NLC Connect - November 27, 2024

November 26th, 2024

connect with God's Word

connect your calendar

Note from the office: If you haven't already opted in to receive text messages from NLC, please text YES to 87447, or respond to the text message you may have received on Oct. 23 or 24. This is a new wireless carrier regulation. Thank you to everyone who responded so far!

THURSDAY, NOV. 28
Thanksgiving Day--office closed Thursday and Friday
5:30 p.m. - CELEBRATE RECOVERY meal, worship, groups

SUNDAY, DEC. 1
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

Otto Ekk will be the speaker
Communion & Deacon Care Fund offering
Advent boxes go out for kids & youth

Camp fundraiser begins -- place an order for posole, chocolate or vanilla cakes, or sugar cookie kits from a student from today through Dec. 15 (or contact the church office), and pick up on Dec. 22
11:30 a.m. - New Members' Class & Lunch - Room 207
(No CREW youth meeting)

MONDAY, DEC. 2
6:00 p.m. - CR Worship Team - Gym

TUESDAY, DEC. 3
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 at Jefferson School
6:00 p.m. - Healing Room Ministry - Library

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 4
12:00 p.m. - DCMA Lunch Meeting - Dining Room
6:30 p.m. - Prayer Gathering - Room 113
6:30 p.m. - Women's Ministries' Cookie Exchange Party (bring 2 dz. cookies and the recipe) - Room 114/115

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

SATURDAY, DEC. 7
8-11 a.m. - "Breakfast with the Grinch" Chamber of Commerce/Lions Club event - Dining Room
5:30-7:30 p.m. - Dinuba Electric Light Parade - Downtown

SUNDAY, DEC. 8
8:30 a.m. - "Salt & Light" Class this week - 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

Jordan Ringhofer will be the speaker
Baptisms

11:15 a.m. - Youth Christmas Craft Fair - Room 207

MONDAY, DEC. 9
6:00 p.m. - CR Worship Team - Gym

TUESDAY, DEC. 10
6:00 a.m. - Men's Bible Study - Dining Room
9:00 a.m. - LIFT Party - Room 114/115
2:35 p.m. - Good News Club at Jefferson School
6:00 p.m. - Healing Room Ministry - Library

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 11
8:00 a.m. - DUSD "Be Future Ready" Student Conference
6:30 p.m. - Prayer Gathering - Room 113

connect through giving

Received Last Week (11/24): ....... $13,156
Includes Missions giving of $10,853
(given to date for Missions: $28,453!)
Received this year: ....................... $91,589

Budget to Date:............................. $95,922
Budget Goal: …….……...….......…...$383,686
Needed Weekly: ………….................. $7,490

connect to God through prayer

Pray for health and strength for Bob Martin, George Sawatzky, Emma (Karen Madrid's mother), Carolina Coralles, and Glen Zimmerman.
Pray for healing for Evelyn Romero's son Mark, who is at Kaweah Delta with a blood clot and other issues.
Pray for Miguel-Angel (Hezekiah) Parker, recovering from surgery. Nights have been difficult for him--please continue to pray!
Pray for Amanda Dover. Her surgery has been rescheduled. She is awaiting a new surgery date.
Kristel Salazar's nephew Matthew, who serves with the Marines in North Carolina, has been hospitalized with a blood clot.
Pray for Abe & Holly Isaak's 6-year-old granddaughter Tessa Fiscus, who is being treated for cancer but is back at school.
Pray for Ibeth (Maria Gonzalez's niece) and her newborn daughter Estrella. Estrella had an unexpected early arrival into this world. Pray for Ibeth to have a speedy recovery and for Estrella to continue to grow in strength and health. Estrella is now home!
Pray for Laura Miller (step-grandma of Amanda Dover) who is in need of funds to move back down to California so she can be with family. Amanda's family will be hosting a fundraiser to gather funds for this need.
Also remember: Marilyn Chappell and other residents in Palm Village Healthcare, Harold Kruger and others in Sierra View, Louie and Michelle Perez, and Mary Salazar.
Pray for those who have lost loved ones, especially during the holidays.
Pray for safety and peace of mind for the students who attend schools in our surrounding communities. There has been an increase in violent threats recently.
Pray for the students attending Good News Club on Tuesday afternoons at Jefferson School, and the volunteers. They have 2 more meetings in December before vacation.
Pray for those who are seeking employment.
Keep the pastoral search in your prayers as applications are being received and reviewed.
Pray for our missionaries: Pablo & Maricela Chavez who are celebrating 2 years in Peru, Cecil & Tracy Ramos in Thailand, Jonathan & Joanna Gutierrez in Portugal, 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 Gratitude

"Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; Thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live." I Thessalonians 5:16-18

Gratitude is indeed a powerful concept, especially for those of us who are believers. The definition you provided captures the essence of what it means to be grateful: a deep sense of thankfulness and a readiness to show appreciation, which is not just a feeling but an action. It’s beautiful to think about how this quality is woven into the fabric of our faith, as we are called to give thanks in all circumstances, not because everything is always perfect, but because we know that God is present and working in every situation.

The idea of returning kindness is also key. Gratitude is not just about acknowledging the blessings we receive but also responding in a way that reflects the goodness and love we've experienced. As believers, we express our gratitude to God through worship, prayer, and obedience, but also by sharing His love and kindness with others. This transforms gratitude from a passive feeling into an active, life-changing force. In this way, gratitude becomes a continual cycle—God blesses us, and we pass those blessings on to others.

When we face difficult circumstances, this becomes even more significant. Gratitude in hardship doesn’t deny the pain, but it helps us see beyond the moment to what God is doing and how He is faithful. It’s not about ignoring the struggle, but about finding joy and peace through it because we trust in God's goodness. This kind of gratitude points us back to God’s sovereignty and His promise that He will work all things together for good.
In this season of Thanksgiving, it’s a great reminder for us to pause and reflect not just on the blessings we see, but on the blessings we are called to share and return. Gratitude, as a way of life, truly helps us grow in our relationship with God and with others.
--Jessica Aquino