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Record of Faithfulness |
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Giving:
General Fund: $3431.00
Total: $3431.00
Attendance:
Traditional: 56
Contemporary: 44
Behold Retreat: 16
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Upcoming Events |
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Lay Leadership Workshop 8:30 AM
Sat. January 24
Women's Bible Study
9 AM Monday -- Youth Center
Women's Bible Study Begining Sunday January 25th
4:30 PM Youth Center
Every 3rd Saturday Youth Trash Pick-up
Meet at Church 10:45 AM |
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Members in Ministry
January 25
2009 |
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Traditional Greeters: Kathy Giles
Traditional Ushers:
Mike Giles
Michael Giles
Contomporary Greeters:
Sherry Lewis
Mary Edmonds
Nursery:
Traditional: Greta Ayers
Sunday School: Greta Ayers
Contemporary: Regina Filmore
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Birthday's and Anniversaries |
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January 1
Daniel Newton Birthday
January 6
Rocky Harnen Birthday
January 10
Lisa Saylor Birthday
January 18
Jan Eddelman Birthday
January 19
Dakota Martin Birthday
January 20
Sherry and Danny Newton Anniversay
January 23
Virginia Robinson Birthday
January 25
Kent Smith Birthday
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January Meetings |
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Wednesday, Jan. 21
5:30 p.m. Youth Council
Saturday, Jan. 24
8:30 a.m. Every Member
in MinistryTraining
Guntersville 1st
Tuesday, Jan27
6 p.m. Stewardship
Committee
7 p.m. Church Council
Thursday, Jan. 29
5:30 p.m. NLCA Board of
Directors
for a complete calendar visit our calendar on the church website. | |
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New Life Line
January 21, 2009 |
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Greetings!
Greetings from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia! As many of you know, I have just begun work on my Doctorate in Ministry here at CTS. This is a four year program which requires me to be on campus approximately two weeks in the winter and two weeks in the summer with the remainder of the work done at home. I had applied and been accepted into the Doctorate program prior to coming to New Life and postponed beginning my studies for six months so I could get my feet on the ground. And I will greatly appreciate your prayers as I continue my studies! And I do pray that what I learn will be helpful to us as a congregation as well as to me as a pastor.
This Sunday, we will continue exploring God's call and people's response. This week, we will reflect on Jonah's grudging response to God's call and Nineveh's surprisingly faithful response to the call of God. Our Scripture comes from the very middle of the book of Jonah at a very crucial moment in the story, but Jonah is a very short and entertaining book so I encourage you to take the time to read the whole book to get a sense of what is going on.
3The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, 2"Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you." 3So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days' walk across. 4Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's walk. And he cried out, "Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!"
5And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth. 6When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 7Then he had a proclamation made in Nineveh: "By the decree of the king and his nobles: No human being or animal, no herd or flock, shall taste anything. They shall not feed, nor shall they drink water. 8Human beings and animals shall be covered with sackcloth, and they shall cry mightily to God. All shall turn from their evil ways and from the violence that is in their hands. 9Who knows? God may relent and change his mind; he may turn from his fierce anger, so that we do not perish." 10When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it. Jonah 3:1-10
Jonah was one of the most reluctant prophets in the Bible. God calls him to go to Nineveh and he goes in the opposite direction, ends up being swallowed by a big fish, and then spewed onto the shores of Assyria.
- What happens when we ignore God's call on our life?
- Why do you think God called Jonah given his reluctance and his critical spirit?
It's easy to criticize Jonah for not doing what God called him to do. But we need to remember that Nineveh was not only known as "Sin City" but it was the capital of Assyria which had conquered Israel and had oppressed the people. In fact, just to bring Jonah's discomfort home to us, Nineveh was located near what is in now Mosul in Iraq. Jonah finally went (against his better judgment) and preached history's shortest and most effective sermon: "Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!"
- How would you feel if God called you to go to our greatest enemy and preach the gospel?
- Who are those that you doubt God can change?
- How might God be calling you to reach out to them?
The Bible tells us that the people of Nineveh turned from their evil ways and that God changed his mind about what he had planned for the people of Nineveh (just as Jonah had feared!-see Jonah )
- Can you imagine God changing his mind?
- How does this story change your mind about God, about ministry, and about those who are different from you?
- How do you think this event changed Jonah? Or do you?
Just some thoughts for a Wednesday afternoon.
Look forward to worshipping with you on Sunday!
Pastor Sherill |
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Women's Bible Study
to Begin!!!!
Starting Sunday January 25th at 4:30 PM in the Youth Center a new women's 13 week bible study will begin.
Esther: It's Tough Being A Woman By Beth Moore
Going up against heavyweights bent on her destruction, Esther trusted God and landed a blow that saved her people. The Old Testament story of Esther is a profile in courage and contains many modern parallels for today's woman. Esther's destiny can be yours as you know more deeply, the God who is in your corner.
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2009 CONFIRMATION CLASS
Each year, an opportunity is given for our young people to spend some time studying what it means to be a follower of Christ and a member of Christ's body, the Church. At the end of this special time of studying, questioning, and exploring, youth are given the opportunity to make a profession or reaffirmation of their faith. Classes will begin in early February and those in the Confirmation Class who choose to affirm their faith will be received into membership of the Church on Pentecost Sunday, May 31st. If you would like your youth (ages 10 and up) to be involved in this class, please let me know so I can begin planning. If you have questions about confirmation and what it means, please feel free to e-mail me and you can also learn more here.
Please begin to keep our 2009 Confirmation Class in your prayers.
Pastor Sherill
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WEDNESDAY NIGHT ACTIVITIES
Wednesday night meals are back!! Beginning TODAY, Wednesday January 21 there will be pizza and a drink every Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. We all love and enjoy the fellowship of our church family so come on back for Wednesdays meal, and plan on staying for classes! There is a class for all ages and they will begin as usual at 6:30p.m. The cost for the meal is $3.00/person. See you tonight!
Here is the schedule for Wednesday Night Bible Studies through the end of January:
Jan. 21 6:30 PM Children & Youth Bible studies (no adult classes)
Jan. 28 6:30 PM Regular Activities
(Adult Bible Study resumes)
for a complete calendar visit our calendar on the church website.
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VALENTINE'S EVENT
The Prime Timers will be sponsoring a "Valentine's day Dinner and Silent Auction" on Saturday February 14 at 6:30PM in the Fellowship Hall.
Dinner will be by reservation only, reservation forms are located in the Narthex. Payment is to be made at time of reservation. Reservation Deadline is February 9th.
The cost is $10.00 per person payable upon reservation.
The menu will include: Pork Tenderloin, green beans. bacon/garlic potatos, salad, rolls, dessert, and tea.
The Silent Auction will follow the evening meal. If you have any treasures that can be donated for the auction please have these in to the church by Thursday
February 12th.
Babysitting will be provided for children. This will include a meal as well.
**** All Proceeds will go towrad church flooring renovations. |
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Christian View of Sex for Middle School Youth and Their Parents
Mark you calendars for April 16-18 for this very important weekend!
The goals for this weekend are to help middle school youth, their parents and adult workers with youth to:
grow in their understanding of sex as an important part of the divine plan for human beings.
expand their knowledge of the physical and emotional facts about their sexuality and their sexual development through puberty, as the basis for developing positive attitudes.
discover and practice appropriate language and communication skills needed to talk meaningfully, both within the family circle and in other responsible settings, about sex, dating, love and marriage.
explore their attitudes toward themselves, especially toward the sexual dimensions of their lives.
understand some of the range of possibilities of personal lifestyles and modes of relating to other people.
explore some of the attitudes which govern their interactions with other persons who relate to them In various ways (i.e. Parents, Peers).
understand the meaning of the teenager's emergence from parental controls and his assuming responsibility for his own freedom.
examine the standards youth and adults choose as the guidelines for their lives, from among the many choices made available today by our culture
choose for themselves guidelines for sexual and interpersonal behavior which reflect the best ethical thinking of the Christian community.
PLAN ON JOINING US! |
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Serving from the Heart Workshop
Finding Your Gifts and Talents for Worship
Friday, Feb. 6th 6:30 - 9 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 7th 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Cost $11 for book (and scholarships are available)
Come join us as we explore the gifts that God has given us for service. I want to encourage everyone to attend. If you should need childcare, let us know so I can arrange for that.
Please sign up by calling the church office or e-mailing Pastor Sherill by simply replying to this newsletter! I need a count for lunch and to purchase the books, so please sign up by February 1st! |
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WE NEED YOU!!!
NATURAL CHURCH DEVELOPMENT
Our church is currently participating in Natural Church Development (NCD), a long-term process for strengthening the health and effectiveness of our church. This process began with a survey, taken by 30 people who worship regularly at New Life, which identified our church's strengths and weaknesses. We have received the results of the survey and are ready to take the next step in the NCD process. This next step involves gathering groups of New Life worshippers together to discuss and give feedback on the quality characteristic identified by the survey as New Life's weakest. We want everyone to participate in these focus groups, so mark your calendar for Sunday, February 8th at 10:00 am (during Sunday School) in the Fellowship Hall.
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Active Listening: Skill and Sacred Art
A seminar titled "Active Listening: Skill and Sacred Art" will be offered by the Huntsville Association for Pastoral Care on February 21, 8 am - 12:45 pm, at St. Mark's Lutheran Church (200 Longwood Drive). This seminar is geared toward laypeople who provide spiritual care through teaching and visitation ministries and ongoing caregiving relationships, but anyone who is interested in improving listening skills is welcome. CEUs are available for social workers, nurses, and licensed counselors. The cost for individuals is $40, and group rates are available. For more information or to register, e-mail hapc_sam@yahoo.com or call 217-3027 by February 19.
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Prayer for the Inauguaration of President Obama
Holy God, we exalt You in Your supremacy and sovereignty over all things. We praise you for Your divine plan and Your call on our lives. You are our trustworthy God and we bless You and thank You for Your love and grace in our lives.
Today we bring President Barack Obama before You, acknowledging Your call on his life for this unique time in our nation and our world. You have chosen him; we ask for Your highest blessing and anointing on him as he begins today to lead our country. We pray that he will place his trust fully in You, knowing that You are his guide, help and strength. Your name is worthy, Lord; Your name is powerful. It's in that name that we pray, amen.
- Prayer for Jan. 21, 2009 from the Presidential Prayer Team | |
Church Office Hours
9 AM - 1 PM Monday Through Friday
728-2093
Church Staff
Pastor:
Sherill Clontz (256) 508-3760 (cell)
Secretary:
Katie Buffington 728-3570
Contemporary Worship Leader:
Milanda Taylor 728-3099
Contemporary Music Director:
Jim Holcomb 587-0217
Children's Ministry Director:
Greta Ayers 728-2347
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