Guelph Vineyard Church Guelph Vineyard Church

It's Easter Weekend!! This is the very centre of the Christian year. It's the weekend we mark the incomprehensible, beautiful, death-defeating work of Christ. All of a sudden, Jesus' invitation to His disciples, spoken before they even had an inkling of what lay ahead, comes into sharp focus as He is arrested, condemned and crucified before their very eyes. And then His promise of eternal life becomes tangible, literally alive in His resurrected person.


We will mark the weekend two ways. Today we'll share a Good Friday morning reflection. This  will be a journey through the scriptures of Good Friday, meditating on the Passion of Jesus and His way of the cross.

The scripture readings that will anchor our worship today invite us into stories that both reveal the great wealth we find in Christ and honour the gift of worship we give Him in response. 
We will give space for a more extended time for worship and communion, with a short reflection from Kris.

In the last episode, we talked about the idea that the word "Lent" refers to the lengthening of days. Spring brings about the renewal of dormant things. We asked the question: "What's been dormant that is being reawakened in you?" 

In this episode, Brady Wilson will be sewing up the series we've been in over the past couple of months. Jesus put a lot of emphasis on fruitfulness. In fact, the whole biblical account puts a lot of emphasis on bearing fruit. This week: From Roots to Fruits (because flourishing always results in fruitfulness).

Sigh. The world has gotten pretty complicated again, with the events in Ukraine, hasn't it? 

This Sunday is going to be a time of re-centering around Christ, praying for our world, stepping into the promise of a gospel that is resilience itself in the face of every kind of fear and uncertainty. 

Amazingly, David wrote these words in the aftermath of an extremely violent and unjust action on the part of King Saul:
 
But I am like an olive tree
    flourishing in the house of God;
I trust in God’s unfailing love
    for ever and ever.
 For what you have done I will always praise you
    in the presence of your faithful people.
And I will hope in your name,
    for your name is good. (Psalm 52, 8-9)

Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy on us. 

Hey everyone. Last week we starting asking really great questions about the root system that sustains us in life and in faith. As Brady shared, there was a lot of really great feedback happening, both on the chat wall in zoom as well as some folks unmuted and sharing different word pictures, unique insights, thoughts and questions. It was such an encouraging time. We're going to keep pressing into that this Sunday by creating a space for a few more of us to share what percolated throughout the week as you reflected on the amazing insight that the Lord intends for us to be completely rooted in His Love.

To prime the pump, here's a question to consider, if you haven't already:

What is the condition of the soil like that you are rooted in? What's the ratio of "Jesus-y" soil like love, peace, hope, joy to the "other stuff" (fear, anxiety, lack etc)? Do we believe that the Jesus can purify the soil, or even completely transplant us? 

As you consider your roots, what do you hear/sense the Lord say? 

Looking forward to digging deeper. Pun intended. 

The last time we were together we introduced the powerful biblical metaphor of the Tree of Life. We're going to be lingering with this image for a while, unpacking the promise and the invitation of being rooted, healthy, flourishing, maturing, fruit-bearing people.

The scriptures put a lot of emphasis on where flourishing trees are planted. It turns out, location matters. Sunshine and water supply matter. And what matters most? Dark, nutrient-rich, life-infused soil of course.

Brady Wilson will be sharing.