Announcements & Connection Links 12/7/24
Dear TBC Family and Friends,
I hope you were able to go to the Teen Drama -- Esther -- either last night or today. The teen actors did a great job. Everything was well done, and the plot displaying God's sovereign hand working behind the scenes to protect his people was very moving.
Tomorrow morning we will be observing the Lord's Supper. In God's sovereignty, we will be focusing on the cry and prayer in Ps 22 which was quoted twice in the drama -- My God, My God, why have you forsaken me. Why are you so far from helping me and from the words of my groaning? This cry has probably been uttered by many people through centuries of time since David penned the words 1,000 years before Christ. We will see tomorrow that Jesus cried them from the cross.
At 6 pm, we have the privilege of having James Liang preach for us. He is a young man who attends our church and works with college students at UCONN. We have had a number of UCONN students coming to church over the last semester. Pray for him that God will use him in a special way.
Thank you for being faithful. Keep witnessing. As one of my mentors (Dr Charles Wood) used to say, "People are more interested in hearing than we are in telling." God gave me a couple of great opportunities to get the gospel to people this past week. It is so encouraging to see God at work. Keep on going!
PR
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. ESTHER - 2024 TRUTH TEENS DRAMA: This play follows the Biblical account of Queen Esther, as she is taken from her Jewish home in Susa into the palace of the King of Persia and chosen to become Queen of the land. We walk with Esther as she struggles to trust God's purpose for her life, and experience the peril of the people of Israel as they are threatened by the Prime Minister, Haman. The drama is appropriate for all ages, and everyone is invited to attend. Performances are free, but tickets are required. Concessions will be available for sale before and during the intermission of each performance. Show times are December 7th (2pm & 7pm).
2. LADIES' COOKIE SWAP: All ladies are invited to attend our annual Homemade Cookie Swap on Tuesday, December 10th at 6:30pm at Linda Ploszaj's home in Windsor, CT. Please reply to this email if you need the address. All cookies should be homemade and packaged in packs of 6 cookies. Please also bring some light snack/hors d'oeuvre to share. We will swap and fellowship, and you will go home with an assortment of our favorite homemade cookies to freeze or use for the holidays! If you want any more information, please see Linda Ploszaj or Kateri Tower.
3. CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS PROGRAM: All teens and kids should plan to attend the two rehearsals on Sunday morning at 9:15am in the auditorium on December 8th and December 15th. Also, we will rehearse during the evening service downstairs this Sunday. On Sunday evening, December 15th, children should arrive at 5pm to get dressed and rehearse. Please mark your calendars for the Children’s Christmas Program, Sunday evening December 15th at 6pm.
4. NEW WOMEN'S BIBLE STUDY: All ladies are invited to join a Weekly Women’s Bible Study on either Wednesday mornings from 9:30-11am or Wednesday evenings at 7pm at the church. If you are interested, please sign up using this link or reply to this email. Currently we do not have childcare available. Diane LaCasse will be leading the Bible studies going through the book Twelve Extraordinary Women by John MacArthur (available on Amazon). The first chapter of the book should be read before the first meeting on January 8th, 2025. If you have any questions, please see Diane LaCasse.
5. MISSIONARY KID CHRISTMAS BLESSING: Would you like to be a blessing to missionary kids celebrating Christmas overseas? We are hoping to give gifts to 16 children in four different countries. If you would like to participate please label your donation: Christmas gift for Missionary Kids and drop it in the offering box. Thanks so much for loving these families!
6. CHRISTMAS CARD EXCHANGE TABLE: We have put out a Christmas card table with names of our regular attenders. If you would like a list of people's names on the tables, you can click here. There's no pressure to put out Christmas cards, but if you would like to give out Christmas cards to people, you are welcome to use the card exchange table! If we missed you or someone else or have something else wrong, please reply to this email, and we will fix it!
7. SEEKING GOD'S WILL IN UNITY: We are encouraging our church family to specifically be in prayer over this next week for unity and peace about how God would want us to move forward as a church. Maybe fast one meal a day over the next week or fast one day of the week or however God would lead. May God help us with these next steps as we seek to be a church that glorifies Him.
8. DECEMBER TEEN EVENTS:
Gingerbread Building Activity - Saturday, December 14th, 6:00PM - 9:00PM
Teens are invited to the Ploszaj's home for a wonderful time of food, fun, friendly competition, and a spiritual challenge. Departure time from TBC will be at 6:15 PM and pick up at TBC is 9:00 PM. NOTE: If your teen(s) will need a ride to and from the Ploszaj’s home, please text us to let us know (Eli 860-712-4242 or Madeline 860-593-2190). Otherwise, parents can drop them off directly at the Ploszaj’s at 6:30pm and pick them up from the Ploszaj’s at 8:45 pm.
Annual Teen White Elephant Christmas Party - Wednesday, December 18, 7:00PM - 8:45PM
We will have music, food, fun, and great fellowship as we celebrate Christ's birth and what he has done for us! We encourage teens to wear an "ugly" or unique Christmas sweater if they want to. We will be voting on several categories including ugliest, most creative, most festive, etc. We would love everyone to participate in the "white elephant" gift exchange, so we are asking that every teen and teen leader bring a new wrapped gift of a $5 value.
Note: NO teen group service on Wednesday, December 25th and January 1st; Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Wednesday night teen group will resume on 1/8/25.
9. SAVE THE DATES:
- December 7th - Truth Drama Presentation, “Esther”
- December 10th - Ladies Cookie Swap
- December 14th - Teen Gingerbread Building Party
- December 15th - Children's Christmas Program
- December 22nd - Adult Christmas Meditations Night
WEEKLY CONNECTION OPPORTUNITIES & LINKS:
Sunday, 9:15am - 2's - 5's Sunday School Class
Anyone in this age group is invited.
Sunday, 9:15am - 1st - 2nd Grade Sunday School Class
Anyone in this age group is invited.
Sunday, 9:15am - 3rd - 4th Grade Sunday School Class
Anyone in this age group is invited.
Sunday, 9:15am - 5th - 6th Grade Sunday School Class
Anyone in this age group is invited.
Sunday, 9:15am - Junior High Boys Class (7-9th grade)
Any boys in this age group are invited.
Sunday, 9:15am - Junior High Girls Class (7-9th grade)
Any girls in this age group are invited.
Sunday, 9:15am - Teen Class (10-12th grade)
Any guys or girls in this age group are invited. Fresh baked snacks available most weeks. :)
Sunday, 9:15am - Ladies' Bible Study and Prayer
Sometimes our joy as Christians seems to fade with all of the pressures and cares of this life. Join the ladies as Diane LaCasse leads them through a study of Paul’s letter to the Philippians that reminds them, and us, that our true joy is found in Jesus Christ! They meet in a classroom in the gymnasium. All ladies are welcome.
Sunday, 9:15am – Resolving Everyday Conflict
Eli & Madeline & Keith and Wendy are heading up this series. Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers." But how can we restore harmony to our relationships? Ken Sande and Kevin Johnson explore the nature of conflict and offer biblical steps to heal disputes. Discover how to see the situation clearly, overcome evil with good, be reconciled to your "enemy," and more. This class meets upstairs in the gym, and anyone is invited!
Sunday, 9:15am - The Book of 1st Peter (In Person & Zoom)
This class is studying the book of 1st Peter. We are seeing that Almighty God has called us out of an idolatrous, demonic world to be His ETERNAL ambassadors of light for Him in time. We are also seeing our ETERNAL position in Christ, contrary to that of a subjective, demonic position of darkness. We will pray from 9:15-9:30 and have some brief fellowship before diving into the Bible and discussions right around 9:30am. Anyone is welcome to join in the Young Adult room in the gym.
Sunday, 9:15am - Membership Class (Zoom By Request)
Pastor Rowley is teaching a rotating class focusing on what we believe and why we believe it. This class has time for Q&A each week and meets in the gym. Anyone is invited to join at any time.
Sunday, 10:30am - SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP SERVICE
The livestream can be accessed on Facebook and YouTube and our website 10-15 minutes before the start of the service.
Sunday, 10:50am - Junior Church
Junior Church is for children ages 2-9 and begins after the morning worship time in the auditorium.
Sunday, 5:00pm - Prayer Time for Church and Community Needs (Adult Classroom in Gym & on Zoom)
Anyone can join and pray with us!
Sunday, 6:00pm - SUNDAY EVENING SERVICE
The livestream can be accessed using the livestream button at the top of our website. Childcare and a Children's program (ages 2-9) are provided.
Tuesday, 7:00pm - Joseph & Rebecca Pondugula Life Group (Zoom Only)
This life group is studying the Resolving Everyday Conflict series and is open to anyone via Zoom. Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers." But how can we restore harmony to our relationships? Ken Sande and Kevin Johnson explore the nature of conflict and offer biblical steps to heal disputes. Discover how to see the situation clearly, overcome evil with good, be reconciled to your "enemy," and more.
Wednesday, 7:00pm - Teen Group
Any teens are invited to join in the teen room at church. Pastor Rodriguez leads the teen group.
Wednesday, 7:00pm - Chuck Jutras Life Group
Resolving Everyday Conflict series: Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers." But how can we restore harmony to our relationships? Ken Sande and Kevin Johnson explore the nature of conflict and offer biblical steps to heal disputes. Discover how to see the situation clearly, overcome evil with good, be reconciled to your "enemy," and more. This group is not using the videos but is still going through the book. Anyone is welcome to join at TBC.
Wednesday, 7:00pm - Rudy Nelson Life Group
Resolving Everyday Conflict series: Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers." But how can we restore harmony to our relationships? Ken Sande and Kevin Johnson explore the nature of conflict and offer biblical steps to heal disputes. Discover how to see the situation clearly, overcome evil with good, be reconciled to your "enemy," and more. Anyone is welcome to join in the Junior Church classroom at TBC.
Wednesday, 7:00pm - Ron Radziewicz Life Group
We share snacks, fellowship, encouragement, prayer, and are studying the Resolving Everyday Conflict series as well.
Please accept an invitation to our TBC Life Group meeting each Wednesday, at 7:00PM, at the home of one of our members.
Wednesday, 7:00pm - Pastor & Deanna Rowley Life Group (Zoom Only)
Resolving Everyday Conflict series: Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers." But how can we restore harmony to our relationships? Ken Sande and Kevin Johnson explore the nature of conflict and offer biblical steps to heal disputes. Discover how to see the situation clearly, overcome evil with good, be reconciled to your "enemy," and more. Anyone is invited to join via Zoom.
Wednesday, 7:00pm - Kevin Tower Life Group
Resolving Everyday Conflict series: Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers." But how can we restore harmony to our relationships? Ken Sande and Kevin Johnson explore the nature of conflict and offer biblical steps to heal disputes. Discover how to see the situation clearly, overcome evil with good, be reconciled to your "enemy," and more. Anyone is invited to join in person at church.
If you would like to join a Life Group or Adult Bible Fellowship group, please text or call Kevin Tower at 860-916-5062.
If you have a prayer request or need help in some way, please contact the any of our staff and/or the Care Team at CareTeam@truthbaptistchurch.org.
Looking Unto Jesus,
TBC Staff
