This Week at New Spirit: You Don’t Earn Your Place Here – Grace Comes First

This Week at New Spirit June 2–8, 2026 Pastor’s Reflection This past Sunday, we continued our core values series with the simple but powerful truth that grace comes first. Life teaches us that we have to earn our place, prove our worth, or become acceptable before we are fully welcomed. The gospel tells a different
Read more
No Comments

Grace Comes First: You Start with Your Place

What would happen if the church created a rule of like that said “Grace Comes First: You Start with Your Place”? Keep reading to see how Pastor Hartman addressed this question or go to our YouTube channel and watch Sunday’s livestream. Sunday, May 31, 2026 – Grace Comes First: You Start with Your Place. 30-Second
Read more
No Comments

This Week at New Spirit: The Spirit Creates Belonging

This Week at New Spirit 1. Pastor’s Reflection One of the most important things we named on Pentecost Sunday is this: The Holy Spirit creates belonging before demanding conformity. That means you do not have to pretend here. You do not have to have all the answers. None of us have to earn grace. You
Read more
No Comments

This Is Who We Are: When the Holy Spirit Creates Belonging

This Is Who We Are: When the Holy Spirit Creates Belonging Sermon Reflection Blog Pentecost is often called the birthday of the church. This year for Pentecost we remembered that the Holy Spirit calls us to active ministry. Here at New Spirit we took time to intentionally say “This Is Who We Are” as we
Read more
No Comments

This Week at New Spirit 5.20.26

This Week at New Spirit 5.20.26 Pastor’s Reflection Over the past few years, something has been happening at New Spirit. Not all at once. Not through one program or one person.>But slowly, faithfully, through worship, service, hard conversations, acts of love, and the movement of the Holy Spirit. This Sunday, on Pentecost, we are going
Read more
No Comments

You Are Never Alone in Prayer

30-Second Sermon Summary In Romans 8, Paul reminds us that we do not always know how to pray as we ought. Yet even in our weakness, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us. Jesus himself also prays for us continually. Prayer is not about performance or perfection. Prayer is about dependence on God and the reminder
Read more
No Comments

This Week at New Spirit — May 10, 2026

This Week at New Spirit — May 10, 2026 See how the spirit is moving in the New Spirit Lutheran Church weekly update for the week of May 10, 2026. Pastor’s Reflection This week, I have been thinking a lot about authenticity and intentionality. Over the last couple of weeks I have been working on
Read more
No Comments

From “Thoughts and Prayers” to “Prayer and Action”

From “Thoughts and Prayers” to “Prayer and Action” is a message that we need to hear in today’s context. Too often people respond with “thoughts and prayers” and go about their day as if nothing has happened. To see the full worship and sermon that this blog is based on click here: Sunday, May 10,
Read more
No Comments

This Week at New Spirit – May 6, 2026

This Week at New Spirit – May 6, 2026 Pastor’s Reflection This past Sunday we talked about prayer—and specifically the question so many of us carry: when do I even have time to pray? Here’s the truth: most of us don’t have hours each day to devote to prayer like Martin Luther did. And that’s
Read more
No Comments

Anytime Is the Right Time for Prayer

Prayer That Fits Real Life Some of us hear the word prayer and immediately feel guilty. We think about people who wake up before sunrise, sit in silence, read Scripture for an hour, and somehow still have time to get everyone out the door. We hear stories about spiritual giants, and instead of feeling inspired,
Read more
No Comments