Hello church family,
GIVING THANKS:
* Thanks to all who helped with the Pot luck last Sunday. Many hands made light work, and there were many helpers who made everything run smoothly. There was plenty of great food and Fellowship! We had several new visitors who enjoyed the lunch and said “They will be back!” Serving together in harmony within the body of Christ, is truly a piece of Heaven.
* Linda Cerminara's foot surgery went well. She now has a month long recovery so prayers for healing.
* Irene Aschen continues to recover from her hip surgery, and is grateful for all of the prayers.
* We are sharing this kind message from Dan Streety. Dan, Susan and Brody Streety worshipped here for several years, then moved to Texas where they now worship at the Eastern Hills Church of Christ.
“Gentlemen, I hope you're both well. I wanted to share something with you. I've recently been teaching a class on Politics and Religion. Don't ask me why I chose to walk into that buzz saw but it's been an interesting class to say the least. And I've been comparing northern and southern perspectives. And towards the end of this particular class I mention there were people in our tiny Connecticut church who would “die” for us and I corrected and said, “get on a plane in a heart beat if I needed them.” Thank you Dan, we miss you all!
Such a blessing to hear from former members. Blessed be the ties that bind! Heaven will surely be a wonderful reunion of the saints!
* Prayers for Ashley Stephens' mother, Mary Likely, who went to the hospital this week for heart attack. They did surgery yesterday and placed 3 stents in. She will need some new medications but thankfully she did well through the surgery!
* Continued prayers for Karen Ohrenberger's craniotomy which will be on Friday, September 29th.
* Esther Aggrey asked for prayers for her children, especially Aba.
COLLEGE CARE PACKAGES
1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Encourage one another and build one another up just as in fact you are doing.”
* It has been our tradition over many years to assemble care packages for our college students. There is a list of items that can be contributed on the back table in the auditorium. Thanks to all for your donations and encouraging them! For those who would like to write notes of encouragement and including scriptures, etc. please get them to the building by Sunday October 7th.
DREAM HUNT DONATIONS FOR GHANA – Esther will be picking up all of the donations for the children in Ghana by September 24th the last Sunday of the month. Thanks to all who have been so generous for this cause!
SPOONER HOUSE – Continues to be in desperate need of non-perishable foods. Thanks to everyone for supporting this food pantry ministry.
OCTOBER EVENTS:
* The next Saturday Ladies Bible study will be on Saturday October 14th at 10:00 a.m. at JoAnne Discala's home at 175 Hilltop Circle, Trumbull, CT. JoAnne will be leading the lesson on our study of the book of Exodus – Courage over Fear. We will also assemble the students care packages that morning.
* Men's Breakfast – October 21st at 9:00 a.m. at the church building- See Jay, Ron or Bruce for what you can bring. There will be a sign up list posted soon.
* Trunk or Treating – Saturday October 28th Thanks to Derin & Kristen for hosting this event. Stay tuned for more details.
* Next Pot Luck meal – Sunday October 29th
NOVEMBER EVENTS:
* LADIES NIGHT OUT – Friday November 10th at 6:00 p.m.. Old Towne Restaurant in Trumbull. See Lisa Saracino for details.
Can we imagine a world where we could succeed by being kind?
Where we all pay it forward?
Where people look out for one another?
The Scriptures have much to say about kindness. The perfect role model for us to follow is Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 4:32 “Be compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Luke 6:35 “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.“
1 Corinthians 13:4 “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude.”
1 Peter 3:8-9 “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.“
Ephesians 2:7 “..so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”
Kindness is free
Kindness comes from the heart
Kindness is selfless
Kindness promotes peace
Kindness is an un-expected deed
Kindness is caring
Kindness is gratitude being passed on
Kindness is a lifestyle and a daily practice, not when we feel like it.
Kindness is a choice
Kindness lifts up the hearts of burdened souls.
Kindness is Grace
Kindness instills a chain reaction, where one small act can cause a ripple effect that can affect an entire community.
Kindness is the product of love
Kindness is soft, not sharp edged
When we are kind, we glorify God.
We've heard the expression, “Be the change we wish to see in the world”.
One kind deed, can spread like wildfire.
Kindness is but one of the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT in Scripture, yet it links with them all. The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Galatia about Living by the Spirit. He first defines the sinful nature…
Galatians 5:16-21″So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the sinful nature are obvious; sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.“
Paul then goes on to define the fruit that is produced by the Holy Spirit living within us…
Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.“
Paul goes on to say in verse 25 “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”
Paul also shares in Galatians 6:10 ” So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
A seed does not transform into a tree overnight. It requires careful watering, tending to and patience. A seed that is being nurtured, will slowly grow day-by-day into a strong towering tree. It is the same with kindness. Demonstrating kindness a little bit at a time, grows to be a lifestyle…
Producing good fruit should be our goal, for our only purpose on this earth is to seek and save the lost. Jesus said in Matthew 15:20, “you will know them by their fruit“.
Bearing the fruit of kindness is essential in order for us to shine in this dark world.
Jesus lived a kind life. For three years of ministry, he demonstrated love and kindness to all people, even to his adversaries.
Being intentional in showing kindness to everyone, and looking out for the needs of others, glorifies our Father.
Jesus shared the Parable of the Good Samaritan with the multitude. It is a beautiful story of kindness, compassion and parallels for us, the true love of God .
Luke 10:29-37 In summarizing this story, a Jewish man was robbed and beaten, and left to die. The Jewish priest and Levite passed by, but the Samaritan saved him. The point of Jesus’ story was this: everyone is your neighbor – the foreigner, the widow, the orphan, and even your enemy. We are to show merciful kindness to everyone.
Luke 6:27-36
“Love your enemies…do good to them that hate you;” “he who does not love his brother, how is it possible for him to love God who is invisible?”
Jesus calls us to bless our enemies, knowing that through kindness, we can soften hearts.
Kindness has great power. We read in scripture how the crowds followed Jesus and traveled miles just to hear him speak. Healing the sick, feeding the hungry, teaching the people, caring for the widow, and defending children. It was not to a select few. He was kind to everyone.
Jesus lived 33 years of perfect kindness.
The book of Luke, shares the powerful interaction that unfolded between Jesus and the thief on the cross. He suffered and was crucified between two men who committed crimes “one on his right, the other on his left”. To the one who
was penitent, Christ replied “Truly, I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” Luke 23:33
While in writhing agony, Jesus displayed compassionate, merciful kindness praying for all of us, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Jesus always defended the weak, the poor, and needy. Jesus said, “As you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”
Kindness should be intentional, even when we may be “too tired.
Kind words, are a soothing balm to the weary soul, and they are free.
God shows us Grace, Love and Mercy daily. It is humbling that God allows the sun to rise each day.
KEEP SINGING:
ALWAYS FORGIVEN
I don't deserve to be Your servant,
And how much less,
to be Your child.
Anger and wrath,
sure condemnation,
should be my portion, my just reward.
Never have seen it,
Never will know it,
Your loving kindness,
enfolds my life.
All you have shown me,
is Grace, love and Mercy,
Now and forever,
I am Your child.
Freely You pour out,
Your loving Kindness,
Father of Grace
You welcome me in!
All of the sin,
I have committed
Was placed upon,
Your righteous Son,
And now You see me,
Through His perfection,
As if I'd never, done any wrong.
Always forgiven,
Always accepted,
No fear of judgement
Before Your throne.
All you have shown me,
is Grace, love and Mercy,
Now and forever,
I am Your child.
Freely You pour out,
Your loving Kindness,
Father of Grace
You welcome me in!
Father of Grace
You welcome me in!
BE KIND….
May we shine the light of Christ to a dying world in need of a savior. This generation is in need of pure, unadulterated kindness.
As Pamela Pimpton shared with us this past week, “we could win so many more people to Christ by being loving and kind. Sometimes Christians are more like clanging symbols because we have left the message of love out!”
“The Human Wave” is a common occurrence these days at sporting events where seated fans sequentially “stand up and sit down” to create a visible ripple in the crowd, which circles around the entire stadium. Typically the human wave goes around the stadium for at least 6 times. Let's start the HUMAN WAVE OF KINDNESS, plant the seeds and watch GOD work!
1 Corinthians 3:6 “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.”
ln His Service and for His Glory,
Bruce & Paula