Frequently Asked Questions
What is a HOME group and how do you get into a HOME group?
How does NEC train leaders for small groups?
What is our denomination, the CRC?
How are children included in baptism and communion?
What about other religions and the people within them?
What matters most at NEC and why?
Can we get married by one of the pastors at NEC?
Why do you use media and music from pop culture?
I don’t really know how to help, but I’d like to help … how can I?
How can I meet with Pastor Chris and/or Bryan?
What is a HOME group and how do you get into a HOME group?
A HOME group is a group of no more than twelve men and women who commit themselves to begin friendships while experiencing and expressing God together. The goal is to create a safe place, a “home”, where people can enjoy ...
• Hot meals - Food and fun create an environment that is comfortable and enjoyable for everyone.
• Open chairs - Friends from outside (or inside) the church can come to a safe place to meet people and ask questions about God.
• Making Friends - Friendships begin by giving and receiving care. Many friendships will grow into LIFE groups.
• Experiencing God - Prayer and discussions are relevant and not intimidating, so that anyone can experience Christ in them.
It’s easy to join one too! Just call the church office (508-541-9078) and ask. We’ll place you in a HOME group as soon as we find an opening in one that meets at a time that is convenient for your schedule. Usually, that’s right away. Sometimes, if your availability is limited, there is a wait. See the link to HOME groups for more information. Back to top.
How does NEC train leaders for small groups?
Leaders are trained in several ways. First and foremost, they learn about being a leader through their own experience in a HOME group. Not only do they get a feel for how HOME groups work by participating in one, but they also watch the HOME group leader facilitate. We will also apprentice an interested leader with a current leader. Additionally, there are different training sessions offered occasionally. Back to top.
What is our denomination, the CRC?
The Christian Reformed Church is a Protestant Denomination that started in 1857 by Dutch Immigrants. Like many immigrants to the U.S., these folks desired to import their faith from their place of origin to America. The theological flavor of this denomination is something like Presbyterian, coming from the roots of the Protestant Reformation in the early 1500s. For more information, check out the link www.crcna.org (Christian Reformed Church in North America). Back to top.
How are children included in baptism and communion?
In the Reformed strain of Christian thought, children are included in the sacrament of baptism. This is mostly because this sacrament is understood as a sign and seal of God’s promise to be our God, accepting us in and through Christ. Our acceptance is learned and experienced (and hopefully one day embraced) in a community of faith where Christ is Lord. Baptism is a beautiful way for us to celebrate and remember God’s desire to be our God even before our desire for him begins, so it is truly by grace.
Much like circumcision did before Christ, baptism offers a visible and tactile experience for us to welcome new people into the community of faith. We understand that other traditions have different understandings of baptism. Many of us are from various backgrounds such as Roman Catholic, Baptist, and Jewish. Each tradition has its own understanding. We respect that. If you have more questions about baptism, or would like to have your children baptized (or be baptized yourself) please come to our Fan2Player seminar, where we can discuss the matter with other curious people.
Communion (Eucharist or the Lord’s Supper) is also a sacrament that celebrates the love and grace of Christ in community. The emphasis is a little different from baptism, in that we point especially to His offer to eat and drink “as often as you remember me.” While baptism emphasizes coming into community, communion emphasizes staying in community (see 1 Corinthians 11). Children, with a child-like faith, are encouraged to participate. Parents are encouraged to speak with their children about the sacrament, their faith, and their experience in community. Some wonder if the children are knowledgeable enough to participate. Our own understanding as adults is also limited, and hinges on our own child-like faith. Therefore our answer to the question, “Why do you allow young children to participate?” is “Child-like faith is all we need.” Back to top.
What about other religions and the people within them?
We are Christians, which means that we believe Jesus Christ is Lord, Son of God, Savior of the World. That being said, this does not mean that we are superior to or better than any other people, regardless of religion. Many other religions offer wonderful insights for truth, grace, and love. We have much to learn from them. For more information, check out Brian McLaren’s book, A Generous Orthodoxy. Back to top.
What matters most at NEC and why?
New England Chapel exists to be a healthy community experiencing the love of our Father and then expressing that love to one another and our world.
While embracing a spiritually disconnected and hurting generation of seekers who have yet to experience a friendship with God, we are committed to being:
Biblical: We believe that God's Word is the ultimate guide and authority for our faith and life. All of our ministries start with the Bible.
Prayerful: We believe that Prayer is the best way to express our love and gratitude to God and our dependence on Him as our Heavenly Father. Our ministries are discovered and empowered through prayer.
Authentic: God is not fooled by our religious fronts. True love is impossible without truth. Jesus said that the two greatest commandments were to love God and to love people. We will live with authenticity in our love relationships with Him and each other.
Purposeful: We believe that God's great commission to His church is to bring Jesus to all people, no matter where they are on their spiritual journey. All of our ministries are guided by that purpose.
Relevant: We believe that people cannot embrace something they do not understand. Our ministries aim to communicate God's love and truth in clear, practical, creative ways that speak to our contemporary culture.
Caring: We believe that everyone needs to care and be cared for in order to grow in the love of Christ. Through small groups we build intentional relationships of love, honesty, and unconditional support.
Teamwork: We believe that everyone plays an equally important part in the church. Every member is a minister, and every leader is a servant. We provide support and guidance in discovering and developing the gifts of every member. Back to top.
Can we get married by one of the pastors at NEC?
The contact person for weddings at NEC is Erika Johnson. You can reach her at bryananderika@hotmail.com. We also have a document that outlines weddings at NEC. Click here for the Weddings at NEC Document (Adobe Acrobat Reader required click here to download reader). Back to top.
Why do you use media and music from pop culture?
We believe that people cannot embrace something they do not understand. Our ministries aim to communicate God's love and truth in clear, practical, creative ways that speak to our contemporary culture.
All truth is God’s truth. There is so much spiritual hunger and insight in our culture. Rather than ignore it, we like to use it, build on it, and discuss it in light of Scripture. Not only is this a great bridge for people outside of the church, who will recognize familiar things, but it’s also an important way to teach Christians how to find grace in culture, how to find God outside of church, and how to live as a Christian in a non-Christian world. For more discussion on this and other topics, please come to our Fan2Player discussion (link here for info on that). Back to top.
I don’t really know how to help, but I’d like to help … how can I?
The best way to find out how you can help is to connect with Jenny Reks. Her job is to help people at NEC find their SHAPE and where they might fit. You can reach her at jennyr@newenlandchapel.org Back to top.
How can I meet with a Pastor?
If you have questions about NEC - the mission, values, denomination, background etc. - then the best thing to do is join Pastor Chris and Pastor Bryan in our Fan2Player discussion (click here for Fan2Player info). If you would like personal counseling,
is our Pastoral Care Director (click here for bio information). She is available for appointments and if she can, she will be more than happy to help you. Otherwise she may refer you to another resource to ensure that you find the help you need. If you have any questions, please feel free to call the office and someone on our staff will point you in the right direction. Back to top.
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