NLC Connect - January 15, 2025

January 15th, 2025

connect with God's Word

Families from New Life Community visited the MCC Global Center in Reedley on January 8th to learn about the missions work MCC does around the world. Kids and youth participated in hands on experiences that took them around the world with MCC.

connect your calendar

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 15:
Open Gate food distribution 2-3 p.m. in the NLC parking lot every Wednesday afternoon (one of several distribution sites in Dinuba, Orosi and Cutler, each with their own schedule) -- for more information, contact Open Gate at 559-591-1241
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

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

Otto Ekk will be the speaker

Final payments due today for Jr. High/High School Winter Camp (payable to NLC)
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

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 22
2 p.m. - Open Gate food distribution
6:30 p.m. - Prayer Gathering - Room 113

THURSDAY, JAN.23
5:30 p.m. - CELEBRATE RECOVERY meal, worship, groups

SUNDAY, JAN. 26
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

Joshua Aquino will be the speaker

11:15 a.m. - Church Family Meal (please bring a dessert to share--the kitchen crew will provide grilled chicken parmesan with rice and salad)
5:00 p.m. - CREW youth meeting - Room 207

MONDAY, JAN. 27
6:00 p.m. - CR Worship Team - Gym

TUESDAY, JAN. 28
6:00 a.m. - Men's Bible Study - Dining Room
9:00 a.m. - LIFT Women's Bible study - Room 114/115

connect through giving

Received Last Week (1/12): ......... $3,915
Received this year: ................. $134,856

Budget to Date:........................ $147,572
Budget Goal: …….……...…..…...$383,686
Needed Weekly: ………….............. $7,776

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 Anissa Almaguer and Irene Gonzalez to have good health as they prepare to bring new life into this world!
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. 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 our campers as they get they make preparations to head to Hartland.
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.
Please pray for the USMB churches in the Los Angeles area that remain at risk from ongoing wildfires. Pray for protection from the fires, for those who have been evacuated, for first responders and others providing aid, for the winds to calm and for the fires to be quickly contained.
Pray for Brad and Delilah Isaak and family as they prepare to begin their ministry at NLC in February.

Connect to New Beginnings

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?"
— Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)

The start of a new year is a beautiful reminder of God’s grace and the opportunity for fresh starts. As we step into 2025, we may carry with us hopes, dreams, or even regrets from the year before. But the beauty of God’s invitation is that He beckons us to let go of the past and to embrace what He is doing in our lives today. He is always making things new—whether that’s in our hearts, our relationships, or our circumstances.

A woman named Sarah faced a series of personal and professional struggles that made her feel stuck. Every New Year, she would set grand resolutions, but by mid-year, she found herself slipping back into old patterns of doubt and disappointment. One day, as she sat alone, contemplating her past mistakes and the looming uncertainty of the future, she read Isaiah 43:18-19. God spoke gently to her heart, reminding her that He was doing something new in her life. Slowly, Sarah learned to stop dwelling on past failures and began to look forward to the small steps of progress she was making. Over time, she noticed the new things God had been bringing into her life: a stronger faith, healthier relationships, and renewed purpose. Sarah learned that true transformation isn’t about making grand resolutions; it’s about trusting that God is at work, even in the smallest moments.

As we begin this new year, take a moment to reflect on what you might be holding onto from the past—whether it’s a regret, a mistake, or a fear of the unknown. Then, choose to release it into God’s hands. Trust that He is doing something new in you. This year, focus on the present moment and the fresh opportunities God has placed before you. Embrace each new beginning with faith, knowing that He is with you every step of the way.