Read about what's going on in our HopeGateWay Community Newsletter April 12, 2023.
Every Sunday at 10am EST
In person at 515 Woodford St in Portland, Maine
& on Zoom
Dial in audio: 1.929.205.6099
Meeting ID: 533 469 2118
Eastertide Worship Series:
Hidden in Plain Sight: Women Who Knew Jesus
Did Jesus have female disciples? Popular memory would say no. Not only are women not imagined as being part of Jesus’ mission, but the story of Christianity’s spread is also a masculine one. In the first century – so the story goes – the Christian message was taken to the lands around the Mediterranean by two great men: Peter and Paul.
But is this the full story? Paul's letter to the church in Rome ends with a list of important people he knew there. What’s fascinating about this list is that of the twenty-nine names in the chapter, eleven – more than one-third of them – are women. Most significant of all is the fact that the letter itself was delivered by a woman, Phoebe. (Paul wrote to commend her to people who didn’t already know her, strongly implying that she had been sent from him with the letter.)
So how do we explain the presence of so many women in the Christian movement when they seem to have been absent earlier, in Jesus’ mission? If we look carefully at the Gospels, we’ll see that there is more evidence for women in the mission of Jesus than we first supposed. Here and there women do appear. Traces of Jesus’ women disciples haven’t been completely rubbed away.
Over the next 8 weeks we are going to take a look at the hidden story of Christianity, the one right there in plain sight. The stories of the women who knew Jesus.
Youth Service Corps
Sunday, April 21 • 12pm
The Youth Service Corps will be gathering together to make a difference on Sunday, April 21. In March we acted as stewards of God's creation by helping clean up Willard Beach. This time we will be helping care for some of God's creatures, namely the animals at the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland.
The plan is to meet up at a local pet store at noon, purchase $1,000 worth of needed pet food and supplies as directed by the Animal Refuge League, and then we will head to St. Peter's Episcopal Church located at 678 Washington Ave Portland where we will pull together the purchases and share a meal.
All youth grades 6-12 are invited! Please RSVP to assist with planning! Please let Sara know if you plan to join!
Hidden in Plain Sight Study
Starting Wednesday, April 24 • 6:30 pm on Zoom
To accompany our worship series, Hidden in Plain Sight: Women Who Knew Jesus, Sara will be leading a 4-session study. Readings will be provided to those who register. Did you know that Phoebe delivered the Letter to the Romans? Did you know Junia was one of the Apostles chosen by Jesus who was imprisoned by Rome? Do you know that Prisca and Aquilla served as Paul’s lead team and prepared the way for his missionary journeys? The group will meet at 6:30pm on Wednesdays: April 24, May 1, May 8, & May 15. Register at the link or talk with Sara.
Spring Work Day at 515 Woodford Street!
Saturday, April 27 • 9 am – 3 pm
We have been in our new church home for a few months now, and we are seeking to continue to make this space welcoming for all. You are invited to come help with indoor and outdoor projects, from painting, to planting flowers, and a variety of other handy projects. All are invited and encouraged to join us on Saturday, April 27 — for a morning shift (9-12) or an afternoon shift (12-3) or both. There are also some small projects that could be done on a Sunday after worship. Please contact a Building Team member with questions — these include Martin Turnidge, Katie Mears, Sara Bruce, Allen Ewing-Merrill, Stephanie Cooke, and Rick Smart.
Book Study: Singing the Psalms with My Son: Praying and Parenting for a Healed Planet, by Wilson Dickinson
May – June 2024 • 5 Weekly Online Sessions
This spring, The BTS Center invites you to participate in a 5-week book study of Wilson Dickinson’s book, Singing the Psalms with My Son: Praying and Parenting for a Healed Planet — an inspiring book for parents, grandparents, religious educators, and all who care about children of today and the future. In seeking a path of parenting which will focus on transformation and hope, Dickinson turns to the Psalms, finding in these ancient texts the language and practice for lament, for joy, and for navigating the complexities of a world of constant change. The book study will take place over five online sessions, with each session being offered at two different times each week — Tuesday evenings and Thursdays mid-day (come to either at your convenience) — and two facilitators guiding each conversation. Author Wilson Dickinson will join both sessions during the final week. Learn more and register.
Undies Sunday! • Sunday, May 5
There's a great need for items of personal hygiene in our unhoused and under-resourced communities. This spring, we invite you to bring new-in-package underwear of any size. We hope to fill a bin and donate it to Maine Needs. Please bring undies of any size by May 5.
If you're available to deliver on our behalf — especially if you haven't yet had an opportunity to visit Maine Needs and see the great work they are doing — please let Christie know. If you prefer to purchase online and ship to Maine Needs, please choose from their weekly wishlist. Thanks!
Tell Your Story: Sacred Storytelling Experience
Culminating Event • Friday, May 10 at 7pm
A small group is being developed to take part in a special storytelling project at HopeGateWay, facilitated by Stacey Knight, one of our Worship Managers.
Everyone has profound life experiences that have shaped them. These experiences may have set you on a different path than you had planned, taught you a valuable lesson, changed your perspective, or made you laugh. These stories deserve to be told.
Stacey is a 2nd year student at the Chaplaincy Institute of Maine (ChIME) and is on track to being ordained as an interfaith minister in June. As part of the chaplaincy program, Stacey is required to complete an internship. This storytelling project is part of her internship. Over the next few months, Stacey will work with the participants 1:1 as well as in a group setting to help each of them develop a story from their life that they would like to share. Once a story is identified, Stacey will coach (if needed) the storyteller on giving an effective verbal presentation. There will be lots of practice and support.
The exciting part: Each participant will have the opportunity to tell their story to a wider audience on Friday, May 10 on the HopeGateWay stage! This event will be open to the wider community outside of HGW. Learn more and sign up here.
Facebook Livestream and on-demand video
Worship services are usually live-streamed and recorded on Facebook.
If you miss worship, you can always join us! facebook.com/hopegateway
Gather and Grow with HopeGateWay Small Groups
HopeGateWay offers a number of small groups. Our Active Hope group and our three Murmuration groups meet monthly. Recovery groups meet weekly on most nights of the week. We're always planning ahead for our next book study, film or podcast discussion. If you're interested in being part of a small group or if you have an idea for either a short-term or longer-term small group, talk with Christie or email christie@hopegateway.com.
Community Care: Caring for One Another
At HopeGateWay, we follow Jesus' invitation to "love one another as I have loved you." Sometimes we offer our gifts and support and at other times we find ourselves on the receiving end. This is community, the kind of community that we want to be, graciously giving and receiving. Currently, we are providing meals for two families and we are looking for drivers willing to give rides to one or two people before and after worship on Sunday mornings. Please contact our Care Coordinator if you'd be willing to help! If you need assistance with some home cooked meals, groceries, errands or a visit, please contact us as well!
Looking to serve in a new way in 2024?
Consider Volunteer Opportunities with Hope Acts!
Hope Acts is seeking new volunteers as housing mentors, English language program support, transportation needs, and more. Check Hope Acts' volunteer page for more information. If you prefer, please call the Hope Acts office at 207-274-6005 or 207-228-1140 to discuss volunteer opportunities. Contact Alice for the ASAP program, Sarah for HHELP and Martha for anything/everything else. Volunteering is an act of hope AND a gift of hope. Reach out today.
HopeGateWay Conversations and Sermon Podcasts
If you'd like to learn more about what's going on within our HopeGateWay community, simply connect to our podcast page. You will find our weekly sermon podcasts at the same link. We encourage you to stay connected; let us know if there's something you'd like to know about HopeGateWay. Art McClanahan puts his heart and soul into making these conversations come alive.
Gateways Daily Reflection
Gateways is a daily email offering inspiring words for your daily time with God from HopeGateWay. Each morning we send out a prayer, reflection, poem, or other thought-provoking work along with a question or observation to take with you into your day. If you would like to try adding this to your daily spiritual practice, please sign up and join us. Subscribe here.
Sing along with the HopeGateWay Virtual Choir
Do you ever have worship songs going through your mind long after worship? You can now sing along at home any day of the week! Kelly and the HopeGateWay Acapella Virtual Choir creates a new song recording for worship every week. So our library of songs is growing! You can listen at this link.
Thank you for your faithful Stewardship!
Your generosity fuels HopeGateWay's Micah 6:8 mission to "do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God." You can access all of the materials to make your pledge commitment for 2023 here. You may also make a one-time or recurring gift through our website or send a check to 515 Woodford Street Portland, ME 04103. We are grateful for your generous support of HopeGateWay's ministry and programs.
Tai Chi Practice
Tuesdays at 10am • 515 Woodford St
You are invited to practice Tai Chi and Qigong at HopeGateWay, led by Fred Brancato. This practice encompasses beginners and those who have practiced before. Tai Chi and Qigong - described as meditation in motion - are ancient Chinese practices promoting physical, mental and spiritual well-being through soft flowing motion harmonized with the rhythms of breathing.
Classes are wide open, warm and welcoming for anyone interested. They run a little over an hour in length and people participate as their schedules allow. There is no fee; however, modest donations, based on whatever participants can afford, is welcomed.
If you are interested, please contact Fred Brancato at opus4fred@gmail.com so that he can place you on an email list that he uses only if class is cancelled for that day. Otherwise, classes are every Tuesday at 10 a.m.
This class meets on the Western Prom for the summer ~ gathering at HopeGateWay in case of inclement weather. Please join the email list noted above for full details.
Grab a CLYNK Bag and Support HopeGateWay
Support the ministry and mission of HopeGateWay in a super easy way! Just pick up one of our Clynk bags in the green tote in our lobby, fill it with returnable bottles and cans, and return it to a Clynk collection site near Hannaford. If you have a personal Clynk account, you can also donate your balance to HopeGateWay!