Frequently asked questions about New Song

1. What makes New Song tick?
2. How is New Song starting?
3. Why is the church called New Song?
4. What denomination is New Song?
5. Who's providing the seed funds to birth this new congregation?

1. What makes New Song tick? Our Values and Core Belief Covenant

Our vision is to help people experience God's love through Jesus Christ and actively reflect it to others. We believe this happens best through...

	Real and meaningful connections with Jesus
	Relevant and vital teaching and music
	Renewed lives through discipleship and learning
	Relationships that are genuine and caring
	Relaxed, playful atmosphere
	Radical, life-changing commitment

The Bible. God's Word is our foundation, practical in addressing every day issues, life-changing in its power and content. It's one place where we meet Jesus and it is through this Word that Jesus becomes real to us.

The Gospel. We commit ourselves to passionately sharing the message that God has acted on our behalf in Jesus and that through the Holy Spirit we can experience a life-transforming relationship with God. Martin Luther's understanding of this Good News with a commitment to Word alone, Faith alone and Grace alone undergirds and shapes our ministry.

Prayer. We are committed to surrounding all we are and do in prayer, seeking to put God first in every aspect of our ministry. We believe in the power of the Holy Spirit through prayer, that prayer changes things and is an essential and important part of a disciple's life.

Outreach. We commit ourselves to passionately sharing the love of Christ in relevant and engaging ways with those not yet connected to Jesus or the church. Because lost people matter to God, we will make them the priority of our mission. We will continually seek to create an inviting climate of warmth and hospitality that welcomes all to come and hear about Jesus at their own pace.

Worship. We believe there is an ache and need in each person's heart that finds its satisfaction and nourishment in times of vital, meaningful worship. Worship is the primary time when the "family" of New Song gathers to honor God through praise and song, to seek God's guidance for daily life through God's word read and applied, to welcome new disciples through the sacrament of Baptism, to pray for the needs of others, to receive regular sustenance through the Sacrament of Communion, and to carry out faith through action and service. For worship to be vital and meaningful, we believe it must be culturally relevant, uplifting, and participatory rather than performance based. So at New Song, we honor heritage while at the same time employing the tools and sounds that are a part of our "shaped-by-media" culture. Worship at New Song will engage all the senses through drama, spoken word, video, music, dance and the arts.

Discipleship. At New Song we encourage people to join the adventure and journey of discipleship by creating a culture in which Bible study, devotional and life reflection are central. Learning to follow Jesus with one's whole heart, mind and soul is the aim. The teaching focus, while certainly content based, aims more at equipping adults, youth and children to live a lifestyle that is Christ's style. We believe this happens best through small groups where people gather to learn, pray, grow in fellowship and serve. Our vision is for a church with dozens of smaller discipleship groups for youth and adults that meet regularly at times most convenient to those participating.

Serving. As we give ourselves away in love and service to others our own lives take on fuller meaning and value. We seek to be a community that will serve as Jesus served. People, we believe, are eager to make a difference with their lives and leave a legacy of significance. Putting flesh to our faith is a mark of meaningful discipleship.

Stewardship. We are blessed to be a blessing. As faithful stewards of resources that belong ultimately to God, we pledge to share a portion of what God has first given us to futher the work of God's kingdom through the ministry of New Song. We affirm that the biblical concept of the tithe is a goal toward which God invites committed disciples to aspire.

Senior adults. We celebrate, value and encourage the unique gifts of those living the golden years of their lives! At New Song, we believe "retirement" is not about shutting down and closing doors. It's a time for new friendships, new challenges and new opportunities to make a difference with one's life. We seek to be a community of dialogue, support, fellowship and commitment for seniors of all ages.

Children and Youth. We intentionally structure ministries that communicate love and spiritual truths in a way that is appropriate to each age group. Children are a gift to God and have an important and vital place in this ministry.

Empowerment. The goal is for each worshiper at New Song to experience the kind of personal involvement, at their self-chosen pace and level, that leads to their understanding that they are "a minister" and have at least one ministry in which to exercise their spiritual gifts and one small group activity in which to actively participate.

Innovative Excellence. We are passionately committed to doing whatever it takes within the context of the Gospel to build a church that reaches all people and helps them grow in their relationship with Jesus. Risk, relevance, change, flexibility, excellence and the freedom to fail grow out of our desire to connect the Gospel to the community.

Welcoming of All. We commit ourselves to being a church for every generation. We pledge ourselves to diversity, consciously welcoming all.

Community church. We pledge ourselves to be a faith community welcoming disciples of all Christian backgrounds. We minimize our denominational affiliation in order to maximize our call to be a community church with Jesus as its head, serving the most people possible.

2. How has New Song started?

The church has started in four phases:

	Conception Phase (July – December 2002) During this stage, the focus was on prayer, getting the word out, and meeting the residents of Anthem and Seven Hills. Through direct mail and personal visits, we invited interested neighbors to join us in this adventure of faith.
	Ministry Groups Phase (November 2002) As people became interested, we provided opportunities to meet in small groups for fellowship, worship, study, and prayer. To explore the current small group ministry available, click here.
	Launch of Worship (January 2003-present) Public worship began January 5, 2003, in the Delaware Ballroom at the Anthem Center.
	Since our first worship services, New Song has become a full-service congregation offering a diversity of Christian ministries and outreach opportunities. The congregation broke ground on its first facilities on May 1, 2005. On September 24, 2006, New Song Church dedicated its new facilities to the glory of God and in service to Jesus Christ.

3. Why is the church called New Song?

Our name is taken from the Psalms of the Old Testament. Many of the psalms are songs of praise raised to God. In Psalm 40:3, for example, we read "He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord." We believe as God loves us, God puts a "new song" in our hearts. Then as others see what God has done for us, they too will want to put their trust in the Lord. People yearn to sing a "new song" with their lives.

Another reason for selecting "New Song" as the name for this faith community comes from our location in the Anthem communities of Henderson, Nevada. Many of the streets in this community are named after musical terms or instruments. The address for our new church, for example, is 1291 Cornet Street.

4. What denomination is New Song?

New Song is a Christian church within the Lutheran faith tradition. Our name is inspired by Martin Luther, the Augustinian Monk who called for reform and a church for the people during the Reformation of the 16th century. We are sponsored by and affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Click here to visit the ELCA Web site where you can find information about our beliefs, faith understanding and practice. The ELCA is the largest body of Lutherans in the United States with over five million members in 10,766 congregations.

5. Who's providing the seed funds to birth this new congregation?

There are literally hundreds of people all across the United States who are behind the birthing of this new faith community. Through generous offerings and intentional prayer, members in congregations across the country have provided seed funds to support this new congregation. In particular a group of congregations in Minnesota have taken on the role of Mission Founders providing significant dollars over a three year period to birth this new church. They are Oakgrove Lutheran, Richfield, MN; House of Prayer, Richfield, MN; Richfield Lutheran, Minneapolis, MN; Diamond Lake Lutheran, Minneapolis, MN; and Woodlake Lutheran, Richfield, MN.