New Life Church Weekly Update

November 7, 2025

This Sunday: November 9, 2025

9:15 Traditional Worship, Sanctuary

10:45 Contemporary Worship, Life Center

Message: "Why Does Following Jesus Feel So Hard?"

Scripture: John 15:18-19, 26-27, 16:1, 7-15

Pastor Casey

The church offices will be closed Tuesday, November 11 in honor of Veterans Day.

New this Week:

Sheppard/Tubay Wedding Reminder
Harmony Class, new study begins November 16
Ring the Bell for the Salvation Army

Sheppard/Tubay Wedding, November 22

This is just a reminder that Jane Sheppard and Bob Tubay will be married in the New Life Church historic sanctuary on Saturday, November 22 at two o’clock in the afternoon. Cake cutting and eating will follow afterwards in the Life Center. All of the New Life congregation is invited to attend. Jane and Bob’s 24 combined children and grandchildren (and several significant others) are planning to be there as well!

Attire is informal/casual... absolutely no pomp nor circumstance. Jane and Bob are asking that no gifts be offered, ... but if you really want to contribute something, feel free to make a donation to the New Life Church Cancer Support Group.

RSVP: If you are planning to come, please click this link *I’m coming* so we’ll know how much cake to order!

The Cancer support Group honored Jane and Bob with a wedding shower this week!

To register or find out more about GriefShare Surviving the Holidays, call

Melodie Austin (941) 661-0842 or email melharryaustin@yahoo.com.

Harmony Class, November 16

The Harmony Class will begin a new four-week study on Sunday, November 16th 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 Luncheon, December 6

Our Annual Foster Care Christmas Luncheon will be held on Saturday, December 6th in the Life Center. We already have 100+ children registered for this event! Please help us to make this a special Christmas by providing these kids with some amazing Christmas gifts. If you are willing to purchase a gift, please stop by the table in Lenox Hall on Sunday before or after 9:15 and 10:45 am services and to pick up a 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 2. Gifts MUST be dropped of no later than Sunday, November 30th!

Currently 57 gift tags remain at the table in Lenox Hall.
Please remember: Gifts should NOT include clothing of any kind.

Soon we will announce even more ways to help us prepare for our Foster Care Luncheon. Read your Bridge articles each week to get the scoop on those fun one-time service opportunities.

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

Build a Shoebox Online

Don’t want to shop to pack a shoebox? No problem! Once again, we have our own online Operation Christmas Child BASBO (Build A Shoebox Online) designated site for your convenience! Our BASBO goal is 75 shoeboxes and you can ‘build’ until January 10, 2026. It is easy and fun!

Please utilize ONLY the New Life in Christ Goal Page link here: https://build-a-shoebox.samaritanspurse.org/view/f041361e-226e-4127-8a2f-42e9afca796b. Do not go to the online portal for Operation Christmas Child as New Life will not receive credit for any shoeboxes built on the general website location.

Thanksgiving Dinner - November 27T

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.

Volunteers

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!!!

I am amazed that many signed up to serve in many areas! But we need so many more! We will be having two shifts to serve: 11:30-1:30 and 1:30-3:00. Having two shifts makes it easy for those on your feet and allows those serving to also join us for dinner! Other groups will begin much earlier or work later. The 11:30 group arrives 1/2 hour before we start. We will begin with prayer, answer questions, and everyone will have time to get to their stations and be ready. 1:30 - 3:00 will arrive a few minutes early to shadow their counterpart and be ready. Explanation of "bussers": Each will be assigned 1 or 2 tables. The people will sit, you get their dinners from the kitchen, bring them their drinks, serve their pie, and clean up the table for the next folks. "Floaters" will help wherever necessary!

Again, these are the areas for serving:

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!!

And now I ask you to pray over this Thanksgiving dinner, that all the glory and honor goes to our Savior, Jesus Christ, and all who come, all who serve, and all who enjoy this meal delivered to them, will be blessed beyond measure!

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

Word from Worship

Rosie Young, Worship Coordinator

rosie@newlifeforall.church

Greetings New Life Church friends and family,

We're almost through the first week of November and I'm making lists of things that need to get done! Planning is underway for Thanksgiving dinner, numerous events connected with the Christmas season are being organized and the lists go on. As they say, tis' the season. I mention this because any and all extra things we do require your help. I am grateful to everyone who has volunteered to help with Communion recently. Now that we're getting busier with our winter folks coming back we can use more people to welcome folks as they arrive. The weather is not so hot so we can direct them to the correct building. If you're unable to physically help, we can always use prayer support. Ask me or Pastor Bob about joining one of the prayer teams. I never felt better than when I began serving at our church even when I was still in a wheelchair. The biggest gift I've received from God was showing me how to turn my pain into a purpose. It's definitely been a process and it doesn't magically go away. I ask God for help about everything. I just finished 8 days of intensive IV infusions for an infection and rather than sitting there complaining about another thing I had to go through I've met new people who let me pray for them. As we enter into this busy time of year, watch for opportunities to help serve. You will be blessed!

I'm praying for you!

Dates to Remember - Mark your Calendars!

NOVEMBER

New Life 101, November 9 & 16

Veterans Day - Offices Closed, November 11

Surviving the Holidays, November 15

Today Matters, November 15

Sheppard/Tubay Wedding, November 22

Community Thanksgiving Dinner, November 27

DECEMBER

"A Christmas Carol" Performances, December 12, 13

Blue Christmas, December 14

Today Matters, December 15

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.