New Community of Faith

The Invitation of Hope Posted on June 22, 2013by revyarbrough ... Too often, when we give someone a blessing or word of encouragement, the response is a rather lethargic or even fearful I hope so. However, in the beautiful hymn, Live Into Hope, Jane Parker Huber reminds us that hope is not passive that God just might be asking us to take part. If we believe that God is still active in our lives, then we must surely need to accept the idea that God still has hope for us. Not a remote, generalized hope, but a vigorous breath that opens us to new ways of thinking and being in this world. Therefore, if God’s hope for us is to bear good fruit, then we must respond with a hope that is alive, and to the best of abilities, we must be willing to live into that hope. God’s hope is an invitation. How will we answer? How will we live? Live into hope of captives freed from chains of fear or want or greed. God now proclaims our full release to faith and hope and joy and peace. Jane Parker Huber, 1980. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:6-7 Blessed be. Rev. Sue Ann Torque’s Loud Torture Test by Sprint http://nib.ly/pkix

A STRANGER NO MORE Being part of a smaller faith community means that we must risk being known. This is actually quite healthy, but it can be unnerving until one gets accustomed to no longer being a stranger. When we come together to share our stories, our prayers, and our food, the Christ among us, the Christ who comes as host and as guest is tended to in a very special way. Ultimately, there is no other way to know Christ than as a friend. The Trinity is not some alo...of threesome that resides way up in an ethereal heaven waiting for us to get our act together. Incarnation means that the Trinity is here, and God, our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer continually invites us to welcome this life and love. Yes, it is a mystery, and yes, we are all a part of it. Come. Say yes to belonging. Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;I have called you by name, you are mine (Isaiah 43.1). Blessed be. Rev. Sue Ann

Oklahoma in our prayers.

PENTECOST, MAY 19th! The wonderful news of Pentecost is that when God’s Holy Spirit breaks through, we gain new understanding of our world and of one another. Doors that have been closed due to fear and prejudice are opened wide. Visions and dreams become the norm. There is connection, and where there is connection, can a celebration be far behind? Come join us as we give thanks for the mysterious, wondrous gift of the Spirit that is for all. It is freely given, but it c...annot be contained or ordered about. It refuses to be hoarded, and cannot be sold. Blessed be. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body will also live in hope. Psalm 16:9, Acts 2:26 Rev. Sue Ann

Come hang out and play game of all kinds....

Rev. Andrew Kille

SUNDAY APRIL 28th - REV. ANDREW KILLE The Rev. Andrew Kille, a longtime friend of New Community, will be preaching and leading the communion service on this coming Sunday. The sermon will be What God has made clean, you must not call profane, based on the story of Peter’s vision, as told in Acts 11:1-18. Where are we being called to expand our horizons and to recognize the movement of the Spirit in places and people we might least suspect? How might we live our lives as com...passionate and welcoming Christians in an increasingly multi-religious world? Rev. Kille is the Editor of BibleWorkbench, a resource that invites group members to become a part of the biblical story and to understand how it is alive in the world around them and in their own inner lives. He also currently serves as Chair of SiVIC- the Silicon Valley Interreligious Council.

THIS SATURDAY COME GET YOUR GAME ON....

http://familyproject.sfsu.edu/

With heavy hearts, O God, we lift up the runners, organizers, and visitors of the Boston Marathon, along with the beautiful City of Boston and its First Responders. May you bring peace upon this horrific situation. Amen.

DARING TO BELIEVE- In John 20:26, Jesus instructs Thomas to not doubt, but believe. As with many of us, such faith was difficult for Thomas. He wanted proof he needed to touch the actual wounds. Only then could he surrender to the good news of the risen Christ. Jesus replied, Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe. Coming to believe can certainly seem a strange journey, set by an unseen compass. Of...ten, we are tempted to believe that we are getting nowhere, and we are uncomfortable with that. We yearn to be rooted in the tangible. We want those things that we can see. Yet, in this passage Jesus celebrates those who do not need to touch and see, but who are willing to let their hearts be moved by that which may not be readily apparent. That is indeed faith the willingness to believe even when belief does not make sense. That is also the beauty of the Holy Spirit. It often defies logic, and it can never be packaged, labeled, and tracked. It never goes on sale. It is pure gift that can only be received. God’s love knows no boundaries so let us continue our journeys together. Let us practice the belief in resurrection. Such daring belief can truly take us to the heart of the matter. There, we will find God. Blessed be. Rev. Sue Ann