NLC Connect - May 13, 2026
connect with God's Word
So grateful for every conversation, every prayer, every act of service, and every person who showed up this week to encourage and uplift others. Moments like these remind us that even small acts of faithfulness can make a lasting impact in our community.
connect your calendar
6:00 p.m. - Open Bible Night - Community Room (final session)
THURSDAY, MAY 14:
6:00 p.m. - CELEBRATE RECOVERY small groups - Education Center
SUNDAY, MAY 17:
8:30 a.m. - Salt & Light Growth Class - Room 114/115
9:30 a.m. - Connecting Point - Patio
- Come meet and encourage others over coffee and pastries
- Highlight a Bible verse or write a note for a high school graduate!
- Guest speaker Jeff Copeland
- Last day to turn in graduate information
- Church camping trip payments are due by May 23 ($50)
6:30 p.m. - GriefShare Support Group - Room 114/115
TUESDAY, MAY 19:
6:00 a.m. - Men's Bible Study - Dining Room
6:30 p.m. - Healing Room Prayer Ministry - Library (this ministry will resume July 7 after closing during June)
WEDNESDAY, MAY 20:
6:30 p.m. - Prayer Group - Room 113
THURSDAY, MAY 21:
6:00 p.m. - CELEBRATE RECOVERY small groups - Education Center
SUNDAY, MAY 24:
8:30 a.m. - Salt & Light Class - Room 114/115
9:00 a.m. - CONNECTING POINT - Patio
- Come meet and encourage others over coffee and snacks
- Last day to highlight a Bible verse or write a note for a high school graduate!
5:00 p.m. - Youth Group "Let's Taco 'bout It" - Community Room & Gym
6:30 p.m. - GriefShare Support Group - Room 114/115 (final session)
MONDAY, MAY 25: Memorial Day (church office closed)
TUESDAY, MAY 26:
6:00 a.m. - Men's Bible Study - Dining Room
connect through giving
Offerings Received this year to date: .…. $237,780
Budget to date: …………………...........…...….. $290,494
Needed weekly to meet budget: ……....….. $11,364
connect to God through prayer
- Pray for Norma Froese as she does physical therapy after surgeries, 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. Kristel Salazar requests prayer for her nephew Matthew (age 22), who is living with chronic medical issues from past surgeries.
- Pray for those dealing with long-term health issues.
- Also remember: 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, including Manuel Madrid (father), those attending GriefShare, and family and friends of Kelly Friesen. The memorial service for Kelly will be held Friday, June 12, at 11:00 AM at Lincoln Glen Church in San Jose, and will also be livestreamed.
- 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.
- Pray for events on the calendar and people connecting with God and each other.
That kind of Love
One of my favorite “moms” in history is Amy Carmichael, a missionary who devoted her life to serving and caring for vulnerable children in India. What I love about her story is that her life reminds us that motherhood does not always look traditional. Amy never married and never had biological children of her own, yet she became a mother to so many through the way she loved, protected, nurtured, and cared for others.
As a missionary, she opened her heart and her home to children who needed safety, comfort, and belonging. The children she cared for called her “Amma,” meaning mother. I think that is such a beautiful picture of what love can look like. Motherhood is not only biological—it can also be spiritual, compassionate, sacrificial, and deeply intentional.
Amy Carmichael’s faith shaped the way she loved people. She saw value in children that the world often overlooked. She chose to stay faithful in hard places. Even through pain and difficulty, she continued serving others with humility and love. Her life challenges me to think about how we care for the people around us. Are we creating spaces where people feel safe, seen, and loved? Are we willing to slow down enough to truly care for others the way Jesus did?
One of Amy Carmichael’s journal reflections that has always stayed with me is:
“He said Love...as I have loved you. We can not love too much.”
I think that quote captures her life so beautifully. Her love was not just words—it was action. It was sacrifice. It was choosing to give her life away for the sake of others.
I also love how childlike faith connects to her story. Children trust so freely. They believe boldly. They love openly. Sometimes as adults we complicate faith, but Amy’s life reminds me that loving people well is one of the clearest reflections of Christ we can offer the world.
One verse that comes to mind when I think about her life is:
“Let all that you do be done in love.” — 1 Corinthians 16:14
Such a simple verse, but also such a challenging one. Amy Carmichael lived this out daily. Her love was active. It protected, comforted, advocated, and served.
This Mother’s Day, I’m especially thankful for the women who have mothered in nontraditional ways—the mentors, teachers, foster moms, caregivers, spiritual mothers, missionaries, volunteers, and women who simply choose to show up and love others faithfully. The world needs more of that kind of love.
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