🌟January Theme: Reorientation🌟

🌟Worship Service, January 18, 2026🌟

🌟10:30 a.m. at Other Lands 🌟

What if the gospel was never meant to be heard through only one kind of voice?

Join us this Sunday as we explore Luke’s bold and beautiful pattern of telling the story of Jesus through men and women who stand side by side as witnesses to what God is doing. Again and again, Luke pairs voices, stories, and lives, not to create balance for its own sake, but to show that something essential is lost when only one perspective is allowed to speak.

We’ll then step into the familiar home of Mary and Martha, a story many of us think we know. But instead of a lesson about being busy versus being prayerful, we’ll listen for how Jesus challenges the systems that produce anxiety, exhaustion, and quiet resentment. In that moment, Jesus is not shaming one sister or praising the other. He is exposing the pressures that tell us who must serve, who gets to sit and learn, and who is allowed to choose differently.

This is a story about permission. About whose voices are protected. About what happens when faith refuses to conform to expectations that diminish our humanity.

If you’re longing for a faith that takes your lived experience seriously, that names the systems that shape our lives, and that still offers hope without pretending everything is fine, you’re invited. Come as you are. Bring your questions, your weariness, and your curiosity. There is good news here, and it still has the power to unsettle and to heal.

NOTE ON THE WEATHER: As of the writing of this newsletter, the forecast for Sunday is calling for clear weather. In the event that we have inclement weather, Pastor Brian will send out a text to congregants. If you have questions, feel free to reach out to him. Pastor@newdayccc.com or by phone or text at 864-216-7714.

Dear Beloved Community,

Reorienting Toward Hope When the World Feels Heavy

There is a lot of heavy news pressing in on us right now. Stories of violence and injustice. Fear rippling through immigrant communities in Minnesota after ICE crackdowns and the tragic murder of Renée Good. A political climate where the cost of living feels ignored while wars are waged far from home, often at the expense of human lives and dignity. Even a brief glance at the headlines can leave the heart feeling weary.

When bad news comes at us constantly, it does more than inform us. It quietly reorients us. Over time, it can train us to expect harm, to brace ourselves, to live just a little more guarded than before. We may not notice it happening, but our imaginations narrow, our patience thins, and hope starts to feel fragile.

Faith does not ask us to look away from suffering. Paying attention matters. Bearing witness matters. But faith also knows that we are not meant to live in a permanent state of alarm. When our spirits are flooded day after day, compassion can turn into exhaustion, and righteous concern can slip into despair.

Tend to how you take in the world.

This might mean choosing specific times of day to read the news rather than letting it follow you everywhere. It could look like putting the phone down before bed, resisting the urge to scroll first thing in the morning, or noticing when the news begins to shape your mood or posture. These are not acts of avoidance or denial. They are ways of caring for your spirit so that you can remain present, compassionate, and grounded.

Create space to respond rather than react.

Prayer, journaling, or quiet reflection give us room to name what the news stirs in us instead of carrying it silently or letting it spill out sideways. Lament has always been part of the life of faith. It allows grief, anger, and fear to be spoken honestly, while still trusting that sorrow does not have the final word.

Stay rooted in real relationships.

Checking on a neighbor, supporting a local effort, sharing a meal, or listening deeply to someone else’s story can reorient us toward what is tangible and life-giving. These ordinary acts remind us that love, care, and solidarity are still holding the world together, even when the headlines suggest otherwise.

The bad news will keep coming. That much is certain. What remains a choice is whether we let it shape us toward fear or toward faithfulness. Reorienting our attention does not mean closing our eyes to pain. It means choosing practices that keep our hearts open, our spirits rooted, and our hope alive.

Blessings,

Pastor Brian

New Day continues its mission to become a "church beyond the walls" with a broad range of activities to build community and several ways to grow in your faith and spirituality over the rest of this month.

Upcoming Events

Worship Service: Sunday, January 18, 2026. Worship Service at 10:30 a.m. at Other Lands.
Q Christian Conference: Thursday, January 22, - Sunday, January 25. https://www.qcfconf.org/. Several of us are attending this in person in Portland, Oregon. However, you can also attend virtually. This is the premier LGBGTQ Christian conference in the country. Contact Pastor Brian if you have questions.
Bible Study: Sunday, February 1, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at Other Lands. Congregational meeting to follow to discuss 2026 budget.
Gentle Yoga: Saturday, February 7, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at the AYMC at First Baptist Greenville.
Worship Service: Sunday, February 15, 2026. Worship Service at 10:30 a.m. at Other Lands.

If you'd like to add anything for next weeks' community prayer, please contact Pastor Brian at pastor@newdayccc.com.

Prayers for New Day as we search for a new worship home.
Prayers for health and healing in the new year!
Prayers for Gary's mother whose cancer has metastasized.
Prayers for Gary's health.
Prayers for Brian, Scott, & Gary and others as they travel to Portland for the Q Christian conference.
Prayers for Beth, Jamie, & Travis.
Prayers for Andrea and pain management.
Prayers for Jason as he seeks to move back to California.
Prayers for LJ's friend Sharon who has cancer.
Prayers for Pastor Brian, Beth, Andrea, Sarah, and others who have unspoken requests this week.

Please support the work of the church by donating your time, talent, and tithe.

As we embrace new opportunities in 2025, your support is more vital than ever. Your generosity fuels our mission to serve the LGBTQ community, provide a welcoming space for worship, and grow into all God calls us to be. Every gift, no matter the size, helps us continue creating a space of love, connection, and hope. Thank you for being part of this journey—your contributions truly make a difference.

1/1/26-1/14/26

Tithe Income: $100

Interest Earned: $0

Expenses: $3.20

Net: 96.80

Click the link below to give through our Flocknote portal or donate through Zelle to treasurer@newdayccc.com.

Give to General Fund

New Day Christian Community Church
MEETING LOCATION - OTHER LANDS

731 Rutherford Road, Greenville, SC 29609

New Day Christian Community Church exists to provide a diverse, open, and affirming Christian community to all who desire a discipleship walk with Jesus Christ by offering challenging worship experiences, mission-based service opportunities, and Biblical learning so that we are empowered to reach out to others, introduce them to the love and strength of the beloved community, and invite them to join the faith journey of discipleship.