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New Life Church Weekly Update | |
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This Sunday: December 3, 2023
First Sunday of Advent
8:00 am Praise in the Park, Gilchrist Park
9:15 am Traditional Worship, Sanctuary
10:45 am Contemporary Worship, Life Center
Message: "Star Wars"
Scripture: Isaiah 64:1-4
Pastor Mike Loomis
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As we enter into this Advent season join Pastor Angela in pausing for a few minutes to reflect on what we are celebrating! Click the link below to watch a short video! | |
New This Week
- Community Thanksgiving Dinner - Thank you!
- Church Prints Available
- Cuba Mission Team to Leave
- GriefShare, begins January 2, 2024
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Town Hall Meeting, this Sunday
The topics covered in our Town Hall Meeting on Sunday, December 3 will include an update on the process of hiring a new Lead Pastor and information on the GMC vs. Non-Denominational. Join us in the Life Center on Sunday, December 3rd at 4pm.
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Thank You All
Sherri L. O'Connell
I want to express my sincere gratitude for everyone’s help with our Annual Community
Thanksgiving Dinner for this year and years past. We met and exceeded our goals again this year! This event does not happen without ALL OF YOU coming together, and I have seen the faithfulness of God year after year firsthand. I have been honored and blessed to lead this event. So many of you have come to volunteer by cooking in the kitchen, serving the food, sorting, and cutting bread and pies, packing meals, decorating, cooking turkeys, baking pies, delivering meals, cleaning up, being department heads, donating food, donating monetarily, AND providing prayers and I AM OVERWHELMED!! God is faithful and always provides what we need, plus much more. This year we served over 313 meals (120 meals delivered to shut-ins, 118 sit-down meals, and 75 to-go meals) and received 52 cooked turkeys. We had more than enough food and we blessed many. Thank you, so much NEW LIFE CHURCH!! Thank
you for being the hands and feet of Jesus alongside me. I am handing over the baton
to the next person who wants to be blessed by spearheading this event.
Be well, and stay safe during the Christmas Season. Jesus is the reason for the season!!
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Church Prints Available
We have "ready to frame" 5x7 and 11x14 prints of the church available for someone special on your Christmas List! Suggested donation amounts are $5 for the 5x7 and $20 for the 11x14. The prints are available in the church office Monday - Thursday.
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Salvation Army Bell Ringers Needed
We will be returning to the Airport Road Publix this holiday season to ring the bells for the Salvation Army (November 25 - December 23). Please sign up for a time to ring the bell by using the link below, or you can call Gail in the church office 941-639-3842.
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Cuba Mission Team to Leave
This time next week our six Cuba mission team members will be in Cuba carrying the medicines that you have given. We have been given six Children Illustrated Bibles, 500 pages long, and six laptops with chargers and carrying cases loaded with Spanish language Bibles. Many other Biblical coloring books accompanied by crayons are on hand. Thanks to all who have made the effort to support our Christian families in Communist Cuba. We still need over-the-counter medications and bandages. Next Monday, December 4 is the last day for bringing gifts to the Cuba Box in Lenox Hall. Questions can be directed to Tom Little,
941-769-0002.
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Blue Christmas
For those who are grieving the loss of a loved one, the Christmas Season can be very painful. Added to the memories of Christmases with those we have lost, there is a seasonal pressure to put a smile on and join the festivities. We invite you to join us on Sunday, December 17 at 4pm in the Sanctuary for a time of honor and remembrance.
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Offering Boxes Available
A reminder to our Snowbirds who may be just returning...Our new offering boxes are available in the Sanctuary and Life Center by the doors. The offering boxes are where you can leave your weekly Tithes & Offerings as well as your Connect and Prayer Cards.
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December Shower Ministry Needs
-Small men’s underwear (new and in packages)
-Men’s cargo shorts and jeans sizes 28, 30, 32, 34 (smaller sizes very much needed!)
-Men’s small, medium, large, 2X, 3X casual shirts and t-shirts
-Men’s tennis/boat shoes and sandals sizes 10 and up
-Men’s belts
-Lightweight blankets
*Please make sure all items (with exception of socks and underwear) are lightly worn and free from stains*
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Larry Keller's Bible Study
Wednesdays at 6:30 pm, Room 13 & Online (Zoom)
December 6th we will begin a 12-week study on God’s grace.
We will be using Dr. David Jeremiah’s materials called, "Captured by Grace."
The study guide is available for purchase HERE.
Contact: Larry Keller
Email: keller657b@gmail.com
Phone: 941-391-3940
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Christmas Eve, Children's Ministry
Volunteers & Christmas Treats Needed!
Craft / Games Leaders
If you are available to help Christmas Eve from 12:30 - 3:00 pm at Gilchrist Park, please sign up using the link below:
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Christmas Treats
We are planning a Christmas Treat Bake Sale to benefit our Children's Ministry. Treats would be needed in the Lenox Hall kitchen by Thursday, December 21. Please label all treats and if any nuts are in the recipe let Becca know. (becca@newlifeforall.church)
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GriefShare
Melodie Austin
Help and encouragement after the death of a spouse, child, family member, or friend.
The care you need. Information you can trust.
After the funeral, when the cards and flowers have stopped coming, most of the people around you return to their normal lives. But your grief continues and you feel alone.
Often, friends and family want to help you but don’t know how. That’s the reason for GriefShare. Our group is led by caring people who have experienced grief and have successfully rebuilt their lives. We understand how you feel because we’ve been in the same place. We will walk with you on the long path through grief toward healing and hope for the future.
Our 2024 GriefShare groups will be starting January 2 at 6:30 pm OR January 3 at 10:00 am in room 13. With video seminars, support group discussions, and personal study and reflection, GriefShare provides help for you along the journey to healing. We meet for 13 weeks.
If you are grieving the death of a loved one or know someone who is, no matter how long it’s been, please share this information about our 13-week GriefShare support group. Reservations are needed to join these groups.
For more information or to make a reservation, please contact:
Melodie Austin, 941-661-0842 or email melharryaustin@yahoo.com
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A Word from Worship
Greetings New Life Church family and friends,
It seems impossible that I was about to write Happy December! How is it that the older you get the faster time goes? But I do wish y'all a happy and joyful December. I believe it's something that we should share with others as brothers and sisters in faith. I believe that Advent is a perfect time to show others how joyful our lives truly are through prayer and praising God for His peace in our lives. Speaking for my own experience, this does not mean that life is problem free. We all know that December is especially busy with shopping, cleaning, wrapping, cooking etc etc. It can mean endless worry for any number of reasons; health issues, financial problems, life situations or more. I know from earlier years, it's pretty hard to have a joyful life when you're trying to keep your head above water. But we are blessed to know that because of Jesus and the sacrifice he made, we can live in grace. We all know that we live in a chaotic and harsh world and when personal problems are dragging us down it's hard to think of praise. I try to begin and end each day with prayers of praise and thanking God for forgiving my sins and I am grateful for the blessings I receive. I have discovered that rather than asking God for more of Him, spending time thanking Him for what He's already done for me is a gift. When the disciples asked God to teach them to pray, He taught them The Lord's Prayer, which begins with two lines of praise. I would encourage anyone who wants to deepen their prayer life, to try some of the suggestions I found in articles on how to develop times of praise and gratitude:
- Find a quiet place to pray.
- Open your Bible to a favorite Psalm of praise.
- Read it slowly out loud. (I've found reading out loud has more impact for me)
- Highlight phrases that stand out to you.
Using a journal to make notes is really helpful to me. I also know that when I feel like I'm hitting a wall in my life I try to automatically turn to praise.. This is another example of what I can't solve in my own life to what God can do. Psalm 22.5 tells us that praise is a choice: " To you they cried out and were saved; in you they trusted and were not put to shame". Developing a habit of praise and worship is not hard. We can experience God anywhere- not just while praying in church. Everything we do can be a form of praise, like reading a story to your grandkids, or even doing laundry. Calling a friend who is struggling is an act of praise and worship. When we do things we love, we bring God glory. We can share with others, how we find ways to praise God our Father. Join our prayer group and pray for others in need. Ask me how to be involved in this ministry. Invite a friend or neighbor to one of our Christmas Eve services. I'm sure you have other ideas!
Reminders: Say the Lord's Prayer at noon daily as a way to praise God.
Read the Bridge for important upcoming events!
John 15:11 "I have told you these things so that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy may be made full and complete and overflowing."
I am praying for you all!
Rosie Young
Worship Coordinator
rosie@newlifeforall.church
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Operation Christmas Child
Missed packing an Operation Christmas Child Shoebox? It’s not too late! The New Life Church Goal Page for Operation Christmas Child “Build-A-Shoebox” Online will be available until December 31st. Click on the green button below. Thank you for your participation in this important mission to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with children around the world!
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Dates to Remember - Mark your Calendars! | |
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December 2, Foster Care Christmas Luncheon
December 3, Town Hall Meeting
December 8, Harp Concert
December 17, Blue Christmas
December 24, Christmas Eve
Please Note:
There will not be an 8 am Park Service on Christmas Eve 12/24 or New Year's Eve 12/31.
The church offices will be closed from December 25 through January 1, 2024.
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Women's Bible Study - Cost: $20, payable at the first session
Childcare reservation deadline: December 23, 2023
Register HERE or by calling the church office 941-639-3842.
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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.
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Church Name Tags
When you come to the church campus, please wear your New Life Church name tag. If you do not have a church name tag, you can order one HERE.
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Offering New Life in Jesus Christ, by Seeking, Shaping, and Sending Disciples
Office Hours: Monday - Thursday, 9 am - 4 pm
Bargain Boutique Hours: M, W, F, 10 am - 2 pm
(941) 639-3842 | www.newlifeforall.church
Download our app HERE
Sign up to receive text messages & daily devotions by calling the church office.
All past issues of The Bridge are available on our website HERE.
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