Communion in Life Groups

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 third 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.

Committing Your Life to Christ

Want to find out how to start a relationship with Christ?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 a follower of 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.

Life Groups are Starting Back Up!

Life Groups are Starting Up! Life group are weekly gatherings where you can connect with others to discuss the the passage that we looked at during the weekend service. A new life group session has started this week.

For more information on our groups check out our website, stop by the information table, or email us at: groups@newlifecommunitychurch.net

Savior: Week 2 (4.12.15 Message)

This past Sunday we continued our "Savior" series.

To listen to the message or download the full outline, visit our website.

Leader's Rally Tonight!!

Hey Leader's!  Join us tonight at 7:00pm for our April Leader's Rally.  Pizza will be served starting at 6:45pm.  We look forward to seeing all of our leaders there.  If you have any questions, please contact your staff leader.

Presenting Mark Loomis as member of the church board!!

We are pleased to present Mark Loomis as a proposed member for the church board.  A period of thirty days is set aside for church feedback.  All comments are considered and barring any disqualifying concerns, the member is then able to serve.  We are setting aside from now until the end of May as a time for members to have input.  You can direct any communication to lead@newlifecommunitychurch.net

Building Improvements

 

 Dear New Lifers,

Our building is the place we worship God and it’s the home for our church family.  And…it’s time to make some improvements!  It’s been seven years since we’ve done any significant work to our church building.  Over that period of time, wear and tear has taken a toll.   Here are some of the items we need to address

·      Refurbish and repaint the ceiling in the auditorium – The insulation has slowly been falling from the ceiling.  If you look up, you’ll see bare sections of ceiling and also half-fallen insulation.  We need to fix this.

·      Improve Sound System and Lighting – There is buzzing and popping in our sound system due to damaged equipment that needs to be replaced.  We also need to update some lighting equipment.

·      Fix the AC/heater in the auditorium – This winter many of you brought snow gear to deal with the arctic conditions in the auditorium. This is a result of the heater being broken.  We’ve had volunteers look at it, but it needs professional help

·      Fix the AC/Heater in the Student Room  - On the other side of the heat spectrum, the AC unit in our youth room is on life support.  Temperatures in that room can sore to a stifling heat.

·      Replace TVs– As many of you know, our church had several TV’s stolen.  We want to replace the TV in the Lobby and add one for the preschool class.

·      And more… Throughout the building we have outdated equipment that needs to be replaced. There is paint touch up and numerous other smaller items that need to be fixed.

We need your help to make these repairs.  The estimated cost for this project is $11,280.  Are you someone who is able to make a gift “over and above” your regular giving?  With your help we can improve our church home. 

If you can help, please include the word “building” with your gift.   We hope to move quickly with these improvements, and if possible, are hoping that all gifts can be given between now and May 15^th. 

Thanks for being a part of New Life!

Our Giving page has been Updated

We’ve updated the giving section of our website with a new look.  Check it out at www.newlifecommunitychurch.net

New Series - Savior

Jesus Christ changes lives!  Join us April 12th and 19th as we see how Christ does miracles in the lives of others.  Service times are 9:30 and 11:00 am, so pick the time that’s best for you. 

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

Become a Bible Centered Christian

God’s word is our guide for what we believe and how we live.  Whether you’re a new Christian or a long time believer, we want to help you take the next step in understanding God’s word.  Find out more about becoming a Bible Centered Christian by checking out our webpage.

Care

We desire to spiritually support our members through the different challenges of life. If you or someone you know needs help, please check out the care section of our website for resources to meet spiritual, emotional and physical needs.

Need Prayer?

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

Digging Deeper

Are you reading through the book of 1 Kings?  You are if you're doing our Bible Reading Challenge.  We're encouraging members to read a chapter of the Bible each day, and right now we're in the book of 1 Kings.  Join us as we observe God, love, and life through our reading.

As you're studying the Bible, if you would like to take advantage of online Bible study tools, check out our Digging Deeper webpage.  On it, you'll find free resources to dig deeper into God's word.  Also click here to download our Bible Reading Challenge checklist for April, May and June. 

Prayer Group this Saturday

As followers of Christ we’re called to seek God.  Jesus tells us “ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find” (Matthew 7:7). 
  
In order to establish a stronger prayer presence in our church, we’re launching a new prayer group.  This group will be led by Mark Loomis and will meet twice a month on Saturday morning from 9:00 am to 10:00 am.
  
This will be an opportunity to gather together and pray for the church and for each other.  The first meeting will be 9:00 am this Saturday, April 11^th at our church in Room 4.  For more information, email Mark at mloomy@aol.com.

Leader's Rally is Coming Up!

Hey Leader's!  Join us April 13th at 7:00pm for our next Leader's Rally.  Pizza will be served starting at 6:45pm.  We look forward to seeing all of our leaders there.  If you have any questions, please contact your staff leader.

Easter (4.5.15 Message)

This past Sunday we celebrated Christ being risen from the dead, thus being Easter Sunday.

 
To listen to the message or download the full outline, visit our website.

This Sunday is Easter!

Easter is a time for new beginnings! 

Join us on Sunday, April 5^th for Easter Sunday!  Service times are at 9:30 and 11:00 am so pick the time that’s best for you.  We have children’s classes for all ages, so bring the entire family. For more information check out www.newlifecommunitychurch.net

Grow in God's Word

We grow spiritually by reading God's word.  If you do not have a Bible, we would love to give you a Bible for free as an encouragement to start reading God's Word.  Be sure to check out our Bible Reading Challenge and other resources available online and at the info table for getting more out of your Bible reading.

Why I Break Books into Smaller Series

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”