December Immanuel God-with-us By Rev. Derek Elphick

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1 December 2014 Immanuel God-with-us By Rev. Derek Elphick COMING UP Gift Collections for RANH - until Dec. 7 Craft Night - Dec. 12 Nativity Enactment - Dec. 21 Christmas Eve Family Service - Dec. 24 For all our December events see our online calendar at Behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Butter and honey He shall eat, that He may know to refuse the evil and choose the good. Isaiah 7: The Immanuel Prophecy is well known partly because it s quoted in the gospel birth announcement of Jesus Christ but also because the name, Immanuel or God-with-us, is appealing. We all want God to be with us, so understanding how our Lord and Savior is with us today is vital. One key to understanding this relationship lies in the virgin birth. By being conceived of Jehovah (God) but born of Mary (a human), the Lord was able to live and breathe like one of us. Even though He created us and knows us inside-out, the Lord still needed to come into this world and take on our DNA so that He could draw to Himself the very influences (evil) that threatened our extinction. There was no other way. By glorifying His human and subjugating the hells the Lord created new pathways for our salvation. By walking in our shoes and confronting the very evils we must confront, Immanuel, God with us, made it easier for us to walk the path of salvation. Christmas Events at Oak Arbor Church Family Craft Night, Friday Dec. 12th, 6-8 PM. Make-and-take holiday crafts for all ages! Invite your friends! This is a FREE EVENT. Pizza, snacks and drinks will be sold as a youth group fundraiser. Please follow the link to sign-up, or for more information. Questions? Please contact Rebecca Barry (elderbarry@comcast.net, ) Nativity Enactment (Tableaux), Sunday Dec. 21st at 6 PM This year s Nativity Enactment will focus on the different journeys of the participants in the Christmas story. The warm, inviting scenes with costumed actors and the singing of the traditional favorite hymns will undoubtedly put you and your family in the Christmas spirit, if you aren t already! You may want to arrive early to get a good seat. Because of the enactment, we will not have a morning church service on Sunday Dec. 21st Christmas Eve Family Service, Wednesday, Dec. 24th at 5 PM. Special music, hymns, and an inspirational Christmas message for everyone. Children in attendance will receive an ornament from the church. Merry Christmas!

2 Church Volunteer Schedule Get involved by volunteering at an upcoming Oak Arbor worship service. Please contact the church secretary at (248) December 2014 Date Usher Greeter Refreshments Nursery Pre-School 1st - 3rd 4th - 6th 7th - Highschool Dec. 7 Kirk Barry Kim de Chazal Dave & Karen Kostick Rebecca Barry Aryn Wille Amy Elder Gay Elphick J&K Childs 7&8 Sulie Tyler 9-12 Dec. 14 Alex Sandström Cara Clay David & Laura Cattermole Sherry Camille Rodda Donna Donakowski Ann-Marie Jon & Karin Childs Dec. 21 Nativity Enactment, 6:00 pm Dec. 24 Christmas Eve, 5:00 pm Greg Clay Cara Clay Pam Steen Paul Elder Scott Wilson Suzanne Cochrane *** No Sunday School Dec. 28 G.Odhner Marc Edwards Susan Kendig Bob & Karen Heinrichs Sarah Pellani Denielle Schnarr Rachel Mahrle Judi Pafford Jon & Karin Childs Jan. 4 Bill Sherry Nancy Genzlinger Amy Elder Danae Elder Brent & Dawn Genzlinger Shara Barrett Kim de Chazal J&K Childs 7&8 Sulie Tyler 9-12 DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS Francis van Loosbroek Dec.1 Logan Curtis Dec.2 Natalie Steen Dec.5 Julie David Dec.7 Steve Dec.9 Trystan Rodda Dec. 9 Victoria Cattermole Dec.11 Kären Heinrichs Dec.11 Peter Elphick Dec.12 Trevor van Loosbroek Dec.15 Sue Elder Dec.16 Stan Lehne Dec.18 Shara Barrett Dec.21 Elias Schnarr Dec.22 Edmond de Chazal Dec.23 David Genzlinger Dec.23 Jason Wilson Sebastian Nadal Brett Bowyer Denielle Schnarr Kurt Synnestvedt Zach de Chazal Dec.24 Dec.26 Dec.29 Dec.30 Dec.30 Dec.31 DECEMBER ANNIVERSARIES Scott & Morgan Wilson December 5, 2013 Carl & Barbara Owens December 6, 1980 Craig & Sarah December 27, 1976 Mark & Julie Elder December 30, 1983 Paul & Kathy Rogers December 30,

3 Two Christmas Collections for Rochester Area Neighborhood House Gift Giving Tree - through Dec. 7th Select a tag from the Gift Giving Tree in the church foyer, purchase the gift, return it unwrapped with the tag attached by Dec. 7th. For those of you who prefer to go online to select gifts for the children, the website is and you'll find the Gift Giving Tree at the bottom left hand corner. There will also be a place to sign up to volunteer at the First Congregational Church to prepare the donated gifts for collection. If you have any questions, please contact Sherry ( , shermc1111@msn.com) Mitten Tree - through Dec. 7th Oak Arbor School is once again collecting new outerwear (mittens, hats, scarves) for local children in need. Donations can be placed directly on the tree in the school foyer. Coming Up in the New Year: Our next journey program - What Would Love Do? This seven-week series is designed help individuals and groups explore the call to serve. Authors Sasha Silverman and John Odhner offer an in-depth study of the parable in Matthew 25, wherein Jesus describes the different classes of the neighbor and how we are invited to respond with care. The result is inspiring, practical, and motivating. It is a thoughtful and compassionate exploration of New Church teachings on loving the neighbor. What is a New Church Journey Program? New Church Journey programs (spiritual growth programs) are relevant, step-by-step, Bible-based programs designed to assist you in growing spiritually and applying God's teachings to your everyday life. Each program provides a clear approach for reading, discussing, and celebrating spiritual transformation. Local churches and individuals participating in a coordinated launch enjoy the benefits of worshiping together with an international congregation while focusing on the same theme. They can experience growth and healing in the authentic community created by small groups. Oak Arbor Church will launch this program on Sunday February 1st. Look for more information soon! We cannot do great things on this Earth, only small things with great love. ~Mother Theresa Love consists in wanting to share what we have, and in feeling the joy of someone else as our own joy. That is what it means to love. ~Emanuel Swedenborg (Divine Love and Wisdom 47) Ladies Lunch, Friday December 5th 11 AM - 12:30 PM Please bring a salad topper to help create a healthy and delicious salad bar. Salad greens, fresh dressings, fresh bread and butter, and coffee and tea will be provided. We have toys and books for the little ones to keep too. New faces are always welcomed, we would love to meet your friends and family and have them join us whenever they can. Questions? Contact Bonnie Quinn (onehappycamper@comcast.net) Save the Date: Family Potluck Lunch and Annual Meeting Sunday January 11th, after church (12 PM). Details to come soon!

4 Christmas Party - Friday Dec. 19th at 1 PM! Join the students in the Social Hall at 1 PM for a Christmas Program directed by Traci Bartell, followed by the annual faculty skit. Christmas Refreshments and Kris Kringle gift exchange will follow. Hope to see you there!! Christmas Around the World is Back! The teachers, with the support of the Middle School students, are busily preparing for this popular event. The students will be divided into two groups, and will visit another country to experience how different cultures celebrate Christmas. This year the countries are Poland, and Italy. If you have decorations/recipes/ ideas etc. from these countries that you would like to share, please send them in! Save the dates! Please save the date for our 2 big fundraisers next year, the Scrapbook Fundraiser on January 24th and the Benefit Dinner & Silent Auction on March 21st. Donations always welcome, please contact Liane or Nathaniel. Thank you. Congratulations to the kindergarten through 2nd grade students for their production of The Tortoise and the Hare on November 21st. They also sang some Thanksgiving songs and recited some poems. Well done! Oak Arbor School in the Lake Orion Christmas Parade Many thanks to the Wille family who have spearheaded the creation of a float for this parade, on Saturday December 6th at 6 PM. Many students, parents and staff will take part to help promote Oak Arbor School! Pancake Breakfast Thank you to the crew of 5th - 7th grade students and parents who worked at the pancake breakfast on November 16th. Two more events are planned and other families will volunteer. Funds raised will be put towards spring trips. This year the middle school will visit Washington D.C. and the 5th & 6th graders will spend time in Mackinac Island. Thanks very much for your support! Thank you to all of the students for their hard work on all of their varied and creative projects at this year s science fair. It is always such a treat to see so many people enjoying science all in the same place! Thanks to the parents for their support. 3

5 Rev. Derek Elphick - pastor, school director delphick@oakarbor.org Submissions: office@oakarbor.org Submissions ldechazal@oakarbor.org