New Life Presbyterian Church Core Values (in essence) 1. New Life Presbyterian Church has received a spiritual heritage of extending God’s gracious acceptance to all people as they are. |
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Please provide your viewpoint on how well we at New Life are living the core values we articulated in the summer of 2007. Anecdotal information is an important part of this reflection. Contact New Life with your comments, and they will be posted on this page. And please know that your comments need names attached so that we can have a meaningful dialog with each other as we live into our values in the coming coming year. Your email will go to New Life Presbyterian Church where Didi will forward it to Kay Huggins. Please indicate the number of the core value that you are commenting on. That will save you the time and trouble of retyping the value.
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| 1. New Life Presbyterian Church has received a spiritual heritage of extending God’s gracious acceptance to all people as they are. | 2. New Life Presbyterian Church continues programs designed to develop the wisdom and practices taught by Jesus. |
3. New Life Presbyterian Church seeks to be open to the Holy Spirit especially through our services of worship. | 4. New Life Presbyterian Church nurtures the support, challenge, and energy necessary for individuals and the community to mature spiritually. |
Response “A” Response “B” Random Sacks of Kindness: no questions about who you are or what you’re going to do with the food. You’re here; here’s food. Response “C” Do not allow people to remain invisible -- greet everyone with a smile and a ‘hello’. If you feel unaccepting of someone, it is a sign that you need to be engaging them with conversation to learn more about them. Response “D” NL accepts everyone who enters the space as a worshipper. Not a potential member or an ethnicity of GLT, or straight, or young or old or...? Anecdote: a visiting pastor from Marcellus NY came to us a month ago. As I was showing him and his wife around, he said, “I need to tell you, we are not potential members.” I asked, “Are you a worshipper?” He said, “Yes” and we continued on! During the passing of the peace, he said, “I was attracted to NL by what you show on your website. I liked the mission; and now I know you here at NL live your mission.” Didi Acosta Response “E” No need to be afraid at New Life just because I’m not like everyone else! Response “F” I’ve been here 13 + years. When I came I didn’t hear about the “spiritual heritage” -- I heard about the scandals. I looked around a little, but I was draw back to New Life. It seemed the right place for some who continued to question. You could “come as you were” and nobody seemed to think you weren’t measuring up... This has kept me coming. Response “G” Prayers of the people include many petitions for those unknown to most of us...and we continue to pray through the week. Response “H” We try to extend a welcome to all who enter our doors, regardless of their economic, sexual orientation, etc...and we try to get to know them. Response “I” Accepting of homosexual members: random Sacks of Kindness for homes; other social actions; various offerings, mosquito nets, Martineztown; acceptance of members’ different views in church discussion, circle, etc. |
Response “A” Response “B” There are many wonderful programs in New Life that develop the wisdom and practices of Jesus. I wish I were younger and stronger so I could participate. I think it’s great about the Children’s Circle too, which is helping them understand the true wisdom of Jesus’ wisdom in understandable ways. Madge Harrah
Response “C” New Life has breathed new life in the last three years. The children’s program is outstanding, Random Sack of Kindness warms my heart. I think we should do more in the community...maybe we take too much satisfaction in being “different.” We could do much more. i was disappointed at our decision not to declare that “torture is wrong.” What do we stand for? Response “D” We have wonderful opportunities for adult “ed”: in-depth conversations about things that really matter in our lives...through Book Study, Sunday am scripture consideration. This is a unique part of my otherwise secular life of job, shopping, etc. Response “E” Regular Bible studies and studies on other books, sermons to challenge us, thursday morning letters from Pastor, Sunday Circle lessons, Clans and Deacons (care and communication), Presbyterian Women’s Bible lessons Response “F” I cannot thank you enough for Bible study, Book study, Honor the Sabbath. |
Response “A” There is a real openness about our communication and relationships. Response “B” (In addition to my responses to #2) Also Sunday Circle: kids are prepared to know Jesus as a loving, compassionate role model. And Jesus was a learner. Didi Acosta Response “C” 1. By inclusion and empathy for all here and around the world Response “D” I feel the love and acceptance of this congregation. Therefore, I feel confident to act. Richard Acosta Response “E” 1. Sunday Circle--ages 3 to 14: The children use much of their Sunday Circle time to discuss themes like faith, love, trust, fear, safety, courage, scripture. A new word every week; words are always accompanied by works--the works of Jesus, his disciples then and disciples noe (us!) Response “G” This value means to me to deepen our relationship to God, be open to change and the moving of the Holy Spirit: to be able to move out and relate to and help others. This is an important part of being a mature Christian. What nutures this: worship, including sermons and classes, prayer and the evening services. |
Response “A” The older I get the more important the Holy Spirit is to me. I felt the Holy Spirit here the first time I walked through the door in 1992. The Holy Spirit is still here in the acceptance of diversity, the loving outreach to each other and to the new-comers who come through these doors as I did so long ago. I also see the Holy Spirit in the children and in the miracle of the garden; also in the Random Sacks ministry. Response “B” The Holy Spirit lives in every creature -- I believe that. At New Life, the service honors the Holy Spirit in all of God’s creatures as we learn from the Bible and from so very, very many of our worship resources.
Response “C” The worship services are special -- I do feel the Holy Spirit at times. There is a lot of love in this congregation. Response “D” For many years I came to New Life and just listened and sat. People in the congregation, like John V., inspired me to act beyond just sitting and listening. I’m very grateful to the NL Congregation for their patience. I believe the Holy Spirit is very patient and this congregation reflects that. Richard Acosta |