What hast thou brought for me?

GIVING THANKS:

* Kristen Post is feeling better.

* Josha Ruiz's sugar levels have stabilized and he is feeling much better!

* Thank God for the breath of life. Each day we are given amazing opportunities to glorify HIM.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

* Several in our membership are traveling this week so prayers for traveling mercies.

* Pat Yaglowski will have a spine pain procedure done on August 23rd, unless they can get her in sooner. Her pain is excrutiating and she appreciates everyone's prayers.

* A close friend of Joanne & Bob's whose name is Chester, was mauled by his dog. He has a long recovery.

LOTS COMING UP:

* There will be a brief Congregational meeting right after worship on Sunday, August 20th.

* Derin & Kristen Wilson are hosting a FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN EVENT and having a cookout on Saturday August 26, 2023 from 11-2, and they will be grilling hot dogs and hamburgers and ice cream after. There will be some water activities such as a sprinkler, a fishing activity and water “balloons”(they will be sponges). So please bring towels and a change of clothes (if needed). There will be a sign up sheet on the door this Sunday for anyone that would like to bring side dishes.

* Friday, September 8th at 6:30 Ron & Lisa Saracino will be hosting a YOUNG ADULT DEVOTIONAL at the church building. Enjoy a fun time of fellowship and munchies. Please let Ron or Lisa know if you can attend.

* Saturday September 9th at 10:00 a.m. at the building will be the first of the Ladies' & teen girls Bible studies and planning session for the year. Ladies or teen girls who would like to lead any of these studies, please see Paula.

* The next Sunday Pot Lucks will be on September 17th and Sunday October 29th right after worship. Come 2024 the pot lucks will be held on every fifth Sunday of the year which will make it easy for everyone to remember.

REMINDERS:

SPOONER HOUSE: is in continual need of non-perishable foods. They are so grateful for any contributions.

CHILDREN IN GHANA / DREAM HUNT :

Thanks to all who have been so generous already with donations for this fund raiser.

Esther Aggrey is grateful for all of your contributions! Back packs, school supplies, children's shoes and underwear are being collected and the bin is in the foyer. All donations need to be in by October so she can ship them out. She will leave for Ghana in December.

It is said that there are three types of givers:

Grudge givers, duty givers, or thanks givers who live by the statement, “I want to give”.

Jesus left the comforts of heaven, took on human flesh, and gave his life on the cross so that we might live in Him. He demonstrated agape love.

In response to Jesus’ gift of love and sacrifice, we are called to be generous. Generous with our money, generous with our possessions, and generous with our time in serving Him. Being generous is a hallmark of our Christian faith.

In the early church, giving was an integral part of their faith and following Jesus.

We read in Acts 4:33-35 “And God's grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. From time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.”

They were determined to help meet the needs of others by sharing resources, selling possessions, and more.

This congregation in all of its 150 years has been a generous and giving church body. Our members from the early days, placed their giving in a place of priority. Records from the 1800's have entries recording the giving that had been done all through the years. The emphasis had been for those in need, and on the spiritual, to glorify God.

After the Maplewood Ave. church building in Bridgeport burned down, the membership sought a place where they could worship. They rented a large room at the Odd Fellows Hall in Stratford for seven years. During this time, the small number of members, continued to be thankful for their church family, and they generously contributed towards the needy, in and outside of the church. They stuck together and were good stewards of what God had entrusted to them, even though their building burned down. The membership saved toward the building of a church building. In the 7 years they rented space, many members donated heavily towards what they had as a “building fund”. They were able to purchase property in Trumbull, CT which is what we now know and love as the Trumbull church of Christ.

The previous generations walked by Faith and not by sight. Little did they know then, that this church would still be here today, 150 years later, and benefit from their good decisions and stewardship; that we would continue to promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ in this community and to the world.

God's love for us is so deep, it is unfathomable. He didn't just tell us He loves us, He showed us!

God provided the perfect, unblemished lamb, Jesus Christ, who bore all of our sins. Nothing we deserve, but pure, unadulterated Mercy and Grace. We are heirs to the throne of God, because of their love and sacrifices for US. Our gratitude should flow deep within our souls.

We cannot out-give God. There are countless scriptures about generosity and giving that apply to us in our Christian walk. Honestly, giving is about a heart condition. It is recognizing that everything that God has given to us, is really, HIS. It is a privilege to give to others and reflect the love that God has for us.

John 15:13

“Greater love has no one than this,

that a person will lay down his life for his friends.“

1 John

“See how great a love that the Father has given us,

that we would be called children of God;

and in fact, we are. For this reason the world does not know us,

because it did not know him.”

Romans 13:8

“Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another,

for the one who has loved his neighbor,

is the one who has fulfilled the law.”

Giving from the heart not only helps others, but transforms our own lives and honors the Lord.

From Love, good fruit and true giving pours forth.

Generosity, although it is associated with financial giving, goes much deeper as we study God's word.

Mathew 25:31, 34-36

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory,

and all the angels with him

then he will sit on his glorious throne…

and the King will say to those on his right,

“for I was hungry and you gave me food,

I was thirsty and you gave me drink,

I was a stranger and you welcomed me,

I was naked and you clothed me,

I was sick and you visited me,

I was in prison and you came to me.”

Jesus mentioned food, water, clothes and love. This is Christ centered giving!

We are generous when we show compassion.

In 1 Kings 17 a widow offers the prophet Elijah her flour and oil, even thought it is all she has. This is a gift she offered from her heart, not a monetary gift. We can offer our time, and resources or serving in some capacity at a church event and it means just as much as a financial gift.

We are generous when we show Joy and give cheerfully.

In fact, God wants us to give out of JOY and COMPASSION.

2 Corinthians 9:7

“Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give,

not reluctantly,

or under compulsion,

for God loves a cheerful giver“

We are generous when we give to all, without discrimination.

We read about the Good Samaritan in Luke 10. The world is our neighbor, and that includes people we don't really like, people we disagree with, and people we've never met. When we give quietly and indiscriminately, we have the opportunity to reflect God's love to those who may not have felt God's love before! We have the opportunity, to shine for His Glory, and love unconditionally. This is what God has called us to do.

As a church family, we glorify God by giving communally!

One Body, committed to following Jesus. One body with many members, walking in Jesus' footsteps with kind and loving hearts, with true concern for all. This church through all of its history has, and has had, generous members who see that it is a privilege to be part of the family of God; a family that works together – in harmony – for the cause of Jesus Christ.

Praise God for his blessings on this body of believers who get it, that we are a very small, but integral part of a bigger plan… an eternal plan.

Giving done in secret, glorifies God. He is the only one whom we should strive to please.

Matthew 6:2-4

“But when you give to the needy,

do not announce it with trumpets,

as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets,

to be honored by others.

Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

But when you give to the needy,

do not

let your left hand

know what your right hand is doing,

so that your giving may be in secret.

Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. “

The early Church was faced with many of the problems we face today.

We read in the scriptures about Ananias and Sapphira and studied this on Wednesday night. Ananias and Sapphira gave a gift to the church, then lied about the actual amount they gave and kept part of the money for themselves. They were prideful and boasted that they gave more generously than they actually did. God was fully aware of the truth and they each perished as a result.

God knows our minds, hearts and motives!

As Jesus said to the Pharisees in Luke 16:15 “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts.”

In Acts 4:32-35 we read about the early church and their giving

“Now the full number of those who believed

were of one heart and soul,

and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own,

but they had everything in common.

And with great power the apostles

were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,

and great grace was upon them all.

There was not a needy person among them,

for as many as were owners of lands,

or houses sold them and

brought the proceeds of what was sold and

laid it at the apostles feet,

and it was distributed to each as any had need.”

Tithing in the Bible refers to giving 10 percent of your annual earnings, productions, or possessions. When we hear sermons or messages about tithing, sometimes it hits a nerve. We shut down, and think tithing is impossible, when earnings are meager. Yet this is an incredible opportunity to walk by Faith and watch the blessings that God has in store.

In the Old Testament, we read about Abraham and Jacob offering a tithe to God in Genesis 14 and 28. The Israelites were also commanded to tithe from what they earned in Leviticus 27:30; Num. 18:25–28; Deuteronomy 14:22–24; 2 Chronicles 31:5–6.

But giving should be whatever you have decided to give and let that be between you & God.

Being part of a loving and giving church family, offers us an incredible opportunity to give back to the LORD whether it be in time, service, practicing hospitality, contributions or donations, or financial giving. Even a simple call to one of our seniors, or cards to encourage them, is giving.

God keeps giving to us….

1 Corinthians 2:9

“No eye has seen,

no ear has heard,

no mind has conceived,

what God has prepared

for those who love him.“

1 Timothy 6:17-18

“Command those who are rich in this present world

not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth,

which is so uncertain,

but to put their hope in God,

who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds,

and to be generous

and willing to share.”

Why do we give?

I GAVE MY LIFE FOR THEE

“He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death.” Philippians 2:5-8

I gave My life for thee,

My precious blood I shed.

That thou might ransomed be,

And quickened from the dead;

I gave, I gave My life for thee,

What hast thou given for Me?

I gave, I gave My life for thee,

What hast thou given for Me?

My Father's house of light,

My glory circled throne,

I left for earthly night,

For wanderings sad and lone;

I left, I left it all for thee,

Has thou left aught for Me?

I left, I left it all for thee,

Has thou left aught for Me?

I suffered much for thee,

More than thy tongue can tell,

Of bitterest agony,

To rescue thee from hell;

I've borne, I've borne it all for thee,

What has thou borne for Me?

I've borne, I've borne it all for thee,

What has thou borne for Me?

And I have brought to thee,