12/20/2025
Good morning church family,
GIVING THANKS:
Thanks to all who participated in making the Progressive dinner such a success. There were 26 people who participated house to house. A special thanks to Carol & Joe Ligouri and Bob & JoAnne Discala who opened their homes and provided meals for all. Enjoy some of the photos from last weekend.
 PRAYER REQUESTS:
Leo Benevento continues to be stable, although he continues dealing with high pain levels. The doctors are on top of his condition daily. They are having him start the hyperbaric chamber at some point soon. Continued prayers for complete healing for our Leo.
Desrine’s back pain has not let up. Continued prayers for her relief.
Prayers for traveling mercies for all who will be traveling over the holiday.
COMING UP:
The next Tuesday Ladies bible study via zoom will be on January 6th at 9:30 am. The new study will be on Lesson 3 in the book as we study the book of Ezra.
The next Saturday Ladies bible study will be on Saturday, January 10th and the lesson will be lead by Lisa and Tori Saracino “The Fragrance of Emptiness“. This class Lord willing will be held in their home at 9 Olsen Drive, Seymour, CT. Bring a few breakfast treats to share.
Families with Young children are having a Christmas breakfast December 27th 10-12:30. Bring a toy to share and play with, (they will get to show off a toy they got for Christmas) and join us for a Christmas lesson and craft.
YOUNG ADULTS CHRISTMAS PARTY – Friday December 19th at 6:00 pm at the church building. Join in on the fun for an evening of fun & fellowship, pizza, devotional, games and hot chocolate. Please see Zach or Tori if you have questions. If people can bring a snack or desert that would be great!
Evergreen trees vary widely in size. There are thousands of species of evergreens and most tropical plants are rainforest evergreens and require continual warm temperatures in order to survive. One of the biggest evergreen species is the California Redwood tree which can grow over 350 feet tall!
Evergreen trees can be found on every continent except Antarctica, but most are found in colder areas.
The Christmas tree tradition as we know it, has quite a history stemming from Germany back in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s. Until then, the Puritans of New England upheld very strict views of Christmas in America, and people were severely punished if they celebrated or decorated a Christmas tree, in any way. They believed that the holiday was so sacred that a church service was the only way to celebrate. This solemn American observance continued until Irish and German immigrants began to settle in America and establish their own traditions, despite the Puritan rule.
The evergreen tree became a symbol for God’s eternal love, representing His eternal being, His faithfulness, and presence through all seasons of life.
Evergreen trees remain vibrant even in winter, signifying the everlasting life Jesus offers and His love which endures forever.
God’s love endures forever!
GOD’s LOVE FOR US IS LIFE GIVING…
He provides us sustenance, shelter and hope throughout all of our seasons. Like a tree offering shade in summer or shelter in winter, God is with us through it all.
Isaiah 41:19
“I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia,
the myrtle and the olive.
I will set pines in the wasteland,
the fir and the cypress together,
so that people may see and know,
may consider and understand,
that the hand of the LORD has done this,
that the Holy One of Israel has created it.”
Psalm 92:12
“The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
planted in the house of the LORD,
they will flourish in the courts of our God.”
GOD’s LOVE IS ETERNAL…
 Ephesians 3:18-19
“I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,
may have power, together with all the saints,
to grasp how wide and long and high and deep
is the love of Christ
and to know this love that surpasses knowledge
that you may be filled to the measure
of all of the fullness of God.”
Romans 8:38-39
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,
who have been called according to his purpose.
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son,
that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
And those he predestined, he also called, those he called, he also justified; those he justified he also glorified.“
GOD’S NATURE IS UNCHANGING…
Hebrews 13:8
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.“
GOD’s PRESENCE IS WITH US IN TIMES OF JOY…
GOD’s PRESENCE IS WITH US IN TIMES OF HARDSHIP…
Cedars, especially, symbolize strength and longevity, thriving through seasons much like the righteous flourish when we are connected to Him. No matter what we endure in this life, He is with us!
Hosea 14:5
“I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like a lily.
Like a cedar of Lebanon,
he will send down his roots;
his young shoots will grow,
His splendor will be like an olive tree,
his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon.
Men will dwell again in his shade.
He will flourish like the grain,
He will blossom like a vine, and his fame will be like a vine,
and his fame will be like the wine from Lebanon.
Hosea 14:8
“O Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols?
I will answer him and care for him.
I am like a green pine tree;
your fruitfulness comes from me.“
Isaiah 40:26-31
“Lift your eyes and look to the heavens;
Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one,
and calls them each by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,
not one of them is missing.
What do you say, O Jacob and complain O Israel,
“My way is hidden from the LORD;
my cause is disregarded by my God?”
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
The Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall:
but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.”
Our Faith in GOD and obedience in Jesus Christ gives us the ultimate gift …eternal life!
NOTHING IN ALL CREATION, CAN SEPARATE US FROM GOD’S LOVE….
Romans 8:31-39
“I am convinced that neither death, nor life,
neither angels nor demons,
neither the present nor the future,
nor any powers,
neither height, nor depth,
nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in
Christ Jesus our Lord.”
KEEP SINGING HIS PRAISES:
Oh Glorious Day!
MIGHTY TO SAVE
JESUS’ LOVE IS EVERGREEN
There’s a manger in this story,
with a star up in the sky.
A baby born to save us all,
the reason why He died.
It’s more than just December,
More than gifts beneath the tree,
It’s the love that Jesus gave us,
And it’s all I’ll ever need!
Jesus’ love is evergreen,
Steady through the years unseen!
It doesn’t fade, it doesn’t fall,
It’s the greatest gift of all!
Through every storm,
Through every dream,
Jesus’ love is evergreen.
The candles glow,
The church bells ring,
A quiet peace is near.
But His love is louder than
the song you only hear this time of year.
It’s there when life gets heavy
When the lights are packed away.
It’s the love that keeps on growing
even on the hardest day.
Jesus’ love is evergreen,
Steady through the years unseen.
It doesn’t fade,
it doesn’t fall,
It’s the greatest gift of all!
Through every storm, through every dream,
Jesus’ love is evergreen!
Like a cedar in a valley,
Like a pine that stands so tall,
His love won’t ever weaken,
It is there, through it all!
So when the season passes,
Let your heart still sing,
Cause Jesus’ love, is evergreen!
Jesus’ love is evergreen,
Steady through the years unseen,
It doesn’t fade,
it doesn’t fall,
It’s the greatest gift of all!
Through every storm,
through every dream,
Jesus’ love is evergreen!
So when the snow melts down,
And Spring comes through
Remember the love that he has for you
It’s the reason for the songs we sing
Jesus’ love, is evergreen!
It’s evergreen!
To God be the glory great things He hath done!
Bruce & Paula
|
