Message in a Minute

Click the image above to hear from Pastor Harold, as well as to learn about the three Key Announcements for this week!

Spiritual Reflection

“A mustard seed is proof that even in the smallest details, beauty can be found.”

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“Residing Hope” Fifth Sunday Offering

Saturday, June 29 and Sunday, June 30

This is a Fifth Sunday weekend, which means that we will be collecting an offering to support the children’s home.

Residing Hope, formerly known as the Florida United Methodist Children’s Home, was first established in 1908. They currently serve 75 abused, abandoned, and neglected children from across the state of Florida, and provide Montessori education, foster care, and outpatient counseling in multiple counties. The name was changed this year to reflect a growing faith-based organization that empowers children and their families by showing them the love of Christ through the services they provide. 

The word “hope” reflects in the Bible the confident expectation of what God has promised and the strength of his faithfulness. Residing Hope is a place where hope lives and grows and reflects their mission and values.

Earlier this year, Residing Hope recognized New Covenant as a “Top 25 Giving Church.” In 2023, the church donated $21,940 to support this ministry.

Please help continue to support these efforts by making a donation today.  

Backpacks 4 Kids present Celebrate America 2024

Sunday, June 30 at 3 PM in the Christian Life Center

Get ready for a spectacular explosion of music and patriotism at Celebrate America 2024! Dive into a sea of heart-stirring patriotic anthems, a vibrant assortment of Americana pop and folk tunes, and soaring marches. Hosted by Angie Rose and Sean Pollock, the stage will sparkle with the incredible talents of The Chancel Choir, guest soloists, and dynamic instrumentalists.

Admission is free with a suggested $20 donation at the door. Every dollar raised supports Backpacks 4 Kids in their mission to equip school children from Wildwood elementary through middle-high schools with essential supplies. Last year, your generosity helped raise over $20,000, benefiting 1,700 children in our growing community. Hosted by New Covenant, renowned for vibrant concerts that build futures, this event promises not only a feast for the ears but a boon for the heart. Don’t miss this unforgettable celebration of America’s spirit and community!

Bargains & Blessings Truck Next Weekend

The Bargains & Blessings Truck will be on the church campus to accept donations next weekend (July 6 & 7) before worship services. We appreciate your ongoing support of this important ministry.

If you have large items to donate, please call Bargains & Blessings at (352) 330-3333 for information about donation pick-up.

Prayer Quilt Ministry Volunteers

Our Prayers and Squares quilt ministry has long been a source of wonderful prayer quilts for those in situations of grief, illness, and suffering. These quilts are a tangible way to show the love of Jesus Christ to those in need. 

We are in need of quilts! So many are being requested and with many of our quilters out of town for the summer months, our supply is running low! These quilts can mean everything to the recipient and are such an important ministry here at New Covenant! If you have quilts, or are a quilter, we need your help; please contact Alice Kalinowski or Sue O’Brien. Thank you for your continued support!

Giving Is About the Heart

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything. (Mark 12:41-44)

God does not need our money or resources, so it’s not about giving a certain amount. Instead, it’s about the heart. The gospels record the story of a widow who put two small copper coins in the offering box. Although Jesus and His disciples saw the rich putting in larger offerings, Jesus highlighted the poor widow’s sacrifice. She gave a perfect gift because she gave what she had, from the heart.

Legacy Giving

The purpose of the Legacy Fund is to endow and support the lasting impact of New Covenant’s ministry and mission.

Spirited Singles Sunday School Class

Join our “Spirited Singles” for their new study “Forgiving What You Can’t Forget” by Lysa Terkeurst beginning this Sunday at 10:15 AM in Classroom 3.

This study teaches us how to stop suffering from what others have done to us while exploring what forgiveness is, what it isn’t and how to deal with difficult relationships. Learn how to move on when the other person refuses to change and never says “sorry”!

“Many Hands Make Light Work”

Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, serve our community, and connect with our church; New Covenant has many different areas to get involved. Whether it is serving during the weekend services, or volunteering within one of our missions, you are a necessary part of this church. No role is unimportant, and we need many volunteers to continue to live into the vision of being Christ’s hands, feet, and voice in the world.

Below are just a few positions with immediate needs, but many more are listed on our Volunteer Central webpage. We invite you to explore these great opportunities!

• Bargains & Blessings Store
• Bus Drivers
• Coffee Bar on Sundays
• Fresh Expressions
• Production Crew for Saturday Worship Services
• Quilters
• Wildwood Middle High School Mentor Program

For information on any volunteer position, please click the button below, visit the Volunteer Central webpage (located under the Ministries tab; then select First Impressions), or call the church office.

Revealed Small Group New Study

Thursdays, July 25 through August 29 from 1–2:15 PM

“Lessons I Learned in the Dark: Steps to Walking by Faith, Not by Sight” is the theme for the next Revealed Study Group led by Sherry and Pastor Gary Eldred.  The author, Jennifer Rothschild, explains her book is not about blindness, although she herself is blind, but rather a book about learning how to really see: to move with freedom, even in confining circumstances, to hear echoes of hope, even in heartache, to be empowered, even when you don’t feel strong.

For more information, please contact Sherry and Pastor Gary Eldred.

Holy Land Trip 2025

Monday, March 31–Tuesday, April 9, 2025

Pastor Harold will lead another Christian pilgrimage to the Holy Land next year. The tour will include Jerusalem, Bethlehem, the Sea of Galilee, Jacob’s Well, Samaria, Emmaus, Megiddo, Mount Carmel, Jericho, Qumran, Masada, and the Dead Sea.

Click the button below to read the full brochure. Brochures are also located at the “Welcome Center” in the East Narthex. To register, please visit the EO website. 

New Covenant Library

New Covenant is happy to have a wonderful library with many resources available to you in Christian fiction, non-fiction, research, and more. Want to know more about the United Methodist Church? We have titles available to you. Looking for a small group curriculum? We have a special section with small group discussion in mind!  Come check us out! And remember, you need a New Covenant ID card to check out a book!  For more information, contact Ginny Davis.  We also have an online link to see what materials you might be looking for, and you can access it here!

Bonnie Fisher

Judy Holbrook

Marie Lonf

Patricia Sauve

Charles Stuart

Carol Thomas

Debbie Zesinger

The prayer quilts on the altar are for...

Debbie, who has Leukemia.

Ed, who is having surgery.

Nola, who is having surgery on her eyes.

Prayer quilts are made by a dedicated group in our church who envision the quilts being a special gift of love for people facing difficult situations. If you would like to order a prayer quilt, please click the button below.

Our prayers, love, and sympathy are extended to...

Jim Carroll, family and friends on the passing of his wife, Dee Carroll.

Sherry Van Amerongen, family and friends the passing of her husband, Philip Van Amerongen.

Lynda Bryant, family and friends on the passing of her brother, Jesse Darden, Jr.

Our Altar Flowers have been provided by:

Dave & Bonnie Fisher in celebration of their 45^th anniversary.

Edward (Buzzy) & Elaine Farquhar in celebration of their 67^th anniversary.

Bill, Dottie, and Zoe Barron and in memory of their son and Zoe's father, Michael Barron (10/6/75 – 6/29/20).

Flower orders must be received by noon on Tuesday for flowers to be delivered that weekend. To place an order for altar flowers, please contact Ginny Davis using the button below.