New Life Church Weekly Update

October 27, 2023

This Sunday: October 29, 2023

8:00 am Praise in the Park, Gilchrist Park

9:15 am Traditional Worship, Sanctuary

10:45 am Contemporary Worship, Life Center

Message: "Do Not Pass Me By"

Scripture: Mark 10:46-52

Pastor Mike Loomis

New This Week

Fifth Sunday, October 29
Community Thanksgiving Dinner, Food Donation Needs
Save the Date - Town Hall Meeting, December 3 at 4pm
Church Library Notes

Fifth Sunday Offering

We will receive a special offering for the Florida Children's Home this Sunday, October 29.

The Children's Home provides a family environment for children in the foster system, as well as those in dire family situations. Offering a place with house parents, counseling and educational support, the Children's Home allows children to feel some sort of normal in their day to day life. Envelopes will be available by the entrances to the Life Center and Sanctuary this Sunday.

Halloween Volunteer Sign-up

Healthy Start Diaper Drive

Charlotte County Healthy Start Coalition is accepting donations of diapers and wipes to assist young families this fall. A donation box is located in Lenox Hall for wipes and diapers (sizes 3 - 6 and pull-ups are in the most needed sizes). If you would like to help in this tangible way please make your donation by November 1st. Thanks in advance for supporting the children of our community.

Cancer Support Group

Wednesday, November 1, 6:30 pm

The Cancer Support Group will meet on Wednesday, November 1st at 6:30 pm in Room 9. The Cancer Support Group is for patients, survivors, and caregivers. Our special guest for the November meeting will be Briane Olson, a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. She will be addressing some of the mental health issues associated with a cancer diagnosis and how to deal with them. We are open to the community. If you have friends on a Cancer Journey, please invite them to come. You can learn more about Briane HERE.

Community Thanksgiving Dinner

Food Donation Needs

Fully Cooked Turkeys (50 needed)
Green Beans, Large Can
Yams, Large Can
Turkey Stuffing, Large Box
Mashed Potatoes, Large Box
Gravy, Large Jars
Pumpkin Pies

Please label all food donations "THANKSGIVING" and deliver them to Lenox Hall or the Life Center, beginning November 5.

ALL cooked turkeys should be delivered the MORNING of Thanksgiving, 8-10:30 am to Lenox Hall for carving.

Please contact Sherri O'Connell via email sherri.oconnell1003@gmail.com or telephone 941-916-4050 with any questions or to volunteer. Thank you!

Church Library Notes

Books recently donated to the library include:

"The Heart that Grew Three Sizes: Finding Faith in the

Story of the Grinch" by Matt Rawle

"Who Need Christmas?" By Andy Stanley

"Don't Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table" by Louie Giglio

FOUND!!

A Bible Challenge game board was recently dropped off

with note attached. "Found in Room 13. Belong to anyone?"

It is currently on bottom shelf next to return box in the

library.

Here's a New Life Church Trivia History Fact straight from our history shelf:

"Isaac Trabue, founder of Punter Gorda, built a community hall in 1887. That structure was where school classes and church services for several religious groups were held. That location is where our church is currently located. "

Ready, Set... Pack!

Have you picked up your Operation Christmas Child Shoebox yet? Shoeboxes are available after each service in the sanctuary and lobby of the Life Center now through 11/5. Shoebox Labels have been placed on the outside of each shoebox for your convenience for you to ‘Follow Your Box’. Inside each shoebox is the “How to Pack a Shoebox” brochure with suggestions on what to buy and what items are not allowed. This brochure has a pre-addressed, stamped envelope to MAIL the $10 donation for each shoebox gift for shipping and other processing expenses. You can also donate online. Instructions are in the brochure on using the nine-digit code online to activate ‘Follow Your Box’. If you pack more than 1 shoebox gift, write one check for the combined total. Please remove tags and packaging from items and write a personal note to each child perhaps with a photo. Don’t forget to mark the ‘Boy or Girl’ and the Age Category boxes on the Shoebox Label. PLEASE DO NOT PUT ANY CHECKS OR CASH INSIDE THE SHOEBOXES. Please return your Shoebox Gifts on Sunday, November 12th. Need more time? The last Sunday to turn in Shoebox Gifts is Sunday, November 19th. Can’t make it either Sunday? No problem! The Shoebox Gift Drop-Off Center at the New Life Gazebo will be open from 10 a.m. – Noon, November 13-20th. Thank you for participating in this important ministry to reach children around the world with The Good News!

Build a Shoebox Online

We welcome you to help us reach our goal of packing 50 'GO' Boxes (Gospel Opportunities) shoeboxes before December 31, 2023. You will find quality gifts to choose from and the cost of $25 includes shipping! If you like to let your 'fingers do the shopping' This is for YOU! Enjoy this 'shoebox shopping experience' without leaving home! Children in over 170 countries will receive shoebox gifts this year. Please be a part of blessing them with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Enhance their joy!

Build a Shoebox Online

Crafts for Christ Ministry

We want to thank the Bargain Boutique for their support of our ministry. They have donated

monetarily and almost weekly donations to support our efforts. We have been making “Fidget

Mats” for those with Alzheimer's and for children with developmental disabilities. There

seems to be an unending need for these in Charlotte, Lee, and Collier Counties. If you have any creative bone in your body, we would love to have you join us ANY Wednesday from 12:30-4:00 pm in Room 9.

In the past, we made greeting cards for the church’s Care Ministry. We have all the supplies

needed to continue making them, but do not have the passion for that any longer. If anyone is

interested in heading up a group to make greeting cards, we would like to donate all these

items for that purpose.

Contact: Diane Sheppard 941-740-1016 houstonfla04@yahoo.com or

Janet Downing 774-230-4460 janld25@gmail.com

Advent Study:

"An Unlikely Advent" by Rachel Billups

Led by Pastor Earl Smith

Wednesdays 9:30-11 AM, Lenox Hall

Begins November 15

Rachel Billups is a visionary, leader, speaker, and author. Currently, she serves as pastor at New Albany United Methodist Church. She previously served as Senior Pastor at Ginghamsburg Church's multi-campus ministry in Tipp City/Dayton Ohio. Rachel draws on her love of people and passion to explore new venues for ministry and mission.

This four-week Advent study focuses on the experiences of four sets of often overlooked characters in the Nativity story. During this Advent season, Rachel Billups guides readers through the themes of hope, love, joy, and peace by sharing the stories of Elizabeth and Zechariah, Herod, the Magi, and the shepherds. Each set of unexpected characters has something to teach about living faithfully on the journey to Christmas.

Nativity scenes function as the centerpiece of nearly every Christmas gathering in our homes and in our churches. It’s a holy spot where we attempt to re-create our interpretations of the Gospel stories. So, we gather wise men, Mary and Joseph, a shepherd, and a camel, just to name a few. And then it hit me, what about everyone else in the Christmas story? Why only include Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus? Some Nativities include the frequent extras: a side-angel and a few assorted barnyard animals; but what about Zechariah and Elizabeth there in that inner circle? Where is Herod in the grand scheme of things? How did the magi and the shepherds encounter the Christ child?

These B-players usually emerge as “extras” in God’s story, but I could not help but wonder if they might have more to teach us about the intersection of God’s story with ours. I realized over those years that I somehow relate more closely to shepherds and magi than to Mary and Joseph. And, I am definitely no angel. Could it be that we more readily see ourselves in these unlikely characters surrounding the Advent story?

Surviving the Holidays

Have you or someone you know experienced the death of a loved one? No matter how long it's been, grief can make the holidays a painful time, but there is hope. Our GriefShare program is once again offering an encouraging seminar to help those dealing with grief survive the holidays and discover new reasons to enjoy them again. We want to encourage you to sign up for this 2 hour seminar today, and join us Saturday, November 18 from 10am until Noon. Seating is limited, so reservations are required. For reservations or information, please call or text Melodie Austin at 941-661-0842 or you may email her at melharryaustin@yahoo.com.

Reservations must be made before Monday, November 13th.

A Word from Worship

Greetings New Life Church family and friends,

As I get ready to celebrate another year on this planet, my heart is drawn to many different emotions. Regret that I wasted so much time making poor choices, wishing I had tried harder, and yet - I am shouting prayers of praise and glory to my heavenly Father for the gift of another birthday celebration. I am so blessed to have been saved more than once when serious health crises arose or situational problems sent me into the depths of despair. Sounds dramatic, I know, but throughout most lives we are faced with times of great despair or anxiety. Life can be hard. The apostle Paul wrote long ago "Be anxious for nothing." (Philippians 4:6) I had the opportunity to share some of my history with someone new recently and that always brings me back to things that God led me to as I began my prayer journey, which in turn helped grow my faith. I learned four admonitions that help lead us to God:

1) Celebrate God's goodness - "Rejoice in the Lord always"

2) Ask God for help. "Let your requests be made known to God." The Lord is near and we can ask Him for what we need.

3) Leave your concerns with God.

Don't ignore your concerns, be honest and give them to the Father.

4) Meditate on good things. Think about the things worthy of praise. Easy to remember:

Celebrate. Ask. Leave. Meditate

C.A.L.M. If we need times of calm - God will lead us to it; in the Bible, or in a Bible study, or in a favorite devotional among other places. God nudges me in many different ways - I just had to learn to listen. We all get stuck sometimes. And sharing experiences with others is a way of help and healing sometimes. I am always encouraged when you, my church family says, "I read your article every week." We are all greatly blessed to be part of a church family that shares the word of God and support each other. When we're in a place of fear and feeling overwhelmed, remember that God's peace is different from temporary or worldly peace. Psalm 34:17-18

"The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears,

And delivers them out of all their troubles.

The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,

And saves such as have a contrite spirit."

The Lord is near us always and He will help us solve our problems. I am blessed by your love and the support of your prayers. I am praying for you!

Rosie Young

Worship Coordinator

rosie@newlifeforall.church

Cuba Success

Our Sister Church in Taguasco Cuba has grown from 21 worshipers at the first service last September to more than 100 worshiping this week. It took 5 years to rebuild the 1890s mansion which had been converted into apartments into a sanctuary. In January we funded the addition of a balcony, which has nearly been completed. But there is no classroom space and no place for the pastor to live. The house next door which shares some common walls is for sale. We have agreed to help with the purchase. It will provide better access to the balcony, an apartment for the pastor and family, many classrooms, and a large area for group meetings and fellowship. If you are led to help with the purchase, give a portion of your church offering and mark it “for Cuba.”

December Mission Trip to CUBA

We will go to Sancti Spiritus to visit our churches and missions on December 8 for four days. If you would like some information contact Tom Little, 941-769-0002, kalani@comcast.net. We need some large luggage bags to carry medical supplies. Please bring them to the Bargain Boutique.

Photo: Taguasco Church on the left, planned purchase of the house on the right which is twice as big.

Pregnancy Solutions Annual Fund Raising Gala

On December 12, Pregnancy Solutions will hold its Annual GALA at the Punta Gorda Events Center. It will start at 6 pm and will conclude at 8 pm. The dress code is business to semi-formal. You will have an opportunity to hear from some of the young parents as well as from the dynamic staff. Good food and stimulating music will make the evening worthwhile. Debbie Harrington is our table host and she can answer any questions you may have.

A Night with Jimmy Wayne!

Jimmy Wayne, the former foster kid turned award-winning Nashville recording artist, author,

and inspiring speaker will share his music and passion for foster care reform. Proceeds benefit Crossroads Hope Academy.

Tickets are $40 and are available at Burnt Store Presbyterian Church, Mondays and Wednesdays 10am-noon. as well as Deep Creek Community Church (DC3), and First Presbyterian PG.

For more information, please contact Kathy at KBrownMayes@gmail.com

Dates to Remember - Mark your Calendars!

October 31, Halloween Food Truck Festival

November 1, Cancer Support Group

November 4, UCW "Portrait of a Bride"

November 15, Advent Study Begins

November 18, Surviving the Holidays

November 18, Today Matters

November 19, Blood Drive

November 23, Community Thanksgiving Dinner

December 3, Town Hall Meeting

December 8, Harp Concert

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.