What do you seek?

10/11/2025

Good morning church family,

GIVING THANKS:

Thanks to everyone for your donations to Spooner House, for the Head Start program, and the College Care bag items. God is surely glorified through this good work.

BENEVOLENCE:

In collaboration with The Trumbull early school program (Head Start). We are collecting items that S.N.A.P does not cover. These items will be given to children in need. Soap, Toothpaste, toilet paper, etc. We will be collecting these over the next few weeks. A list and a collection box can be found in the front foyer. Thanks to Kaydeen for spear heading this effort.

SPOONER HOUSE is in need of non-perishable food items.

Just a reminder that we have an ongoing need at SPOONER HOUSE for non-perishable food. So many of you have been so generous through the years. Thanks for always remembering to bring food in for them.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

We give much thanks and PRAISE THE LORD, that the bone marrow arrived. The bone marrow was flown in and the surgery took place Wednesday evening. God is working in a glorious manner here and His timing is impeccable!

Leo is in excruciating pain and is very weak . His mouth is filled with sores. It’s so hard for Gina and Vince and for all of the family who cannot be by his side. The bone marrow was gravity driven (allowing the body to absorb it on its own) thru the blood (via his port). Fervent prayers for Leo continue, as he is a very sick young man. We wait and we trust in God’s healing power and continue to pray without ceasing. Thank you ALL!

FLYERS FOR ALL AREA EVENTS ARE POSTED ON THE AUDITORIUM TABLE

COMING UP:

Tuesday Ladies bible study via zoom, next class on October 28th. This past Tuesday class had a great turn-out and rich discussion. Thanks to Lisa Saracino and Mary Lou for leading this mid-week bible study which continues in the book of Revelation.

Today, Saturday from 10:00-12:00 Ladies’ bible study at the church building. These Saturday studies will focus on discovering the Aroma of Christ in the Beatitudes. Thanks to all of the ladies who have signed up for teaching these bible classes this year. We have an amazing group of women and God is glorified!

We will be putting together the college care bags as well this Saturday. Thanks to all for your donations thus far!

October 25th – Trunk or Treat set up will be at 4:30pm and we will start at 5:00pm. See the sign up sheets for food & trunks!

Sunday, November 2nd – POT LUCK

Please note that the Italian themed pot luck will be for a winter pot luck in 2025.

For this upcoming Pot Luck on November 2nd, an Autumn themed pot luck is requested..cozy fall recipes such as chili, soups, casseroles, and pies are welcomed! Please use these pot lucks as opportunities to invite friends, family and loved ones. There is always plenty of food for all!

YOUNG ADULTS

Here are some photos of the Young Adults apple picking at Lyman Orchards last weekend…

Ron & Lisa will be hosting an evening for the Young Adults November 14th at 6:30. This will be a dinner, devo, game night. Please bring a dessert to share.

Psalm 19:1

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows his handiwork.“

Autumn is simply a breathtaking time of year! As the crisp air of fall settles in and the landscape transforms into a vibrant tapestry of reds, oranges, and yellows, may our breath be taken away by God’s creation!

The trees dramatically transform and are ablaze with a beautiful palate of colors! Because of shorter days and cooler temperatures. other pigments like yellow and orange carotenoids become more visible. Red and purple colors develop from anthocyanin, which are produced when sugars become trapped in the leaves, with brighter, cooler weather leading to more vibrant reds.

Falling leaves, though they may seem like a sign of decay, are a vital part of the ecosystem! The decaying leaves provide nutrients to the soil as they decompose, enriching it and supporting the growth of new plants in the spring. This cycle of life, death and rebirth is fundamental to our natural world and to us as well.

The seasons remind us that change is certain. Challenging times in life are reminders and opportunities to accept change, which brings opportunities for personal development and spiritual transformation.

As we read in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, “there is a time to be born, and a time to die” Life is characterized by divinely appointed cycles of contrasting experiences such as birth, death, joy & sorrow, war and peace. The beautiful cycle of life.

We serve an AWESOME GOD, CREATOR of it all! Malachi 3:6 “For I am the LORD, I do not change..”

This couple are living on-site at the monastery in Marseille France, which was just purchased by the church of Christ in Marseille. Their names are Khaled and Dijida Hasanni (phonetic pronunciation is Di-jid-dah” & we called her Jiji” for short) .

Jiji did the cooking for us while we did the work week. She cooked 3 meals a day for 30 people for 8 days and beyond, as several members of the church stayed on an additional two weeks to help there.

Khaled is one of 11 siblings and his family is muslim. At 20 years of age he fought with the muslim army, fighting terrorism in Algeria. One of his close friends was killed who was wearing a cross. This cross was given to Khaled. The cross was a treasured keepsake to remember his friend, but the cross did not mean anything to him otherwise.

Khaled kept thinking and asking himself, “Why are all of these men dying at 22 years of age? Why is this happening?” Both sides of the battlefield were saying, “God is good”!

Khaled left his country after serving in the army there. While in Africa, he spent time in Nigeria during the darkest time for Algeria. It was so hot there, he went inside of a church to cool off. He was the only Algerian there, and as he sat in the church, he heard them praying for Algerians. He couldn’t understand why they were praying for Algerians?

He and Jiji were part of an arranged marriage. She is also Algerian. Their life has been hard to say the least.

In January 2001 he and Jiji both landed in Marseille. One of the CEM students met them both, and invited them to one of their church meetings. He felt something special with this group of people, so he started attending church regularly. Lots of love were shown to them both. Jiji left her country, and did not speak French. Life continued to be difficult for her since they were still muslims and she couldn’t speak French.

As Khaled studied the bible, he compared the Koran to the Bible and quickly understood that he was not on the right road.

Khaled grew in his knowledge of the scriptures and passed this on to his children. He said that he prayed as a muslim, to become a Christian and attended the church for 8 years before he was baptized. His wife was baptized two years after that. After they were baptized, his own family mocked him and he endured persecution. They lost everything that they had in Algeria! Life became more challenging for him and his family in Algeria took it out on him for leaving their faith. He told his father, he chose the right way, and his mother was furious. Then his father died. Khalid kept the faith, and even after his daughter was hit by a car, he continued to serve in the church, trusting in God all the way!

Many years passed. His mother continued to be furious with him and did not want to step foot in his house. At one point after his Father had passed away, she had no choice but to go to his home. He took her to church and to their prayer time. She heard him preach one Sunday morning and she was so touched, she asked for prayers. He read this scripture:

Matthew 11:28

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,

for I am gentle and humble in heart,

and you will find rest for your souls.

For my yoke is easy,

and my burden is light.”

Khaled’s mother was touched by these words and welcomed Khaled back into their family. She is back in Algeria now, and praise God she is continuing to study God’s word.

Khaled visits his Mother in Algeria every few years and they go to church there. The pastor there allows Khalid to preach to the congregation.

It has been 16 years now that Khaled and Djijidi and their family, serve the congregation in Marseille.

They found their true home in the family of God.

They are living rent free at the monastery and caretakers of the property, offering love is shown to all who enter there.

Khaled’s story is one of thousands upon thousands of people who are seeking something. Praise God they found JESUS!

John 1:35-42

“The next day John was there again with two of his disciples.

When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look the lamb of God!“

We see a life that was transformed into someone who was wandering, and unsure of what he believed, to someone who was LOST and WAS FOUND!

Everyone seeks something. Some seek possessions, some accolades, some seek prestige or status, some seek monetary gain, the list goes on.

The world is searching for meaning, purpose, love and true happiness. Sadly, people seek all of this in all the wrong places and they are distracted. Many people chase fleeting pleasures, escaping from life.

Some say “I have climbed the highest mountain, scaled the highest hills, chase miracles that fade, but I still haven’t found what I am looking for!”

We are not called to spend a day with Jesus, but a lifetime!

It is only IN Christ that we will truly find what we are looking for!

Jesus asked in John 1:37 “What do you seek?”

These are the first words from Christ to those who would become disciples.

A simple question , as simple as they come.

There is one thing that we all should seek above all else…

Psalm 105:3-4

“Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.

Seek the LORD and His strength.

Seek His face continually.“

We were created to Praise God.

Our souls will never be at rest until we find Him.

In His presence is “Fullness of joy and at His right hand there are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11

David knew that His Father was the sole source of all that was needed, he made a deliberate and continual turn to pursue His presence.

Psalm 16:8

“I have set the LORD continually before me.

Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken“

The evil one is devious, strategic and relentless. He masquerades as an angel of light as we read in 2 Corinthians 11:14. His only hope is to pull Christians away from our intimate relationship with the Father.

We all need to ask ourselves….what do we seek?