Sunday Services

 

 

Our services are at 4:30pm every Sunday at:

216, Acton High Street

Acton

London W3 9NX

Sunday is when the whole of Oak Tree worship God together as a ‘family’. It is also a time when we are encouraged to hear how God is working in and through our lives and the world around us. Services are a blend of contemporary music, informal interaction, contemplative moments and challenging teaching from the Bible. At least once a month we share in Holy Communion and there is always an opportunity for individuals to be prayed with.

The children are an important part of the Oak Tree ‘family’ – they are the Church of Tomorrow, Today. For part of each Sunday the 3-10+’s participate in their own programme of worship and teaching (Kidz Club) and we have a creche in operation for 0-2’s.  More info on the Childrens Church page.

Through our worship together we aim to grow in relationship with God and with one another, learning to become disciples of Jesus and a true community of God’s people in this part of London.

We look forward to seeing you at Oak Tree soon.

Oak Tree Policy on Admitting Children to Communion

The ACC decided in principle to admit *children to Communion in July.

But the ACC also wanted to keep a balance between admitting children from baptism (the only true membership of the church) and a need for understanding and teaching on the subject.

We also have to follow regulations of the Church of England on this issue.

Our policy is therefore:

1. Baptism is a pre-requisite
2. Baptised children will be allowed to receive communion at whatever age their parents feel that they are ready to do so. In other words when the parents feel that their children have appropriate understanding and spiritual awareness of what they are participating in.
3. In such a situation, the parents will be asked to administer the sacrament. Parents giving their children communion should be baptised and receiving communion themselves. If not, they should be encouraged to do so first.
4. There will therefore be no set age for first communion, it will vary from child to child. It may still be the point of confirmation if so wished by the individual and their parents.
5. If there are children who come to church without their parents then the Children’s Worker and Vicar will make a decision as to when the child is ready to receive, once appropriate enquiries have been made to parents/guardians.
6. Both adults and children will also have teaching on Holy Communion at appropriate times.
7. Oak Tree Anglican Fellowship will encourage confirmation for young people in partnership with parents and on an individual basis.
8. We will have a policy of one designated alcohol free chalice.

Summer 2011

This term we are looking at the ancient laws God gave to his people, the ten commandments. Using J John’s excellent resource, we will be discovering how these timeless principles apply to us in the 21st century.

8 May – Commandment 10:  Find True Contentment

15 May – Commandment 9:  Hold to the Truth

22 May – Commandment 8:  Prosper with a Clear Conscience

29 May – Commandment 7:  ‘Affair-Proof’ your Relationships

5 June – Commandment 6:  Manage your Anger

12 June – Pentecost Sunday

19 June – Commandment 5:  Keep the Peace with your Parents

26 June – Commandment 4:  Stop Driving Yourself Crazy

3 July – Commandment 3:  Take God Seriously

10 July – Commandment 2:  Know God

17 July – Commandment 1:  Live by Priorities

I LOVE YOU BUT YOUR BODY MAKES ME SICK.

Dear Oaks,

in John 3:19 Jesus says “people loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”

This weeks devotional is entitled:
I LOVE YOU BUT YOUR BODY MAKES ME SICK.

After 22 years as a church leader I have grown very used to people turning their back on the church.  Sometimes, even quite often, they have cited some way in which the church has let them down.  Other times they have spoken of intellectual reasons or scientific discoveries as to why they can no longer believe.

I always want to take seriously what they say since the church has always to be open to where we can love people better.  I also need to hear the issues around reason and intellect that undermine faith in some.

But I am convinced that the main reason people turn their back on church is that they are in fact rejecting Jesus as their Lord.  Many want him as their saviour but not as their king.

In the verse I began with we see one of the explanations Jesus gives as to their rejection of him.  The reason is that they prefer the darkness to the light; their sin is preferred to discipleship.  So often we might be tempted to blame ourselves when people walk away from the community that is the church but we must always remember that it is not necessarily us they reject but rather the call to The One who is the God of holiness.

Of course I have also heard people say that they love God but they just cannot hack the church.  Whilst we all may have some sympathy at times with this view, it really does not stand up to scriptural examination.  The church is the body of Christ.  It would be like a husband saying to his wife “I love you but your body makes me sick.”

However failed the church might be it is still, and always will be the body of Christ.  As apprentices of Jesus we have no option but to be totally committed to church.  By this I do not mean Sunday services.  Church is much more than that!

But it does include Sunday Services.  This is the one time in the whole week when we can come together as the whole family to worship, to learn and to encourage one another.  It is also the one time in the week when visitors and enquirers can come in and see if God is really up to something or not.

But back to the main point.  The proof of loving God is to be able to love one another.  If people reject the church they are in fact rejecting Jesus.  How do I know?

Let me allow scripture to make the point.
Anyone who does not love his brother or sister (in Christ), whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.”

So why do people turn their backs on church?  Either because there was no real love for God in the first place or because they prefer the darkness to the light, for darkness gives cover to their rebellion.

As for us let us rejoice that God is adding to our number those that are learning both to love God and to live it out in committed community with one another.

Every blessing,

Mark