Please send an email to WCOCNEWS@aol.com if you have any questions regarding the announcements.

Special Contribution: We will be celebrating our Special Missions Contribution with a devotional this Friday night at 7:30 pm. Please plan to give your contribution on Friday, if you have not done so already.  The ushers have envelopes marked “2008 Special Contribution” that we may use to give our contribution with our regular Sunday contribution.  Our goal is $54,000, which is 10 times our regular contribution.  To date, we have given $11,376.  Please be praying and planning so we make our goal. 

Graduation Sunday:  Next Sunday we will be honoring those disciples who have graduated this year.

New England Christian Conference:  This year’s conference, “As For Me and My House,” is scheduled for August 1 – 3, 2008 at the DCU Center.  

Counting Team - There is an immediate need for people to help with counting the weekly contribution. Counting teams serve for a four month rotation, with the current period being May through August.  If you are interested in serving on the current counting team or a future counting team, please contact John Clark at 508-393-6259 or jhamiltonclark@charter.net

KK Announcements:  Almost there, but not quite…1 more position open for an infants’ teacher.  Please contract Pat or Kate asap if you can assist. Thank you.
 
Audio from Marriage Retreat Now Online: To hear the lessons from “FOREVER ONE” see http://www.worcesterchurch.org/category/workshops/

Used Book Collection for Albania:  We will be starting to collect used spiritual books, CDs or tapes to help our brothers and sisters in Albania. Some of these items will be sent to Albania and others sold at the book table and the money sent to them when some from Worcester visit later this year. All items should be in very good condition. Please give all donations to Lorena Vangjeli

Date of Sermon: 5/25/2008

Given By: Tom Caswell

Summary:

Discover how Barnabas from the book of Acts become known as the "man of encouragement" and his impact on the first century church

Scriptures Reviewed:

• Acts 4:32-37
• Acts 9:19-29
• Acts 11:24
• Acts 15:36-41

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Date of Sermon: 5/18/2008

Given By: Felipe Bascones

Summary:

Discover the importance of having great friendships in God’s church and how to build others up

Scriptures Reviewed:

• Romans 16:1-16 
• Ecclesiastes 4:10
• Matthew 6:33

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Please send an email to WCOCNEWS@aol.com if you have any questions regarding the announcements.

Special Contribution: We will be collecting our Special Contribution this month.  The ushers have envelopes marked “2008 Special Contribution” that we may use to give our contribution with our regular Sunday contribution.  Our goal is $54,000, which is 10 times our regular contribution. Please be planning and praying now, so that we may make our goal. There will be a Special Missions Contribution celebration on Friday May 30th. 

Bible Talk Leaders and Assistants’ Meeting:  There will be a meeting for Bible Talk Leaders and Assistants today after service.

Counting Team - There is an immediate need for people to help with counting the weekly contribution. Counting teams serve for a four month rotation, with the current period being May through August.  If you are interested in serving on the current counting team or a future counting team, please contact John Clark at 508-393-6259 or jhamiltonclark@charter.net

KK Announcements:  THANK YOU to everyone who spent the last 4 months teaching the children in Kid’s Kingdom. Your service with the children is greatly appreciated.

Audio from Marriage Retreat Now Online: To hear the lessons from “FOREVER ONE” see http://www.worcesterchurch.org/category/workshops/

Used Book Collection for Albania:  We will be starting to collect used spiritual books, CDs or tapes to help our brothers and sisters in Albania. Some of these items will be sent to Albania and others sold at the book table and the money sent to them when some from Worcester visit later this year. All items should be in very good condition. Please give all donations to Lorena Vangjeli

News from Albania:  We recently received this email from Vangjel Kojku of the Tirana, Albania church:

Tom Caswell - Forever One - April 27, 2008

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Right click on the image below and select "Save Target As…" to begin the download process. File is 15MB

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Right click on the image below and select "Save Target As…" to begin the download process. File is 15MB

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"Forever One" was the theme for the 2008 Western New England Marriage Retreat held at Jiminy Peak in the beautiful Berkshire Mountains of Western Massachusetts.  Four churches converged on this serene scene during a fantastic April weekend.  Disciples and friends traveled from Worcester, Massachusetts; Groton, CT; Southern CT and Hartford, CT, to be a part of strengthening our families.

The get-a-way began for some on Friday night.  These fortunate couples went for an evening with no scheduled events, except the most important one of bonding as "one."  The scheduled activities began on Saturday at 12:30 PM with a welcome, humorous video and ice-breaker game.  The game of "Back to Back" questions allowed all to participate, laugh and learn about his or her mate.

Larry and Rita Robbins, from Groton, would ultimately win the "best marriage" competition.  Watching the 170 couples be whittled down to one was memorable and all will remember "the question" they answered differently for years to come.  For the remainder of the weekend twosomes chatted about cavities, singing ability, rhythm, fashion consciousness and more.

Following the game, Jeff and Florence Schachinger, from Southern Connecticut, delivered a keynote address on intimacy.  They challenged us all to go beyond the barriers we put up, to communicate daily and to make our marriages special - the way God intends. 

Next came classes with discussion groups, based on the length of time of marriage.  Floyd and Tamarra Grossett, from Groton, taught the newlywed to 5-year marriage class called "50 First Dates."  Worcesterites Chris and Ann Efstathion led the 6 to 10-year crowd.  The 11 to 15-year marriage partners listened to the sharing of Jim and Nancy Fuda from Hartford.  Bob and Barbara Oberle, also from Hartford, placed their notes on a trash can and shared openly with the 16-year plus crowd.  Some classes added question and answer sessions.  Most split into groups.  But whatever the method, fellowship lasted far beyond the class-time allotment.

The late afternoon and evening time was free for special time with each other.  Some climbed the mountain.  Others rode bikes.  A few played cards, danced, or relaxed in front of the TV.  All found a good place and plan to eat.  There had been homework given to really talk deeply and that too was a highlight of the weekend.

The Sunday morning service had not been placed on the schudule until 11 AM.  This gave time for refreshment to all and some great breakfast talks with friends or each other.  The Worcester singers were in charge of the service itself and Rich & Jennifer Evans, Jerry Maday, John Vicaire and others put together several special songs about God, love and Jesus’ gift to us on the cross.

Garth and Octavia Oliver, from Southern CT, shared an insightful communion message on our need for each other and the help we can give each other in overcoming temptation from Matthew 26:36-46. 

Finally, Tom Caswell, Worcester evangelist, closed us out with His three keys to oneness.  They were: Be One with God, Be One in Communication and Be One in Mission and Purpose.  He challenged the husbands to "go deep" (I Corinthians 2:9-10) in our relationship with God - like the ocean is deep.  He encouraged the wives to "be leadable," and that only happens when the women are spiritually close to God too.  We’ll all remember the "Hiya" moments, from Exodus 24:12, where we are called to be fully present with God and our spouse.

The two days went flying by.  We left with the challenge to "begin the journey" of being one - emotionally, physically and spiritually.  What a great mode of transportation marriage is.  God has blessed us.  Now, let’s take care of that special son or daughter of God and enjoy the ride!

View Photo Gallery of Marriage Retreat
 

Date of Sermon: 5/11/2008

Given By: Tom Caswell

Summary:

Learn about the story of Eutychus in Acts 20 and how he was raised from the dead

Scriptures Reviewed:

• Acts 20:7-12
• Hebrews 9:27
• John 12:48
• Luke 16:19-31
• Acts 20:22-24
• Acts 24:24-25
• Psalm 39:5
• Isaiah 52:13-15,Isaiah 53:1-5
• Matthew 26:36-39

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Please send an email to WCOCNEWS@aol.com if you have any questions regarding the announcements.

Special Contribution: We will be collecting our Special Contribution during the month of May.  Our goal is $54,000, which is 10 times our regular contribution. Please be planning and praying now, so that we may make our goal. There will be a Special Missions Contribution celebration on Friday May 30th. 

Kids Kingdom Announcements:  Move up time!

• (Infants and 2s/3s move up to next class on their birthdays as usual).
• Pre-K/K, 1st /2nd, 3rd/4th will move up at the start of the May rotation (Sunday May 11th).  Their KK class is determined by the grade they will be in at school in September.
• Preteens entering the 7th grade in September will move up into teens after summer camp.

Teachers are needed to serve for the next rotation starting Sunday May 11^th. (May-August) Current openings are in Infants, 1st/2nd grade and Pre-teens.  Please let Pat or Kate know if you can serve (katebars@hotmail.com). Thanks very much! Any new infants ready to come to class? Please let us know ASAP for planning purposes.

Prayer Requests:

Patryce Hudspeth:  Patryce has been under care in Holden and could use our prayers and encouragement.
Pat Mullaney:  Her mother passed away this week.  The calling hours and funeral were held Saturday.