NLC News March 2 2023

The Spirit of God moved powerfully among us last Sunday.
Glen Zimmerman started the service with a testimony of God's miraculous healing
and the vital role the church body has played through prayer and encouragement.
Stephanie Morales was prompted to speak over someone's life at the start of worship,
and we are praying and waiting with trust in God to accomplish his work in her for his glory.
Many came forward or raised their hands to receive prayer.
Finally, Chinoh Aquino spoke boldly from God's Word with a message for children and parents, that our communication at home reflects the goodness of God.
As our new memory verse above promises, so God fulfilled in Jesus through the Holy Spirit.
"He who began a good work in you will perfect it for the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6
Praise the Lord!

THIS WEEKEND:
THURSDAY, MARCH 2
5:30 p.m. CELEBRATE RECOVERY Dinner - Dining Room
6:30 p.m. CELEBRATE RECOVERY Worship / "TURN" by Brian Willems / Small Groups

SUNDAY, MARCH  5
8:30 a.m. ADULT GROWTH CLASSES - NLC KIDS ministry for parents in growth classes ONLY

• NEW Video Class: Romans - Room 111
• Faith & Finances - Room 114/115

9:30 a.m. CONNECTING POINT (Dining Room) and Connecting Point for Kids (Rm 101)
10:00 a.m.  WORSHIP - NURSERY - NLC KIDS CHURCH - NLC CREW

• Pastor Mark speaking: "Time for a New Life: Economic Transformation" - Ephesians 6:5-9 
• Communion

11:00 a.m. AFTER CHURCH

• The Bible Out Loud - Room 111, with kids ministry for participants' children in Room 101

6:30 p.m. MULTIPLY-EUROPE MISSION UPDATE - Reedley MB Church 

THIS COMING WEEK:
TUESDAY, MARCH 7
6:00 a.m. NEW Men's Bible Study - Gospel of John, part 2 - Dining Room
6:00 p.m. CELEBRATE RECOVERY Women's Step Study - Room 114/115 (group is full)
6:30 p.m. Healing Rooms of Dinuba offers healing prayers - Church patio/library

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8
6:00 p.m. Worship Rehearsal - Gym
6:30 p.m. Prayer Gathering - Room 113

THURSDAY, MARCH 9
5:30 p.m. CELEBRATE RECOVERY Dinner - Dining Room
6:30 p.m. CELEBRATE RECOVERY Worship / TESTIMONY NIGHT / Small Groups

SATURDAY, MARCH 11
8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Verenika-making for MCC Sale - Reedley MB Church, 1362 L St, Reedley

SET YOUR CLOCKS AHEAD 1 HOUR FOR DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME

SUNDAY, MARCH  12
8:30 a.m. ADULT GROWTH CLASSES - NLC KIDS ministry for parents in growth classes ONLY

• NEW Video Class: Romans - Room 111
• Faith & Finances - Room 114/115

9:30 a.m. CONNECTING POINT (Dining Room) and Connecting Point for Kids (Rm 101)
10:00 a.m.  WORSHIP - NURSERY - NLC KIDS CHURCH - NLC CREW

• Pastor Mark speaking: "Time for a New Life: Armor Up!" - Ephesians 6:10-17 

11:00 a.m. AFTER CHURCH

• The Bible Out Loud - Room 111, with kids ministry for participants' children in Room 101

LATER THIS MONTH:
FRIDAY, MARCH 24 - NLC Women's Ministries "Taco 'bout Ladies' Game Night" - Dining Room

TWO MONTHS AWAY!
WEDNESDAY- SUNDAY, MAY 3-7 (or any of those days) - ALL-CHURCH CAMPOUT  
Morro Bay State Park - Click below to register

Received Last Week (2/26) ……......$5,204
Received this year: ……............   $187,371
Budget to Date: ………..…..........  $210,777
Budget Goal: ………....................  $421,553
Needed Weekly: …............…..……   $9,007

Once a month, on the first Sunday of each month, New Life Community celebrates communion. That's how we refer to the Lord's Supper or the Eucharist, if those terms are more familiar to you. Different church traditions celebrate Communion in different ways. Our own tradition in celebrating Communion at New Life Community has also changed. The Bible doesn't give specific instructions about how the bread and cup are to be distributed, but it does say what these two elements mean.

The bread symbolizes the body of Christ. Jesus actually said, "This is my body, which is for you" (1 Corinthians 11:24). The Roman Catholic tradition takes that literally. Our tradition is to take it symbolically. Yes, Jesus literally became flesh and gave himself to die bodily on the cross. He also rose bodily from the dead, though that new body was different in some ways than ours. He still bore the scars on his hands and feet and side, and he ate a fish in front of his disciples, but he also appeared in places apparently without having to travel or go through doors. He also rose directly into heaven in that new body. For these reasons and more we no longer represent Jesus as hanging on the cross; we display an empty cross. And the bread we use to celebrate Communion reminds us not only of the sacrificial death of his body for us, but of his heavenly body and the sure promise of being with him bodily in heaven someday.

When Jesus shared the cup with his disciples it probably held wine, not juice. And they probably all drank from that one cup--his cup. Some traditions still share a common cup, though they made changes for health reasons during the pandemic. The juice/wine symbolizes the blood of Christ.  Jesus said (Matthew 26:28) “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." Yes, Jesus literally shed his blood on the cross when he called out, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." The cup is about sacrifice. Jesus once prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” The cup he was referring to was his upcoming death on the cross. When we drink the juice during Communion at NLC, we are remembering Jesus' death for our forgiveness. It was the price of giving us a new covenant (promise) of eternal life.

What does God do for us when we celebrate Communion? Some traditions say God uses the symbols only to remind us of his grace in Jesus. Other traditions say that God uses the bread and juice/wine to deliver his grace to us. I have experienced both.

In our tradition we have historically passed the bread and the cups of juice row by row, from one person to the next. That's been symbolic, too. We are all "priests" to each other, offering each other the grace of God as members of the body, forgiven by the same blood of Jesus. One of these days we may do that again. For now we have been coming forward to three tables where our deacons give us the elements. They're serving us as members of the body. Passing each other in the aisles gives us the opportunity to move toward each other to offer each other the grace of God--even forgiving each other as needed--rather than just symbolizing it by passing the trays. We'll continue doing it this way primarily, and the deacons are always ready to carry the bread and juice to anyone who is not able to walk forward.

And each Communion Sunday we take an extra offering for our Benevolence Fund. The deacons keep track of our benevolence funds to help people in our church who have needs. It's another way we have of serving each other. Communion, after all, means relationship. God desires communion with us and made it possible by sending Jesus to live and die and rise for us. God also desires that we have communion with each other, and we find it best when we have Christ at the center of our relationships.