New Life in Christ Church Weekly Update - April 21, 2023 |
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This Sunday: April 23, 2023 |
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8:00 am Praise in the Park, Gilchrist Park
9:15 am Traditional, Sanctuary
10:45 am Contemporary, Life Center
Message: "Famous Last Words"
Pastor Mike Loomis
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- Cookie Delivery, April 11
- Church Library News
- "Journey of a Lifetime" - only 3 seats left!
- Children's Home Fifth Sunday, April 30
- Holy Land Trip (March 5-14, 2024) Informational Meeting, May 1
- "Revealing the Mysteries of Heaven," Begins May 3
- Seekers Bible Study Invitation
- In the Need of Prayer?!
- Thank You / Adoption Update
- Vacation Bible School Volunteers Needed, June 5-9
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A special thanks to the amazing cookie bakers in the “Thank You” ministry. We baked, bagged, and delivered 270 bags of cookies on April 11 to the Charlotte County Fire & EMS locations. Included in this special thank you were the firefighters, ambulance drivers, EMS/EMTs, and their managers and administrative staff. 270 people who save lives in Charlotte County every day and night.
To fill 270 bags, we needed almost 1900 cookies or 158 dozen. This was a major accomplishment for this ministry. Dedicate participants included: Louise Rea, Dee Little, Barbara Pennington, Dona Gant, Gail LeGro, Sheri Andersen, Kathy Taylor, Lynda Chapman, Denise Holcomb, Kathy Butgereit, Diane Buckingham, Beth Howell, Dorothy Strunk, Patti DePetro, Suzie & Doug Rydza, Judy Vasey & Jan Papadake. If I have missed someone, please forgive me and know that you too are very much appreciated as well. God bless.
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We say goodbye to our church library volunteer, Lynda Platt, as she and her husband are moving to Aiken, SC. Lynda is a busy lady and has been involved not only with our library but, as a volunteer at the Peace River Wildlife Center and has served as the first woman president of the Charlotte County Jazz Society. We will miss her lovely presence and are thankful for her beautiful photos that she has donated to enhance our church library. God Bless you in your new home!
Three new books have been added to the "It's about the story God is writing in your life" TEEN section of our Church Library.
Two Kingdoms by DC Moore was Awarded the Reader's Favorite Book Award Finalist "Injustice, plague, and evil stalk the land. Caught up in the conflict are three youths-a blacksmith, a squire, and a knight's daughter."
Shaken by Tim Tebow "...it's about the story God is writing in your life."
The Girl Behind the Red Rope by Ted Dekker and Rachelle Dekker
"Mind-bending thriller written by this father-daughter team. "
Happy Reading!
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Our Wi-Fi password has changed! While on campus, you can connect to our Wi-Fi by using the Login: New Life Church Guest and the Password: NewLifeForAll.
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Youth Yard Sale - April 28, 29 |
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Mark your calendars now for our Huge Youth Yard Sale held primarily to support our summer mission trip. The sale will be open first to you (our New Life Church Family) on Friday night April 28th from 6 - 8 pm. This is a CASH-only sale (no checks, credit cards, Venmo or apple pay will be accepted).
The sale will continue on Saturday, April 29th from 9 am – 2 pm when we will welcome the general public to scoop up some great deals and find some awesome treasures. At noon Saturday, all unsold items will be reduced to ½ price at checkout.
Please tell your neighbors and friends to attend this giant sale on Saturday, April 29th to help our students earn the money they need to participate in our annual mission trip. (This year our teens will serve for 9 days in Austin, Texas)
Your donations of items for our sale can be dropped off in the Life Center Room #7 (As you enter the Life Center foyer Room 7 is the first door on the right and is also known as the game room).
Donations can only be accepted on the following days and times:
April 18th - 20th from 10am - 1pm and April 24th - 27th also from 10am - 1pm
We can accept most items that have value for our sale, but we ask that all clothing be donated to our Church Bargain Boutique.
*Please note that we cannot take the following items: Mattresses, large kitchen appliances (like refrigerators or stoves) nor can we accept large furniture (nightstands & coffee tables are ok) All items should be in working order.
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Holy Land Trip - Informational Meeting, May 1 |
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Join us to learn more about a trip to the Holy Land Monday, May 1 at 6:00 pm in Lenox Hall.
Departs March 5, 2024
Return on March 14, 2024
(unless you sign up for an extension).
Mike and Debbie Loomis, Hosts
Angela and Christian Hinchman, Co-Hosts
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The "Journey of a Lifetime" class starts Monday, May 1 at 10 am at Myrt Creigh’s home in Punta Gorda. If you feel you’re ready to take on the challenge of the Bible in a relaxed setting with others wanting to understand His Word, contact Myrt for the location: fumcpgmc@gmail.com or call 941-844-5861.
Originally reservations were to be in by April 24th but there are only 3 seats available so try to have your reservation in as soon as you make your decision. Any questions call Myrt at 941-844-5861.
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"Revealing the Mysteries of Heaven" - May 3 |
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A new Bible study "Revealing the Mysteries of Heaven" will begin on May 3rd at 6:30 pm in Room 13. Participants should purchase the study guide in advance HERE.
This is going to be an exciting study because Heaven is where we will be going... for eternity! Have questions? Come and learn. All are invited!
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Seeker's Bible Study Group |
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You're invited!
Visit the Seeker’s Bible study group
(Free Study Material Available)
Stop into Room #9, Sundays at 10:30 am
immediately following the 9:15 Service.
For more information call
Jerry O’Halloran 941-205-2277 (office).
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Thank You / Adoption Update
Becca Tomasello, Director of Children & Family Ministry
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Dear Church Family & Friends,
We want to take a moment to thank you for all your prayers, well-wishes and support. There were quite a few days we got by knowing that while we didn’t have the strength alone to get through our battle, we had a big God and an army of people behind us! We are still in the midst of our adoption journey, but we are beginning to see a light at the end of the tunnel.
Here is a little update. After several months, Zyera’s mother was granted mediation on March 14. She and I were led to believe that if she signed a stipulation agreement stating she wanted Zyera to be adopted by Matt and me, her wishes would be honored. Unfortunately, it wasn’t that simple, and there was another party that wanted to adopt Zyera. Zyera’s mom was adamant that she didn’t want the other couple to adopt her daughter, but if the case remained with DCF, it was a possibility. Because the stipulation was signed, I was told Matt and I had legal standing to hire an attorney.
After doing some research on my own, and speaking with Zyera’s mom, we decided that it would be best to do what is called an intervention of rights, which would allow us to intervene for private adoption. So, I found an adoption attorney who was familiar with this and who was willing to take our case. She is phenomenal. Our attorney made sure she could reach the attorney of Zyera’s mother so we could get paperwork done. She wrote up the paperwork needed for private adoption, she sent it to the other attorney, and it was signed the next day. Matt and I had a private home study completed in a day. Then a motion was filed for our intervention, which was granted at court at the end of March.
Tuesday, we went back to court for a best interest hearing. This hearing was to determine whether it would be in the best interest of Zyera to stay in our home and be adopted by us, or moved to the other home, as there are half siblings in that home. There were many factors considered in the judge's decision, the ones that stick with us are that Zyera see us as “Mom” and “Dad” and that she has a big community of people that love her already. All that to say, Zyera will remain in our home. Supervision of the case is no longer with DCF, it is with the attorney and agency that completed our home study until adoption is finalized. Should things go smoothly (we are praying they do), Zyera will be adopted sometime in August, just after her 2nd birthday.
“I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him.” – Samuel 1:27
The gravity of what this means is not lost on us. In order for us to have this child as our own means that another parent is signing away their rights to her. While we feel great joy and excitement, we also feel sadness. We celebrate Zyera’s mother and love her for bringing life to this beautiful child. We commend her for making a very tough decision to allow us to care for and adopt her child, and trusting us at our word in terms of visitation.
We have been so humbled by the love shown to us by our church friends and family. It has truly been an unexpected blessing. We ask for continued prayers that the rest of the journey goes smoothly. We also ask for prayers for Zyera’s mom, as I know this has to be so hard for her.
With so much love and respect,
Matt, Becca & Zyera
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In the Need of Prayer?!
Myrt Creigh, Disciple of Jesus
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Don’t know about you but I have a deep concern about our nation, my community, and my family. These concerns aren’t something I can handle myself, not because I’m ‘over the hill’ but because they’re too large for me to tackle by myself. I don’t know how you deal with it but I need Jesus!
Each day that passes I see and hear about the hatred, fear, and lack of respect that has become prevalent in our society today. As a parent, grandma, and great-grandma, I’m sincerely concerned for the future that awaits them tomorrow… I’ll bet there are a lot of you out there that have the same concerns. So are we going to just sit around and complain or are we going to do what we know as followers of Jesus Christ has to be done? Are we going to get on our knees? Are we going to pray? If you really want to know how to pray??? Really?? You know there’s a lot of help waiting... your church, computer (Yes, your computer has many prayer sites), a Christian friend, and best of all, asked the Holy Spirit to help you. I’d be willing to help anybody who's looking for support... I know what it has done for me to have conversations with the Father… can’t imagine not having Him always there for me.
I don’t want to turn this into an epistle so here it is PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!!!
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Greetings Everyone,
Now is a great a time to consider joining the Bell Choir or Chancel Choir. If you have been sitting on the sidelines thinking about it come give it a try. There does not need to be any long-term commitments.
Music Ministry Opportunities:
The Chancel Ringers rehearses on Wednesdays at 6:00 PM and plays at the 9:15 AM service once a month. If you are interested in joining our handbell group and can read music I want to talk to you!
The Chancel Choir rehearses on Thursdays at 6:00PM in the Historic Sanctuary and sings Sundays at the 9:15AM Service. The Chancel Choir is open to anyone interested – no audition is necessary.
Please contact me for more information or questions.
Soli Deo Gloria!
David Bellows
Director of Music Ministries
This Sunday’s Music – April 23, 2023 – 9:15 AM Service
Prelude: American Folk Medley and All Creatures of Our God and King
Cathy Smith, Violin & David Bellows, Piano
Opening Hymn: 279 All Hail The Power Of Jesus’ Name
Offertory Anthem: Sing Out Your Joy To God – G. F. Händel, arr. H. Hopson
Chancel Choir & David Bellows, Director
Doxology 682
Closing Hymn: 452 Go, Make Of All Disciples
Postlude: The Emperor’s Fanfare – A. Soler
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Greetings New Life Church family -
Things have seemed rather quiet this week, as compared with the recent weeks leading up to the events of Holy Week and Easter Sunday celebrations. Some of our Northern residents have gone back for their months at home. Some Church staff take a couple of days off after busy seasons and some of us just try and catch up on sleep or house or yard work. I have been thinking about my prayer time which I'll confess has seemed a little off recently. In going through my devotionals, I came to realize that God was getting the crumbs of my time, occasionally the last minutes before falling asleep. Reading Daniel 6:10 "Three times a day, he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, as he had done before". Daniel was a very busy man with a high government job and a very full schedule. He developed a habit of spending dedicated time with God - praying three times a day, praising God, and thanking Him. This routine helped him develop a very strong faith. About the same time I was praying about this situation in my own life, it seemed like the prayer needs and requests were many. I know that God desires a close relationship with each of us. An easy way I discovered to focus on prayer is to invite God into my day in the morning and praise Him for His help throughout the day. At other times we can spend time reading His word, always giving thanks. Jesus gave thanks for everything, including the bread and wine He served the disciples at their last meal before His death. Here are some ways we can give praise and thanks during our day:
Praise God in the sunshine;
Praise Him in the cold rain.
Praise Him as you drive to church;
Praise Him as you drive to the dentist.
Praise Him in the checkout line,
Praise Him in heavy traffic.
Praise God when you open your eyes in the morning;
Praise Him when you can't shut them at night.
Let everything that has breath, Praise the Lord.
I pray a lot asking for help with numerous problems but am determined to increase my praise time. A Texas newspaper editor once wrote " God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say Thank You?" Awesome thought! No matter how we spend our time with God in prayer and in His word, I believe we grow in our relationship with Him and learn to become more like Him. We know Jesus spent regular time in prayer and encouraged His disciples to pray when He gave them the Lord's Prayer. It's never too late for us to start.
Please watch the Bridge for upcoming events. Don't forget Tim's annual yard sale to raise money for his church kids. It's always a huge event and you can get some great bargains!
I'm praying for you!
Rosie Young
Worship Coordinator
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When you come to the church campus, please wear your New Life Church name tag.
If you do not have a church name tag, you can order one HERE.
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The Bargain Boutique will close for the summer months beginning June 1, 2023. |
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Office Hours: Monday - Thursday, 9am - 4pm
Sign up to receive text messages & daily devotions by calling the church office.
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All past issues of The Bridge are available on our website HERE.
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