On Palm Sunday, April 13, the children of New Life will take part in a procession of palms at the beginning of the service. The palms used for the service will be saved until Shrove Tuesday 2026 when they will be burned and used for ashes on Ash Wednesday. Any adult or adolescent who would like to process with the children are welcome to do so.
Christians will observe Maundy Thursday on April 17th. New Life will observe Maundy Thursday with a special service of Holy Communion at 7:00 PM. The word "Maundy" means "command" in Latin. We get our English word "mandate" from the Latin "Maundy." In the upper room, Jesus commanded His disciples to wash one another's feet, to love one another. He also commanded to "take and eat" and to "take and drink."
If you have not been to Holy Communion in a long time, please consider returning to church on Maundy Thursday evening. Christ's body and blood will be distributed in, with and under the bread and wine. And Christ will keep His promise to grant forgiveness and life in the Sacrament.
On Good Friday, April 18, New Life observes the crucifixion and death of Jesus with a Tenebrae Service. The Tenebrae service is a service of darkness. The service centers on a series of lessons that reflect on the Lord's crucifixion. As the service progresses, the candles of a sevenfold candelabrum are extinguished until only one remains. This candle is not extinguished but is removed from the chancel, leaving the church in darkness. The service is closed by a loud noise (known as the strepitus) that foreshadows the rending of Jesus' tomb on Easter. After the strepitus, the last candle, still burning, is returned to the chancel. It thus anticipates the light of the Resurrection.
New Life's Good Friday Tenebrae service begins at 7:00 PM on Friday, April 18th.
Everything depends on Easter. In other words, everything depends on Jesus' resurrection from the dead. Paul wrote, "If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins." (1 Cor. 15:17). Paul continued, "But Christ has indeed been raise from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep." (1 Cor. 15:20) Easter is the Festum Festorum, the Feast of Feasts for Christian. New Life's Easter service will be on Sunday, April 20th at 9:30 AM.
New Life will celebrate the resurrection of our Lord on March 31 at 9:30 AM. Prior to the service, a breakfast will begin at 8:30 AM. After celebrating the resurrection with fellow believers, a meaningful Easter Egg Hunt will be take place.
Easter breakfast will start at 8:30 AM on April 20. The breakfast is a pot-luck affair. Please take this opportunity to celebrate Easter with your fellow members and our guests before worship. Please see the sig-up sheet in the fellowship hall for items to bring for the breakfast.
A meaningful Easter Egg hunt will take the place of Sunday School on Easter Sunday, April 20. Adults are needed to help hide the eggs and assist with the hunt.
Kelly Daugherty will once again purchase Easter Lilies from Jewel to adorn the Lord's chancel on Easter Sunday. If you would like to purchase a lily, sign up on the sign-up sheet in the fellowship hall. The cost for each lily is $10. After the service you can take your lily home to enjoy.
The Sunday School and Preschool kids are scheduled to sing for church on Sunday, May 4. The kids have are working on a song called "Long Before the World is Waking," a song based on John 21.
Sunday morning Bible class is currently working its way through "The Chosen" video series, season four. Sunday morning Bible class begins at 10:45 AM on Sunday mornings.Adult Bible class meets in the New Life Café from 10:45-11:45 AM on Sundays during the school year.
Sunday morning Bible class meets in the New Life café and lasts from 10:45 AM to 11:45 AM. After church, grab a cup of coffee and a cookie and head to the New Life Café for Bible Class
The Men's Bible class finished its study on marriage. We will now take up another booklet based on Luther's writing about the role of government in the life of a Christian. Men's Bible class begins at 11:30 AM on Fridays with lunch. The class ends by 1:00 PM.
"Drip, drip, drop little April shower" - The month of April begins with a "Rainy Days and Ducks" theme for our Little Sprouts. We will make some fun duck crafts and do a rainbow experiment with markers and water. The children will also sing the Five Little Ducks song and even make their very own rain sticks. Next, our class will take a look at the season of Spring. We will read Spring books, play a seed guessing game and make a variety of Spring crafts. For Easter, there will be a classroom egg hunt a special Easter cross craft.
Our Jesus stories this month focus on the Passion story: "Blessed is the King, Jesus Prays in the Garden, Jesus Died for Me," and "Jesus is Alive!"
- Mrs. Rachel Andrews
April showers bring May flowers, or at least that is what they say. We will wait and see what this month brings. I am wishing for some good weather, so we can get outside and run around. School is back in session after being on break on Monday, March 31st, and Tuesday, April 1st. Hopefully, everyone had a nice break and is refreshed and ready to finish the final two months of preschool.
This month the three-year-old class will be learning all about "Signs of Spring." The four-year-old class will finish our study of "Reptiles and Amphibians," and then we will study all about "Bugs." Finally, we will finish the month learning about "The Earth."
Classes will do Easter activities the week before Easter, including a meaningful Easter egg hunt. There will be no school on Good Friday, April 18th. During Jesus' Time, we will study the following stories: "The Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus Before Pilate, Jesus Dies on the Cross," and "Jesus Comes Back to Life." On Tuesday, April 22nd, and Wednesday, April 23rd both classes will enjoy a field trip to Heron Park where they will help clean the grounds and then enjoy some play time at the park.
We will start working on our Spring Program, which will be held on Sunday, May May 18th at 1:30 p.m, the end of the month. Please mark your calendars and invite your friends and family to attend. Finally, on April 10th I will have our final Parent/Teacher conferences.
- Mrs. Lori Dundore
Little Sprouts Toddler Program
"Drip, drip, drop little April shower" - The month of April begins with a "Rainy Days and Ducks" theme for our Little Sprouts. We will make some fun duck crafts and do a rainbow experiment with markers and water. The children will also sing the Five Little Ducks song and even make their very own rain sticks. Next, our class will take a look at the season of Spring. We will read Spring books, play a seed guessing game and make a variety of Spring crafts. For Easter, there will be a classroom egg hunt a special Easter cross craft.
Our Jesus stories this month focus on the Passion story: "Blessed is the King, Jesus Prays in the Garden, Jesus Died for Me," and "Jesus is Alive!"
- Mrs. Lori Dundore, Teacher/ Director
The Tone Chime Choir is set to rehears on Wednesday, April 17 at 7:00 PM and play for the Sunday service on April 20.
The Branch connection will hold its monthly meeting on Wednesday, April 9th at 4:30 PM. The meeting will be held on the evening of the 6th Midweek Lenten service, making it possible for the ladies to attend the meeting, enjoy a catered meal and the attend the last midweek service.
The kids group called Green Team continues to learn about the government of the United States. In March, the kids celebrated St. Patrick's Day by making a wind sock. The kids are also working on their pine cars. In April, Green Team will meet twice, on Thursday April 10 and April 24. Green Team begins at 6:30 PM and ends at 8:00 PM. Green Team begins at 6:30 PM and ends by 8:00 PM.
Saturday, April 12, 2025 from 9:00 AM to Noon. Donuts and coffee will be provided.
The Thrivent Choice® program lets eligible members recommend where some of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans' charitable outreach funds go by directing Choice Dollars®. You can direct your funds to New Life Lutheran Church and/or Tree of Life Lutheran Preschool. The deadline for directing funds is March 31, 2025.
While updating Ministry plans for the next fiscal year it was noted that again the Elder's plan includes assisting members or friends of New Life with emergency assistance. Emergency assistance is often needed due to weather related emergencies. Be mindful that New Life has access to equipment and tools not always readily available to the person in need. Examples include generators, chainsaws, etc. Often times it may be as simple as just needing some extra hands to address a need. So, in the event you need help, please do not hesitate to call. To request assistance, simply call church at 847-438-5018 and leave a message.