Dear New Life Family,

This is the 13^th update we have given since the Covid-19 pandemic began.  Our effort is to keep everyone connected and informed about what’s going on at New Life Church during these unusual times.

Worship Services

We are all so anxious to get back to in-person gatherings and we have taken some steps to do so.   We are expanding worship opportunities to Sunday evenings.  Now, twice a month we will host an outdoor in-person gathering for worship, prayer and some devotionals, called Abide.  These will be held rain or shine.  We are still limited to gatherings of 50 people, so register early online.  The next Abide will be held Sunday evening, May 16 at 7:00pm and registration for this event will open on Friday May 7 in the Encourager. In the meantime, we continue to do pre-recorded services for our regular “Sunday morning” worship services, accessible from our website or our other social media platforms.

Serve 2021

Throughout the month of May we are extending the opportunity to serve your community by helping with garbage clean up on the streets of your neighbourhood.  Details for participating are on our website under the EVENTS tab.  It starts with an email to Pastor Mike to let him know what area you will be covering.  Not only will you be given equipment for garbage collection (pick-sticks, vests, bags, etc) but also you will be covering your neighbourhood with prayer.  Suggested prayers will be on the New Life Prayer Wall in the New Life App.  As we continue our outward focus for serving we’re celebrating the success of our food drive during the month of April.  Thank you for blessing the Abbotsford Food Bank, Joshua House, and Life Recovery with your donations.

Postponed NL LIVE

The Board of Elders has postponed our next New Life LIVE to September 25, 2021, normally scheduled for early June.  This will allow us to gain a better picture on expenses and future financial needs as we pull out of (hopefully) this pandemic.  We are confident that God has wonderful opportunities and exciting ministry prepared for us as we step forward and persevere for the sake of the gospel and God’s kingdom.

Facility Upgrade Project

Upgrades to the New Life auditorium are really looking good, with new stage lighting, a new projection system, and a fresh coat of paint throughout.  The next big pieces of the project are new acoustic panels and new lighting for the auditorium. Our existing lighting system has reached the end of it’s life span.   Following that, we’re hoping to address auditorium flooring needs and some bathroom improvements.  There is a Facility Upgrade Fund to which you can make donations to help alleviate some of the costs of this project.  Just follow your usual method of giving and make sure the designation is made for this special fund.

Congregational Care

We have a wonderful and generous group of women who are a part of our meals ministry, and this Spring we’ve been able to help out and bless four different families from our church community going through challenges such as grief/loss, and recovery from surgery/injury.  Praise the Lord!  If you are interested in helping out with providing meals, contact the coordinator, Rachel Vandenberg (rachelvandenberg3@gmail.com).

Thank you for your on-going support of New Life ministries and for the encouragement you give to one another throughout this trying time.  Let’s continue to be patient and faithful, confident that even in difficulty God is at work.  “. . .run with perseverance the race marked out for us. . . (Hebrews 12:1).”

Dear New Life Family, 

We celebrate the risen Christ with you this week.   This Friday is Good Friday and once again we have joined together with other Christian Reformed churches in Abbotsford and Mission to compile a joint online service to commemorate the great sacrifice of our Saviour.  You will be able to view that video on Friday morning.   

On Easter Sunday we will have a very special online service that we are excited to present to you.  At the same time, we are sad this will be our second Easter apart.  We had so hoped that this year it would be something more.  Our staff team was making exciting plans to host in person worship services on Easter and the weeks to come.  Then this past Monday we heard the difficult news that health officials reversed their initial allowance for indoor worship events.   We were so terribly disappointed of the news.  For Easter, we had planned three consecutive times to meet together in groups of fifty and other special ways to make the Easter service a celebration together.  Despite our disappointment, however, we stay the course and continue to be diligent while we are in the pandemic.   

We are also suspending youth and young adult ministries based on health official recommendations.  We had been continuing these programs with in-person gatherings, and will re-evaluate for the week of April 12.  Our priorities at New Life during this pandemic have been to do ministry safely and sustainably.  At this time, when Covid cases have surged, especially in the age-range of young adults, we want to be extra careful.   The health of our ministry volunteers, participants, and all our members are an important concern.  

In the midst of these set-backs, the New Life auditorium is undergoing some improvements and we can’t wait to show it off.  Right now, we are focusing on the stage area, with a new projection system that will be larger and clearer.  Work has also begun to replace sound panels throughout the auditorium and give it all a fresh coat of paint.  The next major piece of the project will be a new lighting system for the auditorium.  A loan of $170,000 has been approved by the congregation at the last New Life LIVE meeting.  To contribute money for these improvements, we will be promoting donations to reduce the loan amount.  Watch for an up-coming fund-raising campaign.   

Thank you for your support and encouragement throughout this time.  It is trying for all of us.  You are in our prayers.  If there is anything we can help you with please don’t hesitate to call the church office or a pastor.  Please keep staff and ministry volunteers in your prayers as we continue to adjust and adapt ministry to different conditions.  We remain filled with hope in our resurrected Saviour, and anticipate that God is at work through all of our circumstances.  To him be all glory.   

Blessings, 

Pastor Nathan and Pastor Mike