Sunday, December 24, 2023
In the Gospel of John we are going to go in-depth and look at the single most amazing human (God-man) to ever walk the face of this earth, Jesus Christ. Throughout this study in John we are going to be encouraged, shocked, convicted, and left with a deep sense of awe in regards to Jesus of Nazareth. The deepest yearnings of our soul will only be satisfied by the truths that we find in this book. Invite your family, friends, colleagues and join us as we gaze intently at the One who created the world and yet loved us enough to die for us.
Worship Services - 9:00am and 11:00am
Nursery care for children 0-2 is available during the 11:00 service.
We will not have Children’s Church this week.
We’d love to have you join us on Christmas Eve as we celebrate the birth of our Savior together!
We’ll be meeting at our regular Sunday morning worship times (9:00am & 11:00am), but will include all of the elements of our traditional Christmas Eve services - the songs, the scripture readings, and the candles. There will be cookies and coffee between the two services, so plan to stick around or come a little early.
New Sermon Series begins January 7!
You might be tempted to think that the historical events (Jews being liberated from Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, wandering in the wilderness, giving of the Ten Commandments, God dwelling with his people in the tabernacle) that took place in Exodus have nothing to say to those of us living in our day and time. Don’t give into that temptation! Every single page of Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation, is relevant for our everyday life! In the book of Exodus we will explore themes like: the fiery holiness of God, where we can find true freedom, deliverance from sin and slavery, the presence of God, the problem of idolatry, and most importantly we will see that Jesus is the greater Moses and he is the only One that gives us the freedom we desperately need. We are praying that this sermon series through the amazing book of Exodus deepens your knowledge, and your affection, for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
Join us on Sunday morning to pray over our worship services!
“ What the Church needs to-day is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more and novel methods, but men (and women) whom the Holy Ghost can use — men of prayer, men mighty in prayer. The Holy Ghost does not flow through methods, but through men. He does not come on machinery, but on men. He does not anoint plans, but men — men of prayer.”
Sunday School classes will not be meeting on December 24 or 31.
We look forward to seeing everyone back in class on January 7 (10:15-11:00).
Connection Cards
We have Connection Cards available on the backs of the chairs in the sanctuary. Guests can fill them out and take them to the Info Center for a free gift. Anyone can use them to submit prayer requests, request more information about ministries, update personal contact information, ask a question, or give feedback. Cards can be dropped into the offering boxes at the entrances to the sanctuary.
Upcoming Events at a Glance
Dec 24 | Christmas Eve Candlelight Services at our regular morning Worship Service times
Dec 27 | No Awana, Club 56, or Youth Group
Jan 7 | Concert of Prayer, 6:00pm
Jan 8 - Feb 26 | Marriage Care: Redeeming the Realities of Marriage, Mondays at 6:30pm
Jan 9 | PrimeTime Lunch for those 60+, 12:00pm
Jan 21 | Pizza with Pastors, for those new to New Life, 12:15pm in Room 209
Jan 28 | Concert of Prayer, 6:00pm
(keep reading for more details)
New Members
This week we welcome Marika Russell as a member of New Life Church!
Recommended for Membership
The New Life elders are recommending Barbara Engelstad, Linda Mors, Jamie Ruby, Diane Schultz, and LaVae Schwalm for membership. In following our church constitution, their names will be posted here for two weeks and then they will be welcomed into membership. If you are wondering how membership works, you can read what our church constitution says about it here. The Next Steps Class is required for membership and we typically hold two series of classes each year. We’ll announce the dates/times here in the digital bulletin when we schedule the classes.
Our Care Ministry Team is planning seven weeks of sessions to strengthen your marriage!
Article Recommendation from Pastor Michael…
We all need encouragement and we all can be a source of encouragement for others. Take a few minutes to read about “9 Biblical Methods for Encouraging One Another.”
Missions Trip Opportunity | Summer 2024
We are planning a mission trip to return to Dorie's Promise in Guatemala City. There are two weeks to choose from: June 15-21 or June 29-July 5. Trip highlights will include activities with the children at Dorie's Promise, opportunities to help local families, ability to gain a new firsthand perspective on life in Guatemala, and enjoying the beauty of Guatemala's people and natural resources! The cost of the trip would be $1375 plus airfare. If you are interested in more information about joining the trip, please contact Lorna at hoferl@yahoo.com or 881-6747.
THERE IS NO OTHER GOSPEL!
This year the youth will be studying two important letters that Paul wrote, Galatians and Ephesians. Both of these letters are foundational to understanding that we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, and in Christ alone. Not only do they explain how we are made right with God, but both Books are so practical in teaching us how to live the Christian life, because we are now “in Christ”. You will be surprised at how clearly they speak into our culture today.
We end each youth evening with snacks for the students. It’s a fun time to hang out and get to know each other. Parents and others in our church family have been great about baking or purchasing snacks for us - if you’d like to sign up to bring the snack one evening, you can use the button below.
Each month, we will be highlighting a missionary or organization that is supported by New Life. We encourage you to be praying for them and also learning more about how God is working through them in their area of ministry.
New Life's support of my ministry is really encouraging. My main prayer request for my ministry through Campus Outreach is that students would continue to come to know who Jesus is and be equipped to tell others. We also have our yearly new years conference coming up, so prayer that students would attend and have their heart softened to the Gospel.
Discipleship Pathway
Are you ready to take the next step? Find out more about how to get involved in a Life Group or a D-Group.
