Welcome to NewSong!
Belonging comes first. Not sure what you believe? You belong. Revisiting what you learned in church as a kid? You belong. Working through your doubts? You belong. Stuck in patterns of addiction and despair? You belong. Hungry, angry, lonely, tired? You belong.
St. Augustine said it SO well...“In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things love.” In our weekly gatherings, NewSong Church will consistently teach and celebrate the Christ-centered convictions that have always been agreed upon by Christians; “The Essentials.”* We don’t simply believe because we have been told to do so, but because these teachings have given us life, life that we want to share with others. We don’t all need to agree about every aspect of theology, and questions are always welcome. We trust that God can guide us into His truth according to His timing and our unique time and place.
St. Augustine said it SO well...“In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things love.” In our weekly gatherings, NewSong Church will consistently teach and celebrate the Christ-centered convictions that have always been agreed upon by Christians; “The Essentials.”* We don’t simply believe because we have been told to do so, but because these teachings have given us life, life that we want to share with others. We don’t all need to agree about every aspect of theology, and questions are always welcome. We trust that God can guide us into His truth according to His timing and our unique time and place.
*The Nicene Creed and the Apostles Creed are great places to find that information.
No single person can live up to some perfect standard of behavior. Often, we believe that we must consistently “fake it till we make it” or simply pretend to have it all together to be accepted and loved. This holds both God and others at a distance and prevents us from growing. We believe that God sees us just as we are and loves us just as we are and that he wants to transform our attitudes and actions so that we might more fully love God and our neighbors.
What's going on here?
If you're new with us, or just simply curious about why we do what we do, this section is for you!
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Why do we gather?
- We gather because we need God and others. We believe that as we gather, we can encounter God collectively. As we do so, we can more fully experience the support, encouragement, and love of God and others. We gather to grow and go! Jesus said, “for where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:20
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What do we do when we gather?
- We seek to include the great variety of acts of worship and community life that have been part of the Christian tradition throughout its history: Prayer, communion, singing, testimony, confession, blessing, fellowship, and teaching. These elements, though consistent, will be expressed in a variety of ways throughout the year. “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer… with glad and sincere hearts, praising God” Acts 2:42,46.
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Why do we sing?
- Music has always been a vital part of human expression. Even wordless instrumental music can move and inspire us. All major world religions include music in their practices, and singing has always been part of the Christian life. Singing engages our minds and hearts, and singing in community connects us to God and one another. “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.” Psalm 40:3
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Why do we celebrate communion weekly?
- The bread and the cup have always been central to Christian worship. This act brings to mind both the death and resurrection of Jesus and the beloved community that we are called to acknowledge, celebrate and nurture as often as we gather. “Whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are retelling the story, proclaiming our Lord’s death until he comes.” 1 Corinthians 11:26
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Why teaching?
- We are called to love God with our minds as well as our hearts. We seek to increase our understanding and practical application of the life of Jesus communicated to us in the Bible. We also seek to provide a safe and hospitable place to express our faith, curiosity, doubts, and convictions. “Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching that you heard from me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 1:13
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Why pray?
- Prayer, though mysterious and often misunderstood, is foundational to our human lives and central to our communion with God and others. “Pray continually.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17
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Why do we share financially?
- The life and mission of NewSong Church are financially supported solely by our congregation. We all give joyfully to support one another’s ministry, whether that ministry is simply encouraging presence or some more formal program. Our commitment to sharing in this way acknowledges our call to be generous people living according to a reality of plenty rather than scarcity. The NewSong Church community maintains a fund to provide financial assistance as part of our goal to love our neighbors. For information, email info@newsongsd.org “…and my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
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First Sundays of the Month
- Every first Sunday of the month, our children and students join us for the gathering. We also wear nametags to help break the ice and encourage conversation. If you're not comfortable wearing a nametag, please don't! After the Worship Gathering, we'll join together for a light lunch in the courtyard...you're invited!