New Life Church Weekly Update

September 26, 2025

This Sunday: September 28, 2025

9:15 Traditional Worship, Sanctuary

10:45 Contemporary Worship, Life Center

Message: "I'm Thinking..."

Scripture: Psalm 1

Pastor Casey

New this Week:

Welcome New Members
Intentional Christian Grandparenting, October 6
A Gift for the Dubin Center
Operation Christmas Child: Shoebox Packing Party, October 12
Today Matters, October 18
All Saints' Sunday, November 2
Job Openings: Discipleship Director, Community Outreach Director

Welcome New Members

Our New Life family is expanding! This past Sunday, we welcomed 5 new members to New Life Church. Pictured left to right: Jeanne Hall, William Richert, Spring Galloway, Robin Bayne, Vicki Stavola.

Our next New Life 101 membership class will be held November 9 and 16th. Sign up HERE

Harmony Class

The Harmony Class will begin a new seven-week study this 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!

A Gift for the Dubin Center

Geri Bodnar, Bargain Boutique

Last Saturday, September 20th, Today Matters had Christine LoConte come from the Dubin Center to discuss and enlighten us on dementia and caregiving.

Demonstrations were given to audience volunteers, guided by Christine and it became clear that for many of us, the daily life of a dementia patient is something we don’t see and therefore can’t understand. Most times we do not get the valuable information until it is too late.

After the presentation the Bargain Boutique members agreed on a donation to the Dubin Center of $1,000 to continue their dedication and devotion to this neurodegenerative disease and enhancing the life of the dementia patient, family members and caregivers. An additional $200 was given by another New Life donor.

Now for the God Moment, it just so happens that the Dubin Center is having a fundraiser and any donation given right now is being matched -- so our $1,200 just turned into a $2,400 donation.

I could go on and on but God’s timing was and always is perfect!

Intentional Christian Grandparenting, October 6

TEACHING BIBLICAL TRUTHS USING OBJECT LESSONS

The Intentional Christian Grandparenting group will meet on Monday, October 6, at 1:30 pm in Room 9.

Please join us as we learn how to teach our grandkids Biblical truths using object lessons. Our special guest speaker, Janet Downing, will present ways to use science and fun hands-on activities to teach our grandchildren Biblical truths that they will remember for years to come. Hands-on activities can be used with young elementary- aged children and teens alike. These activities are an enjoyable way to have a family devotion time with your grandchildren of any age when you are with them for short or extended periods of time.

Come join us and learn to be intentional Christian grandparents who leave a lasting spiritual legacy for their children, grandchildren, and future generations.

Email: grandparentingmatters@newlifeforall.church for more information.

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.”

Bargain Boutique, Opening NEXT WEEK!

The Bargain Boutique will officially open on Wednesday, October 1st for shopping and donations. We look forward to seeing you soon!

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

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.

All Saints' Sunday, November 2

All Saints Sunday (November 2) 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

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,

How did Fall arrive so early this year? To say 2025 has not been my best year is an understatement - and yet - when I really stop and think about it, while I admit there have been difficult times, God has given me gifts of blessings. I am far from perfect, but when I'm having a really down day, and question if I'm capable of continuing, God reminds me to get on my knees and pray. Ill admit that's a technical image because as you probably can guess, I'm physically not able to do that. When we're having our worst situations, He tells us to come to Him and He will unburden us. Sometimes we go to Him mainly to seek rest. When things in our lives are going smoothly, it's easy to trust. But when one thing after another gets rough, our minds tend to go into high gear and we start obsessing about ways to make things better. I'll confess that in times past, my mind would spin with so many plans and possibilities that all i get is confused and exhausted! Now I try to look for signs of His loving presence first. We can find it through a variety of ways- words of scripture that we need right at that moment, words that help us from people we know, and even something we experience in nature that show us God's grace and mercy. Something that happens for me is writing this weekly article which doesn't always come easy. I can be praying to our Lord that I haven't got a clue (nothing) to write about and suddenly I get a word or image. Now I still doubt myself but I put my trust in Him and though I continue to doubt my ability, I've learned to listen and more often than not, the next day I'm at church someone will thank me for what I wrote. It let's us all share God's words to us and encourages me to keep going. Learning to let go of trying to direct and solve the problems I have has shown me that the more I suffer, the more I need closeness to the Lord and I can be joyful no matter what my situation is. Please reach out when life is difficult or when things are going well. There are several prayer warriors at our church who will pray with you if you'd like. I also encourage you to serve in some capacity: greeting or helping with communion are other important ways you can help. I am grateful for your prayers and your support!

I'm praying for you too!

Rosie Young

Worship Coordinator

rosie@newlifeforall.church

Job Openings

We are currently looking to fill 2, full-time positions at New Life Church. Complete job descriptions are available at the links below. If you are interested in either position, please contact Kathy in the church office, kathy@newlifeforall.church.

Discipleship Director

Community Outreach Director

Dates to Remember - Mark your Calendars!

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

Blood Drive, October 19

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.