Baptist Church of Oamaru

Living in Faithful Obedience to Jesus Christ

Jonan Castillon

Mindset Lessons from Bethlehem, Christmas Day Celebrations

BAPTIST CHURCH NEWSLETTER 17 DECEMBER 2023

baptist newsletter oamaru

Mindset lessons from Bethlehem

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea,
to Bethlehem, the town of David, because he belonged
to the house and line of David. Luke 2:4

Our minds would push us to think about how small and insignificant we are. Let us reflect on Bethlehem, the birthplace of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Below are four mindset lessons we can learn from Bethlehem.

  1. God has bigger and brighter plans for us, individually and as a church.

  2. Think of what our Almighty God can do and not what you/we can’t do.

  3. The LORD looks at the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7)

  4. Humble obedience to God is the primary key. (Remember T.A.O. – Trust and Obey?)

Christmas Day Celebrations Calendar

We will hold a regular worship service on Sunday, 24 December. We will sing Christmas carols at the Sandringham House at 2:30 PM.

For more details, read more below.

baptist church oamaru christmas

OBC Christmas Events Schedules

24 December, Sunday, 10:00 AM – Regular Sunday morning worship

24 December, Sunday, 2:30 PM – Carolling at the Sandringham House

25 December, Monday, 10:00 AM – Christmas Day Service

25 December, Monday, 12:00 PM – Christmas Day Family Shared Lunch

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.” – Luke 2:14

Please note that the “Family Shared Lunch” is for those families and individuals whose kin and friends are far away and celebrating alone. Nevertheless, feel free to come and join with your visiting relatives if you want.

We are holding the “Family Shared Lunch” at OBC, weather permitting, in our backyard. 🙂

baptist church a caring church

Best Medicine, Working Bee, Life Concert, Youth, Prayers, Christmas Events

BAPTIST CHURCH NEWSLETTER 26 NOVEMBER 2023

baptist newsletter oamaru

The Best Medicine Tastes Bitterest

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
    wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Psalm 51:7

I thank the Sovereign Almighty God, our creator and healer, for His grace and mercy through all the trials that we go through, especially in sickness.

Please read the short reflection I wrote hours before being discharged from the hospital on 10 November. May it encourage and inspire all of us.

CLICK TO READ!
baptist church oamaru

Working Bee on Saturday, 25 November, 9:00 AM

Please bring your tools, equipment, and anything else to keep us buzzing. We aim to clean and beautify our surroundings while having fun and fellowship.

Thank you!

Life Concert by Neil and Joanna Johnston

Neil and Joanna were the previous pastors of Oamaru Baptist Church. After serving in Baptist pastoral ministry for 26 years, they followed God’s lead into a music ministry for churches. 

Watch their Life Concert on 25 November at 7:00 PM at Reach Church.

Weekly Reminders

  • Youth Ministry – Thursday from 7:00 to 9:00 PM
    NOTE: Please ask Tom or Bevan for more information. Thank you!

  • Prayer Meeting – Thursday from 3:00 to 4:00 PM at OBC.

Carols in the Park Oamaru Gardens on 9 December

This Christmas season, we have an exciting opportunity to bring Oamaru the message of love, joy, peace, and hope through “Carols in the Park.”

Tom Francis is the event’s Master of Ceremonies.

christmas 2023 Oamaru

baptist church oamaru christmas

OBC Christmas Events Schedules

24 December, Sunday, 10:00 AM – Regular Sunday morning worship

24 December, Sunday, 2:30 PM – Carolling at the Sandringham House

25 December (Monday) – Christmas Day Service at 10:00 AM

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.” – Luke 2:14

Supplementary Food for the Spirit

I am sharing some links to articles about our Baptist faith and life. Please take the time to read. Thank you!

A lovely photo of Oamaru’s horizon with cows in the foreground that Bevan took.

Thank you, Bevan, for sharing this photo with me last week. Perhaps you want to show the beautiful view and animals you have one fine day in Oamaru while I recuperate.

Whenever I see photos of livestock, Romans 8:36 always comes to mind: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

baptist church oamaru

Testing Season Ends, Judges 6 & 7, Reminders, Fellowship Lunch, Giving, Carols, Readings

BAPTIST CHURCH NEWSLETTER 22 OCTOBER 2023

baptist newsletter oamaru

Testing season ends

No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

Yes, the trials we go through are not unique, they are within our strength, and He gives the way out always. Testings are temporary and there for some seasons only.

Importantly, no trial lasts forever. They end.

Remember the story of our Rose near the church’s shed I shared last summer? Look how the vine has almost engulfed the plant in the 2 March 2023 photo.

sin that so easily entangles

Last Thursday, I took a photo of our Rose and see how the vine had died. I thought, “Wow, the testing season is over.”

Still, we need to do our part in taking off those dead vines to reveal the Rose’s beauty. Let us have a working bee to beautify our church grounds.

Reading for next Sunday – Judges 6 & 7

For 29 October Sunday, please read Judges 6 and 7 to be refreshed about the story of Gideon. Our speaker will be Vaugh Nicolson from Wilson Street Baptist Church.

Vaughn will preach about leadership and church planning based on Gideon’s life and leadership. Thank you!

Weekly Reminders

  • Youth Ministry – Thursday from 7:00 to 9:00 PM
    NOTE: Please ask Tom or Bevan for more information. Thank you!
  • Prayer Meeting – Thursday from 3:00 to 4:00 PM at OBC.

Fellowship Lunch on 12 November

Church, let us have a fellowship lunch on 12 November to celebrate our October and November birthday and anniversary events.

It is also a time to bond over food and through working together before, during, and after the event. Please feel free to offer your help on any tasks available on fellowship lunch time.

Giving

Thank you for your continued support for the ministries the Lord God has entrusted us with. Your generosity means a lot for the development and progress of His work.

If you want to set up an automatic payment for regular giving or make a one-off donation via Internet banking, the Oamaru Baptist Church account number is (ANZ) 06-0941-0015036-00.

May the Lord God bless you and keep you.

Carols in the Park Oamaru Gardens on 9th December

On 9th December, the Oamaru Salvation Army together with the combined churches of Oamaru, are holding the “Carols in the Park” at the Oamaru Gardens (Band Rotunda). This is an exciting opportunity to bring the message of Love, Joy, Peace, and Hope to Oamaru this Christmas.

Supplemental Readings

As the National Hui schedule looms, they are publishing “Pre-Hui Reading” for participants to read. They are also available for your reading.

Below are a couple of articles for your additional information and learning about the Baptist faith and family. CLICK on the title to read.

God Things, Abundant Life, Church Leadership, Speakers, National Hui, Giving

BAPTIST CHURCH NEWSLETTER 8 OCTOBER 2023

baptist newsletter oamaru

God things take time

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33

Four years ago, I posted, “God things take time” on Facebook with the following thoughts.

Often, we are so focused on having the “good” things in life that we want them to happen according to our will and time.

As God’s children, let us not forget that our focus must be on His things (God’s things) — “His Kingdom and His righteousness,” and all the good things will follow, as Matthew 6:33 says.

CLICK TO READ MORE

“Abundant Life” Dynamic Discipleship at 1:00 PM

baptist church oamaru

We will continue with Lesson 8 in our “Abundant Life” study session at 1:00 PM on 8 October Sunday.

Please come with your workbook (Lesson 8) filled up and be ready to participate in our learning session.

OBC is building a dynamic discipleship culture. Everyone is invited to join. Let us learn about God through His word.

Baptism candidates’ meeting after the service

We will have a short meeting right after the worship service pertaining pre-Baptism meetings and Baptistm even schedules. Anyone who haven’t been Baptised (by immersion) are invited to attend the meeting.

Focusing on “church leadership” in October

We have followed the MAP Toolkit flow chart for over a year as our preaching theme. Let us focus on church leadership in October. We have some speakers lined up for this month, too.

Our October Sunday speakers are as follows:

  • 15 October – Tom Francis
  • 22 October – Michael Esdrelon
  • 29 October – Vaughn Nicolson – Elder, Wilson Street Baptist Church

I will be preaching on “Navigating the Leadership River” on 8 October Sunday.

Full Registration Recognition at the National Hui 2023

On 3 November, the Carey Centre for Lifelong Learning, which is in charge of the Baptist leaders’ registration, will recognise my full registration as a Baptist pastor.

This will be the highlight of my attending the National Hui on 2-4 November. Thank you, Lord!

I have completed two full years of provisional registration, and prior to starting my third year, Baptist NZ is granting me my full registration status.

One of the options that I wanted to add to my ministry is to have the license to solemnise marriage. This is timely considering the prospective clients we have here in church and other places. 🙂

Giving

Thank you for your continued support for the ministries the Lord God has entrusted us with. Your generosity means a lot for the development and progress of His work.

If you want to set up an automatic payment for regular giving or make a one-off donation via Internet banking, the Oamaru Baptist Church account number is (ANZ) 06-0941-0015036-00.

May the Lord God bless you and keep you.

Supplemental Readings

Sharing these links to some articles and information you need to know. Thank you.

baptist church oamaru

Miraculous Renewal, NZDT, Fellowship Lunch, Discipleship, Oamaru Men, OSBA News, Giving

BAPTIST CHURCH NEWSLETTER 24 SEPTEMBER 2023

baptist newsletter oamaru

The Miraculous Renewal of Spring: A Biblical Reflection

You visit the earth and give it rain;
you make it rich and fertile.
God’s streams are full of water;
you provide grain for the people of the earth,
for you have prepared the earth in this way.
Psalm 65:9

As nature awakens from its winter slumber, we witness a divine transformation that manifests God’s glory and love.

In the Bible, we find numerous references that reflect on the miracles of spring and offer spiritual insights. 

Let us explore some biblical reflections on the miracle of spring.

CLICK TO READ MORE

It’s NZ Daylight Time tomorrow, 24 September 2023

Plus one hour to NZDT

Please don’t forget to change your clocks forward 1 hour to New Zealand Daylight Time (NZDT).

A handy tip is to change your clocks the night before daylight saving starts – forward 1 hour, for example, from 10:00 PM to 11:00 PM.

Internet providers will set the time on your mobile phones and computer devices. So, you only need to be at OBC at 10:00 AM NZDT. 🙂

1 October Sunday Fellowship Lunch

On 1 October 2023, let us have a fellowship lunch to celebrate all our September birthdays, anniversaries, and guests. Let’s bring some food to share.

The fellowship lunch is also an opportunity to develop teamwork and friendship before, during, and after the meals.

Please feel free to help prepare the dining venue, food preparation, dishwashing, and aftercare.

“Abundant Life” Dynamic Discipleship at 1:00 PM, 24th September Sunday

On Sunday at 1:00 PM, we will discuss Lesson 7 in our “Abundant Life” study session. Jane and Arnel will be facilitating the session.

Please come with your workbook filled up and be ready to participate in our learning and sharing session. Everyone is welcome.

We are creating a multigenerational dynamic discipleship culture in our church, where the adults and children learn together.

Oamaru Men’s Breakfast

OBC men are encouraged to join the Oamaru Men’s Breakfast on 7th October at 8:30 AM at the Oamaru Salvation Army. The poster below gives more details.

oamaru baptist men

Giving

Thank you for your continued support for the ministries the Lord God has entrusted us with. Your generosity means a lot for the development and progress of His work.

If you want to set up an automatic payment for regular giving or make a one-off donation via Internet banking, the Oamaru Baptist Church account number is (ANZ) 06-0941-0015036-00.

May the Lord God bless you and keep you.

Otago & Southland Baptist Association (OSBA) Forum and AGM

OSBA Forum and AGM – Saturday, 14 October, 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Invercargill Central Baptist Church (11 Deveron St, Invercargill) 

Speaker: Chris Chamberlain

Chris Chamberlain

Chris is the Regional Leader for the Upper South Island (Canterbury and North) and transitioning-out senior pastor of Oxford Terrace Baptist Church.

He’ll share some OTBC stories in the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquakes and the church’s community service and justice ministry.

NB: Yes, 14 October is the national election day. We encourage you to vote in advance and hang out with us! It is all very doable and has been done before. 🙂

Please RSVP to Rachel by Wed 4 October 

Church Tasks Roster

The tasks roster is an opportunity for us to participate in the function and operation of our church in the areas of worship and service.

Please feel free to jot down your names on the rostering sheet on a table in the tea area.

Don’t hesitate to ask Bevan or anyone regarding any task you are interested in and if you need further information. Thank you!

Supplemental Readings

Here are some links to articles for your additional reading, meditation, and prayers.

baptist church oamaru