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04/12/2025
Good morning church family,
GIVING THANKS:
* Thanks be to God for all of this rain, for we will be able to see beautiful spring colors soon!
* Thanks to Pat Keller for all of the work he is putting forth to update our directories, and bring the website up to speed in all regards (events, directory information, newsletters, etc). This is a huge effort and we appreciate his talents and time! Thank you all for being flexible as we work out the kinks.
PRAYER REQUESTS
* Continued prayers for Greg & Linda Cerminara as they deal with continued health challenges.
* Continued prayers for Pat Yaglowski who is struggling with intense pain and struggling to walk.
* Continued prayers for Dorothea Cooper who still struggles with headaches from her concussion a few months ago. She is slated for an MRI in May.
* Prayers for Michelle Wilson’s step-mother who has serious health concerns.
* Prayers for the family of Juliana Samenni (college friend of Tori Saracino) who sadly took her life.
* Molly asked for prayers for all in the southwest who are enduring the severe flooding.
* Pamela Pimpton asked for prayers for her friends Nate Robinson who has cancer and now pneumonia and Denesha Wallace who was having chest pain this past week.
* Prayers for the family of Nate Yarusavage (middle school student) who took his life this past week. Nate was a friend of Joanne and Bob’s grandson Vince Benevento who also needs prayers as he struggles with this loss.
AREA EVENTS:
MEN’S RETREAT:
June 13th & 14th
Men are encouraged to sign up soon for the upcoming Men’s retreat in June.
 [JULY]
TIDAL RIVER CHRISTIAN CAMP:
tidalriverchristiancamp.com
TRCC is fast approaching. They are always looking for members to help out in many capacities. Please see Pat Keller if you have interest in helping out at camp this summer.
OUR IN-HOUSE CHURCH FOOD PANTRY CAN USE A BOOST!
Canned goods (soups, ravioli, non-perishable foods, pasta’s, cereal, etc. are needed for our in-house food pantry. Just a few items a week, will help us re-stock our pantry. Those willing to donate grocery store gift cards please see Ron. We remain grateful for all donations.
2 Corinthians 9:6
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”
Thank you all!
NEW CONVERTS CLASS –Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. for any newly baptized members, or those considering baptism. Please see Ron if you have interest.
CONGRATS to Tori Saracino for sharing her talents with us this past Thursday night for her junior recital.
God has blessed Tori with an abundance of talent and goodness which flows from her heart and soul. She did a wonderful job…Simply incredible!!
FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
Saturday morning April 12th Margaret Rizzio will be teaching the lesson on the fruit of “Self Control” at the building at 10:00.
The next Saturday Ladies Bible class will be on Saturday May 10th from 10:00 – 12:00 noon at the church building. Molly Medling will lead us in a lesson on the fruit of “Gentleness” .
Tuesday April 15th is the next Ladies Bible study via zoom at 9:30. The study of Revelation is underway and is such a great study. Thanks to Lisa and Mary Lou for leading the mid-week ladies study. Please see Mary Lou if you would like a book.
YOUNG ADULTS:
The Young Adults enjoyed a Lock In last weekend! Great food, fellowship and karaoke which was enjoyed by all!
The Young Adults will be gathering at our home on May 2nd at 6pm for dinner, singing and games. Bring some snacks and/or deserts.
The symbol of the wooden cross means many things to many people. Some have it displayed on their mantel, or on T-shirts or people wear it around their neck as jewelry or have it as bumper stickers or engraved as a tattoo. It is a symbol of stark contrast….brutal death and eternal life, hate and love, violence and peace, accusation and forgiveness, sin and purity, brokenness and wholeness, defeat and victory.
The symbol of the wooden cross means so much more than we can fully understand. Crosses were made from heavy splintered wood, course and rough, not smooth to the touch. Nothing about the cross was made for comfort, but for intense pain and suffering.
Within Jewish tradition, wood and trees have rich meanings. The Tree of Life in Proverbs 3:18 is described as wisdom that leads to happiness and fulfillment. This biblical understanding of trees pre-dates Christ’s time and was an essential part of their culture. This connection to wisdom brings us closer to look at Jesus’s crucifixion on the tree, not as a tragic event, but as a divine nature of God’s plan for salvation.
and in Galatians 3:13
Some ancient Jewish writings refer to the “tree” as an expression of life or righteousness. In Jewish history, the use of trees or wood in sacrifice was common as seen in the sacrifices made at the temple. Wood was often an integral part of offerings, thus linking the idea of the tree to faithfulness and sacrifice (Leviticus 1:3). Jesus embodies this as the ultimate sacrifice, leading us through His death on the cross, allowing us the opportunity for spiritual renewal.
1 Peter 2:24
“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree,
so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness;
by his wounds you have been healed.
For you were like a sheep going astray,
but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”
In Genesis 22:1-6 we read about God testing Abraham, asking him to take his only son Isaac and go to the region of Moriah to sacrifice him there as a burnt offering. Wood was one of the items God asked Abraham to bring with him.
vs. 3 “Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about.”
vs. 6 “Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and place it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife.”
Jesus was WITH GOD from the beginning as we read in John 1:1. Jesus was with GOD when the world as we know it was created. A PERFECT & HEAVENLY realm. JESUS left His place in heaven with the FATHER, to come to earth as God in the flesh. He watched as man rebelled against God and the sin that entered into the world in the Garden of Eden.
He came to earth for one purpose, to die on the wooden cross, for our sins. His love is unmeasured and extends deeper than we can grasp. Ephesians 3:18-19
A love that reflects God’s deep and sacrificial love for each of us. John 3:16
A love that required a blood sacrifice. Hebrews 2:17-18
HIS Blood offers salvation for all who choose to follow Him.
Jesus predicted His death at least three times in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke and John. Jesus knew that His death must happen and was necessary in God’s perfect plan to save the world.
In HIS DEATH, we find LIFE!
When we look deeper at the symbol of the cross, it brings us to a place of humility, sorrow, awe, and complete transformation. Everything about Jesus’ crucifixion, as brutal as it was, was according to God’s perfect plan of salvation.
The entire cross, made of solid wood, is estimated to have weighed over 300 pounds, although there are no exact figures. The crossbeam, is estimated to have weighed around 70 – 90 pounds.
Historically, the condemned were often forced to carry only the crossbeam to the place of execution, which was still a significant burden.
Jesus had been humiliated, scourged beyond recognition, tortured and was weakened before being forced to carry His cross, making the journey even more difficult to bear. That is why they had to force Simon to help Jesus bear the burden. There was one burden Simon could not help Jesus with… the burden of the sin of all mankind, past, present and future. Only Jesus could remove the burden of sin from us, because He is God in the flesh…Holy and Righteous.
“For the wages of sin is death,
but the gift of God is eternal life
in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
2 Corinthians 5:21
“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us,
so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.“
1 Peter 2:24
“He himself bore our sins
in his body on the tree,
so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness;
by his wounds you have been healed..”
Matthew 27:32
“As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene,
named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross“
John 19:17
“So the soldiers took charge of Jesus.
Carrying his own cross,
he went out to the place of the skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).
Here they crucified him,
and with him two others –
one on each side
and Jesus in the middle.“
John 17:5 (NASB) Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
The Prince of Glory, the Son of God was nailed to a plank of wood.
And in Luke 23:33-34 we read Jesus’ heartfelt words of forgiveness…
Can we even fathom that Jesus was with God in the heavenly realm and left it, for our salvation?
Can we grasp that Jesus bore all of this, and took the punishment WE deserve?
How shrill the cry must have been in those final gasping moments when Jesus cried out with a loud voice,
“Eloi, Eloi, sabachthani? which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
Matthew 27:46
The brutal cross of wood signifies LOVE in it’s purest form. A sacrificial love that is wider and deeper than we can fathom. This scripture in Ephesians is one we should read over and over again…
Ephesians 3:18
“I pray that you,
being rooted and established in love,
may have power,
together with all the saints,
to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,
and to know this love that surpasses knowledge,
that you may be filled to the measure of all of the fullness of God.”
Romans 5: 8 & 9
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:
While we were still sinners,
Christ died for us.
Since we have now been justified by his blood,
how much more shall we be saved
from God’s wrath through him!”
Isaiah 53:5
“But He was pierced for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him,
and by His stripes we are healed.”
Colossians 2:9
“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.”
Jesus became the sacrifice for our sins. Without Him carrying His cruel cross, and being obedient even unto death, we would have been separated from God, forever!
Romans 6:23
“For the wages of sin is death,
but
the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.“
Our God is Holy and righteous, and He is LOVE. His desire is for us to be reconciled with Him, through His Son Jesus Christ.
The Cross is deeply personal and means different things to all of us at varying stages of our life journey. The Apostle Paul shares with us in Philippians 3:10
The Cross is HUMILITY & SACRIFICE
Matthew 11:29
“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.“
After Jesus humbled Himself and bore the shame of the cross, He was given the highest place of honor in heaven…
Mark 16:19
“After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them,
he was taken up into heaven and
he sat at the right hand of God. “
The Cross represents our VICTORY!
The wooden cross Jesus was crucified on (tree) , reflects the LOVE & GRACE of GOD towards humanity.
The tree portrays our struggles with sin, the righteousness we can find through JESUS, and the calling to bear our own crosses as followers of Christ, in our daily struggles. No matter what we have done, or where we have been, we can approach the throne of Grace and be redeemed by the blood of the lamb!
PRAISE GOD FOR HIS MERCY & GRACE and HIS precious gift to mankind – Romans 5:8
PRAISE GOD FOR JESUS CHRIST’s LOVING SACRIFICE – Acts 4:12
MAY WE REJOICE & KEEP SINGING HIS PRAISES….
No palace, no jewels
No kingdom to rule,
No crown of majesty.
No throne and no robe,
no silver no gold,
no courts of royalty.
Yet the King of Kings, left heaven to become a lowly man
He left all Heaven’s glory
To fulfill His Father’s plan.
He still came just for me,
He still came,
Knowing all He would endure,
He still came!
Disregarding every cost,
from the manger to the cross,
He still came, just for me,
He still came.
No family, no friends,
to help at the end,
No out, no substitute.
Much pain and much hurt,
to give love and worth,
He bore our sins and grief.
Yet the hope of what He offered
So outweighed what must be done.
He chose to be my victor
and assured my pardon won.
He still came just for me,
He still came,
Knowing all He would endure,
He still came!
Disregarding every cost,
from the manger to the cross,
He still came, just for me,
He still came.
Why did my Savior come to earth,
And to the humble go?
Why did He choose a lowly birth?
Because He loved, me so!
Why did He drink the bitter cup
Of sorrow pain and woe?
Why on the Cross be lifted up,
Because He loved, me so!
Til Jesus comes I’ll sing His praise,
And then to Glory go,
And reign with Him through endless days,
Because He loved, me so!
He loved, He loved me so.
He loved, He loved me so.
He gave His precious life for me, for me,
Because He loved, me so!
He still came just for me,
He still came!
Knowing all that He would endure,
He still came,
Disregarding every cost,
from the manger to the cross.
He still came just for me,
He still came!
He still came, just for me,
From the manger to the brutal wooden cross…
PRAISE THE LORD… HE STILL CAME!
TO GOD BE THE GLORY, GREAT THINGS HE HATH DONE!
In Him,
Bruce & Paula
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