Welcome to New Life!

Welcome to New Life!

At New Life Lutheran Church our primary mission is to share God’s love with as many people and in as many ways as possible. We believe that God’s love is made known most clearly in Jesus, who taught a way to experience meaningful life, who died in order to offer forgiveness for our imperfect lives, and who rose again to bring the hope of eternal life. While we are a church within the Lutheran tradition, we are before all else Christian, and believe that God wants all people to experience His love through Jesus, and share in the new life Jesus brings. We know that God loves you, and we deeply desire for you to know that too.

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S.I.S Happenings » Hold the Dates in 2012 Sunday, March 4 and Wednesday, March 7 - SIS Soup Sale at New Life to raise money for the SIS Scholarship. April 20-22, 2012 - SIS Retreat at SPADE (our 3rd annual) in Steinsville, PA (15 minutes from the church). Registration forms available in the Narthex. Friday, May 11 – 4th Annual Chocolate and Chat at New Life. SIS Soup Sale It’s that time again! Yes, soup’s on! SIS raises money each year to award a scholarship to a New Life lady of any age who is furthering her college education. This year, we will be holding the Soup Sale on Sunday, March 4 and again on Wednesday, March 7. Soup will be available to go after both services on Sunday and again on Wednesday. Hot soup will be offered during fellowship hour. The soup costs nothing, but donations are welcome! This is one of our biggest fundraisers. Can we beat last year’s total of $800? Come and see…and taste! Girls’ Night Out! Our second Girls’ Night Out was a huge hit! 33 women (including high school, young adult and older women) met at Paese Mio in Fogelsville for dinner and fellowship on January 31. We had the whole room to ourselves and really enjoyed the meal and talking with the other women at our tables. Four different churches were represented thoough the majority were New Life ladies. Thank you Karen Betancourt for taking on the role of hostess for this fun event! If you would like to be a hostess for a Girls’ Nigh Out next time, ask Karen how easy it is. The SIS Steering Team will come alongside you to advertise and promote your event. Most of the ladies asked said they’d love to do this more than once a year. Do you? Let one of the SIS Steering Team ladies know and we’ll get something going. Ladies Weekend Retreat Our ladies weekend retreat is just around the corner and registrations are open! This year we will again be holding our retreat at SPADE Retreat Center just up the road in Steinsville, PA (15 minutes from the church). There is limited space so don’t wait if you want to be part of this restful and informative weekend. The cost is $75 and includes all your meals, speaker’s fee, and lodging. This year’s theme is “KNOW and GROW”. Registration forms are in the Narthex on the table. For more information, contact Renee Backenstoes at 610-509-7066. Coupon Clippers If you would like to save money in 2012 please join me during fellowship in the art room on the days listed below. I am appreciative of all the coupons that I find in the church. There is a box in Fellowship Hall on the front table so we all know where to place and find coupons. Please prayerfully consider joining our group. I am also looking for an assistant to help process the coupons. Please let me know if you are moved to help me in the process. I am looking for topics of discussion, so share your biggest coupon questions. 3/4 Topic Saving on Health and Beauty Supplies3/18 Topic TBA3/25 Topic TBA4/15 Topic TBA4/29 Topic Saving on Birthday Parties5/20 Topic Saving on Summer BBQ's5/27 Topic TBA NEVER PAY RETAIL AGAIN! Join the clippers today! Contact Ann Flower at 610-216-1977 or email afflower@verizon.net (mailto:afflower@verizon.net) with any questions. 2012 SIS Scholarship Applications Available Now! Applications for the 2012 SIS Scholarship are available in the church office now. Deadline for completed applications in Monday, April 2, 2012. Last year we awarded a $500 scholarship, a $400 scholarship and two $100 gifts. This is open to any female member of New Life (of any age) who is furthering her education beyond the high school level. Won’t you Join Us? If you are a female who regularly attends New Life worship services, whether a member or not, please feel free to join the SIS Steering Committee during their planning meetings. We would love to hear your thoughts and ideas about programming. Please join us after the 10:15 Sunday worship service on March 11. SIS Steering Team members: Renee Backenstoes, Becci Bell, Karen Betancourt, Nannette Lingenfelter, Gail Post, Rachelle Storm, Becky Stoudt

Egg Hunt at New Life!! »Egg Hunt at New Life! We will be having an Egg Hunt to celebrate new life in Christ this season. It is scheduled for Saturday, March 31, at 3:00 p.m. In the event of rain, it will be held on Sunday, April 1, also at 3:00 p.m. As always, this is a church-wide effort and if you would like to be included, there are plenty of ways to help! Traditionally, this has been a HUGE opportunity for our church to share the love of Jesus with lots of children and their parents from our community. The past several years have been truly awesome and have blessed the helpers as much as they have blessed the children. WE HAVE PLENTY OF EMPTY EGGS!!! If you would like to take a bag full of empty eggs home to fill with wrapped candy, please do so and bring them back on or before March 25. We will also need PRIZES! Dollar store stuff is GREAT and the kids are always so appreciative. Please have those donations to the church by Sunday, March 25, also. In addition to wrapped candy and prizes, we will also need volunteers to help create signs, put up and take down signs, hide eggs, string the fields, sort prizes, etc. If you’re not sure how you could help or if you would just like additional information, please see Theresa Keim (therkeim@aol.com (mailto:therkeim@aol.com)) or sign up in the church lobby beginning March 4. THANKS!!! "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." 1 Peter 4:10, NIV

Lenten Series at New Life - 2012 »Lenten Series on Wednesdays at New Life Starting with the first Wednesday (February 29) after Ash Wednesday (February 22), and continuing through Wednesdaym (April 4) of Holy Week, New Life will be offering a fascinating series of services following the theme of “Christ in the Strangest Places – Fulfilled, Foreshadowed, Forever.” Two tablets of stone, a few vessels of oil, simple markings, a small army, a remote field, a solemn oath--these are some of the strangest people, places and things through which God revealed himself to his people in the Old Testament. The Old Testament is chock-full of passion themes, from the serpent being crushed in Genesis 3:15 to Isaiah's Fourth Servant Song. Yet this series looks at some of the lesser-known Old Testament passion themes and focuses on them by means of single words. Written by seminary professor Dr. Reed Lessing, the services match the Bible study (though they may be used independently). Week 1 "Mine!" • Exodus 20:17 - The commandments point out our desire to acquire Week 2 "Nothing" • 2 Kings 4:1-7 - Elisha provides for a widow Week 3 "Marked" • Isaiah 44:5 - God marks his people Week 4 "Enlist" • Judges 6:16 - Gideon's call Week 5 "Invest" • Jeremiah 32:25 - Jeremiah buys a field in wartime Week 6 "Finish" • 1 Kings 11:3 - Solomon can't finish what he started Please add Wednesday worship to your Lenten spiritual discipline, and grow in your relationship with your Savior and your fellow believers. All services begin at 7:00 p.m.

Urgent Missionary Prayer Concern! » URGENT MISSIONARY PRAYER CONCERN Please keep New Life's missionary, Bob Moyer, in your prayers as he works with Padre Adonai and the rest of the San Felix mission to care for the protestors and those caught in the protest along the Pan-American Highway east and west of San Felix. Ask the Lord to provide a peaceful path to justly resolving the concerns of all involved, and to ensure the provision of life's needs for the villagers of San Felix, Las Lajas, and those in and around the protest as food and water supplies run low. Below are emails received from Bob since February 1, 2012. Bob tries to add a few lines on his Facebook page whenever he is able (http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=1622888932 sk=wall (http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=1622888932 sk=wall)) and will update his blog whenever that becomes possible (http://bobmoyermissionary.wordpress.com (http://bobmoyermissionary.wordpress.com)). Feb 17, 2012, 5:02pm Hi all, The tense situation here in Panama got a bit easier today, at least temporarily. The Ngabe -Bugle indians have asked for a recess till Feb. 27 so they can go back to their people and discuss the progress on the intense meetings going on in Panama City. There have been a few road blockages throughout the country...against the chiefs' wishes. She came on the tv to tell tell the Ngabes NOT to block the roads, but some didn't listen. We, in San Felix can relax now for a bit till the meetings resume. Know that God is at work in the people here. Pray that His will be done. Bobby Mo Feb. 16, 2012, 8:28 p.m. Word on the street and on the internet is IF there is no signed agreement tonight, the Ngabes are prepared to close the street again( there were short term closures today). They are talking Friday till sometime next week! Problem is, Carnivales start Monday ( all over the country)and this is a BIG DEAL in Panama. There are no police in the area now, but I am sure, because of Carnivales, the gov. is NOT going to wait long to step in. If there is another confrontation, look out. It will make the problems last week look like 2 kids fighting in a sandbox. Good news is, as of 7:30 tonight, the meetings were still going on, with 3 people from each side in a closed room re-writing article 5 of law 415 pertaining to the hydroelectric projects. Going back and forth with proposals and counter-proposals was getting nowhere. hanging tight, Bob Feb. 14, 2012, 9:39 a.m. Continue to pray for peace here in Panama. The next 3 days of meetings in the Capital are extremely important! Pray for God to intercede and change the hearts and minds of both sides. Yesterday was the funeral for the young man that was killed in the clash. I just don't have a good feeling about a peaceful resolution after talking to some Ngabe friends. That’s all I can say at this point. Peace is one of those 'gifts' that we don't appreciate until we don't have it. Safe, and Serving, Bobby Mo Feb. 10, 2012, 10:05 p.m My plan was to go to Chami to continue on repairing and repainting the chairs, but Padre Adonai said it isn't safe to go there until after the general assembly is over. The General Assembly is trying to iron out the details of changing the mining laws. Seems that some Ngabes want the mines, others don't and there is still a bit of tension there. I'll have to lay low for a few weeks yet. RATS! Bob Feb. 10, 2012, 12:08 p.m. The meetings are continuing in Panama City with all parties there trying to make this a durable agreement. Padre Adonai is there too. The other thing is, there were 254 views of my blog in 2 days! A record for me. Going to Chami Sat. Sunday to work on the chairs and take in the church service in the chapel in Cerro Flores. I am going with KFC to the Iron Sharpens Iron conference when I get home. Joyfully Serving Him, Bobby Mo Feb. 7, 2012, 9:29 p.m. An agreement was reached this afternoon between the Ngabes and the government to end the fighting. I don't know all the answers yet, seems like the Ngabes pretty much got what they asked for. Thank you all for your love and support, your prayers and concern. Thank God for His intervention in the matter. Joyfully Serving Him, Bob Moyer Feb. 7, 2012, 11:32 a.m. There is finally a big meeting going on in San Lorenzo between gov. officials and the Ngabe leaders. The cell phones came back on moments ago. I can call later. I have a pile of action photos from the battle here in San Felix(given to me by a friend). Some reporters slept here last night. The post office and bank are still closed. Some friends of Padres came down from David yesterday with donations of food for us. VERY helpful and needed. AGAIN, God provided. As for the hospital, I talked with them yesterday and they were awaiting supplies from David late morning. As for the local stores, they are doing ok. I don't know if the big store that is in the Cruce is open though. Bank and post office are still closed and none of the stores are allowed to sell booze. Was just told that there are only 10 or 15 police in the Cruce now and they are not in riot gear. Padre finally got some real sleep last night. I do know that as soon as the dust clears he said he and I are going away for a few days to rest. Deb Ritter emailed me about last night, and I responded on the New Life Facebook page. You guys are awesome! The love and support is really, really appreciated. Like I wrote somewhere else, I can feel God holding me in His arms, keeping me safe and energized. Took a third pregnant woman to the hospital this morning. She was bleeding very bad, baby due Thursday. All in a days work, being Gods servant here. I will TALK to you soon. Bobby Mo Editor’s Note: Bob phoned later that (Tuesday) afternoon to assure everyone that he’s doing well and staying safe. Feb. 6, 9:34 a.m. The fatality was Ngabe, but I haven't heard where he is from. I went to bed last night at 11:45 and 45 minutes later I hear a knock on my bedroom door "Bob, we have an emergency!" What a thing to wake up to. Had to deliver a pregnant woman to the hospital here in San Felix to have her baby. Back to bed, 9 hours later,another cry for help; another pregnant woman needed me to take her to the hospital. I think the stress of it all is causing them to go into labor???? My list of 'job experiences' for my 'resume' continues to grow. LOL Peaceful here today, stores are open. Police station is a mess (passed it on the way to the hospital). The peace is here, other towns are fighting now, from Panama City to the opposite end of the country. Today's scripture happened to be "All things are possible......" Maybe it took a death for people toget serious about resolving this problem that affects the entire country. Still safe (although the teargas bomb next to the house yesterday was a bit nerve wracking). I fear not, for God is with me. I also have no desire to be a 'hero' and do something stupid. I received an email about the prayer vigil going on in the church and the mission team. How awesome is that. Please extend my thanks to them. If it helps the folks there, I can Skype in again to assure them that I am OK. As long as the government doesn't cut the electric. I truly love working for the Lord!!!! Bobby Mo Feb. 5, 2012, 7:31 p.m. All is quiet outside after the national police launched a teargas bomb between Padres house and my house. 30 something hurt( 7 were police), 1 dead. the house is full of journalists and TV reporters. They have been using my laptop all day to report the news. Actually got a nap earlier. Thanks for the prayers. Peace,Bobby Mo Feb. 5, 2012, 11:07 a.m. The highway is open. Seems there was at least 5 or 6 places that were blocked by the indigenous. I have been by Padre's side all morning in his house, safe, with some Ngabe leaders, monitoring the news. So far only 1 or 2 dead (both here in San Felix). Someone tried to throw some blame on Padre Adonai, but the monsignor got on the news and straightened them out. He was a little angry with the press for their erroneous reporting. No word from the pres. yet. The road blockages were as far away as Boca del Toro( 3 or 4 hours from here.). The air is tense here. I am NOT in any danger. the indigenous set the local police station on fire while the 8:00 church service was going on down the street.Waiting for things to calm down so Padre can visit the injured in the hospital. Bob Feb. 5, 2012, 7:53 a.m. The teargas bombs have been heard for over 1/2 hour. The confrontation has begun. We are in the mission listening to the radio. I think the government is attacking all the towns with blockages at once. More later as I get concrete news. Bob Feb. 5, 2012, 2:53 a.m. We had 2 meetings here tonight. The second ended with an hour long phone conversation with a bishop in panama City who was listening to Gov. officials on the other phone. Sounded like a meeting was set for tomorrow am(Sun.) at 7 am. At 1:00 am Padre and 6 Ngabe leaders went to the cruce to tell the masses. The masses decided they want to fight instead. This will NOT be pretty, since the gov. said they would use the military to open the road tomorrow if there was no agreement. At this hour the gov. does not know of the decision to fight, although Padre Adonai is emailing the bishop as I write this email to inform him of the decision. The electric and internet are still on because the gov. thinks there is progresss. That will change at any moment. We are praying without ceasing here for God's will to be done. The next 24 hour will be exciting to say the least.Please know that I will NOT try to be a hero and get hurt. I'll keep my distance.I heard we 'may' be housing any injured people here. I don't know how or why, it's just what I heard.I need to try to get some sleep now. Yes, Still Joyfully Serving Him,Bobby Mo Feb. 4, 2012 evening I will be losing contact with you all very soon. The latest is that the electricity and internet are the next to be cut off tonight. Please don't fret. Pray. I am NOT worried about safety. I can't impress that on you enough. I will be ok, just not able to communicate for a while. I went out and bought candels and batteries and of course snacks. No electric = no water either. So I need to fill up bottles as fast as possible. I will contact you all ASAP.The televisions that you can follow on line are: TVN-2.com, Telemetro Panama, RCM. You can translate the news with Google Translate. Joyfully Serving Him,Bobby Mo Feb. 4, 2012 afternoon The meetings never happened today! There was no security planned for the meeting so the representatives from the gov. never met with them. They didn't even get in the area till 3 hours after the meeting was supposed to start. That doesn't send a positive message. Padre spent most of the day there for nothing. Now all the press and the Ngabe leaders are here in the mission for a meeting to plan their next move or to plan on going to Panama city( the gov. will pay their airfare) for a meeting. Problem is, the gov. said they would arrest the one leader when they find him?????? we are expecting a 3 or 4 hour meeting.We did deliver more food and drink again to the motorists and protestors. With no donations coming in, now we are very low in food supplies. Padre is still talking of putting something together for food tomorrow too.All the cell phones in this region are not working( as per the gov.) The stores are selling out of things. The gov. is shipping food in ships from David to Panama City and in airplanes.Continue to pray for peace and cooperation on both sides. I am still safe, please don't worry about me. Your Servant in Panama,Bob Feb. 4, 2012 morning There is a meeting at 10 o'clock today between Martinelli, Padre, a bishop, and the indigenous in a church in San Lorenzo (between here and David). Pray for open minds to a workable solution. There are companies ready to air lift supplies to David if the meeting fails. The milk industry lost over $3 million dollars this week. Bob Feb. 3, 2012 It's Friday night and there is finally a meeting here in the mission of Ngabe leaders.David doesn't have any fuel in the town, Panama City hasn't had fruits and veggies delivered in 5 days, running low. truck drivers on the road have gone 5 days without a bath or descent sleeping accommodations. The bank is closed here, no one can get any money. The news is all about the protest. In all this I am safe ( but very tired), people in the Cruce are friendly with me. I have been by the side of the administrator helping with as much as possible. Lets just say that the hands and feet of Jesus are not idle. At the protest 3 people asked me to teach them English.Part of the Peace Corp group left today walking towards David to meet a bus. I posted 10 pics on facebook and in a few days when this ends(???) I'll put a full report on my blog.Bobby Mo Feb. 3, 2012 Just an update on the events around the protest. What a day yesterday! Pics are included.The protest continues without any scheduled meetings to resolve the problem. The President said some things officially last year that he isn't living up to. The government is still pushing mineral mining and hydroelectric in the Comarca. The people and their animals drink from the same streams that the mining would pollute. Pres. Martinelli was quoted as saying (last year) that if he didn't do what he said, the Ngabes can hang him. So, the Ngabes hung an effigy (?) of Martinelli in the intersection of the highway. There are protests in 3 cities along the transamericana ( Pan American Highway). Some arrests were made last night in Tole'. Yesterday folks from the community came here and we prepared water and food(pretzels) for the motorists and the protestors. delivering them this year was challenge because the truckers are blocking the road and are not very cooperative. They, too, are angry with the president. There are trees cut down across the street, fires burning (tires), the 1 billboard was torn down in San Felix to block the road. Padre Julian left for Las Lajas very early a few days ago and he was not allowed to drive back to the mission. His car is in Lajas 3 days now. Padre Adonai is spending a lot of time in the protest( at the request of the Ngabes). He was interviewed on the national news channel and was on TV. I was too! delivering food to the Ngabes. a gringo missionary from the metropolis of New Tripoli makes the national news in another country helping the people. Go figure. Then....Padre was just ready to leave the protestors to go to Lajas for an important mass (the final of 7 days in a row of masses for a special Patronal event), and a nun from another town hunted him down for help to bring in a van with orphans and adults to the mission to spend the night. They were stuck in traffic over a mile away and were pleading for help. So, padre Adonai , in his wonderful connections, had a few Ngabe leaders(?) go with us to help the nun and company get here. He HAD to leave. So, Rosita, me, the new youth leader, and 3 Ngabes walked to their van. All along I am saying, these truckers were angry earlier today, now some are drinking beer, this is NOT going to be good. In walks God! We got to the van , told of our plan, and like Moses parting the Red Sea, this little old nun, Sister Mary, walked with me, ahead of the van and EVERY truck driver (1 reluctantly)moved his truck for her!!!!!! Absolutely incredible! As they were driving to the mission to sleep, the whole van was praying the Catholic prayers non stop. What a testimony for the power of prayer. I spent the whole day preparing the water and bags of pretzels, delivered them, and helped a van full of orphans and adults. Full day, I would say. I am so glad I am here to see God working amidst the storm.Meanwhile there is a group of students here with the Peace Corps on a leadership training class all week. They cannot leave now. Don't know what happens from here for them.Almost all the news is of the protest now.Just heard that we are going to make food today to deliver again. There is no end in sight at this point.Know that I am safe here. I am a friend of Padres and the Ngabes. Pray for the government to get their priorities in line with what Gods will is for this situation. Your Servant in Panama,Bobby Mo Feb. 1, 2012 Just an update. The Ngabe protests are back in full swing. I heard this protest would be 3 days. Today is the third day, so I hope it will end. There were partial road blockages until yesterday afternoon, now the highway is completely closed. I did see black smoke from that end of town, but don't know if there is a connection. I had hoped to go to David today for supplies and to check my mail, but plans change. No busses running. I'm staying flexible. Know that I am safe, not to worry. Between the hydro-electric projects and still talks of mining, the indigenous people are restless. There are less of them active, but powerful, nonetheless. Bobby Mo

New Life's Easter Worship Schedule »Easter Worship Schedule - 2012 Sunday, April 1 - Palm Sunday - 8:00a 10:15a Wednesday, April 4 - 7:00p Thursday, April 5 - Maundy Thursday - 7:00p Friday, April 6 - Good Friday - 7:00p Saturday, April 7 - Easter Vigil - 7:00p Sunday, April 8 - Easter Sunday - 8:00a, 9:15a 10:30a

Check out New Life's Online Donations Link »Online Donations Now Available New Life is pleased to offer the ease and convenience of online donations to its members. Simply click on the Resources Menu item and look for the "Giving" link. Using the "Donate" button, you will be directed to a secure website where you can make a one time or recurring donation using an easy to navigate form. Click Here for Resources Link (index.php?option=com_content view=article id=293:simply-giving- catid=49 Itemid=102)

New Members Are Always Welcome! »Welcome to New Life! Interested in becoming formally joined to New Life Church as a member of the congregation? Interested in finding out what it means to be a member of New Life? Ready to personally commit to sharing the mission and ministry of the church? Please see Pastor Scott to schedule a time for conversation regarding such an important step in your faith journey. Please call the church office at 610.298.2710 or contact Pastor Scott (mailto:info@nlelc.com?subject=New Member Info)

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