Thanksgiving

James Emery White encouraged me when he wrote this in his recent Serious Times email:

Thankful for the Fleas

The barracks where Corrie ten Boom and her sister Betsy were kept in the Nazi concentration camp Ravensbruck were terribly overcrowded and flea-infested.

They had been able to miraculously smuggle a Bible into the camp, and in that Bible they had read that in all things there were to give thanks, and that God can use anything for good.

Corrie’s sister Betsy decided that this meant thanking God for the fleas.

This was too much for Corrie, who said she could do no such thing. Betsy insisted, so Corrie gave in and prayed to God, thanking Him even for the fleas.

Over the next several months a wonderful, but curious, thing happened. They found that the guards never entered their barracks. This meant that women were not assaulted. It also meant that they were able to do the unthinkable, which was to hold open Bible studies and prayer meetings in the heart of a Nazi concentration camp.

Through this, countless numbers of women came to faith in Christ.

Only at the end did they discover why the guards had left them alone and would not enter into their barracks.

It was because of the fleas.

This Thanksgiving, give thanks to God for every good and perfect gift (James 1:17), but also thank Him for how He will use all things for good in the lives of those who trust Him (Romans 8:28).

In this time of falling stock prices and rising unemployment; in a time when many are facing physical and emotional challenges; there can be little doubt that such a trusting prayer of gratitude will be challenging to offer.

But then take a moment, and remember the fleas of Ravensbruck.

And thank God anyway.

James Emery White

Bridges to Change Thanksgiving Dinner

Saturday night the church basement was overflowing with helpers, ladies donating salad and potatoes, cooks, cleanup crew and about 65-70 people from our Bridges to Change neighbors. It was another blessing for each of us to take part in sharing God's love with these neighbors of ours. Thanks to all of the volunteers: Dianne, Froode, Kathy Fuentes, Cindy Sollers, Darlene Hartley, Cathy Grant, Cindy and Jeff Wright, Nancy Cowan, Mark and Bonnie Hannifan, Rosemary Stark and a great group from the high school youth group.

Thanksgiving Basket Delivery

Thanks to all the generous giving from the church body, we were able to fill and deliver 35 boxes of food , including a turkey, milk and potatoes to families from our church and our neighborhood. This is the most we have ever done and it couldn't have happened without the labor of love of lots of volunteers. The high school youth group and their leaders helped to unload the storage room and sort all of the donated food onto tables, then Elenora Larson, Dawn Curry and Elaine O'Toole helped to fill the boxes and get them ready for delivery. Saturday morning we had lots of volunteer drivers to deliver those boxes: Don and Corrine Cyrus, Al Stapleton, Kathy Fuentes, Cindy Sollers, Cindy and Jeff Wright, Larry Richardson, Sandi and Jay Bettinisky , Cris Austen and Brenda Lauterbach. A special thanks to Holly Fullon who did lots of phone calling as well as special delivery. It was a wonderful, rewarding outreach and we were all blessed to be a part of it.

Gratitude from Oregon City

New Life Men Serve Oregon City!

Last week Mark Hannifan asked a couple of the men from New Life Oregon City to Men's Leadership planning meeting. They told him they couldn't because of the work that had to do at the church. Mark invited several men from New Life who called others to join them for a work day. Yesterday morning, Saturday, November 15, eight men showed up. Here are their names: Mark Hannifan, Tim Smith, Tim O'Gara, Darin Hagey, Billy Ferguson, Matt Cummins, Lee Bennett, and Derrick Elkins. The men put on siding on one of the class rooms.

Thanks Guys!

Why the “Beautiful Things” are Most Dangerous

I’m about halfway through Shane Clairborne & Chris Haw’s ironically titled Jesus for President: Politics for Ordinary Radicals. It’s a pretty fast read, thanks especially to the book’s relentless graphic design (check the web-site out, you'll see what I mean). The book isn’t without its share of controversy (just Google the title and read the blogs), but the following quote really struck me.

It’s the beautiful things that get us. Perhaps the greatest seduction is not the ANTI-GOD, but the ALMOST*GOD. Poisonous fruit can look pretty tasty. That’s what is so dangerous about ideas like FREEDOM, PEACE AND JUSTICE. They are all seductive qualities, close to the heart of God. After all, it’s the beautiful things we kill and die for. And it’s the beautiful we market, exploit, brand and counterfeit.

WE FIND OURSELVES POSSESSED BY OUR POSSESSIONS . . .

and enslaved by the pursuit of freedom. Nations fighting for peace end up perpetuating the very violence they seek to destroy. Serpents are slippery and slimy things.

MOST of the ugliness in the human narrative comes from a distorted quest to possess beauty. COVETING begins with appreciating blessing. MURDER begins with a hunger for justice. LUST begins with a recognition of beauty. GLUTTONY begins when our enjoyment of the delectable gifts of GOD starts to consume us. IDOLATRY begins when our seeing a reflection of God in something beautiful leads to our thinking that the beautiful image bearer is worthy of WORSHIP (pg. 26).

Thank You from Olga!

Dear New Life Church:

Thank you so much for the flowers. It truely brightened my spirits. I know there are a lot of people supporting me and praying for me, and I want to thank each and every one of you so much! I cannot thank you enough. May God bless each and every one of you. Thanks so much for all of your care and love for me. Sincerely, Olga Koran

Current Events Discussion Group - November

“Separation of Church and State”
November 20th @ 7:00pm, Riverfalls Campus

Mission Statement:

The Current Events Discussion Group (CEDG) exists to explore and evaluate contemporary social, political and cultural issues so that each member may discern and apply their personal faith convictions within their daily lives.

The opinions and views expressed at the CEDG reflect those of the person who gave them and not New Life Church.

The CEDG will be meeting will be the third Thursday of the month at least for November and December to avoid the holidays.

Discussion Questions:

1. How did the concept of “separation of church and state” evolve in America and why?
2. Does “separation” demand that governing officials ignore their religious convictions to make decisions affecting public policy (i.e., how secular must/can a secular state be)?
3. How does the current level of “separation” degrade or benefit Christian/religious goals? Does this warrant a change in current practices?
4. Is the gospel a spiritual message, a political message or both? How should this understanding shape the way Christians (and/or the church) interact with the state?

Contact Information:

For more information on CEDG procedures and for an Information Packet addressing this month’s topic contact Tiffani Howard: 503.223.6357 or tiffani@howardink.com

Required Preparation

1. Scripture Reading: Romans 13:1-7 and Mark 12:13-17
2. Read the following articles:
   America’s Two Foundings by Mark Noll
   Separation of Church and State in the United States by Wikipedia
3. Pick and answer one of the Discussion Questions from the list above. Be prepared to give a 4-5 minute defense/presentation of your answer (i.e., less than one page written).
4. Consult at least two additional media sources dealing with the question you've chosen. These sources must reflect two varying/opposing answers to the question and they must be from reputable, evangelical sources.
5. If you do not complete the required preparation before the CEDG meeting then you may only participate in the discussion/questioning portion of the meeting.

Upcoming Monthly Topics:

Creation Meets Evolution • Is America a “Christian Nation”? • Evangelical Environmentalism • Christianity and the Israeli State • Old Testament Wars vs. Modern Wars

Biblical Training

Interested in making a significant investment in Biblical Training, but don't want to pick up and go back to school? Here is a resource that will give you an in-depth start to a Biblical education. And, best of all, it's online and free! The developer of this site is a part-time faculty member at Western Seminary and received and honorary doctorate from them last year.Enjoy!

Life in OC!

This Sunday, with great delight, I will return to the pulpit of New Life Church Riverfalls. I have been so pleased with the ministry Aaron Orendorff has had among you.

Here is a brief account of what is happening in Oregon City these past three or four months:

• October 26th both churches, Maranatha Baptist Church and Light on the Hill Fellowship voted overwhelmingly to merge.
  
• For a year, a transitional period, they have surrendered their autonomy to CB Northwest. That means CB Northwest will be responsible for leadership decisions for the year.
• During that year, New Life Church will be providing guidance, preaching, pastoring and leadership for the Oregon City congregation. We, as representatives of CB Northwest, will be providing transitional interim leadership.
  
• They will be called New Life Church Oregon City for this transitional period. After that they may decide to change it.
  
• November 2nd was their first joint worship service.
• November 9th will be Aaron's first Sunday preaching there and my first Sunday back at New Life Riverfalls.
  
• November 16th will be their first day in a new building, Lord willing.

Thank you for your prayers. Please don't stop. They are doing very well.

Prayer is Answering Speech

As the 40 Days of ExtraOrdinary Prayer concludes this coming week, here's a brief meditation on prayer from a book I've just begun reading.

Eugene Peterson, Working the Angles

We want life on our conditions, not on God’s conditions. Praying puts us at risk of getting involved in God’s conditions. Be slow to pray. Praying most often doesn’t get us what we want but what God wants, something quite at variance with what we conceive to be in our best interests. And when we realize what is going on, it is often too late to go back. Be slow to pray (44).

. . . prayer is never the first word; it is always the second word. God has the primary word. Prayer is answering speech; it is not primarily “address” but “response.” . . . Prayer is answering speech. The first word is God’s word. Prayer is a human word and is never the first word, never the primary word, never the initiating and shaping word simply because we are never first, never primary (45-47).

Time Change Sunday- Nov. 2nd

Hello New Life Church,

Don't forget to set your clocks back one hour before you go to bed on Saturday night. It wouldn't be the end of the world to show up to church an hour early, but hey, why miss out on that extra hour of sleep... or private prayer. : )

See ya Sunday,

Pastor Nathan

Week 5 - “Missions & Evangelism”

Individual & Small Group Instructions

This week we’ll be focusing on Parts 4 & 5 of the Prayer Resource Book, “Missions” & “Evangelism” (pg. 35-39). Begin each prayer by approaching God through one of the five prayers in Part 1, “Opening.” In addition to your regular requests, pray each day for the assigned missionary/missionaries as outlined below. For a more detailed list of prayer requests from each missionary check out the New Life Blog. Close your prayer by reading through both the Missions (pg. 36) and Evangelism (pg. 39) sample prayers. You may also like to pray for lost individuals you know by using the prayer from Part 9, “The Unconverted” (pg. 46).

New Life Missionaries

Day 1 (26th) — Paul and Diana Mayhugh (South Asia), Brian and Lavonne Buhler (South Asia)
Day 2 (27th) — Dave and Sherrie Henderson (Portland and Central Asia)
Day 3 (28th) — Skip and Ruth Sorenson (Uganda), Audrey Sorenson (Rwanda)Day 4 (29th) — Rich and Cheri Staham (Ukraine)
Day 5 (30th) — Dan and Alice Simmons (Italy), Bruce Tissell (Brazil)
Day 6 (31st) — Carmen Bryant (Portland State University), Paul and Beryle Metko (Scappoose, OR)
Day 7 (1st) — Rick and Mary Beth Holladay (Germany)

Small Group Participation

As a group, adopt a missionary from the list above to pray for every week for the rest of 2008. For more information on how to pray week to week for the missionary you choose, contact Pastor Nathan, 503.699.1779. You can also get regular updates from the field via e-mail or personally reach out to a missionary and their family through letters, gifts and support.

Thank You, Julia!

Thursday, October 23, is the last work day for Julia McBride in the church office. She has been a gift from the Lord. Julia’s smile, energy and enthusiasm will be greatly missed.

She is leaving work for a better job! She's expecting a baby boy in the middle of November and will be home with him and Lilly. You can always catch up with her and Tod and the kids at church.

If you are in the area of the church Thursday morning, please drop by to share a scone and a box of juice with Julia and wish her well.

Week 4 - “The Church (Part 2)”

Using the Prayer Resource Book
This week we’re again focusing on Part 3 of the Prayer Resource Book, “The Church” (pg. 18-34). Last week we went for breadth—praying for all the areas of our church’s need. This week we’ll be aiming at depth. Pick three categories from the Prayer Resource Book to focus on in your prayer time. Each day, work through the following steps:

1. Read all the Scriptural texts that to correspond the area you’ve chosen.
2. Pick 1-2 verses and look them up in at least two other translations.
3. Ask yourself:
   What is the theme (or the “big idea”) of this verse?
   How does this verse apply to my prayer life (i.e., how should it change how I pray or what I pray for)?
   How does this verse apply to how I relate to the church personally (i.e., is it asking me to forgive, to serve, to confess, to give, etc.)?
4. Choose one verse from among the verses you’ve studied and write out how you can pray that verse in a simple and concise way.
5. Pray that prayer at least 5 times throughout the day. For example: morning, lunch, afternoon break, before dinner and right before bed. To help remember, set an alarm or write yourself a note.

New Resources Available
There are a number of new resources available in the Riverfalls campus foyer to help you, your family and especially your children during these 40 Days.

Small Group Participation
Bring the prayers you’ve written so far this week to group and share how praying throughout the day has been different from praying all at once. Has it been easier or harder? Has breaking throughout the day to pray helped you focus on God? Which way suits you better

Women's Missionary Fellowship

Hello Women of New Life!

Tonight (Monday) at 7:00 PM you have the opportunity to meet and hear from an extraordinary woman of faith who has been used of God in many ways throughout the world. Carmen Bryant currently serves as a missionary in the Portland area working with international students, and in the past she and her husband Don served overseas in Indonesia and the Philippines. Come hear about her exciting journey of faith in the past and get updated on the work she is doing now.

You will also have an opportunity to serve the mission field in a practical way. Carol Carlson has coordinated with Brad Titus to help do some hands-on projects to help the Guatemala Short Term Mission team that is going out from New Life Church in February.

Don't miss it!

Pastor Nathan for the New Life Church Global Outreach Team

24 Hours of ExtraOrdinary Prayer

Tomorrow at 9:00 am the 24 Hours of ExtraOrdinary Prayer begins. As a reminder, the event has been moved off-site, which means that the time you signed up for still stands but instead of coming to the church, pray at home or with your small group.

Follow this link for a .pdf of the instructions for both individuals and small groups.

If you have any questions, e-mail me at aaron.orendorff@gmail.com.

Ephesians 3:16-21

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Baby Shower This Saturday for Julia McBride

Our Church Secretary, Julia McBride will be having a baby boy in mid-November! Ladies, please come celebrate with us this Saturday, October 18th, 2:00 pm at our Riverfalls building. This will be such a fun time to fellowship together and prepare to welcome Baby Boy McBride! If you have any questions please call Lori Elliott at 503-650-5070.

Global Outreach Sunday- October 26th

Global Outreach Sunday is coming soon! Skip and Ruth Sorenson, Paul and Diana Mayhugh, and Dave Henderson (not pictured for security purposes) will be joining us at New Life Church for a day focused on Global Outreach. The schedule is as follows:

9:00 AM Mayhugh Testimony at Riverfalls
9:30 AM Sorenson Testimony at Robinwood
10:45 AM Dave Henderson Testimony at Riverfalls

12:30 PM Meet a Missionary Lunches *

6:00 PM Global Outreach Service at Robinwood **

* You can still sign up for a meet a missionary lunch. Simply post a comment on this blog or call Pastor Nathan.

** The Global Outreach Service will include time for each of the missionaries to share, Q and A, prayer, and musical worship.

Current Events Discussion Group - October

“How do you pick a presidential candidate?”
October 23rd @ 7:00pm, Riverfalls Campus

Mission Statement:

The Current Events Discussion Group (CEDG) exists to explore and evaluate contemporary social, political and cultural issues so that each member may discern and apply their personal faith convictions within their daily lives.

The opinions and views expressed at the CEDG reflect those of the of the person who gave them and not New Life Church.

The CEDG will be meeting the fourth Thursday of every month.

Discussion Questions:

1. What social and political issues are relevant to choosing a candidate?
2. Does one issue carry more weight than others? Why?
3. What can we learn from Jesus and Paul’s interactions with political power?
4. How should a candidate’s moral and religious commitments effect your vote?

Contact Information:

For more information on CEDG procedures and for a required Information Packet addressing this month’s topic contact Tiffani Howard: 503.223.6357 or tiffani@howardink.com

Required Preparation

1. Scripture Reading: Romans 13:1-7, 1 Timothy 2:1-4 & Deuteronomy 17:14-20
   
2. Read the following articles:
   How to Pick a President by Daniel Taylor & Mark McCloskey
   In the Booth, Not of the Booth by Adam Smith
3. Pick and answer one of the Discussion Questions from the list above. Be prepared to give a 4-5 minute defense/presentation of your answer (i.e., less than one page written).
4. Consult at least two additional media sources dealing with the question you've chosen. These sources must reflect two varying/opposing answers to the question and they must be from reputable, evangelical sources.
5. If you do not complete the required preparation before the CEDG meeting then you may only participate in the discussion/questioning portion of the meeting.
   

Upcoming Monthly Topics:

Church and State • Creation Meets Evolution • Is American a “Christian Nation”? • Evangelical Environmentalism • Christianity and the Israeli State • Old Testament Wars vs. Modern Wars

Week 3 - “The Church” (Part 1)

Using the Prayer Resource Book:
This week and next we will be focusing on Part 3 of the Prayer Resource Book, “The Church” (pg. 18-34). Despite it’s emphasis in the NT (as the prayers this week display), the church often receives no more than a passing, “God, please bless . . .” in our regular prayer lives. Each day we will concentrate on a different area of prayer for the church using the following schedule:

Day 1 (12th) — “The Spiritual Life of the Body” (pg. 18-21)
Day 2 (13th) — “The Pastor(s)” & “The Elders” (pg. 22-25)
Day 3 (14th) — “The Ministry of the Word” (pg. 26-28)
Day 4 (15th) — “Worship” (pg. 29-30)
Day 5 (16th) — “Financial Need and Stewardship” (pg. 31-32)
Day 6 (17th) — “Small Group Community” (pg. 33-34)
Day 7 (18th) — “Worship” & “The Ministry of the Word”

Prayer Appointment Cards
If you haven’t yet engaged in the 40 Days or it you’re having trouble sustaining your goals, then the Prayer Appointment Card is for you. The cards were included in last week's worship folder, but you can also pick them up at either location. Simply record the “Where, When and What” of your prayer life on the card and treat it just like you would a regular appointment: block off the time in your calendar, put the card somewhere memorable and show-up.

24-Hours of ExtraOrdinary Corporate Prayer
From 9:00am Saturday the 18th to 9:00am Sunday the 19th we will be joining together (4-5 people per hour) for a full 24 hours of prayer. Stop by the table in the foyer or contact Aaron Orendorff, 503.957.4335/aaron.orendorff@gmail.com.

Small Group Participation
Using the Collected Scriptures from the “Small Group Community” pages (33-34), write out two or three prayers that you can use for both your personal group and for the small group ministry across New Life.

Remodel is Underway!

The remodel at New Life Riverfalls that we have been talking about for a couple months is officially underway. The church voted overwhelmingly in favor of changing the library and upper fireside rooms into a coffee bar and living room for the church. We also approved an exterior project to update the entrance. Once the interior project, which is the project we began talking about, is underway and fully funded the exterior project can begin once the money for it comes in.

This remodel will have a big impact on our Coffee Cart ministry and will be used every school day as well as Sundays. It will also make the first impression of the church much more attractive.

The work will commence around October 20 and we hope to have it ready of Christmas. Please continue to pray for the project. You may donate by simply marking your giving envelope, "Building Fund." Thank you.

Week 2 - “What Is Prayer”

Using the Prayer Resource Book:
This week begin each prayer by reading one or more of “The Prayers of Paul” from Part 2 of the Prayer Resource Book (pg. 12-13). The aim of this exercise is to “learn what to pray for, what arguments to use, what priorities we should adopt, what beliefs should shape our prayers and much more.” Read through each prayer 5 or 6 times. Read slowly, concentrating on each word and phrase and paying attention to how they connect and build. Try comparing different versions of each prayer by reading from various translations.

Reflection:
After you’re familiar with the prayer, ask yourself the following questions:

1. What is Paul praying for (spiritual vitality, practical needs, deliverance, etc.)?
2. What is the pattern of this prayer (thanksgiving, petition, exhortation, etc.)?
3. What is Paul’s chief concern? What does he pray for most?
4. How is Paul structuring or building this prayer (i.e., look for words like “so,” “therefore” or “in order to”)?
5. How is Paul’s faith (that is, his theology) shaping his prayer? What do his prayers tell us about God?

Prayer:
Use one or more of Paul’s prayers as your own. Change the wording to reflect your needs and situation, but try to let Paul’s prayer shape your prayer. On the reverse side of this page is a sample of what this might look like.

Small Group Participation:
Bring a modified version of one Paul’s prayers to your small group and explain how you answered the reflection questions for at least one text. Also, if you haven’t shared your assessment and goals yet, do it this week.

New Ignite Website

Ignite Youth Ministries, the high school ministry of New Life Church is pleased to announce the first phase of our new website. It is full of information and resources for both parents and students. Click here to see. We hope you take a moment to check out the site and tell somebody else about it. Enjoy!

Week 1 - Individual Instructions

This Sunday marked the beginning of New Life's 40 Days of ExtraOrdinary Prayer. Each week there will be instructions (some for individuals, some for small groups) to help guide you through this process. This week the focus is on "Approaching God."

(1) Assessment
Take an honest look at your current prayer life by recording the answers to the following questions:

1. How many days each week do you pray?
2. On average, how long do you prayer (if you’re not sure, time it)?
3. What do you regularly pray for (e.g., family, finical needs, health issues, etc.)?
4. Who do you pray with on a regular basis?
5. How do you keep track of “prayer requests”?

(2) Goals
The aim of the 40 Days of ExtraOrdinary prayer is simply to pray more. If you don’t have regular time of prayer already, then aiming to pray for 5-10 minutes every other day is a great improvement. If you already pray for 5-10 on a daily basis, then try to increase your prayer time by another 5-10 minutes. Whatever they are set realistic goals that reflect where you are now and where you want to be in the future.

1. How many days a week will you pray?
2. What days of the week work best?
3. When will you pray? Remember, to be specific (e.g., “at 9:00 pm” or “immediately after dinner” not “sometime at night”). Be realistic and set times that work naturally. For example, “When the kids nap,” or “For the last 10 minutes of my lunch break.”
4. Where will you pray (outside, in your office, in your bedroom)? Try to pick somewhere you won’t be disturbed and let the people around you know what you’re doing and why it’s important.
5. How long will you pray?
6. How will you keep track of your prayer life (calendar, personal planner, etc.)?

(3) Accountability
If you’re not part a small group where you can share your assessment and goals (or if you don’t feel comfortable sharing them) then pick a close friend or mentor to share with. Don’t go it alone and if it’s at all possible pick someone who’s not in your family. Remember, it’s easy to share when you succeed; it’s when you fail that being honest really counts. Be gracious but firm to yourself and to your accountability partner(s).

(4) Using the Prayer Resource Book
This week, begin each prayer by reading part or all of the “Approaching God” section in the Prayer Resource Book (pg. 6-11). If you haven’t picked-up a Prayer Resource Book, they’re available at either campus for free. As you begin to pray, don’t immediately bring out your grocery-list of needs. Instead, approach God slowly, reminding yourself who He is, who you are and what He’s done through the gospel to reconcile those two realities. Focus on relating to God as a Person. Aim at communion and interaction, not just asking. The best way to do this is to pray God’s words as your own words, letting Scripture shape and guide your time with God.

Please Welcome Children's Librarian, Lisa Reavely!

We are excited to have special help these days in our downstairs Children's Library at Riverfalls. Lisa Reavely is our new Children's Librarian, assisting our Church Librarian Joeleen Montgomery in a variety of important ways. Thank you Lisa for your valuable assistance! If you are a bibliophile too, pint-sized or full-sized, we'd love to have your assistance in our libraries! Please contact Joeleen Montgomery for further information.

New book suggestions, courtesy of our Children's Librarian:

On Video or DVD:
VeggieTales: Jonah (Sing Along Songs and More) video
Larryboy from VeggieTales: The Angry Eyebrows (video)
VeggieTales: Jonah, A VeggieTales Movie (video)
VeggieTales: King George and the Ducky (video )
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion,The Witch, & The Wardrobe (DVD)

Books:
VeggieTales: My Day (book and CD)
VeggieTales: Larry Lights The Way (book)

Bible: Noah's Ark Bible: NRSV Illustrated Children's Bible

New Books Available for Check Out Upstairs

Many of our library books are boxed up, awaiting our upcoming remodel project that will be taking place at our Riverfalls building this fall. But will that stop our indomitable Church Librarian Joeleen Montgomery from keeping us well-read?! Of course not! The following titles are available in the library for check out:

Main Library:
Max Lucado: Come Thirsty (248.4)
Carol Kent : Tame Your Fears (248.8) + study guide
Nancy Leigh DeMoss: A Place of Quiet Rest (248.8)
Max Lucado: GOD'S Promises for YOU (242)
Helen M. Young: Love Notes from God for Busy Moms

An idea for our remodel!

Other churches are using their space like we are planning to after we remodel our Riverfalls campus. Here is an article about creating a Starbucks alternative ministry. Anyone interested?

Avast, Me Hearties! Talk Like a Pirate Day!

With all the serious things you'll find on this blog. . . it's probably time to relax. So, Talk Like A Pirate! At least for a day. September 19 is official Talk Like A Pirate Day. Here's the official site to get you started! Aye-Aye!

40 Days of Prayer

Starting in less than two weeks (September 28th) New Life Church (in tandem with both Oregon City churches) will embark on a process we’re calling “40 Days of ExtraOrdinary Prayer.” This is the second time our church will give itself to a forty day period of intense private and corporate prayer (many of you probably recognize the same name from 2006). The highlights of this process will include:

• Weekly Prayer Focuses for Individuals and Small Groups
• 24-Hour Period of Corporate Prayer
• A Culminating Event of Prayer and Worship to Close the 40 Days on November 6th
• Prayer Resource Book to Help Aid You and Your Group in Its Prayers

Here is a preview of what the covers for the Prayer Resource Book will look like (a special thanks to Andie Haugen for her design work).




More to come soon.