|
New Life Church Weekly Update | |
|
This Sunday: July 28, 2024
9:15 am Traditional Worship, Sanctuary
10:45 am Contemporary Worship, Life Center
Message: "Practice What He Preached"
Scripture: Matthew 7:21-23
Pastor Mike Loomis
| | |
New This Week
- Hurricane Relief Fund
- A Note from Pastor Casey
- Heartfelt Thanks, by Myrt Creigh
- Youth Mission Trip Update
- Operation Christmas Child, School Supplies Collection
| |
Blood Drive - this Sunday!
The Big Red Bus will be on campus this Sunday from 8:30 am - 1:30 pm.
All donors will receive, a $20 eGift Card, a OneBlood tote bag, a Chick-fil-A coupon, and a Wellness Checkup which includes blood pressure, pulse, temperature, iron count, and cholesterol screening.
Appointments are encouraged, please register using this link: SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT
| |
Hurricane Relief Fund
Envelopes to contribute to our Hurricane Relief Fund will be available this Sunday at each of the Giving Boxes in the Sanctuary and Life Center. Our fund supports Faith Responders and Samaritan's Purse (50/50). Please indicated "Hurricane" in the memo line of your check.
| |
A Note from Pastor Casey
Dear New Life Church,
I’m excited and honored to join your church family as the next Lead Pastor of New Life in Christ Church! I believe that God has brought us together for the sake of his Kingdom. All along, I wanted both my family and your church leaders to end the process with the words of Acts 15:28, “It seemed good to us and to the Holy Spirit.”
And it does! Your church has a rich history of ministry in Charlotte County that I hope the Lord will build on as we serve together. Our family is grateful for the incredible hospitality you’ve already shown us. Thank you!
In the coming months, I’ll work with Pastor Mike, staff, and church leaders to learn all I can about the church and community to make an effective hand-off. I’ve only known Pastor Mike for a few months, but I can tell that I’m following a faithful shepherd. Please pray for him and Debbie and their next few months of ministry. Also pray for your staff and other church leaders.
As you might expect, our family has a mix of emotions right now. We’re sad to leave our church family in Illinois, but we’re also excited about joining our new church family in Punta Gorda. I’ll join you January 1, 2025, but my family plans to join me after my daughter’s graduation in May (I promised her long ago she could graduate here). I’ll return to Illinois for a few days each month until they move. Please pray for them, for our church family here, and for a smooth transition at New Life.
In the meantime, you’re welcome to connect with me on Facebook. I can’t wait to join you in a few months! Until then, I pray you are richly blessed by God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
| | | |
Casey Taylor Bio
Casey has 25 years ministry experience and 16 years’ experience pastoring multigenerational congregations in both traditional and contemporary worship settings. He has served small, medium, and large-sized churches. He’s passionate about sharing the gospel, discipleship in the Wesleyan tradition, and cultivating a healthy church community.
Although he grew up Baptist, he was drawn into Methodism by its emphasis on both holiness and social compassion. Casey was ordained an Elder in the United Methodist Church in 2015. He received his Master of Divinity from Duke Divinity School (Durham, NC) in 2008 and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Philosophy/Religion) from Greenville University (Greenville, IL) in 2002.
Casey has been married to Angel since 2001. Angel also received her Master of Divinity from Duke Divinity School (Durham, NC) in 2008 and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
(Psychology/Religion) from Greenville University (Greenville, IL) in 2002. They have three
children: Josiah (19), Zoe (17), and Shepherd (14). They also have the best goldendoodle ever, Teddy.
Casey enjoys cooking, gardening, comics, sci-fi, and the beach!
| | |
Heartfelt Thanks
Myrt Creigh
This is a bitter sweet note to the place that brought me so much joy and grace... New Life Church. Over 20 years, as a servant of Jesus Christ at New Life, I was inspired and encouraged by so many people. I humbly served the church as a Bible teacher, Lay leader, and volunteer on various committees which were supported by my mentors, Mike Loomis and Bob Carlson. The committee leaders and staff members were an inspiration and thoughtful supporters as we walked together striving to do God’s will in the growth of New Life Church.
I will be leaving Punta Gorda on August 1st with a heart filled with joy knowing New Life Church has selected Casey Taylor as your new lead pastor. I was fortunate to be present during interviews with Pastor Taylor. Prayerfully, New Life Church will recognize the fine qualities of this young man who can very capably bring new vitality to the church and its future.
As I begin my new life in Burke, Va. I plan to attend Christ Church in Fairfax, Virginia where I know His bountiful grace will follow. To those who know me and to all the wonderful new people who have come to New Life, continue to remember why you’re here and who you truly serve and are accountable…Jesus Christ. This church is a faithful home of prayer where you will not only continue to grow, but only if you remember ...to paraphrase JFK ...ask not what New Life Church can do for you BUT what can you do for the outreach and growth of New Life Church bringing others to Christ. That is truly the mission of every Christian.
A grateful and sincere thank you to each and everyone for helping me to be a better servant to our Lord and Savior.
| |
Youth Mission Trip Update
The youth Mission Team would like to thank everyone for their prayers and financial support of their recent mission trip. The trip was 9 days long during which they worked on the Apache Indian Reservation in Mescalero, New Mexico. While there, they built several wheelchair ramps, did lots and lots of painting both indoors and out, and even did some drywall repairs. Everyone learned a few new handyman skills along the way. Our team, along with 8 other churches (148 participants) slept and showered at the Mescalero Apache school right there on the reservation. On the morning of the last day we donated, the air mattresses many of you so generously donated money for us to purchase along with pillows and blankets to the head of the housing department at the reservation. He had already identified several families that were affected by the recent “Salt Fire” to donate them to. We also donated almost all of the tools that we used on the trip (about 80 pounds worth) plus a lot of paint brushes, rollers, and paint trays that were purchased there and used extensively throughout the trip.
Please check out the pictures below of some of what we were able to accomplish. Next week we will write another article here in the Bridge for you to learn even more about our experiences in NM. Be on Look out for that article and several more pictures, including some wildlife we encountered along the way.
| |
Operation Christmas Child
The Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Ministry Team requests your help with the following donations for August & September: School Supplies! Children in most countries receiving shoeboxes cannot attend school unless they bring their own school supplies, so let’s get them to school! Crayons, pencils, ink pens, colored pencils, pencil cases, markers, watercolor sets, small spiral notebooks, notebook paper, scissors, glue sticks, pencil/crayon sharpeners, and coloring books. Watch for sales at the local stores! Please put your donations in the collection box located in Lenox Hall. Thank you for your help in this important outreach ministry!
| |
A Word from Worship
Greetings New Life Church family and friends,
The long hot summer continues and we are so grateful for each and every day. I think that when we are faced with any type of challenging life situation we are blessed with other gifts -
like patience, appreciation for small things that we typically take for granted, such as an unexpected smile from a stranger, or the acknowledgment that we don't always have to be "perfect". For the past few years, Don and I have developed the habit of reading devotionals and the Bible together every morning and evening, along with our prayer time together. I can tell you that it made a change in our life and I am grateful to Pastor Mike for sharing this idea and challenge with me. Since Don became ill, we have increased our Bible reading time as well as our prayer time. It is such a comfort to me that even on the most trying and terrible days we have only to reach out to Him for peace. I am not a brave person but having Jesus at the center of our lives, I have learned that no matter what we face, we can live with courage and joy, and hopefully be a blessing to those whom I love. We never know what tomorrow will bring but when we trust God we don't have to be filled with anxiety constantly. I write affirmations in my daily planner and notebooks and one that I love says: "I don't know what tomorrow holds, but I know Who holds tomorrow."
I read something from Andy Stanley that said - We can be tired, weary, and emotionally distraught, but after spending time alone with God, we find that He injects into our bodies energy, power, and strength.
Here is our latest update: Don finished his week of antibiotic treatment with no further problems. He saw Dr. Browne and is scheduled to start back up on chemo on Friday. Our prayer is that he will get through this round of treatment with no complications. We are both so grateful for your prayers. Dr. Browne has scheduled me for several tests and scans to evaluate my weight loss further. As you continue to pray for us, I want to thank those of you who have joined our prayer team. We have many prayer requests from our church family and friends and I appreciate the prayer warriors willing to help pray for them. Please get in touch with me for more info or send me your email address and I'll get you started. It's easy to do and - I will send out a list of prayer needs and you can pray for them in the comfort of your home - and the blessings are great.
I'm praying for you!
Rosie Young
Worship Coordinator
rosie@newlifeforall.church
| | | |
Meal Train for Don & Rosie Young
As Don & Rosie Young focus on some new health challenges, we want to bless them with meals a few days a week. If you are able to participate, please use the link below to sign up for a date to provide dinner. Continue to keep them in your prayers.
| | |
Dates to Remember - Mark your Calendars! | |
|
Blood Drive, July 28
KidZone Back to School Bash, August 4
| |
Nursery Job Opening
We have a part-time position available in our nursery. The complete job description is available HERE.
| |
Hospital Visitation, Prayer Available
We want to know when you are having surgery or are in the hospital! We are available to pray with you before surgery and visit you in the hospital, rehab, etc.
Contact us through email: prayerteam@newlifeforall.church or call/text Pastor Bob, Minister of Pastoral Care (941) 585-9576.
| |
Church Name Tags
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.
| | |
|
Offering New Life in Jesus Christ, by Seeking, Shaping, and Sending Disciples
Office Hours: Monday - Thursday, 9 am - 4 pm
(941) 639-3842 | www.newlifeforall.church
Download our app HERE
Sign up to receive text messages & daily devotions by calling the church office.
All past issues of The Bridge are available on our website HERE.
| | | | |
