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 5/16/2026
Good morning church family,
GIVING THANKS & PRAISE:
Thanks to JoAnne Discala for leading and hosting the Ladies Bible Study last Saturday. 16 Ladies attended and God was glorified!
Thanks to Mary Lou and Lisa Saracino for having lead the Tuesday Zoom Bible study the past 9 months. This mid-week study has been a blessing.
Matt's Mother Mae Heilbrunn is doing much better and close to being out of the ICU, Praise God!
HAPPY 80th BIRTHDAY TO JOE LIGOURI!
We rejoice with you Joe and are thankful for your sincere heart for the LORD! Joe shares his faith with many people daily, and is a true blessing to all
PRAYER REQUESTS:
Continued prayers for Joanne Discala's friend's 2 year old niece Madeline who had brain surgery. Praise the LORD she is doing better and home recovering.
Prayers for all of our students as they finish up their school year.
Many events are happening over the next few months…all LORD WILLING and with Praise and Glory to God.
Wednesday evening zoom bible study at 7:00 pm – Ron will begin a new study on the book of Haggai. Watch for the link.
YOUNG ADULT LOCK IN
There will be a young adult barbecue at Jay’s place Friday, May 15 starting at 6 pm followed by a lock-in at the Trumbull church building and breakfast, a devo and outdoor activities the next day! Please see Zach or Tori for more details.
May 31st – POT LUCK right after worship
Join us at our next POT LUCK where we will honor our Graduates Trenton Carey & Tori Saracino.
KENT MEN'S RETREAT – June 12th & 13th. Note: A generous offer has been made to anyone who would like to attend and needs the admission fee covered. See Bruce if you'd like to take advantage of this offer. (Funds are Limited)
http://cocmensretreat.com/
Saturday June 10th LADIES BIBLE STUDY 10:00 AT THE CHURCH BUILDING . Angela Mariano will be leading the discussion on the “Fragrance of Purity”.
YOUNG ADULTS Fellowship, dinner and singing at the Pancoast's home on Friday night June 19th at 6:00 p.m.
Below is the list of supplies we have been asked to donate for TRCC this summer:
Tidal River Christian Camp
CONGREGATIONAL DONATION LIST
Trumbull Church of Christ,
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3 – Paper Napkins
1000+ Count Casual Paper Napkins (Large Packaging preferable)
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10 – Hand Soap
Pump bottles (antibacterial)
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15 – Cookies
Large packages (any kind)
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There is a bin in the foyer for the supplies which need to be in before June 21st.
Thank you for your continued support. May God bless you as we serve Him. Please see Patrick Keller if you have questions.
Mark your calendars for our VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL which is slated for Saturday July 25th! The theme this year is “With JESUS I'm a Superhero”. A sign up sheet is posted on the auditorium doors for anyone who is able to help that day. Teachers, face painters, bounce house volunteers, food table, those who can set up, and clean up, etc.
With Jesus, I'm a Superhero
 Thanks to Derin & Kristen Wilson who head this up every year and will be providing more details soon! Another great opportunity to invite friends and family for a fun day of learning about JESUS!
TIDAL RIVER CHRISTIAN CAMP
Information regarding TRCC is now available. The weeks for camp are:
 
Nehemiah 5:5-6
“Blessed be your glorious name,
and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise.
You alone are the LORD,
You made the heavens, even the highest heavens,
and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it,
the seas and all that is in them.
You give life to everything,
and the multitudes of heaven worship you.”
Matthew 13 : 31 – 32
“He put before them another parable:
“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed
that someone took and sowed in his field;
it is the smallest of all the seeds,
but when it has grown
it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree,
so that the birds of the air come and make nests
in all of its branches.“
Mustard seeds are tiny, yet they grow into large mustard plants 6 to 8 feet tall.
There are several scriptures about the mustard seed, which symbolizes faith.
The Mustard seed is special because it represents massive growth and potential, starting as one of the smallest seeds (approximately 1 to 2 mm) and growing into a large, hardy, and fast spreading herb.
Mustard trees grow quickly and densely, often as a weed that suppresses other weeds. They are known to flourish in rough areas and require little rainfall.
Mustard seeds are rich in magnesium, calcium, iron, selenium, phosphorus and omega-3 fatty acids.
Jesus shares with us in Matthew 17:19-20 that even a tiny amount of faith the size of a mustard seed, it can move mountains….
Mustard seeds come in three main varieties, each with its unique flavor profile and culinary uses:
Yellow mustard seeds: Which are most commonly used in American yellow mustard
Brown Mustard seeds: Spicier and these seeds are more popular in Indian cuisine and used in Dijon mustard.
Black Mustard seeds: The most pungent of the trio, black mustard seeds pack a punch and are widely used in South Asian cooking.
Beyond cooking, mustard seeds have been used in traditional medicine for centuries due to their health benefits.
Mustard seeds are known to stimulate the digestive system.
They are anti-inflammatory: The seeds contain selenium and magnesium, which have anti-inflammatory properties that may help relieve arthritis and muscle pain.
Skin and hair care: Mustard oil extracted from the seeds, is used in various cultures for its moisturizing and antibacterial properties, benefiting both skin and hair.
Birds resting in branches symbolize people from all nations, all backgrounds and walks of life finding refuge, shelter, a welcoming home within the grace of God's Kingdom!
It's that time of year again where we plant gardens and look forward to reap the benefit of the harvest. Here in Connecticut, we deal with cold weather until June! There are many challenges when gardening…frost, heatwaves, drought, pest invasions, deer, bugs, rodents, poor soil quality, etc.
Jesus shared with us the Parable of the Sower and the Seed in scripture which teaches that there are different results of responding to the Gospel, based on the “soil” of the heart. Jesus highlights four different responses to the gospel.
The Parable of the Sower, told by Jesus in Matthew 13, Mark 4 and Luke 8, illustrates how different people receive the “Word of God” the seed, based on the condition of their hearts…the soil.
Matthew 13:1-23
“That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. …
Jesus Christ came to sow the word of the Kingdom.
God provides us the good seed in its season for us to sow.
God is the One who multiplies the seeds we sow.
We are to share God's Word and proclaim the message of the Kingdom of God.
He has promised to abundantly bless and multiply the work of our hand, which is carried out in spirit and truth so that by grace we will bring forth a fruitful harvest of righteousness, which will enrich our lives and bring great GLORY to HIM.
The Seed: The Word of God
The Soil: Represents different human responses to the Word of God.
There are different types of Soil (or people's responses to God's Word)
Matthew 13:3 “Then he told them many things in parables, saying:
“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.“
The Path: A hard heart. Someone who is hardened by sin; he hears but does not understand the Word, and Satan plucks the message away, keeping the heart dull and preventing the Word from making an impression.
Rocky Ground: A shallow heart
Matthew 13:5
“Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched and they withered because they had no root.“
The rocky ground reflects someone who professes delight in the Word; but his heart has not changed. When trouble arises his shallow faith quickly disappears.
Matthew 13:7
“Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.“
Thorny ground: A crowded heart. A heart filled with riches of this world, pleasures, lusts or anything that takes time and attention away from the Word. The Seed which falls among these thorns, grows and choke the plants. It represents those who hear the word, but the worries, riches, and pleasures of life choke it, making it unfruitful.
The good ground portrays the one who hears, understands, and receives the Word, and then allows the Word to accomplish its result in his life. The person's heart represented by the “good ground” is the only one of the four who is truly saved, because salvation's proof is fruit. Matthew 3:7-8; Matthew 7;15-20.
Matthew 3:8
“Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop – a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. “
Good Soil: A receptive heart, where seed falls on good, fertile soil and produces a huge crop – thirty, sixty, or a hundred times what was sown. It represents those who hear, understand, and hold fast to the word with a noble heart, producing fruit.
A person's heart and their reception of God's Word is determined by the condition of his heart.
Ecclesiastes 3:11
“He has made everything beautiful in its time.
He has also set eternity in the human heart;
yet no one can fathom what God has done
from beginning to end.”
May our faith and our lives exemplify the “good soil” and may we bear fruit, continuing to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to all the world.
KEEP SINGING:
SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD
Matthew 6:33
Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God
And His righteousness,
And all these things shall be added unto you,
Hallelujah.
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Ask and it shall be given unto you
Seek and ye shall find,
Knock and the door shall be opened unto you,
Hallelujah.
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
I love to tell the story
Of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and His glory,
Of Jesus and His love;
I love to tell the story
Because I know 'tis true;
It satisfies my longings
As nothing else can do.
I love to tell the story!
Twill be my theme in glory
To tell the old, old story,
Of Jesus and His love.
I love to tell the story:
More wonderful it seems
Than all the golden fancies
Of all my golden dreams.
I love to tell the story:
It did so much for me;
And that is just the reason,
I tell it now to thee.
I love to tell the story!
Twill be my theme in glory
To tell the old, old story,
Of Jesus and His love.
I love to tell the story:
'Tis pleasant to repeat
What seems each time I tell it,
More wonderfully sweet;
I love to tell the story;
For some have never heard
The message of salvation
From God's own holy Word.
I love to tell the story!
Twill be my theme in glory
To tell the old, old story,
Of Jesus and His love.
I love to tell the story,
For those who know it best
Seem hungering and thirsting
To hear it like the rest;
And when, in scenes of glory,
I sing the new, new song,
'Twill be the old, old story
That I have loved so long.
I love to tell the story!
Twill be my theme in glory
To tell the old, old story,
Of Jesus and His love.
PRAISE GOD WE GET TO TELL THE STORY!
Mark 16:15
“He said to them, Go into all the world
and preach the gospel to all creation.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be said,
but whoever does not believe will be condemned.“
To GOD be the glory, great things HE has done!
In Him,
Bruce & Paula
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