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Kids Happenings January 2018

Hello church family,

I’m writing this newsletter in mid December because of the holidays fast approaching and the busyness will soon get the best of me. So please bare with me for not being in the New Year spirit but more in the Christmas spirit…
I love this time of the year when we get to come together with our family and friends and break bread together, along with sharing past memories, present happenings, and future endeavors. If you know me, you will know that I’m not a fan of the cold weather but, thankfully there is so much more beauty with lit Christmas trees and twinkling lights throughout the neighborhoods that make for a beautiful season.  The children are on their best behavior (most of the time) because they know that could mean more gifts under the tree for them.  But, most of all, the songs of rejoicing on the radio, in the stores, and even some restaurants bring a smile to my face.  The business owners may think they are just playing “Christmas music” but in reality they are proclaiming the birth of our Lord with the majority of the classic Christmas carols. That’s the best part! Praising our Lord for sending His son.  A gift so precious to all who will receive Him.  A genuine reason for the season. Joy to the World the Lord has come, Let earth receive their King.

Fast forward a couple weeks into the New Year and we are left in a place of wanting to do better with our health, our attitudes, our time spent with loved ones, our bible studies, and the list goes on and on.  Is it because it’s a new year to start fresh or is because we have been reminded once again that we have a Savior that made the ultimate sacrifice for us and we are obligated to live a life that is worthy of His praise?  I pray it is the latter of the two but all too often it is the not.  This new year you have a chance to make a difference in your life for the good of the kingdom and not for the good of... just you.  When you think back to the Christmas season I described, think about the reason you are so blessed and the reason we all were able to celebrate that Christmas season.  It’s because “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son so that whoever believed in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” You have already been given a gift of eternal life with Christ in you now, and you with Him into eternity.

I want to encourage you to make a change for the better because He has already made a better way for you!  Your “better”, should be to “imitate God, in everything you do, because you are His dear child.”

Thank you for allowing me to love on your kiddos.

God Bless,
April

Pastor's Points January 2018

Dear Church Family,

 It is very hard to believe that another year has passed and we are at the beginning of a new year.  This past year has had it shares of ups and downs, but through it all, God proved Himself to be more than faithful!!  He always does! That is just who He is.  As we rest on the sure fact of God’s faithfulness, I am so excited for what God has in store for us in 2018. 

God has laid an emphasis and direction on my heart for our church family.  This coming year we are going to emphasize, and encourage our church family to invest the Bible in their lives like never before.  The more secular our culture becomes, the more urgent it is for us to know, love, and live the Bible.  In fact, that is exactly the phrase that Pastor Nick came to when thinking about this Bible emphasis and I fully agree with it.  We want followers of Jesus to know, love, and live the Bible!!  And we are going to help encourage this to happen in 2018 in two main ways.

First, we are encouraging everyone to pick up the Bible Reading Plan at church and commit to read the Bible in a year.  What a great goal to have for 2018!  Using this plan, you will read the whole Bible in a year.  If this sounds overwhelming to you because maybe you are a new believer, or not a strong reader, you can read the New Testament portions daily and read through the New Testament in a year.

Second, we are providing a general overview of all 66 books of the Bible in 2018 through our Growth Initiatives.  We will get together for three hours on five Saturdays in 2018 to grow in our  understanding of the structure, themes, and truths of God’s Word.  Think of the huge spiritual impact that could be made in your life personally and in the corporate life of our church family if we commit to regularly reading the Bible, and attending these Growth Initiatives to better understand the Bible?

Finally I want to encourage you in 2018 to see Oakhill not as “a” church that you attend, but rather as a family where you belong.  Ask God to help you grow in your love and commitment to your church family.  We desperately need Jesus in our lives, but He has made us to be in relationship with one another as well.  I pray we can BEHOLD God together as we worship weekly.  I pray that we can truly feel like we BELONG as we commit to be a part of one of our Life Groups. I pray that we will BECOME more like Jesus together as we spend time with a small group of our church family to help us grow and be accountable.  And finally, I pray we will go BEYOND together as we look to serve Jesus inside and outside the walls of our church building!

We have a great year ahead of us!  Ask God to use you like never before for His glory!!

I love you and I love being your pastor,
Pastor Alan