Seed Works


April 1999 Volume 1, Issue 1

Inside this Issue
First Edition
1	Good News and Jazz, Good Friday Vespers at Siloam Church, Brooklyn
2	THE NATURE OF RECOVERY
3	INVITATION TO JOIN MSIF
4	SUBSCRIPTION FORM





Mustard Seed International Fellowship of New York 316 Carpenter Avenue Newburgh, New York 12550-3316 A Church Without Walls

First Edition

Good News…

Good Jazz…

Good Friday… Vespers—Friday April 2, 1999

7:00 p.m.

Place: The historic Siloam Presbyterian Church,

260 Jefferson Ave.

(at the corner of Marcy –Bedford Stuyvesant) Brooklyn, New York

A jazz vesper is a popular worship experience that incorporates the Gospels’ renderings of the Last Sayings of Christ on the Cross and Jazz. Mustard Seed International Fellowship of New York will offer this vesper. Meditations on seven phrases of Christ from the Cross will are delivered by seven clergy and seminarians from the New York metropolitan area.

Tyrone Jefferson and his group—Peculiar Institution, featuring vocal recording artist , Carla Cook, brilliant keyboardist, Mferghu and other members of his ensemble will be blending sorrow and celebratory sounds to accompany the Word. This service merges a vibrant spirit based and theologically grounded worshipful experience. This will be an experience that enables the soul to be ministered to with all of God’s voices and instruments.

First Edition

We thank you for allowing us to accompany you in your journey toward wholeness. Seed Works is an occasional newsletter that has been developed to give support to those seeking understanding of one’s self, in a continuing process of renewal and recovery. Seed Works is the official newsletter for Mustard Seed International Fellowship of Newburgh, New York-- "a ministry of recovery" (MSIF).

In this first edition, it is our prayer that the newsletter will be a blessing to those who read it. It is our hope that it will assist those searching for an understanding of the ways in which the God of their understanding orders and blesses their steps toward healing. It is our belief that healing is available to those who make themselves ready.

Readers of Seed Works will be invited to examine issues in their lives that help or hinder recovery. They will also be informed about places where support and understanding can be nurtured. In the rooms of self-help, there is a saying that is often shared, "When I was sick and tired of being sick and tired ...I made a decision to get well..." Wellness is making a choice to understand my dis-ease with my disease--organic or otherwise-- as well as understanding the people, places, or things around me that can keep me sick. Wellness is wanting healing enough to "accept" things about my life’s situation, learn where I cannot change and use my "holy" rage--courage-- to change the things I can.

THE NATURE OF RECOVERY AND DEVELOPING SPIRITUALITY

There are many dynamics that influence the lives of those who seek to renew a relationship with God and others. Sometimes, the way people experience events feels awkward. Their view of things has often been built on failed relationships and dependent persons who their broken spirit used to compensate for the things they were unwilling to do for themselves.

An unwillingness to do for oneself is a learned behavior that links that person with other dependent persons who yearn for relationships. The consequence is that the unwilling person sacrifices the human freedom to choose, that is , one’s freedom to be what God has Called them to be. Furthermore, they fail to develop the capacity and will to make decisions about their life with another.

Too often such relationships have been built on sacrificing a part of oneself in order to not "feel" alone. Their periods of loneliness are really sacred places. They have forfeited these sacred moments to be in solitude in exchange for the hope of fulfillment through others which they do not have the courage to reach deep enough within themselves. It seems that the process of recovery must acknowledge a need for a change--change dependent on readiness—a transformation that can happen by way of a new attitude. A person must realize that if they do not make a decision to move toward wholeness then their life will not only remain in shambles, but insane as well.

About the Founder of the Mustard Seed Ministries

The Reverend J. Edward Lewis, Sr. is the founding spiritual leader of the Mustard Seed International Fellowship-- "a ministry of recovery." After many years of ministry Reverend Lewis has shared his personal gifts of the Spirit with persons seeking to know their "sense of call" and preparing for various vocations in ministry. He is known for his spiritual and emotional engagement , as well as for encouraging healing and enrichment.

As a result of his years of personal and professional experience as a pastor and therapist, he brings unique insights to the learning environment. He has taught such courses as "Personal Gifts and the Counseling Ministry" at New York Theological Seminary. He has also led numerous groups in spiritual renewal retreats.

He is a Diplomate in the College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy , a Fellow in the College of Chaplains , and a Chaplain Supervisor--trainer of trainers in clinical pastoral education. Pastor Lewis is gifted in directing people towards meaningful Wholeness and Spiritual Discernment.

An Invitation to Join Mustard Seed Ministries

Mustard Seed Ministries is a fellowship of people formed to bring healing opportunities to communities of faith. However, as a fellowship we need Mustard Seed Partnerships to further our mission and collaborate goals grounded in wholeness. Everyone can contribute to Mustard Seed Ministries goals through supporting our efforts through the purchase of our subscription, attendance of our recovery focused/spiritually centered seminars, individual and group counseling, support groups and retreats.

MSIF Partnerships

MSIF Corporate Partner $ 500.00

MSIF Founding Partner $ 100.00

MSIF Associate Partner $ 75.00

MSIF Fellow Partner $ 50.00

MSIF Seed Partner $ 20.00

Seed Works $ 10.00

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to get to know more about ways in which you can positively impact your recovery and the lives of those around you seeking wholeness. Each issue is filled with wholesome resourceful information, articles and healing suggestions

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nurture your faith and faith development
nurture your sense of self
develop ways to cultivate your sacred places
understand your sense of purpose
understand your role and life in your personal and spiritual family
network with recovery minded and spirit centered persons
support a mission and ministry of recovery

Give The Seed Works as a gift subscription to someone whom you feel could benefit from these healing suggestions and we’ll send a note informing the recipient of your gift.

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e-mail: Jobie@warwick.net