When I start talking about a ship called the R.M.S. Carpathia, a lot of people look at me blankly. “The Car.. what?”

Never heard of it.

On the other hand, if I say “Titanic” there is immediate recognition.  Probably the most famous, or infamous, ship in history. What if I told you that the story of the Titanic can never be fully told without talking about the Carpathia?

Come back with me to that fateful night when the Titanic, the ship that had been claimed “unsinkable”, went down in the freezing waters of the Atlantic Ocean. April 14th, 1912 …

Read the rest of this entry »

This October, we’re challenging everyone at our church (First Assembly of God, Brookfield, CT.) to come on a thrilling, fulfilling, adventurous, dangerous, liberating campaign.  If you’re not a part of First Assembly, keep reading anyway because we challenge YOU to join us as well.  If you’re the leader of a church or other Christian group, why not bring your people along.

What’s it all about?

Every Christian knows that we have been commissioned by Jesus to go and preach the gospel as the main calling and priority of our lives (Matthew 28:18-20).  Jesus sent the Holy Spirit specifically to empower us for this one task (Acts 1:8).  And yet the percentage of professing Christians who actually share their faith on a regular basis is pitifully low.

Read the rest of this entry »

This Sunday, May 30th, at our 10.45am service, First Assembly will be hosting a very special event for Memorial Day. We invite all veterans and current members of any branch of the military and also public service forces (Police, Fire, EMS, etc) to join us as our honored guests.

Our Special Guest speaker for the morning, Col. Joseph Batluck (US Army, Ret.), spoke to the News Times last week and said, “I am going to be calling the people to service as Americans, as patriots, and in service of God.”

Our own Bill Kanych will also be speaking. Bill is a Yonkers, NY, Rescue Firefighter who was injured in the line of duty late last year when he and two fellow firefighters had to leap from the third storey of a burning building. One of his partners was tragically killed, and the other also badly injured. Bill’s story is of God’s great faithfulness through a harrowing time.

I want to encourage all the First Assembly church family to do 3 things this week:

1. Pray for this event, especially for those who will be speaking and participating in other ways.

2. Invite a friend. (Offer to pick them up and bring them!) All are warmly welcome, and we will be especially acknowledging all who have served in the various services.

3. Come early and get to service ahead of time and be seated before 10.45am. The service will start with a great opening that you don’t want to miss.

See you there!

Phil

Each day of this past week we emailed an early morning devotional out to First Assembly from our Pastoral Team. Here is the last of them as we culminate with the wonderful message of this Resurrection Sunday.

The Power of a Promise Kept

“And the third day He will rise again.” (Luke 18:33)

March 11, 1942 was a dark, desperate day at Corregidor.  The Pacific Theatre of war was threatening and bleak.  One island after another had been buffeted into submission by the Japanese.  The enemy was now marching confidently into the Philippines and surrender was inevitable. American General, Douglas MacArthur, spoke just three words as he stepped into the escape boat destined for Australia: that now famous line, “I shall return.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Each day of this week, leading up to Resurrection Sunday, we are emailing an early morning devotional out to First Assembly from our Pastoral Team. You can read them all right here.

The 7th Saying of Jesus on the Cross

And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.  (Luke 23:46) Read the rest of this entry »

Each day of this week, leading up to Resurrection Sunday, we are emailing an early morning devotional out to First Assembly from our Pastoral Team. You can read them all right here.

The 6th Saying of Jesus on the Cross

“So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.”  (John 19:30)

Read the rest of this entry »

Each day of this week, leading up to Resurrection Sunday, we are emailing an early morning devotional out to First Assembly from our Pastoral Team. You can read them all right here.

The 5th Saying of Jesus on the Cross

After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, ‘I thirst!’ Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. (John 19:28-29)

Read the rest of this entry »

Each day of this week, leading up to Resurrection Sunday, we are emailing an early morning devotional out to First Assembly from our Pastoral Team. You can read them all right here.

The 4th Saying of Jesus on the Cross

 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46) Read the rest of this entry »

Each day of this week, leading up to Resurrection Sunday, we are emailing an early morning devotional out to First Assembly from our Pastoral Team. You can read them all right here.

The 3rd Saying of Jesus on the Cross

“When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold your son!’ Then He said to the disciple, Behold your mother!’ And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.”  (John 19:26-27)

Read the rest of this entry »

Each day of this week, leading up to Resurrection Sunday, we are emailing an early morning devotional out to First Assembly from our Pastoral Team. You can read them all right here.

The 2nd Saying of Jesus on the Cross

Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? “And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”  (Luke 23:39-43)

Read the rest of this entry »