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PURIM – Studying The Book Of Esther – Day 2

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Esther 3

Haman’s Plot to Destroy the Jews1 After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles. 2 All the royal officials at the king’s gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor. 3 Then the royal officials at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why do you disobey the king’s command?” 4 Day after day they spoke to him but he refused to comply. Therefore they told Haman about it to see whether Mordecai’s behavior would be tolerated, for he had told them he was a Jew. 5 When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged. 6 Yet having learned who Mordecai’s people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes. 7 In the twelfth year of King Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan, the pur (that is, the lot) was cast in the presence of Haman to select a day and month. And the lot fell on[a] the twelfth month, the month of Adar. 8 Then Haman said to King Xerxes, “There is a certain people dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom who keep themselves separate. Their customs are different from those of all other people, and they do not obey the king’s laws; it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them. 9 If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will give ten thousand talents[b] of silver to the king’s administrators for the royal treasury.” 10 So the king took his signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. 11 “Keep the money,” the king said to Haman, “and do with the people as you please.” 12 Then on the thirteenth day of the first month the royal secretaries were summoned. They wrote out in the script of each province and in the language of each people all Haman’s orders to the king’s satraps, the governors of the various provinces and the nobles of the various peoples. These were written in the name of King Xerxes himself and sealed with his own ring. 13 Dispatches were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces with the order to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and children—on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods. 14 A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to the people of every nationality so they would be ready for that day. 15 The couriers went out, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was bewildered.

Esther 4
Mordecai Persuades Esther to Help

1 When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. 2 But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it. 3 In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
4 When Esther’s eunuchs and female attendants came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress. She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. 5 Then Esther summoned Hathak, one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why.

6 So Hathak went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate. 7 Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. 8 He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to instruct her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.

9 Hathak went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said. 10 Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, 11 “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.”

12 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”

17 So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.

PURIM – Studying The Book Of Esther – Day 3

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PURIM – Studying The Book Of Esther

Day 3

Esther 5
Esther’s Request to the King

1 On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. 2 When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.
3 Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.”

4 “If it pleases the king,” replied Esther, “let the king, together with Haman, come today to a banquet I have prepared for him.”

5 “Bring Haman at once,” the king said, “so that we may do what Esther asks.”

So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared. 6 As they were drinking wine, the king again asked Esther, “Now what is your petition? It will be given you. And what is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.”

7 Esther replied, “My petition and my request is this: 8 If the king regards me with favor and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king’s question.”

Haman’s Rage Against Mordecai
9 Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and observed that he neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, he was filled with rage against Mordecai. 10 Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home.
Calling together his friends and Zeresh, his wife, 11 Haman boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and officials. 12 “And that’s not all,” Haman added. “I’m the only person Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the banquet she gave. And she has invited me along with the king tomorrow. 13 But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate.”

14 His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Have a pole set up, reaching to a height of fifty cubits,[a] and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai impaled on it. Then go with the king to the banquet and enjoy yourself.” This suggestion delighted Haman, and he had the pole set up.

Esther 6


Mordecai Honored
1 That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him. 2 It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.
3 “What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?” the king asked.

“Nothing has been done for him,” his attendants answered.

4 The king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to speak to the king about impaling Mordecai on the pole he had set up for him.

5 His attendants answered, “Haman is standing in the court.”

“Bring him in,” the king ordered.

6 When Haman entered, the king asked him, “What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?”

Now Haman thought to himself, “Who is there that the king would rather honor than me?” 7 So he answered the king, “For the man the king delights to honor, 8 have them bring a royal robe the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head. 9 Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honor, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, ‘This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!’”

10 “Go at once,” the king commanded Haman. “Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Do not neglect anything you have recommended.”

11 So Haman got the robe and the horse. He robed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city streets, proclaiming before him, “This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!”

12 Afterward Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman rushed home, with his head covered in grief, 13 and told Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him.

His advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, “Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him—you will surely come to ruin!” 14 While they were still talking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived and hurried Haman away to the banquet Esther had prepared.

PURIM – Studying The Book Of Esther – Day 4

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Esther 7

Haman Impaled
1 So the king and Haman went to Queen Esther’s banquet, 2 and as they were drinking wine on the second day, the king again asked, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.”
3 Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare my people—this is my request. 4 For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed and annihilated. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king.[a]”

5 King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, “Who is he? Where is he—the man who has dared to do such a thing?”

6 Esther said, “An adversary and enemy! This vile Haman!”

Then Haman was terrified before the king and queen. 7 The king got up in a rage, left his wine and went out into the palace garden. But Haman, realizing that the king had already decided his fate, stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life.

8 Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining.

The king exclaimed, “Will he even molest the queen while she is with me in the house?”

As soon as the word left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. 9 Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, “A pole reaching to a height of fifty cubits[b] stands by Haman’s house. He had it set up for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king.”

The king said, “Impale him on it!” 10 So they impaled Haman on the pole he had set up for Mordecai. Then the king’s fury subsided.

Esther 8


The King’s Edict in Behalf of the Jews
1 That same day King Xerxes gave Queen Esther the estate of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came into the presence of the king, for Esther had told how he was related to her. 2 The king took off his signet ring, which he had reclaimed from Haman, and presented it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed him over Haman’s estate.
3 Esther again pleaded with the king, falling at his feet and weeping. She begged him to put an end to the evil plan of Haman the Agagite, which he had devised against the Jews. 4 Then the king extended the gold scepter to Esther and she arose and stood before him.

5 “If it pleases the king,” she said, “and if he regards me with favor and thinks it the right thing to do, and if he is pleased with me, let an order be written overruling the dispatches that Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, devised and wrote to destroy the Jews in all the king’s provinces. 6 For how can I bear to see disaster fall on my people? How can I bear to see the destruction of my family?”

7 King Xerxes replied to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Because Haman attacked the Jews, I have given his estate to Esther, and they have impaled him on the pole he set up. 8 Now write another decree in the king’s name in behalf of the Jews as seems best to you, and seal it with the king’s signet ring—for no document written in the king’s name and sealed with his ring can be revoked.”

9 At once the royal secretaries were summoned—on the twenty-third day of the third month, the month of Sivan. They wrote out all Mordecai’s orders to the Jews, and to the satraps, governors and nobles of the 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush.[a] These orders were written in the script of each province and the language of each people and also to the Jews in their own script and language. 10 Mordecai wrote in the name of King Xerxes, sealed the dispatches with the king’s signet ring, and sent them by mounted couriers, who rode fast horses especially bred for the king.

11 The king’s edict granted the Jews in every city the right to assemble and protect themselves; to destroy, kill and annihilate the armed men of any nationality or province who might attack them and their women and children,[b] and to plunder the property of their enemies. 12 The day appointed for the Jews to do this in all the provinces of King Xerxes was the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar. 13 A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to the people of every nationality so that the Jews would be ready on that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.

14 The couriers, riding the royal horses, went out, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa.

The Triumph of the Jews
15 When Mordecai left the king’s presence, he was wearing royal garments of blue and white, a large crown of gold and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa held a joyous celebration. 16 For the Jews it was a time of happiness and joy, gladness and honor. 17 In every province and in every city to which the edict of the king came, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them.

PURIM – Studying The Book Of Esther – Day 5

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Esther 9

1 On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, the edict commanded by the king was to be carried out. On this day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but now the tables were turned and the Jews got the upper hand over those who hated them. 2 The Jews assembled in their cities in all the provinces of King Xerxes to attack those determined to destroy them. No one could stand against them, because the people of all the other nationalities were afraid of them. 3 And all the nobles of the provinces, the satraps, the governors and the king’s administrators helped the Jews, because fear of Mordecai had seized them. 4 Mordecai was prominent in the palace; his reputation spread throughout the provinces, and he became more and more powerful. 5 The Jews struck down all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them, and they did what they pleased to those who hated them. 6 In the citadel of Susa, the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men. 7 They also killed Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, 8 Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, 9 Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai and Vaizatha, 10 the ten sons of Haman son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews. But they did not lay their hands on the plunder. 11 The number of those killed in the citadel of Susa was reported to the king that same day. 12 The king said to Queen Esther, “The Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men and the ten sons of Haman in the citadel of Susa. What have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces? Now what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? It will also be granted.” 13 “If it pleases the king,” Esther answered, “give the Jews in Susa permission to carry out this day’s edict tomorrow also, and let Haman’s ten sons be impaled on poles.” 14 So the king commanded that this be done. An edict was issued in Susa, and they impaled the ten sons of Haman. 15 The Jews in Susa came together on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar, and they put to death in Susa three hundred men, but they did not lay their hands on the plunder. 16 Meanwhile, the remainder of the Jews who were in the king’s provinces also assembled to protect themselves and get relief from their enemies. They killed seventy-five thousand of them but did not lay their hands on the plunder. 17 This happened on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the fourteenth they rested and made it a day of feasting and joy. 18 The Jews in Susa, however, had assembled on the thirteenth and fourteenth, and then on the fifteenth they rested and made it a day of feasting and joy. 19 That is why rural Jews—those living in villages—observe the fourteenth of the month of Adar as a day of joy and feasting, a day for giving presents to each other. 20 Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews throughout the provinces of King Xerxes, near and far, 21 to have them celebrate annually the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar 22 as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration. He wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor. 23 So the Jews agreed to continue the celebration they had begun, doing what Mordecai had written to them. 24 For Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them and had cast the pur (that is, the lot) for their ruin and destruction. 25 But when the plot came to the king’s attention,[a] he issued written orders that the evil scheme Haman had devised against the Jews should come back onto his own head, and that he and his sons should be impaled on poles. 26 (Therefore these days were called Purim, from the word pur.) Because of everything written in this letter and because of what they had seen and what had happened to them, 27 the Jews took it on themselves to establish the custom that they and their descendants and all who join them should without fail observe these two days every year, in the way prescribed and at the time appointed. 28 These days should be remembered and observed in every generation by every family, and in every province and in every city. And these days of Purim should never fail to be celebrated by the Jews—nor should the memory of these days die out among their descendants. 29 So Queen Esther, daughter of Abihail, along with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full authority to confirm this second letter concerning Purim. 30 And Mordecai sent letters to all the Jews in the 127 provinces of Xerxes’ kingdom—words of goodwill and assurance— 31 to establish these days of Purim at their designated times, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had decreed for them, and as they had established for themselves and their descendants in regard to their times of fasting and lamentation. 32 Esther’s decree confirmed these regulations about Purim, and it was written down in the records.

Esther 10
The Greatness of Mordecai
1 King Xerxes imposed tribute throughout the empire, to its distant shores. 2 And all his acts of power and might, together with a full account of the greatness of Mordecai, whom the king had promoted, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Media and Persia? 3 Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews.

Pastors letter 2013

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Pastors Letter 2013

Greetings, in the precious and wonderful name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

There are few important things that I would like to communicate to you for prayer, consideration and action.

Christmas food and Toys
Again this year we are going to be doing a food and distribution project in our community. You can help in a number of ways.
1. Donate finance to Christmas project in order to buy food and toys. Please place all donations in an envelope and mark as Christmas Project.
2. Help pack food and toys. We will start to pack up food w/c 9th Please see me if you can help with this.
3. Help wrap toys w/c 16thof December. Bernie Stewart and Cathy Cartwight will be organising this so please speak to them.
4. Buy food and new toys, wrapping paper, cellotape, batteries. These need to be at OCC by the 12th of December.
5. Help deliver toys and Food on 18th and 19th December.

Oasis Minibus
We will have our 9 seater minibus with Wheelchair access in January. We have about £3500 towards the cost of £6,000, If you wish to donate please put donation in an envelope marked MINIBUS.
We will need drivers aged over 28 with a driving licence with no more than 6 points. If you can volunteer as a driver then please let me know.
Foodbank Co-ordinator
We are looking for a volunteer to co-ordinate the Redditch Foodbank.
It will take about 12-15 hours a week and you will need to be a practical, compassionate, hands on person that is able to manage, recruit and motivate a number of volunteers and to report back to the AOK trustees.
You will need your own transport and have a current driving licence.
If you would like to know more about this crucial role then please speak to me before the end of November.

Christmas Services

  • Sunday 15th December 6:00pm. Carol Service at Birchensale School. Please invite family and friends. A special collection for Hope and Kindness will be taken.
  • Sunday 22nd December Morning Service 10:30am at OCC.
  • Tue 24th December 11:00pm at OCC.
  • Wed 25th December 10:30am at OCC
  • Sunday 29th December Morning Service 10:30am at OCC.

Eldership Election
Jerry has faithfully served OCC for the last three years as an elder and
I am pleased to announce that he will be re-standing for Eldership in January 2014 for a further three year period.

The process for electing are:

Elders are nominated by the Pastor and Church leadership team. OCC are then given notice at least 28 days prior to the election date. Should there be any objections these should be made in writing to myself, marked for the personal attention of Pastor Robin Baker.

A special meeting will be called and all members that are present for that meeting may vote. This is done by secret ballot and the person standing will need to obtain 60% or more of those people present and eligible to vote. An Elder is appointed for a period of three years.

The vote will take place on January the 12th 2014 in the morning service. If you are a church member then please try to attend that service.

Missions Giving
This year we have continued to support Hope and Kindness in Kenya and given £3000 from our general funds. In the carol service we will be taking a special offering for them. I have brought back with me some jewellery that some of the Kenyan widows have made. These will be available from Hazel Withey at then end of each Sunday morning
Service.

We are supporting Elim Missions via our mission globes, which are collected on the first Sunday of the month, If you need a globe please ask John Hill or me for one. It would be great if every household had one.

Elim National Day of Prayer
The Elim movement celebrates it’s 99 anniversary on January 7th 2014. On this day we are asking all the church to come together to pray. The church will be available in the day for prayer and we will be having a
special prayer meeting at 7:30pm at OCC. There will also be a time of worship.
Sunday Mornings
I would like to take the opportunity to personally thank everyone who works so hard on a Sunday to make the services run so well.

While we continue to use Birchensale School I do need to ask EVERYONE to consider how they can help. At the end of each service whilst we have refreshments can I please ask that you do not congregate by the double doors as we need to move equipment through them safely. We need to vacate the building and car park by 1:20pm please.

Bring and Share
Every second Sunday of the month we will be having a bring and share at OCC at 1:30pm. Please take the time to come along and get to know the OCC family better.

Finally…
From January 2014 we will be meeting together at OCC every Wednesday now for Bible Study, Prayer and Fellowship and so evening house groups will be suspended for a season. We would like every church member to consider attending please as this is a pivotal time in the History of OCC.

Every Blessing
Pastor Robin

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Pastors letter 2011

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Pastors Letter 2011

Dear Church

Just to confirm that Esther and I will be away from 4th to 24th September. We will be taking a holiday aboard as a belated celebration of our 25th Wedding Anniversary.
During this time I have arranged for Rev Bob McDonald to be with us from 4th to 19th September. Bob will be available for pastoral appointments Monday to Friday. Should you need to make an appointment with him please ring 07530964503 or email admin@oasisredditch.church Alternatively you can contact our church elders; John Hill 07984525171, Jerry Judson 07923492770 or Diane Tolson ditolson@yahoo.co.uk

If I could remind you of the following:

Prayer Meeting
There will be a prayer meeting on Mon 5th Sept, 7:30pm at OCC, please make every effort to attend this. We will be focusing on praying for those that need a healing touch from God, including Sharon Curtis and June Waldron. We will also be continuing to pray for Terry and Judy and Hope and Kindness, the state of our nation, and unity and breakthrough for the church. It would also be good to pray for Bob and the work that he does in Romania.

Normal prayer requests should go to prayer@oasisredditch.church

Back to Church Sunday
On Sunday 25th Sept there is a national Back to Church Sunday campaign, where we have the opportunity to invite people to our church service. Please take time to pray for who you can invite and for divine appointments where you can invite people to this service. I will be talking about what it means to be born again, looking at the account of Nicodemus and Jesus, in John 3.

Please also pray that many people will come to know Jesus in our nation and in our town.

The Oasis at Winyates
With regard to The Oasis at Winyates shop, I want to encourage you to visit, where you are able and see the excellent outreach that is happening there. In just a short time a number of people have been really blessed and impacted in the Winyates, Matchborough and Church Hill communities, as people are travelling regularly now from communities outside Winyates.

We also need some help moving the Rag Bag materials from the shop to church Rag Bag bin, if you are able to help please see Katrina Youster.

CAP Money
We will be advertising over the next few weeks a free budgeting course run by CAP, Christians Against Poverty. The ‘CAP Money’ course will run Wed 5th, 12th and 19th October, 7pm at OCC, it is free, confidential and extremely helpful. In the course you will learn how to make a budget, however high or low your income, and stick to it, and you will rapidly see the benefits of doing so.

Please take this great opportunity to register on the course if you need help or know of anyone who needs help in this area, please encourage them to register too.
To register on the course please either phone Graham Clark 01527 892470, email admin@oasisredditch.church or register online www.capmoney.org

Notices
If you have a notice that you would like to go in to the church notice sheet or be announced on a Sunday please can you email admin@oasisredditch.church or give it to Sarah O’Rourke in writing. The notice sheets are printed bi-weekly on a Thursday, any new notices need to given to Sarah by the Monday.

Sunday Services
Could I ask that on Sundays everyone helps as much as possible with the tidy up at the end of the service please.

Gift Day
Every year we have an annual gift day for our building project and I would like to personally thank you for all the sacrificial giving that you have made so far.

At the moment we still need to raise £68,177 and on Sunday 9th October we will be taking a special gift day offering. If you are new to the fellowship and not sure how to support this project we take a special collection using envelopes provided for the building project, where you can place your building fund offering.

If you are a tax payer and you don’t already gift aid to Oasis Christian Centre then this is a great way of adding to the amount you give, as we are able to claim tax back on your offering. Alternatively, as a number of people do already you could set up a monthly standing order; information on how to do this can be obtained from Diane Tolson, Chief Finance Officer.

A few people have also loaned OCC amounts of money from £1000 to £5000 for a period of 1 to 3 years. If you feel you would like to do this please see me on my return from holidays to arrange for a legal document to be drafted. This money is underwritten by Elim International Offices, so that your money is completely safe.

Also with your regular giving it would be helpful if you are able to set up a monthly standing order to reduce the amount of money being taken weekly to the bank. This does not preclude you from giving extra in your envelopes. Once again if you pay tax please consider using the gift aid scheme.
All giving to the church is kept in complete confidence.

In writing this letter I would like to take the opportunity to thank you personally for faithfully and sacrificially serving the Master at Oasis Christian Centre. There are many unseen things done by so many of you that have made Oasis Christian Centre the place it is today, a place where people matter!

It is wonderful to see new faces within the church family and we hope that you will find a spiritual home here and many good friends to help you mature and grow in your walk with Jesus Christ.

We are currently studying the life of Jesus – the greatest life of all. During this season I pray that each of us will encounter Jesus in a much deeper and more powerful measure than we have ever done so before; that our encounters with Jesus will radically transform our whole life and that through it many lives will be touched with the love of Jesus and that many people will come to know Jesus as their personal Saviour and Lord.

As the return of Jesus comes ever closer can I encourage you to seek after Him, trust Him and serve Him, as He calls us to in His Living Word.

Together, let us keep our eyes fixed upon Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith. Expect the unexpected and miraculous and be united together to see the kingdom of God grow in our town and experience heaven touching earth.

Watch this space on our church website www.oasisredditch.church for 100 daily bible readings focusing on Jesus.

Every Blessing

Pastor Robin

Pastors Letter 2007

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Pastors Letter 2007

Greetings

. . in the precious and wonderful name of our Lord Jesus Christ to all members and regular attendees of Oasis Christian Centre. A warm welcome to all of you that have joined Oasis CC on our exciting journey.

I would like to personally thank you for all your love and support and for all that you have done to serve this local body of people.

This year has gone so quickly and as I reflect on this I truly believe that we have turned a spiritual corner. Something is wonderfully different at Oasis CC.

We have been looking at the subject throughout the year of Mark 12:30-31 And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. 31 And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

I trust that on a personal level you have been encouraged and challenged by what has been taught and that you are closer to God now because you have applied the Word of God to your life.

Our theme for 2008 is found in Matthew 28:18 -20: And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

This year we are concentrating on the Great Commission; focusing on the lost in 2008.

I was given this wonderful prophetic scripture by one of our congregation the other month. Amos 9:13 “Behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “When the plowman shall overtake the reaper, I want to ask you all to join with the leadership here to believe together for wonderful and amazing things in 2008.

Birchensdale School

The feedback from the taster day has been extremely positive. Many people have expressed how much they enjoyed being at the school.

This is a major step for us and we are going to commence our meetings there in February 2008.

Thank you to all of you who helped make that day a success. In the next few weeks you will see some rotas on the board at the back of the church. Please fill in how you are able to serve Oasis CC in the school move. Many hands make light work!

The move, however, is so much more than just about moving location. It is a cultural and spiritual stepping stone for Oasis CC. In our new adventure we must focus on our community and on their needs. Please also pray for the finance needed for this step of faith.

Prophecy given by Mrs Hazel Reeves on Sunday the 29th April, 1990.

A portrayal was given of a large and roomy castle standing in beautiful and spacious grounds waiting to be explored.

However, a deep moat surrounded the grounds which prevented a group of people standing on the opposite bank from crossing over as the moat was too wide to jump.

On the edge of the water in the castle grounds was a man calling out ‘if you want to come across there is a way. Look closely at the water and you will see, just below the surface, stepping stones leading to where I am standing. You will get your feet wet in crossing, but do not be afraid, but do not be afraid, for these stones are firmly embedded in solid rock and you cannot sink. Just keep your eyes upon me, and you will come safely across’.

It was impressed upon the spirit of the one giving the prophecy that the Lord Himself is the One who has prepared a large place which has not yet been explored, which is greater than any experience that has been known to us, and He is calling to those who want to enter into this place to ‘come across the water’.

However, this cannot be reached by one single stride. Each circumstance through which we are to pass is to be seen as a stepping stone leading to greater things the Lord has prepared for us. We are not to look, at our present difficult circumstances and become discouraged, but to fix our eyes upon Him and the vision before us. This will require an exercising of faith, for we shall ‘get our feet wet’, but He is reminding us that our faith will not fail, for it is resting firmly on solid ground. We shall not sink or be submerged beneath the circumstance of life through which we are passing and the waves will not overwhelm us. We need only to keep our eyes on the goal before us, and step by step we shall be led into that larger place which the Lord desires us to occupy and explore.

Batchley Strategy

During the next few weeks as we move forward with our plans to relocate the Sunday morning meetings to Birchensale School, we want to put strategies in place that enable us to make the most of the openings God is giving to us as a church at this time and we need your help! You can:

Adopt a road in Batchley, pray for the people in it (guidelines to be issued later) and be willing so far as you are able to deliver any publicity leaflets to your road as and when required.

Be available to have a visitor or visitors for Sunday lunch

Be willing to have spare seats next to you for visitors and make them really welcome

As the community of Oasis Christian Centre, we have an incredible opportunity here of working together in partnership with the Holy Spirit to see people won for Jesus, it’s time for each one of us to “seize the day”.

The house next door

At the last meeting we discussed purchasing the house next door. As the majority of people voted for this the Leadership have decided that we will continue on the process to purchase the House subject to a structural survey.

In order to fund the repayments we will need to use some of the money that has been allocated to the building fund and will be writing to all members personally with further details about costs, mortgages, etc.

Every Blessing

Pastor Robin

Pastors Letter 2006

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Pastors Letter 2006

Pastor’s Letter 2006

Greetings

Greetings, in the precious and wonderful name of our Lord Jesus Christ to all members and regular worshippers of Oasis Christian Centre.
We thank God that our church is regularly full and we need a larger place to worship together now. As I explained in our last business meeting we have been looking at various options to allow further growth until we rebuild. We are currently exploring the option of having multiple services on Sunday mornings and will be speaking with you further on this very shortly. I believe that we can look forward to an amazing year and as we step out in Faith for our new building.

‘Christology’

We have just finished part two of this six week series. This week Rev Gordon Neale, will be preaching on Palm Sunday, we will then be looking at the themes on the Death and Resurrection, Prophet, Priest and King, and then at the second coming.

‘Building’ for the Future

In May we are starting a six week series on Nehemiah. We are looking at why and how God used this man and the social, moral and spiritual reforms he made, many of which lasted until the time of Christ centuries later.
My desire is that we leave a legacy at Oasis Christian Centre that will be handed down to our Children and Grand Children.

Our 30 Year Celebrations

On Saturday June 10th we are having another international food evening, where we can taste foods from the different nations represented at Oasis Christian Centre.
On Sunday June 18th we are having a family service and a BBQ in the garden.
On Sunday June 25th we are having a special 30 -year,–Celebration in the morning and evening and Rev Denis Phillips will be ministering at both of those services.

‘Believing’ for the Miracles

Following our 30 years celebrations we will be looking at various miracles of Jesus Christ in the gospels and believing for miraculous signs and wonders following the preaching of the Word.
The Elim Church in Redditch was planted following a crusade where many people were saved and many miracles were experienced. Join with us to believe that once again Oasis Christian Centre and Redditch will experience the miraculous power of God daily. All things are possible with God!

‘Believing’ for the Promise

In the autumn we will be looking at the heroes of the faith.
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith and Hope go hand in hand together. Expect God to perform what he has promised us in Christ Jesus. Faith demonstrates to the eye of the mind the reality of those things that cannot be discerned by the eye of the body.
What we believe and trust God for today will determine the future of Oasis Christian Centre.

Project Oasis

We have now submitted our plans to Redditch council for planning approval. Please pray for favour with them. I have also spoken to our immediate neighbour about our new building, and she has said that she has no problems with the plans as they are. Please also pray for favour with our other neighbours that there will be no objections.
From today we now have the official Oasis Building Fund that will come under the banner of “Project Oasis”.
Before we can start the building stage we will need to raise somewhere in the region of £120,000. I am pleased to inform you that we have already received gifts of £5,100 last week towards this.
Diane Tolson, our treasurer shared our strategy on how we can help raise the £120,000 required. I have summarised this below:
If a person gave an extra amount each year we could raise £70,460.
10 people £0.50p a week= £260.00
25 people £1.00 a week = £1,300.00
25 people £5.00 a week = £6,500.00
25 people £10.00 a week = £13,000.00
20 people £15.00 a week = £15,600.00
20 people £20.00 a week = £20,800.00
10 people £25.00 a week = £13,000.00
Plus we can get back the Gift Aid too!

A pledge form is available today for you to take away and fill in. Please be so kind as to return to Diane Tolson by the end of April after you have sought God’s wisdom on this, so that we can plan finances for this exciting project.

Please do not pledge finances if you are not going to honour it.
If you are going to pay monthly our preference is by Standing order but if you prefer we will give you an envelope with a unique number on it that you can use on a monthly basis.
There will also be a gift day in June in which you may want to give a one-off donation to the project.
You can of course give at any time to the building project as you feel led, but please use the building envelope designated for this and remember to gift aid it!
If you gift aid the money Oasis Christian Centre will receive an extra 28p in the pound. So, for example, if you give£100 we will get an extra £28.00 back from the government.
By breaking down the figures like this I hope that you can see that this can be done. As we do our part God will do the rest.
I know that this will mean a sacrifice for all of us. We may well need to give up something to make this happen. In the scriptures we find that King David wanted to build an altar to the Lord and he saw a field where he wanted to do it. He could have taken the land for nothing because he was the King. Indeed Araunah, the owner of the land, would have give him it to him but David said in 2 Samuel 24:24 No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God with that which costs me nothing.

Welcome

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“A very warm Welcome to the Oasis Christian Centre website.

This site could be your first point of call in understanding a little about our church. Therefore can we give you a very special greeting and look forward to meeting you one day. Experience has told us that crossing the threshold of a church’s doors can be a daunting task so if we can do anything to help then please do not hesitate to ask.

We meet in Redditch, Worcestershire and we appreciate all that it means to be part of a local community and seek to provide services in a relevant and contemporary way; aimed at all ages and backgrounds. Our main aim is to share the good news and hope which is found through faith in Jesus.” –Pastor Robin Baker

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