November 15, 2022
by Eric Stillman
In September of 1997, I found myself in the Homer Babbidge Library at UConn, reading an article in Christianity Today on trends they were seeing in youth and young adult ministry. I was a senior at UConn, thinking about where I would end up when I graduated. It had been quite a journey at UConn. On the second day of college, I had committed my life to Jesus. Since then, I had gotten involved in a Christian fellowship group called InterVarsity, joined the staff of a parachurch ministry called Musicon, and served two summers as the Youth Program Director at South United Methodist Church in Manchester, making many wonderful friends along the way. As I entered my senior year, I knew that I wanted to keep following Jesus wherever He might lead....Keep Reading
Posted in: Church life Tags: NewLife, Church life, God's leading
August 10, 2021
by Eric Stillman
On July 12th, 1992, NewLife Christian Fellowship held its first ever public worship service, at the Gallery Restaurant in Glastonbury. Since the second month of the church's existence, when they took over the responsibility from Ron and Eva Say, Jim and Dorothy Scrobko have faithfully prepared the communion elements and served the Lord and God’s people at NewLife by helping us to fulfill Jesus’ command to “do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19). In fact, in those early days, communion was actually served from the bar at the Gallery, which, according to Dorothy, is a sign of God’s sense of humor....Keep Reading
Posted in: Church life Tags: NewLife, Service, faithfulness
July 16, 2013
by Eric Stillman
I‘ll never forget how I went about choosing my college major. I was sitting down to take my SAT‘s in high school, and part of the introductory portion required me to fill out what areas of study I would be interested in pursuing in college. I went down the list and crossed off everything that I did not want to study, and was left with psychology. That sounded pretty interesting, so just like that, psychology became my major.
I will also never forget how I discovered what my heart really wanted to do. ...Keep Reading
Posted in: Service Tags: NewLife, Service
June 18, 2013
by Eric Stillman
There aren‘t many people who could tell you the historical significance of Edward Kimball. After all, he is so un-famous that he doesn‘t even have his own Wikipedia page. But through his simple service to God, he has had a worldwide impact.
In 1854, Kimball was a Sunday School teacher in Detroit, and one day he went to visit a 17 year-old boy who was in his Sunday School class who had little interest in God or religion. During his visit with this young man at his job in a shoe shop, he led the boy into a relationship with Christ. That young man was D.L. Moody, who went on to become one of the greatest evangelists in the world, sharing the gospel with 100 million people, as well as founding Moody Bible Institute and The Moody Church in Chicago.
But the story doesn‘t end there....Keep Reading
Posted in: Discipleship Tags: NewLife, Discipleship
June 4, 2013
by Eric Stillman
Well, we finally received our Certificate of Occupancy for our new building, and so, ten long months after we first visited the building at 1155 Silas Deane Highway, we will be worshiping in Wethersfield this Sunday. And four and a half years after moving to 131 Griswold St, we will be leaving both the building and Glastonbury.
In some ways, everything is changing. We are changing buildings, changing towns, and *gasp* changing from an east of the river church to a west of the river church. How these changes will affect us, God only knows.
But in other, more important ways, nothing is changing....Keep Reading
Posted in: Faith Tags: NewLife, Faith
January 29, 2013
by Eric Stillman
“If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:23-24)...Keep Reading
Tags: Relationships, NewLife
January 22, 2013
by Jim Quigley
Today’s blog post is written by Jim Quigley, who is coordinating the move to our new location.
...Keep Reading
Tags: NewLife
November 6, 2012
“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:19-22)...Keep Reading
Tags: NewLife, Guest Blogger
January 24, 2012
by Jim Quigley
Today’s Pulse article is written by Jim Quigley, who works with the youth group at NewLife, about the upcoming 30 Hour Famine....Keep Reading
Tags: NewLife, Guest Blogger
December 20, 2011
by Eric Stillman
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Romans 10:13-...Keep Reading
Tags: NewLife, Missions
July 12, 2011
Today’s guest blogger is Brad Brinkley. Brad and his wife Taylor have been a part of NewLife since last November....Keep Reading
Tags: NewLife, Discipleship
May 10, 2011
by Eric Stillman
Today’s post is reprinted from a post written on August 7, 2007. It’s one of my personal favorites, written back when we were a church of 40 or so, and a reminder to me of the amazing grace of our God. Despite our best efforts to screw things up, He continues to love us and to never give up on us, and continues to convince “O we of little faith” that the best is yet to come....Keep Reading
Tags: God, NewLife
February 1, 2011
by Jim Quigley
Today’s guest blogger is Jim Quigley.
“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’” (Luke 15:28-32)...Keep Reading
Tags: NewLife, Discipleship
January 25, 2011
by Gordon Lawrence
Today’s guest blogger is Gordon Lawrence, a long-time member of NewLife as well as a volunteer with Free Inside prison ministry. He is writing today to share about his experience with Free Inside, as well as to share some of the opportunities for people to partner with this important ministry....Keep Reading
Tags: NewLife, Outreach
January 11, 2011
by Eric Stillman
“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16)
“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)...Keep Reading
Tags: NewLife, Discipleship
December 14, 2010
by Eric Stillman
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is" his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2)....Keep Reading
Tags: NewLife, Discipleship
June 22, 2010
by Eric Stillman
This morning was the memorial service for Eve Christie, a woman of great faith and prayer who was a long-time member of NewLife before moving to a different church in 2008. Eve died last Wednesday of cancer at age 68, but she left a legacy of the power of prayer and the joy of trusting in the Father through even the most difficult circumstances. One of the verses shared during the service was Philippians 1:21 - “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Eve’s life was most certainly about Jesus Christ, and praise God that in death she has only gained a greater relationship with Him....Keep Reading
Tags: NewLife, Death
June 15, 2010
by Eric Stillman
One of the highlights of my week this past month has proven to be Fight Club, the new men’s group that began meeting on Wednesday nights in May. What a privilege it has been to see men sharing their lives and struggles with each other, encouraging each other with Scripture and from personal experience, and forming real friendships. I have found that while there is a place for Bible study, there is also great benefit to beginning with our issues and struggles and then bringing Biblical wisdom into those specific situations. One passage in particular that has ministered to our group has been Micah 7:8-9, which reads:...Keep Reading
Tags: NewLife, Discipleship
June 1, 2010
by Eric Stillman
Whenever I am reading through the Bible, I always experience a sense of welcome familiarity upon returning to the Gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John - that feels like returning home after a long trip. As rich as many of the Old Testament books can be, they often require an understanding of the history and key people of Israel, as well as familiarity with the general scope of the Bible. But the Gospels are familiar ground, the stories of Jesus’ life both beautiful and easier to relate to....Keep Reading
Tags: Jesus, NewLife
April 13, 2010
by Eric Stillman
For this week‘s post, I wanted to turn things around on you and ask your opinion on something:
What do you think of topical sermons?...Keep Reading
Tags: NewLife, Preaching
April 6, 2010
by Eric Stillman
Jerry Bridges, in his book The Gospel for Real Life, tells a story about a Southern plantation owner who left a $50,000 inheritance (equivalent to about $500,000 today) to a former slave who had served him faithfully all his life. The lawyer for the estate duly notified the former slave of his inheritance and told him that the money had been deposited for him at the local bank. However, weeks went by, and the former slave never called for his inheritance, and so that banker called again to tell him that he had $50,000 to draw on at any time. The former slave replied, ‘œDo you think I can have fifty cents to buy a sack of cornmeal?‘...Keep Reading
Tags: NewLife, Salvation
March 30, 2010
by Eric Stillman
This past Sunday, we celebrated a baptism service as one of our newest members, Anthony Varesio, was baptized. Many people come from traditions where infants are baptized, and then confirm their baptismal vows in their teenage years. In our tradition, as we understand the Bible, we believe that baptism is a public expression of an inward reality, that an individual has died to his or her old self, been washed of his or her sins, and has been raised to new life in Christ. Consider Romans 6:3-4 - ‘œDon‘t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.‘ Baptism is a way of identifying oneself with Jesus in His death and resurrection, and therefore something we believe should be experienced by those who can consciously make such a profession of faith. Finally, it is also an act of obedience, keeping in mind that Jesus, who himself was baptized in Matthew 3:13-17, commanded us in his Great Commission to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything He had commanded us....Keep Reading
Tags: NewLife, Salvation
January 19, 2010
by Eric Stillman
The story goes that there once was a man who, in order to seek God‘s will for his life, was fond of opening up his Bible and reading whatever verse he first laid his eyes on, so that he might obey it. One day, as this man was going through a particularly difficult time with his family, he sought the Lord for guidance. Opening his Bible and pointing, he found his finger resting on the second part of Matthew 27:5, which read ‘œThen Judas went out and hanged himself.‘ Puzzled by the Lord‘s directions, but still hungry for a word from God, he called a ‘œdo-over‘ and flipped to another page, where his eyes fell on the latter half of Luke 10:37: ‘œJesus told him, ‘Go and do likewise.‘‘ Flustered, but chalking it up to coincidence, the man decided to give his method one last chance. Saying a quick prayer, he flipped the pages and inserted his finger between two of them, pointing to the end of John 13:27. There, staring up at him, were these words: ‘œ‘What you are about to do, do quickly,‘ Jesus told him.‘...Keep Reading
Tags: NewLife, Bible
January 5, 2010
by Eric Stillman
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:16)...Keep Reading
Tags: NewLife, Bible
November 10, 2009
Today‘s Pulse of NewLife is written by guest writer Anthony Varesio. Anthony and his wife Carrie live in Glastonbury, and have been attending NewLife for about eight months....Keep Reading
Tags: Guest Blogger, NewLife
October 15, 2009
by Eric Stillman
I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you (Psalm 119:11)...Keep Reading
Tags: NewLife, Bible
October 6, 2009
by Eric Stillman
Last week I reference an article in The Hartford Courant and asked the question of why we shouldn‘t all just be spiritual people while keeping our distance from organized religion. After all, with the options available to us today, it is possible to listen to your favorite preacher, worship band, and even to financially support your favorite cause, all from the comfort of your own home, without having to worry about the messiness of relating to other people. Thank you to all who shared your thoughts on the blog or on my Facebook page. Here are my thoughts on the matter:...Keep Reading
Tags: Church, NewLife
September 9, 2009
by Eric Stillman
When I was younger, I used to assume that pastors and priests must get free tickets to heaven for giving their life to the service of God. I no longer believe that, now that I know that God‘s grace and favor are not earned but are a free gift, and that we serve Him not for what we can get from Him but because of what we have already gotten from Him. I‘m not in this ministry for the free ticket, the money, the hours, or any of those reasons; I am doing this because I believe this is what God has made me to do. Last week I shared five of the challenges that are unique to the pastor‘s job. This week, let me share three of the blessings that are unique to this calling....Keep Reading
Tags: Church, NewLife
September 1, 2009
by Eric Stillman
‘œIt must be nice to only work one day a week!‘
Ahh, the pastor‘s favorite words to hear. To those unfamiliar with church life, it may seem that the pastor does little more than stand up on a Sunday and speak for thirty minutes and then shake hands with people as they live. The reality, of course, is quite different. The pastor‘s job is one of the most unique jobs out there, in my opinion, and I thought it might be instructive to share five of the challenges that are unique to the pastor‘s job. Next week, I will share some of the blessings that are unique to this calling. What I write is not meant as a complaint; rather, I believe it will help you know better how to pray for me and my family, and will be helpful to any of you who are considering going into the ministry....Keep Reading
Tags: Church, NewLife
July 28, 2009
by Eric Stillman
Somewhere in this great land of ours, there stands a man who has yet to leave his closet. He is a very spiritual man, but he is not in the closet because he has come to spend time with the Lord in prayer. No - he went in to get a shirt to wear that day. However, after a couple of hours he is still in his closet, because he has been waiting on God to clarify whether he should choose the navy and gray striped button down or the green polo shirt....Keep Reading
Tags: NewLife, Discipleship
