E-News from Tom: 2/25/11

Hello E-News Friends,

In food terms this weather is a bowl-of-stew day. A day you need something to warm you up on the inside. Mmmm, can’t you just imagine it? Chunks of beef, potatoes, carrots, warmed to where the steam is slowly rising from the bowl. You have some crackers to dip in (or a peanut butter sandwich for the more hearty eaters like me). Is your mouth watering like mine?

This weekend we start the new series “Hinges.” Everyone who shows up will be given some stew. It is central to the message for the first segment of our series. I promise that you will never think of stew in the same way after being here Sunday. (It’s a good thing!)

Why don’t you bring someone with you? I know God has a person you know in mind. (It is right to invite!) Your invitation can make a huge difference in someone’s life!

You can do it! Hope to see you Sunday!

In His Grace,

Tom

Just a reminder:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17 Simply amazing!

E-News: 02/22/11 to 02/28/11

Detour The Detour Service for 5th and 6th graders is this Friday, February 25, from 6-8pm (doors open at 5:45) at the Oak Bridge Center. Katie Haegele (Noblitt) will be our guest speaker this week, so make sure to invite your 5th and 6th grade friends! Dinner will be provided.

Route 68 Small Groups for Grades 7 - 11 Beginning tonight (February 22) we will be covering a three-session series called “Not That Into You.” We will meet for these three sessions on the following dates: Tuesday, 2/22; Tuesday 3/1; we will be off on the 8th of March and then finish the series on Tuesday, March 15.

Toolbox There are no Toolbox classes this week. Toolbox classes at the Oak Bridge Center for the month of March will be on the 2nd, 9th, 23rd and 30th. Toolbox starts at 7pm (doors open at 6:45). Child care is available.

BigStuf Camp Camp signups have started and will continue until we are sold out. BigStuf Camp is for students going into 7 – 12 grades. The camp is held in Panama City Beach, Florida, and is from July 27–August 2. The cost of camp (including $100 non-refundable deposit) is $500 if you sign up on or before March 20; $550 from March 21 – May 1; and $600 after May 1. The non-refundable deposit is due at time of signups. If you have questions, contact Tracy Hagan (314-846-5722), Katie Haegele (303-4267) or Clarissa Karasick (314-303-3632). Scholarships will be distributed first to those students who serve in ministries outside Sunday mornings. Childcare at OBC events is a good way to build up your scholarship funds.

E-News from Tom: 2/18/11

Hello E-News Friends,

We finish our THEP series this week. Who would have thought a made up word would have been so important to my life the past few weeks? I’ll share with you this weekend a love Thep I took. I hope that word has helped you to become more of a thinker and doer when it comes to following Jesus.

After this week we start a new series titled, “Bleezeglo”, another made up word…just kidding! Our next series it titled “Hinges.” You can try and guess what some of our teaching will be about. That begins February 27. It should be fun!

I hope you can be there Sunday. It will be another worthwhile trip to learn about and worship our Father together. God is doing amazing things at Oak Bridge! We are truly blessed.

You hold the invitation for someone you know to visit OB this weekend. It is on the tip of your tongue. Your fingertips are ready to text it or E-mail it out. God is entrusting you with it. THEP it! Life after life has been changed through an invite to Oak Bridge. You just never know how God is going to use your invite!

A blessing to be a part of the Oak Bridge family.

In His grace and love,

Tom

PS The Edge is Sunday at the OBC! Doors open @ 6:30. As always, it will be a great night for our students to worship their King! (and some of us older students as well!)

PSS Sunday is Funday!

E-News: 02/15/11 to 02/21/11

Route 68 Small Groups Parents and students in Grades 7 – 11 are encouraged to attend Route 68 this evening from 7:00 – 8:30 at the Oak Bridge Center. There will be a panel answering tough questions submitted by the students about relationships, dating, and sex. The purpose of this evening is to give Christian answers to these tough questions as well as equip you, as parents, to speak with your kids. (It is important that we give the students Christian answers; otherwise, they will get the wrong answers from others.)

Toolbox Toolbox classes will resume tomorrow, Wednesday, February 16 at 7pm (doors open at 6:45) at the Oak Bridge Center.

24-Hour Prayer Event A 24-Hour Prayer Event will be held at the Oak Bridge Center beginning 6:00 pm Friday, Feb 18th and ending at 6:00 pm Saturday, Feb. 19th. During this 24-hour period people will pray over the request cards in hourly increments. We will also be praying for the future of Oak Bridge, its people and ministries. Please consider setting aside one hour of your time to join us in prayer. There will be areas for quiet contemplation, areas for individual prayer and for group prayer. You are not limited to praying over the request cards and praying out loud is NOT required. We encourage you to come pray not only as individuals but to consider bringing your family, small group and ministry team members. You will be amazed how quickly the time passes, and we promise you will be blessed as you lift your prayers to the Maker of heaven and earth.

BigStuf Camp Camp signups have started and will continue until we are sold out. BigStuf Camp is for students going into 7 – 12 grades. The camp is held in Panama City Beach, Florida, and is from July 27–August 2. The cost of camp (including $100 non-refundable deposit) is $500 if you sign up on or before March 20; $550 from March 21 – May 1; and $600 after May 1. The non-refundable deposit is due at time of signups. If you have questions, contact Tracy Hagan (314-846-5722), Katie Haegele (303-4267) or Clarissa Karasick (314-303-3632). Scholarships will be distributed first to those students who serve in ministries outside Sunday mornings. Childcare at OBC events is a good way to build up your scholarship funds.

The Edge Sunday, February 20, from 6:30 – 9:00 pm will be the Edge Service geared toward students in Grades 7 – 12. Everyone is welcome.

Lost and Found We found prescription glasses and a ring of keys at Oak Bridge Keller. Please contact us at info@oakbridgecc.com or go to the Information Center on Sunday morning to claim your lost item(s).

E-News from Tom: 2/11/11

Hello E-News Friends,

It has been fun hearing your stories about the 5 Love Languages. (How understanding that love is felt and received differently by each of us makes such a big difference in our lives.) It goes to show that love is something that has to be thought about and worked on for it to have maximum power. We certainly need to THEP love. This week we will talk about taking steps with the love languages and applying the great command of our Savior to love others.

We will see my favorite drama this weekend as well. It is hilarious, yet right to the point. That alone is worth coming to Oak Bridge Sunday. But there are more reasons. Our music, as always, will be flat out top-notch and worth braving the cold for. The message you have to pray about, but should be tolerable. The last reason is the best one. Our Father wants to speak to your heart and wants you to feel the power of His Church as we worship His Son together in word, song, and service! There is nothing like it! Sunday is Funday!

One last thing, please invite someone this week. Take them out to lunch afterwards if you need to. I have seen invitation after invitation that has changed peoples’ lives and their eternity. You just never know how God is going to use your invite.

I hope to see you at Oak Bridge Sunday! We’ll be watching our steps (of love) a little more closely!

In His grace and with His love,

Tom