Good morning church family,
Hopefully this email will come through this week. If you didn’t receive last week’s email, please check your junk or spam folder, and we do apologize for the inconvenience.
GIVING THANKS:
* Our days are getting longer with the sun staying out now until 5pm and it will only get better in the next few months!
* Thanks to all who attended the Midnight Oil prayer night Friday night. There is power in prayer!
* Irene Aschen gives thanks that her most recent check up went well and that she is stable. It’s been a rough road for her over the past year, but her faith is strong and she knows God is in control. Thanks to all who have prayed for her.
* Thanks to JoAnne DiScala for hosting the Ladies meeting in her home last Saturday, and giving a wonderful lesson on PEACE.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
* Lisa Saracino is recovering from a tough bought of pneumonia. She wants to thank everyone for the prayers, cards, calls and texts.
* Mildred has been in and out of the hospital and is thankfully home now and is stable.
* Linda Cerminara’s surgery is coming up on Monday, prayers for all to go well.
* Many members are struggling with illness, continued prayers for all.
FROM JOHN COOPER (our past minister for 13 years back in 1980’s)
John and Holly Cooper are currently in Guam working with the church there. Here is a picture of those who attended their Sunday morning worship.
COMING UP:
LOTS OF EVENTS ARE COMING UP! All are encouraged to join us for bible study, fellowship and more. Stay connected to the vine & grow!
FEBRUARY EVENTS, LORD WILLING
Kevon Turner will be teaching some new songs to the Young Adults at the church building tonight at 6:30p.m Please see Kevon for more details.
TUESDAY LADIES BIBLE STUDY via zoom at 9:30 a.m February 4th . Lisa and Mary Lou will be finishing up the book of Genesis and will soon begin the book of Revelation.
The next class which will follow will be February 18th when they begin the study of REVELATION. Please see Mary Lou to get the book for this next study.
FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT – LIVING BEYOND YOURSELF – Ladies bible study continues on the second Saturday of the month.
February 8th – – noon at the church building. Lisa & Tori Saracino will lead us on a lesson on “PATIENCE”
February 15th – MENS BREAKFAST AM at the building
The last Men’s breakfast was very well attended with new visitors who came. Please see Ron or Jay for what to bring.
February 20th – Trumbull will be hosting a Preacher’s Meeting for our area’s preachers . If you would like to help provide food ( sandwiches , chips, drinks , salads or baked goods) , there is a sign-up sheet on the door in the foyer. Any donations will be greatly appreciated . Please see Ron or Lisa with questions.
MARCH DATES, LORD WILLING:
Saturday March 8th – Sister Beulah Collymore will teach the Saturday morning Ladies bible class on “Kindness” at the church building. – noon.
Saturday March 15th – Bridal shower for Kristen Hubbell at the building 1pm – 3pm. Kristen is registered on
Kristen Hubbell and Matthew DePinho’s Wedding Website – The Knot
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Kristen Hubbell and Matthew DePinho’s W… |
Friday March 28th – Ladies’ Night at the Church building 6pm. Fellowship with movie to follow – Ordinary Angels to follow at 7pm. Please bring snacks / finger foods and /or desserts to share. Feel free to bring a friend as well.
Friday/ Saturday March 21-22 INSPIRE NEW ENGLAND workshop in Manchester, CT. See flyer on the auditorium table for details.
Sunday March 30th – Pot Luck
Below is a photo of our own Malachi Carter.
In Paula’s Bible class on Sunday mornings, their class has been learning all about the miracles of Jesus. While the children were seated at the table working on their coloring pages last Sunday, they reviewed several of the miracles that she had taught them over the past few weeks. Malachi asked Paula, “Miss Paula, did Jesus perform any miracles on himself”? A powerful question, spoken by a child. Paula shared with me that she filled up with tears when he asked her this. Malachi (who is only 5 years old), understood that all of the miracles that we were learning about, and that He performed, were for others; that everything that Jesus did, was to help other people and show them God’s deep and incredible LOVE for us!
Paula shared that she did her best to answer Mali as she choked back the tears, by saying “No Mali, Jesus never performed a miracle for himself. In fact, after He did so many miracles to help other people, he became the perfect sacrifice for all of our sins. He was crucified, and He had the power to save Himself by calling 10,000 angels, yet He chose not to save Himself Mali.”… “Jesus died for US”. “Jesus shows us the way to HIS FATHER in Heaven, who loves us SO MUCH, and who gave us HIS SON, for us. We must follow JESUS, and strive to be more like HIM showing love and kindness to others. “
The teaching of God’s Word that goes on here at Trumbull week to week, and all through the years has laid, and is laying, a spiritual foundation that will last for eternity with these children. Praise God that we have the opportunity to teach GOD’s WORD and the Gospel message to all ages.
To teach everyone GOD’S top two commandments is an incredible privilege:
Following Jesus requires sacrifices that bring us to the foot of the cross…
Sadly, the world in which we live is in complete opposite to Jesus’s teachings. We are seeing more and more of people living for themselves.
Timothy speaks of the end times, when people will be lovers of themselves….
Loving self, means to follow selfish desires. Living for one’s self and not for anyone else, certainly not for God. They set up idols in their hearts. Idols can be many things, not just golden statues, or images, but an idol is when something becomes more important to us, than God. Even good things can become idols when we make them the ultimate things in our lives. Anything? or anyone? can become an idol if we place the value for that thing or person above our value for God. Money.. prestige… Hollywood figures, the list goes on.
People who do not know or follow God’s word, chase the wind.
“I have seen all the things that are done under the sun;
all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.“
The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve others. In fact, He came to voluntarily give HIS own life away, as a ransom for many.
“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind,
the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people.
This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.”
The SON OF GOD, the Prince of Glory, the Darling of Heaven, came not to be served, but to serve others and become the sacrificial Lamb.
He demonstrated HIS love for us, and HIS LOVE and obedience to God by giving His LIFE…for US.
Jesus, the Prince of Glory, washed the feet of His apostles. He taught them that He who exalts himself will be humbled, and those who humble themselves, will be exalted.
Foot washing in bible times was frequent, since they wore sandals in dusty and dirty conditions. Those who did the foot washing were typically servants since it was reserved for the lowliest of menial servants. Peers also did not wash one another’s feet, except very rarely and as a mark of great love. Luke shares in chapter that the disciples were arguing about who was the greatest among them.
“A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.
Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them;
and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors.
But you are not to be like that.
Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest,
and the one who rules like the one who serves.
For who is greater, the one who is at the table, or the one who serves?
Is it not the one who is at the table?
But I am among you as one who serves.
You are those who have stood by me in my trials.”
Jesus’s farewell discourse during the Last Supper had significant and powerful meaning. He emphasized the importance of serving others through HIS ACT of washing the disciples’ feet. He instructs His followers to emulate His actions in their own lives. To serve others humbly, and lovingly. That true greatness comes from humility and service…NOT from power or status!
“Now before the Feast of the Passover,
when Jesus knew that his hour had come
to depart out of this world to the Father,
having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot,
Simon’s son, to betray him,
Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands,
and that he had come from God and was going back to God,
rose from supper.
He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist.
Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples feet
and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?”
Jesus answered him,”What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.”
Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!”
Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet,
but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.”
For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place,
he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you?
You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right for so I am.
If I then, your LORD and Teacher, have washed your feet,
you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
For I have given you an example,
that you also should do just as I have done to you.
Truly, truly I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master,
nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.“
SERVING OTHERS, over ourselves is the powerful message of unconditional LOVE that Jesus taught and demonstrated.
Jesus set the example of what it means to serve God, and serve & love others, with His arms outstretched wide.
There is the action part of serving of course, but He also wants our hearts. A servant’s heart is humble, meek, lowly and never haughty.
“Serve wholeheartedly,
as if you were serving the LORD,
not people,
because you know that the LORD
will reward each one
for whatever good they do,
whether slave or free.“
After He spent His life teaching and performing miracles for others, Jesus willingly went to the cross, and suffered a brutal death…all for us!
We are all unworthy of every breath, but Jesus’ sacrifice paid our debt! We have much to REJOICE about!
KEEP SINGING:
PIERCE MY EAR, OH LORD MY GOD
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Thanks Mali, for your pure heart and desire to know more about JESUS’s selfless sacrifice for all.
May we remember that children are the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
PRAISE GOD for this church’s desire to teach and preach GOD’s WORD.
We all need to keep asking questions, and keep growing in JESUS...because….it’s not about us!
To GOD BE THE GLORY – GREAT THINGS HE HATH DONE!
In HIM,
Bruce & Paula
