New Life Church Weekly Update

November 22, 2024

This Sunday: November 24, 2024

9:15 Traditional Worship, Sanctuary

10:45 Contemporary Worship, Life Center

Message: "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen"

Scripture: Matthew 28:16-20

Pastor Mike Loomis

This Sunday will be Pastor Mike and Debbie's last Sunday. Please join us as we send them off on their retirement adventures with love, prayers and hugs!

New this Week:

The church office will be closed on Thursday, November 28
Surviving the Holidays Update
Help the Youth in December
Cuba Update
Parent's Night Out, December 13

Thank you to all who brought in food donations for our Thanksgiving Dinner. We have received everything needed. Happy Thanksgiving!

Surviving the Holidays

Melodie Austin, GriefShare Leader

How do you get through or “survive” the holidays with a broken heart?

After the death of a loved one and two hurricanes, some of us would like to press the fast-forward button on our lives to the beginning of the new year, and not face the holidays.

On Saturday, November 16th our Life Center was filled with people from our church, our community, and beyond for a 2-hour seminar called “Surviving the Holidays.”

These guests were greeted in our parking lot, escorted to the door, escorted to their reserved table, and welcomed by 2 table leaders.

Thirty-four volunteers welcomed, comforted, and loved on our guests.

After a video from top grief counselors, and sharing time with others who “understood” their losses, our guests were asked this question, “How were you helped the most?” Some of the answers were “sharing, and realizing it isn’t just me who is hurting,” “good to know others understand what you’re going through,” and “I feel like there are a lot of people who support and understand.”

When we face our losses, it’s good to know others understand and will walk with us,

share God’s love, and shine God’s light.

Cuba Surviving

Tom Little

The latest from our sister church in Taguasco. No electricity yet.

We funded a year's "taxi" expense to bring members in from the outlying areas. Gasoline costs about $60/gal when it can be found.

The 3-hour service ends at 5 pm so they can be home by dark. Look at all the kids. Music is played with power from the generator we bought during the last severe outage. Not enough for lights or fans though.

Food is cooked over coal heat. The coal is scavenged from an ancient mine which was closed a century ago. All the members are fed before going home. This may be their only meal for the day.

The church shares what little it has with those less fortunate.

We will be sending a mission team after Christmas to carry medicines and funds to support our sister church. At the present time, there is no transportation from the airport to Taguasco. the B&B has no electricity or water and only a shared community outhouse. We would have to share their rice and beans. But we know that God is in control.

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.

Advent Bible Study

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 on Wednesdays. 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.

Help the Youth this December

Tim Buck, tim@newlifeforall.church

The New Life Youth Group needs volunteers to lend their help in several important ways this December.

Opportunity #1

Dec. 3rd Wrapping gifts for our Foster Care Christmas Luncheon. (300 plus gifts to be wrapped)

1 pm – 3 pm (24 Volunteers needed)

Bring scissors and a smile.

Enjoy Christmas cookies, festive music, and extra time with your friends as we wrap gifts.

Opportunity #2

Thursday, Dec. 5th from 1 - 2:30 pm (12 volunteers needed)

Come help us decorate the Life Center for the Foster Care Christmas Luncheon.

Opportunity #3

Saturday, Dec. 7th from 2:15 - to about 3:45 or so... (15+ Volunteers needed)

Help us clean up following the Foster Christmas Luncheon. Helpers are needed for a variety of tasks. There will be something for everyone to help pitch in and reset the Life Center for the Sunday worship service. (Many hands make light work...)

Foster Care Christmas Gifts, Due December 1

If you picked up a gift tag to purchase a gift, please bring the gift(s) no later than December 1st. Attach the card to the UNWRAPPED gift(s) and return them to the appropriately numbered bin located in the Life Center outside Room 6. Please remember: We cannot accept clothing items.

Thank you so much for helping us bless these children this Christmas season!

Salvation Army Bell Ringers Needed

We will be a 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

A Celtic Christmas for Jesus, December 9

Join us for "A Celtic Christmas for Jesus" performance on the harp!

The harp's presence in Ireland dates back about 1000 years. It is seen in manuscripts and Christian stone crosses. While the origin of the harp isn't known, archeologists have found 5,000-year-old depictions of it from ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia.

The Irish harp (also known as a lever, folk, non-pedal, or Celtic harp) is a symbol of Irish identity and pride. It was a revered instrument of the bards (singing minstrels) who were celebrated and given pride of place, and the very best of hospitality in ancient Irish society.

Please join us at 6 pm in the Sanctuary on Monday, December 9.

Calling all Kids!

Come hang out, watch a movie, eat dinner, do crafts, and play games with us

on December 13th. Parents, enjoy a few hours to relax, grab dinner out,

or finish any last-minute Christmas shopping!

RSVP to: ajrilat1@gmail.com

A Word from Worship

Greetings New Life Family and Friends,

Wow! Here we are entering Thanksgiving week and our big holiday season. Back in early May when Don was first diagnosed with cancer, we all thought that he would never get out of the hospital. Things sounded that bad. Of course, we know that after three failed rounds of chemo that his situation is bad, and yet , he has been consistently blessed. We truly believe that prayer has been reason that he is here and we praise God daily for these blessings. One day at a time!

My prayer journey began on a day several years ago when Pastor Mike Loomis shared with me a book he had stayed up most of the night reading - a book about prayer and dedicated prayer rooms. His excitement about this touched my heart and in went home and ordered the book. From there we put together the prayer room on our campus and had our first 24/7 prayer journey. Since this is Pastor Mike's last week before he retires, I've been thinking a lot about how grateful I am for his teachings, and encouragement over the years to help me grow in faith. I grew up in a Catholic church where we read prayers out of a book. I had never really connected with praying and especially listening. Pastor Mike shared and taught me how to read the Bible. Imagine Don's surprise when I came home one day and told him I thought we should start reading the Bible together out loud every day. But we did it and it was a gift. I will always be grateful to Pastor Mike for leading me and helping me grow in faith. I will miss him but will be praying for both he and Debbie as they enjoy their retirement together.

Update: Don continues to feel pretty good. He's been able to be in church the past few Sundays and out and about during the week also. We are thankful for your prayers that help us enjoy one day at a time. I am still waiting for my PET scan to evaluate the new lesion in my lung. We are so blessed while on this journey. Your gifts of food help to sustain us and my weight is stable. Matthew 21:22 says "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." We learn that by spending time with the Word daily, our faith is built up and we are encouraged.

Thanks for your concern, offers of help, gift cards and encouraging hugs. We are truly blessed! I am praying for you!

Thank you Pastor Mike!

Rosie Young

Worship Coordinator

rosie@newlifeforall.church

Build a Shoebox Online

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

Dates to Remember - Mark your Calendars!

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

Parents Night Out, December 13

Blue Christmas, December 15

No Connect or Youth, December 22 or 29

Christmas Eve Services, 3pm and 7pm

JANUARY

Pastor Casey's Installation Service and Reception, January 5

(one service at 10:30 Sunday, January 5)

GriefShare Begins, January 7

Pastor Mike's Retirement Party, January 17

Meal Train for Don & Rosie Young

November dates are now available! Click HERE to sign up.

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.

Give Now | Find a Place to Serve | Calendar

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

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.