ACORN. Seeds For Growth. Find us on Random Thoughts. Inside this issue:

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Bryan Cobb
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1 January 10-January 23, 2015 Seeds For Growth ACORN Random Thoughts Well, the holidays are over. For many, the Christmas decorations are put away and the kids are back to school. Last Sunday, when I asked the TreeHouse kids if they were excited going back to school, I didn't hear a lot of enthusiasm! To be expected, I suppose, after two weeks of gifts and eating. But most of our kids enjoy school and work hard (or as hard as they are pushed). Developing good study habits will help them through school and beyond. Oakwood Community Church Casey Rd Tampa FL The mission of Oakwood is to... Transform ordinary people into fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. Oakwood is a member of the Evangelical Free Church of America. How about you? Do you have good study habits? You're not in school, you say? Yes, you are! If you are a parent, you are challenged to "study" your child to know how to effectively train them and not frustrate them (Prov. 22:6, Eph. 6:4). You married guys should be "studying" your wives every day so that you can live with them in an understanding way (1 Peter 3:7). In any relationship we develop here at Oakwood with any other Christ follower, we should be "studying" each to know how to encourage each other to love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24). Most importantly, all of us should be students of God's Word, the Bible. In my last ACORN articles, I have pointed out the importance of hearing the Bible taught and reading the Bible. But that is not enough if we are going to be good "students" (or followers) of Jesus Christ. As we encourage our children to study hard to get good grades, we should be doing the same for things that are eternally more important than what is shown on a report card. One of my favorite passages in the Bible is Acts 17:1-11, there is a lot happening when the Apostle Paul goes to Thessalonica. He preaches and gets kicked out of the synagogue. That happened a lot in Paul's ministry. Some local thugs try to get to him but Paul escapes to a nearby town, Berea. When Paul gets to Berea, he goes to the synagogue to give the Good News to his Jewish brothers and sisters. What happened there is a challenge to us. It says in Acts 17:11 that "the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth." They were eager to hear and they studied the Scriptures. What are you thinking when you come to Oakwood on Sunday? Are you eager to listen? And then, do you want to study more to get the full understanding of the truth you heard? Inside this issue: Oakwood Mill 2 Prayer 3 Serve The Church & World 4 Upcoming Messages 4 PowerHouse News 5 Marriage Matters 6 Kids Corner 7 Calendar at a Glance 8 Continued on Page 3 Find us on

2 Page 2 Oakwood Mill Oakwood Mill is the Adult Education ministry of Oakwood Community Church. Two adult education classes are being offered during the winter/spring session on Sunday mornings at 9:15 AM. Classes will begin January 11. Register for one of these classes by contacting the Church Office. Eschatology This course covers the biblical doctrine of the return of Christ and the events associated with it. It is divided into two main parts. First is individual eschatology, dealing with subjects such as the nature of death, the immortality of the soul, and the intermediate state. The second half covers general eschatology, including the second coming and events preceding and following it, the resurrection of the dead, and the final judgment. The course will also include a survey of the various tribulational and millennial views. David Turner will facilitate this class. New Testament Survey II Are you ready for some R & R? We re not talking about Rest and Relaxation you ve had enough of that. And no, we re not talking about Rock & Roll (although you never know what will be in those PowerPoints). No R & R is for Romans to Revelation Oakwood Mill s New Testament Survey, based on Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary s Dimensions of the Faith series, led by Dr. Sean McDonough. If you re new to our group, we go online or download and listen to the talk by Dr. McDonough. On Sunday we meet to discuss what we ve learned and how to apply it. So if you re interested in learning about the New Testament and enjoy a stimulating learning and fellowship environment, come join us on Sunday mornings. If you d like to get a head start or would like to get an idea before you join, go to: set up a free no-obligation log-in and try it out. We ll be discussing New Testament Survey II. If you have any questions please feel to contact the church office or the facilitator, Guy Sas (guysas@verizon.net). P.S. Even if you don t listen to the materials, come anyway. Our experience is that we all learn something new every week. Connection All visitors and newcomers are invited to visit CONNECTION Sunday mornings at 9:15 in Room 106. CONNEC- TION provides a very casual, informal, enjoyable atmosphere of encouragement, prayer and Bible study. Recently, we have looked at Jesus' prayers, His words about love, and presently we are looking at His words about Himself. Leaders are Bill and David Clarke. Classes for Middle School and High School students will be offering during this hour. A Class for Kindergarten 5 th Grade students will be offering during this hour. Childcare In consideration of our volunteer staff, we will be happy to provide childcare for nursery age and a class for the 2 Year Olds through 4 Year Olds if we have three or more committed weekly for each age group during the 9:15 AM hour. This commitment will be for at least three out of four Sundays each month. Please the Church Office ASAP so that we can plan accordingly. Full Nursery and TreeHouse ministry will be provided during the Worship Service.

Page 3 Prayer Guide The Prayer Guides for 2015 will focus our attention on the following topics- The Oakwood family The missionaries our church family support Special events on the church calendar

3 Page 3 Prayer Guide The Prayer Guides for 2015 will focus our attention on the following topics- The Oakwood family The missionaries our church family support Special events on the church calendar The persecuted church Copies of the January Prayer Guide are available at the Information Center or on the church website at Prayer Ministry The purpose of Oakwood s E-Prayer Connection is to communicate prayer requests for our fellow Oakwood members, our families, friends, others personally known to us, and the ministries of our church. If you would like to partner in prayer for the needs of our church family, send your full name and address to Office@oakwoodfl.org with Prayer Ministry in the subject line, or visit our website and choose Prayer Ministry under the Ministries tab. Blood Pressure checks rescheduled Blood pressure checks on January 11 the kitchen following the Worship Service. Don t miss this important health screening. Seeds for Growth continued If you don't know how to start studying the Bible, we have some folks here at Oakwood who would love to help you get started. We also have some wonderful tools to help in your study. LifeWay Bookstore, at the Plaza at Citrus Park, has a vast array of Bible study helps. (Shameless plug!) If you are a Christ follower, you will also be a student of Jesus. Make 2015 the year you will develop good study habits. Don't just read the Bible, study it so when the "tests" come, we will know right from wrong and know how to live (Hebrews 5:13-14). That s all I am saying today. Dave Dorsey

Page 4 Opportunity to Serve the Church & World Naomi s Daughters is a ministry for single moms that provides clothing to the moms as well as the children.

Your continued donations of new or gently worn clothes and non-perishable foods are greatly appreciated. Donations can be left on the screened area in the back of the gray house on our property.

Other needs: School supplies, baby items (clothes, furniture, etc.), children s clothes & shoes, adult clothes & shoes.

Message Series When we experience or give grace, it creates wonder. It is a rare quality that always lifts, inspires, and brings life. Like a diamond, grace has many sparkling facets.

4 Page 4 Opportunity to Serve the Church & World Naomi s Daughters is a ministry for single moms that provides clothing to the moms as well as the children. The Oakwood family, along with others in the community, provides donations of clothing, food and money to keep this ministry moving forward. Your continued donations of new or gently worn clothes and non-perishable foods are greatly appreciated. Donations can be left on the screened area in the back of the gray house on our property. There are bins provided for your donations along with tax deductible forms. Pantry needs: cereal, canned goods, rice, pasta, paper goods, personal care items, etc. Other needs: School supplies, baby items (clothes, furniture, etc.), children s clothes & shoes, adult clothes & shoes. Please pray that we can continue to reach people in this ministry and show the hands and feet of the Lord to those who come through our doors. Message Series When we experience or give grace, it creates wonder. It is a rare quality that always lifts, inspires, and brings life. Like a diamond, grace has many sparkling facets. In my upcoming Bible message series beginning January 4, we will gaze at four dimensions of grace that we can both receive and give in our new year and our years to come. May we all continually experience and give the gift that generates wonder. Invite a friend to worship with you, especially during this series. ~ Pastor Paul Church Library Church library. Oakwood has a number of excellent books for all ages on many topics available in our library for you to check out. Be sure to stop by and see what s available. The library is located in the Education Center the first room on your right. Instructions for checking out books are on a clipboard just inside the door.

Page 5 PowerHouse Schedule Jan 11 Food Bag Ministry & Regular Evening Meeting Jan 18 Night Spiker (black light) volleyball Jan 25 Regular Evening Meeting Feb 1 Super Bowl Party Feb 8 Food Bag

distributed to medical clinics in Tampa, Lakeland, Haines City and Winter Haven.

The food bags are usually assembled on the second Sunday of each month, and need to be delivered on the Monday or Tuesday following assembly. The next delivery time is January 12 or 13.

5 Page 5 PowerHouse Schedule Jan 11 Food Bag Ministry & Regular Evening Meeting Jan 18 Night Spiker (black light) volleyball Jan 25 Regular Evening Meeting Feb 1 Super Bowl Party Feb 8 Food Bag Ministry & Regular Evening Meeting Night Spiker Volleyball Sunday, January 18 Food Bag Delivery Drivers Needed Our PowerHouse students have a monthly ministry assembling food bags that are distributed to medical clinics in Tampa, Lakeland, Haines City and Winter Haven. We are in need of people who can help with delivery of these food bags, especially to Lakeland, Haines City, and Winter Haven. The food bags are usually assembled on the second Sunday of each month, and need to be delivered on the Monday or Tuesday following assembly. The next delivery time is January 12 or 13. Be there & invite your friends If you can help with delivery or would like more information, please contact Cindy Giannone at (813) Food Bag Ministry Our PowerHouse students have a monthly fundraiser assembling food bags that are distributed to medical clinics in Tampa, Lakeland, Haines City and Winter Haven? These bags are distributed to indigent patients at the clinic to provide some basic food needs of the patients and their family. PowerHouse teens can raise money for summer mission/conference trips by participating in our monthly Food Bag Ministry, typically on the second Sunday of each month. Our next Food Bag Prep day is Sunday, January 11 right after the Worship Service. Teens can raise extra funds by helping shop for the food and/or helping with delivery of the food bags to the medical clinics. Shopping for the next fundraiser will be Friday, January 9. Meet at Aldi at Bearss & Florida Ave. at 5:00 PM (or contact Cam Whipple) if you want to help. For more details contact Cindy Giannone at (813)

6 Page 6 This simple act of recommitment can remind you why you married in the first place Ann Swindell teaches college classes and writes about life, ministry, and marriage on her blog atwww.annswindell.co m. Follow her on Used with permission from TodaysChristian- Woman.com Renewing Our Vows Part 1 Ann Swindell During our first year of marriage, Michael turned to me. I don't remember the context or the occasion for his words, but I remember what he said. "Marriage isn't celebrated nearly enough," Michael said. "How about, every five years, we either throw a big party or go on a trip?" I agreed and smiled, tucking away what he said in the back of my mind. Last spring, as our five-year anniversary was approaching, I reminded Michael of those words. "How about a vow-renewal party to celebrate five years?" I asked him. My little sister was getting married within the year, and I had been looking at wedding blogs and magazines with her. Vow renewals were becoming more popular, and as a romantic, I was smitten with the idea. He raised his eyebrows quizzically. "What would that involve?" "It would basically be a party where we have a short ceremony and say our marriage vows again. I think it would be a great chance to celebrate God's faithfulness to us over these last five years." A week later, after thinking and praying together, we decided to nail down a date. "I love the idea," Michael told me. "We can recommit to one another in front of our community and celebrate the gift of marriage together!" A Community-Focused Celebration Michael and I love our marriage, and although our marriage has not (yet) been long in years, we act as a source of counsel, encouragement, and challenge to many other couples in our church, where Michael is a pastor. We are strong proponents of marriage and love helping others catch the vision of biblically centered and peace-filled unions. Together, we started brainstorming about the deeper purpose of our vow renewal. "You know, we didn't know any of the people in our church when we got married five years ago," I mentioned to him. Michael was nodding. "It's crazy, isn't it? Because we moved to a different church, our entire community has changed since the wedding. So many times, I've thought about how strange it is that none of our current friends were there when we got married." "Right! And I know that they know we're committed to our marriage vows, but there is something really meaningful about speaking vows in front of people who see you week in and week out." Michael was tapping his pen on the kitchen table. "That's a big part of the reason I'm really getting excited about this party. Saying our vows again with our friends there gives us and them a higher level of accountability in our marriage." He stopped tapping his pen and looked at me, then at the list of people we were going to invite. "This will be so fun." Practical Planning I worked on planning the simple party reserving the space at a local park, asking family to help bake desserts, purchasing some burlap at the fabric store, and sending out the invitations (free printables I had discovered online). The day of the party, we got to work setting up folding chairs at the park. I laid the burlap runners on tables borrowed from the church, and a few friends helped set up the cupcakes, fruit, and sodas. Framed photographs from our wedding and other special moments during the last five years were scattered on the tables, and we placed a guest book near the front for everyone to sign. I had stopped by the farmer's market that morning to purchase a bouquet of white and green flowers to carry. Michael chose his grey suit and I wore a knee-length white sundress. Watch for Part 2 of this article in the next issue of the ACORN.

7 Page 7 Kids Corner

Oakwood Community Church 11209 Casey Rd Tampa FL 33618-5306 813.969.2303 www.oakwoodfl.org Our Staff Lead Pastor - Dr. Paul B.

Phair Coordinator of Children s Ministry - Dave Dorsey Office Manager - Martha Dorsey Secretary Melanie Hoglievina Office hours: Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Education Classes: Sundays - 9:15

Wyatt Calendar at a Glance Jan 11 Blood Pressure checks following Worship Board Meeting for Elder & Deacon teams PowerHouse Food Bag Ministry Jan 18 Compassion Offering PowerHouse Night Spiker

8 Oakwood Community Church Casey Rd Tampa FL Our Staff Lead Pastor - Dr. Paul B. Phair Director of Ministries - Dave Dorsey Director of Worship Arts - Andrew Reilly Coordinator of Youth Ministry - Dr. Paul B. Phair Coordinator of Children s Ministry - Dave Dorsey Office Manager - Martha Dorsey Secretary Melanie Hoglievina Office hours: Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Education Classes: Sundays - 9:15 AM Worship: Sundays - 10:30 AM Our Elder Team Mark Beale Edson Bustamante Pete Kluck Paul Phair John Schneider Rob Weyand Our Deacon Team David Conner Larry Giannone Luke Piazza Gigi Yuen-Reed Mike Wyatt Calendar at a Glance Jan 11 Blood Pressure checks following Worship Board Meeting for Elder & Deacon teams PowerHouse Food Bag Ministry Jan 18 Compassion Offering PowerHouse Night Spiker Volleyball Feb 1 Blood Pressure checks following Worship Feb 8 Board Meeting for Elder & Deacon teams Feb 15 Compassion Offering The Oakwood ACORN is a bi-weekly E-newsletter from Oakwood Community Church, published to keep our church family and friends informed about events and people at Oakwood. Articles may be submitted via to Office@oakwoodfl.org. Article deadlines and publication schedule is: Deadline Publication date News for dates including Jan 16 Jan 21 Jan 24 Feb 6 Jan 30 Feb 4 Feb 7 Feb 20 If you have received this in error or want to be removed from our e-newsletter distribution list, please hit the reply button and put unsubscribe in the subject line and you will be removed immediately. Missed a Sunday message? Listen

ACORN. Seeds For Growth. Find us on Random Thoughts. Inside this issue:

ACORN. Seeds For Growth. Find us on Random Thoughts. Inside this issue: July 12-July 25, 2014 Seeds For Growth ACORN Random Thoughts So, have you checked your drifting? For those not here last Sunday, the message was on Psalm 141:3-5. I also wrote about this in my last ACORN