New Life Church Weekly Update

September 19, 2025

This Sunday: September 21, 2025

9:15 Traditional Worship, Sanctuary

10:45 Contemporary Worship, Life Center

Message: "Thank You!"

Scripture: Psalm 107:1-16, 42-43

Pastor Casey

New this Week:

Thank You, from Pastor Casey
Harmony, new study begins September 28
Faith that Works
The Disciple’s Path, Send: Discover Character
Cancer Support Group, resumes October 1

Thank You

Pastor Casey

New Life Family,

As most of you know, my dad, Terry Taylor, died unexpectedly on September 12. Dad faced a series of health challenges and crises over the last year. We agreed to move him in with our family here in Punta Gorda. We had two weeks together before things took an unexpected turn with a midnight 911 call. After nearly twelve days in the hospital, dad died peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by family.

We are grieving but grateful for time with dad. We're also deeply grateful to you, our church family, for the outpouring of prayer, encouragement, and support. Thank you.

Harmony Class

The Harmony Class will begin a new seven-week study on Sunday, September 28th at 9:15 am. in Lenox Hall. This study by Francis Chan, “Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit,” reminds us of the true source of the church’s power—the Holy Spirit, and offers a compelling invitation to understand embrace and follow the Holy Spirit’s direction in our lives.

Class materials are provided, and all are welcome to attend!

Faith that Works

Thank you to the ladies in Women of Faith and Extraordinary Women Bible study groups who volunteer each week to prepare and serve a meal to the teens in our church youth group. Last Wednesday evening, Sheri Anderssen and Melanie Watkins enjoyed a card game of Uno with the teens and Tim after dinner was served. The Teen Ministry Team would also like to thank Ann Taylor who serves and organizes the volunteers for the meal preparations each month. All of the ladies who volunteer have a servant’s heart and a faith that works! Thank you so very much!

The Disciple’s Path

Send: Discover Character

Our mission at New Life Church is to offer new life in Christ as we seek, support, shape, and send disciples. This mission highlights both our ministry strategy and our discipleship pathway. Ministry strategy guides our ministries. The discipleship pathway is the road under our feet as we follow the Way of Jesus. Each week in The Bridge, we’re exploring one of the four parts. This week, we’re talking about “Send.”

OUR STRATEGY

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, 1 Peter 4:10. Jesus sees himself as a servant, and calls us to serve others, too. God equips each of us with a unique combination of gifts. These are meant to bless others and build up the Church. Our strategy as a church is to help people serve and discover God’s call for their lives.

OUR PATHWAY: EXPLORERS

We all have different starting points when we start following Jesus. Our spiritual growth needs will look a little different from one another. Consider one or more of these ways to start serving others:

Take the S.H.A.P.E. assessment to explore how God has gifted you.
Say yes to one serving opportunity — even just once. Try something and see what fits.
Shadow someone who’s already serving in a role that interests you.
Ask a ministry leader where help is needed. Sometimes opportunity reveals calling.
Volunteer at a non-profit or ministry in the community.

OUR PATHWAY: GUIDES

Part of your growth as a disciple of Jesus is helping others to discover their call. Spiritual maturity includes:

Commit to serving regularly at NLC.
Start or lead a ministry in or beyond NLC.
Serve on an administrative leadership team at NLC.
Commit to full-time vocational ministry (pastor, missionary, etc.).
Mentor someone to help them discover their abilities to serve others.

NEXT STEPS

If you’re exploring how to serve, take the S.H.A.P.E. assessment online (freeshapetest.com)
If you want to help others serve, who can you invite to serve with you?

Cancer Support, October 1

The Cancer Support Group will begin meeting again on Wednesday October 1st at 6:30 in Room 9. We will catch up with each other after our summer hiatus. The Cancer Support Group is open to all patients, survivors, and care givers. We are open to the community, if you have friends on a Cancer Journey, please invite them to join us. We welcome all new members. Our goal is to bring “Hope for Your Journey: Coping with Cancer Through Faith.”

Sunday Morning "Gazebo Greeters"

As fall approaches and we have more visitors and returning snowbirds on Sunday mornings, we would like to improve our parking lot hospitality! One way we can accomplish this is to have 1 or 2 friendly faces in our Gazebo as people arrive to our campus on Sunday mornings. A friendly smile, "Good Morning" greeting and simple directions on campus are all that is required.

8:50 - 9:20 and 10:20 - 10:50 are the shifts we are looking to fill.

If you are available one Sunday a month to be a Gazebo Greeter, give us a call in the church office! 941-639-3842 or email katherine@newlifeforall.church.

A Word from Worship

Greetings New Life Church family and friends,

I pray everyone is surviving these rain storms. Out here where I live we've had huge amounts of rain frequently but I know other areas haven't received as much. I mention this because I used to be afraid of these intense storms with large amounts of intense lightning and thunder. I thought about it this afternoon as I calmly found myself turning to God in prayer. How my life has changed over the past several years. I think about this year as example. I lost my dear husband in January, got treatments for cancer in July after having surgery to remove old suture and mesh material from my abdomen and then as things are going better, I have a fall and badly fracture my wrist requiring extensive surgery to put things back together. I'm sharing this because a couple of folks have asked me how I can continue to pray to a God when all these things happen. My answer is always that I can't imagine where I'd be without Him. This recent injury has been a challenge, I'll admit. Doing things one-handed has been tricky and difficult to say the least. But my prayers have praised God that I didn't break a hip or even not my dominant right arm. These past several weeks have led me to pray (earnestly) for several basic and even difficult needs. I'm sure God has gotten a chuckle with some of my prayer requests. It has however, led me back to review some of my favorite books on prayer. I love Charles Stanley's book which taught me that when we get close to Jesus through prayer, we see ourselves through His eyes. I've learned that when we're overwhelmed by troubles there is one course of action we can take every time that is absolutely right - and that is to engage in the gift of prayer. So you see, I go to God with everything. We're told to pray about everything and fear nothing. I encourage you to do just that. Your prayers for me are a beautiful blessing and I am grateful for your support. If you'd like to join a prayer team to be able to for others who need prayers, please let me know.

Meanwhile, I'm praying for you too!

Rosie Young

Worship Coordinator

rosie@newlifeforall.church

Bargain Boutique, Opening October 1

The Bargain Boutique will officially open on Wednesday, October 1st (weather permitting). We will also be collecting donations starting on October 1st. Due to the painting of our entire church campus we have determined it best to wait until October 1st. Thank you for your understanding and we look forward to seeing you soon!

Bargain Boutique Hours: Monday, Wednesday and Friday 10 am -2pm.

Dates to Remember - Mark your Calendars!

SEPTEMBER

Volunteer Luncheon - Children's Ministry, September 20

Today Matters, September 20

OCTOBER

Bargain Boutique Re-Opens, October 1

Cancer Support Group, October 1

Family Night, October 1

Operation Christmas Child PACKING PARTY, October 12

Today Matters, October 18

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.