New Light Daily Devotional Reading

Guide to Daily Devotions

Week of February 17, 2008


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, record thoughts and reflections in your journal/
• Pray the Covenant Prayer .
  
  Sunday, Feb. 17: John 5: 19-24
  
  Monday, Feb. 18: Mark 3: 7-19
  
  Tuesday, Feb. 19: Mark 3: 19-35
  
  Wednesday, Feb. 20: Mark 4: 1-20
  
  Thursday, Feb. 21: Mark 4: 21-34
  
  Friday, Feb. 22: Mark 4: 35-41
  
  Saturday, Feb. 23: Mark 5: 1-20

Welcome to Journey through the Season of Lent!

We've just begun the journey through Lent -- a season of 40 days (not counting Sundays) beginning with Ash Wednesday (super early this year... February 6) and continuing through Holy Week until dawn on Easter Sunday.

For some people, Lent is all doom and gloom -- depressing with its emphasis on giving things up, its focus on repentance and sin and self-denial. We want to suggest a new approach to Lent, though: not doom and gloom, but rather a season filled with opportunity -- opportunity for self-reflection and renewal and recommitment to the way of Jesus and to living a Christ-centered life.

Instead of giving something up this Lent (or in addition to!), how about taking something on? How about taking on a more faithful practice of prayer? How about commiting to a regular practice of reading and reflecting on Scripture, using the Guide to Daily Devotions that we offer here on this blog, or following some other plan for Scripture reading that works for you? How about taking on a practice of spending some time in silence each day -- in a quiet room, going for a walk, even in the car while driving without the radio or CD playing blaring (but keep your eyes open and focused on the road, and your hands firmly on the steering wheel, please!)? These are just a few ways to make this a meaningful season of spiritual preparation.

This is the season in which we remember, on one hand, Jesus' 40 days in the wilderness at the beginning of his ministry, and on the other hand his journey to the cross. Both were times of great difficulty and struggle for him. But for us, the point of Lent isn't, after all, to wallow in misery or suffering or to beat ourselves up for our sinfulness, but rather to look inward in order to prepare our hearts for a deep and joyful experience of Jesus' resurrection on Easter Sunday! Lent invites us to live abundantly!

Here are a few other suggestions for making this a meaningful Season of Lent:

• Skip one meal a day (or fast one day a week) and donate the money you save on food to help feed hungry people through a hunger relief organization.


• Start a prayer “rhythm.” Say a prayer every time you brush your teeth, see a commercial on television, or check your e-mail.


• Read from the Bible every day. (Use the Guide to Daily Devotions.)


• Forgive someone who doesn’t deserve it — maybe even yourself.


• Give up soda or chocolate or TV or something else that will create a hunger in you, as a way of focusing on your hunger for God.


• Spend thirty minutes a day in silence.


• Write someone a thank you letter.


• Plan to visit a home-bound neighbor, a nursing home resident, or an elderly friend weekly during Lent.


• Invite a friend, neighbor, relative, or co-worker to come to a New Light gathering with you.


• Pray for help in resisting racial prejudice, and for the courage to oppose it.


• Tithe: as an act of worship and an expression of gratitude, return 10% of your income to God during this 6-week period.


• Volunteer one afternoon a week at a local shelter, a tutoring program, a feeding ministry, or some other worthy organization.

Lent

Lent is a time to take the time
to let the power of our faith story take hold of us,
a time to let the events
get up and walk around in us,
a time to intensify
our living unto Christ,
a time to hover over
the thoughts of our hearts,
a time to place our feet in the streets of Jerusalem
or to walk along the sea and listen to his word,
a time to touch his robe
and feel the healing surge through us,
a time to ponder and a time to wonder...

Lent is a time to allow a fresh new taste of God!

-- Ann Weems, from Kneeling in Jerusalem

(Louisville, KY: Westminster/ John Knox Press, 1992)

New Light Daily Devotional Readings

Guide to Daily Devotions
Week of February 10, 2008

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, record thoughts and reflections in your journal]
• Pray the Covenant Prayer

Readings this week:

Sunday, Feb. 10: John 12: 44-50
Monday, Feb. 11: Mark 1: 1-13
Tuesday, Feb. 12: Mark 1: 14-28
Wednesday, Feb. 13: Mark 1: 29-45
Thursday, Feb. 14: Mark 2: 1-12
Friday, Feb. 15: Mark 2: 13-22
Saturday, Feb. 16: Mark 2:23 - 3:6

This Week's Spiritual Practice

In line with our first week of Living the Questions: Invitation to the Journey and the begining of The Season of Lent (a time of spiritual preparation before Easter) we are going to be walking a labyrinth.

Trinity Episcopal Church Portland will be hosting public Labyrinth walks on:
Wed., February 6th, 11am - 8pm

Take advantage of the hours during the day or in the evening to walk, pray, meditate through the path.

We'll be going at various times through the day. Hope to see you there.

Super Bowl Party

Join us on Sunday, February 3, beginning around 5:00pm at Allen & Sara's house (31 Sheffield Street, Portland) for a fun time of watching football, commercials, and the half time show. We'll have plenty of "alternative" activities for those who aren't football fans as well. Bring your favorite appetizer to share!

Read on for information about our Souper Bowl of Caring service opportunity...

Help us feed hungry neighbors

On Super Bowl Sunday, we’ll also participate in a national effort, called “Souper Bowl of Caring,” to help feed hungry people. The idea is simple: all around the country, churches, schools, and community organizations are collecting non-perishable food and monetary donations to support soup kitchens, food pantries, and hunger relief organizations in their local areas. All of the money collected is donated to a charity selected by the participating organizations — none of the money is sent to Souper Bowl headquarters.

The non-perishable food we collect will be given to Project FEED (Food Emergency Exchange Depot), an emergency food depot located in the basement of Woodfords Congregational Church. Project FEED was founded in 1975 by a group of clergy and lay-people concerned with the growing number of Portland residents who were without a reliable source of food in emergencies. Project FEED is supported by 23 churches and 2 synagogues in the Greater Portland area and is staffed completely by volunteers.

Financial gifts received in the soup kettle will be given to Wayside Soup Kitchen, Maine’s largest soup kitchen, which has been providing nutritious meals to the homeless and poor of Greater Portland since 1986.

In 2007, over 14,500 groups participated in the Souper Bowl of Caring, generating over $8 million. Since the Souper Bowl of Caring began in 1990 as the idea of one local church youth group, more than $41 million has gone to help people in need.

New Light Daily Devotional Reading

We are moving through Scripture using the
S-O-A-P-Y Guide

Here are the daily readings for the next few days.

Friday - January 25: John 4:16-26
Saturday - January 26: John 4:27-42
Sunday - January 27: Mark 7:31-37
Monday - January 28: John 4:43-54
Tuesday - Janary 29: John 5:1-18
Wednesday - January 30: John 5:19-29
Thursday - January 31: John 5:30-47
Friday - February 1:John 6:1-15
Saturday - February 2: John 6:16-27
Sunday - February 3: Luke 9:18-27
Monday - February 4: John 18:15-18, 25-27
Tuesday - February 5: John 18:28-38

Enjoy! & aim for openness as you read.

Living the Questions begins Monday at 5:30

After a false start due to last Monday night's winter madness, we're all set to start the new group, Living the Questions, this week: Monday, January 21, from 5:30-7:30 pm, in the downstairs community room at O'Natural's (83 Exchange Street, Portland).

Learn more about some of the topics we're be exploring in Living the Questions.

Learn more about our community of faith, New Light.

Please join us on Monday evening for great food and a little introduction to this group.

New Light Daily Devotions

Guide to Daily Devotions
Week of January 18-24, 2008

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, record thoughts and reflections in your journal
· Pray the Covenant Prayer


Day One: James 1: 1-18

Day Two: James 1: 19-27

Day Three: James 2

Day Four: James 3: 1-12

Day Five: James 3:13 – 4:12

Day Six: James 4:13 – 5:12

Day Seven: James 5: 13-20

Oh, the snow!

The snow is beautiful, but....

Today we were planning on starting our new group at O'Naturals, which is very exciting. But now we have snow, snow, snow. It is only supposed to get worse this afternoon. I called to cancel our food order this morning (since I didn't think many would show up). Allen and I are/were planning to head down just in case anyone shows up, but they told me to call ahead in case they are closed. So....bummer! It looks like a total wash, for today.We'll just act like we were gonna start next week on the 21st and go from there.

It is going to be a great group with some people who have been a part of new light for the past few months and some new people who have yet to connect with us. The conversation is sure to be lively with all the wonderful topics in Living the Questions. The food is always great at O'Naturals. We are going to order sandwiches and soup to share. We'll just have a basket so you can donate what you can to cover the cost of the food. It's making my mouth water just thinking about it. Hopefully they will still be open this evening so at least Allen and I can get some good warm food, on this snowy day.

See you here or there.

This Week's New Light Devotions

Daily Exercise:

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


Day One: Acts 9: 1-9

Day Two: Acts 9: 10-19

Day Three: Psalm 29

Day Four: Matthew 3: 13-17

Day Five: Genesis 35: 1-15

Day Six: Jeremiah 1: 4-10

Day Seven: Matthew 12: 15-21

And we're off... 2008 has begun!

Happy New Year! And welcome to this Winter Wonderland!

There's nothing like a good snowstorm (or a whole series of them in rapid succession!) to transform the landscape. So often we get so used to our environment that we fail to see what's all around us, until a blanket of white makes everything new. As the snowbanks grow higher and higher... as the slush under our feet and the tires of our cars forces us to take a slower pace... as the branches of the trees are highlighted in white and glimmering with ice... as our very breath becomes visible... in all these signs of the season, God nudges us to see and experience the world with fresh eyes.

We're so glad you're checking out our New Light blog. If you're visiting for the first time, you'll notice that what follows is a whole series of reflections, one for each day of the Advent Season through which we have recently journeyed. Interspersed with these reflections, you'll find news about some of the ways we have practiced our faith and interacted with our community in the days leading to Christmas. In true blog fashion, these are all mixed together in progression.

Especially we hope you'll notice the invitation to join us for a new Monday night group called "Living the Questions" about to begin on January 14 - 5:30 pm in the downstairs community room at O'Naturals Restaurant (83 Exchange Street, Portland). We'll share dinner each week, watch a short video clip in which some theologians and teachers reflect on questions of faith, and then spend time in discussion and sharing. We hope you'll plan to join us for this group! If Mondays don't work for you, there's another group meeting on Thursday evenings at 6:00 pm at our home (31 Sheffield Street). Newcomers are welcome in both groups!

Please keep checking back for updates! It's so exciting to take on this journey - rethinking what it means to follow Christ. As a community, we're striving continually to love God more deeply and love our neighbors more fully. Welcome to the journey!

Covenant Prayer - in the Wesleyan Tradition (version 2)

I am no longer my own but yours.
Your will, not mine, be done in all things,
wherever you may place me,
in all that I do
and in all that I may endure;
when there is work for me
and when there is none;
when I am troubled
and when I am at peace.
Your will be done
when I am valued
and when I am disregarded;
when I find fulfillment
and when it is lacking;
when I have all things,
and when I have nothing.
I willingly offer
all I have and am
to serve you,
as and where you choose.

Glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
you are mine and I am yours.
May it be so for ever.
Let this covenant now made on earth
be fulfilled in heaven.
Amen.

Covenant Prayer - in the Wesleyan Tradition

At the begining of a new year, as a community we have taken on the practice of praying this prayer each day as we seek to follow God more fully.
This is a prayer from our 250 year old tradition started by John and Charles Wesley.

I am no longer my own, but yours.
put me to what you will,
rank me with whom you will;
put me to doing,
put me to suffering;
let me be employed for you
or laid aside for you,
exalted for you or brought low for you;
let me be full,
let me be empty;
let me have all things,
let me have nothing;
I freely and wholeheartedly yield
all things to your pleasure and disposal.

And now, glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
you are mine and I am yours.
So be it.
And the Covenant now made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven.

Guide to Daily Devotions

Guide to Daily Devotions
Week of January 4-10, 2008

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?

Day One:
Read Deuteronomy 29: 10-15
Using the SOAPY guide, record thoughts in your journal.
Pray the Covenant Prayer

Day Two:
Read John 15: 1-10
Using the SOAPY guide, record thoughts in your journal.
Pray the Covenant Prayer

Day Three:
Read Isaiah 58: 1-14
Using the SOAPY guide, record thoughts in your journal.
Pray the Covenant Prayer

Day Four:
Read Luke 10: 25-37
Using the SOAPY guide, record thoughts in your journal.
Pray the Covenant Prayer

Day Five:
Read Luke 15: 11-32
Using the SOAPY guide, record thoughts in your journal.
Pray the Covenant Prayer

Day Six:
Read John 13: 1-17
Using the SOAPY guide, record thoughts in your journal.
Pray the Covenant Prayer

Day Seven:
Read Acts 2: 37-47
Using the SOAPY guide, record thoughts in your journal.
Pray the Covenant Prayer

Christmas Story Told - Daily Christmas Devotional

This is a beautiful telling of the Christmas Story. It doesn't leave the messy, hard parts out.

I'm not endorsing the producers.

New Small Group -- Living the Questions

Many people know that at its core, the Christian faith has something good to offer the world. At the same time, many have a sense that the church is irrelevant – that there’s no place for engaging the tough questions about life and faith. Here at New Light we seek to provide a safe community where people are encouraged to explore the questions they've always wanted to ask but have been afraid to voice.

We are forming a new group
which will meet Mondays at 5:30 pm
starting January 14
in the O'Natural's Community Room (downstairs) 83 Exchange Street
in the Old Port, Portland

We'll be using the resource "Living the Questions."

LtQ2 is an open-minded alternative to studies that attempt to give participants all the answers and instead strives to create an environment where participants can interact with one another in exploring what's next for Christianity.

Who are the Shepherds--New Light Daily Advent Devotional

Luke 2:8-20
There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood.
They had set night watches over their sheep.
Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and
God's glory blazed around them.
They were terrified.

The angel said,
"Don't be afraid.
I'm here to announce a great
and joyful event that is meant for everybody,
worldwide:
A Savior has just been born in David's town,
a Savior who is Messiah and Master.
This is what you're to look for:
a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger."

At once the angel was joined
by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises:
Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.

As the angel choir withdrew into heaven,
the sheepherders talked it over.
"Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can
and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us."

They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph,
and the baby lying in the manger.
Seeing was believing.
They told everyone they met
what the angels had said about this child.
All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.

Mary kept all these things to herself,
holding them dear, deep within herself.

The sheepherders returned and let loose,
glorifying and praising God
for everything they had heard and seen.
It turned out exactly the way they'd been told!

Listen to
While Shepherd Watched Their Flocks for a little more insight on the story.

Question to ponder:
Who are the Shepherds of our society? Who would be the first today to hear the news of the birth of Christ? Outcasts? Who woud that be? How can you bring them good news?

New Light Christmas Celebrations!

Christmas Caroling at Monument Square,
Congress Street
Sunday, December 23 at 3:00 pm

On the afternoon of Sunday, December 23, we'll gather at Monument Square at 3:00 pm for Christmas caroling and a reading of the Christmas Story. We're planning to have free coffee and hot chocolate for those passing by Monument Square, too.

Christmas Eve Worship
Under the Night Sky
Post Office Park ~ Middle Street in the Old Port
Monday, December 24 at 5:30 pm

On Christmas Eve, we’ll have a 5:30 pm Christmas Eve celebration at Post Office Park on Middle Street in Portland. If you don't know Post Office Park, it's between Market Street, Middle Street, and Exchange Street, adjacent to O'Naturals Restaurant. It’s a beautiful spot, with lots and lots of lighted trees, a gathering area with park benches, street lamps, and brick walkways. We’ll sing the familiar carols, hear the Christmas Story from the Gospel of Luke, and light candles as we sing Silent Night. Help us spread the word, and invite a friend to join you!