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 5/2/2026
Good morning church family,
GIVING THANKS & PRAISE:
The Young Adults had a great time at movie night at the Carey's home last Friday night!
   
CONGRATULATIONS ZACH SARACINO AND JIN LIN on their engagement last Saturday! Zach proposed at their first date meeting place 5 years ago at Sleeping Giant state park in Connecticut, and Jin said YES! We are overjoyed at the news and know that God's blessings will be with them both.
 
 
We are giving much thanks to God and all praises to HIM for answered prayers on behalf of Leo Benevento! Leo had his last anti fungal treatment and is doing so well he went back to school this past week. Blessings in abundance! Thank you Father, thank you!
PRAYER REQUESTS:
Prayers for Mary Lou's back pain to subside.
Karla Jones asked for prayers for her friend Michelle who was just diagnosed with breast cancer and will have surgery soon.
Gustavo requested prayers for Judith as she is dealing with intense pain.
Lauryn Stephens had her surgery on Friday. Prayers for a full recovery.
Many events are happening over the next few months…all LORD WILLING and with Praise and Glory to God.
Saturday May 2nd 9:45 am.
International Women Zoom Webinar
Saturday May 9th – 10:00 a.m. – Ladies bible study taught by JoAnne Discala on the “The Fragrance of Mercy.” Please note this class will be at JoAnne & Bob's home at 175 Hilltop Circle, Trumbull.
Tuesday May 12th – 9:30 Ladies bible zoom study on the book of Nehemiah Lesson 12 – “A Generous Heart”. This will be the last zoom study for the summer. Thanks to Mary Lou and Lisa for preparing for and leading these mid week classes.
YOUNG ADULT LOCK IN
There will be a young adult barbecue and devo at Jay’s place Friday, May 15 starting at 6 pm followed by a lock-in at the Trumbull church building and breakfast and outdoor activities the next day! Please see Zach or Tori for more details.
May 31st – POT LUCK right after worship
Join us at our next POT LUCK where we will honor our Graduates:
CONGRATULATIONS TORI SARACINO:
 Tori Saracino graduates Summa Cum Laude & a 4.0 GPA from Sacred Heart University on May 9th.
Tori shared her career goals: My goal is to pursue a Master’s degree in Education at Sacred Heart University. As I begin my year of full-time student teaching, I hope to be an encouragement to my students and make a difference in their lives. I’m graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance and English. I aspire to continue growing musically by performing at local venues and songwriting, and I plan to finish my first album this summer. My ultimate goal is to be a music teacher at my alma mater, Seymour High School, but I know that wherever I end up teaching, God has the perfect plan 🙏🏼
CONGRATULATIONS to TRENTON CAREY:
Trenton Carey graduates on June 12th from Shelton High School and will pursue a degree from Southern Connecticut State University in the Fall. His goal is to be a dermatologist!
SO PROUD OF OUR GRADUATES!
KENT MEN'S RETREAT – June 12th & 13th. Note: A generous offer has been made to anyone who would like to attend and needs the admission fee covered. See Bruce if you'd like to take advantage of this offer. (Funds are Limited)
http://cocmensretreat.com/
Saturday June 10th LADIES BIBLE STUDY 10:00 AT THE CHURCH BUILDING . Angela Mariano will be leading the discussion on the “Fragrance of Purity”.
YOUNG ADULTS Fellowship, dinner and singing at the Pancoast's home on Friday night June 19th at 6:00 p.m.
Below is the list of supplies we have been asked to donate for TRCC this summer:
Tidal River Christian Camp
CONGREGATIONAL DONATION LIST
Trumbull Church of Christ,
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3 – Paper Napkins
1000+ Count Casual Paper Napkins (Large Packaging preferable)
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10 – Hand Soap
Pump bottles (antibacterial)
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15 – Cookies
Large packages (any kind)
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There is a bin in the foyer for the supplies which need to be in before June 21st.
Thank you for your continued support. May God bless you as we serve Him. Please see Patrick Keller if you have questions.
Mark your calendars for our VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL which is slated for Saturday July 25th! The theme this year is “With JESUS I'm a Superhero”. A sign up sheet is posted on the auditorium doors for anyone who is able to help that day. Teachers, face painters, bounce house volunteers, food table, those who can set up, and clean up, etc.
With Jesus, I'm a Superhero
 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!
TIDAL RIVER CHRISTIAN CAMP
Information regarding TRCC is now available. The weeks for camp are:
 
“The heavens declare the glory of God;
and the firmament shows His handiwork.”
Walking sticks or stick insects, are a group of highly camouflaged insects. They are found on every continent except Antarctica but they are most abundant in the tropics and sub-tropics. Their natural camouflage makes them difficult for predators to detect. One of their species includes the world's longest walking stick at 25 inches in total length.
Walking sticks are herbivores, feeding mostly on the leaves of trees and shrubs and they play an important role in the ecosystem. They are preyed upon by birds, bats, spiders, small mammals and primates.
May we stand in awe of God's incredible creation.
Psalm 33:8
“Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere Him.”
Walking sticks are great tools for hikers and can lend great assistance with long treks and journeys. Walking sticks have been around for hundreds of years and can protect the traveler from stumbling and falling.
In scripture, the use of walking sticks, or a staff, helped provide protection, comfort and reassurance from Almighty God to be used for His purposes.
Jacob used his staff to assist him in crossing over the Jordan River .
Genesis 32:10
“I am unworthy of all the kindness
and faithfulness you have shown your servant.
I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan,
but now I have become two camps.”
Aaron's Rod was used as a sign to confirm the tribe of Levi, Aaron's stick miraculously grew shoots, buds and almonds to prove his calling from God.
Numbers 17:1-9
“The LORD said to Moses,
“speak to the Israelites and get twelve staffs from them,
one from the leader of each of their ancestral tribes.
Write the name of each man on his staff.
One the staff of Levi write Aaron's name,
for there must be one staff for the head of each ancestral tribe.
Place them in the tent of meeting in front of the ark of the covenant law, where I meet with you.
The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout,
and I will rid myself of this constant grumbling against you by the Israelites.
So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and their leaders gave him twelve staffs,
one for the leader of each of their ancestral tribes,
and Aaron's staff was among them.
Moses placed the staffs before the LORD in the tent of the covenant law.
The next day Moses entered the tent
and saw that Aaron's staff,
which represented the tribe of Levi,
had not only sprouted but had budded,
blossomed and produced almonds.
Then Moses brought out all the staffs from the LORD's presence
to all the Israelites.
They looked at them,
and each of the leaders took his own staff.“
In Exodus 4:2-5 , God turns Moses' daily walking stick into a snake to show His power, calling it “the rod of God” used to perform miraculous signs.
“Then the LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied. The LORD said, “Throw it on the ground”.
Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it. Then the LORD said to him, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail” So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand. “This”, said the LORD, “is so that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers- the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob – has appeared to you.”
Aaron used the staff to turn the Nile to blood, and to initiate the plagues like hail and locusts, all by God's command. Exodus 7:20
In Exodus 14, at God's command, Moses stretched the staff over the sea which divided in half, for the Israelites to walk through to the other side safely.
In Exodus 17 Moses held up the staff throughout the battle with the Amalekites. When the staff was raised, Israel prevailed, by God's command.
There are so many other instances where the staff was used by GOD to demonstrate HIS POWER & GLORY.
Jeremiah 10:6
Jesus told His disciples to take only a walking stick and no extra gear, emphasizing dependence on God for their journey. They needed to rely only on God's provision rather than their own resources.
Mark 6:8
“These were his instructions:
'Take nothing for the journey except a staff –
no bread, no bag, no money in your belts.”
The shepherd's staff in the 23 Psalm, is that of our LORD & SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST who provides protection and comfort to the flock, followers of Christ.
Psalm 23:4
“Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me. “
Shepherds staffs were used to catch sheep that were straying and reroute them back to the flock. The staff was also used to rescue a sheep that had slipped out of the shepherd's reach. The shepherd watched the flock all day, taking care that none of the sheep strayed. If they had wandered away, he sought it diligently until he found it, and brought it back.
The staff or walking stick can also be used as a weapon to ward off danger.
God's Word is our walking stick, and gives us such comfort with His promises of love, forgiveness and eternal life. As we transform into the likeness of Christ, we develop godly characteristics described in scripture.
1 Peter 5:8
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
2 Peter 1:2-10
“Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.”
“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
For this reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;
and to knowledge, self-control;
and to self-control, perseverance;
and to perseverance, godliness;
and to godliness mutual affection;
and to mutual affection, love.
For if you posses these qualities in increasing measure,
they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.“
Our walking sticks – the inspired Word of God – takes us through all of the twists and turns in life, and we are humbled to watch God work as we lean on HIM all the way.
Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.“
1 Corinthians 15:57
“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.“
Romans 8:37
“No, in all these things
we are more than conquerors
through him who loved us.”
Walkin' down Heaven's road
Who's that walkin' down the road,
carryin' such a heavy load?
Sinner, lay your burden down
'cause we're walkin' on heaven's road.
Walkin' on heaven's road, gonna lay down my heavy load.
Jesus said He'd walk along with me.
Praise God, glory, hallelujah!
I'm singing' all the way, got sunshine in ev'ry day.
Won't you come along and join me on that heaven's road?
Young folks walkin' hand in hand,
singing' with the angel band.
Old folk ain't so tired no more
'cause they're walkin' on heaven's road.
Walkin' on heaven's road, gonna lay down my heavy load.
Jesus said He'd walk along with me.
Praise God, glory, hallelujah!
I'm singing' all the way, got sunshine in ev'ry day.
Won't you come along and join me on that heaven's road?
Ain't no tears, no cryin' there, ain't no sadness anywhere.
Ain't got time to shed no tears
'cause I'm walkin' on heaven's road.
Walkin' on heaven's road, gonna lay down my heavy load.
Jesus said He'd walk along with me.
Praise God, glory, hallelujah!
I'm singing' all the way, got sunshine in ev'ry day.
Won't you come along and join me on that heaven's road?
THE LORD MY SHEPHERD IS
The LORD my Shepherd is
I shall, be well supplied,
Since He is mine and I am His,
What can I want beside,
What can I want beside
He leads me to the place,
Where heavenly pasture grows,
Where living waters gently pass,
And full salvation flows,
And full salvation flows.
If e'er I go astray,
He doth my soul reclaim,
And guides me in His own right way,
For His most holy name,
For His most holy name.
To GOD be the glory, great things HE has done!
In Him,
Bruce & Paula
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