Month: January 2021

January 3 – reset

welcome

We are glad you are here as we launch into a New Year. As we do so, we look back at the unexpected events of 2020. I suspect that 2021 will have its share of unexpected events. All of which give us opportunities as followers of Jesus to think and live differently because of Jesus. And because of him we can offer real hope.

As you read and watch, we trust and pray that you will be blessed.

We encourage you to take a few minutes as you prepare to watch the video

  • sit still,
  • breathe in, breath out a couple of times
  • invite the Lord to make himself present with you as you watch – he is with you – it’s just that sometimes we are not aware that he is.
  • prepare your heart to listen and receive
  • Read Philippians 3 as you enter into our time together.

teaching

Here is the service for Sunday 3 January. Judi & Stan Coates, Ray & Brenda Scriver and Aaron Gallea lead us in worship today. Pastor Brent’s message focuses on Philippians 3.

OCCkids have moved to being online again. The zoom link and other resources are present are available from pastor Brent.

prayer

tonight @ 6:30pm
zoom prayer https://zoom.us/j/99544541247?pwd=cU9idG1RNzB3bjdZS3RUdThOalQydz09Meeting ID: 995 4454 1247
Passcode: 4LKzLR

giving

In this new way of being the church, we don’t practice giving by placing our offering in a basket as it is passed. OCCers are generous people. Thank you for your gifts.

  • Some of you give when you attend a service (there is an offering box)
  • Many give online – etransfer or paypal
  • Others mail or drop off cheques

You can find all the ways you can give here.

Jan 3

Our desires and the ways of the Spirit often diverge. Pray that as God’s people we will discern the difference ance experience the power of Christ to walk in the Spirit.

For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. Galatians 5:17

Jan 2

During seasons where the Spirit of God is at work, the transformation of people becomes visible. Pray today that the evidence of people turning from sin and turning to God would be very evident.

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. Galatians 5:16-17 

Philippians

We are getting ready to journey through Paul’s letter to the Philippians.

The Apostle Paul was no stranger to emotional stress. Giving his life away for gospel ministry landed him in prison, and yet all he could talk about was the need to rejoice. As we go through this letter, we see some of the resources for the joy-filled Christian.

The subtitle for this series is “Finding Joy Right Where You Are.” The graphic tells that story.

  • The prison bars on the left remind of us where Paul was where he wrote it.
  • The location marker at the bottom right is the icon that helps your phone locate your current position.

If Paul could find joy in prison, we can find joy no matter where we are.
If joy is contingent upon moving to a different place of experiencing a difference of circumstances, our joy is not in Jesus.

Over the next few weeks, we are going to live in this letter and let it live in us because what Paul wants his hearers to do in this letter is to learn to think differently, to think in the Jesus way. There is a lot in this letter about a whole new way to think:

  • to think wisely,
  • to think discerningly,
    about God, about Jesus, and about ourselves.

Let me encourage you to listen/watch while we are unable to meet in-person. Read and interact with the study notes. Join a zoom group to explore this some more.

Jan 1

As we begin a new year, thank God that through Jesus Christ, the law of the Spirit of Life has set us completely free from the law of sin and death.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1-2