Hello church family,
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
We have been blessed with a new day in time and a NEW YEAR to look forward to!
SNOW IS IN THE FORECAST...Stay tuned for robo-call announcements should there be a cancellation.
Psalm 93
“The LORD reigns,
he is robed in majesty;
the LORD is robed in majesty and is armed with strength.
The world is firmly established;
it cannot be moved.
Your throne was established long ago;
you are from all eternity.
The seas have lifted up, O LORD,
the seas have lifted up their voice;
the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.
Mightier than the thunder of the great waters,
mightier than the breakers of the sea- the LORD on high is mighty.
Your statues stand firm;
holiness adorns your house for endless days, O LORD.”
GIVING THANKS:
* Thanks be to God for his blessings upon this congregation and it's longevity.
* Thanks be to God for answered and unanswered prayers, He is always working.
* Thanks be to God for His Son, Jesus Christ.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
* Chelsey Eddy's grandfather Raybern Ragland had a stroke during church last weekend. He had been in critical care initially but thankfully he has made big strides over this past week. He continues to have mini-strokes or what they are referring to as “spells”. Continued prayers for his recovery.
* Prayers for both Jay & Flo who contracted COVID that they recover soon.
* Mick McCreanor asked for prayers since he is has the flu. He also asked for prayers for his close friend John Pardington in London. His grand-son Seth has a terminal illness and degenerative disease. We have prayed for Seth previously and continue to lift him up in prayer for a miracle, since he is now unresponsive.
* Continued prayers for Marie Preteska who is in a very difficult situation. Prayers for the Cerminara, Bonadio and DiScala family as they ask for Gods guidance with the situation.
* Our prayers go out to the survivors of a terrible house fire in Somers, CT where 4 children and all of their pets perished. The 19 year old daughter and two of her siblings survived, one who has serious burn injuries.
SUNSET INTERNATIONAL BIBLE INSTITUTE COURSES:
Information is on the back table in the auditorium for the wonderful SIBI bible classes that will be offered here at the building. These classes are being made available to anyone interested in increasing their bible knowledge. Both Jay and Ron have shared that these courses are fantastic! Jay has provided everyone with a form to complete below. Please email this completed information to him as soon as possible if you have interest.
If you are interested in attending the Sunset International Bible Institute video classes being offered by the Trumbull Church of Christ please let Jay Repecko know of your interest by completing the following:
I am interested in the SIBI Satellite School video classes. Classes will be offered Sunday night and either Monday or Tuesday evening, depending on which night is most convenient
Name:
I would like to attend class
Sunday evening _____
Monday evening _____
Tuesday evening _____
Please email Jay at jrepecko@comcast.net
REMINDERS:
Please remember our commitment to helping provide non-perishable food to Spooner House each week. Just a few cans of food combined by all of us, helps them tremendously.
COMING UP IN JANUARY:
* Please mark your calendars for….A night of Prayer , Friday January 12th at 7:00 p.m. here at the building. As we welcome in the new year, please join us for an evening of scripture reading, the singing of hymns, and prayer.
We hope you will carve out time to be here as this body of believers comes together to Praise God and lift up our prayers to Praise HIM.
This is a perfect opportunity to reach out to a friend and invite them as well.
1 John 5:14 “This is the confidence we have in approaching God that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”
Colossians 4:2-4 “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us too that God may open a door for our message so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. “
Pray in the Spirit and on all occasions. Eph 6:18-20
Pray for the Lost. Luke 19:10
Pray for the Truth seekers. Matthew 6:33
Pray for Righteousness, salvation and peace. Phil 4:6-7
Pray for the preaching and teaching of God's word. 2 Tim. 4:2
Pray for Unity in the Faith – John 17:20-26 & 2 Corinthians 4:1-4
Pray for this coming year that God be glorified by our works here. 1 Cor. 6:20
John 17:17 “Sanctify them by the truth. Your Word is Truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be sanctified.“
SATURDAY MORNING LADIES BIBLE CLASS:
* Flo Repecko will lead the Saturday morning Ladies Bible study on January 13th at 10:00 a.m. The book of Exodus has been a wonderful study as we learn not to complain, mumble or grumble, but trust in God's promises. Thanks to all of the ladies who have stepped up to lead these studies.
* Nadine Keller will be heading up the Secret Prayer Sister activity which went very well last year. Any ladies who would like to participate, please let Nadine know asap.
* The Tuesday morning bible study will resume on January 16th at 9:30 a.m. via zoom. Please see Lisa or Mary Lou if you know anyone who can benefit from this mid-week study.
* Sister Simone Beans shared this link to an upcoming zoom ladies event on Saturday, January 27th from 11AM until 2PM. The topic is SURVIVORS – TRIED, PURIFIED & CERTIFIED. If you know anyone going through major trials, this will be a wonderful series of lessons. Here is the link to register:
* Sunday January 28th there will be a baby shower for Jenna Jones right after worship in our fellowship hall. A sign up sheet for what you can bring is posted. All are welcomed to attend as we honor this new little one on the way, and their family. Emille's family will be coming up for this event and we look forward to meeting them all.
The earliest known method of measuring time was the primitive use of the sun's movements across the sky. From sundials to the invention of mechanical clocks in the 13th century which were powered by weights, springs and gears, time has attempted to be measured. The hourglass is another fun method of measuring time and watching it pass.
Here are a few quotes from infamous people on time:
- “The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of sixty minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is.” – C.S. Lewis
- “You may delay, but time will not.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “We must use time as a tool, not as a couch.” – John F. Kennedy
- “Time is free, but it's priceless. You can't own it, but you can use it. You can't keep it, but you can spend it. Once you've lost it you can never get it back.” – Harvey Mackay
Time as we know it is precious. The scriptures advise us to use our time wisely because there are so many things in life that can distract us from what truly matters.
We do not know what tomorrow holds, but we know we have TODAY!
Every moment is precious in light of eternity!
God holds all of time in His hands.
Matthew 24: 36-44 “Jesus then said, 'Nobody knows the day or the hour when all these things will happen. Only God the Father knows when they will happen. The angels who are in heaven do not know. Even the Son does not know. Remember what happened when Noah was alive? It will be like that when the Son of Man returns to the earth. In Noah's time, in the days before the flood, people were eating their meals every day. Men married women and women married men. They continued to do all these things until the day that Noah went into his big boat. The people did not know what would happen. The fain fell for a long time and all these people died in the deep water. When the Son of Man returns, it will happen quickly in the same way. At that time, it will be like this: Two men will be working in a field. God will take one man away, but he will leave the other man behind. Two women will be preparing food together in the same place. God will take one of them away, but he will leave the other woman behind.
So you must watch carefully! You do not know the day when your Master will come back. You can be sure about this. The master of a house does not know at what time a man would come to rob him. If he knew the time, he would watch his house more carefully. He would not let the robber come into his house and take away his things. So you must also be ready. The Son of Man will come at a time when you are not thinking about it.”
God stands outside of Time as we know it.
God dwells in the spiritual realm, beyond what we can conceptualize. God is eternal. A second is no different from an eon; a billion years pass like seconds to the eternal Yahweh.
God is Spirit – John 4:24 “God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth.”
Psalm 90:4 “For a thousand years in Your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night“.
2 Peter 3:8 “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.“
God remains steadfast and strong, never changing unlike man whose life is short and frail.
Psalm 102:12 “But you Oh LORD, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures through all generations. “
God sees all of eternity's past, and eternity's future.
Isaiah 57:15 “For this is what the High and Lofty One says, he who lives forever, whose name is Holy. I live in a high and Holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.“
God has no beginning or end. He is infinite and everlasting
Psalm 90:2 “Before the mountains were born, or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God.”
Psalm 93:2 “Your throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity.“
Time in this life is finite, except for those who obey God
Time in this life is finite, except for those who obey God
1 John 2:17 “The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.“
God has set eternity in the human heart
Ecclesiastes 3:11 “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”
We cannot recover the minutes that have passed by, but we can CHANGE our future minutes to appreciate time as we know it, to excel more, and grow in CHRIST. Every second counts!
KEEP SINGING:
Hold to God's Unchanging Hand
Time is filled with swift transition
Naught of earth un-moved can stand,
Build your hopes on things eternal,
Hold to God's unchanging hand.
Hold to His Hand,
to God's unchanging hand.
Hold to His Hand,
to God's unchanging hand.
Build your hopes on things eternal,
Hold to God's unchanging Hand.
Trust in Him who will not leave you.
Whatsoever years may bring,
If by earthly friends forsaken,
Still more closely to Him cling.
Hold to His Hand,
to God's unchanging hand.
Hold to His Hand,
to God's unchanging hand.
Build your hopes on things eternal,
Hold to God's unchanging Hand.
When your journey is completed,
If to God you have been true,
Fair and bright the home in glory,
Your enraptured soul will view.
Hold to His Hand,
to God's unchanging hand.
Hold to His Hand,
to God's unchanging hand.
Build your hopes on things eternal,
Hold to God's unchanging Hand.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-11
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,