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New Life Church Weekly Update | |
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This Sunday: November 17, 2024
9:15 Traditional Worship, Sanctuary
10:45 Contemporary Worship, Life Center
Message: "Now or Never"
Scripture: Ephesians 3:20-21, 4:1-6
Pastor Mike Loomis
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New this Week:
- Shoebox Packing Party Success
- Looking for a potter
- Advent Study, begins November 20
- Blood Drive, December 1
- A Celtic Christmas for Jesus, December 9
- Pastor Mike's Retirement Party, January 17
- Pregnancy Solutions Gala, December 19
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Shoebox Packing Party SUCCESS!
The youth group of our church sponsored their Annual Operation Christmas Child Shoebox packing party this past Sunday evening. They were excited to welcome to the party 50+ people who come out to help pack shoeboxes. With your assistance we were able to pack and pray over 121 shoebox gifts! So a BIG congratulations to you, our New Life Family for helping us soar past our goal of 100 Shoe Boxes!
There’s still time to pack your own shoebox but please do it this weekend. If you have not yet returned your shoebox to us, please bring it with you on Sunday. We will be collecting filled shoebox gifts at the gazebo in the church parking lot.
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Do you make pottery?
We are looking for a potter to create a bowl for Pastor Casey's installation service. If that is something you do, please reach out to Kathy in the church office, kathy@newlifeforall.church.
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Mission Partner Spotlight: Pregnancy Solutions
Dick Brewer will be giving an update on Pregnancy Solutions this Sunday, at both services. Their largest fundraising event of the year is their Gala, which will be held December 19 this year at the Charlotte Harbor Event Center. The deadline to RSVP for the Gala is Wednesday, December 11. If you have questions about Pregnancy Solutions or need help registering for the Gala, contact Dick Brewer, dickbrewer25@gmail.com.
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RSVP for the Pregnancy Solutions Gala HERE. | |
Learn more about Pregnancy Solutions: | |
Database Directory Photos, this Sunday
We will be set up in the game room again this week, just off the Life Center foyer in between services. If we don't already have your picture, please come and see us! Having as many current photos in our database will help Pastor Casey get to know us when he arrives in January. Thank you to those who stopped by last Sunday!
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Today Matters, November 16
"How Much is Too Much?"
Today Matters will feature a conversation with local Christian counselor, Wade Warden, as we discuss overcoming anxiety and depression in the aftermath of multiple storms, political and social divisiveness, and world-wide conflict.
Join us at 4pm in the Life Center on Saturday, November 16th!
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Advent Bible Study to be Offered, November 20
Pastor Earl Smith will be offering an Advent Bible study on Wednesday mornings beginning November 20. We will meet in the Life Center, main hall from 10:30 – noon. The study is titled “Under Wraps – The Gift we Never Expected”. In it the authors remind us how, at the first Christmas, our amazing, surprising God gift-wrapped himself and came lovingly into the world as the perfect Christmas gift to visit and redeem his people. Each week’s lesson stands alone, so if you miss one on occasion that’s OK. Come on the weeks you can! There is a devotional book that goes along with the study and is available for $10. The lesson is video based with class discussion following.
Beginning in 2025, Pastor Earl will continue teaching a variety of Bible study topics most every Wednesday. He was the Pastor of Church Growth and Development here from 1994 – 2005. He and his wife Peggy returned to our church upon their retirement in 2015.
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Thanksgiving Dinner 11 am - 1pm, in the Life Center
We will be preparing 300 Thanksgiving dinners for takeout and delivery to shut-ins this year. Takeout will be available between 11am and 1pm, while supplies last! (No reservations needed)
A reservation for a shut-in dinner delivery is required. The reservation deadline is November 21. Contact Gail in the church office: gail@newlifeforall.church, 941-639-3842.
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Food Donations Needed
- Instant Mashed Potatoes
- Canned Corn
- Canned Cranberry Sauce
- Jars of Turkey Gravy
A cart to collect your food donations is located in the Life Center foyer.
If you have any questions regarding Thanksgiving, please contact our dinner coordinators, Kathy & Briyin Butgereit, kathy@newlifeforall.church.
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Blood Drive, December 1
The Big Red Bus will be on campus Sunday, December 1st from 8:30 am - 1:30 pm. Online appointments are encouraged!
To make an appointment to donate, CLICK HERE.
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Foster Care Christmas Luncheon
Our Annual Foster Care Christmas Luncheon will be held on Saturday, December 7th in the Life Center. We have 100+ children registered for this event! Please help us to make this a special Christmas by providing these kids with some amazing gifts. If you are willing to purchase a gift, please stop by the table in the Life Center on Sunday before or after 9:15 and 10:45 am services and to pick up card or two with a child’s age and gender.
Then, purchase a gift or two (try to keep the total purchase under $25 per child). Please attach the card to the UNWRAPPED gift(s) and return them to the appropriately numbered bin located in the Life Center outside room 6. Gifts MUST be dropped of no later than Sunday, December 1st. Please note: We cannot accept clothing items.
Thank you so much for helping us bless these children this Christmas season!
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A Celtic Christmas for Jesus, December 9
Please join us for "A Celtic Christmas for Jesus" December 9 at 6pm, with the traditional carols of the Isle of Mann, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and England played on the harp.
The music of the Celts typically consists of jigs, ballads, and laments/lullabies. The Celtic harp is their preferred instrument with the bagpipes, budron drum and flute accompaniment. The harp will mimic these sounds.
Christmas carols explain what happened around Jesus' birth. The songs enable us to encapsulate and express the joy, devotion, and awe-inspiring scenes of the nativity. Carols used to be sung during all 4 seasons!
Please join us at 6pm in the Sanctuary on Monday, December 9.
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Pastor Mike's Retirement Party, January 17
The new date for Mike's Retirement Party is Friday, January 17th at 5:30pm in the Life Center. We are looking forward to celebrating Pastor Mike and his ministry with us. See you there!
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A Word from Worship
Greetings New Life Family and Friends,
It seems as if I just wrote "Happy November" and here it is half over! And I'm trying to think what and how we will decorate for the Advent and Christmas season. We have lost our beautiful traditional tree ornaments (and the trees for that matter) and yet, like everything we've gone through, we have much to be thankful for. It's a sharp reminder of so many who have lost their homes, cars and all belongings. We have much to pray for. Someone recently asked me how I can keep praying when so many things have " gone wrong" in our lives. My first thought was "how can I not pray" but it reminded me that prayer is a privilege. Ephesians 6:18 "Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all (manner of) prayer." In my early days of faith, prayer seemed to be a ritual used at church services. To some it was something they did when they had problems or were sick. But prayer is not a ritual or a mechanical function. It is something we should live with all day long like breathing. It is conversation with God and it works for all situations from small to great - at any time of day or night. A huge blessing I learned was humility. Prayer really demonstrated my dependence upon God, and I realized being humble was the easiest way to connect with God. My favorite prayer (and most used) is God help me!
I encourage everyone to find a prayer partner. It helps when one is struggling to be able to reach out and ask your prayer partner to pray with you. Think about joining a prayer group where you receive numerous blessings while praying for others, and discover encouragement that makes it possible to be joyful and have hope even while struggling with adversity. His word instructs us to give thanks in all circumstances, which taught me my other favorite prayer- "Thank you Jesus."
Update: Don continues to do well though has some fatigue. The doctor told him that his blood work last Monday was "beautiful."
We continue to thank God for each good day we have. It's the best thing ever! I am waiting to schedule my PET scan to see what's next. I can't tell you how much your encouraging words mean to us. I am so grateful that we don't have to go through this journey alone! I appreciate each of you more than I can explain. Keep praying for each other!
I'm praying for you!
Rosie Young
Worship Coordinator
rosie@newlifeforall.church
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Build a Shoebox Online
The Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Gifts: New Life Church Build-A-Shoebox Online Goal page is active! Shop and select the perfect shoebox gift from the comfort of your home computer! Simply Click on the link below to connect with our Goal Page. Our BASBO goal is 75 shoeboxes before January 31, 2025! Let’s make sure 75 MORE children have access to The Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
Below is the direct link to New Life Church Goal Page:
Build a Shoebox Online
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Salvation Army Bell Ringers Needed
We will be returning to the Airport Road Publix this holiday season to ring the bells for the Salvation Army (December 2 - December 24).
Please sign up for a time to ring the bell by using the link below, or you can call the church office to sign up for a time 941-639-3842.
BELL RINGER SIGN UP
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Dates to Remember - Mark your Calendars! | |
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NOVEMBER
Surviving the Holidays, November 16
Today Matters, November 16
Church Database Photos, November 17
First Steps Class, November 17
Operation Christmas Child - Shoebox Deadline, November 17
Advent Study Begins, November 20
Thanksgiving Dinner Pickup 11am - 1pm, November 28
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DECEMBER
Blood Drive, December 1
Salvation Army Bell Ringing, December 2 - 24
Foster Care Christmas Luncheon, December 7
"A Celtic Christmas for Jesus" Harp Concert, December 9
Blue Christmas, December 15
Christmas Eve Services, 3pm and 7pm
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Meal Train for Don & Rosie Young
November dates are now available! Click HERE to sign up.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Submissions for the Bridge can be emailed to katherine@newlifeforall.church.
Deadline for the Bridge is the prior Wednesday, by noon.
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