Jon D Nutter

April 5 & 6

“An Experiential Event for all Ages”

Among highly traditional churches Passion or Holy Week is filled with special services and rituals that for many have lost their significance or relevance to life in the 21st century. Here at Hucrest we’re reinvigorating some ancient traditions with contemporary expressions. We invite you to join us Maundy Thursday and/or Good Friday evening for Journey to the Cross.

Journey to the Cross is a multi-sensory “station to station” guided worship event designed for families and friends to experience together. Imagine a guided tour through the events leading to the Cross and Resurrection.  Feel the sand on your feet; sit in the darkness of despair; eat at the Lord’s table; meditate on the suffering of the Cross; marvel at the Resurrection, and depart on mission.

The experience takes approximately forty-five minutes to one hour to complete. Group sizes are extremely limited and reservations are encouraged. Times slots begin at 6:00 pm and follow at fifteen minute intervals.  A lounge area is available and nursery care for babies 0-2 will be provided. All ages are welcome and our assessed rating of this activity is:

EARLY CHILDHOOD EC (Early Childhood) have content that may be suitable for ages 3 and older. Contains no material that parents would find inappropriate.

Please note: one station is in darkness with a strobe light. The theme of  crucifixion, death and suffering is implicit in the event, and parents should be prepared to discuss the implications of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection with their children.  To facilitate this a Family Devotional Guide will be provided and volunteers will be onsite to answer any of your questions.

When:

  Thursday & Friday April 4, 5  6:00-8:00 pm. (Doors open at 5:45 pm)To reserve your time for this event: phone 541 673 7073.  Walk-ins are welcome; however, group size is limited and delays could exceed 30 minutes. The last group of each evening will begin at 8:00 pm

It’s the story of “Awe-Inspiring Light” that no darkness can overcome, “Amazing Love” that has no bounds, and “Abundant Life” death cannot destroy.

 Part A: Preparations  thru Palm Sunday

Part B: “When Love Comes to Town”  Easter Sunday – April 29

THIS WEEK:  MAKE THEM ONE – John 17:1-26

Jesus’ prayer “make them one” has profound implications in this world. It is the Church’s ongoing mission to reveal God’s glory in our unity!

I am a worshipper. I love to sing God’s praises, to honor him with my adoration, to ask for his favor, and to pledge my devotion in a spirit of thanksgiving and humility.  But it’s sometimes hard to keep the focus right. Distractions, legitimate responsibilities, pressures, and spiritual opposition conspire against having meaningful and impactful encounters with God in corporate settings. But every so often something strikes a chord in my heart and I melt into a blubbering pool of sobs, sighs and tears.  Honestly, on the one hand I hate it.  But on the other hand I wouldn’t trade those moments for 10,000 hours of “respectable worship” (re: controlled and calculated).

This past Sunday at Hucrest Community Church (where I pastor) we were privileged to host the Warner Pacific Chorale and their director, Dr. Kelly Ballard (I highly recommend this group of talented college students). During the course of the service, I had one of those moments I mentioned above.  It came during the offertory when Kelly “performed” this original piece you’ll find below (he told me later he hadn’t planned to sing it but felt prompted by the Spirit).

Three lines in I knew intuitively what song people were singing along!  I immediately was moved to tears, tears now several days later I cannot contain.  As I reflect on that moment, I remember my wife taking my arm and leaning into me, a brother placing his hands on my shoulders and my heart overwhelmed with the reality of the truth I’ve been singing for decades.  ”Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so…”

It’s true, and he loves you too!  No matter where you’re from, how old or young, what you’ve done, or what you look like, Jesus loves you so much he died for you!

I want the world to know that truth!  I want you and I to be reminded of that truth, and to know it to the deepest part of our being.  May knowing Jesus love overwhelm us every time we think about it!

While a recording isn’t available, I hope the lyrics will speak powerfully to you.

The Jesus Song  copyright Kelly Ballard (For more info. about Kelly, check out www.beyondworship.com and warnerpacific.edu) 

Spent the weekend in New England, the leaves were fiery gold
Drove past country houses built of bricks and centuries old
And I loved it when the people sang along.
Came out to California, the golden state out west
Some say it’s a nuthouse and others say it’s the best.
And I loved it when the masses sang along
The old, familiar Jesus song.

Jesus  loves me, this I know for the Bible tells me so.

There’s a farmer in Nebraska, sounds raspy in Omaha
Shares a golden anniversary with his warbly grandma
And I love it when the old folks sing along.
Big smiles cross their faces as their grandbabies take the stage
Laughing, clapping, stomping are no respecter of age
And I love it when the children sing along
The old, familiar Jesus song

Little  ones to him belong, they are weak but he is strong.

Melody joins with harmony in a symphony bringing unity, yeah.

There’s a tattooed boy in Georgia, a gold stud through his tongue
Sits next to kids of color, still ostracized by some
And I love it when the outcasts sing along
Because the old, familiar song is for everyone.

Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me. The Bible  tells me so.
So on the song must go.

“I’m not who I was, I’m being remade. I’m new!” – lyric by CCM artist Jason Gray.

The apostle Paul wrote that when we are in Christ we are new creations!  So why is it we get stuck in our old ways and resist new things?  Human nature or broken human nature? If the gospel is about being conformed more and more into the image of Christ that I might bring God glory and be united with Him in eternity why would I ever want to stop experiencing the new work that God wants to do in my life?

I wouldn’t. But I’m tempted when I get comfortable. And I’m tempted when I am stressed to dig the heels of my comfortable old boots in and try to resist the tug toward the new things God has for me.

Advent is a season of preparation for Christ appearing.  When He comes he will bring a new heaven, a new earth, and new bodies for His followers.  But in the meantime what new things might he have for us if we would make room?

Join us this Sunday at Hucrest Church and find out!

⁶ While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. ⁷ And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. – Luke 2:6-7 NASB

Long had the world been in darkness prior to Jesus’ coming. Not only darkness, silence. God’s voice had not been heard through the prophets for more than 400 years. Yet when light broke into the darkness few were ready or recognized the moment.

Only the kindness of some unnamed stranger welcomed the weary, expectant couple into the shelter of a stable cave on a hillside of Bethlehem. Why did the world miss it? Was it because their lives had been filled, perhaps overwhelmed by the busyness of living day by day without room for God? Were there no margins?  Were there too few meaningful moments of communion with their creator? Had what mattered most been forgotten. Were their routines set where Interruptions were unwelcome?

Are we any different today? Is it possible in this season we should use to prepare for Jesus’ arrival will pass us by and we will miss the moment? It need not!

This Sunday we begin the first of our 4-Week Series Making Room for Jesus with the challenge to Make Room for the Holy

“Making room for the Holy requires waiting in watchfulness and welcoming Christ’s appearing in the unexpected.”

 I hope you’ll join me for each week of this series as we learn practical ways to allow Christ to take center stage in our celebration of Christmas.

Come Lord, Jesus. Come!

My Hilltop Lodge

Last Wednesday afternoon I left Roseburg headed toward Silverton, Silver Falls State Park and the Christian Renewal Center located just outside the park. What a beautiful place! And the perfect place for a personality like mine. For me there is nothing better than the beauty of nature, and the opportunity to be outdoors walking/hiking etc. to inspire clarity of mind and refresh the Spirit.

From sundown to sundown Wednesday – Thursday I fasted, prayed, read, reflected, wrote, and most significantly rested in solitude. I even took a nap toward late afternoon on Thursday.

A nap you ask? During a work day? At first I fought the feelings of fatigue. I considered indulging in my favorite caffeinated beverage.  I resisted what both my body and spirit were saying: rest, sleep. I felt guilty at the prompting. I disputed it’s necessity and origin. I argued with myself about all the expectations, the production goal I had set for my time away.    Then I recalled John Ortberg’s advice on what he terms sleep discipleship. “Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is to take a nap.”

Thankfully I yielded to the overwhelming press of the need to nap. Nobody was standing over me making me produce. This was my time with God. It was time committed to His agenda of renewal, reflection and preparation for the weeks ahead.

I actually slept hard for over an hour. When I awoke God had revealed clearly my condition spiritually, physically and emotionally. I had received the first of two big take aways:

1. I am struggling with REST DEFICIT DISORDER.

What does that mean? It means I consistently overcommit to tasks, assume responsibilities, and/or underestimate/mismanage my time demands in ways that result in a seven-day a week schedule.

I will freely admit I am not comfortable taking appropriate amounts of down time. I feel guilty if I am not busy or being productive. But the truth is there are always more tasks than I can complete, more needs than I can meet,  more demands and expectations than I can satisfy.  And, to be honest, a good portion of these pressing needs, demands, and tasks are neither as urgent or important as others or my own mind may insist.

While the nature of my ministry and parts of my personality resist it, I need to routinize the practice of rest. I need to re-establish the rhythm that allows me to be most refreshed spiritually, physically, emotionally, and socially. This is true because God wants me to be at my best if I am to be the blessing he intends and according to the priorities of his Word.

Rest-deficit disorder. I have a label for it now. My wife concurs and has my permission to intervene when she sees evidence of it.  I’ll be strategizing on fixing this in days ahead, including having discussion with staff, council, and my advisors.

In the meantime I’m grateful for the time away on retreat, the time spend serving the Oregon and SW Washington Association, and for a day spent loving my son and wife with time away.

Take-away 2 coming soon!

Love you Hucrest Church. Excited about the new series Crossroads! Hope to see you Sunday if not sooner!

Pastor Jon