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 8/22/2026
Good morning church family,
GIVING THANKS & PRAISE TO GOD:
Thanks for everyone’s prayers for Ashley Stephens’ brother Courtney. His is out of the ICU Praise God! Ashley was able to speak with him for a few minutes this week. He has a long journey ahead given his new heart, so continued prayers are needed.
In keeping with our church’s tradition to have an end of summer ladies song night, there were 14 women who came last Friday to sing songs of Praise to God. The fruit salad was plentiful & the food, fellowship and singing was truly a taste of heaven. Thanks to all who made a joyful noise!
Happy 62nd Anniversary to Joe & Carol Ligouri on August 25th. Joe & Carol have 4 daughters and 11 grand-children with one more on the way at the end of the month making 5 great-grand children. We wish you God’s richest blessings as you celebrate this happy occasion!
This photo was of their 25th anniversary, since Carol mentioned that they lost their wedding pictures.
Joe & Carol have even more to celebrate! Their grandson Anthony Katz recently celebrated his 25th birthday! Anthony was born with a rare muscular disorder and not expected to live past 1 week of life. God had other plans for him as he is still going strong. His parents Tina (Joe & Carol’s daughter) & her husband Doug Katz, have done a fantastic job of caring for Anthony. He is loved by so many, and gives so much love back! Donned in red and green, the family, fire-fighter friends, and so many more celebrated Christmas in July on his birthday!
Sister Beulah celebrated her 85th birthday giving much thanks to God!
PRAYER REQUESTS:
Devlal Moktan is having neck fusion surgery on September 1st. Prayers for all to go well.
Sam Cotte had neck fusion surgery yesterday. The doctors said all went well and there were no unexpected surprises. We will continue to pray for his complete healing and for Linda who will be caring for him.
Tracie Robertson requested prayers for her 2 year old cousin Eloise Wallace who was diagnosed with a rare condition called ADEM which affects the brain & Spinal cord. She is now out of ICU and is in a step-down neurology unity. She is responding to the steroid treatments and thankfully is showing signs of improvement. Thanks to all for your prayers. God is so good!
Sister Pamela Pimpton requested prayers for Camellia Horn who had cancer surgery yesterday. Prayers for her recovery.
Continued prayers for Randy Springer. His triple bypass surgery is being pushed out to next month.
Prayers for all of our children, teachers and college students as they begin school soon.
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.
Saturday, August 29
There will be Young Adult mini golf at Old Sawmill in Oxford on Saturday, August 29 at 2 pm followed by ice cream and a devo at Southford Falls! Please see Zach or Tori for more details.
SUNDAY, August 30th – POT LUCK
Join us after worship tomorrow for a Pot luck lunch! Bring food to share and also bring a friend!
FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN event:
Derin & Kristen Wilson are having a “BACK TO SCHOOL FUN DAY” on September 5th at 3:00 p.m. Please bring a towel and HAVE FUN!
Also on September 5th will be the first SATURDAY Ladies Bible study at the building at 10:00 a.m. Nadine Keller will lead the study as we finish up the series by Casandra Martin “The Aroma of Christ”, which will take us through to December.
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 anhave 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.
Psalm 19:1
“The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
August brings us to the close of summer. No doubt we are all asking…where did the summer go? The leaves are already changing color and time marches on.
As the sun begins to sink lower in the sky and the nights become chilly and dark, we feel the energy of summer come to an end.
The changing seasons are key points in the cycle of life in nature.
The four focal points of the year (all of which Gary Babcock recited to us regularly!):
The Winter Solstice, the Spring Equinox, Summer Solstice, and Autumnal Equinox.
The Autumn Equinox (the astronomical start of fall) begins on September 22nd (or the 23rd UTC) marking the beginning of Fall in the Southern Hemisphere, and start of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere. On this day, the sun shines directly on the equator, giving nearly equal amounts of day and night all over the world.
The word “equinox” comes from Latin and means “equal night”, referring to the 12 hour day, and 12 hour night.
The Earth is not tilted toward or away from the sun. The sun’s center crosses the celestial equator. Day and night are close to 12 hours long everywhere.
Days start to get shorter and nights get longer in the north.
The North Pole sees its last sunset of the year, and the South Pole sees its first sunrise.
As the days grow shorter and the nights grow longer in the Fall, we learn to appreciate all of God’s glory through each season.
Psalm 104:19 “He made the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down.“
Ecclesiastes 3:1
“For everything there is a season,
and a time for every matter under heaven.“
The seasons which come and go, are beautiful touches of our Heavenly Father’s glory, for He created every moment, every second, every day, every week, every month and every season. Life moves in cycles and change is imminent.
Back to school sales are on. Teachers are getting their classrooms in order, and kids are gearing up for a new school year. New teachers, new classes, new grades, new friends, and new experiences.
We can learn so much from seasons which come and go. Hopefully we are growing in Christ, and walking with Godly wisdom to face the new season and all that will come with it. All of our human experiences such as joy, sadness, struggles, and peace, have their own proper, natural time and purpose. No phase of this life lasts forever.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 compares a list of opposites as we read that God has a season for everything.
“a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep, and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.”
Difficult times will pass, and good times will change.
We cannot rush certain phases of life as everything happens in its own time. Every phase of life has value, even the difficult or sad moments. The proper moments at the right time, bring about God’s purposes and is a beautiful part of His overall plan.
Every day is “a gift from the hand of God“. 2:24-26
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 shares that God has a reason and a time for all things.
So we strive to enjoy life in the present!
“I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil – this is the gift of God.” Ecc. 3:12-13
and trust in God’s sovereignty..
Ecc. 3:14-15 “I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.”
King Solomon reminds us in Ecclesiastes 11:5 “Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things.”
As the trees drop their leaves, the season of Autumn helps remind us to appreciate TODAY. We can focus on today, appreciating every sunrise and giving God all the glory all the way.
Jesus shares in John 3:8 “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes.”
Just as we are unable to comprehend the path of the wind, we are also incapable of truly understanding the mystery of God.
God’s Promises are true and permanent, may we trust Him and have faith through each season.
Matthew 28:20 “I am with you.“
Isaiah 41:10 “I will strengthen you.“
John 18:27 “I give you peace.“
Philippians 4:19 “I will provide for you.“
Proverbs 3:5-6 “I will guide you.“
John 3:16 “I give you eternal life.“
Through all of our seasons, may we keep on keeping on loving Him, loving each other, and serving Him, for “God is the maker of all things.”
KEEP SINGING:
THERE IS A HABITATION
THERE IS A HABITATION
There is a habitation,
Built by the living God,
For all of every nation
Who seek that grand abode.
O Zion, O Zion
I long thy gates to see
O Zion, O Zion
When shall I dwell in thee?
No night is there, no sorrow
No death and no decay
No yesterday, no morrow
But one eternal day
O Zion, O Zion
I long thy gates to see
O Zion, O Zion
When shall I dwell in thee?
O Zion, O Zion
I long thy gates to see
O Zion, O Zion
When shall I dwell in thee?
GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS
“Great is Thy faithfulness,” O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.
“Great is Thy faithfulness!” “Great is Thy faithfulness!”
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
“Great is Thy faithfulness,” Lord, unto me!
Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
To God be the glory great things He hath done.
In Him,
Bruce & Paula
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