Our mission is to KNOW Jesus, SERVE Jesus and SHARE Jesus

Transcription

1 November 2017 There is a beautiful account recorded in Luke 17:11-19 where ten lepers approached Jesus asking for mercy. The Lord granted to them healing from their disease, but only one returned to give thanks. As we approach this Thanksgiving season, let us be careful that our lives are not best described by the 9 who did not take time to be thankful. May our hearts be filled with praise and gratitude to the One who has done everything for us! His name is Jesus. What do we have to be thankful for? #1. The love of Christ. As those ten lepers approached Jesus that day, the Bible says that they stood afar off. The law demanded that they kept their distance from others, living outside the cities as outcasts. Lepers were required to rip their clothing and to cry out Unclean! Unclean! What motivated Jesus to do what no one else would have dared to do? The love of God! His love reaches out to us although we are unlovable, undeserving, outcasts infected by the plaque of sin that ultimately should bring us death. We should be thankful for #2. The cleansing power of Christ. These men had a very serious problem, leprosy. This was an incurable disease, yet Christ met their need. He did what no one else could do! Here we are, sinners in need of grace and mercy, in need of salvation. Our sin deserves death but Christ reaches out to us to do what only He can do, forgive us and cleanse us from our sin! This account also reminds us that we should give thanks for #3. The change Jesus has brought in us. Luke 17:14 tells us that following the encounter that the lepers had with Christ, Jesus instructed them, Go, show yourselves to the priests." & so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. Here is a picture of faith! As these lepers made their way to the High Priest, they received their healing. What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought, since Jesus came into my heart! Nothing is hopeless! Any situation can be turned around with the power of God. Lastly, I am thankful for #4. The People of God. That would be you! We are the family of Oakdale Baptist Church! I am thankful for a church that loves me and my family and a church that we can love in return. I m so glad I m a part of the family of God. I ve been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood. Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod, for I m part of the family, the family of God. Happy Thanksgiving! I love you! Your Pastor, Mike Dixon NOVEMBER 5TH-19TH EACH SUNDAY Discipleship Classes for all ages. NOVEMBER 6TH North Roanoke Baptist Assoc. in Dortches NOVEMBER 14TH 6:30 PM-8 PM Women s Fellowship Holiday Pinterest Craft Night (Oakdale Fellowship Hall) NOVEMBER 9TH -9:00 PM Upward Evaluations Make-up NOVEMBER 21ST Proctor s Chapel Meal-5:30 PM Service- (Meal tickets will be in upcoming bulletins to get count-donations appreciated for meal) NOVEMBER 14TH 6:30 PM Men s Supper/Meeting (Gardner s BBQ on 301) NOVEMBER 24TH Church office closed NOVEMBER 26TH Pot Luck Supper 5:00 PM Raggedy-Book Concert Our mission is to KNOW Jesus, SERVE Jesus and SHARE Jesus

2 To all my brothers and sisters in Christ, Thank you all for the cards, prayers, thoughts, but especially for the prayers, at the passing of my sister-in-law, Kathy Aston Parker. All my thanks and love, Gwen Taylor **************************************************** I wanted to take a moment to tell you how much we appreciate the comfort care bags the Women s Ministry delivered to Life Care. What a thoughtful and compassionate act of kindness. Please know how much our families will be touched by your generosity. We are grateful beyond words! With much love, Robyn Perkerson, CEO Life Care Hospital of NC **************************************************** Dear Oakdale Baptist Church Family, Thank you so much for taking the time to prepare the wonderful lunch and feed our family after my mom s funeral service. Mom loved Oakdale Church and the community. She had so many friends at Oakdale, and although she wasn t able to attend in her later years, she still enjoyed the calls, cards and visits. Thank you again for your love and support, and please continue to keep us in your prayers. Jeanette Edwards Daughter of Pauline Edwards Romans 12:1-2 Christian stewardship includes careful management of our lives and lifestyle. Our style of living basically determines how we spend our money, which then influences our ability to give to God through the church. SEPTEMBER 2017 Income & Expenses General Fund Income $24, September Expenses $19, Difference $ 4, Designated Fund Receipts September only* *Not account balances Building Fund $12, NC Missions $ 2, Outdoor sign $ 7, SCLO $ WMU Income $ 1, Youth Income $ Monthly reports are placed in the literature racks by 10th of month. If any questions, or call the church. If you would like for your child/children to have offering envelopes assigned to them, please notify the church office. It is an opportunity for tithing training. Outdoor sign balance as of is $13, Estimated cost is $19, OAKDALE S 2018 BUDGET The 2018 budget will be developed and copies distributed to members the first Sunday in November, the 5th. Oakdale s budget for 2018 will be discussed and voted on by secret ballot at the Wednesday, November 8th business conference. Family of Evelyn Shelton in her passing

3 3:30 Student Ministries On Wednesday nights in October, we have been talking about sin and the effects of a life in sin. As we get into November, we will begin discussing our self image, body image, and insecurity on Wednesday nights. We know that teens live in a world that tells them how they should be, look, and act and one of the greatest challenges we have as parents and leaders is to point these teens to the only voice of truth in this world. On Sunday nights, we will be continuing to have discipleship classes that focus on Creation vs Evolution. This is creating great discussion and the youth seem to be discovering ways the world is allowing evolution to filter into their lives. We also have reserved a spot for camp next summer. We will be going to Crossing Camp in Kentucky. The dates are June 17-June 21 and the cost is $273 per camper. We will have a sign up sheet in the youth room and a $50 deposit will be due by Wednesday, January 31, This camp will be for rising 7th graders thru 12th graders. For more information, check out their website at gocrossings.org. We will be fundraising to help offset the cost. We already have the desired number of adult chaperones willing to go from the student ministry team. Please come join us on Sunday and Wednesday! We also plan other activities during the month. UPCOMING EVENTS: on Wednesdays-Youth Bible Study on Sundays-Youth Discipleship Saturday, November 18-Youth to B R Paintball in Angier, NC (Leave church at 8:00 AM-Return to church at 3:00 PM. Cost is $30 to play paintball. Please bring money for lunch.) Thanksgiving isn t just a yearly holiday. It is a state of mind we should have all the time. Don t forget to thank God daily for His many blessings in your life. The children will be combining a mission project with an activity for November. On Saturday the 18th from 1-3 PM, we will be going bowling. They need to bring 5 cans of food for an upcoming food drive. Two games will be paid for by the Children s Ministry. If your child wants a snack, he or she will need to bring their own money. Parents are welcome to join us if they wish. Teachers are needed to sign-up for Bible Skills and Thrills on Wednesday night at 7:00. Thirty minutes will be class time and the other 30 minutes will be choir with Miss Angie. The classes are K-2nd grade and 3rd-5th grade. New sessions start in January and run in quarters. The sign-up sheet will be at the table by the Welcome Center. WORSHIP KIDSTYLE SCHEDULE FOR NOVEMBER (CHILDREN S CHURCH) 11/5 Paige Summerlin & Brianna Lewis 11/12 Samantha Wells & Nick Andrews 11/19 Karen & Rickey Murray 11/26 Amy Webb & Debra Calhoun Please contact Lynn Eason at if you cannot serve your Sunday so we can make alternate arrangements. If you would like to help, contact Lynn Eason.

4 Raggedy-Book Concert Sunday, November 6:00 Covered dish supper 5:00 By Sunday evening you ll be tired of turkey and stuffing. Come on out for an evening of casseroles and great singing. You ll be glad you did! JOY GROUP MEETING November 16, 2017 at 2:00 PM Oakdale Baptist Church Fellowship Hall Our Program: Devotion-Carolyn Lawrence Special Guest-Nutrition Program Specialist Jamie Owens, RDN, LDN Vidant Wellness Health Employee Games- - -Snacks UPWARD NEWS I am excited to see how God is and will continue to work through each of us this year in the Upward Program. If you would like to volunteer please do not hesitate, we still need coaches, referees, devotions, concessions, and clean up volunteers. Please continue to bathe the program in prayer as we move forward and start the season. Pray for our volunteers and our church along with all who come through the doors. We have been able to get into schools that were closed to us in the past. This Upward ministry gives us the opportunity to share the Good News of Christ with many who have not heard the Gospel and could become children of God! Please continue to spread the word about Upward as we embark on our 18 th year. Meeting the first and third Tuesdays of each month at Oakdale Baptist Church and the second and fourth Tuesdays at Peace Makers from 6:30-8:15. L.I.F.E. DINNER SCHEDULE FOR NOVEMBER November 7th Marcia & James Walston November 21st-There will be no L.I.F.E. meeting due to Thanksgiving service at Proctor s Chapel Some key dates to remember are: November 9 th from 6-8 Evaluation Makeups November 19 th 3PM Coach s Meeting December 4 th -- First week of practice! January 6 th First game! February 25 th Awards Night In Jesus Name Glenn Howell Thank you for your support and remember, It s not the shoes, it s the SOULS. ATTENTION! Please let the church office know who the chairmen of the committees and ministry teams are as soon as possible.

5 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Children s Choir Practice/Bible Skills Regular Schedule 2 8:00 AM JOY Group Breakfast Messianic Synagogue PM-4 PM Baby shower for Lauren & Jeremy Holloman s Baby Discipleship Classes 6 Women s World Day of NRBA in Dortches 7 6:30 PM-8 PM LIFE Addiction Recovery Program 8 Business Conference (No other activities 9-9:00 PM Upward Registration Make-up 10 Messianic Synagogue :30 PM Deacon Meeting 5:00 PM Interpretive Dance Practice Discipleship Classes 13 10:00 AM Missions Prayer Group at OBC JOY Group to Concert 14 6:30-8 PM L.I.F.E. Addiction Recovery Program at Peace Makers 6:30 PM Women s Fellowship 6:30 PM Men s Supper/Mtg. 15 Children s Choir Practice/Bible Skills Regular Schedule 16 2:00 PM JOY Group Council Meeting Messianic Synagogue :00 PM-3:00 PM Children-Bowling 8:00 AM Youth - Paintball at Angier, NC 19 3:00 PM Upward Coaches Meeting Last night of Discipleship Classes Thanksgiving Meal -5:30 PM & a Service - at Proctor s Chapel 22 No Evening Service or Activities 23 Thanksgiving Day Church Office Closed 24 Church Office Closed 25 10:00 AM Messianic Synagogue 26 5:00 PM Church-wide Potluck Supper Raggedy-Book Concert :30 PM-8 PM L.I.F.E. Addiction Recovery Program at Peace Makers 29 Children s Choir Practice/Bible Skills Regular Schedule 30

6 SECURITY FOR NOVEMBER 11/5 Brad Summerlin & Danny Calhoun 11/12 Andy Batts & Eric Stott 11/19 Tony Lassiter & Brent Griffin 11/26 Aaron Rhodes & Jett Webb USHER TEAM FOR NOVEMBER DAVID WELLS-HEAD USHER ALEX WELLS ANDY BATTS GLENN HOWELL 11/1 Kristin Boseman 11/11 James Shearin 11/2 Nancy Lamm 11/12 Judy Walston 11/2 Chrissy Rhodes 11/13 Bruce Webb 11/3 Ray Everette 11/13 Tallon Webb 11/3 Billy Hill 11/17 Wayne Harrell 11/3 Kyra Jilcott 11/17 May Howell 11/3 Gwen Taylor 11/19 Thomas Howard 11/4 Carson Medley 11/19 Beth Jones 11/5 Perry Edmondson 11/20 Alexandria Howell NOVEMBER 2017 November Nursery Coordinator-Susan Sturgill Please contact her if you are unable to serve on your Sunday so that she has plenty of time to find coverage. 11/5 Babies-Felicia & Jett Webb 11/5 Toddlers-Jewel Calhoun & Tracey Brinkley 11/12 Babies-Dawn & Tad Rhodes 11/12 Toddlers-Joy & Jeff Eatmon 11/19 Babies-Jessica Strickland & Gwen Harvey 11/19 Toddlers-Tina & Shane Hodge 11/26 Babies-Barbara Whitehurst & Paula Taylor 11/26 Toddlers-Justine Wells & Terin Chapman 11/5 Dawn Ezzell 11/20 Wyatt Spain 11/5 Doris Wadsworth 11/21 Daphne Hopkins 11/6 Billy Gardner 11/22 Noah Edmondson 11/6 Roger Walker 11/24 Dona Agar 11/9 Paula Medley 11/28 Jack Taylor Due to the absence of our Custodians, the Brinkley s, after Sunday School each Sunday, please make sure the trash is in the trashcan, tables wiped off if needed, no food out etc. in each classroom. If you have a key to the church and you no longer need it, please bring it to the church office as soon as possible. Do not give it to someone else who may be taking your place on a committee, deacon, etc. The key needs to be logged in by the person who is turning it in and logged out to the person who needs it. Oakdale Kitchen Team continues to work with your help to keep the kitchen and fellowship hall clean and orderly for the enjoyment of everyone. We THANK YOU for your cooperation and help to make this possible. Please remember to review the guidelines posted in the kitchen area to ensure that these areas are left clean and everything is in place. OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD EVERY SHOEBOX IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST TO WRAP HIS ARMS AROUND A CHILD. Our goal was 150 shoeboxes. Praise the Lord, 175 shoeboxes have been given out!! Just think, 160 opportunities for children somewhere in the world to hear the gospel with the shoebox packed by you. Please pray your shoebox will open the door for the Good News of Jesus Christ and children will know the love of being in God s arms. Thank you for everyone helping reach Oakdale s Goal!!!

7 MISSIONS BAPTIST MEN Oakdale Women s Fellowship & WMU are busy about our Father s work! Eleven women from our church attended the Carolina Women s Retreat at Caswell October 6-8th. We heard from several Baptist women such as Kimberly Sowell & Sandy Wisdom-Martin. Phyllis Foy shared her amazing testimony & Renea Henderson kept us all laughing as Bertie the Baglady. We also enjoyed the entertaining & thought provoking drama skits by Cross Walk. But the best part about the trip to me was the wonderful time of fellowship we Oakdale women enjoyed just being together. Our ongoing prayer blanket ministry is going well. We ve prayed over and given out many of these blankets. Again, if you know of someone who would benefit from this ministry, please let Karen Murray, Melissa Dixon, or May Howell know. We continue to collect either monetary donations (for the embroidery work) or low pile solid fleece blankets for this ministry. You may bring your blankets to the church and put them in the missions box. All Oakdale women are invited to the Baptist Women s World Day of Prayer Nov. 6th at 7 PM at the NRBA office in Dortches. Mrs. Linda Ruffin wants everyone to know that the WMU missions prayer group continues to meet every 2nd Monday at 10 AM. They stay busy doing missions & ministry and want to encourage ALL ladies to join them. Oakdale Women s Fellowship has an important change in our November meeting. Due to several conflicts, we will be meeting on the 2nd Tuesday (Nov. 14th) at Oakdale fellowship hall from 6:30-8:00 pm for a Holiday Pinterest Craft Night and soup/chili supper. The cost is $10.00 which covers craft supplies and the meal. Karen Murray and Melissa Dixon will have easy craft choices to choose from. Please sign up by Sunday, Nov. 12th. Make sure to put your $10.00 fee in an envelope and place it in the church office drop box. Our December Christmas meeting & party will be on Tuesday, Dec. 5th from 6:30-8:00 PM. You don t want to miss this! Details TBA. As you see we have a lot going on and would love to have you consider joining us as we fellowship together and share the love of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ! MEN of Oakdale, I want to say that the mission service trip to Red Springs Mission Camp was a blessing to those who were served and to those who served. We made really good progress toward a hurricane victim being able to return to her home. The family has been displaced for nearly a year. It is amazing what can happen if we just take that one step forward and let God have our plans for the day. Thank you to those who were able to make the trip. More will be coming forth on how we can serve our Lord and help people in the Red Springs area. God is good. Our October meeting was very informative concerning the food pantry known as "A Touch by the Fathers Hand" in Battleboro. We have already seen multiple opportunities for the Men of Oakdale to be used as the hands and feet of God at this food pantry that feeds and cares for those with less. We will begin with collecting canned and dry goods to donate. Our next Oakdale Men's meeting will be Tuesday November Gardner's BBQ. I invite all Oakdale men out to fellowship and help plan how we can serve God in our community by helping others. Come on out. In the Hope He gives, Tony Lassiter Men s Director ~Melissa Dixon Thank you to all who bought fruit this year! The fruit should come in the first week of December, so be on the lookout! NO SHOTS, NO PASSPORT JUST WILLING MEN, WOMEN, AND TEENS We have a church wide mission trip to Red Springs Mission Camp set for December st. We have an opportunity to work in the community down in Red Springs, North Carolina and surrounding areas being the hands and feet of Jesus. You don t have to have a particular skill to sign up! You will be blessed, I promise!! It is a chance to do some amazing work fulfilling the needs of the community and showing Christ to others that have never seen it first hand. Please join me as we share Christ with others! WARNING: VOLUNTEERS MAY EXPERIENCE VOLUNESIA: (noun) the moment when you forget you are volunteering to help change lives, because it is changing yours! This is open to ages 13 and up. There is a sign-up sheet on the sign-up table beside the elevator doors. The costs is $63, with a deposit of $30 due by November 15 th. The remaining balance will be due December 15 th. If you have any questions, please contact Renee Howell at or by at renee.h.howell@gmail.com.

8 Oakdale Baptist Church US 64 ALT WEST HWY Rocky Mount, NC Address Service Requested Oakdale Staff Pastor: Pastor Mike Dixon Music Director: Ms. Angie Ruffin Secretary: Mrs. Sharon Lynch Prayer Coordinators Kaye Bulluck (Primary) Melissa Dixon (Backup) DEACON BEACON News from Deacon Ministry Team A guiding light to the rock We have so much to be grateful for in this life, each and every day. But reality is that sometimes constant life demands, struggles, and worries give more room to defeat than to a heart of thanks. Or we forget, in the midst of business and pressures, just to pause and give thanks, for all that God has done, and continues to do in our lives. Sometimes it really is a sacrifice to offer praise and thanks. We may not feel like it. We re struggling. We're weary. Or maybe, we feel like He let us down. We think God seems distant, like he's far away, or doesn't really care about what's troubling us. Painful life blows and losses might have recently sent us spiraling. But here s what can make a lasting difference. We have a choice, every day, to give him thanks. And with a heart of thanksgiving, we realize that no matter what we face, God doesn t just work to change our situations and help us through our problems. He does more. He changes our hearts. His power, through hearts of gratitude and focused minds on Him, releases the grip our struggles have over us. We're strengthened by His peace, refueled by His joy. God's Word is filled with many reminders of how powerful and vital a thankful heart can be in this world: - It gets our eyes off ourselves, and helps us to focus back on God. - It reminds us we're not in control, but that we serve a Mighty God who is. It keeps us in a place of humility and dependency on Him, as we recognize how much we need Him. - It helps us to recognize we have so much to be thankful for, even all of the little things, which often we may forget to thank Him for...but they really are the biggest, most important things in this life. It takes our attention off of our problems and helps us instead to reflect on, to remember, the goodness of His many blessings. - It reminds us that God is the Giver of all good gifts. We were never intended to be fully self-sufficient in this life. A grateful heart reminds us that ultimately God is our Provider, that all blessings and gifts are graciously given to us by His hand. - A heart of gratitude leaves no room for complaining. For it is impossible to be truly thankful and filled with negativity and ungratefulness at the same time. -It makes the enemy flee. The forces of darkness can't stand to be around hearts that give thanks and honor to God. Our praise and thanksgiving will make them flee. -It opens up the door for continued blessings. It invites His presence. Our spirits are refreshed and renewed in Him. God loves to give good gifts to His children. He delights in our thankfulness and pours out His Spirit and favor over those who give honor and gratitude to Him. Jeff Eatmon