Lars and the Real Girl

At the Supporter's Support Group last night we watched Lars and The Real Girl. It is a great movie about the importance of community, acceptance, support and participation in one another's lives, whether we have 'issues' or not.

In the movie, Lars has issues and he does something very strange - you will have to watch it - I don't want to give it away.

But his community, after they get over the shock and stuff, rally around him and participate in his life without passing judgement or telling him what to do. I think this response from them expedites his healing, since he was then able to go through the process without needing to deal with those around him at the same time. It is a powerful lesson for us all.

They were initiatly judgemental and horrified, and then they decided to lay that down in humility and love.
They decided to let go the fact that they thought he was crazy and wrong, and love him anyway.
They didn't just tolerate him, they supported him.
They followed his lead and didn't try to make it into something it wasn't or to direct his process.
They put their own reputations on the line for him and they supported each other as they supported him.
They were willing to be in embarrassing situations in order to support him.
Their support of him was contagious.
They didn't shun him or hide him, in fact his family went to the community and asked them to support Lars.
They challenged him when he got his boundaries messed up.
They didn't patronize him.
They laughed and partied and loved and grieved with him.
They didn't rush him.
They didn't argue with him and insist he get over it.
They dealt with their own issues that came up as a result of Lar's behaviour, esp. his brother, and owned their own stuff.
They didn't try to fix him, they loved him.

In not trying to fix him, they actually enabled him to be fixed.

I think in doing what they did they became a stronger community as well, and Lars brought out the best in them.

May we learn to be such a community.

Baptism's Sunday

Here are some pictures from sunday... awesome testimonies, 6 people baptised, tons of new people at church...who were they all?

more photos on the website www.cambridgevineyard.on.ca

BBQ on Lumbsten Cr.

Steve and Judy Quinton have been headed out around the neighbourhood, building relationships. June 21st we had a big bbq. Can you imagine that in 21 houses there are 97 Kids??


check it out!!!

StoredUp - June 24th 2009 Youth Benefit Concert

What a night! One-hundred tickets were pre-sold and more kids showed up to purchase at the door. Michael Davison with Rob Hall as his side kick, organized this benefit concert to expose the youth in our city to a fun Christian atmosphere as well as, raise money for the Storehouse. Jeanne Hill, Diane Saramango and Debbie Runstedler came and sold tickets and goodies. We had Hamburgers and Hot dogs for a buck along with water, pop and snacks.
$300 was raised for the Storehouse (lower level of our Sanctuary that provides free food, clothing, showers and friendship to the community in Cambridge).

Take a look below to see the chronicles of the nights events.
There is also some video footage at the very end.

**The band pictures are not the most focused pictures you'll ever see,
but I did my best without using a flash.**


Is this a commercial?


Another commmercial break.


This event was brought to you by: Foot Washing Ministries...


Let Jesus Cleanse and Renew your weary soul from head to toe ;)


Some of our fabulous youth hanging out before the bands started. In the foreground is one the band members of Hello Kelly chillin' before the show.


Jim Cheshire and Rob Hall BBQing


Rhonda was fantastic help running all over town last minute grabbing extra water, hot dogs and buns. She also brought her daughter Cortney and her friend Paula as extra helpers. Thanks ladies, you were a great help!


Issac Maw and Sally Ellis trying to weasl hotdogs out of Rob... check out the video at the end to hear the full conversation and if Sally would really do anything for a hotdog.


After every band there would be a massive wave of youth that would flow out of the Auditorium as they waited for the next band to set up. It was nice to have the night broken up like this because it allowed the kids to socialize with each other and also for us to be able to socialize with them. It was also a chance for fans of the previous band to get autographs and pictures.
Good times!

Tim McLean showed up and we put him to work as bouncer.


Tom Portaccio: Doorman.
George Lakatos was also a doorman, but couldn't resist the excitement of the bands inside.


The foyer was full of each bands memorbila.


Way to go Chris Patterson for braving the LOUD and Hayley Davis for your moral support and teardown help. You both ROCK!


The kids eased into the evening by sitting and watching the first band.


A local high school band was the first band to start the night.


They had a heavy metal sound... I stayed outside for the majority of their set.


Second band was ChasingAmee had an alternative sound and
much more melodic than the first band.


Tuck the bass player.


Ryan Matthew Faist - guitar and keys.


Nathan Bulla - drummer - great drummer.


They were very good at interacting with the crowd.


It was hard but I managed to tear these guys away from giving autographs and getting pictures with the cute girls for a moment to take a group shot.


Third band up was To Tell -- this was the best pic I got of them unfortunately.


These guys, I think, were David Rae's favourite band of the night.


The lead singer had A LOT of energy.


Guitarist tending to his instrument after the set.


HELLO KELLY


Through the blur you can see Ben Patterson up-close and personal watching the band...


He was enthralled with Francois (lead vocals).


Francois is a very intense performer with great vocal abilities.


The band as a whole was tight and very entertaining to watch and listen to. Check out a couple videos at the end of the pictures to get a small taste.


Francois struggles with stuttering, but when he sings and performs you would never know. He wrote a song that shows his heart surrounding his struggles and where he puts his trust (J.C.) His music and lyrics bear honesty and vulnerability to the audience.


Artsy shot :)


Group shot of the band.
They are a great bunch guys - very friendly and authentically genuine.




Below are a few videos from the night just for fun - they're probably about 8mins in total.

Rainbow Promises

It's 45 minutes before our 20th Anniversary celebration service begins. Our 'outdoor' service is now 'indoors' because of threatening rain. All week it has been sunny and hot, and then overnight the temperature drops, clouds come in, and I wake up to the sound of rain drops falling on the leaves. I looked out my bedroom window, and although there was some sun trying to show itself, the cloud cover was huge. I knew what to pray - "Lord, if everything stays as it is, we'll be moving indoors for our service. Regardless, thank for you this day and for the rain. Both come from you and they are a blessing. However this day may end up unfolding, your name rises above it."

I went into the bathroom and was drawn to look out that window...and as I did, I saw the most beautiful rainbow in the western sky. It felt like I had been given the most wonderful gift. A promise that the rain would stop? No - something better. A promise of God's unfailing love towards his people in this life and in the life to come. Life is good!

Worship LEADERS and Want to Be's...

Do you need training?



Looking to learn more about worship?





Dan Wilt leader of the Institute of Emerging Worship, at St. Stephens University not only has training courses, but relevant workshops, articles and seminars from world class Leaders, Thinkers, and Worshippers. His blog is a who's who conversation of every conceivable thing to do with worship. His webinars are fantastic.

It is totally easy to sign up for weekly updates, and be kept informed about devotionals, thoughts, videos, new songs, how to's....

To sign up....

1. go to http://essentialscourse.com/
2. add your name and email to the free resources segment.

Also check out Dan's personal blog at: www.danwilt.com

Teaching Old Dogs

I like to convince myself of two things - one, that I'll never become like the rickety old people who will never change. And two, that I can embrace different methods of communication. At our staff meeting, Rob dropped the 'blog question', and of course for those of us who have maybe made 2 or 3 posts, we winced and said, "Yeh...it's a great idea." Which led to the next question - "So how do I get you guys to commit?" That's when I felt the encroachment of the 'rickety' stage and that maybe I'm not all that willing to change with the times. But I refuse to accept that - and this post proves it! I may be an old-er dog, but I can run with the best of them!

Kindergarten and the demise of the healthy family?

I wanted to pass along and begin I suppose some discussion around what the Ontario Government is planning in terms of full time Jk and Sk. It is a discussion that for me is personal in that it will affect my kids. And so you know I can't fathom how my kids would survive full time school at 4 years.

What is clear is that there are a lot of good economic reasons for it. Parents can go back to work, make more money and therefore be able to provide ($) for their kids. BUT, since when is money the only thing? Well, it isn't and I don't think anyone would think that it was. What are the repricussions in the family?

You can hear a great discussion on the cbc the current involving the government education ministers, the author of a report called 'our best future' (a little scary) and a guy who has studied this issue internationally. One interesting thing he says is, ' yes there are economic gains, yes it pays for itself, but in countries that implement full time daycare, and jk, the social repercussions are significant. His major concern is 'attachment' issues that children suffer, and stress.

I wonder personally, what involvment the church can have in modelling something different?

cheers

The Purpose of Paperwork

Last Saturday I went into work to try to catch up after a week's vacation. I spent the first 15 minutes crying out to God about howdisorganized my mind felt, how behind I was and was I even doing what I was supposed to be doing. There came a knock on themain door and there stood a man and his wife (I'll call them P & R).

They were looking for a pastor. My "I'm not really a pastor" shield went up and I started to tell them there was no one here today. I asked them what they wanted and they just wanted someone to talk toabout their kids, their marriage, their lives. My shield came down, and I invited them in and we sat together for an hour. They shared, their fears,
frustrations, and their sense of hopelessness.

They have four children ages 12, 10, 8 and 1. All are in foster care. F & CS has told this couple
that there is nothing they can do to get them back. P & R had been walking around the neighbourhood this morning trying to figure out what to do because their kids are with them for 7 days and they have no food to feed them and no money to buy any. "I am frightened" said P. During our time together I asked a few questions but mainly listened, which as it turned out, is what they needed me to do, then I took them to the grocery store and
drove them home.

I pondered this encounter as I drove back to the office and a realization came over me - "I don't have to try and fix this situation. I did what I was asked and that is enough." (a friend later reminded me that Jesus asked us to give a cup of water to some one in need, not to go and
build them a well.)I came back to the office and started into my paper work with a lighter heart. About three hours later there was a knock on the main door. Standing outside were two men, a woman, and four kids. They were from the neighbourhood BBQ, Ken & Pam and Keith. and
had come to see the property.Their kids had to go to the bathroom so they all trooped in and we talked for a while.

They had had a great time at the BBQ, in fact Ken had helped Steve do the cooking.Keith, a single dad on disability who had custody of his three kids, would like to come and volunteer
on the property.I told them all about Kids Club and I'm sure their kids will come. They are all looking forward to coming on June 28th. It was a great encounter.After they left I went back to my office, "Wow God, this is why I do paperwork, so I'm here when You need me."

Perhaps I should work more Saturdays........

Hospitality

I thought I would share some photos Terry Black sent me. They are pictures of his hosting of the Tour de Grand pitstop...1000 people showed up at his door. CRAZY!!

It reminds me that we all have our own capacity for hospitality......Terry's happens to be 1000.

What is yours?

Ngage - FunFoodFrenzy!

We decided to have a night at Ngage that was just a fun night hanging out together. We played games and cooked food over the fire and the kids left with some goodies to get them through the craziness of exams. It was a great night! Check out some of the pics.


It began as a peaceful evening...

Rob was ready with some games...

Then David Rae showed up...

Followed by others...

And they were off!

This is their version of hacky-sack... it's like extreme hacky-sack.

I don't really get it...

I think if you miss the ball it becomes free game and...

they fight for it and then whip it at each other... They enjoy it!

Hanging out in the parking lot.

The game was Pirates and Tea Bag Traders. Very similar to capture the flag, though much shorter and in a smaller area. The goal was for the TBT's to get there tea bags from the boat to their port... without being captured by the Pirates.

Isaac Maw

Great imagination...

Gotta love him. lol

And the game began.

Amanda K...

Nabbed her tea bags from Jesse B.

Hostages... Sally's not too upset about it.

Tim's quick...

David S... just can't get him.

4th time in jail begins to weigh on Sally E. and Alyssa G.

Bethany Wilson was the Pirates speedster... she plays rugby.

Two games definitely worked up the kids appetites.

Hamburgers and hotdogs roasted over the fire... yuummm.

Chillin' around the fire.

David V. Nevin W. Sally E.

Hangin' Out

David V. Davy V. Amanda K.... Check out Rob in the back making faces for the camera!

We made exam packs for the youth filled with candies, chocolate, a stress ball, prayer, study tips, etc. They really seemed to enjoy them, it was great!

They just couldn't wait to eat the goodies inside the packs.