E-Bulletin December 5th

Flower Arrangements
The flower arrangements on the communion table are in memory of Sara Robinson.


Hello parents of children at NLBC!
We wanted to invite your children to participate in this year's Christmas skit which will be held during the church service on Sunday, December 21st. The skit this year is a very simple narrative of the Christmas story as told in Matthew and Luke and the youth group teens will be narrating and acting out each part. We'd like to invite the rest of the children to participate by dressing up as young shepherds, sheep and angels for the manger scene. We'll have helpers available to get the kids up on the stage and back down again. The play will end in a song that the cast, kids and congregation will sing together.
Our first step is to find out which children would like to participate, and if so, what they'd like to dress up as: Shepherd, sheep or angel. We plan to try costumes on the children during church on Sunday December 14th, then send the costumes home in a bag so they can wear their costumes to church on Sunday the 21st. We'll have designated seats for kids and their families at the front of the church.
Please text (413) 230-9419 or email Kris Bartlett: bartlett.kristine@gmail.com by Wednesday the 10th if your child would like to participate or if you have any questions. Thank you!  


Gingerbread House Decorating!
Don't forget to decorate your gingerbread house this Sunday right after church at 11:30am. No Sunday School. If you did not sign up for a house you can still join for a pizza lunch and fellowship.
Pizza will be provided by the church with the help of the Social Committee and will be around 12:30.
Please bring candy to share for the "community candy" table and then any specialty candies you might want for your own! This is a free church sponsored event, but candy donations are helpful.

Marriage Tune-Up Webinar 
December 10th All married couples are invited to a free, 45-minute online “Marriage Tune-Up” on Wednesday, December 10 at 8:00 p.m. (ET). This practical, faith-based workshop will be led by Willie Batson, the same marriage coach who led the recent Joni and Friends marriage retreat attended by four of our NLBC couples. Willie Batson is a Christian marriage coach and longtime pastor with decades of experience teaching, counseling, and guiding couples toward healthier, Christ-centered relationships. He blends biblical wisdom with simple, practical tools to help couples understand each other better, strengthen communication, and build a lasting friendship rooted in faith. During this webinar, Willie will introduce helpful “preventive maintenance” habits along with the Better Love and 5 Love Languages assessments for those who want a personalized plan for continued growth. Format: Live online via Zoom Date/Time: December 10, 2025 at 8:00 p.m. (ET) Cost: Free For more information or to register, visit: https://williebatson.com/marriage-tune-up-webinar/
Questions: contact Mariah Jackman at 413-522-8014

Church Family Movie Outing 
Join us for a special church family outing to see David, the new film from Angel Studios. This is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a powerful biblical story together and invite friends or neighbors. Date: Thursday, December 18th Time: 6:50 PM Location: Cinemark Theater in Hadley. Snacks and treats will be provided. Tickets can be purchased through the Cinemark website or through Angel Studios at:
https://www.angel.com/tickets/david/showtime/598197738/seats/map
Contact Mariah Jackman (413-522-8014) or Tonia Jackman (413-325-5238) for questions and to let them know you're coming. Please let us know if you would like to join but have a financial hardship that would keep you from joining, we would love to help! We hope you’ll join us for this fun night out!

Joy in the Journey – Special Needs Moms Group 
Are you a mom of someone with special needs? You’re not alone. Joy in the Journey is a monthly online video chat group where mothers come together to share their burdens, pray, and encourage one another with others who truly understand. Join us as we find hope, strength, and joy together in the journey God has placed before us. For more information or to join, contact Mariah Jackman at 413-522-8014.

Ministry Opportunities
We have some areas of service and ministry within the church that need to be filled. Would you pray about how you could help?

• Assistant Treasurer: We are looking for an Assistant Treasurer to help with the finances of the church. You must be a member to serve in this role. Please see Derek Postema with any questions about the position.
• Social Committee: We are also looking for anyone interested in serving on the Social Committee. This would involve helping with events including set-up, take down, prep, etc. This role is open to all, please see Judy Todd or Janice Abbott with any questions.
• Food Pantry: There is need for another volunteer for the food pantry. Let Rob or Karen Rice know if you are interested.

Offering
2025 Budget - Yearly $190,624
                      - Weekly $3,666

Offering -The offering for this past Sunday (11-30-25) totaled $3,971.03. Designated gifts were as follows: $120 Food Pantry and $200 Mike/ Grace ROM. 

Our Food pantry has had an increase in clients and we could use help monetarily.


Needs:
Chunky Soups
Beef Stew
Bar hand soap
Cereal
Snack items
Brownie mixes
Cookie mixes
Olive Oil
Nuts
Pumpkin Seeds
Sunflower Seeds
Dressings
Jars of Spaghetti Sauce
Baked Beans
Applesauce
Jelly (Not Grape)
Canned Chicken

Anything is welcome, but these are the biggest needs.

Thank you to all the people that have donated to the pantry.
The Food Pantry will be open every 1st and 3rd Monday from 6-7pm
Donations can be left in the foyer or in the hall outside the Food Pantry

Jesus’ life and death brings us life, hope, and salvation. He gave all He could give for each of us. Thank you Jesus!

Danielle Bounaugurio continues to do well with her chemo treatments. Her last treatment is December 17!

Thank you to everyone who decorated the church for Christmas!

For the beauty of God’s creation covered in snow.

For our Sunday service and Pastor Daniel who will be preaching.

For Alison Burek who will be having surgery on December 8th to remove the cancerous spot on her kidney.

Pray that any visitors during this Christmas season will understand the true meaning of Christmas and their need for a Savior.

Pray about who you could ask to come with you to one of our Christmas services.

Sunday is the second Sunday in Advent. The Candle of Peace is lit.

For those dealing with ongoing health issues: Danielle Buonaugurio, Bob Tidlund, John Burek, Matthew Jackman, John Drumgool, Carl McConchie, Steve Samal, Tina LaClaire, Alison Burek, Paul Burek, Ella Bartlett, Lucas Hunting, Charlie Buonaugurio, and Juliana Jackman.  Pray for their caregivers as well.

For our senior members: Jean Willmann, Charlotte Abbott, Edie Field, Fay Bennett, Anna Jean Marsh, Joy Parsons, Bill and Karen Czerwonka.

Our ministry focus this week are the men’s and women’s discipleship groups.

Our church of the week is Erving Congregational and their pastor Vic Miller.

Our Global Partner of the week is Lee and Lauren Browning. Pray for them as Lee steps down from Ethnos ministry and seeks to find work and help Ethnos transition his roles.

For our Global Outreach partners:

• Bengali Christian Ministry
• Lee and Lauren Browning
• Mike and Grace Stafford
• Springfield Rescue Mission
• The Kimballs
• Rivers of Mercy Children's Home
• PathWay College Outreach Ministries-Santiago and Jackie Olortegui

3 - Judy Todd, Justin Hunting, Becky Cobb
8 - Connor Bartlett
12 - Don Robinson
20 - Trevor Jackman
21 - Lori Black
22 - Hannah Brussel
25 - Seth Bartlett
28 - Millie Postema