Hopegateway

HopeGateWay is on the way toward getting back together as an in-person worshiping community. In this episode of HopeGateWay Conversations, Dr. Arthur McClanahan talks with Rev. Sara Ewing-Merrill, HopeGateWay's lead pastor. She's enthusiastic about the prospect and says, simply, “It feels good.” More details will be forthcoming in January. Community members will receive a survey. An intentional, carefully-paced reopening is hoped for in February.

In a wide-ranging conversation about the mission and ministry of the Maine Council of Churches, Rev. Jane Field, MCC's Executive Director, said of HopeGateWay, "You're such an incredible congregation. We really think the world of you" HopeGateWay will become an Associate Member of the MCC in early 2022. Learn more about the Maine Council of Churches and ways to support its innovative, historically impactful, and life-changing witness.

Courtney Tabor’s sermon from the Third Sunday of Advent, December 12, 2021, based upon Luke 1:39-55

“Whatever lies ahead for us, it’s big.” That’s the firm belief that Rev. Sara Ewing-Merrill shared with the HopeGateWay community during this year’s annual meeting. Hear Pastor Sara’s vision for HopeGateWay.

Beginning with Isaiah 40:3-5, Patsy Frey-Davis wonders about the preparation we can and need to do to make a highway fit for our God. "We want to find the place," she says, "where our call is our capacity."

In this episode of HopeGateWay Conversations Dr. Arthur McClanahan talks with Bethany Smart, HopeGateWay's Administrative and Program coordinator about Advent and what it means and offers to the community this year.

"Transformation is on the horizon for us," said Rev. Sara Ewing-Merrill in her sermon for the First Sunday of Advent. "We reimagined community...we are open to possibilities we'd never conceived of." And, as Hanna Garrity notes, "We must...make space for God's dreams for us."

Citing the words of Paul's letter to the Romans, in Chapter 12 (vs. 6-13) we're invited to understand that we cannot do self-care without community care. Our challenge is to be curious enough to find out why suffering exists and to realize and that we have healing to unleash.

In this inaugural episode of HopeGateWay Conversations, Margaret Menger, chairperson of the Leadership Team, invites the HopeGateWay community to the 2021 Annual Meeting, to be held, via Zoom, on December 9, beginning at 6:30 pm.

Rev. Katie Mears challenges us to take the time to listen to others, especially persons in need and to be aware that Jesus is there, in the conversation, bringing to bear the full capacity of the Holy One. Rev. Katie’s message, in the worship service of November 14, 2001, is the second in the series, “What Hurts? What Helps?”

We want to make the world a better place. We want our ministry and missions as the new HopeGateWay to impact the world in meaningful ways, not simply in ways that make us feel good. Especially during this season when we traditionally reflect on gratitude and generosity, we invite our re-forming community into a challenging and important conversation about how we can be a community of intentional and co-created generosity.

Rev. Sara Ewing-Merrill, HopeGateWay's lead pastor, talks about "What Hurts? What Helps?" The sermon series will be an opportunity to "reflect on and reevaluate what it means to be helpers" and the ways in which "the ministry and missions of the new HopeGateWay can be world-impacting in positive ways."

To be faithful to our mission to “do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God” we have embarked on the next leg of our journey as an independent and unaffiliated HopeGateWay Church. With faithful stewardship, HopeGateWay Church will continue to be a vital catalyst for justice, inclusivity and sharing the unconditional love of God with all. We are positioning ourselves to respond faithfully and without hesitation to the new and inspiring ministry opportunities that God puts before us, both now and long into the future. This Sunday, October 31, 2021, Rev. Mike Davis reflects upon God’s love for the world as we move faithfully forward. (1 John 4:16)

To be faithful to our mission to “do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God” we have embarked on the next leg of our journey as an independent and unaffiliated HopeGateWay Church. With faithful stewardship, HopeGateWay Church will continue to be a vital catalyst for justice, inclusivity and sharing the unconditional love of God with all. We are positioning ourselves to respond faithfully and without hesitation to the new and inspiring ministry opportunities that God puts before us, both now and long into the future. This Sunday, October 24, 2021, Dr. Arthur McClanahan reflects upon Jesus’ invitation to “Come ahead” as we move faithfully forward. (Matthew 14:23-29)

To be faithful to our mission to “do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God” we have embarked on the next leg of our journey as an independent and unaffiliated HopeGateWay Church. With faithful stewardship, HopeGateWay Church will continue to be a vital catalyst for justice, inclusivity and sharing the unconditional love of God with all. We are positioning ourselves to respond faithfully and without hesitation to the new and inspiring ministry opportunities that God puts before us, both now and long into the future. On Sunday, October 17, 2021, Sue Rudalevige shared Jesus’ challenge to his disciples to express their love for him by doing what he asks of them - “feed my lambs,” “shepherd my sheep,” and “feed my sheep.” (John 21:15-19)

"One of the questions people of faith are asking over and over to ourselves lately is: How is God with us during this pandemic? I don’t know but I believe God is right there just beyond our perceiving. Waiting, gestating, wintering, and seeking for something better to be born out of this chaos just like God has always been through the history of the world."

When Zacharias burnt the incense the dark cloud of smoke became the presence of God. And then he left that experience of encountering God in the darkness and he was left speechless. There was a mystery which was held in the darkness that then was held in his silence and from that mystery John the Baptist began to gestate in the darkness of Elizabeth’s womb.