new life umc - guest booklet

8/14/2019 New Life UMC - Guest Booklet

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A Warm Welcome

to our Special GuestBooklet

13146 Midlothian Turnpike Box 187 Midlothian, VA 23113

Office: 804.794.4522 [email protected] www.newlifeumc.org


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A special greeting to you in the name ofour Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

It was a great blessing for New Life UMC to have you join us for

service. The people of New Life United Methodist Church sincerely

hopes you enjoyed your experience and that you felt welcome. Our

hearts, our minds and our doors are always open. We look forward

to seeing you again. May our Heavenly Father bless and keep you.

Amen.

If you have any questions or would just like to talk with a staff

person from New Life UMC, please feel free to call our main office

number at 804.794.4522.

You can also learn a little more about New Life UMC by visiting

our outpost for Christ on the web at www.newlifeumc.org.


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New Life United Methodist Church:Christian Education

New Life UMC has many opportunities to learn about God and His

Son, Jesus Christ. Please feel free to take advantage of any of these

opportunities, as it is through the study of the Bible that we can

understand God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and ourselves. Reading,

discussing, and understanding the scripture is an integral part of

being a Christian.

Sunday SchoolNew Life UMC has Sunday School classes each Sunday from

9:45 10:45 a.m. for preschoolaged children through adults. The

young childrens classes are separated into two or three grade levels

per class, and the older youth are separated into a junior high school

class and senior high school class.

Currently, there are three Sunday School classes from which

adults can choose to attend: the Adult Bible Study class, the Healing

class (which studies biblicallybased books about healing), and the

Pathfinders (class which studies various books about scripture). At

any time, however, a group of people can decide to start a new adult

Sunday School class. Let us know if beginning a new adult class

may interest you!

Childrens WorshipAfter a special Childrens Message, which is delivered during

the worship service, children in kindergarten grades depart for

one of the classrooms. They will then enjoy a lesson based either

on understanding parts of the worship service or on special days

in the liturgical year (Christmas, Palm Sunday, Easter, etc.).

Children are not required to attend this class. However, those who

do certainly enjoy the lessons and the crafts.


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New Life United Methodist Church:Christian Education (continued)

Disciple Bible StudyBeginning in September, Disciple Bible Study is an extensive

study of the Bible in which each phase lasts 32-34 sessions one

session per week. There are four phases in this study: Disciple I is

an overview of the whole Bible; Disciple II is an in-depth study of

Genesis-Exodus and Luke-Acts; Disciple III is a study of the

Prophets and Pauls letters; and Disciple IVis a study of the

Writings, the Gospel of John, and Revelation. In order to take

Disciple II, III, or IV, you must first have completed Disciple I.

This program requires home study each week.

Womens Bible StudyNew Life UMC has a Bible study program for women each Tuesday

morning from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. during the school year.

A variety of books and topics are discussed, and no prior Bible

knowledge is required. Announcements are made prior to starting a

new book or topic, so that new participants may enjoy this special

time of fellowship.

Vacation Bible SchoolEach summer, New Life UMC hosts a Vacation Bible School. This

is truly a family oriented program. Vacation Bible School takes place

over five evenings usually Sunday through Thursday. A light sup-

per is provided followed by an adult study class. The children also

have special activities to participate in. Many from the New

Life youth group provide greatly appreciated help with the smaller

children, while learning the lessons themselves.

ConfirmationConfirmation is a class for 6th graders and up which teaches the

basics of Christianity and leads young people to make professions

of faith and join the church. The class begins during the Lenten

Season (late Winter or early Spring) with Confirmation Sunday

being Pentecost Sunday, usually in May or early June. The topics

taught include: The Lords Prayer, the Apostles Creed, the Ten

Commandments, Church History, Christian ethics and mission

and ministry of the church. The class is taught by Pastor Bonney

and other leaders in the church.


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New Life United Methodist Church:Youth Ministry

At New Life UMC, there is a strong and active youth group in

which the individuals enjoy being with one another. The youth

group represents students grades 6 through 12. For Sunday School,

the group is separated into a junior high class (6-8 grades) and a

senior high class (9-12).

We balance social activities of the youth group with mission

oriented projects. We firmly believe that God calls us to look outside

our own needs and to assist others with their needs. Once a month

we participate in thePennies for Heaven project in which we help

to feed the homeless in our community. We also visit nursing homes

to carve pumpkins at Halloween and to sing carols at Christmas

time. Doing yard work at United Methodist Family Services and for

individuals in need is part of our ministry to others. We look to

serve globally too making school kits for children of Afghanistan

and baby kits for the needy around the world. Some of our youth

have even been to Costa Rica on mission trips!

Social activities have included trips to the beach for swimming,

mountains for skiing, Blackstone for the Richmond District Youth

Retreat, Williamsburg for theAwakening program featuring

Christian bands and inspirational speakers, and Kings Dominion for

just plain fun and listening to Christian bands. We also stay close by

with trips to Maymont Park, bowling, and putt-putt golf. Because we

see ourselves as part of a much larger group of Christians, we are

active in the Richmond District Youth group.

To round out our varied activities, we also have youth group

meetings on many Sunday afternoons. At these meetings, we

socialize, pray for peoples needs, celebrate with our praises, and

have a devotional on how God teaches us to live our lives according

to His will.

Dont let anyone look down on you because you are young,

but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love,

in faith, and in purity.(1 Timothy 4:12)


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New Life United Methodist Church:Childrens Ministry

New Life UMC is a very family-oriented and child-friendly

congregation. The Childrens Ministry of the church serves those

children who are in fifth grade and younger. The Childrens Ministry

not only serve the needs of the children, but we also have the

children serve the needs of others. Social activities are balanced

with mission activities, such as participating in the Heifer Project

and Operation Christmas Child, making Valentine bookmarks for the

residents in an assisted-living home, and making place mats for the

Ronald McDonald House. The children take fun trips, swimming in

the summer, have pizza and ice cream parties, and recognizes

childrens birthdays as well. There are also times during the year

that the children have choir practices and then sing a song or two

during the worship service.

New Life UMC feels that including children in the worship service

is important. After all, it was Jesus who said, Let the little children

come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven

belongs to such as these. (Matthew 19:14) Each worship service

includes a special Childrens Message a time when the children

can come to the altar and receive a biblical message geared to them.

We also provide crayons and a childrens bulletin of activities for

those that are interested. For the third through fifth graders, we

offer the opportunity to serve God by performing the duties of

acolytes during the Sunday worship services.

Our annual Easter Egg Hunt is always a big hit with the children,

youth, and the adults! Not only do we have the traditional egg hunt,

but also we have clowns, face painting, games, and crafts. All are

welcome to attend, and all are welcome to volunteer and participate.

The educational opportunities for children at New Life UMC are

described in the section titled Christian Education. Please read

that section, as New Life UMC lives by Proverbs 22:6 Train up a

child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not turn

from it.


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New Life United Methodist Church:Preschool Ministry

New Life UMC is excited to offer as one of its ministries for young

children and their families a preschool for ages 2, 3, and 4. In a

loving atmosphere, each child will be respected for his or her

individuality. We are dedicated to the physical, creative, social and

spiritual growth of Gods children. Learning comes to life with

stories, music, books, puppets, painting, crafts, chapel, outdoor play,

and much more.

New Life UMC offers 2-day classes for two-year olds, 3-day classes

for three and four-year olds, and a 5-day pre-kindergarten class.

Class times are 9:30-12:30 on each of the days. There will be,

however, one extended day per week where, for an extra fee, the

children of those parents who choose so may stay at preschool for

another hour and 15 minutes to play and eat lunch.

Jesus said, Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder

them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

(Mark 10:14)

NurseryAt New Life UMC, we welcome people of all ages, including infants

and toddlers. We offer a safe, clean, inviting nursery for our

youngest people during the 11:00 worship service. Each Sunday, two

volunteers from the congregation lovingly look after the children in

the nursery. There is plenty for the children to do with an array of

age-appropriate toys, books, and puzzles. There are also cribs for the

infants who may want to take a snooze. The only thing your child

will be missing is a great message from the pastor!


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New Life United Methodist Church:Sports Ministry

One of the best things about New Life United Methodist Church is

its wonderful, loving family. A great way to get to know that family

while getting some exercise and have fun at the same time, is to

participate in our sports ministry. New Life UMC operates its

ministry through the Southside Churches Recreation Association,

which sponsors leagues in co-ed volleyball, mens basketball, and

co-ed, mens, and womens softball. The volleyball and basketball

leagues run from the late fall through the winter months, while

softball is played from early spring through mid July.

New Life UMC has teams in both co-ed volleyball and co-ed

softball and look to expand into the other sports as the interest

grows...and it is growing! When we began the sports ministry in

1998, at the end of New Lifes first year of existence, there was

enough interest to form two volleyball teams. There were five teams

in the 2001 season!

All of the sports include the youth. We take full advantage of that!

One of the teams in recent volleyball seasons has consisted of all

youth, and they also participate on the softball team. It wont take

you long to discover that at New Life UMC we are truly one big

family that enjoys fellowship in Christs name through the Sports

Ministry. Come and join in.


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New Life United Methodist Church:Evangelism Ministry

To go forth and make disciples for Jesus Christ. This is at the

heart of what New Life UMC Evangelism Ministry strives for and

achieves while reaching out to the community.

Many tools are used to Reach Out and Reveal (ROAR) His love to

the general public tools such as printed collateral or the world

wide web. However, little can reveal His love more easily or directly

than that of a warm greeting and a welcoming smile shared with our

special guest such as you!

Another goal is to educate the congregation about the ongoing

importance of our collective responsibility as a church family for

evangelism to empower the congregation with the courage and the

tools needed for everyone to Reach Out and Reveal (ROAR).


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New Life United Methodist Church:Step by Step Clown Ministry

We are Clowns for Christ. We spread Gods love in a childlike

fashion through regular excursions to hospitals and nursing homes.

You can even find us strolling down the avenue during festivals and

parades expressing the love of Christ to all in a way that only a

clown can.

The Christian skits that are performed help deliver His message

of eternal love. Wether its in a church or out and about in the

community, our goal is to spread the Gospel through our unique

clown performances for the children and adults of all ages to enjoy.


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New Life United Methodist Church:Missions Team

The Missions Team has an exciting and active program at New

Life UMC. Here are just a few programs that Missions involves itself

in to spread the Love of our Father. Each year during the Christmas

season, we sponsor an Angel Tree in association with prison

ministries. CARITAS (Churches Around Richmond Involved To

Assure Shelter) is a week-long program during which time our

church becomes home for the homeless. We have also been very

involved with annual mission trips to Costa Rica. Our work teams

have participated in building churches, hospice, parsonages, and

have been involved with Habitat for Humanity. We have sent mission

teams to Franklin County to join in flood clean up efforts. Children

participate in the Heifer Project each Lenten season. During the fall,

we sponsor a pumpkin patch with the proceeds going to benefit

other missions projects. The New Life UMC Missions Team continues

to contribute in many more ways and are always looking for new

and challenging ways to show Gods love.

No matter the age, skill or talent many mission programs

provide an opportunity for everyone to demonstrate the limitless

bounty of Gods love for us all.


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New Life United Methodist Church:Notes

new life umc - guest booklet

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