New Life Church Weekly Update

November 14, 2025

This Sunday: November 16, 2025

9:15 Traditional Worship, Sanctuary

10:45 Contemporary Worship, Life Center

Message: "(re)Aligning with God's Mission for the World"

Scripture: Matt 4:17-22

Brian Russell

New this Week:

Theater Ministry, Concession Donations Needed
Living Nativity, Christmas Eve

Harmony Class, November 16

The Harmony Class will begin a new four-week study this Sunday at 9:15 am in Lenox Hall. This study by Max Lucado, “Because of Bethlehem: Love is Born, Hope is Here,” explores how the One who made everything chose to make himself nothing and come into our world.

Class materials are provided, and all are welcome to attend!

Salvation Army Bell Ringers Needed!

We will be returning to the Airport Road Publix in Punta Gorda this holiday season to ring the bells for the Salvation Army (November 29 - December 23). Please sign up for a time to ring the bell by using the link below or by contacting Mindy Stroup,

stroupdrm@yahoo.com, (941) 916-0756.

BELL RINGING SIGN-UP

Foster Care Christmas Gifts

ALL of the Gift Tags have been picked up - thank you!!!

If you picked up a gift tag for a foster child please return your UNWRAPPED gift(s) by attaching the gift tag(s) and place them in the appropriately numbered bin located in the Life Center outside room 2. Gifts MUST be dropped off no later than Sunday, November 30th! As a reminder, please try to keep the total purchase to $25 per child and do not include clothing as part of your gift.

Do you enjoy wrapping Christmas Gifts?

We need 20 volunteers to skillfully wrap over 300 gifts that we are collecting for our foster children. We plan to have a HUGE gift wrapping “party” on Tuesday, December 2nd in the Life Center. No RSVP is necessary, simply come between the hours of 10 am and 12 noon that day.

We will provide all of the colorful wrapping paper, scotch tape, bows, ribbon, and gift bags for those odd shaped items. You are merely asked to bring a joyful spirit and your favorite pair of scissors.

If you have questions about this special Foster Care Christmas project, please contact our Director of Youth Ministries, Tim Buck, by emailing him at tim@newlifeforall.church or call him at church 941-639-3842.

Thanks in advance for your help and support of the Foster Children of Charlotte County.

Concession Donations Needed

We are so excited for our Theater Ministry's first performance of "A Christmas Carol" on December 12 and 13th. Help us stock our Concessions Stand!

Sugar Cookies
Christmas Rice Krispie Treats
Christmas Popcorn Balls
Skinny Pop Popcorn Mini Bags
Capri Sun
Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate Packets
Candy Canes
Water Bottles
Christmas Napkins
Small Dessert Christmas Plates
Plastic Spoons (Red, Green, Gold or White)

You may bring your donations to the Concessions Table in Lenox Hall on December 10-11, 2025. For more information, contact Angel Taylor angelmtaylor2015@gmail.com.

Donate Concessions Items

Thanksgiving Dinner - November 27T

Food Donations

Joey DePetro, joey@newlifeforall.church

All large boxes and large cans, please:

Stuffing (dry in a box)
Green Beans
Dehydrated Mashed Potatoes
Turkey Gravy
Cranberry Sauce
Fully Cooked Turkey:
Must be brought in the morning of Thanksgiving. No sooner please.

Donations may be brought to Lenox Hall, Monday - Thursday 9am - 4pm. Deadline for food donations: November 23.

Volunteers Needed

Chris Wilkens, cfmorson@comcast.net

This year New Life's Thanksgiving dinner will be a free, open to the public, sit down dinner, place settings, real dishes, full menu, and lots of fun, love and fellowship!!!

Areas to Serve:

Wednesday set up: 10:00-12:00

Greeters: Shifts 1 and 2

Bussers: Shift 2- we need YOU!

Turkey Carvers: 9:00-12:00

Kitchen Help: 8:00-11:00 and 11:00-3:00

Clean Up: 2:30-4:30

Drinks: Shifts 1 and 2

Floaters: Shifts 1 and 2

Shut in delivery: 10:30 - 12

PLEASE CONTACT ME:

CHRIS WILKENS AT cfmorson@comcast.net OR YOU CAN CALL ME AT 941-276-4416 WITH YOUR FIRST AND SECOND CHOICES ONLY. PLEASE REPLY SOON - IT TAKES A LOT OF SERVANTS TO SERVE THIS WONDERFUL EVENT!!

Reserve a Shut-in Meal for Delivery

We want to be sure all who would like a Thanksgiving Dinner are able to receive one. If you, or someone you know is unable to attend the dinner in person, we would love to deliver the dinner. (Punta Gorda/Port Charlotte addresses) Please use the reservation link below. The deadline to reserve a meal delivery is November 19, 2025.

Thanksgiving Shut-in Dinner Delivery

Play a part in our Live, Interactive Nativity!

This Christmas Eve from 4-6pm we will be offering an outdoor Living Nativity experience. This will take place in between Lenox Hall and the Life Center. If you are interested in participating, use the sign-up below. For more information, contact AJ Rilat aj@newlifeforall.church.

Living Nativity

Word from Worship

Rosie Young, Worship Coordinator

rosie@newlifeforall.church

Greetings New Life Church friends and family,

We've had a couple days of brisk overnight temperatures and days to pull out the long sleeve shirts! Life continues like this, whether we're ready for it yet or not. I sometimes look back over my life, which I realize is a sign of old-age, but it's actually a chance for me to praise God for all the blessings I've been given. I could easily think back about all the challenges and pain I've gone through and actually be bitter and full of blame. I've had a life filled with severe medical problems requiring lengthy surgeries and months of recovery with poor results. I definitely wasn't very outgoing so I kept feelings to myself for a long time. I spent a long time looking for answers. Then a time came when I was awaiting yet another surgery and a Chaplain told me how to pray. So easy. And life-changing. Since then, if you know me, my life of ongoing medical problems and life challenges haven't gone away. But I now go to God for each and every need and I always praise Him for everything . Now when I have to go in for daily IV infusions, whether at the Cancer Clinic or Infectious Disease Clinic I find myself meeting another patient who I believe God puts next to me. In talking about casual things, somehow after sharing our situations, I'm asked how I can have a positive attitude. I find myself sharing my story about faith and prayer and have been able on many occasions to pray with people. Its definitely not me , but I ask God to help me turn my problem situations into praise for Him. It's why I encourage everyone to be a prayer warrior and help us pray for others who need prayer. It helps to have a committed prayer partner to help each other. I continue to be amazed that God put prayer as a huge need in my life and as a result, it opened up my heart to a prayer ministry. Keep on praying!

I'm praying for you!

Shoebox Deadline

Please return your filled Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes to the church no later than Sunday, November 30.

Dates to Remember - Mark your Calendars!

NOVEMBER

Surviving the Holidays, November 15

Today Matters, November 15

Sheppard/Tubay Wedding, November 22

Community Thanksgiving Dinner, November 27

DECEMBER

"A Christmas Carol" December 12, 7pm

"A Christmas Carol" December 13, 2pm

Blue Christmas, December 14

Today Matters, December 20

Christmas Eve, December 24
3pm Contemporary Worship

Outdoor Live Interactive Nativity 4-6pm

6:30pm Special Music, 7pm Traditional Service

Help Us Keep in Touch!

Can you spare 2 minutes to verify / update your information in our church database?

You can upload a current profile photo, confirm or change contact info, and household details - directly through our Church Center app. Scan the QR code with the camera on your mobile device or click the link below. Thank you!!

UPDATE 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.

New Life Name Tags

If you would like a name tag (magnetic or pin style), you can request one HERE or by calling Katherine in the church office 941-639-3842 ext 106. Suggested donation, $6 per nametag.