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| A child’s simple act of kindness |
11/1/2025
Good morning church family,
Daylight Savings time starts tomorrow, remember to turn your clocks BACK 1 hour!
 
GIVING THANKS:
Amanda Liu, Jody Pancoast’s friend whom we have been praying for, was extremely grateful, overwhelmed in fact, for all of the prayers, cards and notes of encouragement sent to her. Amanda still has a long recovery ahead. She thanks all for your kindness and is so grateful for the prayers!
Angela Mariano’s sister is out of the hospital and home now. She has several medical issues, but thankfully recovered from sepsis and is on the mend.
Thanks to Derin & Kristen Wilson for organizing our Trunk or Treat on Saturday evening! The trunks were creative and we had special visits from Mama and baby Flamingo, Ariel and Flounder, Thomas the tank engine, Pirates of the Caribbean, Elves from the North Pole, Elphaba, Elsa and Anna, Clark Kent and SO many more! This is always a fun family event and a safe enjoyable time for young and old!
WE REJOICE with James Picheco as he accepted JESUS CHRIST as his savior last week. This congregation for 153 years traditionally gives newly baptized Christians a bible. We welcome James to our church family and rejoice with him over his decision to follow Jesus! This is a great opportunity for us to reach out to James and welcome him into our church family!
PRAYER REQUESTS:
There is good news to share with regard to Leo Benevento as his numbers are increasing!!! The doctors said that although his blood counts were not going up at all and behind a week in schedule, over the past 2 days he went from 0 to 460, and yesterday his ANC went up to 960!!! His counts need to be at 500 for 3 days in order to be “engrafted”. His white blood count went from 0 to 900 which is HUGE! Praise God for this ray of hope! Keep praying. He developed pneumonia this past week and had surgery. They removed 3 cups of fluid from in and around his lungs which is made it difficult for him to breathe. Since they removed the fluid he is doing better. They’re on top of it and watching him closely. Continued prayers for Leo to heal and fully recover ! God IS WORKING and we are THANKFUL for these baby steps toward full healing!
Nadine requested prayers for her Mother Audrey Parks who is dealing with intense back pain and for her cousin Oliver whose wife passed away, leaving him with three children. Also, Kimberly’s friend Tia had a seizure so prayers for her recovery.
Nuris Gomez is also in lots of pain. Prayers for her pain to subside.
Prayers for those in Jamaica and all affected by the hurricane.
Nancy Melson asked for prayers for her friend Bob Rieger who’s Father passed away.
Randy Springer is in the hospital with an infection.
Mary Warren’s friend’s daughter who has previously had two lung transplants and cystic fibrosis, now has an infection.
BENEVOLENCE:
Thanks to all for helping support The Trumbull early school program (Head Start) collection! The foyer is filling up with donations which is great news! Thanks to Kaydeen as well, for organizing it and caring so deeply to help others.
The Young Adults will be collecting items, through November, to donate to those affected by the damaging weather in Jamaica .There will be a labeled bin located in the entryway to church and copies of the list below on back table for items requested by the Jamaican American Connection in New Haven. Please see Zach or Tori with questions. Thank you for your help !
Diapers /wipes
Baby food/formula /boxes infant cereal
Flashlights/Batteries
Bandaids/Bandages
First Aid Kits
New blankets
Toothbrushes /toothpaste
Heavy Duty Work Gloves
Deodorant
COMING UP:
Tuesday Ladies bible study via zoom, next class on November 11th. Thanks to Lisa Saracino and Mary Lou for leading this mid-week bible study which continues in the book of Revelation, lesson 12 “Jesus is returning soon” is the last lesson in this book. The next books to be studied are Ezra and Nehemiah which are sure to be great studies!
The next Saturday Ladies bible study will be on the 3rd Saturday November 15th, from 10:00-12:00 (Not on the second Saturday as usual) at the church building. Sister Beulah Collymore will be teaching the next study which is “The Anointing”. For any women who are not able to come to these in-house studies, the book we are using is written by Casandra Martin – Women Opening the Word series. The book is available on-line – Fragrance of Faith, Discovering the Aroma of Christ in the Beatitudes. Thanks to all of the ladies who have signed up for teaching these bible classes this year. We have an amazing group of women and God is glorified!
TOMORROW….Sunday, November 2nd – AUTUMN POT LUCK
Autumn themed pot luck is requested..cozy fall recipes such as chili, soups, casseroles, and pies are welcomed! Please use these pot lucks as opportunities to invite friends, family and loved ones. There is always plenty of food for all!
YOUNG ADULTS
Some of the young adults will be meeting at the church building at 5:15 pm on Friday, November 7th to bring teens to and chaperone at the Manchester Church of Christ youth rally! Please see Kevon for more details.
Ron & Lisa will be hosting an evening for the Young Adults November 14th at 6:30 at their home at 9 Olson Drive, Seymour, CT. This will be a dinner, devo, game night. Please bring a dessert to share.
Stay tuned for more details regarding a Holiday Progressive Dinner – Saturday, December 13th . Prior to covid the Holiday Progressive Dinners were a fun fellowship activity. Two host families are sought for the Appetizer and main meal segments of the evening, with desserts to follow at the church building. Please see Sister Nadine Keller if anyone has interest. More details will follow.
Matthew 18:1-5
“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
“He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.“
“If anyone causes one of these little ones – those who believe in me – to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”
A story to share from our Trunk or Treat evening last week…
Our Trunk or treat event is a fun evening, where the adults dress up and have just as much fun as the children! No one worships evil spirits, or celebrates the dark side, but it’s a safe, fun night for the little ones, where everyone has a great time and joy prevails! The trunks are creative, and it’s a safe environment which allows ‘children to be children’ and for them to see the adults having fun as well!
At one point during the night, Paula was sharing with another Mom that she was in need of a few things for the Mustard Seed Shop. For those of you who do not know what the Mustard Seed shop is, it is a small closet by the back downstairs exit doors, that is stocked with a few children’s gadgets and toys that the children can purchase from tickets they accrue in their bible classes. The shop has been around for about 35+ years and serves as a motivational tool for our children in their bible classes here. The children earn tickets in their bible classes for learning their memory verse, being kind to another classmate, for coming to class and worship each week, or whatever the teacher wants to reward them for. The shop is open once a month for them to buy something and they usually buy something for someone else! (Note: The shop can take donations of small toys, stuffed animals, sticker books, and any children’s toys in good condition. Dinosaur toys are highly sought after for our dinosaur lovers!)
Paula had a conversation with one of the adults that night and she shared that the Mustard Seed shop could use more small toy dinosaurs for the children, (since a few of the boys love dinosaurs). At the very moment she shared her need, a small boy named Todd came up and handed her his dinosaur that he just got from one of the trunks, as his treat!
Todd is about 8 years old, and is a family relative of Shawn Weber. Todd is being raised by his grandmother.
In the midst of the evenings festivities, this small child heard of the need …processed the need….. and met the need! His sincere gesture and humble little gift, was kindness in the fullest! It was a sacrifice for him to give up his newly acquired dinosaur, and he did it willingly, without hesitation!
A simple act of kindness from the heart of a child…incredible!
Why do we adults need to be more like children?
In Matthew 5:5 Jesus exhorts the disciples and all of us, to possess a childlike spirit in addition to their faith. Those who willingly take the lowest position are the greatest in heaven’s eyes! Young children are not interested in ambition, pride or haughtiness and set good examples for many of us adults.
As the disciples focus on what constitutes “greatness” in heaven, Jesus shared a new perspective: the way “up” is “down”. Meekness is required.
“Who then is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven? Jesus called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Ephesians 5:1
“Therefore be imitators of God, as dearly loved children.”
Children are characteristically humble and teachable. They are perfectly pure blank slates, eager to learn.
Humility is a virtue rewarded by God.
“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” James 4:10.
When Jesus wanted to bless the children, He said…
“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them,
for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child, will never enter it.” Mark 10:14-15.
How does a child receive a gift?
With openness, honesty, trust and unbridled JOY. This type of happy authenticity should be a hallmark of our faith as we receive God’s gift in Christ.
How does a child give a gift?
Directly from their heart, with sincerity, generosity, love and humility!
Jesus teaches that true greatness comes from humility and service.
Mark 9:35-37
“Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all. He took a little child and had him stand among them, “whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name, welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.“
This scripture highlights the value of humility in the Kingdom of God.
Welcoming a child in His name, symbolizes accepting the humble and vulnerable.
Jesus emphasized the importance of being a servant to others.
The act of receiving a child reflects receiving Jesus Himself.
Young children were not highly regarded in Jesus’ day, because they were powerless and needy. Jesus overturned this concept and showed that the greatest in His Kingdom must maintain an attitude of a lowly child.
Mark 10:13-16
“People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them,
but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant.
He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them,
for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone
who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
The true measure of greatness in God’s eyes is not wealth, or achievement but in service to others. Jesus Christ, God’s One and Only Son, set the benchmark by coming “not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many” Mark 10:45.
Jesus is the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 52:13-53:12 who sacrificed His life, for the benefit of others.
Jesus calls us to lower ourselves, to minister to one another, to take the last place, and to sacrifice our selfish desires for the sake of others. If we do these things, we are practicing what it means to be a servant of all.
1 John 3:16
“We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us.
So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.”
The greatest in the kingdom are those who have the humility of a child and the meekness of Jesus.
Becoming like a little child means that we maintain the wonderful and beautiful qualities of children that life in this sinful world tends to beat out of us!
They have tenderness spirit.
Openness about emotions and feelings.
Creativity and imagination.
Wonder and awe.
Joy.
Hope.
Playfulness and humor.
Trust.
Forgiveness.
Unconditional love.
Boundless exuberance and energy.
Always thinking the best about life and others.
Being willing to learn and grow.
As adults we get bored with bugs and sunsets. We lose delight in talking with others. We become jaded and disinterested in someone else’s problems. Adults hold grudges and refuse to forgive. Adults lose hope because their hopes have been dashed and destroyed so many times.
God has blessed us incredibly with some incredible children in our lives!
May we strive to be more like little children in our walk of faith!
KEEP SINGING:
Bless the Lord,
O my soul,
O my soul,
Worship His Holy name,
Sing like never before,
O my soul,
I’ll worship Your Holy name!
The sun comes up, it’s a new day dawning
It’s time to sing Your song again,
Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes.
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His Holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I’ll worship Your Holy name!
You’re rich in love, and You’re slow to anger
Your name is great, and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His Holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I’ll worship Your Holy name!
And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore…
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul,
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before,
O my soul,
I’ll worship Your Holy name!
I’ll worship Your Holy name
I’ll worship Your Holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I’ll worship Your Holy name
Jesus, I’ll worship Your Holy name
I’ll worship Your Holy name
To God be the glory great things He hath done!
Bruce & Paula
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