NLC Connect - Sept. 10, 2025
connect with God's Word
We are so grateful for our Worship Team, led by Bruce Smith, who helps to create an atmosphere where hearts are drawn closer to Christ.
connect your calendar
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 10
6:30 p.m. - Prayer Gathering - Room 113
THURSDAY, SEPT. 11
6:00 p.m. - CELEBRATE RECOVERY small groups
FRI.-SUN., SEPT. 12-14: Women's Retreat at Hartland
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
8:30 a.m. - Salt & Light Class begins new series - Room 114/115
9:30 a.m. - CONNECTING POINT
5:00 p.m. - Youth Group - Room 207
TUESDAY, SEPT. 16
6:00 a.m. - Men's Bible Study - Dining Room
6:30 p.m. - GriefShare Support Group - Room 114/115
6:30 p.m. - Healing Room Ministry - Library
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 17
6:30 p.m. - Prayer Gathering - Room 113
THURSDAY, SEPT. 18
6:00 p.m. - CELEBRATE RECOVERY small groups - Education Center
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 -- 100th Anniversary of the beginning of our congregation!
9:00 a.m. - CONNECTING POINT
11:45 a.m. - Catered meal - Family Center
Exhibits and activities for kids and adults before and after the meal - Patio, sidewalk areas & Family Center
5:00 p.m. - Youth Group - Room 207
TUESDAY, SEPT. 23
6:00 a.m. - Men's Bible Study - Dining Room
9:00 a.m. - LIFT Women's Bible Study - Room 114/115
6:30 p.m. - GriefShare Support Group - Room 114/115
6:30 p.m. - Prayer Gathering - Room 113
THURSDAY, SEPT. 11
6:00 p.m. - CELEBRATE RECOVERY small groups
FRI.-SUN., SEPT. 12-14: Women's Retreat at Hartland
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
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 - Patio
5:00 p.m. - Youth Group - Room 207
TUESDAY, SEPT. 16
6:00 a.m. - Men's Bible Study - Dining Room
6:30 p.m. - GriefShare Support Group - Room 114/115
6:30 p.m. - Healing Room Ministry - Library
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 17
6:30 p.m. - Prayer Gathering - Room 113
THURSDAY, SEPT. 18
6:00 p.m. - CELEBRATE RECOVERY small groups - Education Center
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 -- 100th Anniversary of the beginning of our congregation!
9:00 a.m. - CONNECTING POINT
- Come meet and encourage others over coffee and snacks - Patio
11:45 a.m. - Catered meal - Family Center
Exhibits and activities for kids and adults before and after the meal - Patio, sidewalk areas & Family Center
5:00 p.m. - Youth Group - Room 207
TUESDAY, SEPT. 23
6:00 a.m. - Men's Bible Study - Dining Room
9:00 a.m. - LIFT Women's Bible Study - Room 114/115
6:30 p.m. - GriefShare Support Group - Room 114/115
Norma Froese also has tickets on Sunday mornings!
connect through giving
Offerings Received last week (9/7): ....... $3,137
Offerings Received this year to date:.... $3,137
(New fiscal year began September 1)
Offerings Received this year to date:.... $3,137
(New fiscal year began September 1)
connect to God through prayer
- Pray about participating in the Discipleship Initiative for Community on Wednesday evenings in October (Pastor Brad will give details on Sept. 14, when sign-ups will begin).
- Pray for those dealing with long-term health issues, and for Anissa Almaguer and Neida Roa, as they recover from the births of their daughters.
- 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 and those attending the GriefShare support group.
- Pray for church leaders who are prayerfully reviewing financial reports, setting priorities, and working on the budget for the new fiscal year (Sept.-Aug.). The next Members' Meeting will be held on October 19, and the proposed budget will be publicized on Oct. 5.
- Pray for those who are seeking employment.
- Pray for Joshua Aquino as he is away for training—may he be safe and strengthened.
- Pray for our 16 ladies at the Women's Retreat at Hartland Christian Camp this weekend.
- Pray for the undocumented in our community as they navigate life under this administration.
- 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 on furlough.
- 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.
Jesus Walks with me
John Warkentin's testimony of God's faithfulness was featured in the Christian Leader Magazine. To read the full story and see more amazing pictures CLICK HERE.
As a young boy, I often saw the snowcapped Sierra Nevada mountains and dreamed of one day hiking the John Muir Trail (JMT).
In the fall of 2024, I finally had time to give it a go.
Over the course of 220 miles, the JMT achieves a vertical gain and loss of 47,000 feet, crossing 10 high mountain passes and terminating at the highest point in the lower 48 states, Mount Whitney.
For two years, my friend Randy Reiswig and I had planned this trek, calculating our daily routes and weighing our food, tent, clothes and gear to eliminate all but the essentials.
But on the very first day, sickness forced Randy to exit the trail.
“What now?” I wondered as Randy encouraged me to go on without him. I prayed and spoke with my wife, who did not want me to hike alone. In the end, we agreed I should continue, provided I would try to hike and camp with others.
The path was never straight, level or easy—I lost count of the times I crossed water—and I soon realized I desperately needed Jesus’ closeness and encouragement.
One day I prayed, “Lord, I know you are with me. Help me to notice you.” God sent a little bird to accompany me.
Once when I was cold, I prayed and immediately the sun shined on me through the clouds as if someone had turned on the lights, reassuring me that God was with me (Joshua 1:5).
In the middle of a high desert, I ran out of water. Another time, I ran out of food. I faced snow, hail and storms. But through it all, I sensed Jesus saying, “Trust me.”
On the day before the Mount Whitney climb, I needed to find and filter 4 liters of water. After filling the last bottle, I realized I had lost the cap to close it. I searched and prayed, but God didn’t show me the cap’s location. I took the partially filled bottle with me and tried to trust God.
The next morning, I stood in the pitch dark with only 2.5 liters of water, fearful to hike up the first 1,000 feet of switchbacks in the dark. Looking back down the trail, I saw bouncing lights headed my way—hikers, who allowed me to join them.
After about an hour, we came to a part covered by a landslide. As I tried to climb through, I fell against the sheer wall, injuring my right leg and breaking one of my trekking poles.
Now my goal felt unreachable. I didn’t have enough water. My leg hurt. One wrong step meant the possibility of falling to my death, and with only one pole I was even more vulnerable.
“Trust me,” I sensed immediately in my soul. Despite the blood running down my leg, I continued on. Four hours later, I stood at the top of Mount Whitney’s 14,508-foot peak. God made this possible. Clouds had given me shade so that my water was enough. Two men had hiked with me like angels encouraging me on.
In the 28 days of constant challenges, my training, fitness and preparations were not the only things that enabled me to finish. Jesus had walked with me (Proverbs 3:5-6).
As a young boy, I often saw the snowcapped Sierra Nevada mountains and dreamed of one day hiking the John Muir Trail (JMT).
In the fall of 2024, I finally had time to give it a go.
Over the course of 220 miles, the JMT achieves a vertical gain and loss of 47,000 feet, crossing 10 high mountain passes and terminating at the highest point in the lower 48 states, Mount Whitney.
For two years, my friend Randy Reiswig and I had planned this trek, calculating our daily routes and weighing our food, tent, clothes and gear to eliminate all but the essentials.
But on the very first day, sickness forced Randy to exit the trail.
“What now?” I wondered as Randy encouraged me to go on without him. I prayed and spoke with my wife, who did not want me to hike alone. In the end, we agreed I should continue, provided I would try to hike and camp with others.
The path was never straight, level or easy—I lost count of the times I crossed water—and I soon realized I desperately needed Jesus’ closeness and encouragement.
One day I prayed, “Lord, I know you are with me. Help me to notice you.” God sent a little bird to accompany me.
Once when I was cold, I prayed and immediately the sun shined on me through the clouds as if someone had turned on the lights, reassuring me that God was with me (Joshua 1:5).
In the middle of a high desert, I ran out of water. Another time, I ran out of food. I faced snow, hail and storms. But through it all, I sensed Jesus saying, “Trust me.”
On the day before the Mount Whitney climb, I needed to find and filter 4 liters of water. After filling the last bottle, I realized I had lost the cap to close it. I searched and prayed, but God didn’t show me the cap’s location. I took the partially filled bottle with me and tried to trust God.
The next morning, I stood in the pitch dark with only 2.5 liters of water, fearful to hike up the first 1,000 feet of switchbacks in the dark. Looking back down the trail, I saw bouncing lights headed my way—hikers, who allowed me to join them.
After about an hour, we came to a part covered by a landslide. As I tried to climb through, I fell against the sheer wall, injuring my right leg and breaking one of my trekking poles.
Now my goal felt unreachable. I didn’t have enough water. My leg hurt. One wrong step meant the possibility of falling to my death, and with only one pole I was even more vulnerable.
“Trust me,” I sensed immediately in my soul. Despite the blood running down my leg, I continued on. Four hours later, I stood at the top of Mount Whitney’s 14,508-foot peak. God made this possible. Clouds had given me shade so that my water was enough. Two men had hiked with me like angels encouraging me on.
In the 28 days of constant challenges, my training, fitness and preparations were not the only things that enabled me to finish. Jesus had walked with me (Proverbs 3:5-6).
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