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07/ 5 /2025
Good morning church family,
Thank God for the great country we live in and for all of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to give us the freedom we enjoy!
As a church family, we have had a lot to be thankful for throughout all of the 152 years of our history. One of the most humbling things about this congregation consistently and all through the years, is the agape love everyone has for one another. We rejoice with one another when it’s time to rejoice, and we grieve with those who grieve. God has blessed this congregation richly and we give Him thanks. May we celebrate His Goodness and continue to praise His Holy Name!
Our High School Graduates Canaan Stewart and Justin Coon received their bibles from the congregation on Sunday. We are beyond proud of them. Both Justin and Canaan are excited to see what God has in store for them!
Greg and Linda appreciated everyone’s well wishes and look forward to their move to Ohio. Our prayers are with them.
 We rejoice with Brother & Sister Devlal and Nesha Moktan shared these photos of their new grandson Nicholas. Here are some pictures to share: Giving thanks to God for the healthy birth of Jin’s niece . Prayers for her sister-in-law as she recovers from the delivery.
Families with Young Children celebrated a fun evening of fellowship to celebrate the end of the school year. Here are a few photos to share:
 
YOUNG ADULTS:
The Young Adults will be taking a trip to Mystic on Saturday July 12th. Please see Zach or Tori for more details.
GIVING THANKS
Luis & Jennifer Ruiz are ecstatic that the court has approved their guardianship of Levi this past week. July 24th will be the official court date to make it legal. They are so thankful for everyone’s prayers. God is so good!
Thanks to Jay for preaching in Ron’s absence, and to both Jay and Dennis for their hard work in grilling all of the hamburgers and hotdogs outside in the heat for this pot luck meal. We appreciate you both and everyone was grateful!
PRAYER REQUESTS
Prayers for Desrine Forbes who is currently at St. Vincent’s Medical Center being treated for congestive heart failure. Her faith continues to be strong as she faces each day.
Prayers for Nancy Melson’s husband Gerry who was recently diagnosed with Cardiac amyloidosis.
Please continue to pray for Cherie Saracino. Her cataract surgery has been cancelled for now. Please pray for Al as he continues to take care of her and has decisions to make concerning any future treatment. He thanks the church for the many prayers, calls and cards.
Prayers for Doreen Palmer’s daughter Christina who has been in the hospital for malnutrition and several medical issues. Doreen will be with her for several weeks in Maryland, caregiving her. Doreen misses everyone and is grateful for our prayers.
Prayers for Angela Weber since she is having intense back pain.
Prayers for Rosalyn Thomas who returns to her home country in Grenada to take care of her Mother.
Prayers for Ashley’s sister Olivia Likely who is dealing with extreme pain from Trigeminal neuralgia which is a chronic nerve condition that affects the nerves in the face and jaw. She is serving in the military so must be careful about what is prescribed to her.
Recently we submitted a prayer request from Barb Wangerin (past speaker for our ladies retreats). Barb lost her mother a few months ago. Her daughter April who had a brain tumor last year, needs prayers for continued head pressure and pain. Also, her brother in Christ Greg Belcher is in critical care after coming into contact with voltage. Yesterday she requested an additional prayer request for an immediate family member who took his life. She is grateful for all of the prayers while they ride this storm through.
TRUMBULL EVENTS:
 Wednesday evening zoom studies:
Ron is leading a fantastic bible study on the Old Testament Prophets. We are currently studying the book of Isaiah. Please look for the zoom link and carve out time to join in.
V.B.S.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL will be on July 26th, beginning at 11 am, ending at 2 pm.
VBS is only a few weeks away! If you are interested in volunteering in any capacity , please see Derin or Kristen Wilson. The food sign-up list is posted on the back door. Thanks to many who have signed up already! Flyers are on the table in the auditorium. Please invite family and friends for this afternoon of fun and learning about the bible. This is a wonderful evangelistic effort!
Since the beginning of time, we humans have always celebrated events…holidays, weddings, joyous occasions such as the birth of a new baby, or huge milestones which are achieved.
The Bible details various celebrations, including weekly observances like the Sabbath and annual feasts like Passover, and the Feast of Tabernacles. These celebrations commemorate significant events in the history of Israel and express gratitude for God’s blessings and provision. They also serve as reminders of God’s faithfulness and encourage worship and fellowship among believers.
In scripture, the Hebrew word for “celebrate” is shavat. This word appears in the Bible over 400 times. It is used in reference to the joyous aspects of the life after salvation and refers to the joy of the children of God. It also conveys the idea of festivity and joyousness in the LORD.
Sometimes in the Bible, the word “celebrate” is used interchangeably with worship and praise. In the New Testament, the celebration of the Lord’s Supper is a celebration of thanksgiving and worship.
Celebrate is one of the primary words used to describe what the early church did. It was one of the first words used to describe the Christian worship service. It means to make a joyous noise or to show great delight. When we celebrate, we praise God and express our love for Him. We express our appreciation for the gifts He has given us, from the good things in this life, to the person HE created us to be.
In the Old Testament celebrations were many:
The Sabbath was a weekly day of rest and worship, commemorating God’s completion of creation.
Passover commemorates the Israelites’ deliverance from slavery.
Feast of Unleavened Bread was observed alongside Passover, remembering the Israelites’ hasty departure from Egypt.
Feast of Weeks (A harvest festival expressing gratitude for God’s provision)
Feast of Trumpets (which marked the beginning of the Jewish New Year and was a time of reflection),
Day of Atonement (A day of fasting and repentance to seek forgiveness for sins).
Feast of Tabernacles (Celebrated God’s provision and protection during the Israelites’ wilderness journey).
In the New Testament, the term celebrate has a very different meaning that it does in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, people celebrate to share in the joy of God’s salvation.Every time we share the gospel with someone, we are celebrating God’s salvation! To celebrate is to be thankful to God for what He has done for us in our lives and in the lives of every person we come in contact with.
The Wedding at Cana is a biblical account in John 2:1-11 where Jesus performs His first miracle, turning water into wine at the wedding feast.
We read about the JOY that the Father had when his prodigal son returned home. Luke 15:23-24 “And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found’ and they began to celebrate.”
The Bible speaks of REJOICING in heaven when a sinner repents!
Celebrations express JOY, LOVE and GRATITUDE for many of life’s milestones. There are even celebrations for when a soul departs from this earth.
CELEBRATIONS bring us closer together.
CELEBRATIONS bring us laughter and joy, and lift us UP… even in the midst of pain and grief.
Psalm 118:24
“This is the day that the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it “
Ecclesiastes 3:13
“Also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil – this is God’s gift to man.”
God invites His people to celebrate because He is a God of celebration!
Biblical celebration at its core is dwelling on the goodness of God. Celebration is a vital part of the Christian life. It is an expression of gratitude, joy, and reverence for God’s blessings, faithfulness and sovereignty. Throughout scripture we see numerous instances where God’s people are called to celebrate – through feasts, songs, dances, or simply giving thanks. It is about REJOICING IN THE LORD.
We celebrate GOD’S REIGN
1 Chronicles 16:31
“Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice, and let them say among the nations, ‘The Lord reigns!“.
GOD REJOICES OVER US
Zephaniah 3:17
“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will safe; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”
REJOICE over Salvation! Our salvation is one of the greatest reasons for celebration. This verse portrays the JOY of being clothed in God’s righteousness, a gift that transforms our lives and fills us with gratitude.
Isaiah 61:10
“I will greatly rejoice in the LORD;
my soul shall exult in my God,
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness.“
We celebrate the fullness of JOY in CHRIST
John 15:11
“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”
Celebrating REFLECTS GOD’s GREAT WORKS!
Psalm 126:3
“The LORD has done great things for us, and we are glad.“
The Great Barrier Reef, located off the coast of Queensland, Australia, is the world’s largest coral reef system, encompassing over 3,000 individual reefs, 900 islands, and stretching for 2,300 kilometers. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site, renowned for its biodiversity and natural beauty, and is even visible from space! The Great Barrier Reef is one of the natural wonders of the world. God’s magnificent creation, for us to soak up HIS GLORY!
KEEP SINGING:
Psalm 98:4
“Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises!“
THE GOODNESS OF GOD
Casandra Martin shared a terrific post which brings us to celebrate each and EVERY DAY!
Today is special. No, there isn’t a holiday that you missed, a celebration you forgot, or an anniversary you overlooked. Today is special because God is present. He created this day for your delight. He handcrafted every piece as an invitation for you to enter His deep joy.
Here are ten ways you can celebrate today:
- Breathe. God is in control…of everything.
- Rejoice. All really is forgiven.
- Rest. God is watching over you.
- Enjoy. God created chocolate.
- Smile. You are never alone.
- Pray. God is listening to every heartbeat.
- Sing. Worship is the antidote to worry.
- Look. See the beauty in the ordinary.
- Listen. He is calling your name.
- Be brave. Jesus is always the right answer.
My Jesus Resolutiontoday is to celebrate. I am going to take a minute to stop and celebrate the beauty He has planted in my path. I am going to look for an opportunity to smile at His handiwork. I want to pause in praise, and bow in worship. Today, I am going to sing a song that reminds me of His goodness and enjoy this special day.
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May we reflect on God’s goodness in our lives, be exuberant and celebrate!
May we acknowledge and be thankful for HIS PROMISES!
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him,
so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
Worship every Sunday celebrates the birth, death and resurrection of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. Invite your friends, family, neighbors to hear the gospel message, to sing praises unto God, and rejoice in the fellowship of the saints.
TO GOD BE THE GLORY, GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE!
In Him,
Bruce & Paula
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