E-News from Tom: 12/17/10

Hello E-News Friends,

It has been a big week for Oak Bridge already. We gave out 2,000 toys/stockings to over 225 children representing approximately 150 families! Not to mention a few hundred cookies, crafts, and heartfelt hugs and smiles. The Christmas “StockingStuff” was a great success! For many, gratitude will replace sadness because of your efforts! We are praying many of these families will eventually attend Oak Bridge. Oftentimes God works through our compassion to others to grow their faith in His Son!

Tonight the doors open @ 6:15 (at the OBC) for the Christmas performance of “God with Us.” The actual start time is 6:45ish. There are tickets still available for tonight and tomorrow, you can get them at the door. The dress rehearsal last night was super! You (and your friends) will really enjoy it! The best $5 money can buy! Trust me!

Sunday is our “Christmas” service and it is going to be powerful! Great music, one of the best videos I have ever seen (especially if you’re into Facebook), a huge amount of cookies (a pre-thanks to all of you!), and a message (part of The Story series) that prayerfully God wants us to hear and apply.

Be an inviter! Those invites can change a person’s life forever!

In His amazing grace and love,

Tom

PS If many of you can come to the first service that would be a great help!

PPS Don’t forget I really love oatmeal cookies with raisins and kinda crispy on the bottom but still chewy in the center. Next favorite is chocolate chips with…. See you Sunday!

E-News: 12/14/10 to 12/20/10

Christmas Presentation – God With Us

Tickets are still available for God With Us performances on December 17^th and 18^th at 7:00 p.m. at the Oak Bridge Center. Ticket price is $5 and you may request to purchase one at the door by sending Kristen Pelster an E-mail at pelster@fox.k12.mo.us. Please provide your name and the number of tickets you need for each night. Kristen will take requests until tickets are sold out. Childcare will be provided next door by Sprouts. If you need child care, please also indicate the number of children you will be bringing.

KidStuf

There will be a special KidStuf family service at the Oak Bridge Center on Sunday, December 19, at 9:30am. A catered breakfast will be served at 8:30, so bring your family for breakfast followed by a fun learning experience with the KidStuf gang.

The KidStuf team will be taking off to celebrate Christmas and the New Year! No KidStuf on December 26 or January 2.

Video Added to Website

If you haven’t visited Oak Bridge’s website lately, do so today! Enhancements have been added to include video of the weekly message and video of the worship band.

Tubs of Love

If you are looking for a family to bless this Christmas, stop by the Tubs of Love table on Sunday mornings. We are collecting items for a widower and his three young children. The Church is the light of Jesus to many who need hope.

Year-End Giving/Giving Statements

In order for your offerings and year-end donations to be tax deductible in the year 2010, they must be received by December 31. If you would like a year-end giving statement, please request one by signing up at the Information Center or by e-mail: info@oakbridgecc.com

E-News: 08/17/10 to 08/23/10

Married Life Live
Married Life Live at the Oak Bridge Center is on Sunday, September 12 (Doors open at 5:30pm; Dinner at 6:00; and Program at 7:00). Married Life Live is an awesome date night for married, engaged, and dating couples. The cost is $25/couple. Register at the Information Center. Be sure to sign up and purchase your ticket, as we will sell out. Tickets must be purchased in advance.

The ACTS Event
Oak Bridge’s Prayer Ministry is hosting an ACTS Event in the Reflection Room every Sunday through September 19 from 8:00am – 12:20pm. The Acts Event is a 15- 30 minute guided prayer experience. The ACTS Event is designed for each person to participate every other Sunday. The focus will be as follows: Aug 22: Confession; Aug. 29 and Sept. 5: Thanksgiving; Sept. 12 and 19: Supplication (asking for God’s help). “It is written, my house shall be called a house of prayer.” Matthew 21:13

CONFESSION--Come linger in the place of repentance. Surrender. Ask the Lord to clothe you in the opposite of your sinful nature. (joy in the place of bitterness... humility in the place of pride... love in the place of lust) Trust in His forgiveness.

Kidstuf
Kidstuf will kickoff the season on Sunday, September 12!

S.O.S.
WHO CAN YOU INVITE to REACH OUR COMMUNITY?

S.O.S. is hosting the SUDS OF LOVE laundry detergent giveaway Thursday, September 2, at the Oak Bridge Center from 6pm-8pm. We want YOU to find someone in need who could use 4 free (32-36 load) bottles of laundry detergent and a free laundry basket. Stop by the S.O.S. table to pick up a ticket. ALL RECIPIENTS NEED A TICKET. We have 200 tickets available. To volunteer for this event join us at the Oak Bridge Center Thursday, August 26, at 6:30pm for a short volunteer orientation.

2B1 Marriage Class
2Become1 (2B1) is Oak Bridge’s marital class for those who would like to become engaged, have a wedding planned, and those who would like to strengthen their marriage. 2B1 classes will be held on Wednesday evenings starting September 15 at 7pm. For additional information speak to Jay and Clarissa Karasick (314-922-4764/314-303-3632) or send an e-mail to info@oakbridgecc.com.

E-News from Tom: 08/20/10

Hello E-News Friends,

Congratulations to all of you! Because you share your faith in our Savior with your friends and family, we have run out of room at Oak Bridge Keller. (A very good problem to have!) Because you have given of your resources and talent we have another attendance option at the 10:45 service hour beginning this Sunday at Oak Bridge Center Lindbergh. (A great option to have!) The facility is ready to go and people are being put in place to meet all the ministry needs at the OBC. I believe you are going to do and see great things done for God in your lives and many others at this location. What a privilege to be part of! You are going to love it! (Hopefully we run out of room here in the future as well!)

This Sunday we continue our series “One Visit Can Change The Way You Think About Church.” I am excited about the message and know this is a great week to invite your unchurched (or churched) friends and family. We will be looking at religion versus relationship, always an interesting topic!

Can life get much better… Golden Corral, Chick-Fil-A, and now another location for us to worship our King together!

Wow! I love our God and what He is doing at Oak Bridge!

In His grace and love,
Tom

PS Keep Herc in your prayers as he leads in the position of OBC Campus Pastor. I know he is looking for people who want to serve God there and grow in their love for Him and His treasured children. Like I said earlier, what a privilege to be part of!

E-News from Tom: 08/12/10

Hello E-News Friends,

I wanted to send this out a day early so you have more time to invite your friends and family to Oak Bridge this Sunday. We begin a a two-part series titled "One Visit Can Change The Way You Think About Church," and I believe it will be great for people who don't like church, have been bored by church, or have been burned by church (and for the rest of us as well). The music will be awesome and we have a drama that everyone will love! The jury is still out on the message...(I'm trusting God for that.)

Your invite can and has changed peoples lives towards God. Take a step with someone and invite them this Sunday. You never know, you may be the one God is using to open the door to their heart!

I hope to see you (and meet your invitee) Sunday! I'm praying for you and those waiting to be asked by you.

God is amazing and so is His offer of grace and love!

Tom

PS - I am still floating after last weekend’s services. I enjoyed re-learning "God will not compete with selfishness," and loved worshipping with over 400 teens and family at a packed-out OBC Sunday night! If heaven has worship like that...just Wow! I don't have the words. Thanks to all who put that night together!

E-News: 08/10/10 to 08/16/10

Married Life Live
Married Life Live at the Oak Bridge Center is on Sunday, September 12 (Doors open at 5:30pm; Dinner at 6:00; and Program at 7:00). Married Life Live is an awesome date night for married, engaged, and dating couples. The cost is $25/couple. Registration begins this Sunday, August 15, at the Information Center. Be sure to sign up and purchase your ticket, as we will sell out. Tickets must be purchased in advance.

The ACTS Event
Oak Bridge’s Prayer Ministry is hosting an ACTS Event in the Reflection Room every Sunday through September 19 from 8:00am – 12:20pm. The Acts Event is a 15- 30 minute guided prayer experience. The ACTS Event is designed for each person to participate every other Sunday. The focus will be as follows: Aug 15 and 22: Confession; Aug. 29 and Sept. 5: Thanksgiving; Sept. 12 and 19: Supplication (asking for God’s help). “It is written, my house shall be called a house of prayer.” Matthew 21:13
CONFESSION--Come linger in the place of repentance. Surrender. Ask the Lord to clothe you in the opposite of your sinful nature. (joy in the place of bitterness... humility in the place of pride... love in the place of lust) Trust in His forgiveness.

Kidstuf
Kidstuf will kickoff the season on Sunday, September 12!

Kidstuf is in need of a few actors. If you are able to memorize lines and be animated, the Kidstuf team is for you! Not sure? Want to give it a try? That’s great, too. We would love to have you audition with us—we need you! The production team is always looking for behind-the-scene help, too, if that better fits you. Kidstuf is Oak Bridge's Sunday morning family service that meets from 9:30-10:15 during the school year. If you're interested, please contact Christy Noblitt at 314-846-7066 or Dianne Prewitt at 636-282-2095.

Kidstuf dancers needed. Guys and girls in Jr. High and older interested in dancing in Kidstuf should attend an informational meeting on Sunday, August 15, at 10:00 am in the Kidstuf Theater.

S.O.S.
WHO CAN YOU INVITE to REACH OUR COMMUNITY?

S.O.S. is hosting the SUDS OF LOVE laundry detergent giveaway Thursday, September 2, at the Oak Bridge Center from 6pm-8pm. We want YOU to find someone in need who could use 4 free (32-36 load) bottles of laundry detergent and a free laundry basket. Stop by the S.O.S. table to pick up a ticket. ALL RECIPIENTS NEED A TICKET. We have 200 tickets available. To volunteer for this event join us at the Oak Bridge Center Thursday, August 26, at 6:30pm for a short volunteer orientation.

2B1 Marriage Class
2Become1 (2B1) is Oak Bridge’s marital class for those who would like to become engaged, have a wedding planned, and those who would like to strengthen their marriage. 2B1 classes will be held on Wednesday evenings starting September 15 at 7pm. For additional information speak to Jay and Clarissa Karasick (314-922-4764/314-303-3632) or send an e-mail to info@oakbridgecc.com.

E-News from Tom: 08/06/10

Hello E-News Friends,

I want to give you a TGIF gift. Here it is...

I hope each of you who read this e-mail take a moment to slow down and acknowledge that God is intensely aware of you right now. He is not distant. Pause for a second and think about that. He knows the desires of your heart. Breathe in the air He has created to sustain your life. Take a deeper breath of that air. Thank Him for that air. Just be still for a minute as you continue to take in slow breaths of air.

Now read 1 John 4:9-11.
"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."

Take a deep breath and read it again. Thank Him that "no matter what" He loves you. The rest of today be more loving to those around you. You can do it. Ask Him to help you. It does make a difference in your life.

In His Love,
Tom

PS Fill in the blank. God will not compete with__________. See you Sunday where we will discuss what that blank is! You won't want to miss it!