Daily Devotional Readings

Guide to Daily Devotions
July 6-27, 2009

S – Scripture: Read the assigned passage slowly and carefully.
O – Observation: Record observations on the passage… What is the lesson for you?
A – Application: How do these words apply to you in your own life?
P – Prayer: Write a prayer to God concerning this passage and your life.
Y – Yield: What do you need to surrender to God for this lesson to become alive in you?

Daily Exercise:

• Read the assigned Scripture passage.
• Using the SOAPY guide (above), record thoughts and reflections in your journal.
• Pray the Covenant Prayer .

Daily Readings:

Monday, July 6: Acts 9:19b-31
Tuesday,July 7: Acts 9:32-43
Wednesday, July 8:Acts 10:1-16
Thursday, July 9:Acts 10:17-33
Friday, July 10: Acts 10:34-48
Saturday, July 11: Acts 11:1-18
Sunday, July 12: Romans 10:4-17

Monday, July 13:Acts 11:19-30
Tuesday, July 14: Acts 12:1-17
Wednesday, July 15:Acts 12:18-25
Thursday, July 16:Acts 13:1-12
Friday, July 17: Acts 13:13-25
Saturday, July 18: Acts 13:26-43
Sunday, July 19: Romans 11:33-12:2

Monday, July 20:Acts 13:44-52
Tuesday, July 21: Acts 14:1-18
Wednesday, July 22:Acts 14:19-28
Thursday, July 23:Acts 15:1-11
Friday, July 24: Acts 15:12-21
Saturday, July 25: Acts 15:22-35
Sunday, July 26: Romans 12:9-12
Monday, July 27:Acts 15:36-16:5

New LIFE Groups Starting!

New LIFE groups are starting this week and next. Below is information about when and where each group is meeting. If you are not sure what group you are in, or would like to join us for one of these groups contact us at 899-2435 or by e-mail at erica@newlightportland.org

Sunday LIFE Group

• 5:30 pm at Hope.Gate.Way. (185 High Street)
• starts Sunday, June 21
• Focus: "Questions of Faith" - We will explore some of the big questions of faith, including the questions you're think about!
• led by Allen & Sara and Dean Richardson
• Childcare will be provided.

Tuesday LIFE Group

• 5:30 pm at Allen & Sara's house
  
• starts Tuesday, June 30 (note: this group starts a week later than the others)
• Focus: "Questions of Faith" - We will explore some of the big questions of faith, including the questions you're thinking about!
• led by Allen & Sara

Wednesday LIFE Group

• 6pm at Jaegil & Eunkyong's house
  
• starts Wednesday, June 24
• focus: spiritual practices, like contemplative prayer, lectio divina, and meditation, including some exploration of spiritual practices that originate with other religiouis traditions
• led by Jaegil Lee

Thursday LIFE Group

• 5:30pm at Erica Tobey's house
  
• starts Thursday, June 25
• focus: service - reflecting on what it means to be a servant, and especially practicing service in various ways throughout the city
• led by Erica Tobey

Neighbors Helping Neighbors-July

In the month of July New Light will be collecting blankets and bars of soap for our neighbors at Down East Maine Missions.

Recently, Chestnut UMC has agreed to be a mission partner to this wonderful organization, and this will be our first official act of support in this partnership. Down East Maine Missions serves many people each year in one of the poorest counties in all of New England. During the summer months they take particular care of the immigrant blueberry pickers who come to harvest the berries.

Blankets are distributed to keep the pickers warm at their camps at night, and bar soap is needed to help get pesticides off their skin at the end of the day.

Betty spoke at Chestnut UMC yesterday, and it was clear that she considered all people neighbors, and a part of her family. Let's join this global neighborhood, and help our family stay clean and warm during their stay in Maine.

Peace Through Music: Playing for Change

I hope by now you have all caught some of these videos, that are all over the internet. This project, playing for change started about 4 years ago, with the idea that we all need to inspire each other to come together as a human race, and that music is the best way to do it. The creator states "we can do more for this world together than we ever can apart." This video, and many others, were created by street performers from literally all over the world, who have never even met each other, but have created this beautiful music together. Watch this video "One Love" and some of the others posted on the website or YouTube.

New Light on Twitter

Are you on twitter? New Light is!! Just another way for you to get important updates, and reminders about events, LIFE groups, worship and more!!

Sign on and follow New Light our username is "newlightnews"

Cinco de Mayo Fun

Cinco de Mayo 2009

Hope.Gate.Way. Consecration

Sunday, June 14th-6pm
at Hope.Gate.Way

On this special night Chestnut UMC and New Light will meet together for a special worship celebration to officially consecrate-bless and dedicate- our new launching pad for ministry. Rev. Mike Davis, our District Superintendent will join us for this event, as well as other guests who would like to join us for this exciting occasion.

Refreshments will be served both before and after the worship celebration; we'll need everyone's help in preparing them.

The Thinking Heart

June 12 at 7pm
at Hope.Gate.Way. (185 High Street, Portland)

The Thinking Heart, an ensemble performance work in two voices, with cello, is based on the writings of a Dutchwoman, Etty Hillesum, who died in the Holocaust.

Poets Martin Steingesser and Judy Tierney will share poems based on the writings of Hillesum, while Robin Jellis (a member of the New Light community) improvises on the cello.

Join us for this powerful preformance at Hope.Gate.Way.

Layette Kit Collection

For the month of June, we are going to be collecting items for newborns who don't have the basics.  These kits will be distributed through the United Methodist Committee on Relief.   What could be more fun than shopping for a newborn?!

Here are the things we need for one kit:

Layette Kit Items  Value: 

• 6 cloth diapers
• 2 shirts or 2 one-piece body suits
• 2 baby washcloths
• 2 gowns or sleepers
• 2 diaper pins
• 1 sweater open in the front
• 2 receiving blankets

Important Kit Assembly Information

• All items included in kits must be NEW items. 
• All emergency kits are carefully planned to make them usable in the greatest number of situations.

We are hoping to put together 5 or 6 kits.  We'll also have cards with individual items to pick up at LIFE Groups this week and next.

When you are out shopping pick up something for a child in need around the world.  We need to recieve all items before June 17th so that we can take then to The New England Annual Conference.  They will make their way from their to the distribution center to be ready for travel around the world or wherever they might be needed.

Kick Off to Summer-Visioning Party!

Tuesday, May 26 at 6pm
at Hope.Gate.Way

All LIFE groups will meet on Tuesday this week for an evening of summer fun and visioning. We will meet at 6pm at Hope.Gate.Way. for a potluck dinner-bring your favorite summer food, lemonade and watermelon will be provided.

Following dinner we will play some fun summer games and spend some time visioning as a community. This is an important time in the life of New Light, as we think together about what our hopes and dreams for our community are. Every one's voice will be heard, and we hope to leave with some goals for the next 12 months. Do you have some cool idea's for New Light? Bring them along...if not, we'll have some prompts to help you think about what you want your community to look like!

Everyone is encouraged to attend, rather you're a new comer or an old timer or you haven't come in months.

Preschooler Play Group

Preschooler Play Group(1 - 5 years old)
Wednesdays 9:30 am to 11:00 am
Starting May 27
at Hope.Gate.Way. (185 High Street-Portland)

Large space for play with a large variety of toys geared to the needs, interests and safety of small children. Enjoy a room where your children can roam free. You and your child will have a relaxing morning socializing with other parents and children. Enjoy a cup of coffee while your child snacks and has juice. Younger siblings are welcome.

Parking is available in the Gateway Parking Garage (181 High Street), for $2/hour. Metered and Hourly street parking is available on High Street, Cumberland Avenue, or Forest Avenue.

Middle School Youth Event

May 31st-1:00-2:30pm
at Hope.Gate.Way (185 High Street-Portland)

This event is for all youth finishing 5th-8th grade, and is a collaboration with other area churches.

Make your own pizza
Play crazy games
Make new friends from other churches
Have loads of fun!!

Middle School youth are encouraged to bring friends along for this afternoon of fun!

Walking In Their Shoes Exhibit

Opening Reception
Friday, May 15 3:00 - 7:00 pm
at Hope.Gate.Way.
185 High Street Portland, ME

An art exhibit to honor May as Domestic Violence Awareness Month-Local High School students created art from shoes to raise awareness of domestic violence.

This project is collaboration among JMG, Family Crisis Services, and SPIRAL Arts

The exhibit will be at Hope.Gate.Way for a few weeks, and will be open during the first Friday Art Walk on June 5th. Swing by when you have a chance and check it out!

Neighbors Helping Neighbors- May

For the month of May we are collecting toilet paper for our neighbors at the Sacred Heart Food Pantry. Pick up a roll or two while you're out shopping, and we'll be sure it gets to the people who need it!!

Last Month the communities of Chestnut UMC and New Light collected 54 sticks of deodorant for our neighbors at the Preble Street Resource Center. Thank you to all who helped out, for making our first official "Neighbors Helping Neighbors" project a sucess.

Rethink Church

Open House at Hope.Gate.Way.

Thursday, May 7th from 3:00-7:00pm

Now that we have a great home base for ministry at 185 High Street, it's time to welcome our neighbors in to build relationships and think about ways to be in partnership with others in the neighborhood.

We are hosting a Neighborhood Open House at Hope.Gate.Way. and specifically inviting our neighbors in Parkside, and leaders of organizations in the neighborhood, but everyone is welcome!

We need your help! We are asking members of Chestnut and New Light to bring tasty treats to share with our guests, and to be present the day of the open house to welcome our neighbors!