Seeds

I’ve thought quite a bit about seeds lately. I love when Jesus’ talks about the kingdom of God being like a mustard seed, the smallest seed, when planted in the ground becomes the largest of all garden plants; so big that the birds find place to perch there.

Our developing Downtown congregation and the faith-work we are engaging in, is just like that smallest of seeds. Imagine becoming a kingdom-of-God community where people find themselves at home, at rest, nourished and supported in life.

Last Sunday, we had the privilege of hearing the morning message from Lorna Dueck, former host of 100 Huntley St., Globe and Mail columnist, founder of Listen Up TV. She inspired faith as she reminded our congregation of ancient church stories, where at first, just a few Jesus-followers gathered. But look what God did. In fact you are reading this email right now as one of the people who has been touched by the message of Jesus through the dedicated discipleship of a handful of early believers.

Let me leave you with some news from the past weeks as well as with an invitation to come on down and visit sometime! Here’s some of the news:

• We love the four U of Ottawa employees who offer tech support and set-up for our worship services each week: Pierre, Simon, Denis and Felix. As Pierre said, “Now we go to church on Sundays. It’s a peaceful ‘gig’.”
• An average of 62 people attend downtown services at this point. Eight are new to Sunnyside Wesleyan Church; all eight live downtown.
• Let’s do Lunch - More than 40 people in our congregation dispersed into 8 different homes to share lunch together on April 25.
• An Outreach Catalyst group is forming, people who are discerning how we as an Outreach Team (the whole congregation) will tangibly live as the presence of Jesus in the Sandy Hill neighbourhood.
• I write a weekly e-letter to the Sunnyside Downtown congregation called “Being Downtown”. It talks about our vision and action, and celebrates what God is doing. If you want to receive this weekly e-letter, I wouldn’t say “no”! ? Just email the church office to get on the list office@sunnysidechurch.ca.

Thank you for your interest and prayers. Blessings from Sunnyside Downtown to Sunnyside Grosvenor! Thank you to the whole of Sunnyside Wesleyan for being willing to sow a seed.