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.

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

Let us rejoice

Can you find a reason to rejoice?
Is there any reason left to rejoice?
Things didn’t go well as planned, and now you’re wondering
Will you stand?

Where can I find meaning to rejoice?
When lives are lost around me, can I still sing?
Will the melody soothe the longings of broken hearts?
Will I rejoice?
Still, will I rejoice?

The above lyrics are the first two paragraphs of the “I Will Rejoice” song I wrote in 2019. The first paragraph is about a cousin’s sudden death, and the second is words that came as I reflected on the tragic Christchurch mosque shootings. The song ended with the answer to “Will I rejoice?”

Praise God for His peace. Now I rejoice! Just thinking of whatever is true and pure. Whatever is lovely and admirable, I will think of great things… and… I will rejoice!

In this Advent season, many things could affect us, but let us choose to rejoice and be glad.

If there is one true, pure, lovely, and admirable to think about, it is the birth of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ and His promised return. Yes, let us rejoice!

CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD EVENT

Tomorrow, 11 December, we celebrate “Christmas Around the World”. Let us rejoice and be glad! Please come with your testimonies, songs to sing, food to share, and a joyful spirit of appreciating one another.

Christmas 2022 Activities

• 9 December, Friday – Singing Christmas carols at the Observatory Village
  
• 11 December, Sunday – Christmas Around the World Worship-Service; shared lunch;
  Guest Speaker – Rachel Murray;
  
• 18 December, Sunday – Carolling at the Sandringham House Rest Home
  
• 24 December, Saturday – Christmas Eve Service
  
• 25 December, Sunday – Christmas Day Worship-Service

Watch out for more details!

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. Isaiah 9:6a

Carolling at the Observatory Village

We had an excellent time singing Christmas carols at the Observatory Village yesterday. The piano being “miles” away from the front encouraged the OBC carollers to sing their hearts out. I saw some residents singing along. Jane’s “O Holy Night” solo was amazing.

The resident and staff members were grateful for us sharing the Christmas spirit through carolling. A staff member encouraged us to come again.

Discipleship through home 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.

In town, we have one home Bible study at the moment. Let us pray for more Bible study groups and leaders in the coming months.

Keep your hope and faith up this Advent and all seasons

Did you ever have a boring Christmas? I asked this question in my sermon last Sunday when we talked about the “knowledge of the son of God” and “attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” mentioned in Ephesians 4:13.

When you are stuck up with the thought of Christmas as a merry, colourful, eventful season, when and where Jesus Christ was born, you will quickly get bored because it is the same thing each year, isn’t it?

No Christmas season will ever be dull when you think of Christmas as waiting and anticipating Christ’s second coming. Who knows, Jesus Christ will come tomorrow. So, keep your hope and joy up this Advent season.

December schedules you need to remember

Christmas 2022 Activities

• 9 December, Friday – Singing Christmas carols at the Observatory Village
  
• 11 December, Sunday – Christmas Around the World Worship-Service; shared lunch;
  Guest Speaker – Rachel Murray;
  
• 18 December, Sunday – Carolling at the Sandringham House Rest Home
  
• 24 December, Saturday – Christmas Eve Service
  
• 25 December, Sunday – Christmas Day Worship-Service

Watch out for more details!

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. Isaiah 9:6a

We will sing carols to our neighbours living at the Sandringham House Rest Home on 18 December at 4:00 PM.

There will be a CAROLLING PRACTICE after the morning tea on Sunday.

Our Children’s Sunday School

Praise the Lord God Almighty for answering our prayers regarding the Children’s Sunday School revival beginning last Sunday. Please bring your children and invite others to come to Sunday School.

Let us pray for our Children’s Sunday School to grow more as the Sundays go by.

Christmas Around the World Sunday Details

We will quickly meet after the service to discuss our 11 December event. We need to determine the following:

• Presentations – Christmas songs in the native language, testimonies, poems, etc.
• Foods to share
• Dining and kitchen team
• Welcome and ushering team
• Aftercare team

Let us invite our family and friends to come and join us.

Spiritual Gifts Inventory

Last Sunday, we did a simple survey of the Spiritual gifts in our church after the worship service. Thank you very much to those who have submitted.

Below is the partial Spiritual gifts inventory map.

Others who haven’t done it are requested to do the inventory after the service using the chart or diagram I presented last Sunday as a guide.

Also, write down the gifts and talents you use to serve the Lord. For example, in the image above, “singing” and “cooking” is not mentioned in the Spiritual Gifts chart, but they are gifts or talents one can use to serve or evangelise.

Join our weekly prayer meeting

Every Wednesday at 3:00 PM at OBC, we gather to give praise and express our gratitude before the Almighty God. It is a time of petition, intercession, sharing and praying for one another.

Food collection is still going on

We still have space for more donations to our Food Collection project. We will be giving these to families in need soon. Please share. Thank you!

Group Facilitators’ Training on 17-18 February 2023

In pursuit of our mission to follow the Great Commission of Jesus Christ, we will be holding this training on 17-18 February 2023.

We aim to organise home Bible studies and use the Theological Education by Extension materials. We need to train facilitators who lead and facilitate these Bible study groups.

Please pray about joining the Group Facilitators’ Training.

He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore, ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field. Luke 10:2

When summer comes

When summer comes, we usually think of the outdoor activities we love, like gardening, barbeque, picnics, sports, etc. It gives a perfect break from the winter’s cold and spring’s wetness.

With December approaching, it will be the Christmas holidays soon.

Amidst the summer festivities we are looking forward to, let us be reminded of God’s Kingdom season. “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Mark 13:28

Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts series

Last Sunday, we started our sermon series on spiritual gifts, specifically on the primary motivational gifts presented in Romans 12:6-8.

This Sunday, Malcolm continues with our spiritual gifts series.

Our goal in this series is for everyone to be able to realise and affirm their spiritual gifts.

Let us aim at making 13 November our Spiritual Inventory Sunday. We will share our gifts and discuss how to use them on that day.

Our preaching topics are part of the T.A.O. Strategy we started in July and October.

• To be at it
• Assess objectively
• Operate smartly

I foresee us coming up with the church’s strategic plan by mid-2023.

The Lord God is steadily bringing children and youth to OBC

“They grow up fast” is a common expression I hear about children. OBC has the facilities for a vibrant ministry for our kids. Let us take the chance to teach and train them in the Godly way they should go.

We need people to compose our Children and Youth Ministry. Please let the pastor or Bevan know.

REMINDERS…

Prayer Meeting @ OBC on Wednesday, 3:00 to 4:00 PM.

In last Wednesday’s prayer meeting, we discussed the answers to our prayers for more people to join OBC.

The Lord God is encouraging previous OBC members who haven’t found a church to return. There are migrant workers in our town who have expressed their desire to join our church.

Group Leaders Training on 17-18 February 2023.

In pursuit of our mission to follow the Great Commission of Jesus Christ, we will be holding this training in February.

We aim to train leaders who will lead and facilitate Bible study groups. Please approach the pastor if you are interested.

Food collection is on-going

We are collecting food for people or families needing food relief. What a blessing to give joy and happiness to our neighbours.

Please check the expiry date of your donation. Thank you!

Be part of OBC’s life and ministry!

There are still vacant spots in our November roster. Please feel free to jot down your name.

Everyone is encouraged to participate in the life and ministry of OBC. We can guide you and be with you if you need support.

Our Christmas activities are shaping up

• 9 December, Friday – Singing Christmas carols at the Observatory Village
• 11 December, Sunday – Christmas Around the World Worship-Service; shared lunch;
  Guest Speaker – Rachel Murray;
• 24 December, Saturday – Christmas Eve Service
• 25 December, Sunday – Christmas Day Worship-Service

We will provide more details in the weeks to follow. Watch out!

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. Isaiah 9:6a