Thursday, August 29, 2013

Online Giving


New for 2013 – Online Giving!
Our church has just put in place a full-feature online giving option! With our new online giving site, you’re able to give from any computer using your checking account, credit or debit card.  You will also have the ability to make recurring gifts from your checking account or credit card.  To learn more about this new feature, check out– www.newlifecommunitychurch.net/Giving/Online

Frequently Asked Questions…      

What are the advantages of online giving?
Online giving is a convenient way to give.  In an increasingly paperless world, it eliminates the need to write checks and enables you to give from anywhere.

What if I try online giving and don’t like it?
There is no requirement to continue to use online giving.  It is very easy to begin or stop.

Can I give with a credit or debit card?
Yes, online giving allows you to use both credit and debit cards.  In addition, you can use your checking or savings account for online giving.   

Can I schedule recurring donations?
Yes, you can specify whether you want your contribution made one time, weekly, twice per month, monthly, quarterly, or yearly. You can set up as many schedules as you would like.

**Note: When you schedule a recurring donation, a small validation amount (.11 cents) will pend to your account BUT WILL NOT be charged or post to your account.  It is only for validation purposes.  Please allow 2-3 days for this amount to disappear.

What if I need to change the amount of a recurring gift, or cancel altogether?  You can view, edit, or delete a scheduled contribution at anytime, including the credit card, date, frequency and amount as long as you created an account on the giving page. 



Will I still receive a contribution statement?
You will receive an email confirmation every time you give online.  And at the end of the year the church will provide a “Year End” Giving Statement which will include both your online and in person giving.

Is online giving secure?
New Life uses “Simple Give” as our online provider.  All information is encrypted with 256-bit SSL encryption.  It is the same technology used by banks and e-commerce companies to keep your information safe and secure during transactions.

Are there any fees involved with online giving?
Not for the giver.  The church pays any fees associated with online giving.

How will my online giving transaction appear on my bank statement?
You bank statement will list a transaction from New Life Community Church.  

When will contributions be taken from my account?
Contributions will be taken from your specified bank account within 48 business hours of the date you requested.  This time frame allows time for the contribution to process through your financial institution and the church’s financial institution.  If the date of your contribution falls on a weekend or a holiday, the transaction will be initiated on the next banking day.

Who do I contact for more information?
Please contact the church office at 951.736.5433 or by email at finance@newlifecommunitychurch.net 

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Office Closed for Labor Day

Just a reminder that our church offices will be closed on Monday, September 2nd,  in observence of Labor Day. The office will reopen for regular hours on Tuesday, September 3rd.

Fall Outreach


Many of the people who attend New Life came as result of receiving a flyer in the mail. This has been an important way for us to let our community know that we’re here, and that we want to help other’s know Christ. We want to continue this practice by sending a flyer to each home within our immediate area – approximately 20,000 homes. We need your help to do this.

Church finances are tight, so the only way to do this is through a special giving. We’re looking for people who can give, over and above their regular giving, to help us reach out to our community. The total cost breaks down to about $30 to reach 100 people. Can you help with the cost of this outreach? If so, when you make your gift, designate it to “mailer."

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Why Guest Speakers are scheduled during the year.


(Note: This is part of a larger series on the weekend messages. Click here to see the original post)

So… why are guest speakers scheduled during the year. The quick answer is: I’m not good enough, or interesting enough, or creative enough, or energetic enough to speak every Sunday! 

Dave Jacobs, a consultant to churches writes “The senior pastor is not the only voice to the church but he does need to be the main voice. A good balance is the pastor up there four or five weeks in a row and then someone else.” 

The amount of energy and focus to do the weekly message can be formidable, speaking week after week is the #1 activity (along with counseling) that will leave me drained. I’ve found that a sustainable pace is when I speak for about five to six weeks, and then have someone else come in, then I get up for another 5-6 weeks, then bring in someone with a fresh arm.

Below are some benefits to the church and some benefits for me.

Benefits for the Church

·      A more well-rounded understanding of God’s Word - Different speakers will have different take on a passage or a fresh perspective on the text.  There are some topics I’m going to get pumped about, and probably overemphasis, and other topics I’m more “ho-hum” about, and will underemphasize.  With only one speaker there is a danger of just getting the Mike Hannah version of the Bible – that’s not a good thing! A balanced diet is important when learning God’s word.

·      It gives other speakers an opportunity to develop.  If one speaker fills up all the speaking slots, it doesn’t allow other people to grow and develop. The best scenario for the church is to have a team of competent speakers. That way, if anything happens to one person, God’s word will faithfully be preached regardless.

·      I can make progress on other projects that are important to the church. One the weeks I speak, a big chunk of my work hours are tied up by preparing the message.  On the weekends I don’t speak, those weekday hours are freed up for me to work on other items that are helpful for the church. This might be contacting members, encouraging leaders, designing a new workshop, etc.

·      You get a better lead pastor - If I don’t take a break, I get burned out, and speaking feels like going through the motions. By taking periodic breaks, when I do speak, you get a better me. That’s a benefit to the church….and also a benefit for me…. Which leads me to the next section.

Benefits for Me

·      I don’t burn out and die!  – When I was younger I could just go and go, the older I get, the more I need to stop and rest. The weekly process of creating and delivering a message can be incredibly draining. The truth is, after about six weeks, I’m get drained and need an opportunity to recharge.  If not, I lose enthusiasm, and start to go into autopilot mode with God’s word. In the Bible there’s a pattern on six on, one off. Six days of work, one day off, six year of working the land, one year for the land to rest.  So for me, an average of six on, one off seems to be sustainable. I want to be around for a long time

·      I have time to do family things – On the weekends I speak, I spend time on Saturday preparing for the message, and then Sunday I’m at church delivering it. This makes it hard to plan family activities for when my family is off – the weekend. By having scheduled breaks, this allows weekend time for family every one and half months.

So, those are some of the reasons guest speaker are scheduled throughout the year.

Next Week’s Topic: Weekend Message Values

Can you help reach our community?


Many of the people who attend New Life came as result of receiving a flyer in the mail. This has been an important way for us to let our community know that we’re here, and that we want to help other’s know Christ. We want to continue this practice by sending a flyer to each home within our immediate area – approximately 15,000 homes. We need your help to do this.

Church finances are tight, so the only way to do this is through a special giving. We’re looking for people who can give, over and above their regular giving, to help us reach out to our community. The total cost breaks down to about $30 to reach 100 people. Can you help with the cost of this outreach? If so, when you make your gift, designate it to “mailer."

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Subscribe to iTunes

New Life Messages are on itunes!
Each week, the weekend message is posted as a podcast on the itunes store. We have 300 weeks worth of messages to listen to. This allows people to download individual messages or subscribe to our weekly podcast. If you have itunes, search for us under "New Life Community Church Corona."

Looking Back At Our Series Through Acts

This coming Sunday we'll wrap our study through the book of Acts.  Below is a look at the series and topics that made up our study of this book of the Bible.

The Biblical Value of Giving

Jesus says, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21). To learn more about giving, check out the giving page at our website.

Accelerate Begins September 10th


Accelerate is a group designed to move you forward in your relationship with Christ and your connection to the church family.

Our next Accelerate group begins on Tuesday, September 10th at 6:45 PM and meets for eight weeks. To sign up for this group or to learn more about life groups at New Life, stop by the Information Table on Sunday or email us info@newlifecommunitychurch.net. You can also check out our website.

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Giving Update

July Giving Update 
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. - Phillipians 4:19


Thank you to everyone who gives at New Life. Your giving is an important part in the ministry work of Jesus Christ at our church. To find out more about giving visit out giving page  here.


Monday, August 19, 2013

Surviving a Storm


On Sunday we looked at the account of Paul’s shipwreck in Acts chapter 27. To hear the talk online, you can go to the Weekend Message page.  The following is a snapshot of the talk.

Six Thoughts for Surviving a Storm

1) Shipwrecks happen when we ignore God’s warnings. Vs 9-11 “Instead of listening…”

2) The hard hits of a storm can tempt us to give up hope. Vs 20 “We finally gave up all hope of being saved.”

3) During a storm, even one person can make a difference. Vs 21 “Paul stood up…”

4) Surviving a storm takes courage. vs 22-25 “Keep up your courage”

5) Surviving a storm takes faith. Vs 33-36 “Not one of you will lose a single hair”

6) Sometimes God uses storms and unexpected detours for His glory.  

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Why I Break Books of the Bible into Smaller Series


(Note:  This is part of a larger series on the weekend messages. Click here to see the original post) 


Why I Break the Books of the Bible into Smaller Series
As you look at the sample message schedule from 2011 (Above).  You can see that we spent the first 8 months of the year going through the book of Genesis.  When tackling a larger book, like Genesis, I’ll often break the book up into smaller series. In this case I’ve broken up the book as follows.

·      Creation through the life of Noah - Genesis 1-6
·      Life of Abraham – Genesis 12-22
·      Life of Isaac – Genesis 24 - 26
·      Life of Jacob – Genesis 27-35
·      Life of Joseph – Genesis 37-45

If you look at the message schedule below, you’ll see that series are formed about the above sections.
·      “Back to the Beginning”  Covered Adam and Eve and the beginning of creation
·      “By Faith” is a six week series on the life of Abraham.
·      “True Love” is a series on the life of Isaac
·      “Epic Fail” is a series on Jacob stealing the birthright
·      “Relationships 101” is Jacob starting a family and a new life.
·      “Dreaming” is a series on the life of Jacob

I break larger books into smaller sections for several reasons…

1)   The book already has some natural breaks - Often a larger book (like Genesis) has natural occurring sections – In which case breaking it into smaller series makes sense.

2)   Eat the Elephant – How do you eat an elephant?  One bit at a time. It’s easier to tackle a large task in bit-sized chunks.

3)   It provides some natural breaks in the church calendar – Multiple series provides a natural rhythm into the church calendar.  It’s like a long driving trip cross country, rest stops are good.

4)   It provides multiple entry points for new people in our service.  The start of each five or six week series is a opportunity to invite new people, who will come in at the start a series, not the middle of a something that is already in progress.

5)   It mixes things up – This is maybe the least important, but for people like me who get bored easily, multiple series mixes things up!

Next Week’s Topic: “Why Guest Speakers are scheduled during the year”

Need Prayer?

Each week members of our prayer team lift up the needs of those we request prayer.
If you have a prayer request, let us know! Put it in an email and send it to the email address belowprayer@newlifecommunitychurch.net

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Outreach Mailer


Many of the people who attend New Life came as result of receiving a flyer in the mail. This has been an important way for us to let our community know that we’re here, and that we want to help other’s know Christ. We want to continue this practice by sending a flyer to each home within our immediate area – approximately 15,000 homes. We need your help to do this.

Church finances are tight, so the only way to do this is through a special giving. We’re looking for people who can give, over and above their regular giving, to help us reach out to our community. The total cost breaks down to about $30 to reach 100 people. Can you help with the cost of this outreach? If so, when you make your gift, designate it to “mailer."

Communion in Life Group

Christ calls us to take communion “In remembrance” of Him (Luke 22:19). We serve communion from time to time in our weekend services and large group settings, but the primary place communion happens is in our life groups. Communion takes place in the groups monthly, usually on the fourth week of the month. So if you’re not plugged in to a life group, get involved. You can find out more about groups by checking out the life group webpage.

Commiting Your Life to Christ

Want to find out how to start a relationship with God?
If so, we want to help you take the next step. We’ve prepared some helpful materials that show what the Bible says about becoming following Christ. These self-study materials will  assist you in taking the first steps to growing spiritually. To receive these materials, or to talk to someone in person, please contact us at connect@newlifecommunitychurch.net. You can also check out our online information.

Monday, August 12, 2013

August Leader's Rally Tonight

Join us tonight for our August Leader's Rally. The meeting is today, August 12th, at 7:00 PM. Pizza will be served starting at 6:45 pm. We look forward to seeing all of our leaders there. If you have any questions, please contact your staff leader.

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Outreach Mailer


Many of the people who attend New Life came as result of receiving a flyer in the mail. This has been an important way for us to let our community know that we’re here, and that we want to help other’s know Christ. We want to continue this practice by sending a flyer to each home within our immediate area – approximately 15,000 homes. We need your help to do this.

Church finances are tight, so the only way to do this is through a special giving. We’re looking for people who can give, over and above their regular giving, to help us reach out to our community. The total cost breaks down to about $30 to reach 100 people. Can you help with the cost of this outreach? If so, when you make your gift, designate it to “mailer."

3 Ways to Give


For more information on giving, check out our giving webpage.

Why I like going through books of the Bible

(Note: This is part of a larger series on the weekend messages. Click here to see the original post)

Why I like going through books of the Bible
As general rule I like going through books of the Bible during the weekend service. Over the course of a typical year, 75% of the Sundays are probably going through a book of the Bible in a structured way, the other 25% are more topical in nature (Christmas, Easter, etc)  The following are three benefits of going through books of the Bible

o   It allows us to study a passage in context – As we study a passage as part of a structured series, we have an opportunity to see that passage in light of the bigger teaching of that particular book of the Bible.  We see what comes before and after each passage as we move along week by week.

o   It promotes familiarity with a book of the Bible – If each week we jumped around and looked at one verse here, another verse there, it would harder to become familiar with the overall message and contents of a book of the Bible.

o   Opportunity for members to read along – By going through an entire book of the Bible, members have the opportunity to read ahead  They know what’s coming next and can study along to better form their own understanding of the passage. This is especially helpful in larger books, when we don’t cover ever chapter in equal detail, members can fill in the blanks by studying the “non-covered” portions of scripture on their own.

There are other good reasons for going through books of the Bible, but the above are a good start.  

Next week’s topic “Why I Break Books of the Bible into Smaller Series”

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Subscribe to the Blog


Do you follow our blog? If so, here's a timesaving tip. Many people "surf" the web and go from blog to blog to check out the latest postings. But it's possible to subscribe to our blog via newsreader or “aggregator". This program will pull the latest blog postings to your computer via something called an RSS Feed. (The icon above is a popular symbol that designates an RSS feed).

There are many popular (and free) newsreader programs out there. Here is a link for more information if you are interested - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aggregator

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Upgrade to our online giving page


Do you give online? If so, you may have noticed the new look of our online giving webpage.   The company that processes our giving has upgraded our webpage to offer better features.  If you have bookmarked the page, the new web address is - https://my.simplegive.com/dl/?uid=NewLifeConv.  

To find out more about online giving check out the giving section of our website. 

Monday, August 5, 2013

Bible Reading Challange

The Bible is the inspired word of God that helps us to know God and follow him. Many of us own a Bible, but don’t have a regular plan for reading it. To help bring focus, we’ve put together a Bible reading plan that brings you through a chapter of the Bible each day. If you follow this day by day checklist, you’ll be taking the next step toward knowing more of God’s word. 

Check out our website for our Bible Reading Challenge checklist.

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Why I Like to Plan Ahead

(Note: This is part of a larger series on the weekend messages. Click here to see the original post)

Why I Like to Plan Ahead
Some pastors plan there messages week by week. I tend to have a schedule of topics that extends from six month up until a year into the future. The following are some of the reasons I like to plan ahead…

Intentional Biblical Diet - By laying it out, I can look at the overall balance of God’s word that our church is getting. By having a schedule, others can have input. For example, each year I give my proposed message schedule to our church board members and the staff. This allows others to see where I’m going.

Getting a Head Start on Studying – If I know that three months from now I’m doing a series on the life of Jacob dealing with integrity. I can keep my eyes open ahead of time for passages, stories, and examples to file away for upcoming series. At the beginning of year I create files for the series and start collecting material along the way.

It helps with overall church planning – All staff members are provided with a copy of the message schedule – this allows them to plan with the messages in mind. They are able to see the start of new series, the topics we’ll cover, when guest speakers will be here, etc. It can allow from a more integrated church calendar.

It fits how I am wired – Part of me is very spontaneous, I’m wired in a “figure it out as you go” mode. But because preparing and delivering the message is an exceptionally draining activity for me, I need this part of my life to have some structure. Speaking is the one activity (Besides counseling) that can suck the life out of me. The spiritual and creative energy that goes into the weekly message can be exhausting.  Knowing what I’m speaking on, ahead of time, gives me a weekly starting point in what can already feel like an overwhelming process.

Subject to Change – While I plan ahead, the message schedule is always subject to change. I always want to be open to changes God may want or needs of the church that should be addressed.

So… those are some of the reasons I plan ahead.

Next week this series on the weekend message continues with “Why I like going through books of the Bible”.