NLC Connect - January 8, 2025
connect with God's Word
connect your calendar
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 8
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
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
TUESDAY, JAN. 14
6:00 a.m. - Men's Bible Study - Dining Room
9:00 a.m. - LIFT Women's Bible study begins new series - Room 114/115
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 15:
6:30 p.m. - Prayer Gathering - Room 113
THURSDAY, JAN. 16
5:30 p.m. - CELEBRATE RECOVERY meal, worship, groups
SUNDAY, JAN. 19
8:30 a.m. - "Salt & Light" Class begins new series - Room 114/115
9:30 a.m. - CONNECTING POINT
Purchase some delicious soup from Women's Ministries today for $5 per pint!
5:00 p.m. - CREW Youth - Room 207
MONDAY, JAN. 20
Office closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day
6:00 p.m. - CR Worship Team - Gym
TUESDAY, JAN. 21
(No Men's Bible Study)
Good News Club resumes at Jefferson School
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
- Bruce Smith will be the speaker
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
TUESDAY, JAN. 14
6:00 a.m. - Men's Bible Study - Dining Room
9:00 a.m. - LIFT Women's Bible study begins new series - Room 114/115
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 15:
6:30 p.m. - Prayer Gathering - Room 113
THURSDAY, JAN. 16
5:30 p.m. - CELEBRATE RECOVERY meal, worship, groups
SUNDAY, JAN. 19
8:30 a.m. - "Salt & Light" Class begins new series - Room 114/115
9:30 a.m. - CONNECTING POINT
- Come meet and encourage others over coffee and snacks - Dining Room
- Otto Ekk will be the speaker
Purchase some delicious soup from Women's Ministries today for $5 per pint!
5:00 p.m. - CREW Youth - Room 207
MONDAY, JAN. 20
Office closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day
6:00 p.m. - CR Worship Team - Gym
TUESDAY, JAN. 21
(No Men's Bible Study)
Good News Club resumes at Jefferson School
connect through giving
Received Last Week (1/5): ............. $6,555
Received this year: ..................... $130,942
Budget to Date:............................. $140,193
Budget Goal: …….....……...…...…...$383,686
Needed Weekly: ………..................... $7,659
Received this year: ..................... $130,942
Budget to Date:............................. $140,193
Budget Goal: …….....……...…...…...$383,686
Needed Weekly: ………..................... $7,659
connect to God through prayer
- Pray for health and strength for Emma (Karen Madrid's mother), Carolina Coralles, and Glen Zimmerman.
- Pray for Maria Gonzalez's family as they mourn the loss of her uncle Raul.
- 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.
- Former member and missionary in Japan Ivan Wohlgemuth is on hospice care at Palm Village.
- Pray for those who have lost loved ones, especially during the holidays. A new GriefShare support group will begin in February.
- 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 Vine
Scripture: John 15:7-8 (NIV)
"If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."
As we step into the new year, we are presented with a fresh beginning, a time to realign our hearts and minds toward God’s will. It’s a chance to renew our commitment to following Jesus and living with purpose in His kingdom. In the midst of all the resolutions and plans for the year ahead, we are invited to reflect on a profound truth from John 15:7-8.
1. Abiding in Him
Jesus invites us to remain in Him—to abide. The imagery here is powerful, as it draws on the relationship between a vine and its branches. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit apart from the vine, we cannot bear lasting fruit apart from Jesus. This year, let us commit to staying connected to Jesus, to abiding in His presence daily through prayer, reading His Word, and worshiping Him.
This "abiding" is not just about being close to Him; it’s about allowing His life to flow through us. When we remain in Him, we experience His strength, guidance, and love.
2. His Words in Us
Jesus also says that His words must remain in us. His words are life—full of wisdom, truth, and direction. In the year ahead, let us treasure His Word deeply. Let us not just read it, but internalize it, meditate on it, and allow it to transform us. When we allow His words to shape our thoughts and actions, our prayers become aligned with His will, and we can ask with confidence, knowing that He hears us.
3. Bearing Fruit
Jesus tells us that when we remain in Him and His words remain in us, we will bear much fruit. The fruit He speaks of is not only the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23)—but also the fruit of a life lived for His glory, producing works that honor Him.
As we begin this year, let’s ask ourselves: What kind of fruit do I want to bear this year? Is it the fruit of a deeper relationship with God, greater service to others, or perhaps a life that reflects Christ’s love more clearly? Jesus desires that we bear much fruit to glorify the Father, and this fruit is evidence that we are His disciples.
4. A Year of Expectancy
The beginning of a new year is often filled with hopes and dreams for what lies ahead. Jesus gives us a promise in these verses: "Ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." This doesn’t mean that God will grant us anything we desire, but that when we abide in Him, our desires will align with His. We will pray prayers that are in harmony with His will, and He will answer them in ways that glorify the Father and further His kingdom.
As we enter into this new year, let’s approach it with expectancy, knowing that as we remain in Jesus, He will answer our prayers in ways that we can’t even imagine. This year, let’s commit to seeking His will above all else, trusting that He will work in and through us in extraordinary ways.
"If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."
As we step into the new year, we are presented with a fresh beginning, a time to realign our hearts and minds toward God’s will. It’s a chance to renew our commitment to following Jesus and living with purpose in His kingdom. In the midst of all the resolutions and plans for the year ahead, we are invited to reflect on a profound truth from John 15:7-8.
1. Abiding in Him
Jesus invites us to remain in Him—to abide. The imagery here is powerful, as it draws on the relationship between a vine and its branches. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit apart from the vine, we cannot bear lasting fruit apart from Jesus. This year, let us commit to staying connected to Jesus, to abiding in His presence daily through prayer, reading His Word, and worshiping Him.
This "abiding" is not just about being close to Him; it’s about allowing His life to flow through us. When we remain in Him, we experience His strength, guidance, and love.
2. His Words in Us
Jesus also says that His words must remain in us. His words are life—full of wisdom, truth, and direction. In the year ahead, let us treasure His Word deeply. Let us not just read it, but internalize it, meditate on it, and allow it to transform us. When we allow His words to shape our thoughts and actions, our prayers become aligned with His will, and we can ask with confidence, knowing that He hears us.
3. Bearing Fruit
Jesus tells us that when we remain in Him and His words remain in us, we will bear much fruit. The fruit He speaks of is not only the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23)—but also the fruit of a life lived for His glory, producing works that honor Him.
As we begin this year, let’s ask ourselves: What kind of fruit do I want to bear this year? Is it the fruit of a deeper relationship with God, greater service to others, or perhaps a life that reflects Christ’s love more clearly? Jesus desires that we bear much fruit to glorify the Father, and this fruit is evidence that we are His disciples.
4. A Year of Expectancy
The beginning of a new year is often filled with hopes and dreams for what lies ahead. Jesus gives us a promise in these verses: "Ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." This doesn’t mean that God will grant us anything we desire, but that when we abide in Him, our desires will align with His. We will pray prayers that are in harmony with His will, and He will answer them in ways that glorify the Father and further His kingdom.
As we enter into this new year, let’s approach it with expectancy, knowing that as we remain in Jesus, He will answer our prayers in ways that we can’t even imagine. This year, let’s commit to seeking His will above all else, trusting that He will work in and through us in extraordinary ways.
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1 Comment
Amen!