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04/20/2025
Good morning church family,
GIVING THANKS:
* Mary Lou’s friend Linda Roy who had foot surgery is doing great! The doctors are amazed at how she is healing. Thanks to all for your prayers.
* Nadine’s Aunt Winsome is home from the hospital and doing well! Thanks for all of your prayers.
* Thanks to all who contributed items for our in-house food pantry. We appreciate everyone’s generosity, praise the Lord!
* Thanks to Margaret Rizzio for teaching the ladies last Saturday about the fruit of the Spirit, “Self Control”.
This has been an amazing study & Margaret did a wonderful job!
PRAYER REQUESTS
* Margaret’s friend Julie has a cancerous melanoma in her eye. Prayers for Julie as she goes through treatments.
* Carol Ligouri’s close friend Lynn (whom we have been praying for since she lost her husband recently) is going through overwhelming grief. Prayers for Lynn but for all who grieve as well.
* Emily Hubbell asked for prayers for her friend Susan who’s Father is recovering from double pneumonia and continues to be in rehab and struggling with his recovery.
* Molly Medling interviewed with Deloitte (their Charlotte location) this past week. Her prayers are for God’s will as He directs her steps. She will know in two weeks time. We hate to see Molly leave us, but “Oh the plans God has for you!” Jeremiah 29:11
* Prayers for all those who are traveling over the holiday.
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.
Next Wednesday evening via zoom Lord willing, Ron will begin a bible study on the Old Testament Prophets, beginning in Isaiah. Please look for the link and join us for a great study.
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 will be gathering at Bruce & Paula’s home on May 2nd at 6pm for dinner, singing and games. Bring some snacks and/or deserts.
Most recently the UCONN Huskies Women’s Basketball team won a huge victory for their school!
The JOY on their faces and in their heartfelt speeches brought smiles, happy tears & LAUGHTER! A parade to celebrate their victory brought more festivities and DELIGHT!
Recently, the SpaceX Shuttle returned safely home after two astronauts were stranded for nine months at the International Space Station. The two astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were originally scheduled for an 8 day mission to test the Starliner capsule, but technical problems with the spacecraft led them to remaining on the International Space Station for nearly 9 months. Their safe return to Earth in March, brought EXUBERATION for each of them, as well as their families that they made it home safely!
 Rory McIllroy who recently won the Masters tournament Golfing Tour, looked JUBILANT upon finally earning his green jacket. A recent interview shared that he has chased this prize for 11 years, and he has placed himself in “golf immortality.” Victory is sweet!
Victory is joyous because it takes hard work to get there and is not easy!
Victory in the physical sense, requires hours upon hours of training, discipline, commitment, sacrifice, pain, and great effort.
Spiritually speaking, as followers of JESUS, those who are baptized believers and who place their total trust in HIM, can taste the sweet VICTORY of our eternal salvation, because of what HE did for us. Certainly, nothing – not one thing – that we have done to deserve this precious gift of eternal life. Because of God’s Mercy and Grace, we are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Jesus, did all of the work, he bore all of the pain, all of the suffering, all of the heartache, all of the emptiness…and he bore all of the sins of the world….for us.
Jesus demonstrated power over control. The Son of God could have called ten thousand angels, to destroy the world and set him free, yet he allowed the crucifixion to happen right to the end.
For six excruciating hours, Jesus held back His power as he hung on the cruel cross, to allow God’s plan of salvation to take place.
What happened at Jesus’ crucifixion was colossal.
The sky darkened in the last three hours of Jesus life. Matthew 27:45-46
 Matthew 27:50-51
“And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.”
“At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open.”
Matthew 27:54
“When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus
saw the earthquake and all that had happened,
they were terrified, and exclaimed,
“Surely he was the Son of God!”.
Matthew 28:1 – 20
“After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week,
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and,
going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.
His appearance was like lightening, and his clothes were white as snow.
The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid,
for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.
He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.
Then go quickly and tell his disciples:
‘ He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee.
There you will see him’ Now I have told you.”
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy,
and ran to tell his disciples.
Suddenly Jesus met them.
“Greetings”, he said.
They came to him, clasped his feet and worshipped him.
Then Jesus said to them,
“Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city
and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened.
When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan,
they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them,
“You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.
If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.”
So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed.
And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee,
to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.
When they saw him, they worshiped him: but some doubted.
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven
and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything
I have commanded you.
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
JESUS CHRIST ROSE FROM THE DEAD!
What inexplicable JOY!
What EXUBERATION!
What JUBILATION!
Because of God’s mercy and grace & nothing that we have done,we have the GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE!
We deserve anger and wrath.
We deserve God’s condemnation, which should be our portion and just reward.
God demonstrated HIS unconditional love for us. Romans 5:8
God shows us HIS MERCY and HIS GRACE, with each new day. Ephesians 2:4
We are heirs to His throne, through His SON JESUS CHRIST. Romans 8:17
Because of JESUS’s SACRIFICE… WE can taste the sweet smell of VICTORY & LIVE WITH HIM FOREVER.
Praise GOD that HE suffered for us…HE did all of the work. WE are WINNERS IN CHRIST!
The VICTORY is ours through the sacrificial blood that Jesus shed.
1 Corinthians 15:51
“Listen, I tell you a mystery:
We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed – in a flash,
in the twinkling of an eye,
at the last trumpet.
For the trumpet will sound,
the dead will be raised imperishable,
and we will be changed.
for the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable,
and the mortal with immortality.
When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable,
and the mortal with immortality,
then the saying that is written will come true:
“Death has been swallowed up on victory.”
“Where, O death, is your victory?”
“Where, O death, is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God!
He gives us the victory through our LORD JESUS CHRIST.“
Our life is but a vapor so FIGHT to remain JOYOUS, and don’t let the enemy steal your JOY.
WE HAVE HOPE!
May we REJOICE over the VICTORY that has been won in CHRIST and continue to PRAISE HIM!
Psalm 18:46-50
“The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock!
Exalted be God my Savior!
He is the God who avenges me,
who subdues nations under me,
who saves me from my enemies.
You exalted me above my foes;
from a violent man you rescued me.
Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
I will sing the praises of your name.
He gives his king great victories;
he shows unfailing love to his anointed,
to David and to his descendants forever.”
Psalm 121
“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over you—
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.“
REJOICE & KEEP SINGING:
OH WORSHIP THE KING
O Worship the King,all glorious above,
And gratefully sing
His wonderful love;
Our shield and Defender,
the Ancient of Days,
Pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise.
Thy bountiful care, what tongue can recite?
It breathes in the air,
it shines in the light;
It streams from the hills,
it descends to the plain,
And sweetly distills in the dew and the rain.
Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
In Thee do we trust,
nor find Thee to fail;
Thy mercies, how tender!
how firm to the end!
Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer and Friend.
Hosannah, Hosannah,
Forever we’ll worship the King.
Hosannah, Hosannah,
Forever we’ll worship the King.
THE GLORIOUS IMPOSSIBLE
See the Virgin is delivered
In a cold and crowded stall.
Mirror of the Father’s glory
Lies beside her in the straw.
He is Mercy’s incarnation
Marvel at this miracle!
For the Virgin gently holds
The Glorious Impossible
Love has come to walk on water
Turn the water into wine
Touch the leper, bless the children
Love both human and divine
Praise the wisdom of the Father
Who has spoken through His Son
Speaking still, He calls us to
Glorious Impossible!
Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Glorious Impossible,
Glorious Impossible!
He was bruised for our transgressions
And He bears eternal scars
He was raised for our salvation
And His righteousness is ours!
Praise, Oh Praise Him, Praise the glory,
Of this lavish grace so full,
Lift your souls now and receive the
Glorious Impossible!
Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Glorious Impossible,
Glorious Impossible!
Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Glorious Impossible,
Glorious Impossible!
Praise Oh Praise Him,
Praise the glory
Of this lavish grace so full,
Lift your souls now and receive
The Glorious Impossible!
Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Glorious Impossible,
Glorious Impossible!
 FAITH IS THE VICTORY, OH GLORIOUS VICTORY, THAT OVERCOMES THE WORLD!
TO GOD BE THE GLORY, GREAT THINGS HE HATH DONE!
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