Press on to the goal
2/21/2026
Good morning church family,
Thanks to Angela Weber who lead the ladies bible study last Saturday and did a great job!
Carol Ligouri provided this good update on Donna. She came out of the coma and was able to recognize her family. She still has a long way to go as they put a metal plate in her skull and she endures further testing to see if there is brain damage. They are grateful for the prayers and God is good.
BRUCE POST is settling in Little Rock, AR and doing well. His current mailing address is:
15401 Chenal Pkwy
Apartment 4414
Little Rock , AR 72211
CONGRATULATIONS TO OSCAR & JENNIFER HANCE!
Oscar and Jennifer Hance renewed their marriage vows here last Sunday! Oscar is Bill Hance’s grandson (Son of Carl Hance) and they wanted to have this ceremony here at Trumbull because of the strong ties that Oscar’s grandparents had here. They live in Florida and flew here specifically for this special day. They were beyond grateful to be here and appreciated seeing the congregation’s history walk which had photos of Bill & Mary Frances.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO CHERIE SARACINO!
COMING UP:
The next Tuesday Ladies bible study via zoom will be on March 3rd at 9:30 am. The new study will be on Lesson 7 in the book as Lisa and Mary Lou lead us in the book of Ezra.
SHINE MINISTRY MEETING
Join a brief meeting & brainstorming session on Sunday March 8th right after worship for the Shine Ministry.
Stay tuned for more details regarding how we can help with providing items for the Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence. Thanks to Evoko for spear heading this effort!
The INSPIRE NEW ENGLAND GROWTH CONFERENCE will be held at the Manchester church of Christ on March 20-21st. See Flyer on the table in the auditorium with details.
Sunday March 20th – POT LUCK
Join us for our 5th Sunday POT LUCK LUNCH immediately following worship services.
DISCIPLESHIP SEMINAR COMING UP….
Jay Repecko will be leading a Discipleship seminar on “Learning what your talents are”. Stay tuned for date and details which will be forthcoming soon.
Tori Saracino’s Senior Recital is coming up on Friday, April 10th at 7:00 p.m. at the Chapel at Sacred Heart at Sacred Heart University. It will be about 45 minutes long and she wanted to extend the invitation to her church family. There is no admission fee & is free.
Trumbull has a great number of men who attend the Kent men’s retreat. Below is the link to register. See Patrick Keller if you know anyone who has interest in going or has questions about the retreat in general.
“The heavens declare the glory of God;the skies proclaim his handiwork.” Psalm 19:1
O’opu fish are native to Hawaii. They are small, unassuming and camouflaged with mottled brown and striped muted colors.
They are an unusual freshwater fish which typically measure 3 to 7 inches in length. They navigate into inland waterways, by scaling the island’s waterfalls using their mouths and suction-cup shaped fused pelvic fins.
They leap out of the water and cling to the sides of the falls, trekking their way all the way up! The black & orange bicoloured goby is the strongest climber of their five species. They have been found in ponds atop some of Hawaii’s highest falls, including the more than 300 meter high plummet of Hi’ilawe Falls. That is a long haul for a fish that grows no larger than 13 cm.
If a human were to accomplish the same feat, they’d have to scale a surface twice the height of Yosemite’s El Capitan, while being pummeled in the face by boulder sized water globs after swimming upstream a full 4k meters longer than the length of a marathon. 90 to 99% do not make it to the top of the waterfall to complete their life cycle.
These remarkable fish demonstrate how persistence can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
The next time you stand before a waterfall, take a moment to consider that, against all odds, there might be a small fish making its way up that seemingly insurmountable barrier. The climbing O’opu fish is yet another living creature which points to our magnificent Creator.
Romans 1:20 “For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.”
God is simply AWESOME!
This year’s Olympics in Milan Italy will soon come to an end. Every 4 years this national competition brings Olympians to the THRILL OF VICTORY, and those who will suffer the AGONY OF DEFEAT!
These Olympians work hard to reach this level of competition. The training which they endure is enough to make anyone give up sooner than when the competition itself begins! It’s true discipline, hard work, sacrifice, pain, agony, which brings them to the dawning moment when they are faced with performing against their competitors.
One of the ice skating contestants Ilian Malinin is known as the ‘quad god’ because of his years of training and keen skating abilities. He was slated to become top in his category of Olympic free skating. After his performance last week, he placed 8th after two falls that he had, which disqualified him from earning the Gold medal. News reports say, “he fell apart, tumbling from a near lock to win the gold medal to eighth place after his disappointing performance Friday. He put his hands on his knees, shook his head in disbelief and his face forlorn as he tried to hold back the tears.” Per the Los Angeles Times news article. The pressure that the olympians are under is intense. The world is watching their every move. Several days later on an interview, Ilian humbly said “I had to process what happened and I will learn from my mistakes”. “I’m proud for all of the love and support by everyone”.
So many lessons can be learned in this life and in our Christian walk from these moments.
God is our cheerleader with regard to spiritual perseverance, just read His Word. The Bible is our training manual!
“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 1: verse 8 “This is my prayer, that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight., so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God.“
Philippians 1:18 “The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached, and because of this I rejoice.“
Paul was bound and determined to live for CHRIST with every fiber of his being.
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
who being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness,
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!“
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.“
verse 14: “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which we shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life.“
PRESS ON TO THE GOAL
Philippians 3:12-14 “Forget what is behind, and strain forward toward what is ahead! Press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Straining forward and actively pursuing the prize of God’s upward call.
“Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”
STAYING THE COURSE –
Avoid distractions & focus on God’s plan
Paul concludes in Philippians 4:4-6
“Rejoice in the LORD always, I will say it again; REJOICE!
Let your gentleness be evident to all.
Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:10“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances, I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. “Press on toward the goal is that which was paid for by the Holy and precious blood of Jesus Christ.Olympians train and compete to win a Gold, Silver or Bronze medal which will only fade away one day.Christians strive for eternal glory!Paul’s charge to Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:11-16 “But you, man of God, flee from all this and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time – God the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen”Christians long to hear the words…“Well done my good and faithful servant…enter into the joy of your master” Matthew 25:23OH WHAT A DAY THAT WILL BE!PRESS ON TO OUR HEAVENLY GOAL & KEEP ON SINGING:LIGHT THE FIRE
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.Faith is the victory!
Faith is the victory!
O glorious victory,
That overcomes the world.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.
Faith is the victory!
O glorious victory,
That overcomes the world.Philippians 4:20“To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever, Amen!“Bruce & Paula
Press on to the goal
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