16making the best use of the time, because the days are evil." Ephesians 5:15-16
Some of you may be wondering why we have been celebrating Advent and you may be wondering why a new, non-traditional church plant like The Wheatland Mission would be observing the Christian Calendar at all. Let me take a minute to explain the value of the Christian Calendar or the Church Year.
Let me begin by asking you which dates on the calendar you remember most? Certainly we all remember those important birthdays of loved ones and children along with our wedding anniversaries. We probably remember big dates too like graduation dates, the last day of school, the yearly party at work or other big days on the calendar. And of course, we do remember dates like Christmas, July 4 (obviously) and other holidays.
I contend that these dates help us organize our time. Most of us look forward to the holiday season every year. Since we were kids we had the arrival of Christmas pegged into our mind. One of the biggest factors in organizing our year is the school calendar. Even if you don't have kids in school you still think in these terms. It is hard not to.
By observing the Christian Calendar we can organize our time around the life of Christ and our process of being transformed more and more into his likeness. Rather than organize our days around the school year, the holiday shopping season or the three day weekends, it is wise for us, as followers of Christ, to think about our time with Jesus in mind.
The overview that follows is simply a way of connecting the time of year, found on the Christian Calendar, with a phase within the life of Christ and his people. I trust that the value of this approach to time will be obvious.
ADVENT is a time of preparation for Christ's arrival and incarnation. It is also a time for us to remember that there was a time when one had to wait upon the arrival of the redeemer and Messiah. We all need to be reminded, no longer how long we have walked with Christ, that we need a savior. (begins four weeks prior to Christmas)
CHRISTMAS is the anchor of every kids calendar. The real story of St. Nicklaus is great but a pale comparison to the real gift of Christmas. Instead, this is the time of year when we celebrate the arrival of Messiah. This is when we celebrate the miracle of the Incarnation--the fact that Christ has become a flesh and blood human being. (Jn 1:14, I Tim 2:5) Celebrating Christmas is essential in our understanding of how we are saved because Christ had to become a human being to accomplish our redemption. (two weeks after December 25)
EPIPHANY is far more than a fresh personal discovery. It is the when we celebrate the manifestation of Christ's divinity and mission. The passage about Jesus' first miracle is often read during this time. (Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding feast in Cana.) Through epiphany we celebrate the "revealing" of Christ's purpose and mission. (early January)
LENT is a word that all of us have some passing familiarity with. Most of us associate Lent with a Catholocism that was all ritual with no relationship to Christ. This may or may not have been true but it remained our perception. Understood in its proper context Lent is actually a time for journeying with Jesus as he prepares for his ultimate sacrifice. We journey with Jesus through Lent by engaging in activities such as repentance, fasting, and giving to the poor. Through these experiences we not only become more aware of the facts surrounding Christ's life and his death but we experience them to some degree as well.
While there have been some excesses and misuses of this important time on the Christian calendar it is no doubt one of the most important parts of the calendar precisely because it prepares us for Easter. It is important that we not simply swing around the calendar year only to be surprised by Easter. It is a time we must prepare for. (early-mid Feb until Easter)
EASTER has always been an important time in the lives of Christ followers. Prior to Christ's crucifixion and resurrection, the original followers of Jesus would have celebrated Passover at some time during this season. Passover was a prefigure of our celebration of the resurrection. This is a celebration of the source of our spirituality. We are called to die to sin through identifying with the death of Christ and we are called to a new life through his resurrection.
Celebrating the resurrection of Christ is a crucial aspect of our personal and corporate faith. We commemorate Christ's death everytime we share in the Lord's Supper but it is good for us to set specific time of year aside to relive the experience of crucifixion and resurrection through the reading of Scripture, important spiritual disciplines and participation in the Lord's Supper. (late-March to late-April)
PENTECOST is the last official day on the calendar between Easter and the beginning of the year which is Advent. Pentecost is our way of celebrating the birth of the Church through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit which provides the believer and the church with the abiding presence of Christ. Pentecost is a crucial celebration for us because it serves to remind the believer that they are never alone but exist in community with one another through the indwelling of God's Spirit. It is crucial also because it is a reminder to us of the empowerment we receive for ministry through the Spirit. At Pentecost the Spirit comes to continually enrich our understanding of Jesus and to empower our ministry in his name. (usually in June)
This overview is brief and several valuable details have been left out for the sake of brevity. Keep in mind that the Christian Year is intendend to help us think more naturally of Christ's life and to pattern our lives around his. At its most simple, the Christian Calendar is pattern for our everyday spirituality.
None of us are sufficient unto ourselves for the task of spiritual formation. We need one another, we need all kinds of assistance and the Christian Year is an ancient, time tested and reliable aid for that purpose. The Wheatland Mission is going to observe the Christian year in thoughtful and creative ways letting the Christian concept of time transform our experience within our high speed world.
Please share some of your thoughts, feelings or questions in the comment section. This can be a great opportunity to get to know one another and enhance our experience of the Christian Year.
Open House At The Hills!
Thanks to all of you who have responded about the working groups. There is still a lot of room for those of you who would like to participate in one so don't hesitate to contact me if you are interested.
In the meantime don't forget these two important announcements:
1) Wheatland Mission Worship Gathering at the Foundry this Saturday at 5:30 - we will be celebrating the Advent of Love and the Advent of Joy
2) Open House at the Hill Home on Thursday December 23 from 6:00 until we turn out the lights - please join us for this special time of fellowship, food and fun - the format is come and go so come join us and fellow Wheatland Mission folk for a great evening.
What Are "Working Groups"?
The Wheatland Mission is a young church and as a result there are issues within our church that we have yet to address. There are obvious concerns that have to be addressed immediately and have been. These include such issues as where are we going to meet? What about ministry to our children? What about money? However, there are other concerns that we need to address as a church that are not quite so obvious but just as important.
Starting right after the beginning of the New Year there will be three teams of people organized into what are called "Working Groups". (Pretty inventive title isn't it?) These three "Working Groups" are going to help The Wheatland Mission accomplish some important tasks in the early life of our community. These three teams are going to identify key issues in these three areas: membership, statement of faith and structure.
Each working group will consist of 6-8 people who are 1) committed to The Wheatland Mission; 2)willing to do some studying on the subject of their group; 3) and able to meet at least once a month for a 2-3 hour session. These groups are going to last for a few months as we identify key issues, pray about them, and make decisions regarding the future of The Wheatland Mission.
Let me explain in more detail what each of these three group are going to cover. If one of these areas is of interest to you you might want to pray about participating with us on this project.
MEMBERSHIP
Some of you have been members of various churches throughout your lifetime. Some others of you have never been a member of any church. Unfortunately, membership in a specific church body often carries little significance. The "Membership Working Group" is going to explore the significance of church membership and how TWM can make membership meaningful.
As of right now The Wheatland Mission has no means of identifying who is an official member of it. I must say, I like the "organic" nature of what we are now. However, there is still a great deal of value in official membership and I also believe that we can have it without losing our sense of being an "organic" community.
STATEMENT OF FAITH
My assumption is that most people who are a part of The Wheatland Mission feel that this is a safe place "theologically" because they trust me or because they trust people who trust me. I don't take this trust lightly. In addition, I believe it is important for us to discuss what we believe and why we believe it. There is not enough time to do this adequately during our worship gatherings. One of our "working groups" will be committed to exploring how we are going to express our statement of faith in a way that is clear and concise. (And, this should go without saying, orthodox.)
Sometimes a statement of faith for a church or organization is written in techinical language that is not easily understood by those involved in the church. Furthermore, and this is unfortunately true much of the time, the statement of faith is simply not very practical. I have heard Christians make comments like this one, "Sure I believe in the Trinity but that doesn't really matter in my everyday life." In order for our statement of faith to be meaningful we also need to identify how it is practical for our everyday lives. The "Statement of Faith Working Group" is going to give attention to this important detail as well.
STRUCTURE
How is The Wheatland Mission organized? As of right now the The Wheatland Mission has one official employee, me. It has a financial team, children's ministry team, and four corporation signers. Beyond that we are not structured to any other degree than what circumstances dictate. Our "Structure Working Group" is designed to aid us in the organization of our ministry in the realm of leadership and accountability.
It is my desire that we not add unnecessary structures and systems. This mitigates against a Spirit directed, organic, (there is that word again) community of faith. However, structure and leadership are necessary. It is our desire to identify a form of governance and structure that is not only biblical but also consistent with the way God is directing our church.
If you have reached to the end of this post please stop, stretch, and then pat yourself on the back. AND, if you are interested in helping out in one of these "working groups" please respond to me directly at thewheatlandmission@cox.net. The only requirements are that you be able to commit some time and effort to study and discussion, that you commit time and effort to the work of prayer for The Wheatland Mission, and that you consider yourself committed to The Wheatland Mission.
What these teams produce is going to greatly direct our ministry and our future. Don't underestimate the importance of what these groups will be doing. Even more, don't underestimate what you can contribute to these vital discussions and to the life of our church.
Addendum:
A lot of the books and resources that have helped me identify the direction we are going as a church are listed below. Some of these are also going to be used in our "working groups". If you are interested in what kind of church we are becoming you might be interested in checking out some of the following:
"Missional Church" by Darrel Guder, et.al.
"Call To Commitment" by Elizabeth O'Conner
"In The Name Of Jesus" by Henri J.M. Nouwen
"Life Together" by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
"Reimagining Spiritual Formation" by Doug Pagitt
"The Divine Conspiracy" by Dallas Willard
"Community 101" by Gilbert Bilezikian
Next Wave E-Zine at www.next-wave.org
Don't Forget Your Diapers and Formula!
Bring them to our worship gathering on Saturday night. The Wheatland Mission is collecting diaper and formula for the Pregancy Crisis Center.
Lot's of moms and babies are need help right away. What we collect is going to go to meet their needs through PCC.
5:30 it is!
Worship with us this Saturday at 5:30. The Wheatland Mission is kicking off its weekly worship experience this weekend and we will be meeting at the Foundry at 1855 S. Rock Road.
Thanks to all of you who responded to the poll and helped us get a handle on the best time for our worship to commence. Stay warm!
Announcement Coming
Tomorrow night check out the blog and see the announcement on our new start time.
Also, please be in prayer for Calana and her family. Her great uncle William passed away this weekend. He was 94 and his death was not unexpected. He has been fighting cancer since earlier this year and has had many health issues recently. Calana will be travelling to western Nebraska for the funeral on Monday. Pray for her travelling and for comfort for the entire family. Thanks...
By the way, don't forget - - - worship at the Foundry this coming weekend!
It's Coming...
Weekly Worship at the Wheatland Mission!
(Try to say that 5X times fast.)
Our weekly worship will begin on December 10th in The Foundry at 1855 S. Rock Road.
