Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the 40 day season of Lent. During this special time in our church year, we practice returning ourselves and our families to God's loving presence.
I think the moments are rare when we curse our enemies, take revenge on our neighbors, or decide to harm God's creation. Of course - we more often make resolutions to do good. The problem is more often in the "drift": the small everyday decisions that make us busier, more frustrated. It's the one late night... that drifts into a season of being overworked and overspent. This is not the life that God intends for us.
It is God who loves us perfectly - who calls to us insistently and without hesitation - for us to return to practices where we can experience love, mercy, and peace. The next few weeks leading to Easter, we will learn to listen to God's loving call to us to return to the things that God wants to share with us.
This Sunday: Called to Values.
Pastor Candice
A New Way to Give at New Life: iGive
We can now also give online thru iGive, an alternative to Paypal. And New LIfe gets a $50 bonus from iGive if at least three of us shop as part of the iGive community. See more on the signup page.
Sunday School for all ages -- 15 minutes following worship.
Come to the adult class (see below). See more about children's and youth classes.
Our worship space during cold weather:
See directions below under About the Weather.
That said: SPRING IS COMING!
The forecast is looking like warming morning temperatures this weekend and into March. We will return to worship in nature when the 9am temperature is 55 degrees or higher. It could be as early as this weekend.
Last Minute: Trimming of the Oaks, Friday, Feb. 24, 2:00 p.m.
Thank you for your generosity of time in taking care of the fallen oak and juniper branches these past few weekends. We still need a few more trailer loads of branches to go to Ranch Park. The work team is meeting Friday, Feb. 24 at 2:00 pm to take advantage of a weekday lull in the lines at Ranch Park. Please bring your gloves, tools, and a truck to help us finish this important work.
Calling all Musicians: Called to Renewal during Lent
During the season of Lent (Feb. 26 to Apr. 2), the worship team would like to have musicians—and not just the musicians you hear every Sunday—provide special music during the prelude time (just before the service). The music need not be “church music”; we would all love to hear a student’s contest or recital piece as much as we’d enjoy a favorite hymn. Let us cheer for you!
The Book Group will meet Tuesday, Feb. 28, 6 pm to 8 pm, at the Higgerson residence (1645 Bearkat Canyon Drive) to share a meal and discuss the book “Weapons of Math Destruction” by Cathy O’Neil. The book is subtitled “how Big Data increases inequality and threatens democracy.” How should we, as people of faith, respond? Please RSVP to Alan or Renee Higgerson.
Palm Sunday is coming: Is your inner voice a villain? Or a good guy?
Do you think Judas, Pilate, and Barrabas got a bad shake? Is Peter really as dumb as a rock? How did Mary feel about Jesus passing her off to John? We need you to answer these burning questions and more!
Let New Life hear your dramatic voice unleashed this Palm Sunday. We will be re-telling a dramatic reading of the Holy Week story, from the events of Palm Sunday to Good Friday.
Pastor Candice is looking for 12 readers of all ages to bring this story to its glory -- no costumes necessary. We will rehearse during Sunday school on March 12 and 26. Passion (Palm) Sunday is on April 2. Let Pastor Candice know if you are interested! But she might just ask you anyway - MWAH-HA-HA-HA! (cue thunder and dramatic music)
We know Lutheran congregations are always among the first to respond and the last to leave in times of emergency.
Right now, your congregation can rush aid to our neighbors devastated by the earthquake in Turkey.
Our team is already coordinating a response, and it is your compassion and generosity that will rush emergency care. Your congregation's gift to our emergency response fund will deliver critically needed care for families like water, medical care, shelter and essential supplies.
Please give online at lwr.org/quake or mail a check to Lutheran World Relief, PO Box 17061, Baltimore, MD 21297-1061. Please write QUAKE in the memo.
Thank you for leading your congregation to share God's love with the world when it's needed most.
Grace and Peace,
Rev. Tim Krick
Lutheran World Relief
Lenten Care Kits:
Now thru mid-March, we begin collecting materials to create Lenten Care Kits in support of the Lutheran World Relief Fund. A collection bin will be set up near the entrance to our worship area. Items needed are listed in the attachments. Please try to donate items needed for an entire kit or team up with a buddy family/families to split items needed. You can choose from theFabric Kit, Baby Kit, or the Personal Care Kit.
We will be scheduling a Service Day in March to assemble and pack the kits. These kits are a simple, fun and tangible way to offer comfort to those suffering and express love to our neighbors in need.
If you have an item for the Thursday weekly newsletter or something to add to the website calendar, please email Renee Carlson. Due date for inclusion in the newsletter is 7:00 p.m. Wednesdays.
So about the weather: Weather permitting, we worship outdoors year-round under the oaks.
For the winter months, whenever the weather is cold or rainy, see directions below to Ranch Park, across the road from New Life. And what to expect:
Ranch Park is directly across the street from New Life. But before you get to New Life, turn right on Event Center Drive. Then when you turn into the parking lot, drive around and park on the backside of the building, across from the playground (see photo 1). Enter in the door next to the air handler (see photo 2).
There will be a large temporary sign prominently placed on our usual entrance sign to New Life to let everyone know when we are at Ranch Park due to the weather.
So no guessing. Just come to service as usual and follow the directions accordingly.
The "small room" at Ranch Park (photo 3) is heated, but please dress comfortably in layers in case of fluctuations in the room temperature. There are bathrooms, and there is an entrance ramp for folks with mobility concerns.
It takes a lot of volunteer work to move us from our outdoor Under the Oaks sanctuary to Ranch Park and back. Please consider volunteering to load the vans and SUVs of the team after worship. And if you can't do that, please pray for us!
Photo 1: Park your car across from the playground
Photo 2: Enter in this door next to the air handler
Photo 3: A view of the room where we'll gather when we need to over this winter.
New Life is an outdoor worshipping church that is active in the Dripping Springs community, serving our neighbors. We welcome you to find out more about us! www.newlifedrippingsprings.org
Donate online to New Life's environmentally-focused mission of spreading the Good News of God's great love.
