Engaging the Word Summer Bible Study Series: Shades of Grey
A small women’s group made up of ladies who might be (1) dealing with criticism for reading anything that is not the Bible, (2) who are interested in talking about what the Bible «might» say about sexuality and consent, (3) who have struggled with engaging the Bible in every day life.
During the month of June, please read Book 1 and keep a notebook of ideas/concepts you struggle with. Write down any Biblical moments you are reminded of. For example Wealthy King David and his conquest of Bathsheba.
Please remember: success is found not in reading the book, but rather you have already succeeded by reaching out of your comfort zone by thinking, processing, analyzing.
Please email Pastor Elly at mdegpastor@gmail.com with your intentions of joining us on this series. We will meet for a 1hour group session at the end of the month. But I am only a message away if you have any questions!  
Please join us in prayer.

How many things can one endure? Since 2011 I have been struggling in a manner that I never imagine possible. Last evening I have this dream, I have not dream since 2011, about me going under the water and coming to the surface surrounded by children. So many things happened in this dream that I cannot mention but the most powerful and challenging moment was to find out that these children were all using mood altering substances because «it gave them strenghts to endure». I just prayed for them and asked God to help me understand the meaning.

Today, as I am cleaning my emails I found pictures of a baby girl that died too soon; pain in my heart but happines as I know that God gifted her parents with another baby girl to join her brothers. The grandchildren of my sister/friend.

And then, I read an email I sent to another sister/friend/daugher that reads » leaving things behind its always difficult. I do believe that in order to walk forward we cannot be looking backwards. See this year as a great journey, take all that was good to heart and those things that were not up to par, let them teach you a great lesson. When one travel in life it is best to travel light, so let go of those things that are too heavy and will tie you down!»

And this is exactly what I have been doing since 2011; «LEARNING TO TRAVEL LIGHT» removing all that hurt, all that damage and all that is not from God. Learning from my heart that «He is the Root of the tree of life».

Pastora Maritza

We Invite you to join us in a / Le Invitamos a que se una con nosotros

Friday, March 11, 2016 (7pm to 9pm)

¡COMMUNITY MOVIE NIGHT! Soup/Chilli and Discussion

Friday, April 8, 2016 (7pm to 9pm)

¡EXPRESSIONS OF FAITH and CULTURE! Appetizers and Discussion

Friday, May 13, 2016 (7pm to 9pm)

¡INTER-GENERATIONAL DANCE PARTY! Bring your Dancing Shoes…

(A Donation of $10 per person or $20 per family is Suggested)

at
Manantial de Gracia
“Spring of Grace”
The Auditorium of First Church
12 South Main Street, West Hartford, CT

Co-Hosted by
Manantial de Gracia «Spring of Grace» and Center Church (First Church of Hartford)

TasteOfHeaven_OperationNYE2016

As we focus on the future of Hispanic/Latino(a) Ministries and Leadership in the UCC, we have launched a church-wide electronic survey inviting the participation of Latinas and Latinos across the various settings of the church. We are deeply grateful to the UCC Center for Analytics, Data, and Research (CARD), for their support and expertise in the survey’s design.

Please share the bilingual (English/Spanish) survey throughout your networks. We encourage all UCC Hispanic/Latina(o)s to respond to the survey by March 31, 2016 at the following link, https://www.research.net/r/UCCLatinos.

Thank you and be blessed.

Mientras nos enfocamos en el future de los Ministerios y Liderazgo de los Hispanos/Latinos(as) en la UCC, hemos lanzado una encuesta electrónica a través de la iglesia nacional invitando la participación de Latinas y Latinos a través de los varias organizaciones de la iglesia. Estamos grandemente agradecidos por el Centro de Análisis, Data e Investigación (CARD) de la UCC por su apoyo y experiencia en el diseño de esta encuesta. Por favor compartan esta encuesta bilingüe (Inglés/Español) con sus contactos. Exhortamos a tod@s los Hispanos/Latinos(as) a que respondan a la encuesta en/antes del 31 de marzo de 2016 al siguiente enlace: https://www.research.net/r/UCCLatinos

Gracias y sean bendecidos(as).

Dioseline came to Connecticut from Puerto Rico on December 19, 2014
Date: February 21, 2016

To: Expository Preaching

From: Dioseline Angulo-Matos

Re: Sky

Scripture: «In The beginning God created the heaven and the earth.» Genesis 1:1dictionary.cambriage.org Sky the area above earth, in which clouds, the sun, the moon, the starts can be seen.

When I decide to move from Puerto Rico to Connecticut it was a big decision. It involved leaving behind family and friends whom I love and who love me. But I came to Connecticut to begin a new life. To a place where the only people I knew were immediate family. As time passes I have new friends, new experiences, a new life and that includes even my experience with God. New!

As I have been creating my new life I have been vigilantly observant. I look at the sky and take pictures of it. There are things that I see in the sky that others might not see. I see clouds but in the clouds I see different shapes and colors hidden. I see the beginning of a new day. Sometimes I think that God is talking to me through the sky.

When you look outside and see how big the sky is. That is how big your trust in God should be. That is the only thing that should matter your trust in God. At the end we all live in the same house called earth under the same roof we call sky.

When you feel that your sky is falling apart or things don’t go the way you expect raise your hands to the sky and say this verse, «I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me » Philippians 4:13. Your answer might come from unexpected places.

When you raise your hands to the sky let it be because you are thankful, full of joy, full of happiness. You are letting go of everything that bothers you by doing that you can feel God’s presence with you in the relieved confirmation that everything is in God’s control and everything is going to be alright. When you lift your hands you are letting go the negatives and you are acknowledging that you are in the presence of the Divine. It is like you are asking for help and accepting that it is already offered. Even while we are in school… you raise your hand when you have questions , knowing that the answer is at your disposal. When you worship and you raise your hands what does that mean to you?

Sometimes we look up to the sky to seek answers to our prayers or our questions. This remind me of a song that I love because of the message it has.

«Levanta las manos y di Señor levanto mis manos aunque no tenga fuerzas, aunque tenga mil problemas. Levantó mis manos aunque no tenga fuerzas, levantó mis manos aunque tenga mil problemas. Cuando levantó mis manos comienzo a sentir una unción que me hace cantar. Cuando levantó mis manos comienzo a sentir el fuego. Cuando levantó mis manos mis cargas se van nuevas fuerzas tú me das. Todo eso es posible, todo eso es posible cuando levantó mis manos. Levantó mis manos aunque no tenga fuerzas, levantó mis manos aunque tenga mil problemas, cuando levantó mis manos comienzo a sentir una unción que me hace cantar cuando levantó mis manos comienzo a sentir el fuego, cuando levantó mis manos mis cargas se van nuevas fuerzas tu me das todo eso es posible, todo eso es posible cuando levantó mis manos, cuando levantó mis manos comienzo a sentir una unción que me hace cantar cuando levantó mis manos comienzo a sentir el fuego cuando levantó mis manos mis cargas se van nuevas fuerzas tu me das todo eso es posible todo eso es posible cuando levantó mis man s todo eso es posible cuando levantó mis manos». Por Samuel Hernández.

Spanish http://youtu.be/jrKP-xa8Agk English version http://youtu.be/SPjUT95EyBU

Mark 10:35-45 highlights how some of us have this sense of entitlement in the story of this two brothers asking to be at each side of God. WOW, that woke me up this morning! I certainly thought that being a Christian entitled me to have all and everything I wanted, I asked or I thought I deserved in live. Is not that what I have heard in multiple sermons “ask and you shall received”? But then I began to ask myself what was my goal in life and what God owe me because I was serving and worshiping him?; suddenly I realized that there is nothing God owe me but having mercy on my soul. So now instead of a sense of entitlement because I am a Christian, I have come to the realization that the more I know Christ, the more I understand my call – to serve, to seek, to work for justice for everyone I am sitting in my position.

Prayer: Dear God, allow me to undersand more!
Pastor Maritza

Wed/Miercoles 2/24/16 7PM

These are the questions to consider / Estas son las preguntas para considerar:

1 Read Psalm 115 “The Psalmist’s words, ‘Our God is in the heavens,’ actually unveil far more complex spiritual possibilities.

2 “To say that God is in the sky is not to imply that God lives at a certain address above the earth. Instead, it is an invitation to consider God’s presence that both reaches to the stars and wafts through our lives as a spiritual breeze” (p. 103). How does this statement illustrate a shift from a vertical theology to a grounded sense of God among us?

3 “The ground is the earth’s body, water its lifeblood, and the atmosphere its lungs” (p. 114). How has this book helped you frame climate change from a faith perspective? What motivates and inspires you to face the crisis and institute changes? How do you strike a balance between truth and hope?

4 Discuss any spiritual practices you have tried that have focused on breath? Why do you think spiritual practices focus on breathing? (p.109-111)

Matthew 5:37 “”Let what you say be simple “Yes” or “No”

For the past several days our family have experienced a time of Sabbath. During this time we have put all in God’s hands. He is the doer of the impossible. We have spent time walking, talking, praising, worshiping and enjoying each other. We are enjoying sayingyes to those things that are really important in our lives and allowing for our given 24hrs to take time to rest.

Enjoy these photos, God took time to teach us about His priorities and has keep his promises!

Pastor Maritza

Durante los últimos dias nuestra familia ha experimentado un tiempo sabático. En este tiempo hemos puesto todo en las manos de Dios. El es el hacedor de lo imposible. Hemos tomado tiempo para caminar, hablar, alabar, adorar y disfrutarnos un@s a otr@s. Estamos difrutando decir si a aquellas cosas que son realmente importantes en nuestras vidas y permitiendo tiempo de descanso en las 24 horas que nos fueron otorgadas.

Disfruten estas fotos, Dios tomó tiempo para enseñarnos acerca de sus prioridades y ha mantenido sus promesas.

I do not know why am I reading this devotional this year, but let me tell you, I am laughing, dancing and worshiping to God’s Throne as I sit at His Table! Can you just imagine? Why am I fighting to belong? Why am I crying because others call me outsider, mutilated, second class citizens? My God has already DECREE that I belong, that I have been gathered as an insider, and he has gathered me.

Listen clearly, don’t get it twisted…

“To the [outsiders] who keep my Sabbaths and choose what delights me and keep a firm grip on my covenant, I’ll provide an honored placed in my family and within my city… and as for the outsides who now follow me, working for me, loving my name, and wanting to be my servants, you are welcome to worship the same as the insiders”. (Isaiah 56) This is AWESOME, I have been brought to the Holy Mountain and given Joy in HIS house of prayer; the same as the other…

Are you listening to God?

Prayer: Thank You! I am sitting at your mercy.

Pastora Maritza

No sé por qué este año estoy leyendo este devocional, pero déjenme decirles, yo estoy riéndome , bailando y adorando frente al Trono de Dios mientras estoy sentada en su mesa! ¿Puedes imaginarte esto? ¿Por qué estoy luchando para pertenecer ? ¿Por qué estoy llorando porque los demás me llaman forastero(a), mutilado(a), ciudadanos(as) de segunda clase ? Mi Dios ya ha DECRETADO/DECLARADO que yo PERTENEZCO, que he sido aceptada.

Escucha claramente, no lo tuerces …

«Para las personas [en el margen] que guardan el reposo y eligen lo que me encanta y mantienen un agarre firme en mi pacto, los voy a honrar colocandolos en mi familia y en mi ciudad … y en cuanto a aquellos(as) en el margin que ahora me siguen, trabajando para mí , por amor de mi nombre, y con ganas de ser mis discipulos, ustedes son bienvenidos(as) a adorar juntamente con los de adentro «. ( Isaías 56 ) Esto es IMPRESIONANTE, me ha llevado a la Montaña Santa (su presencia) y me ha otorgado alegría/gozo en su casa de oración; de la misma forma en que lo hizo con el(la) otro(a)… ¿Estás escuchando a Dios ?

Oración: Gracias! Estoy sentada en tu misericordia.