NLC Connect - April 1, 2026
connect with God's Word
connect your calendar
THURSDAY, APR. 2:
6:00 p.m. - CELEBRATE RECOVERY small groups - Education Center
FRIDAY, APR. 3:
5:00-7:00 p.m. - "Created New" Kids' Art Event - Family Center
6:15-6:45 p.m. - Good Friday Prayer Service - West Foyer
EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 5:
6:30 a.m. - Community Sunrise Service - Rose Ann Vuich Park Bandshell
8:30 a.m. - Salt & Light Growth Class - Room 114/115
9:15 a.m. - CONNECTING POINT - Patio
TUESDAY, APR. 7:
6:00 a.m. - Men's Bible Study - Dining Room
9:00 a.m. - LIFT Women's Bible Study - Room 114/115
6:30 p.m. - Healing Room Prayer Ministry - Library
WEDNESDAY, APR. 8:
6:30 p.m. - Prayer Group - Room 113
THURSDAY, APR. 9:
6:00 p.m. - CELEBRATE RECOVERY small groups - Education Center
FRIDAY/SATURDAY, APR. 10-11:
Celebration for World Relief at Fresno Pacific University - for events, schedule, food options, maps, etc., please visit westcoastmccsale.org (volunteers are also needed in the booths and for clean-up!)
SUNDAY, APRIL 12:
8:30 a.m. - Salt & Light Class (last session on 2 Peter) - Room 114/115
9:30 a.m. - CONNECTING POINT Coffee & Conversation - Patio
10:00 a.m. - WORSHIP/NLC KIDS/NURSERY
5:00 p.m. - Youth Group - Community Room & Gym
6:30 p.m. - GriefShare Support Group - Room 114/115
TUESDAY, APR. 14:
6:00 a.m. - Men's Bible Study - Dining Room
9:00 a.m. - LIFT Women's Bible Study series' end party - Room 114/115
2:30 p.m. - Final Good News Club meeting for this school year - Jefferson School
6:30 p.m. - Healing Room Prayer Ministry - Library
6:00 p.m. - CELEBRATE RECOVERY small groups - Education Center
FRIDAY, APR. 3:
5:00-7:00 p.m. - "Created New" Kids' Art Event - Family Center
6:15-6:45 p.m. - Good Friday Prayer Service - West Foyer
EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 5:
6:30 a.m. - Community Sunrise Service - Rose Ann Vuich Park Bandshell
8:30 a.m. - Salt & Light Growth Class - Room 114/115
9:15 a.m. - CONNECTING POINT - Patio
- Extended time this week!
- Come meet and encourage others over coffee and snacks
- Kids check in and attend the service before being dismissed to their classes and an egg hunt; kids' pick up location will be announced Sunday morning
- Baptisms!
TUESDAY, APR. 7:
6:00 a.m. - Men's Bible Study - Dining Room
9:00 a.m. - LIFT Women's Bible Study - Room 114/115
6:30 p.m. - Healing Room Prayer Ministry - Library
WEDNESDAY, APR. 8:
6:30 p.m. - Prayer Group - Room 113
THURSDAY, APR. 9:
6:00 p.m. - CELEBRATE RECOVERY small groups - Education Center
FRIDAY/SATURDAY, APR. 10-11:
Celebration for World Relief at Fresno Pacific University - for events, schedule, food options, maps, etc., please visit westcoastmccsale.org (volunteers are also needed in the booths and for clean-up!)
SUNDAY, APRIL 12:
8:30 a.m. - Salt & Light Class (last session on 2 Peter) - Room 114/115
9:30 a.m. - CONNECTING POINT Coffee & Conversation - Patio
10:00 a.m. - WORSHIP/NLC KIDS/NURSERY
5:00 p.m. - Youth Group - Community Room & Gym
6:30 p.m. - GriefShare Support Group - Room 114/115
TUESDAY, APR. 14:
6:00 a.m. - Men's Bible Study - Dining Room
9:00 a.m. - LIFT Women's Bible Study series' end party - Room 114/115
2:30 p.m. - Final Good News Club meeting for this school year - Jefferson School
6:30 p.m. - Healing Room Prayer Ministry - Library
connect through giving
Offerings Received last week (3/29): …....... $2,436
Offerings Received this year to date: .…. $208,546
Budget to date: ……………...........……..…...….. $242,078
Needed weekly to meet budget: ……....…….. $9,593
Offerings Received this year to date: .…. $208,546
Budget to date: ……………...........……..…...….. $242,078
Needed weekly to meet budget: ……....…….. $9,593
connect to God through prayer
- Pray for Norma Froese as she recovers at home and does physical therapy, and others who have been ill or are caring for loved ones. Karen Madrid is thankful for healing; pray for Manuel Madrid as he waits for more tests and a surgery date.
- Pray for those dealing with long-term health issues and cancer treatments.
- Also remember: John Regier (back in his patio home and saying "God is so great--He answers prayer!"), Mae Ewert, Marilyn Chappell and other residents in Palm Village Healthcare, Harold Kruger and others in Sierra View, and Mary Salazar.
- Pray for those who have lost loved ones, and those attending GriefShare.
- Pray for those who are seeking employment.
- Pray for the undocumented in our community and those facing food insecurity and financial challenges.
- Pray for our missionaries: Pablo & Maricela Chavez (Peru), Cecil & Tracy Ramos (Thailand), Jonathan & Joanna Gutierrez (Portugal), and Johnny & Denise Esposito (Cambodia).
- Pray for peace as violence and war affect so many families and children around the world.
- Please pray as we seek a Worship Ministries Leader. If you know someone who may be a good fit, please direct them to the "Job Openings" page on our website.
The Valley Before the Resurrection
The other day, my youngest asked me a question while we were listening to “Flowers” by Samantha Ebert.
There is a line near the end of the song that says:
“When I'm on the mountain and looking down below I'll see a valley of flowers that needed time to grow. I’ll thank You for the rain, the hurt, and days of pain…”
she asked, “Why would someone be thankful for pain?”
Honestly, it’s a question many of us are still asking.
And it feels especially fitting during Holy Week.
Before the resurrection, there was a valley.
Jesus walked through betrayal, suffering, and the cross before the empty tomb. We often want to skip ahead to Easter—but Holy Week reminds us that God does not rush past pain.
Because something grows there.
As I tried to answer her, I said, “Sometimes the hard things are what God uses to grow something beautiful in us.”
Not because pain is good—but because God is faithful.
Just like flowers need rain, our lives are often shaped in the valleys. And when we look back, we may begin to see that those hard seasons were not empty—they were growing something.
This Holy Week, may we trust that God is present in the valley, even when we cannot yet see what He is growing. May we hold onto the quiet hope that the story is not finished.
Because the cross was not the end--
Sunday is coming.
“He is not here; He has risen, just as He said.” — Matthew 28:6
There is a line near the end of the song that says:
“When I'm on the mountain and looking down below I'll see a valley of flowers that needed time to grow. I’ll thank You for the rain, the hurt, and days of pain…”
she asked, “Why would someone be thankful for pain?”
Honestly, it’s a question many of us are still asking.
And it feels especially fitting during Holy Week.
Before the resurrection, there was a valley.
Jesus walked through betrayal, suffering, and the cross before the empty tomb. We often want to skip ahead to Easter—but Holy Week reminds us that God does not rush past pain.
Because something grows there.
As I tried to answer her, I said, “Sometimes the hard things are what God uses to grow something beautiful in us.”
Not because pain is good—but because God is faithful.
Just like flowers need rain, our lives are often shaped in the valleys. And when we look back, we may begin to see that those hard seasons were not empty—they were growing something.
This Holy Week, may we trust that God is present in the valley, even when we cannot yet see what He is growing. May we hold onto the quiet hope that the story is not finished.
Because the cross was not the end--
Sunday is coming.
“He is not here; He has risen, just as He said.” — Matthew 28:6
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