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Newsletter
A Word from the Pastor
New Years Day has come and gone. What about your resolutions? Thirty plus years ago I made a resolution to start exercising, and, thanks to God, I’m still at it. When you go back to the gym after the holidays, you always see the same thing: the gym is full of people who made that same resolution I did. This past Saturday I could find only one machine that was available. However, guess what happens by the middle of March. Yep, almost all those newbies are gone with their resolutions. There’s plenty of room again.
Did you know the Bible says that we are to honor God with our bodies? Paul wrote that in 1 Corinthians 6:20. Yes, the context is a warning against sexual immorality, but in 1 Timothy 4:8 Paul also wrote that “physical training is of some value.” Since as Christians each of our bodies is “a temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor. 6:29), shouldn’t we also be careful how we guard our physical well-being? I want to challenge and encourage you to be a good steward of your physical health. When you do, you’ll live better and be better able to serve God. If you’ve made a New Year’s resolution about your physical health, ask God to help you keep it.
While Paul said that our physical health is important, he went on to say that “godliness has value for all things.” Spiritual conditioning is much more important. So what kinds of resolutions have you made about your spiritual health? If you don’t have the habit of a daily time for Bible study and prayer, let me challenge and encourage you to start this practice. Just as your physical body will deteriorate without the right kinds of food and exercise, so will your spiritual life without spiritual feeding and exercise.
Another suggestion is to join one of the Sunday night discipleship groups that begin on February 19. For adults, you’ll have three options. If you weren’t able to participate in the Experiencing God study in the Fall, you can join the groups meeting for the Spring semester. Another option is Read the Bible for Life, a course designed to help you be a better Bible student so that you can understand and apply the Scripture. A third option is The Five Love Languages of Children. It is designed for parents and leaders who work with preschoolers, children, and youth. (See more information on page 3.) Youth will be focusing on the knowledge and skills needed for being on mission with God. PraiseKids for children will include fun with music and Bible skills. Preschoolers will use TeamKid studies.
May God teach us to discipline ourselves both as God’s creation and His re-creation in Christ.
Your pastor, Ken
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The Oak Valley Worship Choir is open to middle school students and above. We have two identical weekly rehearsals: Wednesday rehearsals at 7:30 PM (our primary weekly rehearsal) with Sunday nights for those who cannot make Wednesday nights. You are welcome at either or both rehearsals.
Youth Praise Teams will resume in February. For more details, see Becky Locke or John Brooks.
PraiseKids “Lifestyle of Praise” Music & Bible Skills for 1st - 6th graders. This group gains Bible skills and hones their musical skills through singing and worship. They sing periodically throughout the school year in our Sunday morning services, and special events. Classes begin February 19 at 5:55 in the “North House”. For further information contact the church office 794-7403 .
Preschool Music & Missions for children, ages 2-5, meet Wednesday nights at 6:30 in the children’s wing. For more information contact Meredith Blount at 599-8882
MAY HIS PRAISE BE GLORIOUS …
David Williams, Minister of Music and Worship
Youth News
What a great time we had at the Disciple Now Retreat! The part I was most excited about was Sunday morning during Sunday School and the worship service, getting to hear from the students how God had worked in their lives that weekend. The main thing I heard from them was that we all need to just stop, be still, and listen to God. Students were challenged to do that the whole retreat and I pray they are putting that into practice, thus growing closer to their Lord. Thanks so much to everyone who hosted students overnight, drove for us on Saturday, provided food for us, led us in Bible study, and prayed for the retreat! All of you together, by being obedient to God, made this a fabulous weekend!
In February, we have a youth lock-in with other churches in the Nashville Baptist Association, February 3. Meet at the church at 10:00pm, then we will go to A-Game Sports Complex for laser tag, ice skating, volleyball, basketball, and a worship time with a speaker and band. Parents, please pick your child up at the youth room by 7:00am that Saturday! We old folks may not make it past then. We also have our youth Super Bowl party on February 5, at the Bates’ home. It will start at 5:00pm and be over when the game is over. We start youth discipleship class on Sunday nights beginning February 19. We will be doing witnessing training. If you are going on the Chicago youth mission trip, you must be there on Sunday nights for this. If you are not going, this is still great witnessing training for you!
As a fund-raiser for the youth mission trip and Centrifuge camp, the youth are hosting the annual church-wide Valentine Banquet, Sunday, February 12, at 6:00pm in the Fellowship Hall. We will be serving penne pasta with your choice of chicken and alfredo sauce or spaghetti sauce with meat. Please make reservations through your Sunday School class or at the Welcome Desk by February 8. Childcare is provided for children 5 and under. Another fund-raiser coming up is a yard sale at church, Saturday, March 24. We appreciate you donating items for it. Starting March 18, you may bring your items to the church North House basement. And as always, if you have any odd jobs around your house, you may hire a youth and that money will go to help pay for their summer trips. We really appreciate your financial and prayer support!
Church Wide Mission Trip
Make plans now to participate in the church-wide mission trip to Cincinnati July 28-August 4. Any church member or family with youth in grade 7 or above are welcome to join the mission team. Projects include working with a local church in the Cincinnati area, holding Backyard Bible Clubs, construction projects, and other activities. More details will follow soon. Please sign up at the Welcome Desk.
Oak Valley Baptist would like to encourage all members interested in attending future International mission trips to attend a security training. A Security Training Course for Short Term Mission Teams will be offered by the Fort Sherman Academy and the Tennessee Baptist Convention March 29. It will be held from 8:30 AM until 4:30 PM at Concord First Baptist Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. The $25 registration fee includes lunch. For more information, contact the church office or James McLemore at jamesmclemore@bellsouth.net.
How can I Become a Missionary?
You can become a missionary and you don’t even have to leave home to do it! How can that be? By supporting one of these ministries right here at Oak Valley! Check out all the ways you can contribute this month.
· Cookies for Schools delivers home baked cookies and other treats to an area school each month. This month Amy will be delivering goodies to Hillsboro Middle School. Please have items to the office by 10:00 AM, Monday, September 12. You can bring them to church the previous Sunday or to the church office by Monday morning.
· Comfort Cookie Ministry delivers fresh baked cookies to funerals held at Williamson Memorial Funeral Home. If you would like to participate by baking at home or at the church, contact Evelyn Pearson at bulgoggi@aol.com. Our baking days at church will be October 10 and 24 at 9:30 AM.
· Operation Christmas Child is collecting empty shoeboxes. Boxes can be placed in the foyer of the office house or the sanctuary. They will be wrapped and available to fill next month with small items to be sent to needy children for Christmas. For more information contact Pam Allbrooks at 395-7040.
· From Oak Valley to Soldiers Around the World is an opportunity to support soldiers sponsored by the Oak Valley Women’s Ministry. They are collecting cream suntan lotion, handiwipes, hand sanitizer, hand-held games, cards, gum, M&Ms, packaged cookies, CD’s (new and old in good condition), encouraging tracts, and handwritten notes (no last names, return addresses or information about yourself). Collection tubs will be in the church foyer through September.
· Loving Hearts Ministry provides cards, phone calls and visits to homebound members in both temporary and permanent situations. If you know of a person in need or would like to volunteer with this ministry, contact Becky O’Steen.
·Preschool - Extended Teaching Care volunteers are needed to keep babies and preschoolers during the worship service each week. This commitment is for only 1 hour every 3 months. Contact Melanie Crosslin, 595-5897.
- Room in the Inn is a ministry Oak Valley supports each winter. It offers homeless men a place to stay with a home-cooked meal, a clean bed, and sharing the gospel through fellowship. Eight men from the Nashville Rescue Mission that have been background checked by their staff are eligible to stay in the Oak Valley South House for one night each week. Sunday school classes have a rotating responsibility to organize meals, stay with the men, and provide items for their stay. Please contact your Sunday School teacher to volunteer. Contact Sharon Cates, Cliff or Sandra Rowell if you would like to volunteer with additional responsibilities related to this ministry.
Agape Knitters: Join the fun the first and third Monday of every month at 10 AM in various homes. If you would like to learn to knit or if you are experienced in knitting, crocheting, or other types of needlework, we would welcome you to come and join us in this fellowship and ministry. We have several areas of need in our community and beyond.
Wednesday Fellowship Dinner
February Menus:
2/1: Brisket
2/8: Parmesan Chicken
2/15: Hamburger Noodles
2/22: Oven Jambalaya
2/29: Breakfast
Fellowship dinners are served each Wednesday at 5:15 PM. Adults $5, kids $3, preschoolers are free with a $20 maximum per family. RSVP by signing up at the Welcome Desk or the church office, 794-7403 by Monday.
Discipleship
Our Spring semester Discipleship classes will include Experiencing God by Henry and Richard Blackaby, and Read the Bible for Life by George H. Guthrie. Both of these classes for adults will meet in the Fellowship Hall classrooms. The Five Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman will meet in the Ladies' Classroom. These classes will meet on Sunday nights at 6 PM, beginning on February 19.
At the same time, we will have classes for Youth, Children, and Preschool.
Women's Ministry
Women's Bible Study:
Meets Tuesday Mornings at 9:30 in the Fellowship Hall. Becky Locke is facilitating Beth Moore's study of the Book of James. Childcare is available.
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