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 3/7/2026
Good morning church family,
March came in like a LION
and is going out like a LAMB!
Yes we are here…..DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME! Lord willing, Daylight Savings time begins tomorrow, March 8th at 2:00 a.m. Clocks spring forward by one hour, meaning sunrise and sunset will occur one hour later! We can expect longer and lighter days with warmer temperatures on the horizon!
GIVING THANKS & PRAISE:
Nancy Melson’s procedure went well and she just needs to take it easy.
Nadine is feeling a bit better after having had RSV this past week, but she is still dealing with a cough.
Leo Benevento continues to do well. They are waiting on MRI results but thus far all is well. An incredible answer to prayer! We serve an amazing GOD who is so good! His birthday is on March 21st. If anyone has interest in sending him a birthday card, his address is 91 Shelton Road, Trumbull, CT 06611
John Cooper who suffered a mild stroke a few months ago, is doing much better. Although he gets quite fatigued, he is now able to drive.
“HI” From the Wallaces!
Andre Wallace, a former member checked in with us and said the family is doing well. They came to the congregation when their youngest son Miles was an infant, then moved to Georgia a few years ago. Andre sent this picture of Jared and Miles who both work in aviation and are still working on becoming pilots. Jared will be 30 and Miles turns 27 next month! How time flies…
Congratulations to James Pacheco and Abby Ruiz who got engaged this past week! They celebrated for their one year anniversary, James popped the question and Abby said “YES!” . We couldn’t be happier for them both!
PRAYER REQUESTS:
Dorothea’s son David had his VAD surgery, and is in a lot of pain. He sends his love and thanks everyone for your prayers.
Chelsea Eddy’s Grandmother passed away. Our hearts and prayers go out to her and all of the family at this difficult time.
Jody McMullen’s friend Amanda Liu whom we prayed for a few months ago, is still having many health challenges and her numbers are not good. She will be moving to North Carolina in a few weeks and we pray for her as she finds new doctors, for the move to go well and for her husband and son as well.
Mary Warren asked for prayers for her sister-in-law Lisa Donnelly who has breast cancer and is not doing well.
Mike & Paula Ross asked for prayers for their son who lives in the UAE with his family. They’ve asked for prayers since their area is under high alert. They hope to fly to Thailand next week where there is peace.
Elliott and Valencia have asked for prayers since the apartment above them had a burst pipe causing major water damage to their apartment below. They’ve asked for patience and strength as they navigate through all of the damage to their apartment.
Many events are happening over the next few months…all LORD WILLING and with Praise and Glory to God:
March 8th – This Sunday right after worship – SHINE MINISTRY MEETING & Brainstorming session.
Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence. Below is a list of items which can be brought in for the month of March… see Eyoko for more information:
March 14th – Saturday Ladies’ Bible study – 10:00 at the church building. Tammie Carey will be leading the study on “The Fragrance of Transparency”
March 14th – YOUNG ADULTS will be meeting at the church building around 2:30 pm on March 14 to take the teens to Thrillz adventure park and will be doing a devo and dinner at the Danbury mall after! Please see Kevon for more details.
Kevon Turner is teaching the Young Adults on Sunday mornings 12:30 – 1:30 right after worship in our fellowship hall for the next 5 weeks. The topics vary every Sunday. Thanks to Kevon for leading this study!
March 17th and 31st 9:30 a.m. – Tuesday Ladies bible studies via zoom. The next lesson will be Lesson 8 – “Confidence in God”. Nehemiah 2:5
The INSPIRE NEW ENGLAND GROWTH CONFERENCE will be held at the Manchester church of Christ on March 20-21st. See Flyer on the table in the auditorium with details.
Sunday March 29th – POT LUCK
Join us for our 5th Sunday POT LUCK LUNCH immediately following worship services. Pot lucks are a wonderful opportunity to invite a friend to worship and get to know our church family at Trumbull.
DISCIPLESHIP SEMINAR COMING UP….
Jay Repecko will be leading a Discipleship seminar on “Learning what your talents are”. Stay tuned for date and details which will be forthcoming soon.
April 10th at 7:00 p.m. – Tori Saracino’s Senior Recital is coming up on Friday, at the Chapel at Sacred Heart at Sacred Heart University. It will be about 45 minutes long and she wanted to extend the invitation to her church family. There is no admission fee & is free.
Saturday April 11th – 10:00 at the church building – Ladies Saturday bible class
Tuesday Ladies ‘ bible classes via zoom at 9:30 – April 14th & 28th
Saturday April 18th 5:00 – New England Bible Institute Fund Raising Dinner – Meriden Church of Christ. Fliers on the table in the auditorium
We invite you to join us for a memorable evening featuring a
delicious meal, an update on the graduates, and congregations
being served through NEBI. By reserving your seat, you are
also contributing to the ongoing work of God’s Kingdom in the
Northeast. Your involvement helps strengthen our mission
and expand the Institute’s impact within the community.
See Jay Repecko if you have questions.
Cost: $50.00 per adult / $100.00 per couple / $150 for a family of 3 to 5
KENT MEN’S RETREAT – June 12th & 13th
cocmensretreat.com/
Mark your calendars for our VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL which is slated for Saturday July 25th! Thanks to Derin & Kristen Wilson who head this up every year and will be providing more details soon! Another great opportunity to invite friends and family for a fun day of learning about JESUS!
“The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim his handiwork.” Psalm 19:1
A “bummer lamb” is an orphaned or rejected lamb that cannot survive without human intervention, usually requiring hand-feeding by a bottle. These lambs are rejected by their mothers (ewes) due to sickness, weakness, or having too many siblings. Sometimes, the Mothers even kick the lamb away. These bummer lambs are typically weak, cold and in need of intense care.
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Ewes may reject a lamb for several reasons and this rejection is usually permanent. Without intervention, a bummer lamb will die. A shepherd or farmer will take it in, keep it warm, and bottle feed it, often bringing it inside the home.
   
Because they are raised by hand, bummer lambs often become very attached to the person who feeds them, often running to the shepherd first when called.
Shepherds are on the lookout for these little lambs. A good shepherd will find the bummer lamb, place it close to his heart so it can hear its heartbeat, and take it home. He bottle feeds it and keeps it warm. Throughout the days ahead, the shepherd will continue to carry the lamb close to his heart. He knows it needs nurturing, or it will die of a broken spirit. As the lamb rests near his heart, it learns the sound of his voice and learns to trust him.
By the time it is ready to be released back into the flock, there is a new nobility to the little lamb. It no longer feels rejected. It feels loved, special and it holds its head high. It has been singled out by the shepherd. and when the shepherd yells, “Sheep, sheep, sheep…” the bummer lambs are always the first that come running!
We read in Matthew 18:12 that Shepherd left the 99 to pursue 1 lost lamb. That’s what Jesus does for all of us.
Our Good Shepherd holds us close to His heart, and loves us more than we can imagine! He wants to bring us home!
We live in a broken world and few of us escape the hurt of rejection. Rejection can come in the form of a dysfunctional home, bullying, unrequited love, and more. By the time we are adults, we all bear scars. Yet Jesus our Good Shepherd is there with His arms open wide to love us, nurture and care for us.
Praise God for our Good Shepherd who loves us beyond measure!
We may be broken but we are deeply loved by the Shepherd.
The Beatitudes are eight blessings recounted by Jesus in Matthew 5:3-10 within the Sermon on the Mount.
They are called the Beatitudes because the word comes from the Latin beats, meaning “happy”, “blessed” or “fortunate” as each one of the Beatitudes begins with “Blessed are…”
Jesus uses these pronouncements to describe the qualities of those who find true, profound happiness and fulfillment in God’s kingdom, redefining blessedness beyond worldly standards.
These characteristics of people who follow Jesus (sheep) and belong to the Kingdom of Heaven, promises spiritual rewards.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”
Those who are proud in spirit offer great contrast to those who are humble in spirit. Jesus frequently rebuked the Pharisees for their prideful hearts. The sin of pride is an easy trap to fall into. He shares with us that the kingdom of heaven belongs to the poor in spirit.
Paul describes Jesus’ example of humility beautifully in
Philippians 2:1-11
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
In Matthew 23:37-39 and Luke 13:34-35 Jesus expresses deep sorrow over the city’s rejection of God’s messengers.
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings but you wouldn’t let me.“
In 2 Corinthians 7:9-10 the apostle Paul describes this type of mourning as “godly grief”. The grief which leads us to repentance and God’s abundant forgiveness. We grieve over our sins and receive God’s comfort that is described in 1 John 1:9. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.“
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth“
What is meek? Being quiet, gentle and submissive. Jesus tells us that meek shall inherit the earth! Being meek is a combination of humility, patience, and obedience to God. Exercising humility and patience allows us to examine our hearts and submit to others, and most importantly, Jesus Christ.
Living in this world is difficult, for this is not a righteous world. But Jesus tells us to seek out righteousness. He challenges us to be morally responsible and seek out justice for those around us.
Isaiah 33:15-17 speaks about a righteous person and how they should live. Even while living in a world that is unjust, there is hope.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”
If we are merciful, Jesus tells us, we shall receive mercy from God. Do we show mercy to those around us?
Matthew 18:21-35 In the parable of the Unforgiving Servant, Jesus paints a picture of a servant who has been forgiven a great debt by his master, but then turns around and refuses to show mercy to someone who owed him a much smaller payment.
We must remember God’s abundant mercy to us and extend it to others. His brutal death on the cross for our sins, helps us to try to grasp His mercy and grace.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God”
1 Peter 1:13-25 Peter talks about “loving one another earnestly from a pure heart”. This is a sincere, selfless love for God and for others, which are the top 2 commandments.
It is in Christ that gives us the power to live in a way which pleases God. Even knowing the hope of Christ, our hearts can sometimes not be pure. Seeking God’s forgiveness when we stumble is important.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God”
Followers of Christ are to be peacemakers. Jesus shares in this Beatitude that by our pursuit of peace, we will be called children of God.
We are to emulate Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
Paul instructs us in Romans 12:18 “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.“
And in James 3:17-18
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Jesus ties all of the Beatitudes together with this final Beatitude. If we are seeking after God, striving to be poor in spirit, pure in heart, merciful, meek, mourning over sin, and seeking righteousness and peace, we will be persecuted. We can expect resistance to living righteously.
Peter encourages us and shares in 1 Peter 3:14-17
By living out the Beatitudes in obedience to God, and asking him to give us the strength to shine our light for Christ, He helps us to be the light for the whole world to see.
KEEP ON SINGING:
I am a sheep and the Lord is my Shepherd
I am a sheep and the LORD is my Shepherd
Watching over my soul!
My soul to keep guarding over me ever,
Watching wherever I go!
And when the winds blow
He is my shelter!
And when I’m lost and alone,
He rescues me!
And when the Lion comes
He is my victory!
Constantly watching over me!
He is constantly watching over me!
We are His children and He is our Father
Watching over our soul!
Great is His love for His sons and His daughters!
Watching wherever we go!
And when the winds blow
He is my shelter!
And when I’m lost and alone,
He rescues me!
And when the Lion comes
He is my victory!
Constantly watching over me!
He is constantly watching over me!
THE LORD’s MY SHEPHERD
The LORD’s my Shepherd,
I’ll not want:
He makes me down to lie
In pastures green,
He leadeth me
In pastures green,
He leadeth me.
The quiet waters by.
My soul He doth restore a gain,
And me to walk doth make,
Within the paths of righteousness
Within the paths of righteousness,
E’en for His own name’s sake.
Yea, tho’ I walk in death’s dark vale,
Yet will I fear no ill:
For Thou art with me,and Thy rod.
For Thou art with me, and Thy rod, and staff me comfort still.
Goodness and mercy all my life
Shall surely follow me;
And in God’s house for evermore,
And in God’s house, for ever more,
My dwelling place shall be.
We are SO BLESSED!
Our Good Shepherd sacrificially laid down His life for each of us. He knows us intimately and yearns to take us HOME.
May we strive to know HIM, to LOVE HIM, to TRUST HIM, and may we FOLLOW HIM all of our days.
May we be able to hear HIS VOICE when He calls us.
To God be the glory great things He hath done!
Bruce & Paula
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