Community

As we've been living here in Sydney and figuring out exactly what a 'church' is, one thing we know for sure is that it is a community. It is full of people who care about each other, and others, and is willing to help one another out. Well, these past few weeks I've been able to experience that, and it is great!

Probably most of you don't know, but Jess and I just moved apartments last week. However, before we moved we wanted to do a little work at the knew place. George, a great friend and a guy who has been going to the group meetings on Sundays, was helping us peel wall paper off the wall one day (Thank You!) which was turning out to be a long and arduous task. Needless to say, we were worried we weren't going to have it done by the time we moved in.

Suddenly George came on an interesting idea. He suggested we ask some of the guys to spend the next night, which we have designated as 'Guy's Night', to help do the rest of the room we were working on. I was all for help, but 'Guy's Night' is usually a time we take to play games and relax and I didn't want to take that away from them unless they were willing. Well, they were willing and the next night a group of guys was over at our knew apartment working away. It was very encouraging and a great help to have them there, I almost couldn't believe it. The men took a few hours out of their own time to strip the walls of our kitchen and even were able to get a few coats of primer on it as well as the hallway. In the end, because of their help Jess and I were able to get what we wanted done to the apartment before moving in.

Now that we are moved in and in the process of unpacking, I am very thankful to all the guys who helped us that night; and to those who wanted to, but were unable for one reason or another. It was an amazing example and learning experience to me of what a community is. As the 'Church' we are to help those in need, but also be there for each other. Not only is it great to see that being lived out in Sydney, but also causes me to reflect if that is being lived out in my own life. I want to be part of the 'community'.

-Nate

P.S. I also want to say a big thank you to Matt and Terra for opening up their hope for us the other day when we had to go to Halifax for a meeting about my Permanent Residency. They took time out of their busy schedule to hang out with us! Also, to Heidi for her great friendship! It's great to have friends who are willing to help, and even do small acts of random kindness!

The Waiting Game

I am sitting here at the desk, on hold with Expedia waiting to find out how they are going to get us from Newark to Dallas, as that leg of our family's journey for Christmas in Lubbock has been canceled. I've been on hold for a good half an hour now, which is always a challenge with three children home. So how do I have a few minutes to sit and write? Quite frankly I have no idea!! It's one of those moments that come every so often, when children are entertained or napping, or some combination of things, and it all aligns into a few moments where mommy can just stop and do something by herself. These moments are far and few between, but I love them. I never know how long I will have, or what I will be able to accomplish, so I must take advantage of the moment and get something that I have wanted to do done. Like blogging.
Have you ever noticed, that no matter how much you get accomplished, there is always more to do? And in fact, sometimes accomplishing one thing creates more things to do? One of the things that I have been learning this year is to take time to enjoy the special moments placed before me. And just today I'm recognized with how many of those can happen while I am waiting on someone or something else. For instance, this morning I was at an appointment for Laura and I, and we had Graham and Heidi with us. For some reason the practitioner was behind in her day, and we had to wait. Instead of getting frustrated with having to entertain three children in a room full of "don't touch" items, I accepted the situation, and enjoyed a special cuddle time with each of the children at different moments in their play. The best was Graham climbing up on my lap and nuzzling his nose against my check, and then planting numerous kisses in the same place. He just wanted to be with mom, and we were provided a time, where mom didn't have anything else to do but enjoy the moment.
Well, Graham's movie is over, and Laura is out of time-out, and I'm still on hold. I guess this moment has also come to an end. So the next time you are waiting, take advantage of the moment, slow down, and see what it is you can be doing to enjoy the wait.
Tammy

Learning His Multiplication

The vision at Harbour Wesleyan is to reach out to people while being His church. Our desire is to Love God with all of heart, all of our soul, and all of our strength; therefore, we are determined to love our ‘neighbours’ as ourselves and sharing this rich, life-giving message of Jesus Christ who came in the flesh to show us the way to be reconnected with God. In the process of seeking direction we have sensed a definite call to be a church structured around small or cell groups. The backbone of these groups are people who have decided to follow Christ, who want to be taught how to do so by learning the scriptures and the disciplines of the faith; such as, prayer, fasting, Bible study, etc…

Recently our church made an attempt to grow from one group to two. Our intention was to create a group that would enrich family relationships and enhance the spiritual leadership of our parents with our kids. The focal point in our minds for the second group was to create a space for young adults. Much thought and prayer went into this move; however, I cannot say that it has been an easy transition. Not everyone has been pleased with the move. Not everyone was actually served by the transition. Nevertheless, we have patiently waited and watched over the past month as we moved into the two groups. First, let me say that often times we believe that people are ready for something that they often are not. This is a misjudgment on the side of leadership. Moreover, I believe that the bigger problem stems from how we made the attempt to grow. We made the assumption that people were ready and that we could take those people and break apart something very divine that was happening in our initial ‘prototype’ group and re-create that in two separate groups.

I believe that that was wrong thinking. After re-assessing what has happened I think we tried to do something artificially that must happen “organically.” The Spirit of God wants to direct things and will make things happen in accordance with our obedience to act. Sometimes we (with the best of intentions) take the reigns and move ahead in our own ‘intelligence’ and ‘know-how’ without thinking or taking time to realize that God is going another direction. I believe that this is the type of error we have made. Not that we were willfully disobedient, but that we were not sensitive enough to what the spirit of God was doing at that time. Therefore, the results were not what we had expected.

“What did we expect?” you ask. Well, what we hope and pray for is the development of a spontaneous movement of God through our obedience to serve and work here in Sydney. We pray to see God’s Spirit move and work to bring salvation and healing to the entire Isle of Cape Breton! As Neil Cole says in his book, Organic Church, “Spontaneous expansion is true power! This what we all want deep in our hearts. This is also what our Lord wants. Let’s have the faith in the Lord of the harvest and in the seed of His word rather than in our methods and strategies. Let us find a way to believe once again, like a child, in magic seeds and miraculous trees.” We didn’t move that direction with our first attempt at cell group multiplication; however, we are certain that God’s grace will see us through our own mistakes as well as any other setbacks that we have/will encounter/ed. We know that God is good and the people God has led us to befriend are just that, friends. The relationships we have formed are stronger than the errors we have made and thankfully God’s Spirit will get us in the right place. Cole also states, (with regard to cell group multiplication) “Actually, reproduction is not hard. It is natural. Dare I say, it is even pleasurable…The fact that reproduction is thought to be so hard and painful for churches is evidence of how far removed we are from being healthy and natural.” Not everything has been wrong or a failure. We have learned from our first experience at ‘multiplication’ and are excitedly waiting to see what is next!

-Michael Hutton

Heidi Marie Hutton, April 23rd, 2007

Hello all. Just a quick report that we had a healthy
baby girl on Monday, April 23rd, 2007. Both Tammy and Heidi are doing well. Heidi weighed in at 8 lbs. 15 oz. and
was 21 inches long. Thanks for all of the prayers as we
delivered this baby!

H

Who Knew?

OK, so we didn't plan to have a baby during the first year of our church start-up adventure! God knew. We didn't expect to be expecting and go through the ups and downs and joys of a new addition during this intense time. God knew. I hate to see Tammy miserable...and ready to 'pop.' She is ready to 'pop' me in the jaw! I don't think she reeeeeeeeally blames me...at least not fully :) Nevertheless, the due date is only four days away and our physician says that he will be surprised if she lasts through the weekend. We are so excited about the new baby. The kids are ecstatic...our new little church family are fully supportive and behind us. Thank God for the people here and Tammy's mom, Betty! Pray for us and the new little gipper.

-Michael :)

When it comes down to Faith

So, I awoke early in the morning to help one of our little ones to the washroom. Then I realized that falling back to sleep was going to be a struggle. My mind was going full-tilt with thoughts of a new baby on the way, the call on our lives to start Harbour Wesleyan, and some other important things. Faith: This is a key ingredient to living life as a follower of Christ. This is a defining factor in the face of adversity, challenge, mistakes, failings, temptation, etc... I am reminded of this as I was awakened in the wee hours this morning. Different voices in my mind vying for position, for mastery over me. The granddaddy of them all, fear, wants control. I guess that is why, way back, I chose 2Timothy1:7 as my life's verse..."For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-discipline." Even then I realized that fear and faith do not coexist. They are mutually exclusive. I have learned that God's love casts out fear and replaces it with a relationship that fills me with faith. I know that Christ will lead me through the places of doubt and insecurity into the higher places of assurance (not self-assurance by the way) and confidence.

So, this morning, the voices in my head come. They want to rule me. I will stay firm in my trust in Christ and His call in my life because it is His true love that is more real than any of the things I have to worry about. It is love and direction that will take us through the realities that cause worry. As he says in Matthew 6 (paraphrase) I feed the birds and clothe the lillies of the field...how much more do I love you!...of course I will make sure you are taken care of. I have faith that those words are true. It is faith that brought us to Sydney and it is by faith through God's unmerited favor that He will sustain us! Writing is good for the soul, I remember truth as I sit and write these thoughts down!


- Michael

Musing 1

So, yesterday, I was sitting in my car in the driveway after taking my two daughters, Catherine and Laura, as well as a friend, Nicole, to school. I pulled into the driveway and felt a peaceful moment happening, so, I stopped the engine and sat. While I sat in the car the CD player advanced to a song by U2..."Where the Streets Have No Name." The intro. is so other-worldly, haunting, reaching I felt not only a peaceful moment, but a holy moment happening, stirring my soul. As I entered into that moment I knew God was near and whispering, "Give it to me."

At one moment in time I began to weep. I sobbed. I released something to Him. I cannot tell you exactly what. I do not exactly know. As the tears began to subside I questioned God, "What is it?" Help me to know. God didn't answer. It was almost as if that wasn't as important as my "giving it" to him. Deep down I knew it was there, but didn't know what it was. It hurts, it frustrates, it feels insecure, it...wants to take over. God knows and wants the best. Giving it to him is one of the hardest things in the world to do. It takes more than one event of giving it away for it to actually go away. I think that I have to give it away to God daily because it comes back...not because God can't hold it, but I (perhaps even subconsciously) take it back.

That happened yesterday and I thought you might like to know.

-Michael