Year: 2023

slow Christmas 2

  • Sit in front of your Christmas Tree each night for at least 5 minutes and reflect on God coming in the flesh (John 1:14).
    If you don’t have a tree, light a candle.
  • Put reminders on post-its on your mirror, in your kitchen, in your car to think about Jesus throughout the day.
    Here are some Bible Verses to look up and write down:

    • John 1:14, 3:16-17;
    • Isaiah 7:14, 9:6-7;
    • Matthew 2:10-12;
    • Galatians 4:4-7;
    • 1 John 1:5-9;
    • Romans 15:13.

6 December | Lectio Divina

A couple of times a week we will post an exercise known as Lectio Divina [go here to read more about this practice].

There are 4 basic steps:

  • READ
  • REFLECT
  • REQUEST
  • RESPOND

READ

Read or listen to the passage below slowly and carefully. You may want to read or listen to the passage in a different translation
Identify a word or phrase that captures your attention or jumps out at you.

Mark 13:24-37
But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert, for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake, for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening or at midnight or at cockcrow or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.

REFLECT

Reflect on the passage using these questions.
What emotions surface for you as you reflect on the passage?
Read through this list and identify the emotions that resonate with you. This list isn’t exhaustive, so other emotions might come to mind.

Peace     Fulfillment     Excitement     Joy     Anger     Frustration     Discouragement     Disappointment     Confusion     Shame     Fear     Helplessness     Acceptance     Safety     Trust     Curiosity     Gratitude     Delight     Sorrow     Remorse     Hope     Surprise     Uncertainty     Grounded     Worry     Happiness     Anticipation     Contentment

How does the word or phrase you identified connect to the things you do in this season?
In what ways does the word or phrase you identified connect with something you hope for in this season?
During Advent, we focus on the hope that Jesus will come again to make all things new.
In what ways is the hope we have in Jesus good news for you today?

REQUEST

Spend a few minutes in prayer.
Give thanks to God for the wisdom found in the Scriptures.
Request understanding and guidance from the Spirit. Then, ask God to fill you with hope so that your hope in Jesus is evident to those with whom you work, go to school with, or interact with.

RESPOND

Respond to God by deciding on one specific attitude or action you’re going to adopt today, in your life, based on what you’ve discovered.

Eight Prayers for Slowing

  1. Jesus, change my heart

  2. Jesus, teach me your way

  3. Jesus, teach me about grace

  4. Jesus, Your will for me, not mine

  5. Have mercy on me, Lord

  6. Search my heart, Lord, and reveal what you see

  7. Jesus, bless this thing I’m waiting for!

  8. Jesus, help me with my (name big problem(s) that make you anxious)

4 December | Lectio Divina

A couple of times a week we will post an exercise known as Lectio Divina [go here to read more about this practice].

There are 4 basic steps:

  • READ
  • REFLECT
  • REQUEST
  • RESPOND

READ

Read or listen to the passage below slowly and carefully. You may want to read or listen to the entire passage.
Identify a word or phrase that captures your attention or jumps out at you.

Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph like a flock!
You who are enthroned upon the cherubim,
shine forth before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh.
Stir up your might,
and come to save us!
Restore us, O God;
let your face shine, that we may be saved.
O LORD God of hosts,
how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?

REFLECT

Reflect on the passage using these questions.
What emotions surface for you as you reflect on the passage?
Read through this list and identify the emotions that resonate with you. This list isn’t exhaustive, so other emotions might come to mind.

Peace     Fulfillment     Excitement     Joy     Anger     Frustration     Discouragement     Disappointment     Confusion     Shame     Fear     Helplessness     Acceptance     Safety     Trust     Curiosity     Gratitude     Delight     Sorrow     Remorse     Hope     Surprise     Uncertainty     Grounded     Worry     Happiness     Anticipation     Contentment

How does the word or phrase you identified connect to the things you do in this season?
In what ways does the word or phrase you identified connect with something you hope for in this season?
During Advent, we focus on the hope that Jesus will come again to make all things new.
In what ways is the hope we have in Jesus good news for you today?

REQUEST

Spend a few minutes in prayer.
Give thanks to God for the wisdom found in the Scriptures.
Request understanding and guidance from the Spirit. Then, ask God to fill you with hope so that your hope in Jesus is evident to those with whom you work, go to school with, or interact with.

RESPOND

Respond to God by deciding on one specific attitude or action you’re going to adopt today, in your life, based on what you’ve discovered.

3 December 2023 | James 5 | Michael Bells

Thank you for joining us on-line!
OCC is made up of people who are meeting in-person and who are meeting on-line.

Remember we are currently showing the video of the service on a week’s delay. The video goes live at 8:00am
So this video is from Sunday 26 November 2023 but is being shown on 3 December 2023, pastor Mike is speaking in both the on-line and the in-person service

  • This video is the end of our series in James
  • The in-person service and the next week on video is the beginning of our Advent series

God calls all of us into his presence:

He calls us to be together both with him and with one another;
He calls us to wait with and for him;
He calls us to serve & bless others – those who are part of God’s kingdom and those who have not yet responded to God’s grace.
As you prepare to watch our service video, we encourage you to take a few moments…

Get your coffee or tea. Settle in, be still…
Take some deep breaths… in and out… breathe.
Invite the Lord to make himself present with you as you watch – he is with us.

6:30pm Prayer

6:30pm Youth