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 9/5/2026
Good morning church family,
GIVING THANKS & PRAISE TO GOD:
Thanks be to God that Eloise Wallace is home with her family. There is such power in prayer. Giving God all the glory!
Ashley Stephens brother Courtney is doing great after his heart transplant. Praise God!
Sister Pam Pimpton’s friend Camellia Horn had cancer surgery this past week. She is in pain and very tired, but doing much better.
THE BARNABAS PROJECT – Card ministry
Thanks to Lisa Saracino who will be taking over the Barnabas Project which is a card ministry we’ve had for many years. Unfortunately the original list of members for this group was lost, so please let Lisa know if you would like to be included in this ministry.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
Devlal Moktan is recovering from neck surgery this past week. Praise God that all went well. Our prayers will be with Brother Dev for his healing.
Prayers for Ashley Stephens and family as her Aunt Ula passed away yesterday. Betty Adams will be going to be with family in Alabama at this difficult time. Prayers for safe travels.
Please pray for those affected by the flooding in Nepal. Brother Devlal shared that Sister Nisha Moktan’s family lost everything but thankfully all of her family are all accounted for. They lost entire houses and all of their belongings. Many church members lost their lives, or remain lost.
Below is a QR Code link to the Church of Christ Asian mission which Devlal established many years ago. If you’d like to contribute to the disaster relief efforts which will help the saints in 6 congregations there. You can mention in your donation that you want your donation to be used in a specific area. Thank you in advance.
Our prayers continue for Sister Nadine Keller who is having shoulder surgery on September 10th.
Congratulations to Joe & Carol Ligouri who have a new great grandson! Doug & Kelly Katz had new baby Douglas Michael III last week, and praise God all are doing well!
Congratulations to David & Tiana Moktan for their new baby girl “Maya”.
Congratulations as well to Devlal and Nisha Moktan and to Dennis Turner for being grand-parents once again, and for Kevon for being a new Uncle!
Tammie Carey is leading a terrific effort in partnering to support Newborns and families at Griffin Childbirth Center with our congregation. ” Bringing a new life into the world is a moment of intense JOY, but for many expectant mothers and growing families in our local community, it can also bring significant financial stress.
We have the opportunity to ensure that every mother leaving the center has the essential supplies needed to care for herself and her newborn during the critical early days of their birth. They are putting together support packages for families in financial need. They are currently collecting donations for the following new, unused items:
For BABY:
Onesies, caps, socks, and scratch mittens, sleep sacks, swaddles, receiving blankets, and diaper bags.
Nursing & Postpartum care for Mom:
Nursing bras, nursing pads, nursing pillows and pillow covers, breast milk storage bags, lactation tea, lanolin nipple cream, diaper cream and lip balm, maternity pads and postpartum ice packs.
General Support:
Gift cards (e.g. Target, Walmart, or Grocery stores to help parents purchase diapers or extra supplies).
Note: As their facility supports breast feeding, bottles and pacifiers are not items that are permitted. If you would rather donate funds to this effort, Tammie Carey will accept your donation and shop on your behalf to add to the collected items. “
There is a print-out on the back table for all to take.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Many events are happening over the next few months…all LORD WILLING and with Praise and Glory to God.
Ron has started a bible study of the Gospel of John on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. This book is foundational to the Christian faith and a great study for everyone! If you are unsure as to how to share God’s Word with someone, please invite them to join this study.
Th Young Adults had a great time mini golfing at Old Sawmill in Oxford last weekend. The day followed by ice cream and a devo at Southford Falls!
The TUESDAY Ladies’ bible study will begin on September 8th. They will be using Casandra Martin’s book – Women Opening the Word – “The ABC’S of a Godly Heart”. The books can be ordered on-line individually. Please see Lisa or Nadine if you have any questions.
Jay Repecko will be teaching a Discipleship class on September 11th and 12th. Please sign up on the list posted if you are able to come.
“and teaching them”
What does this mean and what does it have to do with me?
Join us September 11th and 12th to find out.
Schedule:
Friday Night
6:30-6:45 Welcome/Singing/Prayer
6:45-7:45 What is Discipleship and why is it an important topic to discuss
7:45-8:00 Break
8:00-8-15 Spiritual Gifts Inventory (These will be returned later and will be included in the discussion)
8:15–8:30 Song/Closing Prayer
Saturday
9:00-9:30 Welcome/Singing/Prayer
Also time for those who did not take Gifts Inventory Friday night
9:30-10:30 Session 1: What Discipleship is Not
10:30-10:45 Break
10:45-11:45 Session 2: Biblical Discipleship
11:45-1:00 Lunch provided
1:00-2:00 Session 3: How do we incorporate biblical discipleship into the body
2:00-2:15 Break
2:15-3:15 Session 4: Practical Matters
3:15-3:30 Song/Thank you/Closing Prayer
Please RSVP to Jay Repecko by August 30th
to ensure we have enough food for lunch
jrepecko@comcast.net
OUR ANNUAL HYMN SING will be on Sunday, September 27th at 3:30 p.m. Stay tuned for more details.
May 2027 is the New England Lectureship.
Saturday October 10th at 10:00 a.m. Ladies Bible Study at the church building.
Our annual TRUNK or TREAT will be held on October 24th at 6:00 p.m. Set up will begin at 5:00 p.m.
Last Sunday Bob & JoAnne shared the wonderful news that Leo had made his first touchdown as an 8th grader. The photo above is of Leo’s VICTORY! Praise GOD!
Can we imagine that moment of Victory in the mind of this young boy who is finally freed of his pain and agony?
Can we imagine what his parents and family were thinking aside from all of the emotions which came to a head…deep GRATITUDE , sheer JOY!
Every person who attended the game on and off the field, stood with cheers for Leo, as he is well known for all he endured. (Just a note, Leo just wants to be like all the other kids and not receive any attention).
Leo’s story is one which has reached into our all of our hearts! It was a difficult journey for him, yet God was right by his side and all the way!
In July of 2025 Leo was diagnosed with Severe Aplastic Anemia which is a serious bone marrow failure disorder where the body stops producing enough new blood cells, leaving patients vulnerable to severe infections and bleeding. The immune system attacks and destroys blood-forming stem cells in the bone marrow.
A bone marrow transplant from a matched donor is the only potential cure and is preferred for younger patients. It took several weeks before a bone marrow donor became available.
Leo experienced extreme tiredness, bruising, weakness, long-lasting infections, surgeries to remove 3 ribs and a portion of his lung all eaten up by the fungus and another surgery to surgically insert 2 rods in his back due to the fungus eroding it. The past year for Leo and his family was heart wrenching. It was painful for the family to watch him endure procedure after procedure, months of painful moments, and long tedious days and nights. Although un-certainty loomed, the family’s faith in GOD never did.
There was one doctor who said “this child is going to die”.
God had OTHER PLANS for Leo!
Another one of the Doctors who was making rounds with a group of Medical Residents towards the end of Leo’s illness…commented that… “she has never seen anyone survive Severe Aplastic Anemia and that God was with Leo…she also commented to the residents that she was “not supposed to say that”.
The team at Yale worked diligently at helping stay ahead of the internal Fungus which was the hardest thing to beat. Leo endured months and months of anti-fungal treatment after all of his surgeries.
Leo’s recent physical exam with a specialized Physical Therapist (trying to avoid another surgery) this past week, brought these comments with each test she did:
“This doesn’t make any logical sense”
“He shouldn’t be able to do this”
“There’s basically no impairment, but there SHOULD BE!”
“I don’t understand how he is doing this.”
After the visit, the PT said , “She has been practicing a long time (in her 60’s) and has never seen anything like this in her whole life”. Do you know your son is a walking miracle? He must have an angel guarding him, because there is no logical explanation.”
PRAISE GOD that Leo is a true testament to the power of prayer.
PRAISE GOD that He heard the thousands upon thousands of prayers which were lifted up on Leo’s behalf, and answered them.
PRAISE GOD for the Victory in this child’s life.
We give our Great God all the glory and overflowing thanks from all of our hearts!
Matthew 21:21-22
And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. and whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”
The apostle John had a running theme in his writings that Christians are over comers.
Believers in Jesus Christ overcome the “evil one” in
1 John 2:13-14.
“I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, because you have known the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.”
Revelation 2:7-21 refers to believers as being conquerors.
1 John 5:4-5
“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world.
And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.
Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”
John states that “our faith” is the victory that overcomes the world. When we place our Faith in the saving power of Jesus Christ, Any one who believes in Jesus for salvation and trusts in Christ’s atoning work on the cross – His death, burial and resurrection – shares in His victory over sin.
Victory over death
Acts 2:24
“But God raised Him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.“
Colossians 2:15
“And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”
Through Faith, we believe in Jesus Christ and are born of God.
Galatians 2:16
“know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ..”
Through faith, we surrender our will, to HIS and are obedient being immersed into His blood.
Our FAITH is the key to VICTORY.
The only way to overcome the world is through FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST, the Son of God.
Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33
PRAISE GOD that we have VICTORY in JESUS CHRIST!
1 John 2:16-17
“For all that is in the world – the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life – is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”
Our salvation is secure in Jesus Christ!
The Holy Spirit guarantees that we belong to GOD and seals us for the “day of redemption”.
In the meantime, we must “live by faith in the Son of God” who loves us and gave His life for us.
1 Corinthians 15:57
“Thanks be to God!
He gives us the Victory through our
Lord Jesus Christ”
May we continue to overcome this world in our daily walk by walking by Faith in Jesus Christ, and trusting in the
“Love of God that is in Christ Jesus our LORD” to be with us and carry us through all “trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword…
No, in all these things
we are more than conquerors
through him who loved us.” Romans 8:35-37.
KEEP SINGING:
FAITH IS THE VICTORY
Encamped along the hills of light,
Ye Christian soldiers rise,
And press the battle ere the night
Shall veil the glowing skies;
Against the foe in vales below
Let all our strength be hurled;
Faith is the victory, we know,
That overcomes the world.
Faith is the victory!
Faith is the victory!
O glorious victory,
That overcomes the world.
His banner over us is love,
Our sword the Word of God;
We tread the road the saints before
With shouts of triumph trod.
By faith, they like a whirlwind’s breath,
Swept on o’er every field;
The faith by which they conquered death
Is still our shining shield.
On every hand the foe we find
Drawn up in dread array;
Let tents of ease be left behind,
And onward to the fray.
Salvation’s helmet on each head,
With truth all girt about,
The earth shall tremble ’neath our tread,
And echo with our shout.
To him that overcomes the foe,
White raiment shall be giv’n;
Before the angels he shall know
His name confessed in heav’n;
Then onward from the hills of light,
Our hearts with love aflame,
We’ll vanquish all the hosts of night,
In Jesus’ conqu’ring name.
To God be the glory great things He hath done.
In Him,
Bruce & Paula
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