News & Views March 24 2022

March 24th, 2022
by Mark Isaac

March 24, 2022

MARCH MEMORY VERSE
What shall I return to the Lord for all his goodness to me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.
I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.
Psalm 116:12-14

MARCH 24th WORSHIP
Life Lesson Classes for Adults
8:30 - PSALM 119 video series with Matt Chandler - Ron & Judy Brown leading - Room 111
8:45 - WELCOME Class: James - Leroy Bumbaca teaching - Rooms 114-115

Connecting Point
9:30 A.M. - Dining Room
Save waste and water by bringing your own coffee cup/travel mug to church!

Worship, Baptisms, and New Member Testimonies
10:00 A.M. - Family Center Gym/Online
Testimonies from Brian Willems (baptism), Monica Garcia (baptism), Eric Parra (baptism), and
James Velandria. Next Sunday testimonies from Lily Alvarado, Thannia Chavana, and Veronica Stalis

NLC Kids
10:00 A.M. - Rooms 101,103

Grab 'n Go Meals served after church

Brian Willems, James Velandria, and Monica Garcia on a Broken Chains motorcycle ministry outing.

This Sunday after church - Stay and Eat

Chinoh's home!

Lydia, Emmy, Chinoh, Eliza, Samuel, Naomi, and Hannah at the airport

Josh “Chinoh” Aquino surprised his kids this week by coming home early! He's been in San Antonio, Texas, for the last 5 months training for his role in the US Air Force. It was a plan he and Jessica had been preparing for, though it has meant these long months of separation.

Because of his hard work and study, Chinoh was granted permission to take his final tech test almost one month earlier than scheduled. He was the first one to do so. And he passed! That meant being able to board a plane and come home much earlier than his six children were expecting. Praise the Lord! Welcome home, Chinoh!

IntoFocus2024

New Life Community formed a church vision team in 2018 called “Imagine2024”.
Within a year the team had clarified our church’s vision, mission, and values, and developed five defining objectives to bring the vision to reality. Once the church approved the vision plan, the group changed its name to “Implement2024” and got to work leading the change together with the Trustees, Elders, and staff.

This week the team began meeting again for a new purpose, with new team members, and a new name. The team’s new name says it all, “IntoFocus2024”. Having imagined and implemented the vision with great success, it’s time to bring it all INTO FOCUS. Two new team members are joining Stan R. Isaac (former team leader and back as the team’s consultant), Pastor Mark, Chris Reimche, Sonya Morgan and Bonnie Sorber: Cece Olea and Brian Willems.

IntoFocus2024 team hard at work!

Our first meeting opened with the words of Psalm 100, calling us to praise and thanksgiving for all that God has done. We praised God for several amazing things that are part of New Life Community today, including the Home Resource Center, a wide-open welcoming spirit to everyone, new and abundant energy, the fact that we actually changed as a church and didn’t just talk about it, that NLC people persisted in these changes through many challenges, and that we’ve grown more diverse as a church.

We also acknowledged the role the Holy Spirit has played in sparking the transformation of our church and growing our love for the people of our community. It was also clear to us that the pandemic played a catalyzing role for our church because we entered it with a plan that directed us toward the increasing needs of our community. And we acknowledged the loss of many members during this same period.

We are becoming a new kind of church, with a new spirit, and with “new wineskins” as the Bible describes. The team is committed to understanding this, reviewing the many ministries we’ve begun at NLC, and bringing it all INTO FOCUS as we move toward 2024.

UPCOMING EVENTS

PIES

YUMMY!
Delicious fresh fruit pies will be baked in our kitchen on Friday, April 8th.
Pies will be available to buy ($15 each) in the early afternoon or 6-7 p.m. before they’re delivered to the MCC Sale in Fresno. Cash or check accepted.

EASTER'S COMING and YOU ARE NEEDED!
Bring your family! Tell your grandkids!
Come bless children! Sign up and serve!

Easter at NLC is all about Resurrection Fire!
IGNITE THE FLAME VBS
Thursday-Sunday, April 14-17, 10 a.m. - 12 noon
Easter Worship and VBS Celebration
Sunday, April 17
8:45 A.M. Family Breakfast
10:00 A.M. Worship featuring NLC Kids
10:30 A.M. Easter Egg Hunt and Story/Crafts for kids

PRAYER

Annie Enns passed away Thursday evening, March 17th, at Kaweah Health Center. Annie and her husband Jake were long-time members of our church. She was the very first Sunday School teacher many children had here. The family will announce plans for a graveside service in Reedley in the coming weeks. Pray for her son Norm & Sherry, and daughter Joanne and family.
Pray for Jackie Elkins who is grieving the loss of her father, Charlie.
Pray for several people recovering from recent injuries and illnesses: Steve Bryan had a heart attack and is home from hospital with a new heart stent, Joyce Braun is awaiting results of some tests after a fall and leg fracture, Bobby & Suzy Stucky are healing from a motorcycle accident, and Nori Naylor’s wrist(s) may be broken after a recent fall.
Continue to lift those with ongoing health issues to the Lord: Glen & Peggy Zimmerman, Carol Enns, Ruth Serrato, Kathy Dougherty, JR Southard, Lois Brittel, Brian Smith, Galen Wiest, and Kelly Friesen’s sister-in-law, Dana. Ron Brown’s sister, Bonnie, has moved to Palm Village. Continue to remember her in prayer as she deals with cancer.
Pray for those currently living in health/memory care: Olga Brandt, Chris Holmen, Vicky Barkman, Marilyn Chappell, Rosella Isaak, Luella Unruh and Alice White.
Rejoice with Chinoh & Jessica Aquino and their family that he arrived home early after months of Air Force training in Texas!
Johnny & Denise Esposito have plans to be back in the States from their time in Southeast Asia. Continue to pray for their ministry to pastors, church leaders, and believers there.
Pray for John Warkentin, Tom Regier, and Pastor Mark & Laurie heading to Africa for work, ministry, and Gospel perspective. John will be leaving the first week of April. Tom will be sharing about his upcoming trip on April 10th.
Continue to pray for peace in Ukraine.
Several people at NLC are looking for work. Pray they can get interviews and be hired.
Pray for our new members last week (Beth, Grace, Mary, and Steve & Anatalia), the four who will be sharing their testimonies and being baptized this week (Brian, Eric, Monica and James), and three more who will be sharing their testimonies next week (Lily, Thannia, and Veronica).
Praise the Lord one more person volunteered this week to serve NLC Kids! Pray for more adult team members to serve the children as we rejoice over the growing number of families with children coming to church.
Pray for Ignite the Flame VBS coming during Easter week. Pray for Jessica as she leads, for all the preparations, for teachers and helpers, and that children who come would understand and receive the love God has for them through their savior, Jesus.

Our Giving

Received Last Week (3/20):...........$6,949
Received this year to date: ..….$236,558
Budget to Date: …………...….......$247,062
Budget Goal: …………..…............$443,008
Needed Weekly: ……….…..…......…$8,976