The New

Millennium
January 2009
On The Inside:
Leadership Training Day
Focus on Sunday School
Women’s Meeting
Music Notes from Mary Ellen
Congregational Care
Job Network
14 Cubits by 20 Cubits
Thank You
Daily Devotions
Youth Stuff
Older Adult Ministires
Congregational Care
The Newsletter of New Life United Methodist
2009: The Year of You
The New Year is often when people think about new beginnings.
We make commitments to better health, less spending, more
family time, fewer bad habits, greater efficiency, and other lofty
aspirations. Some have defeatedly confessed “I don’t do New
Year’s resolutions because I never keep them.” Frankly, I admire
those who set out to make plans for improvements even if they
don’t “make it all the way.” There’s some truth to the statement
that “it is better to try and fail than never to try at all.”
However, more than conventional wisdom, I’m learning to buy
into grace. Grace says that there is always opportunity to start
over, begin afresh. The verse that keeps running through my
head is 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,
that person is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has
come!”For Christians, new beginnings are available, not just at the
turn of a new year, but every day and even every moment.

Church Office Hours:
Monday - Friday
9:00a.m. until 3:00p.m.
Church Staff checks phone
messages throughout the day.
Pastor Maxwell is available for
appointments days and eve-
nings and is glad to schedule at
convenient times.
Worship Opportunities:
Christian Education (all ages):
Sundays 9:45a.m.
Sunday Worship:
8:30a.m. and 11:00a.m.
Praise & Worship Service:
6:30p.m. on 3rd Sunday
The Chinese have had names for their years for a long time. For
the Chinese, 2009 will be the year of the Ox. From what I gather
it has been used to forecast what the new year will be like. So,
my to challenge you and our church is to a new commitment, a
new attitude, a new philosophy or a new way of doing life for the
New Year. What if we lived 2009 as “The Year of You”?
“The Year of You” is not about you, but about others. If the year
were about us, then it would be called “The Year of Me” and
might not be much different than past years. However, if we
thought about God and others each time we came to a decision
about what to say, what to do, where to go, how to act or react
it would be absolutely amazing!
Worship wouldn’t be about what I want, but about what I can
give to God, or who I could invite. Caring wouldn’t be about
getting my needs met, but how I might minister to “you.” Money
wouldn’t be about what I can get, but what I can give to “you.”
When people ask, “What do you want to do this weekend?” You
could respond, “It’s not my year; it’s the year of you!” I can only
imagine how people would respond! You may have to pick them
up off the ground!

Family Night Dinner
January 18, 5:30p.m.
Praise & Worship Service
to follow at 6:30p.m.
So, let’s offer friendly reminders to each other through the year
that it is “The Year of You.” Then, instead of fizzling out after a
month or so, we’ll arrive at Christmas next year in a completely
different frame of mind! I look forward to “The Year of You”.
After all, it’s your year… or is it?
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility
consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should
look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of
others. (Philippians 2:3-4)
Pastor Mike
January 2009 The New Millennium 2

Leadership Training Day

For Everyone on a Ministry Team
Saturday, January 17
8:30am – 11:30am
This event is for church leaders to be inspired, vision and plan what God has in store for
New Life UMC in 2009. If you are a part of Council, SPRC, Finance, Trustees, Building,
Good Samaritan, Worship, Evangelism, Mission, Family Ministries, or Congregational
Care Teams you are encouraged to come with your ideas, enthusiasm and passion!
If you have questions, contact Kurt Cooper (378-3293) or Pastor Mike (794-4522).

FOCUS ON SUNDAY SCHOOL

The Middle School
Sunday School class is revamped!
The Middle School Sunday School class is revamped!
David Pastore, Darleen Stigall, and Cary Adkins will be the
teachers, rotating throughout the year. David Pastore and
Cary Adkins have been active in our youth program at New
Life for some time. Darleen Stigall has been attending New
Life and the Proactive Parents class for a while and has a
strong knowledge of the Bible. She is currently a 7th grade
Science teacher at Swift Creek Middle. Jimy Edwards is stepping down, but not totally
out, of the middle school Sunday School room. For some time now, he has felt God’s
calling to start an older adult Sunday School/Small Group. He will be in the Middle
School class on occasions for special projects or as a substitute; he feels it’s a great
joy to stay connected with the youth!
If you’re in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade, you’re invited to come to the Middle School Sunday
school class that meets in the room next to the pastor’s study on Sunday mornings
from 9:45 – 10:45. For more info, contact Cindy Butler (379-3578) or David Pastore
(423-6476).
January 2009 The New Millennium 3
Women’s Meeting
We had a very productive meeting last September
and it’s time to meet again to plan for the Spring.
Let’s gather at Piano Café on Monday, January 5th,
at 7:00. If you need babysitting, please contact
Cindy Butler (379-3578, education@newlifeumc.org)
for more information.
Please pray that we hear God’s direction concerning
mission work, Bible studies, a Spring retreat, and
fun get-togethers.

MUSIC NOTES
from Mary Ellen
“One Incredible Moment” presented by the Adult Choir, friends and a cast of characters gave
us moments of deep worship in praise of God becoming man in the birth and life of Jesus, the
Christ.

God blesses us in many ways and music and visuals certainly are ways He touches our souls.
Thank you to all who participated, worked behind the scenes and gave so much time and energy
to making these exceptional times of worship so special! We are all being blessed this Holy
Season!

My thanks to all for the many cards, gifts and kindnesses to Fred and me during Advent and
Christmas. May God richly bless you and yours in this new year of 2009!

Mary Ellen

Congregational Care Job Network

Do you know of employment opportunities within your company or elsewhere that you can share
with Congregational Care, for those in our church family that may be in need of work?
In our congregation, we have the following needs:

Help Wanted Seeking Employment

Caregiver for an 8-year-old Underwriter for

With Down Syndrome Property & Casualty lines/Marketing

Flexible hours and Agency Management.

Please contact Anne Pierce @ 804-379-5733.
January 2009 The New Millennium 4

New Life Weekday Preschool

Jams in January
New Life Preschool is excited about our January activities.
We have Rosie the Clown coming for a visit with winter
stories and balloon characters. We also have our second
annual “Hero Night”. The preschool students will bring their fathers to school one
evening for popcorn and activities… sorry but no moms!
Believe it or not, January is also registration time for the Fall 2009 school year. All
currently enrolled students and New Life church members will have the opportunity to
enroll their children beginning January 20, 2008. Registration is based on a first come first
served basis. The community will have the opportunity to register the following week.
For more information about New Life Preschool, please contact Tracy Cooper,
Director at 794-4522 (Monday-Thursday between 9am-1:30pm)

14 CUBITS by 20 CUBITS
Cultivating the “seed idea” for a New Life Garden
a garden for all.
This is a garden which will provide nourishment for
the body and the soul. Now is the time of planning.
Perhaps the produce from this garden will feed 100
or the beauty of this garden will refresh a weary
soul……God has a plan.
A site (approximately 20’ x 30’ ) has been selected:
just beyond the picnic tables. Water can be
provided by the existing wells on the Church
property. God is providing the sun, the earth and
the water.
Who will design this garden? Who will plant this
garden? Is God calling you? He has already called
me and I would like to work with you….Please call
me if you are ready to till, plant, harvest, dream….
Just call Barbara Roe, a gardener in training, at 794-0226.
January 2009 The New Millennium 5
THANKS!!! -- for all help from everyone who assisted with the many special aspects of
worship during Advent and Christmas. From the Hanging of the Greens, to Lightings of
the Advent Wreath, the Christmas Cantata, Children’s Pageant, Caroling, Hand Bells
and our three Christmas Eve Services we enjoyed them all and more. Blessings were
abundant as our Community of Faith came to worship and praise the birth of our Lord
and Savior.

Congregational Care 2nd Annual Thanksgiving with Friends

was great fellowship and a wonderful meal at Cracker Barrel,
enjoyed by all!

Thank you to Lyn Jorgenson for the beautiful quilt

displayed in the Sunday School hallway! It's a
wonderful way to display the lessons we learned
about the Shema, Deuteronomy 6:4-5.

Thank you for your support of the Silver Bells Project. Dear New Life Family
Because of your generosity, we provided gifts for 40
seniors and special needs individuals in our area Thank you for your visits, calls,
nursing homes who may not otherwise have received prayers, flowers and cards
any Christmas gifts. The Salvation Army was delighted during our recent illness. We
to receive so many Silver Bells gifts at one time. I hope we are both on the road to
anticipate continuing this project next year and I hope I recovery at last.
can count on your support. Thank you again. In Christ Name,
Patrick Brown Hugh White and Family

DAILY DEVOTIONS
THE UPPER ROOM – If you made a New Year’s resolution
to be more intentional in your devotional life, please take the
opportunity to pick up the new issue of “The Upper Room”
for Jan/Feb. This is a great and convenient daily devotional
guide complete with Scripture Reading, Meditation, Prayer and
Thought for the Day. It is available in the Gathering Area on
the table next to the church office. Get your copy soon and you
are on your way to an enriched Devotional Time each day.
January 2009 The New Millennium 6
WHAT IS G.R.A.V.I.T.Y. ALL ABOUT?
G.R.A.V.I.T.Y. is New Life UMC’S Youth Group.
We meet on Sundays:
*To be involved in MISSIONS
*Learn through DISCIPLESHIP programs
*Experience WORSHIP Youth-Style &
*To FELLOWSHIP through fun activities

G.R.A.V.I.T.Y. Stands for:

Grounded in the Redeeming love of Christ, we Aspire to make the Voice of God
heard and Inspire others to learn about him Through our Youth.

I Challenge you in the New Year to check us out! You have heard it said, “The youth are
our future!”. Well, I beg to differ…..New Life Youth can make a difference NOW, in the
Present! Come be a part of something that is making a difference in the lives of youth as
well as in the lives of our community! Check us out…..and get grounded in G.R.A.V.I.T.Y.

What Has The Youth Group Been Up To?

Marshall Pastore enjoys time “in the boat” to prayerfully reflect on his Christian Journey.
Katrina Edmunds soaks up the music and asks God into her presence. Emily Sybert
Journals her prayers to God. Blake Fleck pauses to reflect on what
he needs to confess to God and then wash away. This
prayer time was a Youth Group Worship Experience on
Sunday, November 16th. The youth got to take time to
be still and quiet and experience God. They got to go
to prayer stations such as music, creative expression,
meditation, journaling, reflection, confession, and stories/
poems and experience prayer in different forms.
What a neat way to stand in the
presence of God.
January 2009 The New Millennium 7
Rake & Run….well, maybe not so much Running?
The youth participated in a
mission project called, “Rake
& Run” on Sunday, November
2nd. We got to rake leaves at
the home of Hugh and Aline
White, members of New Life
UMC. Thank you to the White’s
for graciously allowing the youth
to come to their home to rake
leaves. Thank you also to the
youth who participated in our
Mission Project. Fun was had by all as we had rake races and fellowshipped with one
another as we were mission for His Kingdom!

Who says that you can’t have fun

at the Beach in December?

Chris Edmunds found a starfish.

Youth just hanging out.

Ranger Rod, Erica and Melanie scouting

out the lighthouse gift shop.
January 2009 The New Millennium 8
“Youth Group Beach Trip
Family Photo”
Eleven Youth (Kelsea, Marshall and
Erica Pastore, Austin and Emily
Sybert, Melanie Gainsforth and
Melanie Cooper, Chris Edmunds,
Jacob Townsend, Matt Heinz, and
Travis Goetz) and 5 Adults (David
and Sharon Pastore, Mary Lou
Sybert, Rod Gainsforth, and Lori
Epps) ventured to Hatteras Island on
the weekend of December 5,6,7th.
We played group building games,
participated in small group sessions,
listened to youth and adults share
about Significant People and
Significant Events in their lives,
created posters and “Inside-Out Me”
boxes, walked on the beach (and some swam in the ocean), journeyed to the Hatteras Lighthouse,
ate,ate,and ate some more awesome food prepared by Sharon and MaryLou, slept and played in
an awesome beach house donated to us by the Gainsforth Family, and experienced the presence
of God all weekend long!! Thank you God, for binding us together as a closer family in Christ!!

2009 January Youth Schedule

January 4th: Potluck Family Dinner & Game Night 4:30-6:30 p.m. New Life UMC
Come one, Come all to our Potluck Family Dinner & Game Night. We will run around playing games, and
hopefully run off some of our holiday treats that we have indulged in during Christmas & New Years. We will
be discussing the January – June 2009 Youth Schedule, signing up to help at youth events & be on focus
groups, and discussing our 2009 Summer Mission Project. Please bring a main dish & side dish (enough to
feed your family & some to share). The youth group will provide paper products, drinks, and dessert.
January 11th: Discipleship Program
Visioning the Future….Where is God leading us? 4:30-6:00 p.m. New Life UMC
Won’t you Come & Be Apart of the Journey as we look to the future of New Life Youth…..Pray, Vision,
Reflect, Implement! Let’s take a look at where we want to be & who we want to be known as? God is
calling….Will we follow?
January 18th: Fellowship Night
“Drive-thru” Scavenger Hunt 3:00-5:00 p.m. Meet at New Life UMC & travel
back 2 NLUMC
What do you get when you mix clues hidden through-out Midlothian with vehicles of youth scrambling to
figure out where to go next? Well…..a “Drive-through” Scavenger Hunt. This will be a night of excitement,
adventure, and intrigue. We will divide into Car Teams at New Life and hit the road for our Drive-thru adventure.
January 25th: Worship Night
Listening to God’s Voice through Prayer 4:30-5:30 p.m. New Life UMC
Come & experience God in a new and fresh way. We will worship youth-style as the Youth Praise Band
leads us & we will hear a testimony from our “Surprise” Guest of Honor. You will leave blessed, uplifted, and
ready to begin a new week in the world!
For More Information on New Life’s Youth Program, please contact Lori Epps,
Director of Youth Ministries at 794-4522, 897-4537, or 239-8318 or youth@newlifeumc.org.
January 2009 The New Millennium 9

New Life
Older Adult Ministries Council
Be ready for fun and excitement!
We are not retired but re-treaded!!

Older Adult Ministries (OAM) Bible Study Workshop

Our Bible Workshop will be meeting on the 2nd Thursday of January,
8th, at 10:30AM. We are continuing our study of Revelation through a
DVD presentation, discussion, and free workbook. This study takes the
(sometimes perceived) mystery and apprehension out of this Book of
the Bible. Please bring your Bible and join us for an interesting time of
learning. There also will be a class on January 22nd, the 4th Thursday.
After the Bible Study Workshop on January 8th, we will have a lunch, fellowship and a program
brought to us by Monica Hughes, of The Lifelong Learning Institute. The Lifelong Learning Institute
is located in Midlothian. They have programs to help Boomers, and Seniors grow physically,
mentally and socially. Even old Dogs can learn new tricks. This all begins at 11:30 am. Come and
enjoy our surprise lunch menu. If you can join us please call Olive Jane and Frank Stiller 897-0678
so we will have an approximate number for which to prepare.

Alzheimer’s Support Group

Every 2nd Wednesday at 10:00AM the Alzheimer’s Association has our monthly Support Group
Meeting at the church. Much is to be learned when this disease affects a loved-one. Come and
learn along with the rest of us who find ourselves in this situation. This month’s meeting will be on
January 14. Also, go to the web site www.alz.org to sign up for the local newsletter.

Lunch Bunch
Our group will be gathering for lunch on Sunday, January 11th, at Home Team Sports Grill in
Powhatan. This has always been a well attended lunch spot, so let’s round up the team and have
some fellowship and fun in January. The Home Team Grill is located at number 1795 across from
the Food Lion in the One South Creek Mall on route 60. Please make your reservation with Olive
Jane at 897-0678 or by email to MSANODIZE @comcast.net . See you there.

OAM Advisory Board Let’s start our year off with fun and excitement
We are not retired but re-treaded!!I
Don and Brenda Bray
Ed and Margaret Higham
Bob and Linda McCann
Bob Roe
Frank and Olive Jane Stiller
Bill and Nancy Swann
We are getting together to plan some day trips, overnighters, and programs for our group this year.
If you have any ideas we would like to hear from you—or stay tuned, you will hear from us.
These folks will be listening to the heartbeat of our congregation and looking to how our adults and
our church can best serve each other.
 New Life
United Methodist Church

900 Old Hundred Road

Midlothian, Virginia 23114

Office:
804-794-4522
office@newlifeumc.org
Rev. Mike Maxwell:
pastor@newlifeumc.org
www.newlifeumc.org

Congregational Care
Do you know of someone in our church community who is in need of care, please
contact our church office or Robin Ann Gauthier @ 804-350-9045.

Do you have a prayer concern/request you want to share with your church
family?

1. Visit www.newlifeumc.org and click on Eprayer to submit your prayer

request. If submitting via computer is not for you, please call Robin Ann
@ 804-350-9045.

2. On Sundays, at worship service, your prayer request may be placed in the

offertory plate for the prayer team and/or church family.