New Life Church Weekly Update

September 1, 2023

This Sunday: September 3, 2023

8:00 am Praise in the Park, Gilchrist Park

(Pending weather/park conditions - watch for an eblast update)

9:15 am Traditional Worship, Sanctuary

10:45 am Contemporary Worship, Life Center

Message: "Still, Small Voice"

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:11-13

Pastor Mike Loomis

New This Week

Praise in the Park returns to Gilchrist Park THIS SUNDAY!
Offices Closed Labor Day - Monday, September 4
Bargain Boutique, Reopens on September 6
A Note from the Staffing Committee
Today Matters, September 16
"Challenge to Read," Myrt Creigh

Bargain Boutique

The Bargain Boutique will re-open September 6 for sales and donations. We are looking forward to seeing old friends who shop with us and welcoming new shoppers.

As the old saying goes 'we are loaded for bear'...but not exactly! We do have beautiful art work, unbelievable fashionable clothing, (gently used and new), kitchenware. The list goes on. And oh, the jewelry!

See you soon,

The Ladies of the Bargain Boutique

A Note from the Staffing Committee

We want to wish David well in his new adventure in Wilson, North Carolina. If anyone would like to send a card and a love gift to David, they may send it to the church office and we will make sure that he receives them.

Today Matters

Briyin Butgereit

Today Matters Speaker Series has a special guest this month that is a topic that is very near and dear to our hearts. Have you heard of equine therapy?? Before moving to Florida, Kathy B. had horses in Michigan and boarded them at a ranch that did equine therapy and she often got to participate in the therapy sessions with corporations and companies looking to help their leadership teams find unity. Also, she got to witness the benefit of equine therapy for those living with mental health issues. It can be truly life changing. When we needed to move to Florida, she donated her horse to an equine therapy facility that is now using him for working with disabled children.

We hope you will join us on Saturday, September 16th at 4:00 pm in the Life Center as we

welcome Carla Benefield and Sampson from Horsepower for Healing. They are located right

here in Punta Gorda and are offering much needed equine therapy to many groups and

individuals here in Charlotte County. Horsepower for Healing’s mission is to offer mental relief,

tools to resolve conflict and spiritual empowerment through the hope and healing of horses.

We hope you will join us and come hear how this type of therapy is so beneficial for so many!

Challenge to Read

Myrt Creigh

Since the early 90’s I’ve had a deep fascination with the book of Revelation. I shared with you earlier this month how my son and I were enamored with the Left Behind series. Several times over the years in Bible classes, I led discussions on the book of Revelation. I say lead because I cannot sincerely say teach because I myself was limited in knowledge and insight in Revelation study.

Here it is almost 30 years later when there are so many wonderful resources. It never ceases to amaze how God nurtures writers to awaken the clarity of scripture. I’ve just read Ron Rhodes’s book, The End Times in Chronological Order. The title, sadly, is bland but the author’s writing is definitely not. If you have a genuine interest in this topic, I guarantee you will find this book eye-opening and, oddly, enjoyable.

Have we forgotten the words of Matthew 28:19-20 and Mark 16:15-18? Believe it or not, that is actually why the Father put us here…

Scholarship Committee Update

Thank You! – Our scholarship recipients send their gratitude and appreciation. As you read segments of their expressions of gratitude, please consider giving a donation to the scholarship fund through the Birthday Box. Birthday Boxes are located in the Life Center foyer, the foyer of the Sanctuary, and in the church office lobby.

Jillian O’Connell – Thank you New Life Church for supporting me in my last 18 years. You all have prayed for me, donated money for me to go on mission trips for the past seven years, and now you are supporting me through all the expenses of college. It’s amazing what our church has done for me and other high school graduates here. I appreciate the opportunity to accept this scholarship money, and I plan to use it well and get a greater education.

Dedicate a Hymnal

We are offering you the opportunity to dedicate hymnals in memory or in honor of loved ones. Each hymnal will have a nameplate with the name of the person who is being honored or remembered as well as the name of the donor (if you so desire).

Hymnals (Our Great Redeemer’s Praise) are available for a suggested donation of $35 each.

Simply fill out the form below and mail/drop off a check for the number of hymnals you are donating. Please fill out a separate form for each hymnal you would like to donate in memory/honor.

Hymnal Dedication Form

New Bible Study, "God in You"

Larry Keller will begin a new study by Dr. David Jeremiah on the Holy Spirit on September 6. The study will meet Wednesday evenings 6:30 - 8:00 pm in Room 13. The study will continue every Wednesday night until finished.

Study guides are available on David Jeremiah's website for $10 each.

For more information, contact Larry Keller: keller657b@gmail.com, 941-391-3940.

Music Ministry Updates

Dear New Life in Christ Church,

I want to thank you all for the opportunity to serve you as your Minister of Music here at New Life in Christ Church. It has been my pleasure to get to know you and work with you. Last week, I announced that I have accepted a new church position in North Carolina. My last Sunday will be September 10. Xu and I are excited for where God is leading us in this next chapter and we are grateful for the many kindnesses you have shown us. We will miss you all!

Sincerely,

David Bellows

Music Ministry Opportunities:

The Chancel Ringers will resume rehearsals on September 6, 2023 at 6:00 PM.

The Chancel Choir rehearses on Thursdays at 6:00 PM in the Historic Sanctuary and

sings Sundays at the 9:15 AM Service. The Chancel Choir is open to anyone interested

– no audition is necessary.

Please contact me for more information or questions,

david@newlifeforall.church

Soli Deo Gloria!

David Bellows

Director of Music Ministries

The Music for Sunday – September 3, 2023 – 9:15 AM

Prelude: I Love Thee, My Lord – G. Shearing

Opening Hymn: 8 Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

Special Music: How Great Thou Art – S. Hine

Richard Armfield, Soloist

Offertory Anthem: Praise, My Soul, The King Of Heaven – J. Kirkby

Chancel Choir & David Bellows, Director

Doxology 682

Closing Hymn: 439 Lord, Speak To Me

Postlude: Fanfare – J. Lemmens

A Word from Worship

Greetings New Life Church family and friends -

As I'm trying to concentrate on writing this article, I hear the television in the other room consistently reporting on the track and progress of the current tropical storm. I'm sure that we all have some level of anxiety or uneasiness as a result of previous storms that resulted in varying levels of life-changing destruction and tragedy. I'm pretty sure that this is a normal reaction to stressful situations that we have little or no control over. However, we are blessed to have Christ's weapon of choice to help us navigate this or any situation that causes fear, worry, pain, or stress of any sort! We have been given the ultimate gift - the power of prayer. Have you ever noticed how many times in the Bible we read that Christ prayed? Sometimes I question if I'm not praying with the sincerity I should - when a concerned friend questions why I have a new problem to deal with. I do not expect a problem-free life, and know that we all will go through tough things that make no sense, but faith allows us to worship through it knowing that God is good. As a young believer, it was easy to fall into the trap that if my prayer wasn't answered ( my way)right away - I'd get discouraged and want to quit praying. Not anymore. I can't tell you how often, in those earlier years, I'd be awake during the dark of night and struggling. I'd call out to God for help, and somehow I was led to pray the Lord's Prayer, which was a time of very personal worship with our Father. People now know I pray to "be well". But "well" to me is not freedom from pain and problems. God doesn't promise that but does promise to be with us and give us hope and purpose in spite of our problems. I can't tell you how many times my physical disabilities have placed me in situations like my current daily infusions when I find myself sitting next to someone who needs prayer. On occasions, I have been able to pray with them right there during our treatments. I thank God for placing me in those situations. When I pray to get well, my request is to be able to continue serving as best as I can. I can use my pain to tell others of the love and kindness of God. I sometimes am embarrassed by my physical deformities but then read 2 Corinthians 4:8-10 "We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. Many of us have stories of our own struggles. We can either back down in the midst of those struggles or by God's grace, stand up and pray through the pain. When you pray, believe that Jesus is enough for whatever you are facing, and persist in that prayer because you know that God is who He says He is. I am praying for you today through the storm and always!

Rosie Young

Worship Coordinator

rosie@newlifeforall.church

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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