NLC Connect - September 11, 2024

September 10th, 2024

connect with God's Word

LIFT Ladies Fall Session has begun! The next session is September 24th at 9 am in Rooms 114-115. LIFT was started over 20 years ago by the women's ministry. It is a great space to fellowship and grow together!
Make sure to take some time this week to pray for the 12 ladies from NLC who will be attending the Woman's retreat at Hartland.

connect your calendar

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 11
6:30 p.m. - Prayer Gathering - Room 113

THURSDAY, SEPT. 12
8:30 a.m. - DUSD Meeting - Dining Room
5:30 p.m. - CELEBRATE RECOVERY meal, worship, groups

FRIDAY-SUNDAY, SEPT. 13-15
Women's Retreat at Hartland Christian Camp - pray for the women attending from NLC!

SATURDAY, SEPT. 14
12:00 p.m. - Youth Rally - Butler M.B. Church

SUNDAY, SEPT. 15
8:30 a.m. - "Salt & Light" Growth Class begins new series - Room 114/115
9:30 a.m. - CONNECTING POINT

Come meet and encourage others over coffee and snacks - Dining Room

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

Galen Wiest from Multiply is the guest speaker
Dedication of school kits

5:00 p.m. - NLC CREW (youth group) - Room 207

MONDAY, SEPT. 16
6:00 p.m. - CR Worship Team - Gym

TUESDAY, SEPT. 17
6:00 a.m. - Men's Bible Study - Dining Room
6:00 p.m. - Healing Rooms of Dinuba - Library

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 18
6:30 p.m. - Prayer Gathering - Room 113

THURSDAY, SEPT. 19
5:30 p.m. - CELEBRATE RECOVERY meal, worship, groups

SATURDAY, SEPT. 21
8:00 a.m. - Community Meeting with Dr. Joe Hernandez (regarding high school and bond issue) - Dining Room
6:00 p.m. - Immanuel Schools' 16th Annual Auction - Immanuel Sports Complex in Reedley

Click on link for ticket information
Hors d'oeuvres stations and desserts
Simultaneous silent and live auctions--move between them as desired

SUNDAY, SEPT. 22
8:30 a.m. - "Salt & Light" Growth Class hosts Jon Wiebe, speaking about finances - Room 114/115
9:30 a.m. - CONNECTING POINT

Come meet and encourage others over coffee and snacks - Dining Room

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

Jon Wiebe of MB Foundation is the guest speaker

11:30 a.m. - Winter Camp interest meeting for parents of 4th-11th graders - Dining Room
5:00 p.m. - NLC CREW (youth group) - Room 207

MONDAY, SEPT. 23
6:00 p.m. - CR Worship Team - Gym

TUESDAY, SEPT. 24
6:00 a.m. - Men's Bible Study - Dining Room
9:00 a.m. - LIFT Women's Bible Study - Room 114/115
No Healing Room Ministry this week

connect through giving

Received Last Week (9/8): ……….. $8,735
Received this year: ...................... $10,940

If you have any accumulated airline miles that you would like to donate to help send staff to conferences, please let Otto Ekk know.

connect to God through prayer

Pray for the women who will be attending the Women's Retreat at Hartland Sept. 13-15
Pray for health and strength for Bob Martin (recently hospitalized), George Sawatzky (recovering from surgery), Emma (Karen Madrid's mother), Carolina Coralles, Steve Bryan's sister Brenda Walters (recovering from bones broken in a fall) and Glen Zimmerman.
Pray for Richard Clemmer, recovering from surgery.
Pray for Miguel-Angel (Hezekiah) Parker who will be having surgery on October 20th.
Pray for Abe & Holly Isaak's 6-year-old granddaughter Tessa Fiscus, who has started treatment for cancer, but is doing well at home.
Also remember: Doris Siebert, Marilyn Chappell and other residents in Palm Village Healthcare, Harold Kruger and others in Sierra View, Louie and Michelle Perez, Mary Salazar, and Zach Clemmer.
Continue to pray for those who have lost loved ones.
Keep the SEARCH TEAM in your prayers as they work through assignments.
Pray for our missionaries: Pablo & Maricela Chavez in Peru, Cecil & Tracy Ramos in Thailand, Jonathan & Joanna Gutierrez in Portugal, Ruddy & Cristina Ancheta in San Francisco, and Johnny & Denise Esposito, who are home before returning to SE Asia.
Pray for peace as violence and war affect so many families and children in Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, in the Middle East, and in parts of Africa.

Connect to God through stillness

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42)

You probably have heard the story of Mary and Martha and their representation of two different approaches to the Christian life. If not, take some time to check out the account in Luke 10:38-42. To give you a quick recap, Martha and Mary opened up their home to Jesus and his disciples. Mary sat by Jesus' feet, listening to what he had to say. Mary chose within the business of hospitality to simply be present. Martha on the other hand was distracted by all the preparations that come with hosting a group of people in your home. I am sure she was busy with food preparations and ensuring her guests had enough to eat and drink. Martha became frustrated with Mary and told Jesus "don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" (v. 40) Jesus' response was not to rebuke Mary, but to remind Martha about what was more important at the time. Jesus' response was "Mary has chosen what is better." In a culture that celebrates busyness, this is a reminder to choose stillness. In the Christian life it is easy to become so busy for God that we forget to spend time with Him. Listen to these words from a powerful hymn "Speak, Lord, in the Stillness" by Emily Crawford:

1 Speak, Lord, in the stillness
speak your word to me;
hushed my heart to listen
in expectancy.

2 Speak, O gracious Master,
in this quiet hour;
let me see your face, Lord,
feel your touch of power.

What is one step you can take today to slow down and live more attentively to the voice of Jesus?