New Years Day Walk

This year we thought we’d ring the changes and take advantage of the
fact that there is free entry to Kew Gardens on 1st January and go
there. (http://www.kew.org/events/kew2009.html)

There is plenty of room for a good walk, kids play areas and indoor
areas if it rains so everything is covered.

The plan for anyone who would like to join us is to get the 11.54
train from Acton Central which arrives at 12.05 and then enter Kew by
the gate nearest to the station.  We could meet anyone who wanted to
drive at that gate (although I have no idea what the parking
arrangements are like there) at 12.15 – please let me know if you want
to meet us there otherwise we’ll go straight in.

After a few hours we’ll then head back to acton where Emma and Gill
have kindly offered to host tea and cakes.

Sound

Being on the Sound Team means mixing the sound and being responsible for audio quality for services on a rota basis
This involves:

• • • • Arriving to the service early with the Band. Going through the practice routine with the band
      • getting the mix just right and finding a happy balance between what the Band hear and what the congregation will hear.
      • Making sure the Podium mics are set up and ready for use.
      • Fading up and down appropriate channels on the sound desk for the mics being used at any given moment.
      • Recording the sermons.
      • Making sure the Sermon recording CD’s are finalized put in the Managers bag.

If you have an interest in sound production and are keen to try contact Tony for more information.

H.O.T.S. in Action

For more info on this ministry see the HOTs page

OHP

Being on the OHP Team means operating the Over Head Projector for services on a rota basis.
This involves:

• running Easy Worship system
• having a good knowledge of Oaktree songs
• operating Powerpoint Presentations
• Fading up and down Lights for Presentations

If you have an interest in running the OHP contact Tony for more information.

Band

Being in the Band means PLaying music to help in Worship.

Roles :

* Backing singers.
* Guitarists
* Bass Players
* Drummers
* Percussionists
* Pianists
* Or anything else you can think of

If you have an interest in being a part of the band contact Tony W for more information.

Managing

Managing the service is an important role on a Sunday.  It involves overseeing other people’s roles and ensuring they have what they need, alongside being responsible for any problems that arise such as there being no projector for the song words, or someone being ill and finding another to take over their role.  Duties include arranging bibles, leaflets on tables, setting up creche room, tidying up after the service and even putting up signs for the toilets!

It’s not glamorous or ‘up the front’, so may suit you down to the ground!  The main benefit is that you don’t miss out on the service for the most part (although you do need to be ready to help if any need arises), and once you’ve done it a few times, the tasks needed to be done each week become second nature!

Hospitality

Merry Christmas

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL.

AND A REMINDER,

NO SERVICE THIS COMING SUNDAY (28 Dec) BUT RE-START THE FOLOWING WEEK AT TWYFORD (4 JANUARY).

In His love,

Mark

How BIG is god?

Louis Giglio was born in 1958 and grew up in a Christian home in Atlanta, Georgia. One morning at 2 AM during his freshman year at Georgia State University in 1977, he decided to follow Christ instead of the party life. That conscious decision led him to become one of the architects of the modern worship style geared towards young people with its emphasis on informal attire, expressive worship and low-key, visually driven sermons.

http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=17849695

Louis Giglio preaches in Houston about the greatness of God – This is pretty amazing.

Proud to be an Oak

Dear Oaks,

I want to begin this week but stating just how thrilled I was with the Carol Service last Sunday. As one visitor remarked “One of the things I love about Oak Tree is that every ones gifts are used.” Whilst this is not strictly true I knew what he meant. I am so impressed by your creativity, organisational skills, dance, music, art and singing to mention just some.

But what struck me even more was how servant hearted so many of you are. There were good numbers around from 2:30 helping to set up and then again a great team afterwards to help with the mundane work of clearing up. Church life is not only about the gifts we bring to the party but the attitudes we exhibit as well. All of us can serve when it is in an area of life or ministry that we are passionate about, but sometimes it is needful that we serve in the mundane and un-thanked ways.

I hope that our guests felt welcomed, cared for and met with a spirit of generosity. Certainly from the feedback I have received this appears to be the case and it was noticeable that we had about 20 more people attending than last year. Perhaps the news is spreading?

Of course there is a danger that I am being a little self congratulatory? There is always room for improvement. But on the whole I just want to say I was proud of you all. After all it is a strange Christianity that thinks it is spiritual to put yourself down.

“No one respects a talent that is concealed” (Erasmus)

Jesus says go and invest your talent and that if you want to be great in the Kingdom of God you need to serve.

Christmas reminds us that The Father invested everything in us in order to save us. He sent His only begotten Son. Christmas also reminds us that Christ served us by becoming one of us and entering fully in to our human frailty. See how he serves in John 13 and why that is possible, see v3.

I do hope to see many of you on Sunday for the Christingle or at the market from 12-2 on Saturday for Carol singing and a spontaneous nativity!

Every blessing,

Mark

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