OAKLAND CHURCH OF CHRIST

Transcription

1 OAKLAND CHURCH OF CHRIST January 2018 Jan 7 Jan 14 Jan 21 Listen Carefully Do Good Don t Push Your Luck SERIES: Citizens Jan 28 ID Check Grove Christian Winter Camps 1st New Year s Day Office Closed 6th Church Un-decorating Party, 9-Noon 12th Study resumes, 10:30A 21 st 28 th High School Camp, grades 9-12 January 12-15, Cost $90.00 Junior Camp, grades 4-6 February 2-4, Cost, $65.00 Middle School Camp, grades 6-8 February 16-19, Cost $90.00 Don t miss out on these great camps; camp is always a great time, year-round! High School Youth Pie Auction, 7:00PM Scholarships are available to help cover costs. Contact Janet Baimbridge for details, cell Women s Tea Planning Meeting, 11:45A 1 Oakland Church of Christ The Focus

2 Happy Thoughts from Grumpy Men By Kristofer Tripp re you feeling a little down this month? It s A pretty common. The weather turns dark. And there s the post-holiday blues. So here s some encouraging words from an unlikely source the Old Testament prophets! This month we re listening as the prophets gave Good Advice to Israel. And Israel needed it. The one kingdom split into two: Israel and Judah. Israel started worshipping golden calves and other gods. Finally, God let Assyria conquer them. Little Judah in the south did better, for a while. Eventually, much of Judah was exiled to Babylon just as God had warned them. The prophets were not known as happygo-lucky guys. They had stern warnings from God, and they did everything they could to get God s message across. In Israel, Elijah asked God to start a famine, and prayed for fire from the sky. Isaiah compared Judah to a prostitute. Jeremiah s nickname is the weeping prophet. So it may come as a surprise that these dour men have encouraging words for us. See for yourself: 2 Kings 6:15 17 (NLT) When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. Oh, sir, what will we do now? the young man cried to Elisha. Don t be afraid! Elisha told him. For there are more on our side than on theirs! Then Elisha prayed, O Lord, open his eyes and let him see! The Lord opened the young man s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire. Isaiah 1:18 (NLT) Come now, let s settle this, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool. Isaiah 40:28 31 (NIV) The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Jeremiah 31:33 34 (NIV) 33 This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34 No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, Know the Lord, because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more. 2 Oakland Church of Christ The Focus

3 Thoughts on Scripture By Janet Baimbridge I know your first thought is, That is a December Scripture, but I disagree. Too many times we are so busy with the Christmas season, even if we do Christmas programs, sing Christmas songs, etc., we don't take the time to really think about Jesus birth and the precious gift He was to each of us from God. Fact is, I even carry this further. In the month of December we have so many class interruptions with rehearsals, hayrides, etc., which are all fun, but we don't get a lot of class time. So for my Wednesday night class I do December in January. Oh sure, we do gifts for our families and all that in December but, in January we begin with the angel visiting Mary and end with the wise men visiting Jesus in the house where he was living. That way the preschoolers-kindergartners I teach have time to really focus on the Bible stories and not worry about the activities, gifts, parties, family gatherings, etc. Now that I've gotten down off my soap box I want us to think about, God is with us. He's with us year round, so we need to remember His birth year round. By Janet Baimbridge W elcome to 2018! We ve had a great 2017 year in the Christian Education program. Church Camps, VBS, Harvest Carnival, Christmas Program, Hayride, Caroling, Wednesday and Sunday classes, etc. Thank you to all the kids, Babies - 12th grade, and adults who took part in, and helped with these events. Some help once a year and some help weekly. I'm looking forward to a very eventful and busy 2018 here at OCC! If you'd like to attend or help out feel free to let me know. I read the following article that I think is very fitting to begin the new year with. Please take the time to read it all and I think you will enjoy it - if you don't have time to read it all please at least read the last two paragraphs. Thank you for helping me to have a fantastic 2017! "A Change in Direction" by Elizabeth Sherrill Coming back from the post office, I almost ran over a turtle. She was in the middle of the road as I turned into my street- a handsome Eastern box turtle, plodding determinedly toward the intersection with busy Route 133. I managed to miss her, but the next driver might not be as lucky. And if she went any farther... I couldn't stop at the corner or on the steep hill, I pulled into my driveway, then ran back down the hill. The turtle had nearly reached the larger road. I picked her up, she was surprisingly heavy in my hand. As I carried her up the hill, four long scaly legs curved up around the carapace and claws raked my hand. Neck extended, she regarded me with the cold, prehistoric fury. There are swampy woods at the far end of our street, with berry bushes in the clearings Turtle heaven, I thought. I carried her there and set her down. For perhaps three minutes she surveyed her new surroundings. Then slowly, deliberately, she started back in the precise direction she'd been headed when I picked her up. Three time I turned her around, hoping the advantages of the new location would dawn on her. Each time, she unerringly resumed the route that would take her to Route 133 and disaster. I walked back home with a new understanding, not of turtles but of God's patience with all his stubborn creatures. How many times in my life has he stooped, picked me up, turned me around and pointed me in a new direction? How many times Savers Box tops and soup labels (Janet Baimbridge saves for Oakland Elementary) Soup Labels for Hope House. If you are not already saving the above items for someone else, please bring them to the church office. have I struggled to return to my own agenda, unaware of whose hand had barred my way? Turtles can't change, Father, but people can. When my plans are interrupted, help me ask, "What better one do you have for me?" 3 Oakland Church of Christ The Focus

4 All-Church Undecorating Party January 6, Saturday We want to make sure that your information is current/correct in the 2018 Church Directory. If you have not done so yet, on a blue connection card at church, please us back with the following information. 9:00AM Noon It is time to put away all the Christmas finery for another year. Please come and help out. Many hands (and feet) make light work. Name Cell ph Spouse Cell ph January 21 High School Pie Auction! Children (living with you) The youth would love to serve you samples of great pies, sell you pies for a moderate price in a silent auction, and engage you in spirited bidding for some terrific pies at immoderate prices. All proceeds go to fund the 2019 youth missions trip. Come join the fun! Home Ph Address PO Box Sunday, January 28th, 2018 Women s tea planning meeting after the worship service, (approximately 11:45AM.) Thank you! Anyone interested in helping in any capacity is invited to be a part of the planning team. For more information contact the coordinator, Carol Miller, at the church office ( ), home ( ), cell ( ), or by (kcscj@msn.com). 4 Oakland Church of Christ The Focus

5 November 2017 Average Attendance Worship 97 Sunday School 50 Wednesday Evening 87 November 2017 Finances Income $ 9, Expenses $14, :15 AM Sunday School classes for all ages 10:30 AM Worship Service (Nursery for babies & Children s Church for ages 2 yrs 4th grade.) Refreshments following Worship Service We invite you to join us for a variety of studies and activities during the week. There is something for everyone! Need information? Need transportation? Please call :00 AM Junior High Club 7:55 AM Prayer for kids & school staff 6:30 PM Share-A-Meal 7:00 PM Groups for Kids, 2 yrs-12th grade 7:00 PM Adult Group Information: Kris Tripp, :30 AM Men s & Bible Study Apple Peddler in Sutherlin Information: Kris Tripp, :30 AM Study Information: Althea Young, Resumes Jan 12 th. Let's not forget the people in our community who are hurting financially remember when you buy your groceries be sure to pick up several items for the Sutherlin/Oakland Emergency Food Pantry. Most needed food items include: -shelf-stable milk -unsaturated cooking oils -canned meats like tuna, chicken, or salmon -canned or dried beans -canned fruits and vegetables -whole-grain foods: cereal and whole-wheat pasta -Soups, chilies, and stews -100% fruit juice Please no rusty or unlabeled cans, no perishable items, no home canned items, no soda, and no open or used items. Items can be donated through the church. Thank you for caring! 5 Oakland Church of Christ The Focus

6 January 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 12/31 HS NYE Party, 8PM 12:30AM 7 1 Church Office Closed Men s, Men s, Resumes 6 Church Undecorating, 9AM-Noon No School Men s, School Day 27 Pie Auction, 7:00 8:30PM Men s, /1 2/2 2/3 Tea Planning, 11:45AM Men s, 6 Oakland Church of Christ The Focus