Good morning church family,
dbf35a48-e702-b5a8-99e4-c89d35c2c69a@yahoo.com>”>GIVING THANKS:
* We checked in with one of our former members Lillie Bendolph who lives in Alabama. She continues to do well there and misses everyone. She sends her love to all!
* Brother Devlal shared that the women in Nepal had a successful Christian women’s lectureship which was their first one ever! Praise God for Brother Dev’s successful ministry in Nepal. The theme for the lectureship was “Each one, Teach one!” This was an icebreaker event and one that took much courage on the part of these sisters in Christ. Brother Dev shared, “Before this, no women were willing to leave their house because of fear for their family, neighbors and their church leaders who were to remain silent”.
We take our religious freedoms in this country for granted. In the Nepalese society, it is heavily influenced from the Hindu system of beliefs. Women in Nepal face several inequalities and violence. The causes are diverse, but most of these results are due to socially assigned lower positioning women. The hierarchies based on power make women face subordination and violence in Nepal. The terrain of the rugged, mountainous topography adds to this issue. In remote places of Nepal, gender disparity still exists, women have limited control, are restricted to household work, deprived of education, discriminated based on caste, and also have poor healthcare access.
Here are some pictures of their first, what we would call “ladies retreat”. Praise GOD for Brother Dev’s commitment to work with the church of Christ in Nepal.
e0f189cf-47d4-1b13-1873-512adfc730e1@yahoo.com>”>
38ed6708-aaf1-0653-0c31-f907fbd00253@yahoo.com>”>
1d10e1c3-42ce-ec7b-e38b-9ea7826d06e8@yahoo.com>”>
96770b99-8cee-d364-af17-17c1c559ec31@yahoo.com>”>PRAYER REQUESTS:
* Our hearts go out to Angela Weber and family. Sadly Angela’s mother passed away early yesterday morning. Continued prayers for the family during this very difficult time. The Funeral service will be on Thursday October 3rd at 10:30 St. Peter’s Church in Danbury, CT.
* Emille had the brain biopsy done on Thursday, however, he has been in excruciating pain since then. He is now admitted to the hospital where they will do a CT scan to see if there is a brain bleed. Continued prayers for Emille and for Jenna. Her parents are taking care of Emiliana.
* The Eddy’s requested prayers for Conrad Moorer whose wife Cyndi passed away this week. Conrad was their minister when they were in Indiana from the Northside Church of Christ in Jeffersonville, IN. Our prayers go out to them all at this difficult time.
* Irene Aschen’s Pulmonologist said she needs more bloodwork. He has a contingency plan in place depending on how the bloodwork comes out. She is thankful that he sounded confident.
* Greg Cerminara has asked for prayers for his friend Kenny Bruno who is on Chemo. He also asked for continued prayers for his sister Mary Preteska. Prayers for their family as together they are walking her through this difficult season.
* Ray requested prayers for his Mother Eva and Brother Mike who both are going through medical challenges.
* Debbie Christy’s niece Carrie is in the hospital since they found a blood clot.
* Esther Aggrey is having some health issues and will be wearing a heart monitor for the next month. Also, her Mother’s sister passed away, so prayers for the family.
a79765d8-6e2c-a91b-50c4-150e314daf38@yahoo.com>”>BENEVOLENCE:
Thanks to all who have generously made donations for the Seymour/Oxford food bank. Tomorrow is the last Sunday for your donations. We are so thankful for all of your heartfelt donations! Thank you for being a loving church family and for spreading the love of Christ to the victims of the flood.
COMING UP:
30cf97b3-04c9-161d-4eb5-31b63db69bdc@yahoo.com>”>The YOUNG ADULTS will be doing an ‘escape room’ on Friday, October 4th at 4:30 p.m. and heading back to the church afterwards for games and a short bible study! Please see Zach or Tori for more details.
They will also be having a gathering at Ron & Lisa’s home on Saturday November 23rd. Mark the date and stay tuned for details.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
5a492f12-7edf-1b4f-63f4-05207e933d4e@yahoo.com>”> “Death and the Afterlife” Wednesday zoom bible studies have started at 7:00 p.m. We have several new people joining in which is wonderful news! This is a perfect opportunity to evangelize and invite family, friends who may live in other states! If you mention the study to someone who is unable to sit in on the designated zoom time, these classes are being taped. Visit our website at this link to view the classes. It takes a day or two for the lessons to upload onto our website.
ca2732d9-9150-c85a-ca9d-f66732a35498@yahoo.com>”>AREA WIDE HYMN SING – Tomorrow SUNDAY September 29th 3:30 pm.
We will be hosting an area wide hymn sing at our building on Sunday September 29th at 3:30. The food sign-up sheet is posted on the auditorium doors. If you can bring cookies or the individual bagged chips that would be great!
Flo Repecko will teach her last class on Biblical boundaries on Friday 10/4 at 6:30 pm for Fellowship, 7:00 pm lesson. Refreshments will be provided.
3fcb5f88-f20c-879f-35c6-e614a65ca859@yahoo.com>”>OCTOBER EVENTS:
83fc027c-64e5-9afa-28ce-86f8bb2ea994@yahoo.com>”>TUESDAY, October 1st at 9:30 a.m. will be the next zoom mid-week ladies bible study lead by Lisa and Mary Lou Saracino. Next lesson is chapter 6 in the book. Please see Mary Lou if you would like to join the study and need a book. The following Tuesdays for this class will meet on October 15th and 29th.
909bee46-0e9a-0329-1a7d-e6abee01bd69@yahoo.com>”>Saturday October 12th 10:00am – 12:00 noon will be the first of the Ladies’ Saturday Bible studies at the church building. These studies will meet every second Saturday of the month. We will be doing an in depth study on exploring the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT – LIVING BEYOND YOURSELF – Galatians 5:22-23 this coming year. Thanks to sister Nadine Keller who will lead us in a study of the Holy Spirit for this first class. These consecutive Saturday classes will continue to incorporate works of benevolence to encourage others both in and outside of the faith, and this body. We will be putting together the College care bags this first Saturday class. Bring a friend as well!
TRICK OR TRUNKING will be held on Saturday, October 26th! Stay tuned for more details. What will your trunk look like this year?
bee7f99c-95ec-2196-834e-bb8c0dce2605@yahoo.com>”>Sunday October 27th – POT LUCK after worship. Join us for our Harvest themed Pot luck and Pie contest! Start thinking about your pie & bring a friend!
918439bc-ecc1-9645-75d4-68bd9b5594ac@yahoo.com>”>In the four gospel accounts given to us in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John there is only one place where Jesus tells us about His Own Heart.
The gospels tell of the story of Jesus from His lowly birth, to His poignant ministry; from His teaching the disciples, His travels, and His complete obedience to His heavenly Father. He gave heartfelt speeches and He was repeatedly rejected by His own twelve. The gospels tell of the fulfilled Old Testament prophesies. We read about His unjust arrest and shameful death and His astonishing resurrection. Consider the thousands of things have been written by theologians over the past 2,000 years on all of these things. The most important part of Jesus’s life, is His heart!
We read Jesus’s words in Matthew 11:28-30 …
acb6d038-6dd4-b0f5-8a51-0995ca372eeb@yahoo.com>”>Jesus pulls back the veil and lets us peer way down into the core of who He is! The lamb of God, shared that “He is gentle and lowly in heart“!
In these two scriptures, Jesus appeals for everyone to come to HIM. Anyone who is struggling, anyone who is burdened with life, and He will give us rest. He welcomes anyone to take His yoke to put upon us, to learn from Him, for He is gentle and lowly in heart. This relationship we have with Jesus offers us rest for our souls. He reiterates, that His yoke is easy, and His burden is light.
Jesus, the Son of God, the Prince of Glory, was with God when life began, yet he was born in a lowly manger. John 1:1 ; Luke 2:1-20
Jesus, the Son of God is not austere or demanding in heart, but was gentle, and lowly in heart. Matthew 11:28-30
Jesus, the Son of God, had no place to call home. Matthew 8:20
Jesus, the Lamb of God, came to reveal the nature of God to us. John 5:19
Jesus, is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords & lives in unapproachable LIGHT! 1 Timothy 6:15-16
Jesus humbly, lovingly and willingly bore the sins of the world. 1 Peter 2:24
As we study the scriptures, hopefully we are digging deep to learn about Jesus’s heart; what is most true about Him. What we find from Genesis to Revelation, is that He is gentle and lowly.
In our hearts we must revere Christ as LORD….and to share our hope with others, with gentleness and respect.
877e6cd7-efe6-008f-cda8-ebf89e774a7d@yahoo.com>”>We read about the Beatitudes in the book of Matthew 5:3-10 that reminds us who is blessed….
a5e09d6b-53cc-1f77-4d4b-be8bcf62d7a2@yahoo.com>”>Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
This is compassion at its finest!
Jesus was not trigger-happy. He never reacted harshly. He was patient, loving and kind to everyone, including to His adversaries. His posture was not one with the pointed finger of condemnation, but that of open loving arms.
The KING of KING and LORD of LORDS assumed a posture of complete humbleness throughout His life.
Matthew 21:5 (quoting Zechariah 9:9) Jesus the King “is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey“
37393e9c-d738-2a03-9277-b9a88ab7c13c@yahoo.com>”>Our lowly savior never cringed at touching dirty sinners. Jesus looked into the heart of every person to see their value and potential in God’s kingdom. Jesus was always welcoming, loving, patient and kind. His interaction with Zaccheus (the tax collector), the lepers, the woman caught in adultery, the woman at the well (she had several husbands), caused them to look beyond the heavy burdens of their sins, and see HIS gentle & meek spirit to that of ETERNAL glory!
Every person whom JESUS touched, was changed. The broken were healed. Their eyes were opened and He gave them hope and great value beyond this life, into the Kingdom of God.
4d3c9a5f-259d-4f24-2a12-1bd41eb223b8@yahoo.com>”>In Luke 1:52 we read “He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.“
Jesus had a heart of humility, gentleness, care and concern. Matthew 11:28-29
Jesus had a heart of compassion. Matthew 9:34, 14:14, 15:32
Jesus had a heart filled with LOVE. John 3:16, John 15:13, Ephesians 5:2
Jesus had a heart of sacrifice: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Jesus had a heart of Mercy and Grace. 2 Corinthians 13:4, 2 Corinthians 8:9, Matthew 23:37,
Matthew 20:33-34
497d820c-019b-28e6-2b61-4e42b92631dd@yahoo.com>”>Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.
3d85475e-123b-82a8-6fca-485bd00ba310@yahoo.com>”>As we continue to study and read God’s word, may we look deeply at the love story of precious savior Jesus Christ and grow to be more like Him! After all, isn’t that what our faith in following HIM is all about?
Romans 12:1-21 The apostle Paul urges us “to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. To not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is, his good and pleasing and perfect will. “
Paul goes on to explain in verse 3 “For by the grace given me I say to everyone of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgement, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve : if it is teaching, let him teach: if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.”
Paul goes on further to define LOVE…vs. 9 – 21 …
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil., cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the LORD. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn; Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “it is mine to avenge; I will repay.” says the LORD. On the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
3ed103c4-5020-a149-a4ea-846de329b99b@yahoo.com>”>We are to be the children of God and reflect the goodness and glory of our heavenly Father.
How do we start?
By knowing and truly understanding the heart of JESUS. JESUS is ONE with the FATHER and the HOLY SPIRIT. The trinity all has the same kind of heart...LOVE.
The law is summed up on one word…..LOVE.
“For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command:
“Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Galatians 5:14
Love the Lord your God
with all your heart
and with all your soul
and with all your mind
and with all your strength.
Mark 12:30
“The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
There is no commandment greater than these.”
Mark 12:31
dbbe61cd-3842-8685-2b01-1d2b28a0b662@yahoo.com>”>Life with all of its trials, heartbreaks, and storms can hopefully bring us deeper and deeper into knowing the heart of Jesus. Our goal towards spiritual maturity encompasses all of the Fruit of the Spirit as the apostle Paul shares in Galatians 5:22-26. Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control.
A SONG TO SHARE THAT BRINGS US DEEPER INTO THE HEART OF JESUS:
INTO THE HEART OF JESUS
Into the heart of Jesus,
deeper and deeper I go.
Seeking to know the reason,
Why He should love me so –
Whey He should stoop to lift me
Up from the miry clay,
Saving my soul,
making me whole,
Tho I had wandered away.
Into the will of Jesus,
Deeper and deeper I go.
Praying for grace to follow,
seeking His way to know;
Bowing in full surrentder
Low at His blessed feet,
Bidding Him take, break me and make,
Till I am molded and meet.
Into the cross of Jesus
Deeper and deeper I go,
Following thru the garden,
Facing the dreaded foe;
Drinking the cup of sorrow –
Sobbing with broken heart,
“O Savior, help! dear Savior, help!
Grace for my weakness impart”
Into the joy of Jesus,
Deeper and deeper I go,
Rising, with soul enraptured,
Far from the world below;
Joy in the place of sorrow,
Peace in the midst of pain,
Jesus will give,
Jesus will give –
He will uphold and sustain.
Into the love of Jesus,
Deeper and deeper I go.
Praising the One who brought me
Out of my sin and woe;
And thru eternal ages
Gratefully I shall sing,
“O how He loved! O how He loved!
Jesus, my LORD and my KING!”
82ae4206-cf5f-0148-8315-4adccd624648@yahoo.com>”>The Scriptures teach of the transforming power in the word of God. Romans 12:1-3.
f4efeec3-bc2e-fc22-a182-7bea7a365c5b@yahoo.com>”>The apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 2: 1-12
“If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ,
if any comfort from his love,
if any fellowship with the Spirit,
if any tenderness and compassion,
then make my joy complete by being like-minded,
having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit,
but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
Each of you should look not only to your own interests,
but also to the interests of others.
Your attitude should be the same as 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,
than 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.“
403c3cb6-3392-c192-76ab-06bac844d221@yahoo.com>”>Let’s LOVE like JESUS and maintain a compassionate gentle spirit!
The gentle and lowly heart of our LORD & SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.
39c24f46-4942-e3e1-71f1-7e16ee683486@yahoo.com>”>In Him,
Bruce & Paula