This Sunday's Theme:

"Preparing?"

Mark 1:1-8

In-person and Live Stream to Facebook and YouTube at 10:30 AM

Good evening Church,

I have some Christmas follow-ups to mention here today. Thank you to the many people and

families who stayed after worship last Sunday to decorate the Sanctuary for Christmas! Your

work is amazing, and we are grateful. We also want to thank those of you who have taken tags

from our Christmas Angel tree. Just a reminder that the mission team needs these gifts back by

this Sunday. You can also purchase a poinsettia for $20.00 in memory of someone or to honor

or give thanks for family or friends. These orders need to be placed by December 17^th.

This Saturday afternoon, the Preschool is hosting a “Gingerbread Haven” from 4-5 pm. We are

excited to host the families that have signed up for this event. As families build their

gingerbread homes, pray that their real homes become the place where Jesus is born for all!

Please pray for Patti, Alex, Max, the teachers and all the others that will be leading our 2023

Preschool Christmas Pageant this Sunday afternoon.

If you plan to make a commitment to New Covenant for 2024, but have not returned one yet,

please prayerfully consider what you can give and then share that with our Board of Ministry.

If you go to the website, you can fill out a commitment form online at: https://newcovenantaz.church/commitment/

If you plan to make an end of the year gift, please make sure that it is at the church by

December 31^st. Thank you for your generosity.

This Sunday we will gather for the 2^nd Sunday in Advent, where we will hear Mark’s telling of

the ministry of John the Baptist. John said that he had come to prepare the way for the

Messiah. I want us to look at what it means to prepare as we look towards Christmas! Join us as

we focus on Mark 1: 1-8 in worship this Sunday!

As a family we are celebrating Goldie’s dismissal from the hospital and her return home! We

give thanks and praise for the amazing healing presence of our God! To follow her story, I

encourage you to read the blog dedicated to this young girl, https://heartofgoldie.blog.

I am looking forward to being with you as we pray the Advent prayers for God to “stir up our

hearts” by the power of his Spirit! See you Sunday!

Pastor Steve

• Surround Alex and Annie Duarte and their family with your love, grace, and healing presence as they prepare for open heart surgery on January 3rd.
• Prayers of thanksgiving for Goldie McMahan and her family as she is released from the hospital to go home. Continue to strengthen her and help her to gain weight. Be with them all as they prepare for surgery #2 in the coming months.
• Thank You that Ariella Harper is now testing negative for Covid but continue to bring her complete healing as she battles lingering headaches and fever.
• Be with Mike Darkoch as he continues to battle with nausea. May his neurological exams bring insight to the doctors for his healing.
• Prayers for Keenan, Charlie Brichta's uncle, who was recently diagnosed with lung cancer. Prayers for strength and resilience as he undergoes treatment, and that his body would be fully restored.

• Prayers for comfort for the family of Dennis Affleck, Mary Reynoso's brother-in-law, who passed away recently.

• Prayers for Seth, for healing and successful treatment of his recently diagnosed cancer.
• Prayers for healing and hope for Roxana Mullenhoff, friend of Dave and Debby Andrews, who has not yet found relief from headaches since suffering a head injury fourteen months ago.
• Prayers for healing for Will Wartenburg who is undergoing treatment following a cancer diagnosis. We thank you for his recovery from surgery to repair to vertebrae which had fractured.
• Prayers for Sandee that she is able to experience healing for her depression as well as other health struggles. Prayers that she would find a renewed sense of purpose.
• Prayers for all young parents, for patience, peace, and overflowing love in their homes.
• Prayers for Uncle Ronnie's health and safety and for his family, that they may all feel strengthened and experience God's peace during this difficult time.
• Prayers for healing for Troy's brother in Colorado who suffers from Parkinson's.
• Matt Knopf of La Casa de Cristo Lutheran Church has been diagnosed with non-hodgkin's lymphoma. Prayers for strength for him and his family as he undergoes treatment.
• Prayers for Carol McNulty, Aurien Preiss' mom, as she continues with therapy.
• Prayers for Bonnie Straley’s brothers, Len and Larry and also his wife, Ann, for healing; and also Daphne and Cassidy for God’s guidance.
• Kent, a friend of Jeff Clarke and Debbie Campouris, is in need of continued prayers as he navigates his diagnosis.