Justice, Power, and the Kingdom

We have been spending some time in LIFE groups reading and watching bits from Brian McLaren in preparation for his visit here in Portland. Recently groups had some excellent reflection on this clip. McLaren says "Worldly systems are unified by their love of power. The Kingdom of God is about the Power of Love." How can we, as Christians, show our unity in the power of love? When is this easy? When is it more difficult?

Brian McLaren comes to Portland!

This Sunday, we will join with our neighbors of Immanuel Baptist Church (156 High Street) for a combined worship service at 10:30 am, featuring widely acclaimed author Brian McLaren, one of the leading voices in the conversation about church in a changing culture. Here is the schedule for the day's events, to which we are invited:

9:15 am Adult Forum with Brian McLaren: "Everything Must Change"

10:30 am Worship with Brian McLaren preaching: "Spiritual Formation and Social Action"

12:00 noon Lunch (please let Allen or Sara know ASAP if you plan to attend)
1:00 pm Forum with Brian McLaren: "Faith & the Biblical Narrative"

New Light worship will be a little different this week, as we anticipate many people will join Brian McLaren in worship at IBC. However, the New Light community will still meet at 6pm at Hope.Gate.Way. to enjoy some Leonardo's pizza, and some excellent music together.

Vacation Bible Camp Informational Meeting

New Light will be hosting a week of Vacation Bible Camp this summer (August 3-7) for the kids in our neighborhood.

This project will be in collaboration with our friends at Thornton Heights United Methodist Church in South Portland, who have agreed to share their expertise, their materials, and some of their people to help make our event a success!

But we need YOUR help! Many volunteers will be needed the week of the Camp doing many different things including music, games, crafts, theatre, snacks, and much more!!

Interested in helping out with this exciting kids ministry? Come to the informational meeting Monday, May 4th, at 7pm at Hope.Gate.Way. Some people from Thornton Heights will join us to answer any questions, and show us some cool things that are being planned! Coming to the meeting is not necessarily committing to the project, just finding out what is involved, though we think you'll be so excited it'll be hard to say no!

2nd Annual Cinco de Mayo Party

Did you miss this scene from last years Cinco de Mayo party? Don't be sad, we are giving everyone a chance for a little Mexican inspired fun!

Tuesday, May 5th- 5:30pm at Hope.Gate.Way. (185 High St. Portland)

All LIFE groups will meet on Tuesday next week for a full community gathering including, music, games, great food, and of course, FUN!!

Bring your favorite Mexican dish to share! This is sure to be a great time, so invite all of your friends and relatives to come along!

Earth Day Happenings

This week offers many great ways to celebrate Earth Day!

On Sunday, during our regular worship time (6:00pm) we will share in the Festival of God's Creation. We invite you to bring along a symbol of God's Creation, or a symbol of a means of caring for the earth. For example: a bowl of water, a stone, a leaf, a plant,a piece of fruit, a recycling bin...whatever you can think of! We will be using these items to create our worship space on Sunday!

Vacation Station:
Tuesday, April 21 from 9:30am-12:00 @Hope.Gate.Way.(185 High St.)

We will host a children's activity day, for children in kindergarten through 5th grade. There will be crafts, snacks, games, and music all with an Earth Day theme. Talk to Sara, or post a message here if you are interested in volunteering, or if you know some kids who might enjoy this!

Earth Day Community Potluck & Movie:
Wednesday. April 22 @ 5:30pm @Hope.Gate.Way. (185 High St.)

Bring a main dish, side dish, salad or dessert to share. After we eat, we'll watch the movie "Flow" an award winning documentary about the world water crisis.This is going to be a great community event, so be sure to invite your friends, neighbors, co-workers, grocers, dentists, etc. to come along with you!!

Easter Potluck and Worship Pictures

A Prayer for Easter Day

We thank you, God, for this amazing day
when our hearts dance like the shining sun,
when all the world leaps with life
and the great, infinite wonders of the earth shout their "yes!" to you.

We who have seen death,
who have heard the story of the cross and sorrow deep at the sharp agony of the world's pain,
We have come to life again
in the life of your Son.

With Christ we have been lifted from the nothing of death into your new and unimagined life,
where tasting, touching, hearing, seeing and breathing
are more sweet than we had known before
and where you are in beauty and in truth.

How could we ever doubt you,
when today your spirit makes us dance and shout, in the praise of the Risen One,
the one who has defeated death and all evil powers?
How could we doubt you,
now that our ears are awake and our eyes are opened?

We thank you, God, for this amazing day,
when the evil in us lies down dead
and the good in us is born again.
This is the birth day of life and love and goodness.
This is the amazing day
when our savior rose...
when the earth released him...
when the heavens echoed the praise of the earth,
on this great day.

Alleluia to our leaping, rising, lively, infinite God.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

During the month of April, we will collect men's and women's deodorant for our neighbors who utilize the Preble Street Resource Center. This is one of the most requested items at Preble Street, though the center rarely has any to give out.

Drop off your donations in the box and Hope.Gate.Way or bring them along to your LIFE group in the next few weeks.

Good Friday Reflection

I have a hard time getting my mind around the meaning of Good Friday and Jesus' death on the cross.  I am rarely satisfied with the idea that Jesus died for me so I can get to heaven.  I believe, it has to be more than that.

So on this day to remember how Jesus died, I found something written by one of my favorite authors Madeleine L'Engle that seems to make better sense of the meaning of today than most:

For Jesus, at-one-ment was not being at-one only with the glory of the stars, or the first daffodil in spring, or a baby’s laugh. He was also at-one with all the pain and suffering that ever was, is, or will be.  On the cross Jesus was at-one with the young boy with cancer, the young mother hemoraging, the raped girl.  And perhaps the most terrible anguish came from being with the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, the death chamber at Belsen, the horrors of radiation in the destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  It came from being at-one with the meglomania of the terrorist, the coldness of heart of "good people", or even the callous arrogance of the two men in criminal court.

We can withdraw, even in our prayers, from the intensity of suffering.  Jesus, on the cross, experienced it all.  When I touch the small cross I wear, that, then, is the meaning of the symbol

Today is a day for remembering the suffering in the world and knowing that God understands and has even experienced it.  The seems like redemption to me.

A Sacred Night

Last night Allen and I had an amazing experience.  We were invited to Portland High School along with other spiritual leaders to talk with the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network from the Portland Area High Schools.  Bishop Gene Robinson was there sharing his own story and encouraging works.  He told some hilarious stories of his recent experiences at the Obama Inauguration, including an appearance on the Daily Show.

After the Bishop spoke over 20 Faith Community Leaders (including us) got up and spoke about their traditions and perspectives of acceptance and inclusion.  I believe it was a powerful witness to a community of people that questions their acceptance and inclusion by communities of faith in general and by God in particular.  It was truly a sacred experience to be a part of.

It left me thinking about how New Light can be a continual witness of love and acceptance to Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered, and Questioning Persons.  What can we do to live a bold message of love and acceptance as a community and as individuals?

Easter Potluck and Worship

Easter Potluck Dinner & Worship Celebration

Sunday, April 12

5:30 pm at Hope.Gate.Way.

Grab your friends and neighbors and your favorite food item, and join us for a rockin' good time on Easter evening! We'll get together at Hope.Gate.Way. at 5:30, share food and laughter around the tables, and then head right into worship, with good music and a great message of life and hope and love. Rumor has it we may repeat last year's popular feature: The Great Easter Egg Challenge!

This year's Easter Potluck Dinner & Worship Celebration is not to be missed!

Open Space for Prayer and Meditation

Monday, April 6 - Thursday, April 9 - 11am-1pm
Friday, April 10 - 11am-6pm
at Hope.Gate.Way. - 185 High St

Are you searching for a space for quiet and reflection? Do you want to make your experience of Holy Week a meaningful one? Drop in and check out prayer stations and meditative space that will be set up all around our Gathering Room. There will be pillows on the floor, paper and colored pencils for drawing and writing, a visual telling of Jesus' last days through words and images, and much more.

Good Friday Worship Gathering

Friday, April 10th at 7pm
Hope. Gate. Way. -185 High St. Portland

Join us as we encounter the story of Jesus' last hours. We will reflect on the biblical story, sing songs, and meditate together on its meaning for our lives.

Holy Thursday - Potluck Soup & Bread and Movie

Thursday April 9th @ 5:30pm
at Hope.Gate.Way. -- 185 High St. Portland

We will meet on Holy Thursday with our friends from Chestnut UMC. Bring a pot of soup, a loaf of bread to share, or just yourself to enjoy dinner and a movie.

After dinner we'll watch the movie The Gospel of John -- an opportunity to experience the life of Christ by seeing the entire Gospel of John dramatized.

Empty Bowl Supper

Let's get a group together and help support this great cause.

When? This Saturday, April 4th at 5pm

Where? Sacred Heart-St. Dominic's Parish (on the corner of Mellen and Sherman St.'s)

What? Empty Bowl Supper -- $10 for soup, bread, and a bowl to take home as a reminder of hunger and those who cannot fill there bowl.

Why? Fundraiser for Haiti -- help pay teachers' salaries, feed school children, and provide materials for a sewing coop in Haiti.

Hope to see you there!