New Life Church Weekly Update

A Word from Worship

Greetings New Life Church family and friends,

It is a beautiful day - Wednesday May 29 as I write this note - the day after Don's 87th birthday. We had a nice family celebration yesterday with food, balloons, and gifts suited for comfort. But we all were together the past few days, and that is a source of great comfort and peace for both of us. God continues to bless us in so many ways in the midst of moments of panic and almost terror at times. And then, I remember His promise to us - and after reaching out in prayers of thanks and praise for His ever present mercy, I receive a loving message from someone, or a video recording of our precious 2 year old Marley saying her prayers for Papa and Grammy. We are blessed.  Today was our first day of outpatient Doctor visits. While I was anxious to have to hear more bad news, my prayer during the night was to give me the strength to accept His word through the physicians. We were grateful to hear a little hopeful news rather than all the dreadful, dire things we'd been hearing.  God picks us up just when we need it. I will be able to update you after June 7 when we come up with a treatment plan with oncology.  I prayed to find hope and happiness today. We know it's out there and we know with prayer that we can find it. Proverbs16:20 "Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust in the Lord will be happy."  We are facing each night by asking God for one more day to worship, praise and serve Him. Our morning prayers express gratitude for the chance to begin a new day together. 

Psalm118:24 says, "This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad today."   

I am so grateful for our church family. You all are helping us through this challenging time more than you know.  First, the prayers are enveloping us like a huge blanket of love. Your notes, messages, cards and calls mean so much to me. Sometimes I just need to talk. Please call if your heart tells you to - if I can't talk right then please understand. 

I'm trying to respond to contacts, but forgive me if I'm unable to answer right away. The meals you are providing are keeping us going and are important for Don. I love each and every one of you and miss you terribly, as does Don.  I hope to see you soon. Meanwhile, I ask you to keep praying for miracles and I am praying for you.

Rosie Young

Worship Coordinator

rosie@newlifeforall.church

Greetings from the Music Ministry

Hello New Life Church! 

I am excited to hear Pastor Bob’s sermon this weekend.  I will be away, but am looking forward to watching online.  Pastor Bob will bring a message this weekend about something that should be pretty basic to the Christian Faith; the Bible.  The Bible holds everything that we know and understand about our Faith.  It helps us to understand who God is, what His will is, how we should live, how we can have a relationship with Him and each other and so much more.  It answers all of our questions about life if we really look deeply into His Word.  

But it is shocking how many people call themselves Christians that do not REALLY believe the Bible in its entirety.  They do not fully trust it.  So many “Christians” take a cafeteria style approach to the Bible, picking and choosing the things they want to believe and follow and finding excuses and rationalizations for ignoring the things they don’t particularly care for.  The Bible is trustworthy and reliable and is God’s primary way of communicating to us.  It is His very word.  Every word in it is there for a reason.

It isn’t rational to approach the Bible with a take it or leave it attitude.  It’s truth is not relative.  Think about this, if one person can decide to discard or ignore verses or teachings they don’t like, then another person can do the same with other parts of the Bible.  If any one thing is not true or reliable, then none of the Bible is.  People often do not want to follow the Scriptures on matters where they or a loved one may have sin in their lives and they don’t want to deal with it honestly.  But disregarding any part of the Bible allows for people to disregard basic tenants of the faith.  Some don’t want to believe in Christ’s deity, or His atoning death, or His resurrection.  It is a slippery slope.  If someone doesn’t want to follow God’s word when it comes to gossip, another person might not want to follow His word when it comes to murder.  If you stand on the Bible you must stand on all of it.  If you discard anything, you are discarding all of it.  

There are certainly things in the Scriptures that are difficult to understand and difficult to follow.  But approach God’s Word with a humble and willing heart to surrender to it and be open to the Holy Spirit as you spend time in its pages.  Come to the Lord with a willingness to change if you find something in Scripture that is not easy for you, or points to something in your life you need to let go of for the sake of Christ and His Kingdom.  Follow all of God’s Word, whatever the cost. 

Here are some verses to study about the Word of God.

2 Peter 1:16 - For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 

2 Timothy 3:16 - All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness

Hebrews 4:12–13 - For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account

2 Peter 1:19–21- And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

2 Peter 3:15–16 - And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.

The Anthem this Sunday is an old Hymn:  The Bible Stands

The Bible stands like a rock undaunted

‘mid the raging storms of time

It’s pages burn with the truth eternal

And they glow with a light sublime

The Bible stands like a mountain towering

Far above the works of men

Its truth by none ever was refuted

And destroy it they never can

The Bible stands and it will forever

When the world has passed away

By inspiration it has been given

All its precepts I will obey

The Bible stands every test we give it

For its Author is divine

By grace alone I expect to live it

And to prove and to make it mine

Refrain after each verse

The Bible stands though the hills may tumble

It will firmly stand when the earth shall crumble

I will plant my feet on it’s firm foundation

For the Bible stands!

Invitation to the Music Ministry

I would love to invite anyone who would be interested in helping with the music ministry this summer to reach out to me.  We would love to have solos and instrumentalists and even more choir participants, even if you are normally not in the choir all year.  E-mail me if you are interested.  

Also, If you love to sing, please consider joining the Chancel Choir.  We meet on Thursday evenings from 7-9 PM.  We sing most Sunday mornings during the 9:15 service and are very flexible with travel plans and needing to be away at times.  We have a wide variety of musicians with various backgrounds and there is a place for you!  Please consider coming to a rehearsal to see if you would like to join us in this very fulfilling ministry.

At New Life Church, everyone in the music ministry is a worship leader.  Our aim is to… 

Magnify the Greatness of God in Jesus name,

Through the Power of the Holy Spirit.

Skillfully combining God’s Word with music,

Thereby motivating NEW LIFE church to…

Proclaim the Gospel

Cherish God’s presence and

Live for God’s Glory

Our hymns this Sunday will be,

# 434 Standing on the Promises

# 429 Wonderful Words of Life

# 430 Break Thou the Bread of Life

Can’t wait to see you Sunday!

Joyfully,

MaryBeth Khamis

Interim Director of Music

marybeth@newlifeforall.church