NLC Connect - December 31, 2024

December 31st, 2024

connect with God's Word

NLC Kids had their "Behold the King" Celebration on December 22nd.

Kids and Youth participate in the pageant during the Christmas Eve service.

NLC Youth have their first ever Nativity Escape Room experience!

Photo Credits: Amanda Dover, Joshua Aquino and John Warkentin

connect your calendar

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 1: New Year's Day (office closed)

THURSDAY, JAN. 2
5:30 p.m. - CELEBRATE RECOVERY meal, worship, groups

SUNDAY, JAN. 5
8:30 a.m. - "Salt & Light" 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

Jordan Ringhofer will be the speaker
Communion Service and Deacon Care Fund offering

5:00 p.m. - CREW Youth - Room 207

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

TUESDAY, JAN. 7
6:00 a.m. - Men's Bible Study - Dining Room

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 8
1-4 p.m. - Children's Museum at MCC in Reedley - Through hands-on activities, engaging stories, and fun learning opportunities, young people will explore how MCC makes a difference worldwide—and how you can be part of it!
6:30 p.m. - Prayer Gathering - Room 113

THURSDAY, JAN. 9
5:30 p.m. - CELEBRATE RECOVERY meal, worship, groups

SUNDAY, JAN. 12
8:30 a.m. - "Salt & Light" Growth Class concludes 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

Bruce Smith will be the speaker

Final payments due today for Junior Winter Camp (payable to NLC)
11:30 a.m. - Deacons' Meeting - Community Room
5:00 p.m. - CREW youth meeting - Room 207

MONDAY, JAN. 13
6:00 p.m. - CR Worship Team - Gym

connect through giving

Received Last Week (12/29): …... $11,522
Received this year: .................... $124,387

Budget to Date:......................... $132,814
Budget Goal: ……....……...…...…...$383,686
Needed Weekly: ………….............. .. $7,626

connect to God through prayer

Pray for health and strength for Emma (Karen Madrid's mother), Carolina Coralles, and Glen Zimmerman.
Pray for Raul (Maria Gonzalez's uncle) in the hospital recovering from a stroke as well as her nephew Jose and his daughter Sarai.
Pray for Amanda Dover. Her surgery has been rescheduled. She is awaiting a new surgery date.
Pray for Abe & Holly Isaak's 6-year-old granddaughter Tessa Fiscus, who is being treated for cancer and has upcoming tests.
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, 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 those who are seeking employment.
Pray for traveling safety during this foggy season.
Pray for our missionaries: Pablo & Maricela Chavez 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 the Everlasting King

"And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh." Matthew 2:11
There is no better way to spend the last Sunday of the year than together for a family service. Watching children and youth express their gifts alongside our adult leaders is such an inspiring picture! During the service young people shared the Christmas story and everyone present received a challenge to show their worship with gifts.
The magi showed their worship with gifts. What treasures can we offer to Jesus today? While we may not have gold, frankincense, or myrrh, we can give Jesus something even more valuable—our hearts, our obedience, and our worship.
On Sunday we discovered what the magi knew: Jesus is the King we worship. Worship is when we respond to God by giving Him the honor and glory He deserves. We put Him first because He’s most important. This means we don’t let anything else take His place, and we thank and praise Him for who He is and what He does.
At the end of the service, young and old laid their crown at the manger to represent their gift of worship. While this was going on one of our young girls said "Jessica, I'm not ready to give my gift to Jesus. I think I want to keep it right now." I told her that it was ok and she didn't have to until she was ready. We sat and watched as so many came and laid the crown on the manger. She said "Look. Everyone wants to give their gift to Jesus." I told her that it must make Jesus so happy to see this. She said "I'm ready now. I want to give him my gift." I walked with her as she excitedly laid her crown at the manger. She said "I love you Jesus." What she laid down may have looked like a piece of yarn with a bead on it, but it was so much more than that!
As we reflect on this moment, we are reminded that worship is not about the value or appearance of our gifts, but the love and sincerity behind them. Just as the magi gave their best to honor the newborn King, we, too, are called to offer our hearts, our obedience, and our devotion to Jesus. May we, like this young girl, be willing to lay down our offerings before Him with joy, knowing that He delights in our sincere worship, no matter how small or simple it may seem.