To read

Stephen was just here, playing our guitar and singing his melodies. He reckons that we will begin our reading together with “The Magnificent Defeat” by Frederick Buechner. If you’ve never read it, yer in for a treat. I really think it will something we can all really enjoy together. Thoughts?

-Sarah-

diaspora

it brings me great joy to know that the day of diaspora, “the dispersed”, is nearing a close for our community. I know the time away from each other hasn’t been nearly as traumatic as Israels forty year wanderings in the desert, however, it rivals in desperation. We (Jess and I) feel parched and famished when the time between communion lengthens. We become self-centered and disconnected. We become irritable and weak. We become depressed and despondent. 

our time with you all brings life and breath. It breeds creativity and inspires compassion. You are our family; saints and vagabonds traveling together. I’m ready to daydream with you again, about what was, is, and through our Father, can be. It is so very evident that God is moving in all our lives and I look forward to sharing the stories again. Grace and peace be with you always, beloved.

Jay

This week of Prayer…

Hello beautiful ones!

My dearest friends I am so excited to know that all this week, every hour (almost!) we have someone praying from our community. I feel God drawing us closer in, and I am very much inside His presence I feel as we prepare for what is to come. I would love to hear how everyone’s time has been at the prayerhouse, so please share your stories with us…we’re off tonight (in the am!) for some worship and prayer time and I’m really excited!

Love you all,

-S-

Nicole

A picture inside of today:
For the past four days, I’ve been spending the days with a group of children (my girls and nieces and nephew) ages 10, 9, 8, 7, 7 and 4. The conversations around the lunch table consist of tooth loss, bath bubbles little boy style, strange food habits, passing ketchup covered nuggets hand to hand, bicycle stunts, eating on the couch privileges, and things daddies say. Their greatest rush and tension of the day is hurrying back outside to ride bikes and work on the bicycle town. They’re extraordinary. I have been so so tired at the end of the day, so extremely unmotivated for much other than routine. Today I asked Bryan to please remind me not to return to the mush that I am. I admit so freely that I am at my best when community is reflected day to day. But some scorched summer days filled with children don’t lend themselves to much else.
I feel called back to a zeal that lived in my first love for Christ, and more – that realization that He loved and saw me. Pray that I can know how to surrender all of the ways ministry seems like work instead of a pouring out, and find Him as the source. There’s a bit to be undone in my thinking. It’s complex and new, so the roots not yet deep there and nothing holds as much strength as His calling. This is all stemming from His calling me back to Him.

It’s eerie. When I walked into prayer Sunday morning before service, the directions from His spirit jumped out of my mouth. When I was surrounded there in that little room, He said to return to the first love I knew, that there had come so many distractions, and that my vision had become cloudy.

I knew in my heart all of the promises He had spoken to me before. It was as if I was waking again somehow. From some coma. It was a little glint of light, and a small sweet little voice. it’s had to describe, so hard to describe, but after I listened to the podcast from Sunday on Monday night, I was alarmed and awakened fully and was afraid of how long I’d been sleep walking. God – I’ll die, I so quickly die without the seeking first. And I had plenty of excuses – busyness, my mom’s stroke and helping her every day, 3 kids, children’s ministry, nausea, fatigue. But all of these things must be fueled in the power of the spirit or else death feels like the next turn.
I’ve been having a hard time, and have had loneliness on top of it all and surrounded with so many children. Maybe I should have let someone know to pray for me. Next storm – maybe I will. Be here now. It’s been hard, and still is. But, all that to say, through my weakness and lethargy, I STILL AM BEING CHASED.
Good poetry comes from seasons like this for me. Something in me likes loneliness, and the state of being a sad hermit. I default to that as I have confessed. I secretly look forward to being old and alone with coffee and an old clunky typewriter and a wiry gray bun on the back of my head. Strange. But – now that I’ve known all of you, I can’t help but miss you, and He won’t allow me to sink into hiding. It’s the curse of holy love that wars wars wars with what comes naturally. But the taste of abundant life embitters days of quiet. So, I am writing a hello. Hello.
I love you.

July 7th-13th

“Friendship is neither night nor day. It is the sweeping chime of a damp mossy church bell where statues stretch at dawn” -Nicole Verrone

I am sorry I have been away in hiding my friends, we were actually away at the beach, but beyond that I feel like I am slowly retreating again. Sometimes this is good, but not always. Not when I don’t get to see you. I think we’re really in need of each other right now. 

We have a crazy week ahead of us once again, but perhaps we can still get together, maybe Sunday evening next week? Let me know what you think. 

Love you all 

-S-

22-29th june

Hey guys, 
I was wondering if we could all pray for my friend Nikera, some of you will remember she has visited me a couple of times from home. Her mum has cancer, her aunt and uncle both passed away from cancer since she went home from her last visit and now her boyfriend Paddy’s mum has been diagnosed and told she has weeks to live. I have no idea what’s going on, why this is happening all around her, but she has asked us to pray fervently for healing and for the Lord to move in this situation. She is struggling to cope and feels very alone, and she is clinging to hope that God can heal. Please lift up Paddy’s mum in prayer, bigtime, and for support for Nikera. I know you don’t really know her, but she is new to faith and her walk with the Lord has only just begun, and she needs our support just to pray. Thanks so much dear friends, we love you…

-Sarah-

 

from Brian:

Hey everyone! We’re at the beach this week.
I just checked my email and saw one from Rita- there is a church picnic this Sunday the 29th- We’ve been asked to supply the hotdogs

Veronne group:  100 hot dogs (not buns) ketchup, mustard, and chopped onions.
I know..that’s alot of hot dogs. Let’s see, there is 8 to a pack, so if everyone can bring 2 packs to church on Sunday..

Jay & Jess- 2 packs
Kevin & Sarah- 2 packs
Matthew & Leah- 2 packs
Patrick and Sarah- 2 packs
us- 3 packs
If I’ve forgotten someone, please add to the list.
Please let me know you can bring the hotdogs..I’ll need to let Rita know we are able to provide.

Thanks-B

 

–Brian we can bring 2 packs – S+K 

June 8th-14th

Hey friends, 

Leah we keep you and your family in our prayers, we love you so much. 
Nicole we pray for healing for your body that you would be comfortable in this pregnancy!
Are the guys meeting this week? 

This weekend we have some art events going on worthwhile supporting:
Friday night at Morningstar Chris Underwood is having his first artists reception at their gallery, 5-8pm. 
Also Saturday night Renovatus is hosting an art gallery amongst the plaza midwood crawl, Patrick, myself and Christy Smith will be showing amongst others so do come to the offices and enjoy that with us! 

If you missed the sermon yesterday I encourage you to listen to the podcast – it was a beautiful sermon and really impacted me.

Love you all

-Sarah-

 

June 1st – 7th

“As the deer pants for the waters, so my soul longs after You, O God, My soul thirsts for the living God…. Deep calls unto deep at the sound of your waterfalls, your waves and billows have gone over me. The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me – a prayer to the God of my life” – Psalm 42

I love this Psalm, it has been speaking my heart all week. I am so thirsty for God’s living presence in my life. He is calling me to be still to know the lovingkindness He pours out in the day, and the song in the evening He sings over us I am yet to really hear. He wants us to long after Him and chase after Him and I sometimes get so lazy with it. I forget that God wants to be pursued and that I can go as deep as I want to in my relationship with the Lord if I only wait on Him and follow Him into the depths of the waters. 

Ladies I really want to meet with you this week, I miss you all so much. Sarah Atkinson doesn’t have a computer so we need to make sure we call her when we do things, so I shall call and make sure its ok to have group at her house this week and post more details later. 

When are we doing big group again? It was like old times, so very refreshing and I left feeling so full (in heart and belly!) Words cannot say how special these times are and how much I love you. 

-S-

PS – this deer was a friendly wee one that we got to feed at lazy five ranch – if you haven’t been, please tell me because we want to take you! Its so much fun, especially with the wee ones. There’s giraffes and everything. 

 

 

 

May 25th-June 1st

Seeing the children singing yesterday was so beautiful, I felt so proud

SO – this Saturday is our first again get together – who’s bringing what? What kind of food do we want to do? 

Love you all

-S-

Woops!

Forgive me, its the middle of the week and I haven’t updated the page yet. 

Ladies, we meet tonight at 7.30pm, Sarah Atkinson’s house. If you can, listen to the podcast if you weren’t there sunday, we’ll be talking about the sermon a wee bit I think. 

Saturday night, 24th, we’re playing at the evening muse again, so if you are free, please come support tim kevin stephen and I as we play some folk goodness. we’d love to see you singing with us!

Nicole, Nana is in our prayers, as are you – please please let us know what we can do for you. I love you so very much, thanks for keeping us updated too. 

Same goes for you Leah – let us know how we can help, we love you tons, we are praying for your Dad and your family in this time. 

I can’t wait to see you all tonight, and I really truly can’t wait for us all to be together as a large group again!

Much love

-S-