Oak Valley Baptist Church
Thursday, September 09, 2010

Newsletter

    

Though the calendar says the new year begins in January, this time of year has the feel of new beginnings as kids head back to school and the weather begins to change and football season kicks off. At our church, we also have lots of new things happening. Sunday School promotion for preschoolers and children is September 5. (The new youth promoted up last month.) Our Wednesday fellowship dinners and our women’s Bible studies resume. On September 12 we start a new semester of discipleship classes for all age groups. And our choir begins work on Christmas music!
Sometimes we get so busy doing things—even good things—that we forget to do the best things. As your pastor, may I encourage to keep doing the one thing that will make the most difference, both in your personal life and in the life of our church? What is that one thing? Simply to do what the apostle Paul encouraged us to do in 1 Thessalonians 5:17—“pray continually (NIV).”
Genuine prayer is a conversation. Just as we converse with one another, we can talk with God. Some folks are confused about the role of prayer. They think we pray in order to change God’s mind. However, the focus of genuine prayer isn’t to change God’s mind but ours, and to put us in the right frame of mind so we can do our best in serving God.
As you pray, pray for your family. You can pray for God’s direction, God’s peace, God’s protection, and God’s grace to be on them. Some of your immediate or extended family members may have physical, spiritual, or other kinds of needs. You can mention those specific needs to God. Pray for your church family. If you’ll take a copy of our weekly Prayer Guide, you’ll find about 100 names of individuals who need our prayer in specific ways. You can pray for our church leaders, both our staff and the many volunteers. You can ask God to guide and unify us around His mission for us. Pray for yourself. Thank God each day for His many blessings. Praise Him for being such a great, awesome, and loving God. Ask Him to guide you through your day. Ask Him to teach you more about who He is. Ask Him to supply your specific needs.
We want to be busy doing the things that enable us to carry out our mission. But if we forget to pray, we forfeit our greatest resource. May God teach us to make prayer a constant habit.
 
 
 Ken

Worship & Music Ministry

  Worship and Music Ministry

 
 

 

 
 
 
Music Ministry Fall Kick-off
     The Oak Valley Worship Choir is open to middle school students and above. Beginning September 12 on Sunday nights at 6:00 PM there will be two identical weekly rehearsals. Wednesday rehearsals at 7:30 PM will be the primary rehearsal with Sunday nights as an alternate for those who cannot   attend. You are welcome to attend either or both nights.
     “An Oak Valley Christmas” rehearsals begin with a read-through of our Christmas presentation on Saturday, September 25, at 8:30 AM. Join us for a light breakfast and rehearsal until 11:30 AM. Contact David Williams, 579-2879, or the church office, 794-7403, for further information.
     PraiseKids Children’s Choir is for 1st through 6 graders and will begin with a kick-off party Sunday night on September 12 at 5:55 PM in the basement of the North House. The hour will include age-appropriate discipleship for younger and older children. This group performs periodically through the year and ends the year with a musical presentation, "Parablelooza", about the parables of Jesus.  Contact the church office for information, 794-7403.
     Preschool Music and Missions is for children age 2-5. This program starts Wednesday nights, beginning in September at 6:30 PM. For more information contact Meredith Blount at 599-8882.
 
  
MAY HIS PRAISE BE GLORIOUS …
 

David Williams, Worship Pastor

   

Discipleship

 
Discipleship Training
     What is discipleship training? This is an opportunity for us as Christians to grow in our knowledge and skills to enable us to be the disciples that God has called us to be so that our church can fulfill the Great Commission. Classes for all ages will meet each Sunday evening at 6:00 PM, beginning September 12. The following discipleship training opportunities will be offered:
 

Men’s Ministry: The Man God Uses –

Led by Ken Parker

Family Ministry: Your Heritage: How to be Intentional About the Legacy You Leave

(for parents of pre-schoolers) - Led by Aaron and Malinda Tuttle. Childcare will be provided.
Adult Ministry: The Three Chairs: Experiencing Spiritual Breakthroughs—
This is a video series by Burse Wilkerson led by Jerre Richards.

Women’s Ministry: Five Conversations You Must Have With Your Daughter 

Led by Stacy Hoffpauir

Youth Ministry: A Bold Plunge Into the Christian Life -

Led by Clayton Markham

Children’s Ministry: PraiseKids Music and Discipleship

 
 

 

Youth Ministry  

 
    
   Welcome new 7th graders!  We are so glad to have you in the youth ministry!  We look forward to growing closer to Christ with you over these next six years!  To kick off the new youth year, we are going to Holiday World and Splashin' Safari for our annual Labor Day Retreat, September 4-6.  We will go to the park for two days, have worship services led by John Brooks and Sevendaze band, and have lots of fun!  This year our theme for the retreat is "GPS: Guided, Proven, Surrendering.”
      On Sundays nights the youth discipleship class will be from 6:00pm-7:00pm in the ladies' classroom, led by Clayton Markham.  Our study is called “Becoming a Contagious Christian.”
      Our Wednesday night schedule is as follows: 9/1--Mission Project, 9/8--Bible study at church,   9/15--Game Night at Church, 9/22--Bible study at church, 9/29--Wednesday Night Away at Becky O'Steen's.
 
 
If you would like to host the youth at your home on a Wednesday night, please let Amy know.  Sunday night Youth Discipleship will start September 12 at 6:00pm. 
 
Amy 
   

 

Missions

  
Our team of 37 people traveled to Old Fields, West Virginia, committed to do a great work for the Lord. Only four had ever been there before. The rest were dedicated to doing the work that God had planned. Every one of the team embraced their responsibility with enthusiasm, skill, and commitment to God.
     The joy of the Lord filled our hearts as He gave opportunities to witness. The Bible School was a great success with about 59 people (preschoolers through adults) enrolled. Every one of these construction projects were   completed plus many extras. It was a lot of fun pulling weeds out of a sandbox and replacing them with new sand we had left over from filling holes the plumbing crew made. You should have seen your fellow church members working. Everyone went to work and did so in the Spirit of God’s love and in His power. The pastor we worked with told our group that he had never had a team to accomplish so much in such a great spirit. TO GOD BE THE GLORY, GREAT THINGS HE HATH DONE.
 
 
 
 How You Can Help With Flood Disaster Relief
 The organizations listed below can provide individuals with ways to help with disaster relief on a daily basis:
Hands on Nashville
     Visit their website at www.HON.org (or call 298-1108), click on "volunteer" and then "project calendar".  This calendar allows yo to choose by date location, or other specifics, such as projects for children and teens.
GraceWorks Ministries
     Contact 794-9055 for specific needs.
Kingston Springs Area
     Contact Amy at the Red Tree Cofee Shop, 385 North Main Streer, or 615-952-3107.  Volunteers are needed with trucks and trailers to haul away debris.
Hard Bargain Area in Franklin
     Contact Joe MaCallum at 347-2856
Tennessee Relief Organization
     Contact Tnrelief.org
Harpeth Heights Baptist Church
Volunteers are needed with kitchen help fo feed teams coming in each day.  Contact Bernie Smith at 945-0433.
 
  
 
 
 

 
 
Senior Citizens’ Assurance Program
The Williamson County Sherriff’s Office is offering a free service to senior citizens. If you (or someone you know) live alone and would like a call everyday to make sure you are okay, contact Hugh Tharpe or Melissa Colven at 790-5554. To apply, simply fill out a one page form with emergency phone numbers and a waiver for forcible entry. Each day the sheriff's office will call and if there is no answer, they will call the nearest neighbor or relative. If contact still cannot be made, a deputy will be sent to check on the individual.
  

Preschool and Children 

 Weekly Events for Children

 Sunday School: Sundays at 9:15 AM

 PraiseKids Music & Discipleship:  Sundays at 5:55 PM

Music & Missions, GA & RA: Wednesdays at 6:30 PM

 
Events Just for Kids!
 
September:
1st: RA Parent Meeting/Kick-off (6:30 PM)
       GA Pool Party at Sullivan Farms (6:00 PM)
5th: New Sunday School Year & Promotion Day
8th: GA Parent Meeting (6:30 PM)
12th: Sunday School Meet & Greet for 1-6 Graders & Parents NOTE: Change of Date!
        (9:15-9:30 AM)
        PraiseKids Music & Discipleship Classes for Kids Begin (5:55 PM)
 
 

GA's

 

 

 
  
It’s Anchors Aweigh! For Girls in Action as we ‘set sail’ for the new year. On September, 1, we’ll ‘pull up our anchors and sail full speed ahead’ as we enjoy our Kick-of Party from 6:00-7:30 PM at the Sullivan Farms pool. GA Parents, join us for a parent meeting, September 8, at 6:30 PM to find out more about our new GA year.
     Our new curriculum focuses on taking God’s love to all people and setting aside things that weigh us down. We look forward to ‘anchoring’ at a different missionary ‘port’ each month as we learn how we can participate in God’s work.
     Our Christmas in August gifts to the Becks in Mobile, AL, have been mailed. The gifts will be used as they minister to seafarers in the Port of Mobile.
     We were delighted to see many of you at our GA/RA Recognition Service on August 29. Since we focus on learning about and doing missions, and participating in the work of the church, we’re often surprised at the badges we receive. Thank you, OVBC Church Family, for your continued     encouragement and support of our GA program.
 

 

RA's

 

 

     

 

     Royal Ambassadors: We are Ambassadors for Christ

    Congratulations to all the RA boys on their awards and promotions in August! RA parents, please plan to attend our yearly kick-off meeting Wednesday, September 1, at 6:30 PM. 
     This month we kick off our World Hunger missions focus, and we’ll be putting together some letters to Oak Valley’s adopted missionaries, the Carter Family.
 
   

     Royal Ambassadors meets every Wednesday night at 6:30 PM for boys grades 1-6.  
Join the fun in the North House basement each week!
 

   
Wednesday Fellowship Dinner
Dinners have resumed in the Fellowship Hall each Wednesday at 5:15 PM. 
Adults $5, kids $3, preschoolers are free with a $20 maximum per family.             
IMPORTANT: Please make reservations for dinner and  CANCELLATIONS by Monday at noon.
RSVP by signing up at the Welcome Desk or contacting the Church Office.
 
September Menus:

 9/1:  Poppy Seed Chicken
9/8:  Hot Dogs & Chili
9/15:  Ham
9/22:  Soup & Potato Bar
9/29:  Fried Chicken
 
 

 
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 

 

 

        
 
 
 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
   

 GA's