New Life Church Weekly Update

October 10, 2025

This Sunday: October 12, 2025

9:15 Traditional Worship, Sanctuary

10:45 Contemporary Worship, Life Center

Message: "You're in Charge!"

Scripture: Psalm 110

Pastor Casey

New this Week:

Operation Christmas Child
Charitable IRA Contributions
Looking for iPads
Prayer Room Dedication, October 19
Theater Set Design meeting, October 19
Holiday Bell Ringing Coordinator Needed

Operation Christmas Child

This Sunday, October 12th Kimberli Palmer, Operation Christmas Child Area Coordinator for the Southwest Florida District, will be visiting both services to share a short mission’s moment about her Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Distribution Trip experience in Johannesburg, South Africa. It’s a fascinating story that brings Operation Christmas Child up close and personal!

Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes will be available at the Gazebo for you to take home beginning Sunday, October 19th. Shoeboxes will be available for the following two Sundays. Take as many as you want to pack at home, but please return them no later than Sunday, November 23rd. Instructions will be inside each box along with other items, including an OCC bookmark.

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.

Reminder: Shoebox Packing Party

Join us this Sunday at 5 PM in the Life Center for our Operation Christmas Child Packing Party! We’ve got all the supplies ready — now we just need your help to pack over 100 shoeboxes.

Come when you can and leave when you need to — it’s a relaxed, joy-filled evening with great company and our famous Christmas Punch!

Charitable IRA Contributions

Are you taking required minimum distributions from an IRA? Did you know that you can make contributions or special gifts to the Church through this distribution process, and you will not pay Income Tax for funds directed to the Church. If you are interested, contact your financial advisor or IRA custodian and ask about Qualified Charitable Distribution.

Bell Ringing Coordinator Needed

Each December, our church faithfully rings the bell for the Salvation Army at the Publix on Airport Road. This year, we’re looking for someone to take the lead in organizing the volunteer schedule.

If you feel called to serve in this way, please contact Kathy or Katherine in the church office — we’d love to have your help!

Our Children's Ministry Need iPads

We’re looking for gently used iPads to use in our Kid Zone. iPads work best with our check-in system and printers. If you’re able to donate, please ensure the device is a 9th generation or newer (4 years old or less).

Donated iPads can be brought to the Church Office, Life Center, Room 1 (Monday - Thursday, 9am - 4pm). Thank you so much for helping us serve our families more efficiently!

Quiet Room Available

Room 5 in the Life Center (former library space) will now be designated as a Quiet Room on Sunday mornings. This space is available for anyone (especially parents with infants) needing a distraction-free space during the 10:45 worship service.

Today Matters, October 18

We encourage any adult who has contact with children, including parents, grandparents and great grandparents to attend October's Today Matters Mental Health program!

Saturday, October 18th starting at 4pm, our guests will be Resident Agents from Homeland Security Investigations, Mr. John Yancey and Mr. David Loerzel. The topic will be "Child Exploitation" and how rampant it is in SW Florida.

They will address the dark and ugly aspect of this topic and the horrific things they witness and still have to live somewhat of a normal life with families.

I strongly urge the congregation and communities attendance to educate ourselves on what is happening with all the technology that's accessible to children and young people.

Please, please, please, mark your calendar and let's show HSI that we support their efforts as a church and community keeping our children safe!

Any questions please feel free to email Briyin at todaymatters@whatis1st.com.

Our Prayer Room has been beautifully restored through a generous gift from the Moenning family — given in memory of Mrs. Jean Moenning and in honor of Dr. John Moenning.

Please join us Sunday, October 19th, between services (10:15–10:30 am)

in the Prayer Room for a special time of dedication as we thank God for this sacred space

and the generosity that made it possible.

Blood Drive, October 19

The Big Red Bus will be on campus Sunday, October 19th from 8:30 am until 1:30 pm.

Donors receive:

-Cancer Awareness T-shirt

-$20 eGift Card

-Chick-fil-A Coupon

-Wellness Checkup including blood pressure, pulse, temperature, iron count, and cholesterol screening.

Schedule your appointment HERE.

Theater Set Design Meeting, October 19

Join us as we prepare to deck the halls for our holiday production of "A Christmas Carol." Come ready to decorate Christmas trees and bring your creativity to life.

If you’re able, please bring along any extra clear or white string lights and Victorian-style ornaments to donate — every little bit helps to make our set shine!

We’re also on the lookout for the following:

2 Faux Christmas Trees (4-6 ft tall)
2-4 Victorian Christmas Lamp Posts (4-6 ft tall)

Call or text Amanda Lesperance with questions 941-724-3764, alesperance2012@hotmail.com.

The Upper Room Devotionals

For those who enjoy the Upper Room devotionals, we needed to let you know of an upcoming price increase. Beginning with the Nov/Dec issue, the cost will increase to $2.00, for both the small and large print editions.

The Upper Room is available in the Life Center lobby and the ante room of the Sanctuary.

All Saints' Sunday, November 2

All Saints Sunday is a time for us to pause and give thanks for the faithful who have gone before us. We remember, celebrate the communion of saints, draw strength from their witness, and hope for the day of resurrection.

We invite you to submit the name of any loved one who has passed away since November 2024. They do not need a direct connection to New Life Church.

As each name is read, a bell will be rung in their honor, and if you’ve shared a photo with us, it will be displayed during the reading. This is a tender way to remind us that though they are no longer with us, their memory continues to shine among us.

Please share their name, the date of their passing, and a head-and-shoulders photo using the form below. Submissions are due by October 21, 2025.

All Saints' Submission

A Word from Worship

Greetings New Life Church family and friends,

Happy October! I dug a crate out of the garage and made an attempt of putting out a few Fall decorations. It makes me happy to do some normal things amidst doctor appointments and therapy appointments and all the things that go with doing those things which are important. It's an example of life! In the middle of some type of challenge, we can stop for a minute and look outside and see the trees blowing in the breeze and birds drinking from the bird bath. God always shows us the rainbow after the rain. Writing this article is taking place on a day that was filled with nothing but challenges and minor disasters and yet my heart has been filled with happiness because my grandson Jack has not only taken me to my appointment but has come over several times to fix a terribly difficult problem with my phone. He was my rainbow and sunshine to end a really rough day of multiple mishaps. God is good. Psalm 90:17 says " Let the beauty of the Lord be upon us; and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; years, the work of our hands establish thou it." I am so grateful for the beauty of nature and some days it seems the perfect place to sit and pray. It's so easy to stay busy and rush around instead of taking the opportunity to thank God for creating so much beauty in the natural world.

Several of you have asked for updates so after a visit with my surgeon I have started physical therapy. I have four more weeks in the brace. Please pray for complete healing and pray for all who are dealing with health issues.

I'm praying for you!

Rosie Young

Worship Coordinator

rosie@newlifeforall.church

Pizza with the Pastor, November 2

Are you NEW to New Life Church? We would love to get to know you better and invite you to Pizza with the Pastor! This casual lunch and time for conversation with Pastor Casey will be held right after the 10:45 service the first Sunday of each month, in Room 9. Childcare is available upon request. Please RSVP using the link below:

Pizza with the Pastor

New Life 101

November 9 & 16, 2025

New Life 101 is for anyone new or new-ish who wants to know more about New Life Church. Classes are held over two consecutive Sundays from 12-1:30 pm in Room 9. Both sessions are required for anyone considering church membership. Lunch will be provided (as will nursery, upon request).

Dates to Remember - Mark your Calendars!

OCTOBER

Operation Christmas Child PACKING PARTY, October 12

Today Matters, October 18

Prayer Room Dedication, October 19

Blood Drive, October 19

NOVEMBER

Pizza with the Pastor, November 2

Family Night, November 5

New Life 101, November 9 & 16

Surviving the Holidays, November 15

Today Matters, November 15

Community Thanksgiving Dinner, November 27

Thanksgiving Donations

Dinner Coordinators: Joey DePetro & Chris Wilkens

All large boxes and 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.

If you are available to serve on our Thanksgiving Team, please let us know HERE.

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.