NLC Connect - May 20, 2026

May 20th, 2026

connect with God's Word

We are grateful to walk through life together as a church family — studying Scripture together, worshiping God together, and celebrating the meaningful moments and milestones in one another’s lives and in our community.

connect your calendar

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20:
No Prayer Group--pray for the family receiving furniture and household items tonight from the Home Resource Center

THURSDAY, MAY 21:
6:00 p.m. - CELEBRATE RECOVERY small groups - Education Center

SUNDAY, MAY 24:
Salt & Light Class will not meet, but will conclude the series on Jude on May 31 before a summer break
9:00 a.m. - CONNECTING POINT - Patio

Come meet and encourage others over coffee and snacks
Highlight a Bible verse or write a note for a high school graduate!
Sign up to volunteer at VBS, or register a child (or both!)
Last day to pay for your campsite for the church camping trip

10:00 a.m. - WORSHIP/NLC KIDS/NURSERY
5:00 p.m. - Youth Group "Let's Taco 'bout It" - Community Room & Gym (for all incoming 7th-12th graders)
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

WEDNESDAY, MAY 27:
6:30 p.m. - Prayer Group - Room 113
6:30 p.m. - Properties meeting - Room 114/115

THURSDAY, MAY 28:
6:00 p.m. - CELEBRATE RECOVERY small groups - Education Center

SUNDAY, MAY 31:
8:30 a.m. - Salt & Light Growth Class - Room 114/115 (end of series on Jude)
9:30 a.m. - Connecting Point - Patio

Come meet and encourage others over coffee and pastries
Sign up to volunteer at VBS, or register a child (or both!)

10:00 a.m. - WORSHIP/NLC KIDS/NURSERY

Guest speaker Chelsea Webber
Graduate recognition during the service (and during lunch)

11:15 a.m. - Family Meal (tacos and cake will be provided; please bring a salad to serve 8-10 to add to the meal)
(No Youth Group this week)

TUESDAY, JUNE 2:
6:00 a.m. - Men's Bible Study - Dining Room
Church Camping Trip through Saturday, June 6, at Sequoia National Forest
(Healing Room ministry will resume July 7)

The sign-up link is also available on the website under the Connect/Adults tab.

Click here to pay online

connect through giving

Offerings Received last week (5/17): …........ $2,881
Offerings Received this year to date: .…. $240,661
Budget to date: …………………............…...….. $298,563
Needed weekly to meet budget: …….....….. $11,929

Total income as of 4/30 (all budget sources): .. $251,252
Total expenses as of 4/30 (budgeted): ……...… $258,875

connect to God through prayer

Pray for Evelyn Romero at Kaweah Delta Hospital and being treated for an infection; continue praying for Norma Froese, Manuel and Karen Madrid, Kristel Salazar's nephew Matthew, and 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, and those who have attended GriefShare (final session May 24).
Please pray for a grieving family in our church, loved ones, and all those affected as we mourn the heartbreaking loss of a dear child. Details about arrangements and opportunities to support this family will be communicated out as they are coordinated with the family in the days ahead.
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.

When Grief Feels Heavy

There are seasons in life when grief settles quietly into our hearts and stays longer than we expected. Sometimes loss comes suddenly. Sometimes it unfolds slowly over time.

There are many kinds of loss we may experience throughout our lives—the loss of a loved one, a relationship that ended too soon, a job, our health, our independence, or a future we imagined for ourselves or for someone we love. There are even moments when we carry sorrow for a child whose path in life looks different than we once hoped or expected. And sometimes the weight of it all feels almost impossible to carry.

In moments like these, it can be difficult to find the right words to pray. Difficult to understand what we are feeling. Difficult even to know what we need. Scripture is this great reminder to us that God does not move away from people in grief. He moves toward them.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalms 34:18

That promise matters in seasons of sorrow because grief can make us feel isolated, exhausted, and overwhelmed. It can feel like we are standing in the middle of a storm with no strength left to hold ourselves up.

One of the gifts I am grateful for in seasons of grief is music. Sometimes when words fail us, songs help us pray, reflect, remember, and rest in God’s presence.
I love how the worship song Jireh begins with the phrase, “I’ve never been more loved than I am right now.” What a gentle truth for grieving hearts. Not someday when healing comes. Not after the questions are answered. Right now — in the tears, confusion, weariness, and sorrow — God’s love remains steady.

Another line says, “You would cross an ocean so I wouldn’t drown — You’ve never been closer than You are right now.” This reminds me of Psalm 34:18. In our deepest pain, God does not abandon us. He draws near to the brokenhearted and remains present in the middle of our sorrow.

I am also reminded of the hymn Day by Day, which speaks of finding strength and mercy one day at a time. In grief, sometimes we cannot look too far ahead. Sometimes God simply gives us grace for today — or even just for this moment. What a comforting promise found in the words, “Every day the Lord Himself is near me.”

Sometimes faith in difficult seasons does not look strong or polished. Sometimes it simply looks like taking one breath at a time and trusting that God is still near to the brokenhearted.

If your heart feels heavy today, may you give yourself permission to grieve honestly, to rest when you need to, and to remember that even in the storm, you are deeply loved and never alone.

--Jessica Aquino