Back to school…God is with you

To all of our church family,

 

Fall is right around the corner.  The leaves are already changing and school is soon to begin. Watch God's glory unfold from one season to another.

 

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him!

  

GIVING THANKS:

 

• Mildred continues to recover at Whitney Rehabilitation.  It’s possible that she may go home on Monday 8/22 but it depends on the covid test.  Praise God she is well enough to be discharged.   Her address is:   Mildred Perkins c/o The Landing of North Haven, Clintonville Rd, North Haven, CT  if anyone wants to send cards.

 

• Teri Fernandes, Ray’s sister-in-law received good results from her last test which indicated that her tumor is shrinking. Praise God and continued prayers.

 

 

PRAYER REQUESTS: 

• Mary Lou is still dealing with pain and swelling in her foot. 

• Sadly, Linda Cerminara's brother David Trone passed away. Our deepest condolences to Linda and family.

• Greg Payne’s mother has been quite sick and in the ICU. She has a feeding tube and has been on a ventilator. Taking medications for an infection. As of today the doctor said she is stable, so praying that she will recover soon.   

• Nuris continues to have medical challenges and they found that her heart is leaking fluid. 

 

• Joanna Orduna from the Spanish ministry shared that her daughter’s friend Hazem Mohamed was killed last week riding a motorcycle that was hit by a car.  Prayers for Joanna and her daughter Abby Calderone, as they deal with this loss. 

 

• Judith Gomez will be having a PET scan & CT tests soon.

 

• The Kellers made it home from Canada safely, however while they were there, they tested positive for Covid.  Thankfully they are on the mend.
• Nadine asked for prayers for her niece Kensley who is recovering from cleft palate surgery yesterday.  Thankfully the surgery went well. Prayers for her recovery.  Nadine also asked  for prayers for her sister-in-law's sister Daphne Lewis who is in the hospital.  Her stomach is filling with fluids and her organs are compromised.

• Prayers as our children, young adults and teachers all return to school.  The school environment has stress on every level.  We pray that all can learn in a safe environment and that our youth can remain faithful & strong in the midst of adversity.

 

  

UPDATES:

 

• The carpeting is starting to be installed.  Thanks to all for your patience over the past few weeks.  Hopefully it is close to completion.

  

COMING UP: 

• The next 150^th meeting will be brief on Sunday, September 11^th  right after worship.   This is pushed out a week due to the Labor Day weekend. 

 

• The first of the Friday evening Ladies’ bible classes will start on September 9^th at 7:00pm at the building.  We will begin a great series on the topic of being faithful in a crumbling world.  To STAND knowing God is right by your side. 

• The Tuesday morning ladies bible classes will begin on September 13^th at 9:30 a.m. and continue their study of the books of 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd John and Jude.

• Be sure to sign up for the BIG E trip that is planned for Saturday, September 24^th.   This is always a FUN event and thanks to Pat Keller for organizing it.

• On Sunday, September 25^th  Lord willing we will be taking a group photo outside of the church building right after worship.  Thanks to Angela Scalzo who will be taking the picture!

• October 15^th is our next building clean-up day. 

• November 11-13 is the Manchester / Meriden Youth Rally in Manchester.

  

BACK TO SCHOOL….

 

When some hear these words, they shudder because going back to school brings many stresses.

 

As adults we can remember what the challenges were back in our school days, and if given the opportunity to do it all over again, we would probably all decline in unison.

 

School days are trying times, especially in these times.  The school setting presents social & academic challenges. It’s a pressure-filled, anxiety- filled setting. Sadly, not all children have been raised with supportive parents; many children have endured broken homes, trauma, & more.  On that scale,  children feel insecure, act out, and they do not know who they are.  They are often not cared for and can be mis-guided in life as a result.   Most families today do not embrace the same Christian standards that we do, in fact, most of the youth of today, are very worldly at a young age.   To be amongst peers who are all over the place with their thoughts, emotions, and sometimes, agendas to bring others down is simply terrorizing for our children.   Not to mention the anxiety it brings to parents.

Raising Christian children in this world with all these challenges is hard, but God can get everyone through!

This was taken from Greg Stier’s post on 3 crucial reminders for Christian teens:

 

“KNOW YOU ARE NOT ALONE…

As you walk into the doors of your school, remember the words of God to you..

“Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

Repeat with confidence “The LORD is my helper, I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” Psalm 118:6

 The King of kings is with you!  The one who gives the bullies breath is holding your hand as you walk the hallways of your school.  So, enter your school with a holy, humble confidence that God goes with you (because He does!).”

 

“JUST DO YOUR BEST…

Tony Horton, the physical fitness guru who developed P90X, uses this mantra over and over in his workout routines to encourage his exhausted subjects to just do their best.  He tells them to take a break from the exercises if they need to, but to make sure they are pushing to do their best without losing form.  The results are amazing! You’ve probably seen the before and after pictures of those who have completed P90X on their always-on-some station television informercials.  How did they get those results, they did their best!

You are the Lord’s representative at your school. So do your best and forget the rest.  Remember that the ultimate “teacher” you’ll give an account to (as will i), is Jesus Christ, so “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the LORD, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the LORD as a reward.  “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the LORD, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the LORD as a reward.   It is the LORD CHRIST you are serving.” Colossians 3:23,24″

  

“YOU HAVE A MISSION TO ACCOMPLISH…

You are not just at school to go to school.. As a Christian you are at school to go on a mission trip.  Every teen-filled table in the school cafeteria is a mission field that needs reached with the good news of JESUS.

Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations…”  in Matthew 28:19.  This cause, applies as you seek to make more friends with the hope of introducing them to your best friend, JESUS CHRIST!”

 

The East Foothill church of Christ, shared a great message and wrote this for the children, the parents, and to the congregation….

“It seems like it was yesterday when you could hear the last school bell ring letting you know that summer had officially begun. You trade in your backpacks full of books for suitcases full of swimsuits and sunglasses. The sun’s been out, and the weather has been hot, even if it was for a short while. VBS and summer vacations have come and gone. But we’ve reached the time of year where it starts getting darker earlier, the leaves will start changing colors and the heat will turn into cool, crisp air. And all this can only mean one thing: school is back in session. Many of the young people are already back in classes, while some will start in the coming weeks. Moms and dads may be done with school, but the thought of sending a child off to their first day of middle school, high school, or even college can be very frightening. Schools today are a battleground of sins and temptations. Will they remember everything we’ve taught them about friends, relationships, drinking, etc.?”

 

Message to kids & teens: 

“This is a new year. A time to start fresh and start over. It’s easy to get sucked into all the temptations that can be found on a college or high school campus. Satan is prowling like a lion ready to devour you (1 Peter 5:8). But remember who you are. Remember that you wear the name of Christ proudly. Paul wrote in 1 Cor. 11:1 to “imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” Remember that our attitude and our personality should always imitate Christ’s attitude. There will be times where it will be hard to do the right thing and you’ll find yourselves between a rock and a hard place, but just remember “if God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31). Remember that you have a family of Christians that are here for you whenever you need them. Don’t be afraid to admit you need help.”

 

Message to Parents: 

“It’s impossible to know everything that goes on while your child is at school. But the best thing you can do is give them a daily reminder of the Lord they serve. Pray with your children each morning before school. Read scriptures with them about temptations and how to overcome them. Write a scripture on a piece of paper or a napkin and put it in their lunch. If their mind is constantly on the Lord, guess who will be on their mind when a problem arises.”

 

Message to the congregation: 

“It is not just the parent’s responsibility to raise these children in the “training and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4).

As a flock of God’s people we are to look after each other. We are to all set an example in “word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Tim. 4:12). Let us all take the responsibility to make sure that everyone continues to grow spiritually. It takes a village to raise a child. Whether you want to admit it or not, every child in this congregation is your own. Remember what it was like to be young?  Do whatever you can to help to encourage them!”

  

 

 

Keep a song on your heart & in your soul…

 

DO NOT FEAR

When you pass through the waters, 

I will be with you

And the waves will not overcome you.

 Do not fear,

For I have redeemed you.

I have called you by name, 

you are mine.

 

For I am the LORD your GOD (I am the LORD your God)

I am the HOLY ONE of Israel your savior. (For I am the LORD your GOD.)

I am the LORD your GOD

I am the HOLY ONE of Israel your savior. (For I am the LORD your GOD.)

Do not fear (I am the LORD),

Do not fear (I am the LORD),

Do not fear (I am the LORD).

 

When you press through the fire,

I will be with you.

And the flames will not all consume you.

Do not fear,

For I have redeemed you.

I have called you by name, you are mine.

 

For I am the LORD your GOD (I am the LORD your God)

I am the HOLY ONE of Israel your savior. (For I am the LORD your GOD.)

 I am the LORD your GOD

I am the HOLY ONE of Israel your savior. (For I am the LORD your GOD.)

I am the LORD your GOD

I am the HOLY ONE of Israel your savior. (For I am the LORD your GOD.)

Do not fear (I am the LORD),

Do not fear (I am the LORD),

Do not fear (I am the LORD).

 

 

YOU REIGN IN ME

Over all the earth, You reign on high

Every mountain stream, every sunset sky

But my one request, 

Lord, my only aim, 

Is that You reign in me again!

Lord, reign in me, 

reign in Your power

Over all my dreams, 

in my darkest hour

You are the Lord of all I am,

So won't You reign in me again!

Over every thought, over every word

May my life reflect the beauty of my Lord,

'Cause You mean more to me than any earthly thing,

So won't You reign in me again!

Lord, reign in me, reign in Your power

Over all my dreams, 

in my darkest hour

You are the Lord of all I am,

So won't You reign in me again!

So won’t You reign in me again!

 

 

God is with us always…

Isaiah 41:10 “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Walk with confidence and know…

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things, through Christ who strengthens me.”

 

Our love and prayers are with all,

Bruce & Paula