Worship

Sunday mornings at 9 am + 11 am

509 Forest Avenue, Portland

Childcare for preschoolers during both gatherings


Our worship gatherings are intergenerational, informal, interactive, and sensory-rich, blending classic and contemporary elements. Music includes a mix of traditional hymns (sometimes with a little twist), music from the global church, and contemporary songs with theological integrity. We welcome newcomers nearly every week, and we'd be so glad to have you join us!


Our children's ministry, HopeGateWay Kids, meets on Sundays between the two worship gatherings at 10:15 am (except during the summer, when we take a little break), for kids grades K-5 — and also a Middle School Group. Children and youth are invited for engaging, multi-sensory, interactive explorations of the Bible and concepts of faith, through storytelling, music, art, and fun. 


Learn more about our ministries with children and youth here.


Find out about our current worship series here.


Listen to recordings of past sermons here.

 

Our approach

Our worship strives to be authentic to our ancient faith while employing the rich resources of our contemporary context: digital media and technology, many genres of music, prayer resources from the global church, visual arts, poetry, dance, conversation, and the spoken word, to engage participants by appealing to all the senses. 


Worship is not separate from service in the world, and it's not just something we do for one hour on Sundays. True worship sends us out into a hurting world to be instruments of hope, healing, peace, and justice - and that kind of worship continues 24/7.


Author Frederick Beuchner says, "To worship God means to serve God. Basically there are two ways to do it. One way is to do things for God that God needs to have done: run errands for God, carry messages for God, fight on God's side, feed God's lambs, and so on. The other way is to do things for God that you need to do: sing songs for God, create beautiful things for God, tell God what's on your mind and in your heart, in general rejoice in God and make a fool of yourself for God the way lovers have always made fools of themselves for the one they love."


This is what we do in worship: we make fools of ourselves for the one we love. We're renewed and strengthened in the process. And we have fun doing it.

PARKING

Street parking is available on Forest Avenue and many residential streets in the neighborhood. 


Also, free evening and weekend parking is available in our underground parking garage. Just beyond Casco Bay Movers dance studio and Portland Ballet (one unit beyond HopeGateWay), turn into an alley that ramps downward to a garage door.  As you approach the door, you will see a keypad on your left. Use the code 1101* (asterisk), and the door will open.  Park anywhere and take the elevator or stairs to the first floor. Exiting the elevator, walk through the double doors, and you will see HopeGateWay on your right. 


Additionally, a large satellite parking lot is located at 41 Ashmont Street, a three-block walk away.  View map with parking lot directions.