Good morning Church family,
Keep looking up, God is in control…
Psalm 19:1
“The heavens declare the Glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims the work of his hands”.
Psalm 104:1
“O LORD my God, you are very great!
You are clothed with splendor and majesty“
Psalm 145:13
“Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures through all generations.“
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GIVING THANKS:
* Karen Stanzione’s hand surgery went well. Continued prayers for her healing.
* Thanks to Lisa and Tori & Zach for hosting a FUN evening last weekend with the talent show. 27 bags of non-perishable foods were donated to the Spooner House and this was a great evening of fellowship with lots of laughs. Spooner House was beyond grateful and God was glorified by this good work.
Look at this adorable picture of Iris who was helping organize the canned goods!!
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Thanks to Luis for taping the talent show which is on YouTube. For those who were not able to come, here are the two links:
PRAYER REQUESTS:
* Angela Weber requested prayers for her Mother Connie who is fragile and dealing with many health challenges .
* Ray’s brother Mike Fernandes continues to struggle, prayers for his healing, peace and better days ahead.
* Emille Jones MRI showed a possible tumor on the brain and will be seeing a Neuro-oncologist. Emiliana continues to do well.
COMING UP:
Want to be part of this congregation’s evangelism?
The Shine Ministry and the VBS Planning Committee will meet downstairs immediately after worship this Sunday. The meeting will include: planning for VBS, planning for the Give Away Day” on April 27th, and the filling of the bags for those in need. All are welcome to attend!
Please see Ron & Lisa Saracino for more info on the Shine Ministry
Please see Derin & Kristen Wilson for more info on VBS
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TUESDAY LADIES BIBLE STUDIES THIS MONTH, 9:30 a.m. via zoom:
STUDY – GENESIS.
* Tuesday April 23
Thanks to Lisa and Mary Lou for leading these studies. Please see Mary Lou to get a copy of the book.
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FRIDAY, APRIL 19th 7pm- 10pm SECRET SISTER REVEAL & PRAYER WALK
Want to know who your Secret Prayer Sister is?
We will be having the Secret Prayer Sister reveal on Friday, April 19 at 7pm. at the church building. After a potluck dinner and the reveal ,there will be a prayer walk.
Prayerfully all sisters participating will be able to attend. A list has been posted on the auditorium doors so we can get a headcount of who can attend.
Please note that our April Saturday morning Bible class which was slated for today April 13th is cancelled so we can focus on the Fellowship and night of Prayer & the Prayer Walk.
DANBURY church of Christ Hymn sing – April 21st at 3:30 p.m.
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CHURCH DIRECTORIES ARE BEING UPDATED:
Pat Keller has placed lists of members names and contact information on the back table. Please take time to review your information and get back to Pat with any corrections.
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Saturday, May 11th – 10:00 AM – MOTHER & DAUGHTER DEVOTIONAL
Lisa & Tori Saracino will lead the Ladies devotional and bible study at the church building. All ladies and young girls are welcomed!
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Men are encouraged to register for the Kent Men’s retreat on June 14th & 15th!
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The world as we see it today portrays a lot about SELF.
“Be whoever you want to be”…
“Do whatever you want to do” ….
“Live for the moment”….
“Whatever floats your boat”….
“After me, you’re first”….
People make up their own rules as to what to live by. Our fallen world is that of SELFIES…. and what’s in it “for me!” People focus on ‘me, myself and I’.
Sadly, people who live for themselves, live purposeless lives.
Jesus calls every person to take up their cross and follow Him. To take up your cross means to die to ourselves and to follow Jesus above everything else. If we try to “find our lives” by putting ourselves first, we will ultimately lose. But if we put Jesus first and seek Him most, we will find ourselves and eternal life.
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The scriptures teach us that “God is love and that we love Him, because he first loved us” 1 John 4:19 Isn’t it comforting to know that we can also say that we put God first in our lives because He puts us first in His?
The greatest commandment is to “Love the LORD with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength… The second is like it, to love your neighbor as yourself. ” Mark 12:29-31
Jesus Christ was the ultimate example of selflessness. As followers of Christ, we are to have the same mindset. To put self last, and focus on HIM.
Philippians 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.“
Philippians 2:5-7
“Your attitude should be the same of Christ Jesus:
Who being in very nature, God,
did not consider equality with God
something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness
And being found in appearance as a
man
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death –
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the
highest place
and gave him the name that is
above every name
that at the name of Jesus every knee
should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.”
Jesus came not for His own benefit, but for ours…to minister to us and die for us and show us THE WAY.
“Even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and give his life as a ransom for many” Mark 10:45
Jesus was selfless in laying down His life for his friends and we are called to do the same as He says in John 15:13 “Greater love has no one that this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
To be a follower of Jesus, we strive to put HIM FIRST, self last. To serve others, before we serve ourselves.
If we are searching for the deeper meaning of life, God’s word brings us on a beautiful journey. To fix our eyes beyond the temporal, and discover that we are an eternal being, created in God’s image! It’s about eternity!
God gives purpose to our days and motivates us to live to the fullest – John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly. “
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Selflessness is illustrated well in Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan, found in Luke 10:29-37. A story about a man from Samaria who encounters a man who was beaten and robbed. The Samaritan has compassion on this man, who had been stripped, beaten and left for dead. The Good Samaritan immediately puts his own plans on hold, and tends to the man’s wounds. Not only does the Samaritan give selflessly of his time and his care, but he gives selflessly of his assets. The Samaritan places the wounded man on his own animal, takes the man to an inn and takes care of him there. The next day the Samaritan pays the innkeeper money enough for a few more days at the inn, with a promise to return and pay the balance of whatever was owed. Jesus’ parable shares great selflessness on the Samaritan who put the needs of others ahead of his own, and he went out of his way to show benevolence on a battered stranger. Bottom line, the Samaritan genuinely cared and followed through.
As we surrender to God, serving Him and others, we see His glory and omnipotence and experience the richness of life.
For the person who lives to self, it is a futile existence without hope.
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Philippians 2:3-11 KJV
“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”
“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”
The song below shows the beautiful progression of a soul who lived entirely for themselves, but once Christ came into their life, they began to live for HIM. Inward change…from vainglory, to His glory, is the metamorphosis that happens when we follow Jesus!
KEEP SINGING:
Oh the bitter pain and sorrow,
That a time could ever be,
When I proudly said to Jesus, “All of self, and none of Thee”
All of Self
and none of Thee,
All of self and none of Thee,
When I proudly said to Jesus, “All of self and none of Thee”
Yet He found me; I beheld Him
Bleeding on the accursed tree,
And my wistful heart said faintly,
“Some of self, and some of Thee,
Some of self, and some of Thee,
Some of self, and some of Thee,
And my wistful heart said faintly,
“Some of self, and some of Thee”
Day by day,
His tender mercy
Healing, helping full and free,
Brought me lower while I whispered,
“Less of self, and more of Thee”
Less of self, and more of Thee
Less of self, and more of Thee
Brought me lower while I whispered,
“Less of self, and more of Thee”
Higher than the highest heavens,
Deeper than the deepest sea,
Lord, Thy love at last has conquered,
“None of self, and all of Thee.”
None of self, and all of Thee
None of self, and all of Thee,
Lord, Thy Love at last has conquered,
“None of self, and all of Thee.”
CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST
by Steve Green
I am crucified with Christ
Therefore I no longer live,
Jesus Christ now lives in Me.
I am crucified with Christ,
Therefore I no longer live,
Jesus Christ now lives in Me.
Crucified with Christ
by Craig Philipps
As I look back on what I thought was living,
I’m amazed at the price I choose to pay,
And to think I ignored what really mattered,
Cause I though the sacrifice would be too great.
But when I finally reached the point of giving in,
I found the cross was calling even then,
And even though it took dying to survive,
I’ve never felt so much alive.
For I am crucified with Christ and yet I live,
Not I, but Christ that lives within me.
His Cross will never ask for more than I can give,
For it’s not my strength but His.
There’s no greater sacrifice
For I am crucified with Christ and yet I live,
As I hear the Savior call for daily dying,
I will bow beneath the weight of Calvary,
Let my hands surrender to His piercing purpose,
That holds me to the cross but sets me free,
I will glory in the power of the cross,
The things I thought were gain I count as loss
And with His suffering I identify,
And by His resurrection power I am alive.
For I am crucified with Christ and yet I live,
Not I, but Christ that lives within me,,
His Cross will never ask for more than I can give
For it’s not my strength but His,
There’s no greater sacrifice,
For I am crucified with Christ and yet I live.
And I will offer all I have,
So that His cross is not in vain,
For I found to live is Christ,
And to die is truly gain..
For I am crucified with Christ and yet I live,
Not I, but Christ that lives within me,
His Cross will never ask for more than I can give,
For it’s not my strength but His
There’s no greater sacrifice,
For I am crucified with Christ and yet I live.
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Everything about our humanness leans us toward being selfish. Selflessness is counter to our human nature. It’s something we all need to work towards. However, as we follow Jesus, it is no longer “I” who live, but CHRIST who lives in me. The life we now live, we live by faith in the Son of God, who loved us, and gave himself for each of us!
It is only through CHRIST, that our attitudes can be molded and shaped toward unselfish behaviors.
By following Jesus steps, and living to serve others, we can BE A Good Samaritan, rather than simply marvel at this parable.
Remember….
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and….
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May God be with us as we live in His grace, and for His glory.
Our love in Him,
Bruce & Paula