Month: February 2016

MESSAGE. Whenever we’re faced with a choice—whether major or minor—we should always ask ourselves: What
is the wisest thing to do? God wants us to seek
His wisdom and live the best possible life without suffering the consequences of foolish choices. What does it mean to live wisely? I invite you to find the answer tomorrow morning as I continue my sermon series on the book of Ephesians. Please read chapter five.

CHURCH LIFE. YOUNG ADULTS. Some of our Young Adult Sabbath School class members met at River City Pottery to paint ceramics and fellowship together. Michelle Garrett shared this photo with me.
 YOUTH. The kids had a great time passing out 5$ gift cards to 30 unexpected local cafe customers. All the people responded with surprise and unbelief at this random act of kindness. Some expressed their joy with hugs. One lady stated that she was feeling down and we made her day. Another person said they’ve been looking for a church and took our information gladly. Along with the gift card each customer received a card with contact info for our pastoral staff. What a wonderful way to create awareness in our community of the caring Ooltewah SDA church family.

PATHFINDERS. The Pathfinder club is heading to Cohutta Springs this afternoon to be part of the Pathfinders’ Prayer Conference. Let us pray that this Conference will be an enriching experience for your young people. Pastor Aubrey was planning on being there through the whole weekend, but unfortunately she got sick with strep throat. She is now at home with a fever of 101. Please remember Aubrey in your prayers.

EVANGELISM. Our “Church Events” card has been printed and next week will be mailed to most of the Collegedale and Ooltewah area residents. Thank you, Lucas, for designing and ordering the card.

In addition to our local outreach let’s also remember our international evangelism ministry. We are exactly twenty days away from the opening night of the meetings in Omsk. You can read more about the meetings here: www.lohtv.com.  I am praying for $3,333 that we need towards Bibles for the visitors. If you are willing to help you can mark your donation as Light of Hope on the tithe envelope.

One thing I am sure of is that our feet will stay warm in Siberia through every day of the meetings. A sweet family from our church donated all these awesome, warm, wool socks 🐑! How amazingly blessed we are to be a part of this awesome church family. You are so gracious. 🙏🏻

FELLOWSHIP MEAL. Tomorrow is our full church Fellowship Meal Sabbath. Please remember to bring your favorite dish. We will also need potluck volunteers, especially for cleanup. 🙂 Thank you!

MESSAGE: Without Christ we are divided. In Christ we find unity. The blessed hope of His coming Kingdom brings us all together for we are all loved with the same love, chosen in the same head, and secured in the same covenant. We are bought with the same price of Christ’s blood, and are justified by the same righteousness. We are all equally the sons and daughters of God, and so heirs of the same heavenly inheritance. The hope of the future life in the Kingdom of God with all the saved ones should motivate us to accept and to love one another here on earth. We are to be one here if we expect to be with Christ there.

My message tomorrow morning will be based on Ephesians chapter 4. I hope you’ll find time to read the whole chapter. My empasis will be on verses 15 and 16: “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”

ADVENTURER CLUB. Here are a few photos from last week’s worship service. Adventurers did a great job leading at the second service. Thank you, Becky Denton and your wonderful team of the club leaders! With dozens of kids taking the whole front section of the sanctuary we all could see that this church has a great future.

  

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PATHFINDERS. Message from Cory: “Wow, the last 20 hours have been such a God thing that I am moved to tears. The Ooltewah Pathfinders have had this split boys/girls lock-in planned since the beginning of the year. We realized last year that the single meeting we normally dedicated to talking about what it means to be a man or a woman of God just was not enough time, so this year it grew to an entire event. The depth of emotion and conversation that our girls expressed to each other was staggering to me. Us guys spent quality time doing our manly cooking around the fire, games in the gym, and discussing what being a man of God is all about, but it was the ladies who took it to a whole other level. They had an evening of quality time and bonding they will not soon forget.

As if all that was not enough, we tried something new during this lock in and turned two of our classrooms into ESCAPE ROOMS. If you don’t know what that is, it is a new idea that is catching on all around the country where a small group is locked into a room and must find their way back out in a certain time period. Ours was based on an end time scenario where each of our groups had to solve puzzles and find clues to unlock hidden survival gear needed to flee to the wilderness. The clues were challenging and the escape room was an absolute hit. What a rewarding weekend.”

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 CHURCH. This was a rough week for the office staff. Faulty sensors in smoke detectors, problems with air and heating, a stubborn copy machine refusing to cooperate when most needed, etc., etc. Our Head Elder, Steven Bremner, had to put several hats on his capable head to deal with all of these challenges. As of Friday afternoon all of these issues were addressed and problems fixed. Thank you, Steve, for your commitment to the work of this church and your love to this congregation. We are praying for you and your family.

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PRAYERS. Celeste Crosby is back home. Thank you for your hospital visits and prayers. Mary Wagoner-Angelin spent a few nights in the hospital room with Celeste. God bless you, Mary!

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 LIGHT OF HOPE MISSION. Here is a link to the update on our March international outreach: LIGHT OF HOPE IN OMSK. Your prayers are needed. We are just four weeks away from the opening night on March 11. If God inspires you to support this outreach financially you can mark the tithe envelope “Light of Hope.” The new location presents new challenges and new opportunities. Your help is needed. Click here to learn more about the ministry. How exciting it is that we can lead people to Jesus not only in Ooltewah/Collegedale area, but also 6,085 miles away.

Happy Sabbath! See you tomorrow morning.

Peter

MESSAGE: It doesn’t matter how strong the adversary appears or how many there may be, our God is so much more. There is nothing and nobody who can defeat us when our trust is in Him. He is truly all-powerful and our strength lies in our dependence in Him.

My message tomorrow morning is based on Ephesians chapter 3:14-19, “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (‭Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭14-19‬ NKJV)

“Put away your distrust of our heavenly Father. Instead of talking of your doubts, break away from them in the strength of Jesus, and let light shine into your soul by letting your voice express confidence and trust in God. I know that the Lord is very nigh to give you victory, and I say to you, be helped, be strengthened, be lifted out of and away from the dark dungeon of unbelief. Doubts will rush into your mind, because Satan is trying to hold you in captivity to his cruel power; but face him in the strength that Jesus is willing to give you, and conquer the inclination to express unbelief in your Saviour.” (Ellen G. White’s Last Recorded Letter, St. Helena, California, June 14, 1914)

MINISTRY. Tomorrow is the Adventurer Club Sabbath. Many of our precious children will be helping during the second worship service. You will hear them read the Scripture, sing songs, and pray. Becky Denton, the club leader, will share their annual report in pictures. I am looking forward to a very blessed Sabbath morning.

Below are a few photos of the baptism from last Sabbath. Congratulations Naomi!

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Pastor Aubrey is reporting about a great Sabbath afternoon last week. Our youth visited the Morning Point Assisted Living center where they encouraged residents with the Words of hope and music. Later that night they had a great time together at SuperFly.

Thank you, Aubrey, Lewis and Sarah, for your ministry to our church youth.

   
    
    
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PRAYERS. Please pray for Celeste Crosby. She’s been in Erlanger (downtown) hospital for a couple of weeks.

OUTREACH. We are just a few weeks away from a major health focused event planned for the community as well as our own church members. Here is the flyer:

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CHURCH WEBSITE. There are several helpful links on our church webiste at http://www.ooltewahchurch.org .

You can always access the weekly church bulletin.
To watch the church worship services live on your computers, tablets or phones. Click here.
You can make electronic tithe and offerings contributions. To use this service click on the ONLINE GIVING tab in the main menu of the church site www.ooltewahchurch.org

GIVING. Here is a link to a message from our Finance Committee chairman, Steven Bremner. Thank you, Steven, for your faithful and wholehearted service to our congregation. Click here to access the letter.

See you tomorrow morning.

Peter