This Week at New Spirit
Check out what God is Doing here at New Spirit in this week’s This Week at New Spirit!
Pastor’s Reflection
This article is a little longer, because I am so excited by what is happening.
I don’t know if you can feel it, but this time of year always carries a different kind of energy. Maybe it’s the lingering glow of Easter—the reminder that new life is real and that, in the end, God’s love wins. Maybe it’s the excitement of WrestleMania weekend. Or maybe it’s what happens when resurrection, springtime, and real life all start showing up at once. Whatever it is, it feels like something is stirring. And here’s the thing: it’s not just out there in the season. It’s happening here.
New Spirit, we have come a long way in the last few years. And sometimes we need to pause long enough to actually see it.
When Pastor Hartman arrived in 2021, our average Sunday attendance was around 60. By the end of 2022, that number had only moved slightly to 62. But over time, something has been building.
- 2025 average Sunday attendance: 71
- First quarter of 2025: 75
- First quarter of 2026: 78
That might not sound dramatic at first, but in congregational life, that kind of steady movement matters. It’s not just about numbers going up. It’s about people showing up, getting connected, and becoming part of something real.
And it’s not just Sundays. We’re seeing growth in Bible study, book groups, and especially in our hunger and homelessness ministries. Wednesday Bible study will soon have to move rooms for a second time to accommodate the growing group. Lives are being touched in ways that no spreadsheet could ever fully capture.
Across the country, many churches are shrinking or struggling just to hold steady. Which makes what we’re seeing here more significant. Not because we’re doing everything perfectly. Not because numbers define us. But because something real is happening.
People are connecting. Faith is growing. Most importantly, God is at work.
And even more than what has already happened, I keep coming back to this: God is not done. God is doing a new thing.
We are stepping into a season where new things are going to take shape—new opportunities, new growth, new ways of living out who we are called to be.
The Spirit is here. God is moving. Something new is unfolding.
And I’m grateful we get to walk into it together. Here’s to what God is doing—and what’s still to come.
From Sunday’s Message
This Sunday we named something real: many people carry quiet fear around prayer. They worry they do not know the right words or the right way to do it. But the good news is simpler than that fear. In John 20, Jesus meets people in uncertainty, and in Romans 8 the Spirit helps us when we do not even have words. Prayer is not performance. It is honest relationship with God. That means you can start where you are, tell the truth, and trust that God is already with you.
Weekly Spiritual Practice
Each day this week, stop once and pray one honest prayer beginning with: “God, I’m here. This is what’s real…” Then tell the truth without editing, even if all you have is silence, frustration, gratitude, or tears.
Read the sermon blog: You’re Not Doing It Wrong
This Sunday at New Spirit
Scripture: Luke 24:13-35
Join us for worship this Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
We’ll gather for real prayer, honest community, and a word that meets us right where we are—no pretending, just authenticity.
We’re grateful to have Deacon Wendi Van Beek, Lutheran Campus Ministry at University of Arizona – Interim Director, leading worship and bringing the message this week. At New Spirit, we trust that God speaks through many voices—and this Sunday will be no different.
Come as you are. Bring your questions. Bring your whole self.
Life at New Spirit
What’s happening through our hunger and homelessness ministry right now is incredible—and it matters more than ever.
Recently, we were asked to share stories and data from our ministry with the ELCA as part of a conversation around hunger, homelessness, and SNAP funding. As I pulled the numbers from the first quarter of this year and compared them to last year, I’ll be honest—I was amazed.
| Category | 2025 | 2026 | Increase | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meals Served | 205 | 360 | +155 | +76% |
| Packaged Food (lbs) | 411 | 1280 | +869 | +211% |
| Clothing Distributed | 545 | 1330 | +785 | +144% |
| Haircuts | 21 | 30 | +9 | +43% |
| Car Bags | 150 | 162 | +12 | +8% |
Even these numbers do not tell the full story. They do not capture the conversations, the prayers, the dignity restored, or the moments where someone feels seen again. They do not show the housing connections, medical screenings, or the countless small acts of care that happen every time we gather. But they do tell us this:
- The need is growing—and so is our response.
- This is something to celebrate. We are living out the call of Jesus in real, tangible ways.
- We also need to be ready for what comes next.
As this ministry grows, so do the costs. Each car bag costs about $15–$20. At our current pace, that increase alone could mean an additional $700–$1,000 this year.
And still—we will continue to show up. We will continue to serve. We will continue to trust that God provides. Because this is who we are.
Upcoming Opportunities
- New Member Class: Sunday, May 3 after worship
- New Member Sunday: Sunday, May 10
Prayer Requests
During the season of Easter, we are intentionally focusing on developing and strengthening our prayer practice. These prompts are a little longer than usual and include a one-line prayer to repeat throughout each day.
April 14
God, be with leaders gathering to explore how worship connects to your creation. Guide their conversations and stir something that brings life to the world.
Repeat Today: Holy Spirit, guide us into what gives life.
April 15
Holy Spirit, stir something in me. Don’t let my faith stay abstract—help me live it in real ways today.
Repeat Today: Help me live my faith in real life.
April 16
God, be present with people in rural communities. Bring strength, creativity, and hope to their churches and daily lives.
Repeat Today: Bring life and hope to every community.
April 17
Jesus, I don’t see you—and still I believe. Thank you for faith that doesn’t depend on having everything figured out.
Repeat Today: I trust you, even when I don’t understand.
April 18
God, reshape how I see peace. Give me strength, patience, and courage to be a peacemaker.
Repeat Today: Make me a strong peacemaker.
April 19
God, how are you speaking to me today? Help me slow down enough to notice your presence.
Repeat Today: Help me notice your voice today.
April 20
God, thank you for those who lead and care for others. Strengthen and encourage them as they walk with people in faith.
Repeat Today: Strengthen those who lead and care for others.
You’re not doing it wrong. Just start praying.
To be part of the email prayer chain, contact Brenda Feller or Nancy in the office.
