Faith instead of Belief

A few weeks ago my mother sent me the link to this essay. You know how it is... I thought I'll get around to it. A week or so went by and I finally found the time (or made the time) to sit down and listen. I was impressed and amazed at the articulate way that Sara Miles shares about the faith that she came to after believing that the church was totally irrelevant.

She understands her work of feeding the hungry through her church food pantry as making space for God, which she symbolizes by distributing the food from the altar. My prayer is that our community is a place where other people can encounter God in the same way she did.

Listen to her story here.

How does she inspire you?

new look for the blog!

We've tried to develop a new look for the blog that uses colors consistent with our New Light logo, while giving the logo a stronger presence.

What do you think about the new look?

Our Mission and Vision

Our Mission:
The New Light community exists as a safe place to explore the way of Jesus and to express God’s love in our neighborhood and world.

Our Vision:
New Light envisions a world that embraces community, celebrates inclusivity, expresses creativity, seeks transformation, and practices simplicity.

Our Core Values:

• Community: Faith is a journey best traveled with others who share common values and a common commitment to life together. We strive to be formed as a community steeped in God’s love, expressed in loving relationships with one another, and engaged in the larger community in which we live.
  
  
• Inclusivity: No one is outside the bounds of God’s grace. We strive to practice generous hospitality, welcoming and embracing everyone with the same love we have received from God. We affirm the sacred worth of every human being – no exceptions.
  
  
• Creativity: At the foundation of our faith is the story of a God we call Creator – a God who is continually in the process of creating, who gifts us with creativity and invites us to create. We strive to incorporate music, drama, visual arts, dance, and other creative elements in all that we do.
  
  
• Transformation: As we journey inward, we strive for transformed lives that better reflect the love of Christ; as we journey outward, we strive for a transformed world that better reflects God’s vision of peace and justice.
  
  
• Simplicity: In a world preoccupied with materialism, consumption, and greed, we long for a simpler way. We strive to live simply, both individually and in our life together; to generously share our resources and practice faithful stewardship of God’s Creation.

We All Scream for Ice Cream

On Monday, August 25th @5:30pm at the Parkside Neighborhood Center (on the corner of Grant and Mellen Streets), New Light and Chestnut will merge as we meet some of our neighbors.

We will serve delicious ice cream and play fun games with the children. Bring an ice cream scoop (if you have one) and a smile! This is our first opportunity to get into the neighborhood, begin to build relationships with people, and to have a little fun!

We will have dinner following ice cream (hey, it's still summer!) at Erica's apartment
on State Street!

Wesley Covenant Prayer, remix

During our LIFE Groups this week, we spent some time reflecting on the words of the Wesley Covenant Prayer, which is part of our suggested daily devotions each day. One of the ways we engaged the prayer was by inviting people to rewrite the prayer in their own words -- to make the words their own. Here's what I came up with, which I think really does reflect my personal prayer right now:

God, I belong to you --
all of me to all of you.
May there be less of me
and more of you
every day,
wherever I am,
whatever I'm doing,
whatever I'm facing --
working or unemployed,
in prosperity or in pain;
when I'm celebrated
and when I'm ignored;
when all is well
and when all comes up empty;
when my cup is full
and when my wants are many.
I give it all up, Lord --
less of me and me of you.
Take it all.
And now, God,
great One above all
and in all
and beneath all,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
I belong to you --
all of me to all of you.
And now, what I say with my lips,
may I live it fully
and deeply
eternally.
Amen.

Worship at the Beach - Sunday, August 24

We're getting together for our monthly Potluck & Worship Celebration this Sunday, August 24, but this month it's got a little summer twist.

Meet up at Wanda & David's house (12 Ryefield Drive, Scarborough) at 4:00 pm -- or carpool from Allen & Sara's house (31 Sheffield Street, Portland) about 3:30 pm -- and weather-permitting, we'll head to Pine Point Beach.

Bring your own basic picnic dinner and (optional) something to share, as well as beach toys: Frisbee, ball, kite, shovel and pail, whatever. Oh, and bring friends, too -- they're always welcome! We'll have some fun on the beach, then share a picnic dinner together, followed by worship on the beach.

During worship we will receive an offering, which we'll use for a special Random Acts of Kindness event on Saturday, September 6. Please come prepared for this offering. It's always fun to give to God, and this time it's going to be fun to give away in a couple of weeks!

If the weather doesn't cooperate on Sunday afternoon, do not despair: we'll still have fun with some games, a picnic, and worship in Wanda & David's living room -- but sorry, no Frisbee-throwing in the house.

Hey from Orlando!

Erica, Carlie, Sara, and I are in steamy Orlando this week at the School of Congregational Development, sponsored every year by national leaders in The United Methodist Church.

We're learning lots of useful things, making some good connections with others who share similar dreams for the church, bonding, and eating way too much ice-cream.

Read some of my reflections here:

Day One

Day Two

Day Three