Read about what's going on in our HopeGateWay Community Newsletter December 19, 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
Starry Nights: Advent Series
Advent is a season of stars: twinkling over shepherds, leading the Magi to Bethlehem, and filling our own dark Advent nights with glimmers of brilliance. Dark skies are perfect for stargazing, for seeking out the Light of the World among the deep indigos, bottomless blues, and inky blacks of God’s night sky. Just as the shepherds and Magi looked up to the heavens and faithfully followed the stars, we’ll spend the next four weeks training our eyes to wait, and to watch, and to wonder at all God has done – and will do – for the love of this broken, beautiful world. During this season of anticipation, we center ourselves in the vast universe and connect deeply with the ancient stories of people who struggled through their own experiences of the dangers and challenges of Empire, including Jesus who was born in extremely vulnerable circumstances.
Christmas Eve Celebrations
Tuesday, December 24 • 515 Woodford Street, Portland
Join the HopeGateWay community for Christmas Eve worship!
4 pm • Family Celebration
Our 4 pm gathering is a celebration of Jesus’ birth designed for families with young children (although all are welcome to attend!). We’ll hold glowsticks instead of candles, and we’ll end with a bedtime story.
7 pm • Candlelight & Communion Service
This gathering includes traditional carols, several Scripture readings, a children’s message, a Christmas message with Rev. Sara Ewing-Merrill preaching, Communion, and the warm glow of candlelight. This is a hybrid service.
Caroling, Cookies, and Cocoa
Saturday, December 21 • 1-3 pm • Monument Square, Portland
Join us for a classic HopeGateWay tradition, infusing Monument Square with joyful energy and connecting with passersby amidst the holiday bustle. Join HopeGateWay friends as we sing carols and pass out free hot chocolate and cookies in Monument Square, near the city Christmas tree!
Celebrating Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: Songs and Wisdom for Our Times
Sunday, January 19, 2025 • First Congregational Church, UCC, South Portland
All are welcome to attend an afternoon of music and reflection on Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, in a celebration honoring his work and legacy that features religious leaders from the Greater Portland Multi-faith Group, group singing, and music by the Sea Change Chorale. Pastor Sara is on the planning team.
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.
This group is a closed group.
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.
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!