New Life Church Weekly Update

November 8, 2024

This Sunday: November 10, 2024

9:15 Traditional Worship, Sanctuary

10:45 Contemporary Worship, Life Center

Message: "Honor Those Who Deserve Honor"

Scripture: Romans 13:7

Pastor Bob Carlson

The Church Office will be closed Monday, November 11 in honor of Veterans Day.

New this Week:

Operation Christmas Child PACKING PARTY! this Sunday
Pictures this Sunday, Between services
Veterans Day, Church offices closed
Town Hall Meeting, Notes available
Thanksgiving takeout dinners available, November 28
Foster Care Christmas Luncheon, December 7

Operation Christmas Child Packing Party!

The Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Packing Party will be held this Sunday, in the Life Center from 5-6pm. Shoeboxes and packing items will be provided.

Come and join the fun!

Town Hall Meeting & Prayer Vigil

If you missed our Town Hall Meeting on November 3rd, the notes are available: HERE.

Database Directory Photos, this Sunday!

We will be set up in the game room, just off the Life Center foyer in between services. If we don't already have your picture, please come and see us! Having as many current photos in our database will help Pastor Casey get to know us when he arrives in January. THANK YOU!!

Foster Care Christmas Luncheon

Our Annual Foster Care Christmas Luncheon will be held on Saturday, December 7th in the Life Center. We have 100+ children registered for this event! Please help us to make this a special Christmas by providing these kids with some amazing gifts. If you are willing to purchase a gift, please stop by the table in the Life Center on Sunday before or after 9:15 and 10:45 am services and to pick up card or two with a child’s age and gender.

Then, purchase a gift or two (try to keep the total purchase under $25 per child). Please attach the card to the UNWRAPPED gift(s) and return them to the appropriately numbered bin located in the Life Center outside room 6. Gifts MUST be dropped of no later than Sunday, December 1st.

Thank you so much for helping us bless these children this Christmas season!

Surviving the Holidays, November 16

Have you or someone you know experienced the death of a loved one? No matter how long it's been, grief can make the holidays a painful time, but there is hope. Our GriefShare program is once again offering an encouraging seminar to help those dealing with grief survive the holidays and discover new reasons to enjoy them again. We want to encourage you to sign up for this 2 hour seminar today, and join us Saturday, November 16 in the Life Center from 10am until Noon. Seating is limited, so reservations are required. For reservations or information, please call or text Melodie Austin at 941-661-0842 or you may email her at melharryaustin@yahoo.com.

Reservations must be made before Monday, November 11th.

Today Matters, November 16

"How Much is Too Much?"

Today Matters will feature a conversation with local Christian counselor, Wade Warden, as we discuss overcoming anxiety and depression in the aftermath of multiple storms, political and social divisiveness, and world-wide conflict.

Join us at 4pm in the Life Center on Saturday, November 16th!

First Steps, November 17

New Member Class

Are you considering becoming a member of New Life Church? Or, do you just want to know more about who we are and what God is calling us to be and do?

Then, join us for our First Steps Class, on Sunday, November 17th at 2:00 pm in the Life Center.

This 2-hour session will be led by Pastor Mike as he takes you through what it is to be a Christian, and specifically, a Christian who worships, grows, and serves at New Life in Christ Church.

Sign-ups are extremely helpful to ensure we have enough materials and goodies for all.

Please contact Gail 941-639-3842 or gail@newlifeforall.church to register.

Thanksgiving Dinners Available, November 28

Takeout dinners on Thanksgiving will be available between 11am and 1pm, while supplies last! (No reservations needed)

Reservations for Shut-in Deliveries

If you are a shut-in, or you know of someone who would be blessed by receiving a Thanksgiving Dinner, please contact Gail in the church office: (941) 639-3842 or gail@newlifeforall.church.

The deadline to reserve a shut-in delivery will be Thursday, November 21.

Food Donations Needed

Instant Mashed Potatoes
Canned Corn
Canned Cranberry Sauce
Jars of Turkey Gravy

A cart to collect your food donations is located in the Life Center foyer.

Volunteers, we will update you on ways you can serve in the coming weeks as our plans move forward!

If you have any questions regarding Thanksgiving, please contact our dinner coordinators, Kathy & Briyin Butgereit, kathy@newlifeforall.church.

Get to know Jorge Acevedo

Our Guest Pastor, December 2024

Jorge Acevedo loves Jesus Christ and his Church. Touched by the grace of God at seventeen, he was never the same. Rescued from a life of addictions, his greatest delight is connecting people to Jesus and the Church.

Born in Puerto Rico, Jorge, at the age of four months, moved with his family to the United States, where he was raised. Jorge is married to Cheryl Montgomery. Their oldest son, Daniel, lives in Cape Coral, Florida, and is the father to their four beautiful grandchildren, Mia, Levi, Seth, and Zoe. They also have a fantastic younger son, Nathan, who lives in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Jorge was the Lead Pastor at Grace Church (www.egracechurch.com), a multi-site congregation in Southwest Florida, for 27 years. He also served churches in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Kissimmee, Florida; and Lexington, Kentucky. Jorge retired from being a local church pastor after 39 years in September, 2023 and currently is a leadership coach, writer, and speaker (www.jorgeacevedo.com). Jorge’s coaching ministry is with Spiritual Leadership Inc. (www.spiritual-leadership.org). He also regularly speaks at local churches, conferences and on podcasts.

Jorge is a 1984 graduate of Asbury College, where he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree majoring in Bible. He is a graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity Degree. He also earned a Doctor of Ministry degree in 2023 from United Theological Seminary with a dissertation on Congregational Vitality: The Church’s Journey from Heroic Solo Leadership to Generative Team Leadership. Jorge received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from United Theological Seminary in 2023.

Jorge wrote Everybody Needs Some Cave Time: Finding God in Dark Places (Invite Resources, 2023), Neighboring (Abingdon Press, 2019), and Vital: Churches Changing Communities and the World (Abingdon Press, 2013). He co-authored A Field Guide for Methodist Fresh Expressions (Abingdon Press, 2020), The Grace-Full Life: God’s All-Reaching, Soul-Saving, Character-Shaping, Never-Ending Love (Abingdon Press, 2017), Sent: Giving the Gift of Hope at Christmas (Abingdon Press, 2015) and The Heart of Youth Ministry (Bristol House, 1989).

A Word from Worship

Greetings New Life Family and Friends,

Happy November! Hard to believe it's in the seventh month since Don got sick and was diagnosed with cancer, and we began this journey of despair and joy, fear and hope and a myriad of other emotions. The one thing that has remained constant is the knowledge that we were never alone going through these trials because of our faith. I admit that I had moments of panic at first because a person can't help but feel bombarded with "bad" news in the beginning. I had to return to the basics of my prayer journey when I learned to quiet my fears and breathe while asking God to take my hand and hearing my prayer. It always helps. To know that we are never alone is the greatest gift. I can assure you that when life's hurts and troubles pile up and it feels like walls are closing in, the sadness, grief and disappointment brings us to our knees. You may feel like you can't go on in your own strength but His power is perfected in our weakness. I read somewhere that when we feel like we have no hope, the Lord will wipe away our tears. He sees and hears and knows all we are facing. And He is there for us, offering comfort and peace that can't be explained. As we cry out for His help, He is always there for us, even in the middle of our darkest days and nights. Just imagine that in our times of need He is walking beside us so we're never alone. I've also told many people that we are also blessed to have a strong, and loving church family. You have walked along with us on this journey with your prayers, food, gift cards, and numerous offers of help. I can't say thank you enough but know that I am praying for all of you.

Brief update: Don continues to feel quite well, is up and about and doing things around the house and taking short walks outside. He has an appointment with our oncologist,

Dr. Glick on Monday ( as I do) so will have more info next week. We are grateful for each good day. I saw the Radiation Doctor this week who had both good and bad news for me. He said that my recent CT scan showed that the tumor in my lung that was irradiated had gotten smaller which was good news. He then said "oh-oh" and informed me that there is a new lesion that they now see.on the scan. He explained that this happens when the cause of the tumor isn't eradicated others will still grow. Next step for me is another PET Scan. I will find out more when I see Dr. Glick on Monday and will see what's next in my journey. God has us and with the prayer support from you, our prayer warriors and church family, we are truly blessed. Please pray for the people who are recovering from storms damages, illness, trauma of any kind. There is a lot of pain out there right now. I've discovered that our problems don't seem quite so bad when you refocus on others challenges.

Take care of each other and remember: I'm praying for you!

Rosie Young

Worship Coordinator

rosie@newlifeforall.church

FYI: I have dishes in my office that might belong to you!

Build a Shoebox Online

The Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Gifts: New Life Church Build-A-Shoebox Online Goal page is active! Shop and select the perfect shoebox gift from the comfort of your home computer! Simply Click on the link below to connect with our Goal Page. Our BASBO goal is 75 shoeboxes before January 31, 2025! Let’s make sure 75 MORE children have access to The Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Below is the direct link to New Life Church Goal Page:

Build a Shoebox Online

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 (December 2 - December 24).

Please sign up for a time to ring the bell by using the link below, or you can call the church office to sign up for a time 941-639-3842.

BELL RINGER SIGN UP

Dates to Remember - Mark your Calendars!

NOVEMBER

Church Database Photos, November 10 & 17

Shoebox Packing Party, November 10

Surviving the Holidays, November 16

Today Matters, November 16

First Steps Class, November 17

Operation Christmas Child - Shoebox Deadline, November 17

Thanksgiving Dinner Pickup 11am - 1pm, November 28

DECEMBER

Salvation Army Bell Ringing, December 2-24

Foster Care Christmas Luncheon, December 7

"A Celtic Christmas for Jesus" Harp Concert, December 9

Blue Christmas, December 15

Christmas Eve Services, 3PM and 7PM

Meal Train for Don & Rosie Young

November dates are now available! Click HERE to sign up.

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.

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

(941) 639-3842 | www.newlifeforall.church

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All past issues of The Bridge are available on our website HERE.

Submissions for the Bridge can be emailed to katherine@newlifeforall.church.

Deadline for the Bridge is the prior Wednesday, by noon.