Infusion of New Life

​     PJ Alindogan, in “The Potter’s Jar Blog” (3-4-12), tells of the following:
   Three friends decided to go deer hunting together: a lawyer, a doctor, and a preacher. As they were walking, along came a big buck. The three of them shot simultaneously. Immediately the buck dropped to the ground and all three rushed up to see how big it actually was. Upon reaching it they couldn't determine whose shot had actually killed the deer.
   As a heated debate ensued, a few minutes later a game officer came by and asked what the problem was. The doctor told him that they were debating who shot the buck. The officer took a look at the buck and within a few seconds, he said with much confidence, "The preacher shot the buck!"
   They all wondered how he knew that so quickly. The officer said, "Easy. The bullet went in one ear and out the other."
     The shepherds heard God’s message via the angel, they received the message and they responded to it with action.
 
     As you listen to God's Word (as you read it or hear it preached), do you allow God's message for you to go in one ear and out the other?
     Do you hear God's Word without allowing it to transform you?
 
“God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church to reveal Himself, His purposes, and His ways.”        -Henry Blackaby
 
Based on Luke 2:8-21
And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.  And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”  (v.9-10)
 
Remember in Prayer:
  Lloyd McEntire (Betty Misener’s brother)- died 11/27.  Arrangements pending.
  Kent Misener – recovering from work injuries, horse rearing up on him
  Angie Gust (friend of Lisa Bollmann) – hospitalized, heart complications
  Steve & Laura Darby – Battling Cancer 
  John Carver- battling cancer                                                             
  Eric (Rebecca Krafft’s husband) – battling stage 4 colon cancer
  Missy Hill (Matt Monzyk’s sister)- battling cancer
  Bill Millsap Sr. – died 11/22, funeral was held on Wednesday.
 
News, Notes & Upcoming Events:
 
THANK you to the many who invited and brought family and friends to the first Sunday of our two worship service format.  We had 168 people in worship (99 @ 9am; 69 @ 10:45am).  We had two wonderful worship celebrations, especially with the Christmas decorations in place.  
 
RESCHEDULED!  Washington’s “Christmas Around the World” Parade will be THIS COMING Saturday, December 5, parade begins at 6pm.  We are Entry #51.  Meet our float at 5:30pm at Main & Cedar Streets. Please plan to walk
   with others in the parade & hand out candy canes and share the joy of Christmas.

College Care Packages – With college exams around the corner we would like to send our College students a little extra encouragement in the form of a care package. Please drop your items (baked goods, packaged snacks, energy drinks, fast food cards, etc.) off in the church lobby ASAP.  ALSO…there is some stationary in our lobby to be included in our packages, so please make sure to stop by and write some encouraging words as well. Contact Jennifer Kazmaier at [email protected] or 314-503-8767 for more info.

Giving Tree – Help make Christ­mas a special time for a local family/child.  Take an ornament (listing a gift) from the lobby tree. Place that gift, with the ornament attached, under the tree by Dec. 15. The tree will benefit Pregnancy Assistance Center, a ministry whose primary purpose is to save the lives of unborn babies while also assisting the families with many other needs.
NLC Ladies Fellowship has a FB page, see www.facebook.com/NLCLoveLadies.  The Ladies will be having a cookie exchange THIS Thursday Dec. 3 at 6pm in the fellowship hall at church. Afterwards, the congregation is invited to go caroling.

Membership Session- interested in becoming a member at NLC, plan to attend an orientation session after Worship THIS COMING, Sunday, Dec 6, 12-2pm, light lunch included.  Please contact Pastor George to register.

Movie Night @ NLC – Sunday, Dec. 6, Doors open at 6:15pm, Movie begins at 6:30pm.  Come view “The Christmas Candle” (PG, 2013).  This is a movie written by Max Lucado. 

Plan to attend “An Old Fashioned Christmas”  - Gary Goza is going to lead us in this time of carols and tunes of Christmas past.  Invite some friends and  join with others in singing Christmas songs, 4:30pm on Saturday, December 12.  Be watching for more info as we are hoping to find a restaurant to go to afterwards. 
 
DAILY PRAYERS during December…. Watch your email for daily prayers during the month of December.  If you do not presently receive emails from the church, please note so on your Communication Card or reply to this email with “Daily Prayers”.   Please join with others in daily praying for our church and our community.

Celebrating Christmas with children from “The Well” – an EFCA congregation in the city who brought 15-20 kids to our VBS this past summer.  We will leave at 10:30am on Sunday, December 13, returning by 3pm.  We will serve the kids Tacos & then lead in a variety of “Christmas Games”.  Note “The Well” on your CC or reply to this email.

Be a part of New Life in the community!  On Dec 18th the Washington School District has a half day of school and we are inviting all MS & HS students to walk to NLC after school. We will have a snack and make Christmas cards for local nursing  home residents.  At 2:30pm, we will have two 1-hour shifts ringing the Salvation Army bell at Schnucks.  We will return to church, then deliver Appreciation Baskets to the Mercy Hospital ER, the Police Dept, etc.  We will return to church by 6:30pm for a light supper.  We are asking adults to help drive, deliver baskets and sing carols with the youth.  Watch for sign-up sheets and permission slips in the lobby. Come, ring the bills and sing carols!

CHRISTMAS EVE WORSHIP will be @ 7pm here at NLC.  Lacey Lee, the Harpist, will be playing for the service once again.  Extend an invitation to your friends/family today to share in this special night.  Communion will be celebrated.

Operation Christmas Child – THANK YOU… a total of 109 shoeboxes & $284 was donated & delivered to the Union OCC distribution center by 20+ youth & adults.