Pastor: Tim Harvey Minister of Nurture and Music: Carol Elmore E-mail: churchoffice@ oakgrovecob.org NOVEMBER P u b l i s h e d b y : Oak Grove Church of the Brethren 2138 McVitty Road, SW Roanoke, VA 24018 2018 Website: www.oakgrovecob.org Phone: (540) 774-3217 DEADLINE FOR DEC./JAN. VISITOR: NOVEMBER 15 NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE: Rena Brown Carolyn Broyles Jonna Detweiler Nancy Hylton Josephine Keller Sarah King Carla McCauley Emily Nelson Fall Bible Study Our Fall Bible Study continues this month. Each evening will begin with a meal at 5:45 p.m., and Bible Study follows at 6:30 p.m. Our study schedule is as follows: November 7 Ecclesiastes November 14 Esther November 28 Song of Songs Childcare will be provided for babies and toddlers. For the children, there will be practice for their Christmas program, which will take place on Sunday, December 2, at 5:00 p.m.. Project WARM Project WARM is a program through which local Church of the Brethren congregations work together with the City of Salem and The Salvation Army to provide free firewood for those in need in the Roanoke Valley. Volunteers are always needed to split and deliver wood. We do this on Saturday mornings, starting at 8:00 a.m., and at least one weekday as volunteers are available and the weather permits. For schedule details, contact marcwilson@onemain.com. Oak Grove CoB is scheduled to help deliver wood on Saturday, November 10. If you would like to help, please meet at the woodlot in Salem at 8:00 a.m., located behind the Salem Animal Shelter at 1301 Indiana Street. Children (supervised) and youth are encouraged to help deliver wood. Church Board Retreat Sunday, November 11 6:30 p.m. at the Church For this year s Board members, as well as those who will be serving on the Board in 2019. Joyful Hearts Thanksgiving Potluck On Thursday, November 15, the Joyful Hearts will meet in the fellowship hall at 10:30 a.m. for a meeting and socialization. A Thanksgiving meal will be served at 12:15 p.m. The turkey and trimmings will be provided, so please bring a vegetable, salad, or dessert for the potluck. Put December 3 on your calendar now, as this is the day we will have our Christmas luncheon. More information will be in next month s Visitor. The 2018 Community Thanksgiving Service will be on Sunday, November 18, 7:00 p.m., at Our Lady of Nazareth Catholic Church. Rev. Maurita Wiggins, from Valley Community Church, will preach. The offering taken will go to support the Roanoke City Jail Ministry and RAM House. For those wishing to be part of the choir, practice will be prior to the service at 6:00 p.m. Childcare will be provided during the service.
Mission Offering Sunday, November 11 United: Pursuing Peace Together PAGE 2 Let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. Romans 14:19 Every November our congregation takes up an offering to support the ministries of our denomination that relate to Global Missions and Service. This special offering highlights our relationships with international partners and churches. It supports core ministries like Brethren Volunteer Service, Global Mission and Service, Global Food Initiative, and others as we pursue the peace of Christ around the world. Plan to give generously when this offering is taken on Sunday, November 11. Your gifts do great things! Prison Postage Postage stamps and greeting cards will be collected throughout the month of November for the inmates at the Roanoke City Jail to use during the holidays. There will be a mailbox in the vestibule in which to place your donations. You may also make a monetary donation when the offering plate is passed on Sunday mornings. Note on your check that it is for Prison Postage. Disciples Class Potluck Gather at the home of Carol and Mike Elmore on Friday, November 30, 6:30 p.m., for a salad and dessert potluck and games. If you ve ever been in the Disciples class or think you will be in the near future, you are welcome to come! Email Carol and let her know what you re bringing at carol@oakgrovecob.org....that this year s Advent devotional from Brethren Press was written by Rhonda Pittman Gingrich, daughter of Marianne and the late Bob Pittman? We will have these to hand out prior to the Advent season....that Nelson Musselman, who is employed with the Fort Worth Department of Parks & Recreation, was recently awarded the Diversity Scholarship Award for the National Association of Parks and Recreation at its meeting in Indianapolis? Mark these dates on your calendar NOW! Children & Youth Christmas Program Sunday, December 2, 5:00 p.m. Potluck meal will follow. Joyful Hearts Christmas Celebration Monday, December 3, at noon (place to be determined) Handbells Tuesday, December 4, 7:00 p.m. at Fairington Village (across from Oak Grove Food Lion) All are welcome to attend. Fellowship Class Banquet Saturday, December 8, 5:30 p.m. at Camp Bethel Special Handbell Music Sunday, December 9 During the morning worship service Christmas Music Worship Sunday, December 16 During the morning worship service Christmas Caroling Sunday, December 16 Meet at the church at 5:30 p.m., and we will go caroling to our shut-ins. Christmas Eve Service Monday, December 24 7:00 p.m.
Fall Volunteer Workday Virlina District News PAGE 3 The business agenda and ballot were publicized in early October. For all information, forms, and instructions, please visit http://virlina.org/districtconference.html. Camp Bethel s fall volunteer workday will be Saturday, November 3. Your help is needed to prepare camp for the fall/winter conference season. There will be projects (rain or shine, indoor or outdoor) for all skill levels and ages. Bring supplies such as rakes, blowers, drag tarps, chainsaws, wood splitters, safety gear, ladders, gloves, landscaping gear, tools (repair, construction, electrical, plumbing, etc.), vacuums, flatbeds, trucks (especially 4x4), cleaning gear & chemicals, brooms, mops, and rags. The day will begin at 7:30 a.m. with a free breakfast. A free lunch will also be provided at 1:00 p.m. Please reserve meals by October 30 at 992-2940 or email CampBethelOffice@gmail.com. Christmas Extravaganza Daleville Church of the Brethren is sponsoring a Christmas Extravaganza on Saturday, November 3, from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Most items being offered for sale are from Sandra Sue Bolton s large collection of Christmas decorations and treasured items. Sandra Sue was a beloved member of Daleville CoB who died this past spring. The sale is huge and includes items such as villages, nativity scenes, Christmas ornaments, linens, snowmen and Santas, greenery, music boxes, snow globes, wrapping paper, dishware, and collectibles. We will have one prized item to raffle off. A baked goods table will also be available for those who love to have a special food item to take home. Please come help celebrate Sandra Sue s memory by taking one of her prized possessions to a good home. For more information, contact Deb Lawrence at bluebird4308@yahoo.com. Virlina District Conference We will gather as a district to worship and fellowship together, and do business together, at Bonsack Baptist Church on Friday and Saturday, November 9 and 10. The schedule will be similar to last year, as will some of the age group activities. Please register for all activities and meals by the end of October. Everyone is welcome to attend Conference, whether one is a delegate or not. Outdoor Nativity Come to Bethlehem and See Travel through an outdoor live nativity program at Bethlehem Church of the Brethren at 4250 Bethlehem Road, Boones Mill. Come experience the story of Christmas as you walk by scenes of Mary and Joseph, shepherds with their sheep, angels, and wise men. Then come into Bethlehem Church for cookies, hot chocolate, and warm fellowship. Golf cart rides are available to assist your tour. Please join us anytime between 5:00 and 8:00 p.m., on Saturday, December 1, and enjoy this Christmas story. The program will be held, rain or shine. If you would like to be a character in the live nativity (costumes provided), the church would love for you to join them. Let Sharon Grindstaff know you would like to participate, and she can work out further details. For information or questions, contact her at 493-7252, or grindstaffsharon@gmail.com. 2019 Annual Conference The Church of the Brethren Annual Conference Office has announced speakers and other worship leadership for the 2019 Annual Conference, which will take place July 3-7 in Greensboro, NC, with the theme, Proclaim Christ: Reclaim Passion. The worship schedule will differ from its typical format. Evening worship will be similar to previous years, but each day will also feature a morning worship service, with an abbreviated singing time and shorter sermon, for a total service length of about half an hour. Donita Keister, moderator of the 2019 Conference and associate pastor of Buffalo Valley Church of the Brethren in Mifflinburg, PA, will speak at the opening worship service on Wednesday evening. Other evening speakers include Jonathan Prater of Rockingham, VA, on Thursday; Tim and Audrey Hollenberg-Duffey of Hagerstown, MD, on Friday; and Jeremy Ashworth of Peoria, AZ, on Saturday. Morning speakers include Brethren publisher, Wendy McFadden, of Elgin, IL, on Thursday; Joel Peña, of Lancaster, PA, on Friday; and LaDonna Sanders Nkosi, of Chicago, on Saturday. Tim Harvey, of Roanoke, VA, will speak at the traditional closing worship on Sunday morning.
PAGE 4 Christmas Play Practice November Middle and High Schoolers Events Sunday, November 4 11:00 a.m. Instrumental Ensemble to play for worship (rehearse at 9:15 a.m.) Wednesday, November 7 5:45 p.m. Meal in fellowship hall 6:30 p.m. Christmas Program practice in sanctuary Friday and Saturday, November 9 and 10 7:00 p.m. District Conference youth activities overnight at Camp Bethel (following Friday evening worship). Vans will transport to Camp at 8:30 p.m. from Bonsack Baptist Church. Saturday will include games, meals, raking leaves, hiking, and low ropes course (which includes no ropes nor height). $20/ youth. Register with Carol. Wednesday, November 14 5:45 p.m. Meal in fellowship hall 6:30 p.m. Christmas Program practice in sanctuary Wednesday, November 28 5:45 p.m. Meal in fellowship hall 6:30 p.m. Christmas Program practice in sanctuary Make Plans Now... December 2, 5:00 p.m. Children and Youth Christmas Program December 8, 2:00-4:00 p.m. Youth families Christmas Lupper Party in the home of Leland and Sharon Flora. We will eat lupper (combo of lunch and supper) at 2:00 p.m. (the Floras are providing ham, mac and cheese, drinks...we will sign up for salads, bread, desserts), then have some holiday games and devotions. Bring a gently-used or new coat to share with someone in our community who needs one. January Senior High and Junior High Workcamp Registration Rescue Mission Wish List For November: Ketchup, Mustard, Mayo, BBQ Sauce Wednesdays - November 7, 14, & 28 6:30 7:30 p.m., in the sanctuary Sundays - October 28, November 11, 18, & 25 During Children s Church, in the fellowship hall Saturday, December 1 10:00 a.m., Dress Rehearsal (in the sanctuary) All children and youth are encouraged to participate in the Christmas program, which will take place on Sunday, December 2, at 5:00 p.m. We understand that some practices may be missed, but it is very important for everyone to attend the dress rehearsal. Please contact Martha Gregory if you have questions or would like to assist. Peace and Justice Sunday School Class by Patricia Ronk The Peace and Justice Sunday School class will continue to meet during the Sunday School hour in room 102. We want to share with you some of the structure and goals of the group. While we wish to discuss current issues and our real feelings about them, we do not want this to just be a place to emotionally vomit. We want the class to be a safe place to gather and discuss and find support from each other. We intend to be open to otherness. We want our class to be based on Scripture, so while our topics will arise from current events, we will seek to apply Scripture to understanding and responding to these events. We seek to encourage and excite ourselves and others about peace and justice concerns, enabling us to respond peacefully rather than reactively. We will explore how to respond to theodicy (evil), seeking how to understand God s plan in current events. We will explore power and abuse of power concerns and how they impact peace and justice issues. We will seek to move beyond being discouraged idealists (overcoming viewpoints that it s too hard, too depressing, too anger provoking, a sense of being defeated, done, and not knowing how to act anymore). We will use scripture as we explore finding ways to deal with current world views, where evil and ugliness don t stop, and discern ways to be a light to one another and the world. We invite you to consider becoming a part of our discussions.
Sunday Morning Statistics PAGE 5 Date Sunday School Worship Budget Special Gifts October 7 59 130 $7,996 $705 October 14 70 116 $2,674 $80 October 21 62 130 $2,702 $390 October 28 Not available at time of printing Upcoming Sermons With one exception, sermons and worship services in November will continue our theme of Disciples Quest, as we work our way through the long, broad narrative of the Old Testament. November 4: Samuel Dali, former President of the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria, preaching. November 11: What does the Lord require? Micah 5:2-5a, 6:6-8 November 18: Swords into plowshares Isaiah 2:1-4; 36:1-3, 13-20; 37:1-7 November 25: Jeremiah s Temple sermon Jeremiah 1:4-10; 7:1-11 (Gina Hawkins preaching) A Word from Pastor Tim... Sitting in my office on this mid-october morning, I cannot help but notice the inevitable change from summer to fall. Just a week ago, the temperatures were warm and the humidity was off the scale. Later this evening, Lynette and I will bring some plants in to escape what might be the first frost of the fall. The leaves have not yet begun to change color, but they soon will. We also mark the change of seasons by the rhythm of the church calendar. October s Love Feast, Fall Bazaar, and Church Council Meeting becomes November s District Conference, Church Board retreat, and Thanksgiving (which means that the all Christmas, all the time radio stations aren t far behind!) As you read the newsletter this month, I know you ll take notice of the various church events scheduled for November. There are two that I want to particularly highlight. The first is a visit from Rev. Samuel Dali, the former President of the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria. He will be in Roanoke the first weekend of November for the following presentations: Saturday, November 3, 7:00 p.m. at Central Church of the Brethren. This event is open for the Virlina District. Rev. Dali will talk about the recent sufferings of the EYN church, during their time of persecution from Boko Haram. Sunday, November 4. Rev. Dali will be at Oak Grove and will preach during our morning worship service. Please mark your calendars for this special event. The second event happens in the Pathfinders Sunday School class on November 18, 25, and December 2. At the request of one of our members, I will be teaching a class on forgiveness. Even though the Pathfinders class is mostly our young families and young adults class, anyone from the congregation is welcome to join this class for the lessons on forgiveness (and any other Sunday, as well!).
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Come Caroling... Join in on Tuesday, November 13, at 1:00 p.m. Meet at the church and carpool to 2-3 homes to sing hymns for some of our folks who can t get out so easily. Visitors will be blessed more than the visited, but it s a win for everyone! Come share a joyful noise! 1 6:00 pm Evangelism & Membership 6:00 p.m. Christian Education 7:00 pm Missions & Service 2 3 7:30 am Fall Workday at Camp Bethel 7:00 pm Rev. Samuel Dali at Central CoB 4 Daylight Savings Time Ends 5 5:30 pm Property 6 7 5:45 pm Dinner 6:30 pm Bible Study 7:30 pm Choir 8 9 10 8:00 am Project WARM 9:30 am Staunton Ave. Food Distribution 11:00 am Worship, Rev. Samuel Dali preaching Virlina District Conference 11 Mission Offering 6:30 p.m. Church Board Retreat 12 13 1:00 pm Caroling 7:00 pm Peace Group 14 5:45 pm Dinner 6:30 pm Bible Study 7:30 pm Choir 15 10:30 am Joyful Hearts Thanksgiving Luncheon 16 BBT Board Meeting at Oak Grove 17 18 7:00 pm Community Thanksgiving Service at Our Lady of Nazareth Catholic Church 19 20 21 No choir practice 22 Thanksgiving Day Church Office Closed 23 24 25 Prison Postage Sunday 26 27 28 5:45 pm Dinner 6:30 pm Bible Study 7:30 pm Choir 29 30 6:30 pm Disciples Class Potluck Coming Up in December... December 2 Children/Youth Christmas Program December 3 Joyful Hearts Christmas Party December 16 Choir Worship Service December 16 Christmas Caroling December 24 Christmas Eve Service