NLC Connect - October 23, 2024

Picture 1: Richard Clemmer (Prayerful), Dulce Gonzalez (Welcoming), Amelia Villarreal (Reconciling), Terry Chappell (Joyful), and Summer Yrigollen (Hopeful) were recognized during our Kids and Youth Volunteer Luncheon.
Picture 2: Joshua and Pastor Juan from Templo de Oracion
Picture 3: Selfie Race participants
Picture 4: Selfie Race volunteers from NLC Women's Ministry
Picture 5: Brian and Christine Willems at one of the selfie stops

Another busy weekend for NLC! NLC Kids and Youth Volunteer lunch, the Great Selfie Race and Harvest Festival at Templo de Oracion in Traver. Three great opportunities for Church family to fellowship and Connect. During our volunteer lunch five team members were acknowledged for displaying NLC's aspirational values as they serve. It is a great reminder for all of us to display these values in the Church and out in the community!
NLC's aspirational values:
Welcoming--Embracing newcomers and those who are different
Prayerful--Relying on the Lord’s leading; interceding for others
Joyful--Celebrating and thanking God for what He is doing
Reconciling--Loving with the love God has shown us in Christ
Hopeful--Demonstrating faith in God’s presence and promises

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 23 - No Prayer Gathering this week
(Be sure to respond YES to the text message from Breeze today in order to continue receiving texts from NLC!)

THURSDAY, OCT. 24
8:00 a.m. - DUSD Meetings - Dining Room
5:30 p.m. - CELEBRATE RECOVERY meal, worship, groups

SUNDAY, OCT. 27
8:30 a.m. - "Salt & Light" Growth Class - 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

• Tim Geddert is the guest speaker
• 11:15 a.m. - Family Meal (lasagna and dessert will be provided by the kitchen crew; please bring bread or salads to add to the meal)
• 11:30 a.m. - "Pumpkin Party" with lots of kids' activities (see announcement below for details)

5:00 p.m. - NLC CREW (youth group) meets at George & Marcia Sawatzky's house

MONDAY, OCT. 28
6:00 p.m. - CR Worship Team - Gym

TUESDAY, OCT. 29
6:00 a.m. - Men's Bible Study - Dining Room
2:35 p.m. - Good News Club - Jefferson School
No Healing Room Ministry this week

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 30
Last day to request absentee ballots for Sunday's Members' Meeting
8:30 a.m. - DUSD Meeting - Dining Room
6:30 p.m. - Prayer Gathering - Room 113

THURSDAY, OCT. 31
5:30 p.m. - CELEBRATE RECOVERY meal, worship, groups

Reminder:  Turn clocks back one hour on Saturday night!

SUNDAY, NOV. 3
8:30 a.m. - "Salt & Light" Growth Class - 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

• Tim Geddert is the guest speaker 
• Communion, and special Deacon Care Fund offering

11:30 a.m. - Semi-annual Members' Meeting, focusing on the proposed budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year (see link below for documents)
5:00 p.m. - CREW youth group - Room 207

MONDAY, NOV. 4
6:00 p.m. - CR Worship Team - Gym

TUESDAY, NOV. 5
Election Day
6:00 a.m. - Men's Bible Study - Dining Room
9:00 a.m. - LIFT Women's Bible Study - Room 114/115
2:35 p.m. - Good News Club - Jefferson School
6:00 p.m. - Healing Room Ministry - Library

Received Last Week (10/20): ….... $2,540
Received this year: ...................... $60,682

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Ephesians 3:14-21

God wants to bless us with more than what we can think or imagine, but are we ready? Are we ready to receive the blessing? Psalms 139:13-16 tells us that God created us and knitted us together. We start our lives in the world as babies needing the nourishment of milk because as babies that is all we can digest and it is a "blessing!" We would not give a baby steak because a baby could not eat or swallow the steak. For most of us though, we have developed enough to enjoy steak--and it is a blessing!
I believe that God wants to bless us. As we wait on God to answer our prayers and petitions I believe God is also "waiting on us." He is waiting on us to grow spiritually mature. The passage above from Ephesians chapter 3 is Paul's petition for spiritual growth. Psalm 84:11 states "For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless."
God wants to bless us just as parents want to bless their children with things that are appropriate for their age and development. It is so important we prepare ourselves for all that God wants to bless us with. It is also necessary that we are able to see blessings in the things we may take for granted. 
Let us be ready for God's blessings by seeking God's will first and seeking him daily and praying in all things. Philippians 4:6 states "Don't worry about anything, instead, pray about everything." Tell God what you need and thank him for all He has done.

--Eva Morazan
Eva is a faithful attender at New Life Community with three of her girls--Aria, Michelle and Amelia. Eva faithfully serves on the worship team and participates in the women's LIFT Bible studies and a Bible study group on Emotionally Healthy Spirituality with other attenders at NLC. Several weeks ago she shared this challenge given to her by the Holy Spirit. We hope that you are blessed!