Baptist Church of Oamaru

Living in Faithful Obedience to Jesus Christ

Baptist Church Newsletter

Stops and Slow Downs, TEE GLT, OBC Sings Original Music

BAPTIST CHURCH NEWSLETTER 25 FEBRUARY 2023

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Stops and Slow Downs

If you are a frequent traveller from Timaru to Oamaru or vice versa, you might have noticed the stretch of highway approaching the north end of Glenavy that has a deep rut.

The NZTA has identified it and put “Slow Down” signs for over a year. Then a month ago, the road repair started. Vehicle speed was limited to 30 Kph, and then vehicles had to queue as the passage was limited to one lane.

Driving to Oamaru last Thursday, I stopped at the road repair site as requested. The queue of passing vehicles was so long.

I didn’t mind the long wait, and it never made my patience run out because I knew they were repairing the highway for our safe driving benefits.

Later, I reflected that stops and slowdowns are needed in any life journey to make our trip better and more fruitful. They make us better travellers as well.

The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty (Proverbs 21:5).

Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray (Proverbs 10:17)

TEE Group Leaders’ Training – 31 March to 1 April

The Group Leaders’ Training Poster is out!

The event will be held on 31 March (7:00-9:00 PM) to 1 April (10:00 AM to 5:00 PM).

A registration fee of $50.00 per participant covers materials (Student Workbook, Group Leader’s Manual), snacks, and lunch.

Please pray about joining the training to learn about facilitating a group for Bible study and other purposes.

I have shared this poster with the Oamaru Ministers group.

Let us pray for participants.

OBC Sings Original Music

“Saviour, Redeemer” by Tom Francis is one of our praise and worship lineup songs. Jewel introduced “Let Us Sing Praises” a couple of Sundays ago.

We hope and pray for more original songs to sing at OBC.

Weekly Reminders

  • Prayer Meeting – Thursday from 3:00 to 4:00 PM
  • Music Jam – Thursday from 4:00 to 5:00 PM
We are training our next-generation musicians on Thursday afternoon after the prayer meeting.
Not in the picture are Jesse and Jarred. Arnel took the photo.
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Season of Singing, Summer BBQ, Ministry Outlook 2023

BAPTIST CHURCH NEWSLETTER 4 FEBRUARY 2023

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The season of singing has come

 “Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land.” Song of Songs 2:12 

We thank the Lord God for giving us fantastic summer weather. We pray that our brothers and sisters in Auckland and North Island regions are recovering from the flooding onslaught they experienced last week.

The challenges we face each new year, each new day, or even in our waking moments aren’t enough to dampen our faith in God’s positivity and possibilities in all seasons.

Song of Songs 2:12 (and the surrounding verses) reminds us that the past cold season is over, and the earth is alive with blooms and singing of God’s creation. The season of singing has come!

Song of Songs 2:12 came to mind when I saw the rose bloom in our parking lot one day. Before I took the photo, I had to remove the viny white flowering plant (Great Bindweed?) that was covering and almost choking the rose buds.

The “season of singing” is understood as a “time for pruning” (ancient text version). We all know that our Great Almighty Gardener prunes us so that we will bear much ore fruit (John 15:1-2). Let us get into the season of singing for God’s glory and honour. Amen.

Summer BBQ after the worship-service

After the 5th February worship-service, please stay and join us for the barbeque. Let us take the time to enjoy food and fellowship.

summer bbq

Ministry Outlook 2023

As a result of our consultative meeting last Sunday, I sent out via email the OBC Ministry Outlook 2023. Please let me know if you want a printed copy or you can share with me your email address.

Let us pray for wisdom, guidance, and strength as we implement in 2023.

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Happy New Year of Our Lord Jesus Christ 2023!

BAPTIST CHURCH NEWSLETTER 31 DECEMBER 2022

Cheers to a New Year of Our Lord

Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. 
Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. 
Declare his glory among the nations, his marvellous deeds among all peoples.
For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise . . . . Psalm 96:1-4

Thank you, Lord, for giving us another new year, 2023.

Welcome to OBC on 1 January 2023

Let us start the first day of 2023 with a 
worship service at 10:00 AM.

We will hold a regular worship service on 1 January 2023.

Thank you all for your service, support, and cooperation in the work of the Lord at OBC in 2022. To God be the glory!

Additional information is included in the email I sent you pertaining to our outlook for 2023.

I am praying for a prosperous New Year for all!

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Christmas Greetings, Season’s Events, New Year’s Sunday

BAPTIST CHURCH NEWSLETTER 23 DECEMBER 2022

Do not be afraid

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:10-12)

The Christmas message remains unchanged through centuries and millenniums. God is with us before and on that first noel, today, and always.

Thus, let us not be afraid. Jesus Christ has met our hopes and fears.

May we persevere despite the challenges and afflictions our world is facing. Let us live in courage and confidence, for the Messiah, the Lord, has come.

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New Year’s Day is a Sunday

What an excellent opportunity to start the first day of 2023 with a worship service at 10:00 AM.

Oamaru Baptist Church will hold the regular worship service on 1st January 2023.

SEE YOU AT 14 SANDRINGHAM STREET, OAMARU

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Christmas’ Shining Light, Schedules, Working Bee, New Year 2023

BAPTIST CHURCH NEWSLETTER 17 DECEMBER 2022

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The bright shining light of Christmas

Amidst the myriads of dazzling lights, Christmas trees, lively music, and glittering adornments to mark the festivities of Christmas is the sad reality that many people neglect the most important person of the season. What makes Christmas merry?

Gail’s Christmas decorations she put up a week ago at the church remind us all that Jesus is the reason for the Christmas season. He is our amazing grace, who has brought peace, love, joy, and hope to humanity.

No amount of beautiful lights could match Jesus Christ, the one true light who illuminates the whole world from the darkness of sin. Jesus said, “I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness” (John 12:46).

Let Jesus Christ be the one true light shining in our lives, now and forever!

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CHRISTMAS 2022 SCHEDULES

18 December at 4:00 PM – Carolling at Sandringham House

24 December at 6:30 PM – Christmas Eve Service. Please bring supper to share

25 December at 10:00 AM – Christmas Sunday Worship

But when the time had fully come,
God sent His Son, born of a woman,
born under the law, 
to redeem those under the law,
that we might receive our adoption as sons.
Galatians 4:4-5

Prayer Meeting, Preparation, and Working Bee

In preparing our church building for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Worship Services, we will clean after our Wednesday prayer meeting at 3:00 PM.

Those who cannot make it on Wednesday, please come for a Working Bee time on Saturday, 24 December.

Indeed, friends and family members will come to town for Christmas and join Oamaru Baptist Church’s worship services.

New Year’s Day is a Sunday

What an excellent opportunity to start the first day of 2023 with a worship service at 10:00 AM.

Oamaru Baptist Church will hold the regular worship service on 1st January 2023.

Discipleship through home Bible studies

baptist church bible study

We have identified a home Bible study area in the Totara-Teschemakers-Kakanui area. Home Bible studies are one of the ways we can make disciples for Christ. The Lord God is growing His church.

Let us pray for more Bible study groups to be organised- as we look forward to training group leaders in 2023.

OBC’s Direction – Where are we and what’s next?

As I mentioned last Sunday during my message, we have stopped at the “Spiritual Gifts Inventory” to focus on the Advent and Christmas seasons.

We will resume in February 2023. The diagram below indicates that we will focus on “Faith-Wisdom Discovery” next.

Please refresh yourselves with the sermon series related to the diagram above by clicking the button below.

SERMONS
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