Tuesday, February 27th from 7-8PM at the church office
Saturday March 3rd from 8:30-9:30AM at the church office

15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.” 18 The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” 19 Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. 21 So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. 23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” 24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. Genesis 2:15-24 (NIV)

20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. John 17:20-23 (NIV)

KEYS TO RENOVATING ONENESS

1. GUARD your time.

In order to cultivate “oneness” in my marriage I will…

2. RE-FOCUS your energy.

In order to cultivate “oneness” in my marriage I will…

3. RE-KINDLE the romance.

In order to cultivate “oneness” in my marriage I will…

4. CULTIVATE spiritual intimacy.

In order to cultivate “oneness” in my marriage I will…

5. COMMUNICATE, COMMUNICATE, COMMUNICATE!

In order to cultivate “oneness” in my marriage I will…

Worship Arts Weekend 2007 at the Grantham Church (PA) invites you to submit your work for our annual worship arts focus exhibition in our arts gallary from April 27th through May 31st, 2007.  The theme is “The Hidden Voice of God”.  More details can be found at the church’s website at www.GranthamChurch.org

The Urban Discipleship Center is taking applications for an urban internship starting September 8th through December 22nd.  The UDC experience is one of learning how to express God’s love through Christian lifestyle, friendships, service, and witness.  The internship will conclude with a ten day outreach in London, England.  For more information, contact Steve and Bonnie Westberry at udc@qis.net or 718-299-8719.

Come hear about a Carlisle Brethren in Christ team who went on a mission trip to Haiti. 
Saturday, February 17, 2007 from 6:30 - 8:00PM at Carlisle BIC.

Greetings Everyone,

We are so excited about what God is doing lately at New Life Community.  Over the past few weeks we have been talking on Sunday mornings about our relationships.  It is our prayer that our community would experience the deep love and grace of Christ as we interact with each other and all of our friends in the Carlisle area.  This Sunday Ryan will be talking about how God longs to breathe renewed love, patience, and grace into our marriage relationships.  I know that all of us who are currently married or yet to be married long for those relationships to be healthy and vibrant expressions of sacrificial love. 

Around New Life Community we aren’t content to simply talk about sacrificial love, we want to do something about it.  So get ready for this! This Sunday toward the end of Ryan’s talk we are going to participate in an actual wedding ceremony.  For a while Jennifer and Eddie have been coming to New Life Community.  Since coming to New Life Jen and Eddie have felt so loved and accepted by our community of faith.  We have been the human arms of God’s embrace of their lives.  When Jen and Eddie first came to us they were struggling with some drug and alcohol abuse and wrestling with deep hurts and consequences of poor choices.  Now Jen and Eddie are walking in freedom from past addictions.  They have been together for six years and believe now is the time to become one in a holy marriage covenant with God, each other, and their church family.  So this Sunday morning they will be getting married during the Sunday worship gathering.  And they want the entire New Life Community to be a part of this new chapter of their lives.

So here is what we are going to do for Jen and Eddie!  We are going to throw them a Card Shower.  We want to help them celebrate their new marriage by expressing our excitement for their commitment to each other.  When you arrive this Sunday there will be a basket for you to drop off your cards and expressions.  You won’t need to purchase gifts but feel free to drop a gift card or place some money in your cards.  Can you think of a better way to celebrate Valentines as a faith community?
 

Small Group study notes for Week of February 11 - 17, 2007: CoWorkers-Got to Love Them

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:43-48 (NLT)

Pastor Jon Hand, his wife, Aimee, and two beautiful girls are the newest addition to our church.  Formerly the youth pastor at Carlisle Evangelical Free Church, Pastor Jon is now the associate pastor for New Life Community. Please help welcome this wonderful family into ours! 

“Friend or Acquaintance?” 

There are “friends” who pretend to be friends, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.  Proverbs 18:24 (TLB)

Culturally Defined Friendships:

• Self Focused
• Evaluated on basis of net wort
• Formed based on race, social status, appearance
• Private
• Time sensitive
•  Unrealistic expectations
•  Ended too easily

What Did Jesus Teach and Model?

12 I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you. 13 And here is how to measure it—the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends. 14 You are my friends if you obey me. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a master doesn’t confide in his servants. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. 16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. 17 I command you to love each other.  John 15:1-17 (NLT)

Qualities of a Christ-Like Friendship:

1. Friends OPEN THEIR LIVES to one another.

9 The sweet smell of incense can make you feel good, but true friendship is better still.  Proverbs 27:9 (CEV)

 

2. Friends LISTEN and SHARE.

4 Don’t think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing.  Philippians 2:4 (NLT)

3. Friends RESPECT one another’s wishes.
4. Friends are willing to SACRIFICE for one another

16 We know what love is because Jesus gave his life for us. That’s why we must give our lives for each other.  1 John 3:16 (CEV)
17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.   Proverbs 17:17 (NIV)

5. Friends ENCOURAGE one another to GROW.

17 As iron sharpens iron, a friend sharpens a friend.     Proverbs 27:17 (NLT)

WHERE DO YOU START?

• Starts with your friendship with Jesus.
• Ask the tough questions:
  o How do I evaluate my friendships?
  o What ends a friendship for me?
• Be willing to open up and risk it.
  o Talk to someone new following service today.
  o Get involved in a Small Group or Alpha.
  o Have someone over for diner. 
  o Invite someone to join you for the Super Bowl.
• Invest yourself in a few key people.