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