Sunday, February 22, 2026
Worship Services - 8:30am and 11:00am
Sunday School classes for all ages - 10:00-10:45am
Nursery care for children 0-2 is available during Sunday School and during the 11:00 service.
Children’s Church for ages 3-5 is available during the sermon portion of the 11:00 service.
Dear Church Family,
Thank you for your poignant cards, generous gifts, kind words, and gracious sentiments as New Life approaches the next chapter of her ministry. Thank you especially for the beautiful Redlin print. We will display it in our Sioux Falls home, where it will bring to mind precious memories of our season together with you.
Love in Christ,
Pastor Chris and Rhonda
Sunday School Classes for all ages: 10:00-10:45am
this week (2/22), we’ll begin a new study…
The Gospel of the Kingdom Through Storytelling
More than feel good stories, or interesting ways to teach truth. More than just mirrors for us to see ourselves, the parables of Jesus are stories with intent and with rich gospel meaning for those who have “ears to hear.” Jesus uses parables to get right to the point and expose the heart - the heart of God, that is!
Make plans to join us in Adult Sunday School as we sit at the feet of Jesus, the greatest storyteller ever, and learn to dig into the Bible and mine precious treasures of the Kingdom!
Join us to pray together!
Connection Cards
We have Connection Cards available on the backs of the chairs in the sanctuary. Guests can fill them out and take them to the Info Center for a free gift. Anyone can use them to submit prayer requests, request more information about ministries, update personal contact information, ask a question, or give feedback. Cards can be dropped into the offering boxes at the entrances to the sanctuary.
Upcoming Events at a Glance
Mar 1 | Installation Service for Pastor Jim Hofman
Mar 2 - Apr 6 | Life Group Leader Training, Monday evenings
Mar 3 | PrimeTime Lunch for those 60+, 12:00pm in the Fellowship Hall
Mar 8-29 | Next Steps Class, Sundays at 10:00am in Room 209
Mar 8 | Concert of Prayer, 6:00pm at the church building
Mar 13-14 | Annual Men’s Conference, Friday evening and Saturday morning
Mar 15 | Pizza with Pastors, for those New to New Life, 12:15pm in Room 209
Apr 3 | Good Friday Service, 6:30pm
Apr 5 | Easter Sunday! Baptisms & Easter Breakfast
Apr 24-25 | Annual Women’s Conference, Friday evening and Saturday
(keep reading for more details)
New Life Men’s Conference 2026
Would you consider yourself a joyful person?
How would those who know you best answer that question about you?
Having joy is different from being happy. Happiness is based on our “happenings”—or circumstances. We spend so much time chasing a feeling or experience only to come up empty again. Joy is different; it’s rooted in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
The apostle Paul, writing to the church in Philippi from a prison cell, may seem an unlikely messenger of joy. However, even from prison Paul has a deep sense of joy and in his letter he explains the root of why. He tells us that after having all the world had to offer he gladly traded it all in and says just Give Me Jesus! (Phil. 3:7-8)
We’d all agree that our world could use a little joy! How about you? Are you ready for a change? Well, free-up your schedules so you can join us at the Men’s Conference on March 13-14.
Come and let these 2 days help start or strengthen meaningful relationships with other men as together we learn that the gospel, not our circumstances, sustains our joy and that our joy is rooted in Jesus. Like Paul, let's come together and say just “GIVE ME JESUS!”
New Life Church Life House
(the white building across the parking lot from our main building)
march 13-14, 2026
Friday evening (6:00-9:00) and Saturday morning (7:45-12:00)
Cost: $15 | includes Friday evening meal and Saturday breakfast
We’ll have t-shirts for those that register by February 22!
You can pay online (you’ll get an email with instructions when you register) or bring your payment to the church - drop it off at the office during the week or put it in the offering boxes on Sunday. Please make sure it is clearly marked “Men’s Conference” and has your name on it.
*If finances are an issue, there is a place on the registration form to let us know that and we will waive the registration fee.
The conference will include meals together, times of worship, video teaching sessions, small group discussions, and testimonies.
New Members
This week we welcome Vincent Martin as a member of New Life Church! If you are wondering how membership works, you can read what our church constitution says about it here. The Next Steps Class is required for membership and we typically hold two series of classes each year. See below…
NEXT STEPS is an opportunity to learn more about New Life Church, the Evangelical Free Church of America, and our Statement of Faith. We’ll discuss…
The background of the EFCA and New Life Church
The 10 points in our statement of faith
How to get plugged into serving at New Life
How to take the next step on the Discipleship Pathway
This class is required for membership at New Life, but is also good for anyone wanting to learn more about the church.
We invite you to come to Room 209 between the worship services (10:00-10:45) March 8-29!
Life Group Leader Training
Want to use your God-given gifts to help others connect and grow in faith? Come to Life Group Leader Training and learn to lead Christ-centered communities that shepherd people toward spiritual maturity.
Join us as we explore…
ways to create welcoming, safe environments where people open up to one another and care for one another
ways to facilitate discussions about Bible content so everyone engages and grows
ways to use the gifts present in your group to share God’s love with those around you
This training is a no-pressure way to explore whether leading a life-transforming life group is your next step. We hope you’ll join us!
Mondays from March 2 - April 6, 6:30 pm at Mike & Paula Highman’s home (609 3rd Street NE, Watertown)
Contact Mike or Paula with questions or to sign up.
Michael: (605) 520-0542, wtn000@yahoo.com
Paula: (605) 884-6581, hopethatistrue@yahoo.com
Let us know if you or your child/teen would like to be baptized on Easter Sunday. You can mark “baptism” on your Connection Card, call the church office (886-1977), or send an email to Lezlie (lezliee@newlifeefree.org).
Easter Devotional
We have some 30-day Easter Devotional books available. You can pick them up in the foyer. Suggested donation: $4.
What book of the Bible would you go to for the clearest explanation of how sinful people can be in the right relationship with a Holy God? Time after time I can only think of one book… Romans.
The Book of Romans, maybe more so than any other New Testament Book, shines a bright light on the transformative power of the gospel of Jesus Christ, from a man who himself was powerfully changed by Christ. We are going to start the year going chapter by chapter, verse by verse, through this amazing text given to us by God.
Also, throughout the study, we will be taking short detours to talk about some topics that all of us will face in our lifetime. Paul brings many of these topics up, as they were certainly happening in the church at Rome. Some of the topics include suffering, disagreements, knowing God’s will for your life, and pursuing holiness.
We are excited for what God will do with our time together in His Word, we pray you will join us!
Please call the church office or send an email to Pastor Billy if you have any questions - 605.886.1977 or billye@newlifeefree.org
Are you able to provide a meal?
We like to start each young adult evening with a meal. It's a good time for them to come together and have some fellowship time prior to teaching and discussion. Meals can be dropped off at the church kitchen during the day on Tuesdays or you and your life group can serve the meal starting at 6:30pm.
We need to have enough for 75-80 (young adults and leaders). If you have questions about the amount or any other questions please contact Pastor Billy - billye@newlifeefree.org
Awana is our midweek program for kids age 3 (by Sept. 1) through 4th grade. Kids have a chance to learn truths from God’s word during large group lesson time and small group book time! Club 56 is our midweek program for 5th & 6th graders. With worship, large group time, and small group discussion, Club 56 is like an intermediate age youth group!
Each month, we highlight a missionary or organization that is supported by New Life. We encourage you to be praying for them and also learning more about how God is working through them in their area of ministry.
Prayer Requests
Kathy is still serving with GlobalFingerprints, helping out with a project and promoting child sponsorship.
Conferences—NPD Feb 27-28, NPD Youth March 27-29, NCD April 13 –14, and Youth Blitz April 17-19
Visits to churches and pastor clusters and staff meetings (in person and virtual)
Youth Group is meeting on Wednesdays!
Youth Group is for students in 7th-12th grade.
We meet at 6:30pm on Wednesday evenings at the Life House.
Send an email to Pastor Billy if you would like to be added to his text reminder group: billye@newlifeefree.org
Discipleship Pathway
Are you ready to take the next step? Find out more about how to get involved in a Life Group or a D-Group.
