Read about what's going on in our HopeGateWay Community Newsletter October 25, 2024.
Sundays 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
Current Worship Series: Open In Case Of Emergency
Imagine a box with a label that says: Open in Case of Emergency. What would you want to find in there? We probably want to find everything we need to make it to the other side of a crisis. We’re going to want to find something to keep us warm, nourish us, and give us a means to hold on.
We’re living in the midst of all kinds of crises and anxieties. In the midst of them, we might find ourselves face-to-face with loneliness, fear, or despair. In this sermon series, titled, “Open in Case of Emergency,” we’re going to open the box and take stock of the tools we have and the tools we’ll need to make it through. Join us!
Resilience Through Reflection and Practice
1st and 3rd Mondays, October - February • on Zoom
Using Rhonda Magee’s deeply insightful and invitational book, The Inner Work of Racial Justice: Healing Ourselves and Transforming Our Communities Through Mindfulness, as a reference guide, we will explore how we can move closer to be the change we pray and hope we can be for our hurting world, both individually and collectively.
The Inner Work of Racial Justice draws upon practices of mindfulness for building resilience and capacity for addressing racial justice. Most, if not all, of the practices are easily adapted for facilitating inner work and outer action toward climate change political differences, etc., as well as racism. It’s all interrelated.
As a way to counter the swirling news, emotions and hope of these times, we will intentionally meet during the weeks before and after Election Day. Facilitators: Diane McClanahan, Wanda Stahl and Kathy Strand welcome your questions and participation. Sign up to receive a copy of a reading for the first gathering. Books will be available at the first gathering for an optional donation of $10.
HopeGateWay Kids: Children's Ministry and Parent Fellowship
Sunday, November 3rd • 9am
Calling all HGW Kids ages 4-10! Are you curious about God? Do you like stories and songs and silly skits? Do you want to get to know other HGW kids better? Come join Melissa and Kit for the HGW Kids Fall Series "I've Been Meaning to Ask...!" During this series, which will meet at 9am on four Sunday mornings this fall, we will explore what it means to follow Jesus in community through singing, storytelling, discussion and sensory play. We can't wait to wonder and listen and play with you! Parents are invited to enjoy coffee and conversation together in the upper room during the kids' meeting time.
Tai Chi Practice
Thursdays 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, are welcomed.
If you are interested, please contact Fred Brancato 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.
Portraits of Peacemakers • Author Talk With Rob Shetterly
Tuesday, October 29 • 6:30 on Zoom
Maine artist Rob Shetterly has a new book, “Portraits of Peacemakers: Americans Who Tell the Truth,” coming out this fall that showcases his paintings alongside a collection of essays. Join us on October 24 at 6:30 p.m. over Zoom.
Pre-Order the Book : books ship October 8th
The third volume in Robert Shetterly’s Americans Who Tell the Truth series features Shetterly’s loving, colorful portraits and short biographies of 50 peace activists, along with essays by a few of the individuals highlighted in the book: Chris Hedges, Kali Rubaii, Paul K. Chappell, Medea Benjamin, Alice Rothchild, and David Swanson.
Robert Shetterly is a visual artist, social activist, and writer. For the past twenty years, he has painted portraits of citizens who address issues of social, environmental, and economic fairness in the series Americans Who Tell the Truth, now the subject of the Kane Lewis feature-length documentary Truth Tellers, which is currently airing on American Public Television. Shetterly’s portrait project is also recorded in a multi-volume book series, including Portraits of Racial Justice and Portraits of Earth Justice, and Portraits of Peacemakers. Since 1990, Shetterly has been a producer of the Maine Masters Project and has served as President of the Union of Maine Visual Artists. Shetterly lives and works in Brooksville, Maine.
"The burden of continual injustices and angers is more than one person can bear - or should. And consequently I'm constantly replete with admiration and love for the people I've painted who so fiercely bear those burdens." - Rob Shetterly
Life After Doom: An Evening with Brian McLaren
Wednesday, October 30 • 7:00-8:30 pm • Online via Zoom
Hosted by The BTS Center
In his new book Life After Doom: Wisdom and Courage for a World Falling Apart, widely celebrated author, speaker, and activist Brian D. McLaren looks unflinchingly at this moment and names that feeling so many are experiencing as doom. Yet rather than stopping at that challenging feeling, McLaren dives deeply into Christian tradition and the Bible as an indigenous ecological text to ask what resources we can embrace to find a path into new ways of being. Drawing on the wisdom of philosophers, poets, scientists, and theologians, and with deep honesty and compassion, he invites us to embrace a contemplative stance and offers new ways forward for radical community, belonging, and resilience.
The BTS Center warmly invites you to join us for an intimate conversation with Brian McLaren to discuss the ways in which this time offers immense possibilities alongside profound loss. Brian will be joined by a panel of respondents as well as musical accompaniment for an evening of soulful connection and incisive conversation. Learn more and register at this link.
Hope Squad Maine's Love and Gratitude event
Sunday, November 3rd • 2-4pm
St. Pius X Church • 492 Ocean Ave
Join Hope Squad Maine to learn more about their mission of service to the unhoused, the crisis of homelessness, and how you can help! Hope Squad is celebrating two years of outreach, reflecting on humble beginnings, and looking towards what could be possible! You will also have the opportunity to learn more about some of Hope Squad Maine's partners: Grace Street Ministry, The Light Within, Milestone Home Team, Homeless Services, Wayside Food Programs and more. Tickets are free: please reserve yours today to help with planning.
Autumn Work Day at 515 Woodford Street!
Saturday, November 16 • 9 am – noon
Indoor and outdoor projects await! Come for an hour or two or all morning to help with small tasks that make a big difference! Please contact any Building Team member with questions: Luke Brostek, Sara Bruce, Stephanie Cooke, Allen Ewing-Merrill, Katie Mears, Rick Smart and Martin Turnidge.
HopeGateWay Annual Meeting
Sunday, November 17 • Potluck Lunch following worship
Our Annual Meetings are full of updates about various aspects of our life together in ministry. We hope you'll set aside this time to worship together and to participate in a potluck following worship (sign up in a future newsletter!), to be present to hear updates on aspects of HopeGateWay ministry we don't always have lots of time to talk about, to vote on our 2025 budget, and to have fun together, too. We'll make sure everyone has time to review materials two weeks before the meeting. Please mark your calendars and stay tuned!
Youth Service Corps • packing shelf stable meals
Sunday, November 24th • 11:30am to 2:30 pm
Trinity Episcopal Church • 580 Forest Avenue
Youth should meet at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 580 Forest Ave. Portland at 11:30am to begin packing meals with End Hunger New England. After packing meals, youth will share pizza lunch. At 1:30 pm - Community building games and planning for December's events. Please reach out to Allen or to Amber Burks, youth coordinator, to RSVP... If others from the church beyond youth would like to attend, please send an early RSVP, by November 7th to ensure spots for those who want to participate. This event draws a crowd and spots are limited.
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 2024 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.
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!