End of Market 2010… MerRy ChRisTMaS and HaPpy NeW yEaR!

December 21, 2010 by MarkB
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Why not make some time this Christmas to pray to be steady, unswerving and extravagant in 2011.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

(Market will return from Saturday January 22nd 2011)

Christmas Market this week…18th Dec 2010

December 14, 2010 by MarkB
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Thanks to all who are volunteering, let me know if you need more info on when to arrive etc.

Wrap up warm!

Merry Christmas!

Hot Thanks

December 8, 2010 by mark
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Dear Oaks,

First things first. I am assured that the heating will be on at Twyford next Sunday. I am sorry that it was so cold last Sunday but at least we don’t meet under the threat of persecution or even death, as some of our fellow believers do!

Secondly a huge thank you to all of you who have pledged money towards the ministry of Oak Tree in 2011. Your faithfulness to God is inspiring and gives this church leader much joy!

Jesus said “if anyone would come after me s/he must deny himself and take up her/his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23

The cross that we are to carry daily is not about the struggles that all people face such as loneliness; poor health; bereavement or concerns about work or money. Those kinds of trials are common to us all and nothing to do with the point Jesus was making. Rather the context is that he had just been speaking about his own suffering and death as part of his obedience to the Fathers purposes in saving a rebellious human kind from judgement.

So to take up our cross in imitation of Jesus is to walk the path of self denial, sacrifice, complete dedication and obedience to God. That is what I was teaching about last Sunday. To truly believe in Jesus is to act in accordance with our belief. To believe is to go beyond the theory and practice what we preach.

This is not a one off action but an ongoing choice to follow Jesus as Lord. Jesus says in this verse that we are to DAILY take up our cross.

William Barclay comments that “the Christian must realize that he is given life, not to keep for himself but to spend on others.”

I so often hear Christians say that they want to grow. Of course they do. But here is one of the great paradoxes of life: You get a life by losing it. Resurrection life is what the true believer wants but it only comes after crucifixion.

As Paul the Apostle could say “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live but Christ lives in me…” Galatians 2:20

So the heating will be on I am assured this coming Sunday. But compared with the call of Christ to ‘take up our cross daily’ what is a little bit of cold? And the great thing is that as we live for Jesus first and foremost God will give us his Holy Spirit that we might overcome in all things.

Isn’t it great that God has set us up to overcome ALL that we need to in order to glorify his name!

It is going to be COMMUNION this Sunday and not the following (we usually have communion on the third Sunday of each month).

The reason being of course that the following Sunday is our Carol Service and hopefully there will be lots of guests and communion would therefore be less appropriate.

So please come prepared before God to gather around His table. If you want to prepare well how about reading 1 Corinthians 11:17-33.

Every blessing,

Mark

Market Church – 11th December 2010 (+Christmas next week!)

December 8, 2010 by mark
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Market CHURCH

Hello Marketeers

Incarnation or old decoration?

God came and moved in next door to you, he wants to be your neighbour (and much more of course) this is what it means that Jesus was born.

But sometimes the church is more like that decoration that was once beautiful but is now in the corner of the loft somewhere.

The church is called to be the body of Jesus, to be the best neighbour ever (and much more of course).

We love Acton Market as our neighbour and we are helping celebrate Christmas with them!

On Saturday December 18th there will be lots going on from 10.30-3pm… the Acton Christmas Fayre….from a live and unrehearsed nativity to Twyford Gospel Choir performing some tasty treats…

We need you to be more than a decoration!

You can volunteer in what Oaktree are giving…

We will be running the stall giving out free tea, coffee and mulled juice all day

(you can do a shift, 10-12pm or 12-2pm, or 2-3pm!)

We will be giving away free mince pies during carols 10.30-11.30am & 2-3pm

(you can come and give an hour walking around with a tray of pies!)

We will be organising the live and unrehearsed nativity 1pm

(you can bring the kids dressed as any nativity character and they can get involved)

We will be running three kids craft tables decorating cup-cakes, colouring in and decorating take-away bags

(you can volunteer to help anytime from 11-1 and 1-3pm!)

And through this we’ll be telling of Jesus birth in public, celebrating his amazing life and blessing Acton massively!!

Come and join the fun.