The Love of Jesus

Good morning church family,
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GIVING THANKS:
    *    Thanks to all who helped surround Emille and Jenna Jones at the baby shower last Sunday, with love.  We had the privilege of meeting Emille's Mom and Jenna's close friends.  Here are some pictures to share:
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PRAYER REQUESTS:
    *    Jess Taylor has been in the hospital for a few days from bleeding.  Thankfully she is home now.  Prayers for the doctors to stay on top of her remaining two months left, before she delivers their little boy, Lord willing in late March. 
    *    Prayers for Emille Jones as he awaits his PET/CT results and deals with high levels of pain.  
    *    Prayers for Paula Ross's sister and her husband whose home burned down.
   
    *    Continued prayers for Mary Preteska and family as they continue to help her through her storm.
COMING UP:
   

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BIBLE STUDIES
    *    Saturday February 10th at 10:00 a.m. at the church building Lisa & Tori will lead a Mother/Daughter devotional.     How blessed we are to have a Mother and daughter team up to lead our ladies and young girls in Christ!     Rumor has it that there will be some heart-shaped goodies as well! 
*    The next Tuesday morning bible studies will be on February 13th at 9:30 a.m. via zoom.  and then on February 27th. Please see Lisa or Mary Lou if you know anyone who can benefit from this mid-week study.  
FEBRUARY:
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    *    The YOUNG ADULTS will be meeting at the Sports Center for laser tag at 5pm Friday February 16th and then heading back to the church building after for a Bible study.   See Zach and Tori for more details.
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 *    GAME NIGHT – FEBRUARY 24th – 4:00 p.m.  Jay & Flo are hosting a game night at the church building.Pick up a flyer on the back table for complete details.  
COMING UP IN MARCH:
LADIES NIGHT MOVIE & DINNER – March 2nd Time to be determined.
Lisa Saracino is organizing a ladies movie & dinner on March 2nd.  The movie is “The Ordinary Angels”.  Stay tuned for more details as the movie time will be determined as theater releases showtimes.
COMING UP IN APRIL:
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Here are two great events coming up and lead by Brother Keller…
SPRING GIVE-A-WAY DAY!

“Give Away Day” April 27th 2024

We are working on trying to put together a “Give Away Day” In late April. The overall purpose of this event is not only blessing others with the items we no longer need, but to show our love and concern for those in need.

If you have any gently used items that are in good working condition to donate. Please take a form on the back table to catalog your items and return your list no later than February 11th. This will allow us to know if we have enough items to make this program work.

Trip to See Daniel at the Sight & Sound Theater in PA in September

An inquiry signup sheet and more information has been posted on the door to the auditorium to find out the best date and estimated participation. Please fill in your info no later than Feb 11th so we can best know how to proceed.

If you have any questions, please contact Bro. Keller at 203-218-9517   

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APRIL TALENT SHOW – Saturday, April 6th at 6:30 p.m.  
There is a flyer on the back table regarding an upcoming Talent show headed up by Lisa, Zach and Tori Saracino which will help support our commitment to Spooner House.   Please sign up to share your talents, all ages welcome!
ADMISSION – Please bring non-perishable items for The Spooner House.
CONGREGATIONAL EVENTS: (see flyers on the back table for details)
Men's Retreat – Kent Connecticut – June 14th & 15th
Inspire New England – Manchester church of Christ – March 22-23
We share with you two powerful posts from Casandra Martin regarding the LOVE of Jesus.    
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Loved

by Casandra Martin

And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” – Ephesians 4:18-19

Some days it is hard to believe God loves us. We struggle with our circumstances, how we feel, and the reflection we see in the mirror. We hear a thousand voices telling us how we fall short, mess up, fail miserably, are not quite good enough, or are just shy of what is desired. Sometimes that voice is my own. We catalog our shortcomings with the thoroughness of a museum curator, ruthless and merciless of anything less than what we see as perfection. We carry a secret ache to be loved, but put up barriers to fully experiencing that love.

Here is the soul-freeing, guilt-releasing, shame-reducing, smile-inducing truth – we will never be worthy of God’s love. Before you shake your head, think about it. This is Good News! God loves you. Period. Not because you are good enough, pretty enough, smart enough, do enough, know enough, or are worthy enough. He loves you because you are His. He set His heart on loving you, and nothing is going to change His mind. Nothing! You can’t mess it up or talk Him out of it. He is willing to wade into our struggles and love us right where we are. He longs to unleash the power of His love to help us move, heal, worship, change, and grow. Living loved isn’t about being perfect. It is about choosing today to live in His presence.

My Jesus Resolution today is to soak in the truth that I am deeply, passionately, wholly, unconditionally loved. The world will tell me that I am unworthy, broken, dejected, hopeless, unlovely, and unfit for such a love. The truth is that God takes what is broken and makes it whole. He transforms what is unworthy into something beautiful and holy. He holds the dejected and hopeless and infuses new life and peace into each moment. God meets me where I am, in whatever state I am, and loves me. He longs for that love to change my thoughts, my eyes, my hands, my feet, my mouth, my ears, and my heart. When I hear the broken record of the world tell me that I am rejected and unwanted, I am going to sing ‘Jesus Loves Me’ at the top of my lungs. He does, and He always will.


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Falling In Love

by Casandra Martin

Love is on everybody’s mind. Valentine’s Day is approaching and everyone’s attention is turned toward celebrating the relationships that make our life sweet in joy and rich in wonder. This season of love is also a good time to reflect on our relationship with Christ. Are we growing closer to the One who loves us beyond measure? Are our times together sweeter, our conversations deeper, our walk together closer? Like all relationships, our connection with God grows when we invest our hearts in His heart.

Here are ten ways to fall in love with God all over again.

1. Listen to His voice.

2. Spend time in His presence.

3. Hold His hand.

4. Be quiet together.

5. Take a walk.

6. Learn His heartbeat.

7. Name His attributes.

8. Count your blessings.

9. Trust His love.

10. Tell Him your heart’s desire.

My Jesus Resolution today is to open my heart to deeper love. No relationship survives long on cruise control. All relationships need time, attention, and a commitment to being fully present. This is especially true of my relationship with the Lord. I want to be overwhelmed by His love and give my heart fully to loving Him. I am going to take some time this week, as I express my love for the special people in my lives, to remind my heart why I love Jesus and to delight in all the ways that He loves me.

KEEP SINGING:
THE LOVE OF GOD
He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice“. 1 John 4:10
  1. Since the love of God has shed
    Priceless blessings on my head,
    I have made it my own;
    I will hide it in my heart
    That it never may depart,
    It shall rule there alone.
    • Refrain:
      The love of God, within the heart
      Will kindliness and warmth impart;
      The soul will glow like Jesus in His tender mercy,
      If the heart is made His dwelling place;
      The love of God glows like a flame,
      Through endless years it is the same;
      The love of God will never fail nor lose its glory
      Till we see Him face to face.
  2. Since the Son of God came down
    With His love our lives to crown,
    He with us would remain;
    Greater love there could not be,
    Jesus died for you and me,
    In our hearts, He would reign.
  3. He who gave His love to me
    That I might from sin be free
    Bids me share it today;
    “As I love you,” He has said,
    “You must serve men in My stead
    As you go on your way.”
  4. While His love burns true and bright,
    We are walking in the light,
    He has shown us the road;
    We His glory must reflect,
    Lest our dimness and neglect
    Keep some soul from it’s God.



HOW DEEP THE FATHER'S LOVE FOR US


How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He would give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away,
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory.


Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders,
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers.

It was my sin that held Him there,
Until it was accomplished,
His dying breath has brought me life,
I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything,
No gifts, no power, no wisdom,
But I will boast in Jesus Christ,
His death and resurrection.

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer,
But this I know with all my heart,
His wounds have paid my ransom.

May we strive daily to grasp hold of the incredible, deep & sacrificial LOVE that God has for us.

May we experience the LOVE of JESUS, that surpasses knowledge.


Let LOVE be the driving force behind all that we say and do, as we follow our LORD & SAVIOR Jesus Christ.


Let's PASS IT ON!


Our LOVE In Him,


Bruce & Paula


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