NLC Connect February 28 2024

February 28th, 2024
by Mark Isaac

connect with God's Word

New Verse for March

There are few more defining passages in the Bible than this command from Jesus to love one another. Jesus, himself, describes it as the fulfilment of the Law: to love God with our whole selves and to similarly love our neighbor. In 1 John we read that we cannot say we love God while at the same time hating others. So you see how important this passage is!

Why has the Church earned a different reputation? Some might say because the Church has spoken the truth to the world about its sin, and the world doesn't like it. They may be right. But how did Jesus speak the truth to those he met? Did they see him as mean and judgmental, like many people see the Church, today? Not at all. Sinners found a friend in Jesus. It was the self-righteous, rule-enforcing religious leaders who grew to hate him. And when Jesus said he was doing the will of his Father, they crucified him for it. What was Jesus' response to them? He offered them forgiveness from the very cross on which they had him hung.

The Church may have a long way to go before its reputation changes in regard to this command, but let's remember that WE are the Church. Each one of us is a living stone making up the temple of God in the midst of this generation. As each one of us grows in our capacity to love others people will begin to see the Church as God has ordained us to be: the Body of Christ Jesus. And sinners will once again find a friend in Jesus as we walk with them in grace and truth, in Jesus' name.

Free Daily Devotional booklets available

connect your calendar

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28
5:30 p.m. - Pray for Pastor Mark as he subs in for Cheryl Jackson, representing Open Gate Ministries at a Mission Week service in Kingsburg, along with Candace, Summer, and Elsa
6:30 p.m. - Worship Team Rehearsal
6:30 p.m. -Prayer Gathering meets - Room 113

Please join in praying for our pastoral transition process

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29
5:30 p.m. - CELEBRATE RECOVERY meal, LESSON, small groups, Solid Rock Cafe

SATURDAY, MARCH 2
9:30 a.m. - Graveside service for Bonnie Brown - Reedley cemetery
11:00 a.m. - Celebration of Life service for Bonnie Brown - NLC Family Center, with lunch to follow

SUNDAY, MARCH 3
8:30 a.m. - Growth Classes

Foundations in Finance - Room 111
Salt & Light: 2 Timothy - Rooms 114-115

9:30 a.m. - Connecting Point
10:00 a.m. - WORSHIP - NLC KIDS - NURSERY

Matt Naylor, Elder at Christian Community Fellowship, Reedley, will be speaking about persistent prayer from Luke 9. Matt is the son of Mike & Nori Naylor.
Worship led by Bruce Smith and team
Communion service led by Otto Ekk
Deacon Care Fund offering

5:00 p.m. - NLC CREW (youth group) - Room 207

Matt & Sarah Joy Naylor - Guest preacher, March 3rd

THE COMING WEEK:

MONDAY, MARCH 4
6:00 p.m. - CR Worship Team rehearsal

TUESDAY, MARCH 5
7:00 a.m. - Men's (buy your own) Breakfast - IHOP, Dinuba
9:00 a.m. - Women's LIFT Bible Study - Rooms 114-115
2:35 p.m. - Good News Club - Jefferson Elementary School
6:30 p.m. - Healing Rooms of Dinuba - West porch of Worship Center

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6
ALL DAY - Carl's Jr. Fundraiser for NLC Kids' Hartland Camperships
6:30 p.m. - Worship Team Rehearsal
6:30 p.m. -Prayer Gathering meets - Room 113

Please join in praying for our pastoral transition process

THURSDAY, MARCH 7
ALL DAY - Carl's Jr. Fundraiser for NLC Kids' Hartland Camperships
5:30 p.m. - CELEBRATE RECOVERY meal, LESSON, small groups, Solid Rock Cafe

FRIDAY, MARCH 8
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. - Dinuba's Women's Empowerment Luncheon - Gym

Tickets available at Dinuba Chamber of Commerce and Valley Strong Credit Union

NEXT SUNDAY:

SUNDAY, MARCH 10
8:30 a.m. - Growth Classes

Foundations in Finance - Room 111
Salt & Light: NEW STUDY ON EPHESIANS BEGINS - Rooms 114-115

9:30 a.m. - Connecting Point
10:00 a.m. - WORSHIP - NLC KIDS - NURSERY

Pastor Mark preaching a new series on Jesus' Vision for our Salvation; Luke 22:39-46

5:00 p.m. - NLC CREW (youth group) - Room 207

UPCOMING:

EASTER VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL!

10 A.M. - 12 NOON DAILY
FRIDAY, MARCH 29 - SUNDAY, MARCH 31
Register your children, grandchildren, and neighbor-children today!

connect through giving

Received Last Week (2/25):…….... $15,473
Received this year to date:........…..$194,048
Budget to Date: ……............................$200,171
Budget Goal: …………...…...….............$400,342
Needed Weekly: …………….……...........…$7,934

Stop by Carl’s Jr on El Monte, Wednesday/Thursday, March 6 & 7,
and tell them you’d like to support “New Life Community”.
They’ll donate 25% of your order total to NLC for camperships!
Last year this same fundraiser raised $221!

connect with God in prayer

A memorial service for Gary Isaac will be Monday, March 18th at 10 a.m., at NLC.
A celebration of life service for Bonnie Brown will be March 2nd at NLC, 11:00 a.m., with lunch to follow. The graveside service is at 9:30 a.m. at the Reedley Cemetery.
Bob Sorber, Sr., lost his last sibling, brother Jack Sorber, this past week. Please keep him in prayer along with others who have lost loved ones recently. Rosie Moreno lost her sister Hortencia this past month.
Pray for health and peace for: Paulie Romero, Michelle Perez, Brian Willems, Mary Salazar, Al Suderman, and Bruce Smith.
Ron Froese has been diagnosed with spinal stenosis and is awaiting treatment options to relieve pain. Ron & Norma's daughter's father-in-law, Michael Crumley, passed away this week.
Remember those fighting cancer treatment: Ron Froese's sister-in-law Garinel, Eugene Enns, Carolina Coralles, Glen Zimmerman, and Lanisha Washington.
Pray with Elva Cardona on behalf of her sister, Connie Gomes, who was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Pray for our pastoral transition. Otto Ekk is taking the lead among the Elders. The search team's members and leader(s) is almost entirely confirmed. Look for names soon!
Pray for District Minister Jordan Ringhofer and family, as well as our sister churches in the south valley, including our "daughter" churches: Neighborhood-Visalia, Calvario Community-Dinuba, and Hope-Kingsburg.
Continue praying for an end to war and violence around the world.
Pray for our upcoming Easter Vacation Bible School "RISE UP!" being offered March 29-31, 10 a.m. - noon, with a big finale on Easter Sunday. Pray for Jessica and Joanna as they direct the team and provide care to our kids and their families.
Pray also for Josh "Chinoh" Aquino and the team he's forming for our NLC Crew youth ministry.
Good News Clubs have ended at Monson-Sultana, but continue at Jefferson for 5 more weeks.

NLC Partner, CarePortal, featured in the Wall Street Journal

New Life Community has been a partner church with CarePortal for about 2 years, primarily through our Home Resource Center. Last November we heard from Tulare County social-worker, Pete Martinez, about how CarePortal bridges the government's role with children in foster care with churches like NLC. It's a powerful bridge that has helped us live out that command of Jesus to love others, especially vulnerable children in our communities.

The Wall Street Journal recently featured the amazing story and impact of CarePortal. Immediately after that article hit the news, FOX News interviewed the founder of CarePortal. Take a look at this amazing ministry through the eyes of the secular media. It will give you new courage to continue finding ways to put Jesus' command into practice...and to support the ministry of our Home Resource Center, too!

Link to Wall Street Journal article

Link to Fox News interview with the founder of CarePortal