New Life Covenant Church

New Life Kids' Nativity Presentation - December 11, 2011

2011-12-11T16:01:00.000-08:00

The New Life Kids, led by Miss Gina and narrated by Mr. Thomas, gave possibly the cutest Nativity presentation in North America today. With our Kindergarten Mary and Joseph met by the elementary and jr. high shepherds and their toddler sheep, heralded by the preschool and kindergarten angels and presented with gifts from the preschool kings, the story of Jesus' birth was truly seen through the eyes of our children today.

Many thanks to all of the New Life Kids and their grown-up leaders who gave us such a sweet and joyful Nativity!

New Life All-Church Retreat - October 14-16, 2011

2011-10-18T09:39:00.000-07:00

"Let Us Exalt His Name, Together!" was an over the top event! We had a fantastic response and all who attended enjoyed a weekend filled with opportunities for connection and community. From the Friday night campfire and S'mores through our final lunch together on Sunday, meaningful conversations happened right along side lots of laughter.

And, how many church retreats have their own theme praise song complete with kid-supplied movements?!

Many thanks to all who helped pull together the details and activities that made this such a special time together as a church family.

If you have any photos you'd ike to add to our album, please send them to the New Life office, we'd love to share them!

New Life Family Sunday - October 2, 2011

2011-10-04T11:04:00.001-07:00

Each year, the New Life Kids have an opportunity to take over Sunday service and teach the grownups a lesson from God's Word. This year the kids taught us all about how God created the heavens and earth and everything in them. The best part about having the kids take over is seeing how God speaks through his youngest. We learned about the oceans and land through sand, water and plants in a bucket, and we saw all the creatures of the ocean swimming up the aisles with our little Sprouts and Seedlings.

Many thanks to Miss Gina and all of the New Life Kids volunteers for helping the children prepare this valuable lesson!

BBQ and S'mores - August 27, 2011

2011-08-31T16:10:00.001-07:00

Many many thanks to the Munns family for hosting this fantastic evening of good food, great fellowship and very funny moments for New Life! We had a great time eating, talking, laughing and then eating just a little more!

Vacation Bible School at Renacer Covenant Church - August 2011

2011-08-17T13:55:00.000-07:00

Renacer Covenant Church, Led by Pastor Mario Romani, is New Life's church plant partner serving the Alum Rock community of San Jose. This month they held their very first Vacation Bible School for families in the neighborhood. Originally planned as 2 sessions, they quickly added a third week due to demand! Wonderful connections were made with the community and children learned of the good news of Jesus!

Pastor Romani shared this wonderful video highlighting the activities over the three weeks.

Check it out!

Farewell to David and Dori - June 26, 2011

2011-06-28T14:04:00.000-07:00

New Life friends gathered at River Glen Park after service to say farewell, watch some amazing fencing demonstrations and wish David and Dori safe travels as they left for their new home in Atlanta!

A Great Day on the Avenue - June 25, 2011

2011-06-25T21:10:00.000-07:00

As part of the Willow Glen Business Association, New Life was invited to take part in this years' Dancin' on the Avenue in Downtown Willow Glen. This gave us an opportunity to serve and meet the local San Jose community through this long-running and very popular street festival.

This year we held our first-ever Saliboat Gutter Races in the Kids Area! What fun! Kids of all ages took advantage of the free opportunity to blow their sailboat to victory. Everyone left the booth happy, maybe a little dizzy! and with a great prize bag.

Our volunteers also had a great time with each other during the set up, booth time and tear down and with the children and parents we met at the event. We even got a chance to share with the local city council member a bit about what we have been doing as a church over the past few years!

Many thanks to Miss Gina for coordinating such a fun community outreach event and to all of the volunteers who braved the crowds to come down and cheerfully help out the local community!

Summer Sunday in the Park - May 29, 2011

2011-06-08T09:07:00.001-07:00

New Life celebrated our first Summer Sunday in the Park for 2011 on Memorial Day weekend at Wallenberg Park in San Jose. Always a favorite, we leave the Little Theater at Willow Glen Middle School and gather together at the park for some acoustic worship, time in the Word together, and of course, potluck brunch!

Our next Summer Sunday in the Park will take place on Sunday, July 3. Join us!

HUNT at Roosevelt Park, April 23 2011

2011-04-23T19:43:00.000-07:00

New Life volunteers joined together with volunteers from Jesus the Recreator Covenant Church, the Roosevelt Community Center, and the Roosevelt Park Neighborhood Association to bring HUNT to the community of Roosevelt Park, San Jose. The day was a great event for Jesus the Recreator and for the community. 7,000 eggs were gathered up in just minutes, followed by hundreds of children waiting patiently for their Golden Ticket Prizes, hot dog lunches, face painting, balloon animals, and picture with the Easter Bunny. And more importantly, connections were made between the sponsoring groups and the neighbors they all seek to serve.

Many thanks to all who helped make today very special for hundreds of families in San Jose!

Easter Weekend With New Life - April 22-24, 2011

2011-04-21T21:07:00.000-07:00

All are welcome to join New Life as we celebrate Easter with friends at The Bridge Community Church and Jesus the Recreator Covenant Church:

April 22 at 7pm - Good Friday Service with The Bridge Community Church at The Hayes Mansion (200 Edenvale Avenue, San Jose 95136).

April 23 from 12-4pm - HUNT and Community Fair at Roosevelt Park with Jesus the Recreator Covenant Church (901 E. Santa Clara Street, San Jose 95116).

April 24 at 10am - Easter Service at New Life Covenant Church. Join us as we worship together at Willow Glen Middle School's Little Theatre (2105 Cottle Avenue, San Jose 95125).

"He is Risen. He is Risen Indeed!"

Good Friday at The Bridge Community Church - April 22

2011-04-04T11:54:00.000-07:00

New Life will be sharing in the Good Friday service hosted at The Bridge Community Church of San Jose. Join us on April 22 at 7pm at The Hayes Mansion to worship with Jay Correa and The Bridge Band!

Details and directions to Hayes Mansion are on The Bridge web site, http://thebridgesanjose.org/blog/?p=587.

Farewell to Friends - February 13, 2011

2011-02-14T14:19:00.000-08:00

After service this Sunday, the New Life family gathered to share lunch and to spend some time saying farewell to the McGhee family. Adam and Emily and their children have already left for Indiana, but the time they spent here in California impacted our entire church family and they will be missed.

Many thanks to the Susewitz' for hosting this special time together.

Understanding Homelessness in Our Community - January 24, 2011

2011-01-25T13:57:00.000-08:00

Many thanks to Julia Burkhead of InnVision as well as the members of FROST and everyone who attended the event, Helping the Homeless in Our Community, last evening at the Santa Teresa Library.

Julia presented a clear and detailed overview of homelessness in general and in Santa Clara County in particular; covering not only the common causes of homelessness, but the many and varied resources available to those facing homelessness in our community.

Following her presentation, Julia answered numerous questions from the audience, explaining the many ways individuals and groups can get involved and help through organizations like Inn Vision (http://www.innvision.org/). Several people asked Julia for access to her presentation so they could share it with friends and colleagues. New Life will work with Julia to make this available as soon as she is able to do so.

Those who were interested were also invited to provide an email address for New Life's Social Justice mailing list. This list is used to invite individuals and groups to events like this where issues of social justice are explained by experts in the field. This list is always available to join, just email office@newlifesanjose.org and ask to be added. No emails beyond those for social justice events will be sent to that list.

Again, many thanks for making this event happen!

Helping the Homeless in Our Community - January 24

2011-01-04T13:09:00.000-08:00

Santa Clara County is the 19th wealthiest county in America. The median household income is more than $87,000, but it is estimated that 135,000 of our neighbors live in poverty and more than 12,000 are homeless every year. Ever wonder how to help someone who is without resources? As winter approaches, what can we do to help? Does it help to give money to people on the street?

Julia Burkhead, Program Director for Women and Family Services at InnVision, will educate attendees on resources and services available in our community and share her insight on the best ways individuals can effectively help those who are homeless.

This event is free and open to the public. Date: January 24, Time: 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Place: Santa Teresa Branch Library (290 International Circle, San Jose 95119 )

InnVision is Silicon Valley's leading provider of housing and services for homeless families and individuals. InnVision served more than 27,000 people in need last year at their 26 program sites in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties.

After-Christmas Combo Service - December 26, 2010

2010-12-21T14:05:00.000-08:00

For the second year, New Life has invited all of the San Jose Covenant churches to join us for worship the first Sunday after Christmas. This year there are two new churches, for a total of 6 San Jose Covenant churches. This is an exciting time of sharing and worshipping together during the holiday season.

New Life will be joined by The Bridge Community Church, Renacer Covenant Church, Jesus the Recreator Covenant Church, Alum Rock Covenant Church and Church of Philadelphia.

We will meet at 10am in the Little Theater at Willow Glen Middle School - 2105 Cottle Ave. San Jose, 95125.

We'd love to have you join us!

Dual Baptism on Sunday, November 7, 2010

2010-11-09T17:28:00.000-08:00

New Life's Refugee Ministry has blessed our congregation by allowing us to meet and learn from people all over the world. And, in some very special cases, to share in their challenges and triumphs as they navigate their way in this new phase of life; far removed from the refugee camps, war and persecution they suffered for so many years.

Emmanuel and Bingwa are both originally from Congo. Because of the war, they fled to refugee camps in Tanzania. Both young men spent much of their childhood in those camps.

Here, they are making a new life for themselves. Both Emmanuel and Bingwa accepted Christ before coming to the US, but had never been baptised. This past Sunday, with their new church family surrounding them, they took the step to publicly declare what was in their heart and be baptised by Pastor Kevin.

All who witnessed this day were blessed.

Helping the Homeless in Our Community Event Rescheduled - January 24, 2011

2010-11-04T08:51:00.001-07:00

We were saddened to have to cancel this event on October 25 and promised we'd reschedule as soon as possible. We are now confirmed for January 24 at 7pm at the Santa Teresa Branch Library. Please note, the venue is changed.

Reminders will go out once the event gets closer. The event topic and speaker have not changed:

Santa Clara County is the 19th wealthiest county in America. The median household income is more than $87,000, but it is estimated that 135,000 of our neighbors live in poverty and more than 12,000 are homeless every year. Ever wonder how to help someone who is without resources? As winter approaches, what can we do to help? Does it help to give money to people on the street? Julia Burkhead, Program Director for Women and Family Services at InnVision, will update us on resources and services available in our community and share her insight on the best ways we can contribute to helping people. This event is free and open to the public.

Date: Monday, January 24

Time: 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Place: Santa Teresa Branch Library (290 International Circle, San Jose 95119)

Family Sunday! - October 24, 2010

2010-10-28T12:17:00.000-07:00

Many thanks to all who joined us last Sunday for our annual Family Sunday! The kids did such a great job sharing with the congregation "Who is Jesus?"
Take a look at the pictures and video of the New Life Kids!

Helping the Homeless Community Event Canceled - October 25

2010-10-24T18:04:00.000-07:00

The scheduled event, "Helping the Homeless in Our Community" set for Monday, October 25 at the Vineland Branch Library is canceled. Due to an issue with the room we rented at the library (no fault of the library) we will not be able to meet as we had planned.

We will reschedule the event in the near future. Please accept our sincere apologies for the inconvenience this may cause. We will post an update as soon as this event can be rescheduled.

Helping the Homeless in our Community - October 25, 2010

2010-10-09T19:11:00.000-07:00

Santa Clara County is the 19th wealthiest county in America. The median household income is more than $87,000, but it is estimated that 135,000 of our neighbors live in poverty and more than 12,000 are homeless every year. Ever wonder how to help someone who is without resources? As winter approaches, what can we do to help? Does it help to give money to people on the street? Julia Burkhead, Program Director for Women and Family Services at InnVision, will update us on resources and services available in our community and share her insight on the best ways we can contribute to helping people. This event is free and open to the public.

Date: Monday, October 25

Time: 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Place: Vineland Branch Library (1450 Blossom Hill Road, San Jose 95118)

InnVision is Silicon Valley's leading provider of housing and services for homeless families and individuals. InnVision served more than 27,000 people in need last year at their 26 program sites in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties

Renacer Covenant Church Preview Service - Aug. 29, 2010

2010-09-01T12:50:00.000-07:00

Pastor Mario Romani hosted the first preview service for Renacer Covenant Church on the evening of August 29. Many from New Life came out to suppport Pastor Mario and his team as he began his formal ministry to the Spanish-speaking population of East San Jose.

The service was very well attended and lively! What a blessing and privilege for New Life to be a part of this growing, dynamic ministry!

Stop Human Trafficking - August 4, 2010

2010-08-05T09:21:00.000-07:00

Last evening, New Life sponsored a community awareness and training event focused on Human Trafficking and its impact both globally and locally in our own county and city. Lt. John Vanek of the San Jose Police Department's Human Trafficking Task Force presented, giving those in attendance a detailed overview of the global trafficking picture and how he and his team, working very closely with social service providers involved in the South Bay Coalition to Stop Human Trafficking, approach incidents of trafficking here in the South Bay.

Audience participation was encouraged and many had questions about how victims are treated once found, as well as what happens to the traffickers. Others wanted to know what the community can do now to help. Lt. Vanek emphasized that community awareness is the biggest piece right now and that people who work as nurses, teachers, doctors, school administrators and social workers are especially encouraged to consider human trafficking when encountering individuals who display certain characteristics which he described. Others of the community were also encouraged to be aware of what is happening in their neighborhoods, because trafficking takes place everywhere and can be perpetrated by anyone.

This event was New Life's first community awareness event and the church was not sure how well attended it would be. The Vineland Branch Community Room was packed! Attendees came from churches, community service groups, and those who read about the event in the local paper. New Life's FROST Women's Group provided refreshments for all, and Lt. Vanek and his team sent everyone home with what they call their "human billboard" shirts. Everyone who received a shirt was encouraged to wear it often. In a few weeks, Lt. Vanek's team will survey everyone to see what kinds of reactions the shirts have gotten.

Learn more about the Human Trafficking Task Force at http://www.sjpd.org/StopHT

New Life will be planning its next community awareness event for the coming months.....

What's Happening Locally - An update on Human Trafficking in San Jose - August 4, 2010

2010-07-07T14:05:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, August 4, from 7 - 9 p.m.
Vineland Branch Library - 1450 Blossom Hill Rd. San Jose, CA 95118

~Free Event - Refreshments Provided~

After the Benefit for New Day for Children, many of us were left wondering about human trafficking happening here in San Jose.

Are children being used as sex slaves in our community?
Are the young people who are being exploited actually charged as criminals or given the help and services they need?
Is there anything we can do locally to help?

We have asked Sgt. John Vanek, Head of the Taskforce on Human Trafficking for San Jose Police Department, to present to our group. He will give a global to local overview, talk about the laws, and give us information about the Taskforce on Human Trafficking and the Coalition against Human Trafficking, two local groups. Please save the date and invite your friends to join us for a very informative evening, dessert and coffee.

Invitations are available. Please invite your friends:
Full sheet - http://www.newlifesanjose.org/pdf/ht%20full%20page.pdf
Half sheet - http://www.newlifesanjose.org/pdf/htevent.pdf

New Life Night at the San jose Giants - June 26, 2010

2010-06-29T11:47:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday evening, the New Life congregation, friends and families enjoyed a great evening out at San Jose's Municipal Field watching the San Jose Giants take on the Modesto Nuts. This was our third year of staking out a block of tickets for one evening of summer baseball with the San Jose Giants. As always, it was very fun!

Even though our home team lost, it was a nail biter through inning 10 and everyone had a great time participating in the audience games and watching El Gigante and the field contests between innings. For some of our group, it was the first time they'd seen an American baseball game, ever! What a wonderful opportunity to share fun and fellowship as a community.

New Life Celebrates Refugee Awareness Day - June 18, 2010

2010-06-23T08:46:00.000-07:00

New Life was honored at the Santa Clara County Refugee Awareness Day for its contributions to the Refugee Resettlement Program at Catholic Charities.

The honor and certificate were given out at the Refugee Awareness Day Celebration, which featured our own Cin family as they performed the Cin National Dance! They were one of many performances that afternoon, which celebrated and honored the unique contributions made to our community by the refugees who have made Santa Clara County their new home.

New Life Summer Sunday in the Park - May 30, 2010

2010-05-25T12:15:00.000-07:00

New Life will be celebrating the Memorial Day weekend with its first Summer Sunday in the Park of 2010. Instead of meeting at Willow Glen Middle School, we will gather at Bramhall Park in Willow Glen for a casual time of worship, prayer and fellowship under the trees.

We will start at 10 and stay until 11:30 or so. Look for the New Life Summer Sunday signs - we'll be at one of the park picnic tables!

View Larger Map

New Day for Children Benefit - May 21, 2010

2010-05-25T11:07:00.000-07:00

More than 150 people gathered at the Corinthian Ballroom in downtown San Jose to learn about and support New Day for Children, a school and home for girls who have been rescued from domestic sex slavery (http://www.newdayforchildren.com). For the guests this evening, the topic was difficult to take in. Girls from 11-13 are kidnapped, sold and trafficked in our own community and forced by slaveholders into prostitution. When they are found by law enforcement, there is often little that is done for them. With no structure in place to care for them and no place to go, they end up in Juvenile Hall or worse, back with their captors.

New Day for Children is working closely with law enforcement, including the FBI, to change the lives of some of these children. The girls in their care receive appropriate therapy, education and long-term care to begin the process of rebuilding their lives and finding hope for the future.

New Life Covenant Church learned about the work of New Day through the Covenant Women's "Break the Chains" campaign (http://www.covchurch.org/humantrafficking?ref=women). From a brief video clip shown in church, New Life's FROST Women's Group found themselvews compelled to do something to help. The New Day for Children Benefit was the culmination of their efforts. With much prayer and hard work by a small group of women with little or no event planning experience, they succeeded in selling out the venue and raising more than $10,000 in one night for New Day for Children.

Even more encouraging than what happened this evening is the desire by those in attendance to spread the word about human trafficking and slavery in the Bay Area and San Jose and to commit long-term to helping New Day for Children.

New Day For Children Benefit Planned - May 21, 2010

2010-04-26T10:51:00.000-07:00

In the Bay Area, girls (age 10-18) are being sexually exploited for commercial purposes. We'd like to do something about it. New Day for Children is a faith based organization in Oakland, CA, developing a program and facility to provide hope and security for these young girls.

The Facts
-Owning sex slaves is very lucrative and slaveholders are seldom prosecuted
-Rapidly escalating profits, the Internet, limited police resources and a blind community, have created a brutal growth industry employing sophisticated business practices
-Freed girls are most often retaken by the slaveholders and returned to the streets of our communities, creating a deteriorating cycle of hopelessness.

How New Day for Children will help...
Victims of commercial sexual exploitation suffer severe trauma and have little hope of happy, productive lives. New Day for Children intends to provide a top 5% program in terms of education, healing experiences (licenced therapy, animal therapy), growth experiences, service, travel and fun.

What the Church is doing
New Life Covenant Church, in Partnership with The Bridge Community Church, is holding a fundraising benefit including a silent auction to support New Day for Children.

Friday, May 21st ~ 6-9:30 p.m.

Corinthian Ballroom

196 N. Third St., San Jose, CA 95112

Tickets $29 per person

Buffet Dinner ~Chocolate Fountain ~Cash Bar

Adults Only Please - No Childcare Provided

For more information, or to purchase tickets please contact:

newdayforchildrenbenefit@gmail.com

To learn more please visit the New Day for Children Website: http://www.newdayforchildren.com/

Beautiful Day HUNT - April 3, 2010

2010-04-05T11:55:00.000-07:00

New Life Covenant Church once again took part in the Beautiful Day HUNT event. We sought to bless the community by providing a free, fun, family Easter Egg Hunt in Doerr Park.
It turned out to be a wonderful afternoon of connection and fellowship - along with 8,000 eggs, several hundred children, a great bunny, and lots of laughter!

Special Worship Music - February 28, 2010

2010-03-01T15:17:00.000-08:00

Rashid is a recently-arrived Congolese refugee. He is a free-case refugee who is living in the Transition House that New Life sponsors with Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County.

A week ago, Rashid first visited New Life for Sunday service and mentioned that he led worship in his church in Congo and that he'd like to play for New Life. Debbie and Mike Munns who lead the New Life Worship Team, took Rashid up on his offer and invited him to sing this week! With no rehearsal at all together, Rashid, Mike and Debbie led the congregation in a moving worship song that Rashid sang in French, much to the delight of the 9 other Congolese in the audience!

Serving the refugees of San Jose has blessed and enriched New Life Covenant Church in ways that cannot be ennumerated. This Sunday's special music was just one small way that the refugees we've met have given so much to this congregation.

In case you couldn't join us yesterday, here are some photos:

Adam McGhee's Installation - January 31, 2010

2010-02-01T12:37:00.000-08:00

On January 31, Adam McGhee was officially installed as part of the New Life Family!

San Jose Covenant Churches Share Worship - December 27, 2009

2009-12-29T13:16:00.000-08:00

Two days after Christmas, the four San Jose Covenant Churches; New Life Covenant Church, Alum Rock Covenant Church, Church of Philadelphia, and The Bridge Community Church, gathered together at Willow Glen Middle School to celebrate in worship and explore more deeply our partnership in the Gospel.

These four churches serve different communities and have very different histories, but together, they are unified in serving the Gospel and the community of San Jose. This is a partnership of celebration, of prayer, of connection, of encouragement, and of challenge.

The entire service was a shared experience. Each pastor prepared part of the service and the worship team was a blend from New Life and The Bridge, while our Children's ministries met together and prepared kits for the homeless of San Jose. Even our offerings partnered this Sunday as we collected food and gave a special offering for Second Harvest Food Bank.

Looking forward, each of the pastors expressed their desire to come together again, and all are looking forward to adding new church plants to San Jose in the coming year so that this partnership might continue to grow and to reach out with Christ's love for this valley.

New Life Kids Christmas Play - December 13, 2009

2009-12-15T12:44:00.000-08:00

The New Life Kids once again provided the congregation with a wonderful sweet, and very family-oriented Christmas play! Somehow, each year, New Life has the cutest Kings of any Christmas show in the world!

Many many thanks to Miss Gina and all of the children for their hard work. And thanks once again to Ashley Matthai and David Wold for providing us with such wonderful photos to enjoy!

New Life Kids Chimes Concert with Adam and Emily McGhee - December 6, 2009

2009-12-09T10:45:00.000-08:00

December 6 was a very busy Sunday at New Life! We met Pastor James, a Burmese pastor and missionary, who kindly shared with us some of his ministry in Burma and around the world. We met Adam and Emily McGhee and later learned that they will be joining the New Life family very soon as Adam comes on staff as our new Outreach Pastor!

And the best part of the morning? The songs and concert, first with the New Life Preschoolers and then New Life Kids. All of the children did an amazing job in leading us to worship and sharing their love of God through their songs. What a blessing they are!

Many thanks to Ashley Mathai and David Wold for sharing their pictures from this special day!

October Baptism - October 16, 2009

2009-11-16T14:55:00.000-08:00

We gathered together on Sunday October 16 after service, to celebrate Arlene Haselhorst's baptism. Enjoy the pictures!

New Life Beach Day - October 3, 2009

2009-10-06T15:37:00.000-07:00

Yet another successful day for New Life! The day was filled with sunshine, porpoises, seals, and celebration! It was a great opportunity to spend time with our refugee friends and enjoy God's creation.

New Life Becomes a Step Up Silicon Valley Partner - September 2009

2009-09-30T15:16:00.000-07:00

New Life Covenant Church, led by our Executive Board, has signed on as a Step Up Silicon Valley Partner Organization.

Step Up Silicon Valley, headed by Catholic Charities, is an affiliation of government agencies, non-profit and faith-based organizations, businesses and individuals who have committed to work together to reduce poverty in Santa Clara County. Partnering with them means that the church will collaborate and network with other organizations to help those in need, share what we have learned through our refugee ministry, and prayerfully approach new tools and methods to help those whom God has brought to us.

Having worked with the Refugee program has made us aware of the many obstacles that come when trying to overcome poverty. We believe that we can make a difference by collaborating and working together to help those in need.

http://www.stepupsv.com/

Brunch and Bible at Bramhall - September 6, 2009

2009-09-02T14:39:00.000-07:00

On Sunday September 6, New Life will have its final summer service at Bramhall Park for the year.

Join us in the park for a great time of singing, some time in the Word, good food and fellowship.We will be meeting at Bramhall Park at 10 AM. Be sure to bring a chair or blanket to sit on and a brunch item to share. A map is attached below so you can find us!

Bramhall Park.pdf

Advent Gets a New Well - August 2009

2009-08-24T15:33:00.000-07:00

New Life Covenant Church was one of several large donors that made sure that Advent's Summit Home for Girls received a much-needed new well to provide fresh, safe drinking water for the girls receiving treatment and support from Advent Group Ministries.

The home's original well has gone dry for the past few summers due to the California drought conditions. The new well, drilled to 400 feet, will ensure a steady supply of water to the house during these dry years.

An article detailing the well project was published in Advent's most recent newsletter.

AdventWell.pdf

Learn more about Advent Group Ministries at: www.adventgm.com

National Recognition of New Life's Refugee Ministry - August 18, 2009

2009-08-24T12:26:00.000-07:00

Catholic Charities USA has recognized Andrea Lee of New Life, along with Melissa Kreisa and Elsa Amboy of Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church as Volunteers of the Year for 2009 in recognition of the work of New Life Covenant Church and Sunnyvale Presbyterian to support free case refugees in Santa Clara County.

While the three women are named, it very much a shared honor. Both churches have made incredible commitments to supporting the lives of the county's most vulnerable new residents for the long term. Without the commitments of time, money and other resources by each member of the congregations, these ministries and partnerships could not exist.

The Valley Catholic recently ran an article outlining this award and what the efforts of the churches has meant for the refugees:
http://www.valleycatholiconline.com/viewnews.php?newsid=777&id=10

Day of Reflection - August 1, 2009

2009-08-20T01:58:00.000-07:00

On August 1st, a group of New Life members and friends gathered at the Christenson cabin in Mission Springs to spend a quiet day with the Lord. Time was spent together in song and in the Word, as well as in solitude and quiet reflection. Those in attendence expereinced a renewal and refreshment that comes from removing ourselves from the day-to-day for a short time to return to spiritual things.

New Life Kids Family Sunday - July 26, 2009

2009-07-27T12:07:00.001-07:00

The New Life Kids taught the entire congregation what it means to trust God in all things through their lesson from Exodus and the plagues. Taking a section from the book, "Scary, Gross and Wierd Stories from the Bible", the children explained what the plagues were and how the lessons they teach are still relevant for us today.

Many thanks to Miss Gina and all the kids for their hard work!

Photo Album from Family Sunday:

Brunch & Bible at Bramhall Park - July 5, 2009

2009-06-30T13:04:00.000-07:00

On Sunday July 5, New Life will have Summer service at Bramhall Park!
Join us in the park for a great time of bible teaching and fellowship.We will be meeting at Bramhall Park at 10 AM.
Be sure to bring a chair or blanket to sit on. You are invited to stay after service for a potluck picnic and games.
A map is attached below so you can find us!

Bramhall Park.pdf

San Jose Giants Game - June 27, 2009

2009-06-27T21:51:00.000-07:00

A hearty group of New Life friends and family braved the heat tonight to head down to Municipal Stadium to watch the San Jose Giants beat the Stockton Ports 7-1.

Despite the heat, everyone seemed to enjoy the game and one anothers' company, but the mood definitely lifted once the sun went down!

Between innings, we enjoyed all the field games: Tug of War, Musical Floatie Chairs, Water Ballon Tosses, El Gigante Base Running, and more! After the game, the kids got to run the bases, and a few adults got to join them!

A fun evening all around....

Refugee Day Celebration - June 26, 2009

2009-06-26T22:23:00.000-07:00

On June 20th, the international community marked the 9th annual World Refugee Day, acknowledging the suffering of the millions of people driven from their homes. The commitment by the United States to protect and aid refugees is a deep and abiding one, part of the nation’s history and at the core of its values.

The United Nations, which established the event in 2000, set this year's theme on "real people, real needs". World Refugee Day 2009 draws particular attention to the unmet needs of some 42 million persons who are uprooted by conflict, persecution, natural disaster and food insecurity, and thereby forcibly displaced worldwide, awaiting a solution. It is intended to remind us all that refugees are not faceless statistics, but real individuals with dignity, rights and needs.

In Santa Clara County, World Refugee Day was celebrated on June 26th at Campbell Community Center. This special event recognized the contributions and struggles of the local refugee and immigrant community to the economic and cultural life of this community.

The celebration included speeches by local officials, recognition of volunteers and partner organizations like New Life Covenant Church, dance and cultural performances and food from around the world. This was indeed a celebration of the efforts of the refugees and those who help them to build a new life in a place where they are safe, secure, and able to begin thinking about their future.

Transition House Cleaning Day - June 13, 2009

2009-06-15T11:40:00.000-07:00

Fourteen students from Pulse, the college ministry of Great Exchange Covenant Church, took time out of their Saturday morning to join Andrea, Pastor Kevin, Sanjay, and the nine residents of our transition house to scrub bathrooms, mop floors, wash and paint walls, and make some new friends.

In addition to lots of elbow grease, the students got to know our current residents, who come from Bhutan, Iraq and Eritrea. They gave lessons on how to clean bathrooms and floors, and learned more about the residents and heard some stories of life in camps around the world.

We hope to continue our relationship with Pulse. They have been wonderful partners and friends to the refugees of San Jose and we look forward to working with them on future projects!

The work was hard, but I think they all had fun as well --

Ladies' Bible Study Tour of MLK Library - June 10, 2009

2009-06-10T15:18:00.000-07:00

The Wednesday Morning Ladies' Bibles Study and some special guests took a tour of the Martin Luther King Downtown Library as a small group "field trip".

The ladies and their guests had a wonderful time seeing many of the special collections of the Library, including a lock of Beethoven's hair(!). The Library also affords some wonderful views of downtown San Jose.

After the tour, lunch at the Novel Cafe!

Many thanks to Beverly Ashton for sharing her photos with everyone.

Brunch, Bible, Baby at Bramhall - May 24, 2009

2009-05-26T14:57:00.000-07:00

Over 60 of the New Life congregation and friends gathered at Bramhall Park last Sunday to celebrate the holiday with praises, time in the Word, a brunch, and a baby shower for Cing Nu.

The fellowship was wonderful, and it is always a good event when you end with Dick's Bakery Burnt Almond Cake!

Brunch, Bible and Baby at Bramhall Park - May 24, 2009

2009-05-20T10:16:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, May 24 the New Life congregation will have its first Summer Sunday in the Park of 2009! This will be our third year of celebrating the Summer holiday weekends by having a casual time of song, time in the Word and good food at Bramhall Park rather than meeting at Willow Glen Middle School. A map is attached below so you can find us!

This Sunday, we are adding to the fun by having a small baby shower as well! Paul and Cing Nu, recent refugees from Burma and regular arttendees of New Life, are expecting their first baby next week! All are invited to share some cake and wish the new parents well as they prepare for their daughter's arrival. If you'd like to bring a gift, that would be wonderful, but is not necessary. Diapers are always a great choice!

Bramhall Park Map.pdf

Springs Retreat - April 14-16, 2009

2009-05-18T11:30:00.001-07:00

Eight women from New Life Covenant Church attended the Springs Retreat sponsored by the Network of Evangelical Women in Ministry (NEWIM) at St. Anthony's retreat Center in Three Rivers, California. This retreat, held in the spring and fall of each year, is an opportunity for women to get away from their day to day responsibilities and spend time alone with God and in prayer and reflection.

While the focus is on spending alone-time with God, there was also ample time to deepen friendships and meet women from all over California. Our ladies had a wonderful time! To learn more about the retreat, visit http://www.thespringsretreat.blogspot.com/

Pacific Southwest Conference Annual Meeting - April 16-18, 2009

2009-04-23T12:57:00.000-07:00

Each year the member churches of the Pacific Southwest Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church gather for the annual business meeting and to celebrate the progress and work of the member churches over the year. This year's celebration highlighted the church planting work of the conference over the past 15 years.

We invite you to view highlights of Celebration 2009 that took place April 16-18 at Lakehills Covenant Church, El Dorado Hills, CA (below and at pswc.org).

At pswc.org you can also read the Superintendent’s Report and an excerpt from the Church Planting booklet, “A Reason to Celebrate”, given to banquet attendees.

Highlights of Celebration 2009.pdf

HUNT 2009 at Doerr Park - April 11, 2009

2009-04-16T16:27:00.000-07:00

On April 11th, we had our third annual Easter egg HUNT at Doerr Park in San Jose.
By 1:15 pm there were a lot less children than expected. By 1:20 pm, the park was packed with over 250 children!! It took them no more than 20 minutes to pick all of our 6000 eggs.
The HUNT was a huge success. Children had fun and families were blessed. Thank you so much to all the volunteers. This event would not have been possible without you!

Egg Stuffing Party - April 5, 2009

2009-04-05T19:46:00.000-07:00

5,000 Easter Eggs sounds daunting enough. Add in that they have to be opened, stuffed with one piece of hard candy (and perhaps a golden ticket), taped shut and then re-boxed, and the job is enough to scare anyone away! Oh, and don't forget the 1,000 or so leftover eggs from last year!

But, the New Life Hunt Team was not dissuaded. They showed up and started working, and less than 90 MINUTES later, they were done!!!!

How did they do it? There are some theories:

Herb's new "patented" taping technique
Fillmore's ability to continually dodge Andrea's egg tosses
Matthias and Jaliel's help
The Ladies' table suggested the overwhelming multi-tasking ability of their crew
The Men's table believed they had exactly the right mix of technique and style (though no one could explain how the soda got into the egg box, hmm...)
Or, good old fashioned team work!

Many, many thanks to everyone who braved the task at hand as well as the un-air conditioned office to do an amazing job!

And next week, when the Doerr Park neighborhood comes to enjoy their Hunt, all of the eggs and candy and toys will be scooped up by kids and families who we are there simply to bless and to share with them some of God's love that He has given to us by giving them a fun day in the park for Easter.

In case you did not make it to the Egg Stuffing Party (or are wondering what stuffing 6,000 eggs might look like!), Haven took some photos to share:

HUNT 2009 - April 11th, 2009

2009-03-06T11:48:00.000-08:00

Our 3rd annual HUNT will be happening on April 11th at Doerr park in San Jose.

The Hunt is a great opportunity to build bridges into the local community surrounding the churches. We want to have an influence on the community through acts of service and meeting felt needs, bringing the Kingdom of God to them.

"... let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." - Matthew 5:16

The big event starts at 1:30, but teams will be in place as early as 10am! Please come and volunteer! There will be sign up sheets at the welcome table.

Pictures from the HUNT 2008:

A Message from Nueva Esperanza Covenant Church - February 22, 2009

2009-02-27T11:45:00.000-08:00

Nueva Esperanza Covenant Church, located in Pittsburg, California, is one of the special Covenant Church plants that New Life has the honor of helping to sponsor. While we do not have the opportunity to work closely with Pastor Nesta and his team, we do strive to support them through conversation, administrative assistance and, of course, prayer.

Pastor Fil and his team recently sent a video to thank New Life for these contributions to the ministry. As the video shows, God is at work in Pittsburg and New Life is very thankful to be a small part of this growing ministry.

Thanks to New Life by Nueva Esperanza.

New Life Supports The Pajama Program - February 13, 2009

2009-02-13T16:12:00.000-08:00

The Pajama Program operates year round, serving children living in shelters, without permanent homes, and/or below poverty level by providing these children with new, warm pajamas and books.

This year, New Life participated in the San Jose/Fairmont Hotel Pajama Drive for the first time this year. Between donations from New Life members, a generous allocation by the New Life Compassion Committee and some shrewd sale shopping(!), New Life was able to provide the program with 107 pairs of pajamas. Most of these are the larger sizes that are so much needed for teens and young adults served by the program.

In Northern California, The Pajama Program serves children through the following local organizations:

Children's Shelter Santa Clara County - San Jose
Edgewood Center for Children & Families - San Mateo
Future Families - San Jose
Next Door Solutions - San Jose

Rebel Family Shelter/Homeless Services Center - Santa Cruz

And many more throughout the Bay Area

To learn more about the Pajama Program, please visit their web site, http://www.pajamaprogram.org/.

New Life Kids Concert - December 21, 2008

2008-12-29T16:09:00.000-08:00

The New Life Kids treated the congregation to a special concert complete with chimes, a recorder solo, and a special song by Jaliel!

After the concert, we said goodbye and best wishes to Mike and Bethany, who have been caring for the littlest members of the New Life family for the past three years. While we will miss them, we wish them well with their own new baby and all the love and adventure to come!

New Life Kids Concert - Dec 2008

New Life Christmas Party - December 17, 2008

2008-12-19T11:19:00.000-08:00

New Life held its annual Christmas celebration at the Transition House this year! This meant sharing Christmas cheer with the congregation, some of the staff of Catholic Charities, and most of the refugees who have lived in the house since it opened in July.

What a wonderful event! Hightlights included Christmas carols in English, French and Burmese; sweet and savory treats from America, India and Iraq; Arabic lessons for Pator Kevin - all he wanted to say was "delicious"! - and much laughter and joy at the end of a year filled with change, challenges and special blessings.

New Life began its partnership with Catholic Charities and its ministry with refugees only seven months ago. During that time, lives have been touched and hearts changed forever by the friendships and understandings that God has given to this congregation through the special new friends who have endured so much to come here to San Jose to rebuild their lives. Every day, we are thanked for the small things we do for these friends. What the party brought to light is how thankful we are as a body to have been given the opportunity to serve, in small ways, the needs of people who have such great needs and yet such abounding spirits.

Merry Christmas!

New Life Christmas Party 2008

New Life Kids Nativity - December 14, 2008

2008-12-15T20:24:00.000-08:00

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

On Sunday, December 14th, the New Life Kids treated the congregation to a wonderful presentation of the Nativity, complete with angels, shepherds, and possibly the cutest kings to ever present the story of Christ's birth.

We hope you were able to join us for this special event. If not, we hope you can join us next year.

Please enjoy the photo album of this special day:

New Life Kids Nativity Presentation

New Life Family Sunday - November 23, 2008

2008-11-30T16:55:00.000-08:00

On Family Sunday, the New Life Kids took over! The children's ministry led the entire service, from announcements through praise and prayer and they gave the message as well (thank you pastor Joel!). It was a lively and wonderful service that all enjoyed. The kids had a great time teaching the adults about God's love, and the adults were truly blessed by the kids' efforts.

Check out our album at:

Family Sunday - November 2008

New Life Creative Arts Ministry - November 2, 2008

2008-11-04T13:38:00.000-08:00

New Life's brand new Creative Arts Ministry debuted this Sunday with a vignette that incorporated drama, painting and music into the worship experience. Jamie Chacon and Gina Bluhm are heading up this new ministry and would love to have others join them as they seek creative ways to incorporate the arts into the worship life of the congregation.

Creative Arts Worship - November 2008

AIDS Walk Silicon Valley - October 19

2008-10-28T20:25:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, October 19, New Life participated with Team Beautiful Day in the 19th AIDS Walk Silicon Valley. This was our second year participating with this team, which is made up of churches from around the valley. This year, Team Beautiful Day set a goal of having 200 walkers and raising $20,000. With more than 800 walkers raising over $31,000, Team Beautiful Day was the largest team in the walk!

New Life helped the team meet this goal with 12 walkers raising over $1,600! Five New Lifer's raised over $100 each, so New Life helped them reach their goal with a match of $100. Congratulations to Jeremy, Joel and Justin Hyland, Haven Lee and Jeffra Bussmann!

All of the funds raised in this walk will provide education and support for those living with HIV/AIDS here in Silicon Valley. Why would churches participate? Because today, in an age of divisiveness, it is critical for Chritians to remember to show compassion for those in need. The AIDS Walk helps the churches to show that support in our community.

The Walk for AIDS sent out the following description of Team Beautiful Day to all of their walkers:

Team Beautiful Day was inspirational with over 820 members whose donations are currently over $30,000 making them the largest team ever with the most raised by any team in our records! With a theme of “The Church Has Left the Building” four churches closed for that day and invited their congregations to “get out of the pews and into the streets” to support the effort.

Many many thanks to everyone who walked and who supported our walkers.

Photo Album of New Life Beach Day - September 13, 2008

2008-10-16T15:28:00.001-07:00

On Saturday, September 13, New Life hosted a Beach Day Gathering Event for the congregation and the core group of Reliance Covenant church. along with the church members and friends, we we were joined by 22 recently-arrived refugees from Bhutan, Burma and Iraq.

This was the first time that any of the refugees had seen the Pacific Ocean, and the very first time many of them had seen any ocean at all.

Gathering such disparate groups together at a Northern California beach is always risky. The weather is notoriously unpredictable, with days of 80 degrees and sunny in San Jose turning out to be 50 degrees and windy at the beach. Further, what if no one talked to each other? What if the refugees hated the ocean? What if no one wanted to share food together?

But God was in this from the beginning. The day was perfect, not too hot or too cold, everyone arrived in good spirits, the refugees were ready to try anything, even boogie boarding! And the New Life and Reliance folks were lovely and wonderful and open to meeting and interacting with our new friends.

Bonds were formed, new friendships sprouted, and we all got a chance to learn from one another in a way that most would never have had a chance to do without an event like this.

Many thanks to everyone who came, we hope to do more events like this in the future.

Enjoy the pictures!

Beach Day

New Life Beach Day with Reliance Covenant - September 13

2008-09-03T12:18:00.000-07:00

We will be gathering at Rio Del Mar beach from 10am-4pm on Saturday the 13th for a joint gathering event with Reliance Covenant Church.

This is a great opportunity to invite friends and family who may be looking for a church to learn more about both Covenant communities. In addition, we will be bringing a number of our Bhutanese and Iraqi friends to experience their very first look at the Pacific ocean!

Thanks to everyone who has volunteered to help with transportation for our new refugee friends. Andrea will be in contact with you all on Sept. 8 to provide the addresses and names for pick up.

Where is Rio del Mar?
Take HWY 17 South to HWY 1 South. Exit at the Rio del Mar Blvd exit and turn Right onto Rio del Mar Blvd. Stay on Rio del Mar Blvd all the way to where the road ends at the state beach parking lot. Make a U-turn at the lot onto Beach Drive. Stay on Beach Drive until it ends in a parking lot. This is a pay lot, so bring dollars!

Still confused? Try the Google map to Beach Drive. Be sure to go all the way to the end of the road!

View Larger Map

Last Summer Sunday in the Park - August 31

2008-08-25T15:20:00.000-07:00

Sunday, August 31 at 10am.

We had so much fun on Memorial Day and the 4th of July weekends at Bramhall Park, we decided to have another get together during the last Summer holiday, Labor Day weekend.

So, please join us at Bramhall Park (corner of Willow Street and Camino Ramon) for a light brunch, a few songs, and some time in the Word together.

Check the links below for directions to the park and a map of the park itself to find us on Sunday!
View Map for Directions to the Park

View Map of Bramhall Park

New Life Baptism - August 17, 2008

2008-08-19T10:11:00.001-07:00

On Sunday, August 17, New Life Covenant Church came together to celebrate four baptisms:

Deborah Munns
Caitlin Dickey
Lucas Dickey
Suzannah Ashley

These individuals chose to take a public step to recognize what God had already done in their lives. Through baptism, they demonstrated how they had died to sin and to the law and how God had raised them to live a new life (Romans 6:1-14).

This was a celebration, which meant inviting friends and family to share in the occasion and of course, to come together for good food and great fellowship!

We've uploaded the photos to an online album and scrapbook so everyone can share in this special day:

New Life Baptism - Aug 2008

Online scrapbook created by Jamie Foote. Click the "Play" arrow to view.

Women Ministries Mission Springs Retreat - September 19-21, 2008

2008-07-15T16:37:00.000-07:00

Rachel Johnston of Bayside Church in Granite Bay and Alice Westlind will be the speakers for this year's Women Ministries Retreat. Alice used to attend our church and she and her husband were sent out from our church as missionaries to Columbia and have recently left the mission field for Sacramento, California -- you'll really enjoy hearing her stories.

The real fun of the retreat will be just hanging out together for the weekend and getting to know each other better.

When filling out the registration form (link below) be sure to mark "Private Housing". Judy Christenson has offered use of her cabin for the New Life women attending this retreat, so your registration fee is greatly reduced. Register by August 14 and you'll pay only $80 for the weekend! After that date, the cost goes up to $105.

Don't let the registration fee keep you from coming. Scholarships are available. Please notify Andrea Lee (andrealee@newlifesanjose.org) if you need financial assistance.

Once you've signed up, please notify Luann Budd (luannbudd@newlifesanjose.org) as she is coordinating carpools for the Friday afternoon of the retreat.

View Brochure

Registration Form

Additional Transition House Needs

2008-07-07T12:19:00.000-07:00

Many many thanks to everyone who donated to and helped with setting up the Sherman Oaks Refugee Transition House! We have most of the basic furniture and kitchen supplies moved in, and the house looks great! If you have not had a chance to see it and would like to visit, please contact Andrea (andrealee@newlifesanjose.org) to schedule a visit.

Many have asked about remaining needs for the house. Following is a list of one-time and ongoing items the house needs:

Kitchen utensils - spatulas, serving spoons, etc.
Chairs - kitchen style
Patio furniture - chairs and table
Twin-size sheet sets - new or very clean
Regular size pillows - new please
Sleeping bags - good condition only
DVD Player
Dictionaries
Easy reading books
Bookshelf - not too tall
Pantry staples - beans, canned goods, pasta, rice, etc. (ongoing need)
Cleaning supplies - windex, laundry soap (HE only), bleach, mop, furniture polish, hardwood floor cleaner (ongoing need)
Vacuum
San Jose Trash Tickets (available at Safeway) - for heavy trash weeks when the house has a lot of residents (ongoing need)

Please call the church office or send a note to Andrea at refugee@newlifesanjose.org if you can fill any of these needs. Pickup is available.

Volunteer Information and Appreciation Night- July 20, 2008

2008-07-01T11:35:00.000-07:00

What: Please save the date for a volunteer appreciation/information dinner

When: Sunday, July 20th, 6:15-8:00pm

Where: Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church (728 W. Fremont Ave, Sunnyvale, CA). Map

Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church will be hosting a fun evening event as a thank you to all those who have been or would like to contribute their time and talents to welcome and support the new refugees into our community.

For those who would like to hear about the refugees that New Life Covenant will meet and also about the various events going on in partner churches and communities, this night will be very helpful and informative!

There will be guest speakers, entertainment and great food!! Don't miss it!

Please RSVP for dinner by July 12 to Andrea Lee directly at andrealee@newlifesanjose.org or 408-978-1658 x201

Childcare will be provided for children 6 months to 6 years of age. Please RSVP by July 12 to Andrea Lee at andrealee@newlifesanjose.org or 408-978-1658 x201

Refugee Backpacks Still Needed

2008-06-30T11:53:00.000-07:00

With an influx of refugees arriving between July and October, Welcome Backpacks will be in constant need for the coming months. Please consider partnering with a friend or working with your club, children's sports team, or neighbors to put together a backpack or two to help a refugee when they first arrive in San Jose.

Once you've completed your backpack, pease send a note to refugee@newlifesanjose.org so we can arrange for pick up.

Following are the items needed in each backpack (don't forget to include a personal note of welcome!):

Standard size toiletries: soap, shampoo, wide-toothed comb & brush, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, tissues
Pen, pencil, notebook
Local San Jose street maps
Small flashlight with batteries
A roll of quarters (for use in laundromat, or pay phone)
Small address book and planner (calendar)
Wallet
Small alarm clock with batteries
Warm socks
Stationery and stamps, or post office aerograms
A phone card
Public transportation (VTA) day pass tokens

If you don’t have time to collect bags, and you or your group would still like to help out, you could donate the cost for the items and we will purchase and assemble the packs for you. The estimated cost for the items in a single back pack is about $100.

Questions about backpacks? Email us at refugee@newlifesanjose.org. Thank you!

Brunch and Bible at Bramhall- Take 2 - July 6, 2008

2008-06-24T11:46:00.000-07:00

Sunday, July 6 at 10am.

We had so much fun on Memorial Day at Bramhall Park, so we decided to have another get together during the Independence Day weekend. So, please join us at Bramhall Park (corner of Willow Street and Camino Ramon) for a light brunch, a few songs, and some time in the Word together.

Check the links below for directions to the park and a map of the park itself to find us on Sunday!

View Map for Directions to the Park

View map of the park to find us on Sunday

Help Needed to Ready the Transition House

2008-05-23T12:29:00.000-07:00

New Life Covenant Church and Catholic Charities have found a house in the Sherman Oaks area that will serve as the Transition House for newly-arrived refugees! The house is just what is needed, with four bedrooms and plenty of room for storage. Further details will be coming soon.

To help prepare for Moving Day, we need to begin identifying the furniture and household items to be donated to the house. Catholic Charities has provided the list of basic needs, and I am beginning to look for sources of these items. Which is where our wonderful congregation can help! Please check your garages and storage units and even with friends and neighbors. If you can provide any of the items listed below, please email Andrea Lee (andrealee@newlifesanjose.org) or post a comment to this entry and we will follow up with you as soon as possible.

Items Needed:
6-8 Twin Beds (mattress, boxspring and frame at a minimum)
small dressers
2 portable cribs (pack-n-play, etc)
Baby items (diapers, wipes, etc)
Car seats (for all ages up to 6, but babies especially)
Lamps (table and floor)
Clocks
Dining room and/or Kitchen Table and chairs
Small couches (2-3 needed)
Bookshelves
Radio
Television
VCR
DVD player
Clothes (all sizes, particularly women and children)
Bath and Kitchen towels (used are ok if clean and no stains)
Kitchenware (everything from pots and pans and dishes and bowls and flatware to small appliances and utensils)
Linens for beds (new preferred but lightly used and very clean is ok)
Blankets
Large clear bins with lids for the garage supplies
Small corner entertainment unit or TV Table
Large Rug - 8x10 if possible

Items that must be purchased:
Toiletry items (soap, shower gel, shampoo, razors, etc)
Paper Basics (Toilet paper in bulk, paper towel in bulk, kleenex)
Kitchen staples (rice, beans, pasta noodles, etc)

We expect to be able to move in before the end of July. Contact Andrea if you need help with pickup of your items. Thank you once again for all your help!

Brunch and Bible at Bramhall Park, May 25

2008-05-08T16:30:00.000-07:00

Sunday, May 25 at 10am.
We can’t meet at Willow Glen Middle School due to maintenance work on the campus. So, please join us at Bramhall Park (corner of Willow Street and Camino Ramon) for a light brunch, a few songs, and some time in the Word together.

Check the links below for directions to the park and a map of the park itself to find us on Sunday!

View Map for Directions to the Park

View Bramhall Park Map to find us on Sunday

HUNT 2008 Held on March 22

2008-04-22T15:14:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, March 22, New Life held our second annual Community Egg Hunt. This event was duplicated all over San Jose and Santa Clara County that day with 26 churches working together to bring a fun, free, family event to the local community. As last year, we held our Hunt at Doerr Park so that the children from Bagby Elementary School, where we help with Kids’ Club each week, could bring their friends and family. This year we welcomed the assistance of The Bridge, a new church plant core group who asked if they might use this opportunity to learn how a small church can make connections with the local community. We also had the great honor of being joined by San Jose City Councilwoman, Judy Chirco, who not only threw out the last eggs for us, but also spent quite a long time talking with the families about our church!

Doing Justice Conference on May 9 & 10

2008-04-22T11:28:00.000-07:00

Sponsored by The Renewal Project, this conference provided information and challenges to local churches to get out of the church and into the community. Speakers included Gary Haugen of International Justice Mission and Pastor Mark Labberton of 1st Presbyterian Church of Berkeley.

I attended this conference with the goal of learning more about what other churches are doing to promote compassion and justice in their communities. I must admit, I went to the conference full of hope and joy. The week before, New Life had signed contracts to sponsor two new church plants, and we'd approved and committed ourselves to serving refugees here in San Jose through a partnership with Catholic Charities. What a wonderful backdrop to have as I went to Pleasant Hill to learn how to weave these new projects into the fabric of our church community!

There were so many ideas and words of encouragement from all of the speakers, but I want to share just a bit from the two keynote speakers, Gary Haugen and Mark Labberton.

Gary Haugen started International Justice Mission in 1994. IJM has a four-fold mission:

Victim rescue
Victim aftercare
Perpetrator accountability
Structural prevention

They have been incredibly courageous and successful over the years rescuing individuals and families from unspeakable circumstances. But what they have also done is to raise awareness in the west and in the U.S. in particular to the world that exists outside of the comfortable, affluent circumstances so many of us live in. For those churches that step out and seek to make a difference in the world, Gary finds three lessons that we must keep in mind and follow:

Biblical Conviction - there must be teaching from the pulpit and within the community that brings justice back to its Biblical roots.
Geography - programs that are successful focus on a specific place of service so that energies can be channeled and congregations get a concrete picture of the needs and how to meet them.
Community - Compassion and justice must involve everyone to the extent they are able. It cannot be franchised out to just 3 or 4 committed individuals.

Mark Labberton built on Gary's discussion by talking about the absolute need for churches to understand the relationship of worship to justice. Speaking from Isaiah 58, Pastor Labberton explained that justice is the enactment of God's love in the world and that real worship reflects the character of God in the world. For those of us who won the "birth lottery" and find ourselves living in comfort and security in the west, doing justice saves us from our own tiny, myopic world and from the selfishness of "consumer worship".

Expanding on this theme, Pastor Labberton challenged us to consider justice within the long trajectory of worship, that reflecting the reality of God is the long-term purpose of our lives.

I hope to share with you soon the audio recordings from the conference as they are available. If you'd like to learn more about The Renewal Project, please visit http://www.renewalproject.org.

Blessings, Andrea

It's Baseball Season! Join us on May 31

2008-04-22T11:25:00.000-07:00

All are welcome to join us as we spend the evening with friends and family at the San Jose Giants' Game on May 31. Game starts at 5pm and tickets are just $5 each. Contact Andrea Lee (andrealee@newlifesanjose) to reserve your tickets!