Good morning church family,
Sharing a few photos of the children on Sunday mornings. Look at their JOY and love for one another!
Jesus wants US to be like little children. “He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, “whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name, welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.“
In we read about how Jesus compared humility to being like a child: “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”
GIVING THANKS:
* Thanks to one of our generous members for purchasing a TV which is now set up in our fellowship hall to help stream our morning worship services for parents who need to tend to their children. We hope to make good use of this TV in many other ways as well. God blesses us over and over with kind and generous members. We remain eternally grateful!
* Thanks to Ron for re-starting the SHINE MINISTRY. This will be a wonderful outreach to the community and a good number of volunteers have offered their help already. If you were not able to be at the meeting on Sunday, please get in touch with Ron for more details and stay tuned!
* Thanks to Kristen Wilson and Chelsey Eddie who have volunteered to team teach the Cradle Roll class!
CONGRATULATIONS to Fred and Jessica Bonadio at the birth of their baby girl Isabella Rose who was born on Tuesday, February 6th weighing in at exactly 7 lbs! Praise God Mom and baby are doing well!
Congrats to Teddy & Toni for their new little granddaughter.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
* Carol Ligouri is still dealing with intense back pain Prayers for her doctor consult to guide her to knowing more about why nothing is working.
* Desrine Forbes was in the hospital this past week and had several blood transfusions. They are running tests. Please pray for her while she has so much going on.
* Darryl Smith, Allie & Cherie's daughter asked for prayers for her friend Deborah who recently had a kidney transplant.
* Ron was not feeling well early in the week and tested positive for COVID on Thursday. So far the rest of the family has tested negative, and will be staying home for wordship as a precautionary measure. Prayers for healing and well being.
COMING UP:
BIBLE STUDIES:
* The next Tuesday morning bible studies will be on February 13th at a.m. via zoom. and then on February 27th. Please see Lisa or Mary Lou if you know anyone who can benefit from this mid-week study.
* The YOUNG ADULTS will be meeting at the Sports Center for laser tag at 5pm Friday February 16th and then heading back to the church building after for a Bible study. See Zach and Tori for more details.
* GAME NIGHT – FEBRUARY 24th – p.m. Jay & Flo are hosting a game night at the church building.Pick up a flyer on the back table for complete details.
COMING UP IN MARCH:
LADIES NIGHT MOVIE & DINNER – March 2nd Time to be determined.
Lisa Saracino is organizing a ladies movie & dinner on March 2nd. The movie is “The Ordinary Angels”. Stay tuned for more details as the movie time will be determined as theater releases showtimes.
Flo Repecko will be leading the next Saturday morning Ladies Bible class held at the building on March 9th at AM. For any new members this is a great time of singing, prayer and bible study while we fellowship as well.
POT LUCK FELLOWSHIP will follow right after morning worship on Sunday, March 24th!
COMING UP IN APRIL:
Here are two great events coming up and lead by Brother Keller…
SPRING GIVE-A-WAY DAY!
“Give Away Day” April 27th 2024
We are working on trying to put together a “Give Away Day” In late April. The overall purpose of this event is not only blessing others with the items we no longer need, but to show our love and concern for those in need.
If you have any gently used items that are in good working condition to donate. Please take a form on the back table to catalog your items and return your list no later than February 11th. This will allow us to know if we have enough items to make this program work. Also feel free to text or email brother Keller with the number and types of items
Trip to See Daniel at the Sight & Sound Theater in PA in September
An inquiry signup sheet and more information has been posted on the door to the auditorium to find out the best date and estimated participation. Please fill in your info no later than Feb 11th so we can best know how to proceed.
APRIL TALENT SHOW – Saturday, April 6th at p.m.
There is a sign-up sheet posted on auditorium doors promoting our upcoming Talent show headed up by Lisa, Zach and Tori Saracino. Not only will this be a FUN time of Fellowship, but it will help support our commitment to Spooner House. Please sign up to share your talents, all ages welcome!
ADMISSION – Please bring non-perishable items for The Spooner House.
CONGREGATIONAL EVENTS: (see flyers on the back table for details)
Men's Retreat – Kent Connecticut – June 14th & 15th
Inspire New England – Manchester church of Christ – March 22-23
One of the most famous scriptures in God's Word is
What does it mean to love like JESUS?
As we follow our Lord and Savior, we strive to be as much like Jesus as we can be. Thank God for His mercy and His grace as we stumble and fall in this life.
God wants us to conform into the image of His Son –
Jesus was always obedient to the Father –
Jesus was perfect in every way –
Jesus loved people selflessly – ,
Jesus commanded His disciples to love each other the same way He had loved them…
As followers of Jesus, we are hopefully learning and growing to love like Jesus did. We can't love like Jesus did without our hearts changing.
God's call for us to love others is a tall order, for we are to put others ahead of ourselves and commanded to love all people even those we don't like. Loving the unloveable. Loving our enemies. Loving ALL people.
James strongly condemns favoritism based on financial or social status. “But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.”
We are to treat every human being with dignity and respect, remembering that this person is created by God, and designed in the image of God – ; .
Most of us will never be called upon to die for someone, but it certainly takes what we call “love”, to another realm.
GOD shares much about what defines LOVE in the scriptures.
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.“
“Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.“
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests, but each of you to the interests of others.”
“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.“
“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed”, but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.“
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.“
We must not equate love with complete acceptance of everything someone does. Jesus did not tolerate sin, deception or false followers. He was painfully direct with the Pharisees, and religious leaders who loved themselves and their status more than others. While still loving them, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees, calling them “Hypocrites!” and “Blind fools!” & 16.
Jesus challenged the religious leaders with the warning, “Not all who say to me, 'Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of Heaven. Only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.”
Jesus never changed the truth to satisfy the “itching ears” of His listeners.
We do not love people by watering down the gospel that can lead them to salvation. “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”
Loving like Jesus means we care enough about the souls of others to tell them the truth.
How do we know what LOVE is?
“This is how we know what love is:
Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.
And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but
has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?
Dear
