New Life in Christ Church Weekly Update - March 3, 2023 |
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This Sunday: March 5, 2023 |
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8 am Praise in the Park, Gilchrist Park
9:15 am Traditional, Sanctuary
10:45 am Contemporary, Life Center
Message: "Follow Me"
Pastor Mike Loomis
View our complete schedule for Lent HERE.
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- Today Matters - March 18
- Town Hall Meeting - March 26
- Higher Education Scholarships Now Available
- Thank You - Feed the Harbor
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Town Hall Meeting - March 26 |
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What: New Life in Christ Church Townhall Meeting
When: Sunday, March 26, 2023, after the 10:45 am Contemporary Worship Service
Where: Life Center
Why: Update on the present and future path of our church
We want to update everyone on where we are with the present and future path of our church, as we move our mission forward to Offer New Life in Jesus Christ by Seeking, Shaping, and Sending Disciples.
2022 was a very busy and extremely important year for our church as we left the United Methodist denomination and we dealt with the effects of Hurricane Ian.
In the aftermath of the hurricane, and with Samaritan’s Purse using our campus from the end of September through the second week of December, we decided to wait until this year to begin to determine the future of our church.
After disaffiliation we became an independent church, retaining the same Wesleyan theology, along with Scripture, that has always been the foundation for our beliefs. We will begin to review the advantages of our church’s future either as a member of a network of churches, a traditional denomination like the newly formed Global Methodist Church, or remaining as an independent church.
Many other Methodist Churches in our area are now voting to leave the denomination. As more churches leave, there will be some opportunities with these churches that may develop. We are also beginning the review of the Global Methodist Church organization that was formed in May of last year and is still in its infancy.
Please join us for a brief lunch, get up to date as to where we are, and ask your questions of our church leaders.
We hope to see you on Sunday, March 26th after the 10:45 am Contemporary Service, in the Life Center.
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Higher Education Scholarship Applications
Now Available
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Attention all high school seniors and current scholarship recipients! The 2023 higher education scholarship applications for high school seniors (initial application) and for current scholarship recipients (re-application) are now posted on our New Life in Christ Church Website. You can find these documents on the New Life Youth Group page (under the main menu “Family Ministries”) The documents are located near the bottom of the webpage and titled, “2023 Scholarship Application” for our high school seniors applying for the first time, and titled, “2023 Scholarship Re-Application” for our current recipients who wish to re-apply for a scholarship. Directions for applying are given on the cover page 1 of each document along with the due dates for the applications. |
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Dear New Life, Thank you so much for the amazing efforts that came forth for Feed The Harbor! In just a few short weeks, our church volunteered, planned, and orchestrated a most blessed day! Four pantries and hundreds of people will be blessed by your efforts. All those shoppers not affiliated with a church saw the hands and feet of Jesus - in ordinary people! We filled 168 boxes of food and necessities - including over $1000 in cash donations which were converted to food items! Miracles happened to prepare this day. Miracles happened at Feed the Harbor. And miracles will continue to happen as we pray over that food that will be given to so many needy people!
You are such a blessing, New Life!
Chris Wilkens
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Lenten Services - Wednesdays at Noon |
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Throughout the season of Lent, we will have Midweek Worship Services at 12 PM in our Historic Sanctuary. The services will be live-streamed, for those who are unable to attend in person. Pastor Brian Smith will be giving the message this week on Wednesday, March 8. Please join us! |
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Today Matters Mental Health Ministry will welcome Dr. Miriam Zylberglait on Saturday, March 18th at 4 pm in the Life Center. She is a triple board-certified physician and author of the book “The 3G Cycle of Life.” Dr. Z’s dream is to help others achieve lives full of joy, meaning, and well-being. Today Matters meets on the third Saturday of each month at 4 pm in the Life Center. We hope you will join us.
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Volunteers Needed - CC Homeless Coalition |
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Due to Covid and Hurricane Ian, the number of homeless and families in need has risen dramatically. For those same reasons, we have had a shortage of volunteers.
Current Volunteer Needs:
Drivers for food pick-ups in the mornings (7 days a week) We would appreciate
someone for just one of those days.
Pantry assistance 1-4 pm Monday - Sunday
Servers for Tuesday night dinners as well as lunch on Sunday and Sunday night
Gardening crew and cleaners
Please contact:
Virginia Milano
Volunteer Coordinator
1476 Kenesaw St
Port Charlotte Fl.
941-627-4313 x134
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Operation Christmas Child |
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Our 2023 Operation Christmas Child Collection activity has begun! To prepare for the New Life Church 2023 Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Packing Party, we will be collecting different items each month beginning in March! Please drop off your donations in the Operation Christmas Child collection box located in Lenox Hall.
For March we are collecting: children's toothbrushes, combs, hairbrushes, and hair accessories. (new & unused only, please. No toothpaste!)
Thank you for your support!
Debbie Harrington, Project Team Leader
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The Harmony Class will begin a new 4-week Study Sunday, March 12th, “The Case for Easter by Lee Strobel.” Join Lee Strobel as he reveals what he discovered as he went piece-by-piece through the evidence of the empty tomb. He invites you to look beyond the familiar traditions of the season, challenge you to examine the evidence for yourself, and consider why Easter is so important to your faith. The class begins promptly at 9:15 am in Lenox Hall. No books or pre-registration is required. Lesson handouts will be provided. All are welcome to attend! |
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It's time for new hymnals! |
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We are offering you the opportunity to dedicate hymnals in memory or in honor of loved ones. Each hymnal will have a nameplate with the name of the person who is being honored or remembered as well as the name of the donor (if you so desire).
Hymnals (Our Great Redeemer’s Praise) are available for a suggested donation of $35 each (this includes shipping).
Simply fill out the form below and mail/drop off a check for the number of hymnals you are donating. Please fill out a separate form for each hymnal you would like to donate in memory/honor.
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Greetings Everyone,
I am excited to announce the arrival of new hymnals for our church. Starting on Ash Wednesday we will be using a new hymnal from Seedbed Publishing called, “Our Great Redeemer’s Praise”. Our new hymnal has lots of familiar hymns and some new hymns that are drawn from the Wesleyan tradition. There will be opportunities to donate a new hymnal with a bookplate dedication ‘in honor’ or ‘memory of’ of someone for a suggested donation.
We will be giving away our old hymnals to anyone who would like one. These will be located in the Life Center lobby and the Historic Sanctuary anteroom. The church is planning to donate what is left over to another organize that can use them.
Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. – Psalm 96:1
Upcoming Concert Event:
“An Afternoon of Hymns on the Harp” Concert – March 26, 2023 at 4:00PM in the Historic Sanctuary.
Barbara Moses, Harpist
Free Concert – No Tickets Needed.
Music Ministry Opportunities:
The Chancel Ringers rehearses on Wednesdays at 6:00PM and plays at the 9:15AM 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 – March 5, 2023 – 9:15AM Service
Prelude: Sweet Hour Of Prayer – D. Wood
Opening Hymn: 520 Jesus Calls Us
Offertory Anthem: In Christ Alone – D. Angerman
Doxology 682
Closing Hymn: 502 Come Ye Sinners, Poor And Needy
Postlude: Toccata in Seven – J. Rutter
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Greetings New Life Church family and friends --
I realize February is a "short," month but wow - here we are in March already, and the second week of Lent. A dear friend recently gave me a wonderful devotional about Lent and Easter. It has helped me focus on the significance of this season. Pastor Mike challenged us to begin Lent on Ash Wednesday by having a day of fasting and prayer in the sanctuary. Fasting doesn't always mean food but maybe giving up television for example. One thing I'm trying to work on during these weeks is keeping distractions from interrupting my prayer time. I don't know about you but I can have my day planned out with the best intentions and then unexpected situations come up and I'm trying to make it till bedtime to get some sleep and try again the next day. This year my determination is to remember the journey Jesus took to the cross. He didn't allow distractions to stop Him. While I certainly haven't accomplished this kind of commitment, I am trying to keep my focus and learn to put aside things that serve only to distract me. I know it's a strange thing to try to"give up" but it's a way God has helped me to increase my prayer time while I offer it to His glory.
For anyone who was unable to attend our Volunteer meeting on Tuesday the 28th, and you'd like to be included in our Hospitality ministry - whether as an usher, welcome or greeting, or with our fabulous cookie ministry - please send me the following information to my email below: Name/ which service you attend! what area you're willing to help with along with your email address and phone number. We will contact you to see how often you'd be available and we hope to get a schedule out as soon as possible. We have many opportunities to serve-- opportunities are a means for great blessings. What makes Christian service so special? Everything! We serve God by serving those around us.
1 Corinthians 15:58 says "Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." Please join us during Lent on Thursdays in the sanctuary for a time of prayer. Is there a way you can serve God and someone else today?
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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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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