Comments on: A love letter to my church http://www.newlife-glastonbury.org/blog/2007/08/07/a-love-letter-to-my-church/ Thoughts on faith and culture from the community of NewLife Christian Fellowship, Glastonbury, CT Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:05:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Heather Stanat http://www.newlife-glastonbury.org/blog/2007/08/07/a-love-letter-to-my-church/comment-page-1/#comment-31741 Heather Stanat Sat, 19 Feb 2011 12:36:36 +0000 http://www.newlife-glastonbury.org/blog/2007/08/07/a-love-letter-to-my-church/#comment-31741 I am grateful you never threw in the towel. I love NewLife and I love your style of teaching. This blog made me giggle and then cry. Never Never Never Give up Hope. God is an amazing God. Our church is and will continue to be a blessing to many. The hard work of everyone at NewLife is deeply appreciated. I am grateful you never threw in the towel. I love NewLife and I love your style of teaching. This blog made me giggle and then cry. Never Never Never Give up Hope. God is an amazing God. Our church is and will continue to be a blessing to many. The hard work of everyone at NewLife is deeply appreciated.

]]> By: Sarah Tuers http://www.newlife-glastonbury.org/blog/2007/08/07/a-love-letter-to-my-church/comment-page-1/#comment-24588 Sarah Tuers Mon, 19 Apr 2010 14:11:44 +0000 http://www.newlife-glastonbury.org/blog/2007/08/07/a-love-letter-to-my-church/#comment-24588 As a fellow "returnee" I can certainly relate to what Robin wrote! NewLife is the first church I have felt sustained spiritual growth in 21 years of church going. The type of growth I use to cringe at when mention by super religious folks because it sounded so cheesy...I hope I'm not becoming one of them, *gasp*, lol. Seriously though, baptism is something I have been thinking about doing this summer maybe. I was baptized as an infant, made a profession of faith when I was ten, and attended regular youth groups all without the understanding of the amazing impact on my heart and life once I surrendered both to God. Now that I have that knowledge and I have been growing in my walk I'd like to make a statement that is finally meaningful to me. Maybe baptism is that statement. As a fellow “returnee” I can certainly relate to what Robin wrote! NewLife is the first church I have felt sustained spiritual growth in 21 years of church going. The type of growth I use to cringe at when mention by super religious folks because it sounded so cheesy…I hope I’m not becoming one of them, *gasp*, lol. Seriously though, baptism is something I have been thinking about doing this summer maybe. I was baptized as an infant, made a profession of faith when I was ten, and attended regular youth groups all without the understanding of the amazing impact on my heart and life once I surrendered both to God. Now that I have that knowledge and I have been growing in my walk I’d like to make a statement that is finally meaningful to me. Maybe baptism is that statement.

]]> By: Liz Tuers http://www.newlife-glastonbury.org/blog/2007/08/07/a-love-letter-to-my-church/comment-page-1/#comment-5621 Liz Tuers Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:29:29 +0000 http://www.newlife-glastonbury.org/blog/2007/08/07/a-love-letter-to-my-church/#comment-5621 David Pierce's life and testimony are amazing...He spoke at Wintonbury YG once and it was incredible....This post was very encouraging :-D thanks for writing it! David Pierce’s life and testimony are amazing…He spoke at Wintonbury YG once and it was incredible….This post was very encouraging :-D thanks for writing it!

]]> By: Eric Stillman http://www.newlife-glastonbury.org/blog/2007/08/07/a-love-letter-to-my-church/comment-page-1/#comment-1605 Eric Stillman Thu, 09 Aug 2007 16:24:05 +0000 http://www.newlife-glastonbury.org/blog/2007/08/07/a-love-letter-to-my-church/#comment-1605 Robin - thank you so much for the testimony & kind words... and for coming back! Robin – thank you so much for the testimony & kind words… and for coming back!

]]> By: robin http://www.newlife-glastonbury.org/blog/2007/08/07/a-love-letter-to-my-church/comment-page-1/#comment-1604 robin Thu, 09 Aug 2007 16:02:52 +0000 http://www.newlife-glastonbury.org/blog/2007/08/07/a-love-letter-to-my-church/#comment-1604 "Their impact is part of what motivates me, knowing the potential to transform a community and world that exists in a church that is sold out to doing whatever God calls them to do." Eric, As one of those "returnees" who found herself back at your door, I would like to say that maybe you haven't impacted the entire world(yet) but you sure have changed mine! For the first time in my life I feel like I really belong at a church and that I am accepted for who I am. You may not think that's a big thing but I had pretty much given up hope of ever finding a church where people really love and care for one another in the way that Jesus said to. The sermons have me excited again about living for God and I look forward to hearing them each week and then going home and checking out the references etc. Imagine that! Stuff you learn in church that you can actually use! I believe New Life is going to be even more blessed by God in the future and judging by the attendance at the Welcome Lunch, I think it's already happening. Thank and you and everyone there for making it a place where Gods love and peace is evident the minute you walk in. “Their impact is part of what motivates me, knowing the potential to transform a community and world that exists in a church that is sold out to doing whatever God calls them to do.”

Eric, As one of those “returnees” who found herself back at your door, I would like to say that maybe you haven’t impacted the entire world(yet) but you sure have changed mine! For the first time in my life I feel like I really belong at a church and that I am accepted for who I am. You may not think that’s a big thing but I had pretty much given up hope of ever finding a church where people really love and care for one another in the way that Jesus said to. The sermons have me excited again about living for God and I look forward to hearing them each week and then going home and checking out the references etc. Imagine that! Stuff you learn in church that you can actually use! I believe New Life is going to be even more blessed by God in the future and judging by the attendance at the Welcome Lunch, I think it’s already happening. Thank and you and everyone there for making it a place where Gods love and peace is evident the minute you walk in.

]]> By: Eric Stillman http://www.newlife-glastonbury.org/blog/2007/08/07/a-love-letter-to-my-church/comment-page-1/#comment-1608 Eric Stillman Thu, 09 Aug 2007 14:34:42 +0000 http://www.newlife-glastonbury.org/blog/2007/08/07/a-love-letter-to-my-church/#comment-1608 <p>lor - you're right that baptism is the first step, just like coming to Jesus is entering the race, not finishing it. hopefully we can be churches that celebrate every step along the way, from baptism to joining small groups to small decisions of obedience to God. thanks for the comments</p> lor – you’re right that baptism is the first step, just like coming to Jesus is entering the race, not finishing it. hopefully we can be churches that celebrate every step along the way, from baptism to joining small groups to small decisions of obedience to God. thanks for the comments

]]> By: lor http://www.newlife-glastonbury.org/blog/2007/08/07/a-love-letter-to-my-church/comment-page-1/#comment-1581 lor Thu, 09 Aug 2007 04:46:00 +0000 http://www.newlife-glastonbury.org/blog/2007/08/07/a-love-letter-to-my-church/#comment-1581 Hi Eric. another right on post. thanks I too love reading about the baptisms and am grateful for all that God is doing for these incredible churches and their people. Yet, even as the angels celebrate, is it not true that baptism is the first of many steps in our spiritual walks? I often wonder how their growth numbers look also...I hope there is even more emphasis placed on what happens next. Building our relationship with God, joining small groups, learning to spend time in the Word, using their gifts to serve God, their communities and one another, becoming full fledged 'members' of the spiritual families that make up The Body? I think it's important to celebrate these baptisms. I think it's even more important to ensure that they're then equipped to take their next step in full devotion to Jesus Christ. Hi Eric. another right on post. thanks

I too love reading about the baptisms and am grateful for all that God is doing for these incredible churches and their people.

Yet, even as the angels celebrate, is it not true that baptism is the first of many steps in our spiritual walks? I often wonder how their growth numbers look also…I hope there is even more emphasis placed on what happens next. Building our relationship with God, joining small groups, learning to spend time in the Word, using their gifts to serve God, their communities and one another, becoming full fledged ‘members’ of the spiritual families that make up The Body?

I think it’s important to celebrate these baptisms. I think it’s even more important to ensure that they’re then equipped to take their next step in full devotion to Jesus Christ.

]]> By: Michael Bush http://www.newlife-glastonbury.org/blog/2007/08/07/a-love-letter-to-my-church/comment-page-1/#comment-1569 Michael Bush Wed, 08 Aug 2007 22:29:30 +0000 http://www.newlife-glastonbury.org/blog/2007/08/07/a-love-letter-to-my-church/#comment-1569 Eric - wonderful words! Thanks for letting the Spirit speak through you. As I read I couldn't help but think how the first disciples could likely relate to what you wrote - especially from that crucifixion Friday afternoon until Sunday. They did not feel successful. They had failed by many measures. They probably had conversations about throwing in the towel, wondering what was the point of going on. They were the "not good enoughs" all their lives, and now the usual powerful "beautiful" people with their slick outfits, their money, their technology, thier clout (Rome, religious leaders) had seemingly "won" again. I imagine their lives did not feel balanced and they had no clear vision of what was next. But they stuck together. They probably prayed, sang, cried, broke bread. And it seems to have been a recipe for discovering something good. Resurrection. God is good! Eric – wonderful words! Thanks for letting the Spirit speak through you. As I read I couldn’t help but think how the first disciples could likely relate to what you wrote – especially from that crucifixion Friday afternoon until Sunday. They did not feel successful. They had failed by many measures. They probably had conversations about throwing in the towel, wondering what was the point of going on. They were the “not good enoughs” all their lives, and now the usual powerful “beautiful” people with their slick outfits, their money, their technology, thier clout (Rome, religious leaders) had seemingly “won” again. I imagine their lives did not feel balanced and they had no clear vision of what was next. But they stuck together. They probably prayed, sang, cried, broke bread. And it seems to have been a recipe for discovering something good.

Resurrection.

God is good!

]]> By: Eric Stillman http://www.newlife-glastonbury.org/blog/2007/08/07/a-love-letter-to-my-church/comment-page-1/#comment-1607 Eric Stillman Wed, 08 Aug 2007 11:32:47 +0000 http://www.newlife-glastonbury.org/blog/2007/08/07/a-love-letter-to-my-church/#comment-1607 <p>Michael - I love it. You're right - there's no better example than that one.</p> Michael – I love it. You’re right – there’s no better example than that one.

]]> By: Eric Stillman http://www.newlife-glastonbury.org/blog/2007/08/07/a-love-letter-to-my-church/comment-page-1/#comment-1606 Eric Stillman Wed, 08 Aug 2007 04:27:11 +0000 http://www.newlife-glastonbury.org/blog/2007/08/07/a-love-letter-to-my-church/#comment-1606 <p>Thanks for the good words Scott... I would encourage anyone reading this to check out some of the story of The Orchard, the church Scott pastors, at http://ctlibrary.com/46118 (if that doesn't work, you can access it through Scott's website at http://scotthodge.typepad.com/scott/ourstory.html. It's encouraging stuff for those small churches like ours.</p> Thanks for the good words Scott… I would encourage anyone reading this to check out some of the story of The Orchard, the church Scott pastors, at http://ctlibrary.com/46118 (if that doesn’t work, you can access it through Scott’s website at http://scotthodge.typepad.com/scott/ourstory.html. It’s encouraging stuff for those small churches like ours.

]]> By: scott hodge http://www.newlife-glastonbury.org/blog/2007/08/07/a-love-letter-to-my-church/comment-page-1/#comment-1541 scott hodge Wed, 08 Aug 2007 03:58:55 +0000 http://www.newlife-glastonbury.org/blog/2007/08/07/a-love-letter-to-my-church/#comment-1541 eric - beautiful post man... appreciate your honesty. believe me, seeing 100 people get baptized this past weekend was one of the most humbling experiences i have ever had. especially considering that less than 4 years ago, we had NOTHING and came freakin' close (a number of times) to shutting our doors. we certainly don't have much of anything figured out now, but there is a story here of how God can bring to life a church like ours - one that was declining, dying and not really making much of an impact in our community and over time has begun to breathe life back into it. i'm so thankful... keep up the great work eric. i appreciate your heart man. eric – beautiful post man… appreciate your honesty.

believe me, seeing 100 people get baptized this past weekend was one of the most humbling experiences i have ever had. especially considering that less than 4 years ago, we had NOTHING and came freakin’ close (a number of times) to shutting our doors. we certainly don’t have much of anything figured out now, but there is a story here of how God can bring to life a church like ours – one that was declining, dying and not really making much of an impact in our community and over time has begun to breathe life back into it. i’m so thankful…

keep up the great work eric. i appreciate your heart man.

]]> By: Ben Dubow http://www.newlife-glastonbury.org/blog/2007/08/07/a-love-letter-to-my-church/comment-page-1/#comment-1533 Ben Dubow Tue, 07 Aug 2007 22:24:06 +0000 http://www.newlife-glastonbury.org/blog/2007/08/07/a-love-letter-to-my-church/#comment-1533 Well said Eric! BD Well said Eric!

BD

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