SAM-I-Am

At February’s 1st Thursday Connect, we enjoyed greens, eggs, and ham in honor of our theme “SAM-I-Am.” Shirley Pearson taught from Ecclesiastes 12, and we were reminded to “remember our Creator” in the days of our youth before the days of old age come and the fleeting pleasures of this world are no more.

After the teaching from Ecclesiastes, we learned about S.A.M. (Senior Adult Ministries) at New Life Church and got to know some of New Life Women’s most elderly ladies. Seven of our women who are 85 and older were interviewed ahead of time, and their answers were shared at 1st Thursday. We heard from Patty Meyerdierk, Shirley Hanson, Joan Meyers, Dianne Arneson, Nancy Ross, Nancy Carlson, and Alma Coston. What a special time to hear them share of walking with Jesus since they were young and encourage us to truly remember our Creator in the days of our youth.

“Either you’re going to trust, or you’re going to worry.” “Be a love-er, not a judge-er.” “Every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before.” These are a few of the gems shared by these saints. If you would like to hear their interviews, you can find them on the video from 1st Thursday at minute 32. If you would like to read what they shared, you can access the file here. Thank you, Patty, Shirley, Joan, Dianne, Nancy, Nancy, and Alma for encouraging us.

1st Thursday Connect

1st Thursday Connect, our monthly women’s gathering, is April 3. The theme is SWAP, so please bring a few good books, magazines, or puzzles that you are ready to get rid of and swap for something else. Join us on April 3 for dinner, connection with friends, teaching from 2 Chronicles, and fun!

• April 3, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

• Dinner is provided

• New Life Church West Linn, downstairs

• Please RSVP for April’s 1st Thursday Connect at newlifenw.com/westlinn/women.

We have been reading 2 Chronicles in March, and we will be reading Daniel in April. Come to 1st Thursday to receive a personal reading plan and Side by Side Bible reading questions to use with a friend throughout the month. Reading plans can also be found online and in the church lobby.

Ask someone older or younger, a neighbor, a co-worker, someone you’d like to get to know, or a good friend to partner with you in reading God’s word Side by Side this month. You set the time and place. Or, join a group that meets Sunday mornings in the lower fireside room with Amy Crooks at 10:45. No preparation is necessary; come whenever you can.

You don’t need to be participating in the monthly Bible reading to join us at 1st Thursday Connect. All are welcome, and each month stands alone, so if you miss one, join us next time!

Books

April’s suggested reading on the theme of “Enjoying God” is Rejoicing in Christ by Michael Reeves.

Opportunities

Love INC, a local ministry to people in need, is hoping to restock their shelves with needed products. If you are able, would you consider purchasing some of these items: hand soap, window cleaner, bleach, toilet bowl cleaner, Bibles, feminine products, Q-tips, hair spray, body wash? Items can be brought to New Life Church West Linn and put in a marked bin in the foyer anytime between now and April 19. Thank you for your help!

Women’s Camp at Tadmor is July 25-27! Join other women from across the northwest for a weekend just for women at Camp Tadmor. Taylor Turkington of Portland will be speaking from the book of Habakkuk. Enjoy plenty of time for painting, crafts, swimming, worship, fun, and friendships. Come with a group of friends or make friends when you get there. Either way, you will find women’s camp to be a time of spiritual refreshment as you get away to connect with God through His Word, His creation, and friendships with other women. Registration is now open!

Would you like to know more about serving on the Women’s Ministry leadership team? We are forming the team for the 2025-2026 school year and would love to talk with you about how you might get involved. Contact Marcia Reavely for more information.

Links

Below are links to articles, books, podcasts, and music that might be of interest or help on various topics. Resources are curated but may not always reflect the views of New Life Church. Enjoy!

• Daniel: The Most High Rules the Kingdoms of Men—@ Knowable Word.

• Not Just For Kids: Daniel’s Place in the Bible’s Story—@ TGC.

• Daniel for You: For Reading, for Feeding, for Leading—a commentary by David Helm.

• Exalting Jesus in Daniel—another commentary.

• Prophets—@ Spotify, a playlist to accompany our reading this month.

• Sovereign Over Us—a song to accompany Daniel, all of the Bible really.

• Three Key Principles of Biblical Interpretation—@ Stand to Reason.

1st Thursday Connect

1st Thursday Connect, our monthly women’s gathering, is March 6. Do you like Green Eggs and Ham? Our theme this month is SAM-I-Am. Join us on March 6 for some fun with this theme and teaching from Ecclesiastes!

• March 6, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

• Dinner is provided

• New Life Church West Linn, downstairs

• Please RSVP for March’s 1st Thursday Connect at newlifenw.com/westlinn/women.

We have been reading Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon in February, and we will be reading 2 Chronicles in March. Come to 1st Thursday to receive a personal reading plan and Side by Side Bible reading questions to use with a friend throughout the month. Reading plans can also be found online and in the church lobby.

Ask someone older or younger, a neighbor, a co-worker, someone new to church, anyone you like to partner with you in reading God’s word Side by Side this month. You set the time and place. Or, join a group that meets Sunday mornings in the lower fireside room with Amy Crooks at 10:45. No preparation is necessary; come whenever you can.

You don’t need to be participating in the monthly Bible reading to join us at 1st Thursday Connect. All are welcome, and each month stands alone, so if you miss one, join us next time!

Books

March’s suggested reading on the theme of “Enjoying God” is Dynamics of Spiriual Life, by Richard Lovelace.

Links

Below are links to articles, books, podcasts, and music that might be of interest or help on various topics. Resources are curated but may not always reflect the views of New Life Church. Enjoy!

• Why 2 Chronicles is the Most Underrated Book in the Bible—@ The Gospel Coalition.

• Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Chronicles—by Dr. Adam B. Dooley.

• Kings & Chronicles & Samuel—@ Spotify, a playlist to accompany our reading this month.

• Faithfulness in an Inside-Out World—a good read @ Mere Orthodoxy that coordinates well with Ecclesiastes.

• The Sacred Mundane: How God can Establish even the Menial Work of our Hands for Eternity—by Vanessa Doughty @ Fields and Valleys.

• Just Do Nothing, and You’ll Ruin Everything—an encouragement to search for wisdom @ Knowable Word.

• Psalm 119, Vol. 1—a beautiful EP by Stillcreek to follow the teaching on Psalm 119 from February.

• How to Read the Bible Like Jesus—@ Already Not Yet.

• 5 Ways to Be Kind to Someone with Whom You Disagree—by Gavin Ortlund.

1st Thursday Connect

1st Thursday Connect, our monthly women’s gathering, is February 6. The theme is “That’s Amore!” You can expect a yummy Italian dinner, some fun “Love” activities, and teaching from Psalms.

• February 6, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

• Dinner is provided

• New Life Church West Linn, downstairs

• Please RSVP for February’s 1st Thursday Connect at newlifenw.com/westlinn/women.

We have been reading Psalms 95-150 in January, and we will read Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon in February. Come to 1st Thursday to receive a personal reading plan and Side by Side Bible reading questions to use with a friend throughout the month. Reading plans can also be found online and in the church lobby.

Ask someone older or younger, a neighbor, a co-worker, someone new to church, anyone you like to partner with you in reading God’s word Side by Side this month. You set the time and place. Or, join a group that meets Sunday mornings in the lower fireside room with Amy Crooks at 10:45. No preparation is necessary; come whenever you can.

You don’t need to be participating in the monthly Bible reading to join us at 1st Thursday Connect. All are welcome, and each month stands alone, so if you miss one, join us next time!

Books

February’s suggested reading on the theme of “Enjoying God” is Trusting God, by Jerry Bridges.

Links

Below are links to articles, books, podcasts, and music that might be of interest or help on various topics. Resources are curated but may not always reflect the views of New Life Church. Enjoy!

• Ecclesiastes: The Fear of God Gives Joy Amid Frustration—@ Knowable Word.

• Why Our Secular Age Needs Ecclesiastes—@ Open the Bible.

• Song of Songs: The Intoxification of True Love in its Time—@ Knowable Word.

• Exalting Jesus in Ecclesiastes—a commentary.

• Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon—@ Spotify, a playlist to accompany our reading this month.

• Mothering Against Futility: Balancing Meaning and Mundanity in the Fear of the Lord—a new book by Simona Gorton.

• How to have wide joy—by Kari Patterson, an article with much wisdom.

• Love Your (Actual) Neighbor—@ Mere Orthodoxy, a beautiful and worthwhile read.

1st Thursday Connect

1st Thursday Connect meets for the first time in 2025 right away on January 2! The theme is “Chill Out,” and you don’t even need to get out of your comfy clothes to come. Pull on cozy sweat pants and join us for a chili bar, teaching from 2 Samuel, and fun activities to kick off the new year.

• January 2, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

• New Life Church West Linn, downstairs

• Please RSVP for January’s 1st Thursday Connect at newlifenw.com/westlinn/women.

We have been reading the book of 2 Samuel in December, and we will read Psalms 95-150 in January. Come to 1st Thursday to receive a personal reading plan and Side by Side Bible reading questions to use with a friend throughout the month. Reading plans can also be found online and in the church lobby.

Ask someone older or younger, a neighbor, a co-worker, someone new to church, anyone you like to partner with you in reading God’s word Side by Side this month. You set the time and place. Or, join a group that meets Sunday mornings in the lower fireside room with Amy Crooks at 10:45. No preparation is necessary; come whenever you can.

You don’t need to be participating in the monthly Bible reading to join us at 1st Thursday Connect. All are welcome, and each month stands alone, so if you miss one, join us next time!

Books

January’s suggested reading on the theme of “Enjoying God” is Delighting in God, by A.W. Tozer.

Links

Below are links to articles, books, podcasts, and music that might be of interest or help on various topics. Resources are curated but may not always reflect the views of New Life Church. Enjoy!

• Savor Christ in Every Psalm—@ Desiring God.

• Three Things You Should Know About Psalms—by Ian Hamilton.

• The Psalms: A Tool for Cultivating Godly Emotions—@ Open the Bible.

• The Songs of Jesus: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Psalms—by Timothy Keller.

• In the Lord I Take Refuge: 150 Daily Devotions Through the Psalms—by Dane Ortlund.

• Exalting Jesus in Psalms 101-150—a commentary by Daniel Akin and Tony Merida.

• Psalms—@ Spotify, a playlist to accompany our reading this month.

Share the Joy

Share the Joy, our 11th annual Christmas celebration for women, is this Sunday, December 15, 4:00-6:00 p.m. at New Life Church West Linn. We hope you can join us! Please RSVP on the church website.

We are planning a fun and meaningful evening full of activities, crafts, warm drinks, delicious snacks, and time to quietly reflect on who Jesus is. It’s not too late to invite a friend and share the joy of Christmas!

1st Thursday Connect

The next monthly gathering for New Life Women is December 5! The theme is “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” and we are having shepherd’s pie for dinner. The mashed potatoes and meat gravy will be provided, but please bring another topping of your choice to share. It could be the typical peas and carrots, but feel free to get creative. Bacon, mushrooms, nuts, cheeses, cranberries, sardines—you get the idea. There will also be fun activities and teaching from Numbers.

• December 5, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

• New Life Church West Linn, downstairs

• Please RSVP for December’s 1st Thursday Connect at newlifenw.com/westlinn/women.

We have been reading the book of Numbers in November, and we will read the book of 2 Samuel in December. Come to 1st Thursday to receive a personal reading plan and Side by Side Bible reading questions to use with a friend throughout the month. Reading plans can also be found online and in the church lobby.

Ask someone older or younger, a neighbor, a co-worker, someone new to church, anyone you like to partner with you in reading God’s word Side by Side this month. You set the time and place. Or, join a group that meets Sunday mornings in the lower fireside room with Amy Crooks at 10:45. No preparation necessary; come whenever you can.

You don’t need to be participating in the monthly Bible reading to join us at 1st Thursday Connect. All are welcome, and each month stands alone, so if you miss one, join us next time!

Share the Joy

Share the Joy, our annual Christmas celebration for women, will be held Sunday, December 15, 4:00-6:00 p.m. at New Life Church West Linn.

We will meet downstairs for activities, crafts, warm drinks, and delicious snacks. During the evening, you will have an opportunity to go upstairs to reflect on the birth of Jesus at interactive stations. Reflection stations will focus on the theme “What Child is This?” as we explore who Jesus said he is and what that means to us.

If you haven’t invited a friend or neighbor yet, now is a good time to do it. We look forward to meeting your friends and having you meet ours.

Books

December’s suggested reading on the theme of “Enjoying God”:

1. The Life of God in the Soul of Man by Scougal

2. The Expulsive Power of a New Affection by Chalmers

3. The Loveliness of Christ by Rutherford

Links

Below are links to articles, books, podcasts, and music that might be of interest or help on various topics. Resources are curated but may not always reflect the views of New Life Church. Enjoy!

• Reflections on a Repeated Reading of 1-2 Samuel—@ Knowable Word.

• 2 Samuel: Out of Every Adversity—a commentary by Dale Ralph Davis.

• Kings & Chronicles & Samuel—@ Spotify, a playlist to accompany our reading this month.

• Fortress God—a cappella worship music by Praise and Harmony.

Fitting Words

from Marcia Reavely

“You can relax a bit, you know, and everything will be okay,” she said with a gentle smile in the church foyer on a typical Sunday morning. Just a few soft words from a dear older woman as I herded my busy little children through the crowd, reminding them not to run, but they had a lasting impact.

I was a vigilant mom. Always watching. Always warning. Always overseeing. Always reminding. All good to a point, but not to the point of frustrating my children.

I mulled over this encouragement from a trusted saint. Could I relax a bit? Could I train well but then trust my children to remember and follow through? Could I hold back the constant reminders and give them the dignity of showing they had mastered the training? Could I give them a little wiggle room and not expect perfection?

For me, these were words fitly spoken. This woman knew me and loved me and prayed for me. While some moms might need the opposite advice, she could see my tendency to be overly attentitve. Her desire was to help me love my children well, and indeed, these were wise words. I took her exhortation to heart and did relax a bit, and she was right. Nearly thirty years later, I still recall those apt words and thank her.

There are innumerable ways the training of Titus 2, older women to younger women, can take place. This article gives several good ideas: Mentoring Doesn’t Happen Only in Coffee Shops. It’s true; mentoring doesn’t happen only in coffee shops. Mentoring can happen anywhere, even in a few fitting words spoken with love in a church foyer.

1st Thursday Connect

It’s 1st Thursday time! New Life Women meets for 1st Thursday Connect on November 7, and the theme is “Hot Mess.” What does that include, you may wonder? Think sloppy joes, tossed salad, and dirt cups. Think messy buns. We will learn about the ministry of Love INC (Love in the Name of Christ) and collect disposable diapers and diaper wipes for all the “messy baby buns” that they serve. There will also be fun activities and teaching from Job, who truly found himself in a hot mess. Dinner is provided at 6:00.

• November 7, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

• New Life Church West Linn, downstairs

• Please RSVP for November’s 1st Thursday Connect at newlifenw.com/westlinn/women

• Bring a pack of diaps and/or wipes for Love INC (optional)

We have been reading the book of Job in October, and we will read the book of Numbers in November. Come to 1st Thursday to receive a personal reading plan and Side by Side Bible reading questions to use with a friend throughout the month. Reading plans can also be found online and in the church lobby.

Ask someone older or younger, a neighbor, a co-worker, someone new to church, anyone you like to partner with you in reading God’s word Side by Side this month. You set the time and place. Or, join a group that meets Sunday mornings in the lower fireside room with Amy Crooks at 10:45. No preparation necessary; come whenever you can.

You don’t need to be participating in the monthly Bible reading to join us at 1st Thursday Connect. All are welcome, and each month stands alone, so if you miss one, join us next time! On a side note, a big thank you to Ray David and Pietro’s Pizza in Milwaukie for supplying pizza for October’s 1st Thursday!

Scripture Memory: 1 Peter

It’s not too late to start memorizing 1 Peter with New Life Women! We can do it in a year by simply working on a few verses each week. Pick up resources at 1st Thursday to make your own memorization booklet or find the file online.

One tip to make memorizing easier is to create simple hand motions to go along with the text. Try it! It’s fun and truly helpful!

Share the Joy

Have you been having spiritual conversations with a neighbor or co-worker? Are you on your toes, praying for divine appointments, trusting God and taking more risks? Have you asked someone if you could share the way Christianity explains the world? Are you ready for an event that will help you merge your Christian and non-Christian friends?

That opportunity is coming! On Sunday, December 15, 4:00-6:00 p.m., New Life Women is hosting our annual Christmas event, Share the Joy.

You can expect the same beautiful reflection stations, fun crafts, sweet and savory snacks, warm drinks. But we’re planning to change things up a bit this year by having the bulk of our time in the church basement. While we enjoy crafts and food, we will also have some interactive mixers to allow guests old and new to get to know each other better.

Who will you invite?

Books

November’s suggested reading on the theme of “Enjoying God”:

1. Enjoying God by Tim Chester

2. Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis

If you are interested in joining this journey of personal growth, simply get the books and jump into the reading. Ask around and see if someone would like to read and discuss a book with you.

Links

Below are links to articles, books, podcasts, and music that might be of interest or help on various topics. Resources are curated but may not always reflect the views of New Life Church. Enjoy!

• On Numbers and Living for God through Christ—by Douglas Allison.

• What We Miss When We Skip the Book of Numbers—@ Knowable Word.

• The Pentateuch—@ Spotify, a playlist to accompany our reading this month.

• The Person Just Ahead of You—@ A Life Overseas. Younger women and older women both have things to offer.

• To Confront or Cover?—@ Stray Thoughts. When should we speak and when should we refrain? Both of these are good follow-up to Titus 2.

• Three points to prayerfully prepare yourself with before receiving critique—@ Taste and see…

• God Brings Us Bad to Give Us Best—by Joni Eareckson Tada.

Harvest Time

from Marcia Reavely

I grew up on the plains of eastern Montana. Along with raising cattle on Sleepy Hollow Ranch, we also grew wheat. Barring a catastrophe of hail or grasshoppers or drought, each fall we brought in a harvest. Now, I say “we” as if I owned the place. But I didn’t, not at all.

I was just a child of the owner. But as a child, I was given the responsibility and privilege of participating in the harvest. I was needed, and it wasn’t just a token kid job either. The whole family took part, and it all mattered. Together we worked the fallow ground, planted seeds, fertilized. Some ran errands and fixed broken parts; others cooked for the crew. But when the grain was ripe, it was all hands on deck, because we knew time was short to bring in the harvest! It never walked in on its own; it always required workers.

Was the work hot, dusty, tedious, exhausting, less than glamorous and comfortable? Every day. Did I feel like doing it? Hardly a day. But the owner, my dad, knew it was necessary and knew it would be worth it. Harvest time is the reason for life on the farm. Though life was pleasant enough at times, we didn’t live there for comfort and ease. We were there for the harvest. Dad never left us to work on our own, though; he did the heaviest lifting. And day after day, sunrise to sunset, round after round, he was always on the seat of the combine encouraging us on with a smile and a wave.

Could Dad have done the work another way without me? I often wished he would, but for whatever reason he chose not to. I think he knew it would be good for me to participate in the process, and he was right. The harvest wasn’t really about me, but was there something in it for me? Absolutely. I was rewarded with some monetary benefits which helped me get through college. But far greater, I witnessed the miracle of seed to grain and grain to bread, and I was fed. I reaped the benefit of hard work and the character it produced. Best of all, I rejoiced with the family each harvest season as we enjoyed the comradery and satisfaction of a job well done.

In a similar way, we participate in another harvest, the harvest of souls. Our Father is the owner of this field, and in his wisdom he has designed that we work alongside him in the harvest (Matthew 28:18-20). “Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together” (John 4:35-36).

The work isn’t all easy, but there is reward and rejoicing to be had. It’s harvest time! All hands on deck.

1st Thursday Connect

It’s time for 1st Thursday! New Life Women starts another season of 1st Thursday Connect on October 3, and the theme is Inside Out. If you haven’t seen the movies, you can expect broccoli pizza and some fun activities with emotions. There will also be teaching from Titus on what it looks like for Christians to live inside out. Dinner is provided at 6:00.

• October 3, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

• New Life Church West Linn, downstairs

• Please RSVP for October’s 1st Thursday Connect at newlifenw.com/westlinn/women

We have been reading the books of Titus and Philemon in September, and we will read the book of Job in October. Come to 1st Thursday to receive a personal reading plan and Side by Side Bible reading questions to use with a friend throughout the month. Reading plans can also be found online and in the church lobby.

Ask someone older or younger, a neighbor, a co-worker, someone new to church, anyone you like to partner with you in reading God’s word Side by Side this month. You set the time and place. Or, join a group that meets Sunday mornings in the lower fireside room with Amy Crooks at 10:45. No preparation necessary; come whenever you can.

You don’t need to be participating in the monthly Bible reading to join us at 1st Thursday Connect. All are welcome, and each month stands alone, so if you miss one, join us next time!

Scripture Memory: 1 Peter

Would you like to join New Life Women in memorizing 1 Peter this year? We can do it in a year by simply working on a few verses each week. Pick up resources at 1st Thursday to make your own memorization booklet or find the file online.

Make your scripture memory booklet using the handouts and instructions provided. Then get started and learn and review a little each day! If you want to go slower, feel free to go at your own pace. If you get a late start, no problem. Even if you don’t get it perfectly, the process will be good for your soul.

Refresh

What a wonderful day God gave us at the Refresh Retreat on September 14! How are you doing at creating an event to merge your Christian and non-Christian friends? What are you doing to grow in your Christ-excitement? Are you praying for conversions? Are you trusting God and taking more risks? Have you used the story-telling approach in your conversations? Are you rehearsing the 4 R’s? Have you invited someone to enter the kingdom of Jesus? If you have a story to share, would you email wlwomen@newlife.com and let us know? We’d love to hear what God is doing!

If you missed the retreat or would like to review, the videos and handouts are available on the website.

Books

Each year the Women’s Ministry leadership team focuses on a topic for equipping and enrichment that often makes its way into the Refresh Retreat. For the upcoming year, we are centering our reading around the theme of “enjoying God.” The key book we will use is Truth on Fire by Adam Ramsey. Optional supplementary books will be recommended each month. For the month of October, Happiness by Randy Alcorn and The Doctrine of the Knowledge of God by John Frame are suggested additions.

If you are interested in joining this journey of personal growth, get the books and jump into the reading! You might also want to ask around and see if someone would like to read and discuss a book with you. Whew! This is a long newsletter! If you are still reading, kudos to you.

Links

Below are links to articles, books, podcasts, and music that might be of interest or help on various topics. Resources are curated but may not always reflect the views of New Life Church. Enjoy!

• Reckoning with the Message of Job by John Piper @ Desiring God, very helpful in understanding the God of Job.

• How to Fear the Lord When Everything Falls Apart @ Knowable Word. This and other articles on Job can be found at Knowable Word.

• Trusting God in the Darkness: A Guide to Understanding the Book of Job by Christopher Ash.

• Job @ Spotify, a playlist to accompany our reading this month.

• A Holy Life is the Seed of Evangelism @ GCDiscipleship, a lovely and encouraging follow-up to the Refresh Retreat.

Refresh: Before You Share Your Faith

The Refresh Retreat is happening soon! September 14 will be a day full of time with the Lord, time with each other, and time in the woods. Add good food and growing in readiness to share our faith, and it promises to be a fun and worthwhile day. Whether sharing your faith is something you struggle with or love to do or both, there will be helpful motivation and ideas for everyone. May God ignite in us fresh love for our neighbors and equip us to better share the gospel, and may he delight to save many even this year as we partner with him in the glorious endeavor of sharing his good news!

Registration for Refresh 2024 is open on the church website. Cost is $25 which can be paid online or by cash or check to New Life Church and designated “West Linn Women’s Retreat.” Please contact the Women’s Ministry leadership team if you would like assistance to cover the cost.

• Saturday, September 14, 9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

• Coffee, snacks, lunch, and handouts provided

• Everett Hall, Hopkins Demonstration Forest, 16750 South Brockway Road, Oregon City

• Register online, $25, through Sunday, September 8

Bring a Bible, your Side by Side notebook if you have one, and dress comfortably and appropriately for the weather. Here is a schedule for the day and a Spotify playlist to help you prepare!

Refresh: Before You Share Your Faith

Women’s Ministry kicks off the 2024-2025 season with a day retreat where we will enjoy food, friends, and nature while exploring the topic of sharing our faith. We hope you will join us as we address motivation, fears, hard questions, love, the heart of the gospel, creative sharing, and more. Using the book Before You Share Your Faith by Matt Smethurst and other resources, we will come away more evangelism ready and be refreshed in the process.

• Saturday, September 14, 9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

• Coffee, snacks, lunch, and handouts provided

• Everett Hall, Hopkins Demonstration Forest, 16750 S Brockway Rd, Oregon City, OR 97045

• Register online, $25, by September 8

• Bring a Bible, your Side by Side notebook if desired, and dress comfortably and appropriately for the weather

Registration for Refresh 2024 is open on the church website. Cost is $25 which can be paid online or by cash or check to New Life Church and designated “West Linn Women’s Retreat.” Please contact the Women’s Ministry leadership team if you would like assistance to cover the cost.

Here is a schedule for the day and a Spotify playlist to help you prepare!

Titus & Philemon

Will you join us in reading the books of Titus and Philemon in September? Resources will be available online, in the church foyer, and at the retreat. They include a plan for reading the books personally on your own, as well as a set of questions (Side by Side Bible Reading) to read and discuss a portion each week with a friend.

Ask someone to partner with you for Side by Side Bible Reading. It is easy, relational, beneficial, adaptable to your own schedule, and only a month-by-month commitment.

Scripture Memory

Would you like a simple plan to memorize scripture? New Life Women offers just that, and this year we are memorizing 1 Peter. We can do it in a year by simply working on a few verses each week. Pick up resources at the retreat or find the file online. Make your scripture memory booklet using the handouts and instructions provided.

Then simply learn and review a little each day! If you want to go slower, feel free to go at your own pace. If you get a late start, no problem.

Do it with a friend. Carry your booklet and memorize while you walk. Even if you don’t get it perfectly, the process will be good for your soul.

1st Thursday Connect

Our regular monthly women’s gathering, 1st Thursday Connect, resumes October 3. Each month stands alone, so if you miss a month, join us the next time!

The theme of the evening for October is Inside Out. If you haven’t seen the movies, you might enjoy them. Either way, we will have some fun with this theme throughout the evening.

Dinner is provided at 6:00 p.m. and will be followed by teaching from Titus, fun activities, and resources for reading the Bible Side by Side.

• October 3, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

• New Life Church West Linn, downstairs

• RSVP for October’s 1st Thursday Connect at newlifenw.com/westlinn/women

Links

Below are links to articles, books, podcasts, and music that might be of interest or help on various topics. Resources are curated but may not always reflect the views of New Life Church. Enjoy!

• Titus: From Sound Faith Flow Character and Devotion to Good Works—@ Knowable Word.

• Why We Skip Some Books of the Bible—like Philemon! Another good article @ Knowable Word.

• Titus For You—a devotional commentary by Tim Chester.

• Epistles—a Spotify playlist to accompany our reading.

• Do Angels Have Free Will?—a good explanation of free will by Dr. Bruce Ware.

• Backwards Birth Into Heaven—some beautiful writing about death from Susan Tyner.

• Church, Equip Parents to Disciple Kids—important for Christian parents @ TGC.

• In the Father’s Arms—@ When the House is Quiet. “Deepest worship came through the purifying filter of suffering.”

• Every Good Parent Will Have Regrets: Advice to my 30-Year-Old Self—by Dave Harvey.

Refresh: Before You Share Your Faith

What thoughts and feelings come to mind when you think of the topic of sharing your faith? If you are like most, you probably feel some degree of fear or guilt. Maybe you are unmotivated or feel ill-prepared or perhaps you don’t think you should share it at all. You’re not alone if evangelism is a struggle, if your feelings aren’t all positive. Maybe the thought of a retreat on sharing your faith strikes fear or dread in your heart. Rest assured, at the women’s retreat on September 14, there won’t be guilt-inducing pressure. You can expect encouraging teaching balanced with refreshing and meaningful activities to motivate and equip us in sharing our faith.

Women’s Ministry kicks off the 2024-2025 season with a day retreat where we will enjoy food, friends, and nature while exploring the topic of sharing our faith. Using material adapted from the book Before You Share Your Faith by Matt Smethurst and other resources, we will come away more evangelism ready and be refreshed in the process.

• Saturday, September 14, 9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

• Coffee, snacks, lunch, and handouts provided

• Everett Hall, Hopkins Demonstration Forest, 16750 South Brockway Road, Oregon City

• Register online, $25, by September 8

• Bring a Bible, your Side by Side notebook if you have one, and dress comfortably and appropriately for the weather.

Registration for Refresh 2024 is open on the church website. Cost is $25 which can be paid online or by cash or check to New Life Church and designated “West Linn Women’s Retreat.” Please contact the Women’s Ministry leadership team if you would like assistance to cover the cost.

1st Thursday Connect

1st Thursday Connect has wrapped up for the school year, but our desire for God’s Word continues. If you attended our gathering in June, you received a summer study entitled More Than Anything. Whether you use this or another study or just keep reading the Bible, may we enjoy a summer of delighting in God and His Word!

We covered a lot of ground in God’s Word this past year. Gay Haugen shared a recap of where we’ve been at our June gathering, and it is included here for your review and encouragement.

2023-2024: The Year in Review

Beginning in October, from the letter of 1 John in chapter 5, Marcia shared with us that the Apostle John’s goal in this letter is:

·        to help us be spiritually healthy,

·        to urge us to examine ourselves, to take our spiritual pulse so to speak,

·         to check for the spiritual vital signs of true belief in Jesus, true love for our fellow believers, and true obedience to the commands of God.

These spiritual vital signs will help us know if we are truly alive in Christ.

In November, from Leviticus 20:26, Katie helped us understand that God calls us to be set apart, to be holy and consecrated to Him, because God Himself is Holy. Jesus came to enable us to be consecrated and aligned with His character.

In December, from Psalm 46, Gay shared the truth that taking refuge in God means actively reminding ourselves of God’s unchanging character:

·        that He is always present,

·        that He is all-powerful,

·         and that He is completely sovereign.

By putting aside our striving and spending time knowing Him, we can be confident that no matter what circumstances arise in our lives, we can find a place of peace and rest in Him.

In January, from 1 Chronicles 17, Lori shared from David’s prayer about the theme of hope. This theme of hope runs throughout this book. We were reminded that because God keeps His promises, as He did with Israel, we can have confidence to come to Him in prayer, and we can find a rest that is full of hope.

In February, from the minor prophets of Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, Sierra also shared the message of hope and how God was calling to His people to return to Him so that they could be in communion with Him. God desires communion with His people. Jesus, too, calls us to “come to Him.” He came to open wide our communion with God.

In March, from the prophetic book of Ezekiel, Von shared how God’s grace was extended to His people as He promised to give them a new heart, a new spirit, a new life. We were reminded that we today have that same promise that is offered to us by faith in Christ’s payment on the cross.

In April, from Ezra, Alina helped us to see how God kept His promise of bringing His people back to their land after captivity and preserving a remnant of His people, a remnant through which the promised Messiah would come. That promised Messiah, Jesus, came and paid for our salvation, and through Him we need no longer be unsettled in life but can find a home, belonging, and contentment.

In May, from Nehemiah, Sharon shared that Nehemiah accomplished God’s work using prayer, God’s Word, and a life wholly devoted and dependent on His gracious and merciful God. We were challenged to also be diligent in prayer and in being in God’s Word so that we can draw strength from our gracious and merciful God.

In June, Katie brought us truth from the tiny book of Jude encouraging us to guard our hearts and minds with perseverance so that we can remain in the secure center of God’s love and the promise of His mercy.

Thank You

There are so many who served in Women’s Ministry in some capacity this year! Every time you attended, or brought food, or prayed, or encouraged another woman, or read the Bible Side by Side with someone, you were a vital part of ministry to women. Thank you!

Many served as table hosts or musicians or sound technicians or stayed late to clean up. Thank you!

Some went all in to make the Refresh Retreat, Share the Joy, and The Connection Cafe extra special with flowers and plants and beautiful food and drinks. Thank you!

We enjoyed and benefitted from the teaching of 17 different women over the course of the year! Thank you!

The New Life Women’s leadership team put in many hours to provide food, activities, prayer, sound, reminders, table questions, decor, teachers, Side by Side studies, special events, and fun throughout the year. A huge thank you to Emily Trosen, Lisa Hartung, Gay Haugen, Amy Crooks, Alina Gauthier, Sandi Saxe, Robin Duggan, Sharon McKay, Sierra Edmonds, and Kelly Zook!

Next Year

Put Saturday, September 14, on your calendar! That is when we will have our kickoff day-retreat at Everett Hall at Hopkins Demonstration Forest in Oregon City. Watch for more information and registration for the Refresh Retreat later in the summer.

1st Thursday begins again in October. We have a need for several women to help this upcoming year in the areas of food, activities, sound, table hosts, and clean up. If you would be willing to be part of a team in one of these areas, please contact Marcia Reavely. Thank you!

Links

Below are links to articles, books, podcasts, and music that might be of interest or help on various topics. Resources are curated but may not always reflect the views of New Life Church. Enjoy!

• Read the Bible in Bigger Chunks—@ Knowable Word, a good summer activity.

• Applying Bible Passages that Contain a Deluge of Commands—@ Knowable Word.

• Hospitality: A Command for Our Joy—by Kyleigh Dunn.

• Living From Approval, Not For Approval—by Dave Harvey.

• Behold and Believe: Encountering Jesus as the Great I Am—a TGC conference for women, part of which will be livestreamed June 20-22.

• Behold and Believe: TGCW24 Playlist—a playlist to accompany The Gospel Coalition’s June 2024 conference for women.

1st Thursday Connect

1st Thursday Connect, the monthly gathering of New Life Women and friends, meets for the final time for this school year on June 6. We will be having a build-your-own sandwich for dinner. If you are able to bring a topping, please sign up here. We will enjoy a recap of the year and share of the grace God has shown us.

• June 6, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

• New Life Church West Linn, downstairs

• RSVP for June’s 1st Thursday Connect at newlifenw.com/westlinn/women

• Sign up on the Meal Train if you are able to bring a topping. Thank you!

We have been reading 2 John, 3 John, and Jude in May. At 1st Thursday, Katie Maricle will be teaching for us from the book of Jude. For the summer, we will be offering a self-study book from The Daily Grace called More Than Anything.

If you missed or want to review any of the teachings from 1st Thursday Connect, you can find them on YouTube. Livestream of 1st Thursday Connect is also available.

First Principles

Are you interested in learning to study the Bible better, particularly in order to teach or grow in your teaching ability? Women’s Ministry plans to offer a summer study to do just that.

Class meetings will be two Monday evenings per month at New Life Church West Linn. The dates are June 10, June 24, July 8, July 22, August 5, and August 19 from 7:00-8:30 P.M.

Contact Marcia Reavely by June 5 to sign up for the class and receive more information.

Links

Below are links to articles, books, podcasts, and music that might be of interest or help on various topics. Resources are curated but may not always reflect the views of New Life Church. Enjoy!

• More Than Anything—a summer study from The Daily Grace.

• The Law’s End and Application—more application tips from Knowable Word.

• The Law’s Misuse and Application—@ Knowable Word.

• Substitution and Application—@ Knowable Word.

• Applying a Bible Text Generally to the Human Heart—@ Knowable Word.

• 5 Ideas for Teaching the Gospel to Young Kids—@ TGC.

1st Thursday Connect

1st Thursday Connect, the monthly gathering of New Life Women and friends, meets next on May 2. “Say Cheese” is the theme, and dinner will be a mac and cheese bar. Please bring a topping to share—olives, bacon, broccoli, meatballs, salsa, asparagus, onions, chili, bell peppers—get creative!

• May 2, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

• New Life Church West Linn, downstairs

• RSVP for May’s 1st Thursday Connect at newlifenw.com/westlinn/women

We have been reading Nehemiah in April and will read 2 John, 3 John, and Jude in May to finish off the school year. Resources to read along are available at 1st Thursday, online, and in the church foyer. They include handouts to help you read personally and also Side by Side. Ask someone to read the Bible with you this month or sign up if you would like to be paired with another woman to read and discuss 2 John, 3 John, and Jude.

If you would like to read the Bible Side by Side on Sunday mornings, a group meets in the lower fireside room at New Life Church West Linn during the 10:45 worship gathering. Come whenever you can, no preparation necessary.

If you missed or want to review any of the teachings from 1st Thursday Connect, you can find them on YouTube. Livestream of 1st Thursday Connect is also available.

First Principles

Are you interested in learning to study the Bible better, particularly in order to teach? Then The Charles Simeon Trust Course, First Principles is for you. First Principles is an online video course designed to help women learn to study the Bible well and prepare to teach. The video classes are paired with in-person meetings to share, practice, and discuss what we are learning. Women’s Ministry plans to offer this course this summer, and you are invited to participate. This is a good class to take multiple times, so even if you have taken it before, we encourage you to join us.

Class meetings will be two Monday evenings per month at New Life Church West Linn. The dates are June 10, June 24, July 8, July 22, August 5, and August 19 from 7:00-8:30 P.M.

The cost for the online material is $19, and women’s ministry is happy to help financially as needed. Email Marcia Reavely if you have questions or are interested in participating.

Links

Below are links to articles, books, podcasts, and music that might be of interest or help on various topics. Resources are curated but may not always reflect the views of New Life Church. Enjoy!

• 3 John: Speaking the Truth in Love to Challenging Leadership Situations—@ Knowable Word.

• Exalting Jesus in 1,2,3 John—a Christ-centered Exposition Commentary.

• Epistles—a Spotify playlist to accompany our Bible reading this month.

• Creation and Application—@ Knowable Word.

• Cosmic Treason and Application—@ Knowable Word.

• The 6 Conversations: Pathways to Connecting in an Age of Isolation and Incivility—a helpful book by Heather Holleman.

• The Verb with Heather Holleman—a podcast exploring powerful verbs in the Bible.

We’re doing something new this spring and having a special Saturday coffee for New Life Women and friends! We have long enjoyed gathering at Christmas and bringing friends to Share the Joy, but once a year is just not enough. So, The Connection Café was born to bring our friend groups together in the spring. It seems appropriate to focus on gardening, and that is just what we will be doing.

You can expect delicious drinks—lavender lattes, grapefruit ginger juniper sparkling water—coffee cake, sweet and savory treats, gardening tips, simple handmade cards, lots of fun connecting with friends old and new, and a short meaningful story of how Jesus provides foundation in life.

This is for all New Life Women and all your friends. It’s not too late to invite someone, but whether they can come or not, we hope you will come to deepen your friendships and meet the guests who attend. Our love will be a display of the love of God to our guests.

We hope you can join us!

• April 20, 10:00-11:30 A.M.

• New Life Church West Linn, downstairs

• RSVP for The Connection Cafe at newlifenw.com/westlinn/women

1st Thursday Connect

1st Thursday Connect, the monthly gathering of New Life Women and friends, meets next on April 4. “Restart” is the theme. For dinner, we will be having a Persian feast in recognition of the fact that Ezra and Nehemiah tell the story of the Israelites as they are slaves and exiles in the Persian Empire. In the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, we see God lead His people to “restart” in the land of Israel. They rebuild the temple and restore the walls.

In our world today, there are many who move to our country to restart, and we can help. This month, we are gathering supplies and will be making Restart Kits for Refugee Care Collective. Refugee Care Collective ministers to local refugees, and they have ongoing need of funds, kits, mentors, and volunteers. See their website for ways to get involved. If you signed up to bring item(s) for the kits, please either bring them with you to April’s 1st Thursday Connect or drop them off at the church prior to April 4. If you didn’t receive an assigned item or would like to do more, new twin sheets, twin blankets, and pillows are regularly needed.

• April 4, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

• New Life Church West Linn, downstairs

• RSVP for April’s 1st Thursday Connect at newlifenw.com/westlinn/women

We have been reading Ezra in March and will read Nehemiah in April. Resources to read along are available at 1st Thursday, online, and in the church foyer. They include handouts to help you read personally and also Side by Side. Ask someone to read the Bible with you this month or sign up if you would like to be paired with another woman to read and discuss selected passages from Nehemiah together.

If you would like to read the Bible Side by Side on Sunday mornings, a group meets in the lower fireside room at New Life Church West Linn during the 10:45 worship gathering. Come whenever you can, no preparation necessary.

If you missed or want to review any of the teachings from 1st Thursday Connect, you can find them on YouTube. Livestream of 1st Thursday Connect is also available.

The Connection Cafe

The Connection Cafe for women is coming up Saturday, April 20! Together we will enjoy a cozy morning connecting with friends over coffee and sweet and savory treats. There will also be gardening tips, optional creative projects, and a short encouraging talk about the hope Jesus offers.

Will you pray for and invite an unchurched friend to join you? Building connections between our church friends and unchurched friends is one way we can partner together to love our neighbors and share the good news of Jesus. Postcard invitations are available in the church foyer, or a digital version can be accessed here to invite someone by text.

Invite a friend and RSVP at newlifenw.com/westlinn/women.

Simeon Trust

Are you interested in learning to study the Bible better, particularly in order to teach? Then The Charles Simeon Trust Course, First Principles, is for you. First Principles is an online video course designed to help women learn to study the Bible well and prepare to teach. The video classes are paired with in-person meetings to share, practice, and discuss what we are learning. Women’s Ministry plans to offer this course this summer, and you are invited to participate. This is a good class to take multiple times, so even if you have taken it before, we encourage you to join us.

The cost for the online material is $19, and women’s ministry is happy to help financially as needed. Email Marcia Reavely if you have questions or are interested in participating.

Links

Below are links to articles, books, podcasts, and music that might be of interest or help on various topics. Resources are curated but may not always reflect the views of New Life Church. Enjoy!

• Reading Ezra-Nehemiah Theologically—@ Credo.

• Exalting Jesus in Ezra-Nehemiah—a Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary by James M. Hamilton, Jr.

• Ezra & Nehemiah—a Spotify playlist to accompany our reading.

• Asking God for More of God: Lessons for a Better Prayer Life—by Matt Smethurst @ Desiring God.

• Why We Apply the Bible—@ Knowable Word.

• Take Your Application Skills to the Next Level—@ Knowable Word.

• Back to the Basics—an encouraging series on spiritual disciplines @ Journeywomen podcast.

• What Two Raw Vegans Taught Me About Sharing Jesus—@ A Life Overseas.

• If We Realize We’re Undeserving, Suddenly the World Comes Alive—@ Eternal Perspective Ministries.

1st Thursday Connect

1st Thursday Connect, the monthly gathering of New Life Women and friends, is coming up March 7. “Green is for GO” is the theme, so it would be very appropriate to wear green!

We are having lettuce wraps for dinner, and if you are able, please bring a small bowl of some kind of salad topping to share. Hard-boiled eggs, edamame, pumpkin seeds, pickled cabbage, olives, beets…get creative! We’ll provide the greens and dressings.

G.O. stands for Global Outreach, and we will have some fun getting to know the missionaries our church supports. We will also enjoy teaching from Ezekiel and receive resources to read Ezra in March.

• March 7, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

• New Life Church West Linn, downstairs

• RSVP for March’s 1st Thursday Connect at newlifenw.com/westlinn/women

We have been reading Ezekiel in February and will read Ezra in March. Resources to read along are available at 1st Thursday, online, and in the church foyer. They include handouts to help you read personally and also Side by Side. Ask someone to read the Bible with you this month or sign up if you would like to be paired with another woman to read and discuss selected passages from Ezra together.

If you would like to read the Bible Side by Side on Sunday mornings, a group meets in the lower fireside room at New Life Church West Linn during the 10:45 worship gathering. Come whenever you can, no preparation necessary.

If you missed or want to review any of the teachings from 1st Thursday Connect, you can find them on YouTube. Livestream of 1st Thursday Connect is also available.

The Connection Cafe

Note, the date has changed for the women’s Cafe coming up this spring. Put Saturday, April 20, 10:00-11:30 on your calendar! Pray for a friend you could invite. Together we will enjoy a cozy morning connecting over coffee and sweet and savory treats. There will also be gardening tips, optional creative projects, and a short encouraging talk about the hope Jesus offers.

Links

Below are links to articles, books, podcasts, and music that might be of interest or help on various topics. Resources are curated but may not always reflect the views of New Life Church. Enjoy!

• What We Miss When We Skip the Book of Ezra—@ Knowable Word.

• Why Study Ezra?—@ The Cripplegate.

• Reading Ezra-Nehemiah Theologically—@ Credo.

• Exalting Jesus in Ezra-Nehemiah—a Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary by James M. Hamilton, Jr.

• Ezra & Nehemiah—a Spotify playlist to accompany our reading.

• Psallos—musical adaptations of Philippians, Romans, and Hebrews. It’s like listening to scripture in the style of “Hamilton”!

• A Sure Hope: Hymns of Romans—or this more singable version by Psallos.

• MATIN: Rest—a nice new album by Jess Ray incorporating old hymns.

• Telling a Better Story: How to Talk About God in a Skeptical Age—a helpful book by Joshua Chatraw.

• Is ‘Gentle Parenting’ Biblical?—@ The Gospel Coalition.

• A Difference-Making Ministry for Any Christian—by Tim Challies.

• Wherever He Leads, He’ll Go—by Glenna Marshall.

Side by Side

Why read the Bible side by side? Do I need it? Isn’t it sufficient for me to read it personally?

Yes, it is surely good for you to read the Bible on your own. But there are reasons we offer and encourage Side by Side Bible Reading. For one, we often learn better together. Just this month, in the Sunday morning group, I learned a lot more reading Haggai with other women than I would have alone.

But Bible reading is not all about gaining more knowledge. It is about life transformation, and that also typically happens better in relationship with others than alone. Just like recording what you eat to show your personal trainer helps you make healthier food choices, so talking with a friend as you seek to apply the Bible helps you make godlier life choices.

Life can be lonely. It’s easy to even feel disconnected at church where we would hope to feel the most connected. Side by Side Bible Reading is good for the loneliness that ails us. There are sisters who need you, and you need them. You never know what kind of a relationship might grow out of spending some time reading God’s Word with someone you just met or someone you’ve known from across the room for years.

Need someone to pray for you? Need a sister to talk with about life issues? Need a mentor to answer questions? Need some accountability? Need a friend whose example you’d like to follow? Don’t we all? These can all be found in a Side by Side Bible Reading partner.

Want to give it a try? Or a retry? Will you press on? There are women you can impact and women who can impact you. It’s beneficial to read and live side by side.

1st Thursday Connect

1st Thursday Connect, our monthly women’s gathering, meets right away on February 1, 2024. Let’s enjoy a taste of summer in the midst of winter with the theme HOT!

Put on something HOT pink or red HOT! We’ll have a gourmet HOTdog dinner at 6:00 p.m. followed by teaching from Zechariah, some HOT games, an introduction to our next study of Ezekiel, and HOT fudge sundaes to end the evening.

• February 1, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

• New Life Church West Linn, downstairs

• RSVP for February’s 1st Thursday Connect at newlifenw.com/westlinn/women

We have been reading Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi in January and will read Ezekiel in February. Resources to read along are available at 1st Thursday, online, and in the church foyer. They include handouts to help you read personally and also Side by Side. Ask someone to read the Bible with you this month or sign up if you would like to be paired with another woman to read and discuss selected passages from Ezekiel together.

If you would like to read the Bible Side by Side on Sunday mornings, a group meets in the lower fireside room at New Life Church West Linn during the 10:45 worship gathering. Come whenever you can, no preparation necessary.

If you missed or want to review any of the teachings from 1st Thursday Connect, you can find them on YouTube. Livestream of 1st Thursday Connect is also available.

Links

Below are links to articles, books, podcasts, and music that might be of interest or help on various topics. Resources are curated but may not always reflect the views of New Life Church. Enjoy!

• On that Day—a CityAlight song to get you ready for February’s 1st Thursday and our teaching from Zechariah.

• Exalting Jesus in Ezekiel—a Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary by Dr. Landon Dowden.

• Prophets—a Spotify playlist to accompany our reading of Ezekiel.

• To the New and Nervous Scripture Reader—@ Bible Study Nerd.

• Don’t Underestimate Generational Changes—and the Need for Cultural Apologetics—@ TGC.

• Evangelism in a Skeptical World—by Sam Chan, a very helpful book.

• Luxury Cars or Walking Dusty Roads—@ Not Home Yet.

Shared Joy

Remember the old proverb? Shared joy is a double joy. We doubled our joy at Share the Joy. Not only did we enjoy ourselves as New Life Women, but we doubled the joy by sharing it with friends who joined in the time of celebration and reflection.

We are co-laborers for the gospel of Christ, striving side by side for the faith of the gospel. In December, we labored together to share the joy. Some set up tables; some made cheesecakes and cider. Some prepared sweet crafts, and others crafted reflection stations. Some sought out newer women, quieter women and made them feel welcome and comfortable. Some invited friends. Some of those friends couldn’t come, but the invitation was still valuable. Some of those friends came, and together we demonstrated God’s love to them. Each role is valuable and necessary. Showing up matters. Inviting matters. Looking out for others matters. Conversations matter. Love matters.

For more on this topic, take a listen to this podcast, Welcome and Witness: How to Reach Out in a Secular Age. This is solid food for thought, both challenging and hopeful, and it speaks in part to what we did together at Share the Joy. One point brought out in the podcast is that we are workers. We are workers on Sunday mornings, at 1st Thursdays, at Share the Joy. We work as a team to share the gospel with our friends and neighbors. Rebecca McLaughlin, interviewed on the podcast, challenges, “If we Christians actually jump in as workers, our boats don’t have the capacity for the number of fish.”

All of us laboring together, in all kinds of different ways, makes a difference. Thank you for your participation—for inviting, welcoming, conversing—and doubling the joy. Let’s do it even more!

1st Thursday Connect

1st Thursday Connect, our monthly women’s gathering, meets again on January 4, 2024! As you pack up Christmas decorations, set out and bring a few items of holiday decor that you are ready to part with but someone else may love. It can be ANY holiday, not just Christmas.

Come enjoy a spaghetti dinner at 6:00 p.m. followed by teaching from 1 Chronicles, a lively SWAP time, and an introduction to our next study of Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.

• January 4, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

• New Life Church West Linn, downstairs

• RSVP for January’s 1st Thursday Connect at newlifenw.com/westlinn/women

We have been reading 1 Chronicles in December and will read Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi in January. Resources to read along are available at 1st Thursday, online, and in the church foyer. They include handouts to help you read personally and also Side by Side. Ask someone to read the Bible with you this month or sign up if you would like to be paired with another woman to read and discuss selected passages from Haggai/Zechariah/Malachi together.

If you would like to read the Bible Side by Side on Sunday mornings, a group meets in the lower fireside room at New Life Church West Linn during the 10:45 worship gathering. Come whenever you can, no preparation necessary.

If you missed or want to review any of the teachings from 1st Thursday Connect, you can find them on YouTube. Livestream of 1st Thursday Connect is also available.

Scripture Memory

Want to start the new year by memorizing 1 John? A memorization booklet can be made by picking up materials at 1st Thursday or printing your own from the church website. Find the resources online. Whether you get it all or a little bit, it will be good for your soul!

Links

Below are links to articles, books, podcasts, and music that might be of interest or help on various topics. Resources are curated but may not always reflect the views of New Life Church. Enjoy!

• Welcome and Witness: How to Reach Out in a Secular Age—a challenging and hopeful interview @ Post Christianity that speaks in part to what we experienced at Share the Joy.

• Prophets—a Spotify playlist to accompany our reading of Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.

• Haggai: The Uncanny Correspondence Between Temple and People—@ Knowable Word.

• Why the Church Still Needs Malachi (And Not Just For the Tithing Verse)—by Mark Fugitt.

• Book of Zechariah Summary—a video overview @ Bible Project.

• Your Children Can Benefit From Minor Prophets—check out these books recommended @ Knowable Word.

• ‘Knowing God’ Turns 50: Why We Still Need J.I. Packer’s Classic Book—@ TGC, a good book to read in the New Year!

• Top Theology Stories of 2023—@ Gospel Bound with Collin Hansen and Melissa Kruger.

New Life Women’s 9th annual Share the Joy is this Sunday! You and your friends are invited to come and share a special evening of Christmas celebration and reflection. You can expect a slow-paced and beautiful time to converse over festive treats, create simple holiday crafts, or quietly reflect upon the birth of Jesus at interactive stations.

If you are able to attend, your RSVP on the church website is appreciated. If you can’t be there from 4:00-6:00, come when you can and leave when you must.

• Sunday, December 17, 4:00-6:00 p.m.

• New Life Church West Linn

• RSVP at newlifenw.com/westlinn/women

Please invite a friend to join you and share the joy of Christmas together. Postcard invitations to give to friends and neighbors are available in the church foyer or a digital invitation can be found at this link.

Reminder

1st Thursday Connect meets next on January 4, 2024. We will be having a SWAP of holiday decor (any holiday, not just Christmas), so save a few things that you are ready to part with and bring a few items with you in January.