Does Jesus still heal today? Do you pray like you believe he does? What if He doesn’t answer your prayer in the way you wanted? Randy helps you find out how to grow your faith in the healing power of Jesus in this look at Mark 5:21-34.
A Bright Shining Update
December 3, 2009 By
I hope you survived Thanksgiving and Black Friday and have turned the corner toward Christmas with your waistlines and bank accounts intact 
Yesterday we decorated the church and its beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Twin Oaks. This Sunday night is the children’s Christmas program, Sunday morning we give our Christmas gifts to Jesus, and the next Sunday we bring our “Wish Upon a Star” gifts to present to Him to use to spread His light in our community. The before you know it is Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and on to a new year.
In other words, this month is flying by and I want to challenge you to pause in the midst of the rush and take time to do one very important thing: SHINE BRIGHT! In Philippians 2 Paul urges us to “…shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life…” We’re talking this month about the light of truth, hope, peace, and love that Christ came to shine in a dark world. But now He tells us that we are the light of the world and we are commanded to reflect His light. So in these next few weeks get out there and love. Get out there and share. Get out there and give. Look for ways to shine His love in the darkness. (You’ll find a few in this update) Begin by inviting a friend or relative to try Twin Oaks. This is the best time of year to invite someone to come to church. You have what they need. In a dark world you have the light. So Shine Bright.
THIS SUNDAY we’ll continue our SHINE BRIGHT series with a look at “Shining Hope.” In these tough times hope is in short supply for a lot of people. Many find themselves lost in the darkness of debt, disease, depression, divorce, or doubt. But in the darkness a light shines. Isaiah prophesied: “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light.” (Isaiah 9:2) That light is Jesus and through Him we have hope, even in the darkest night. If things are looking dark for you right now, don’t miss this message. And if you have a friend who needs hope right now, invite them this Sunday. They’ll be glad you did.
Detroit outreach – THIS Saturday – 10AM-4PM. Twin Oaks’ Detroit Outreach is looking for volunteers for this Saturday, December 5th, to help make sandwiches and pass them out at Cass Park. If you can help shine the light of Christ this Saturday please contact Harvey at (734)740-1452 or e-mail at harveylinda@hotmail.com.
Birthday Present for Jesus offering – THIS SUNDAY – This special offering (in addition to your regular tithes) we’ll have an opportunity to express our thanks to Jesus for all He’s given us and to give Him the first gift of the season as an expression of our love. Please use the special envelope provided in your bulletin. Please write your tithe #, if you have one, on the envelope and also designate whether you’d like for this gift to go to the general fund or the building fund (Imagine Kids). All envelopes not designated will go to the general fund.
Children’s Christmas Program – THIS SUNDAY – 6:30pm – Come and support our children as they present the message of Christmas.
Decisions for Christ – The last 2 weekends we’ve rejoiced as several people accepted Christ and were baptized or became official members of the Twin Oaks family. Linda Smith and Maggie Smith were baptized and Jim Austin, Anna Blasdel, Richard and Susan Milatz, and Jennifer Sandusky became Twin Oaks members. Put faces with the names at http://www.flickr.com/photos/24147812@N05/sets/72157603995712040 and welcome these folks next time you see them. And keep them in your prayers.
Christmas Eve – December 24th – 5 and 6:30pm. Christmas Eve is the most traditional thing we do all year. It is a very beautiful time of reflection through songs, carols, communion, and candle lighting that is guaranteed to move you and to bring your focus to Jesus – the greatest gift ever given. Invite your friends and family to join you for this special night. Make Christmas Eve at Twin Oaks a new part of your family tradition. Childcare for infants-toddlers will be provided (and we encourage parents to take advantage of it please)
Christmas Eve volunteers needed – We need several nursery volunteers for Christmas Eve. Contact Rhonda Dolunt 313-383-4332 or rhdolunt@yahoo.com so she can make sure you’ve had your background check completed. We also greeters and communion servers at each service. Sign up at the Ministry Center to volunteer.
Seamstresses Needed - Calling all sewers!! When the missions team goes to Cambodia in February, we will be taking 144 dolls with us. That’s where you come in. We need experienced sewers to sew clothes for these 144 dolls. If you would be interested in helping, please contact Chris Wheeler at buckmom@hotmail.com or 734-671-8300 to get fabric and instructions and dolls.
Sermons on video – Thanks to Steve Kalmar’s dedicated work you can now watch the past Sunday’s message online at http://vimeo.com/tocc. Add the link to your favorites for those rare weeks when a contagious illness keep you from being here in person. (Just remember that the camera adds 20 lbs
Joke of the week - As a lobbyist in Washington, DC, I’d just finished up a meeting with a Congressman when I stopped to use the restroom.
After washing my hands, I stepped over to the hand dryer and noticed that someone had taped a note to the machine.
The note said, “Push button for message from Congress.”
Have a great week and I’ll see you (and your guests) Sunday,
Randy
Birthday Present for Jesus Change
December 2, 2009 By
I’m sending you a special email to let you know of a last minute change in our annual Birthday Present for Jesus offering. If you are new to Twin Oaks let me explain that each year we take up a special offering in December that we call a “Birthday Present for Jesus”. This is an offering given above and beyond your regular tithe and it is a way to put Jesus first and give the first gift of the season to the One whose birth is the reason for the season. This special offering, which will take place this Sunday, has for years been designated to the building fund to help us make room for more people to come to Jesus. While that is still a valuable goal of ours and we do need to expand, the critical recession we are in has led the elders to make an adjustment to this year’s offering. We are giving you the option this year of designating this gift to either the building fund or the general fund. You will receive a “Christmas Offering” envelope in your bulletin Sunday and you can write on the envelope or on your check: “Imagine Kids” (the name of the building fund) or “General Fund”. Also, please write your tithing number on the envelope as this will save time for our financial secretary.
The reason we are offering a choice in designation between these two needs is that we currently have a $26,000 deficit in our accounts that we need to make up before the end of the year. As is true in most churches in the country, and especially in Michigan, the recession has taken a toll on our offerings at Twin Oaks the past 6 months. Each week we receive an average of $2,000 less than our weekly expenses and we need to erase that deficit. While many area churches have cut staff and ministries to deal with their deficits, the leaders of Twin Oaks believe that you, the people that have helped make Twin Oaks the great church that it is, would rather have us go forward with faith and trust you to join us in meeting the challenges ahead.
This is a time of great opportunity. With so much uncertainty in our state and country many people are waking up to the fact that they need something solid to build their lives on. People are open to Jesus’ leading that never were before. This is evidenced by the record number of people who have accepted Christ as their Savior at Twin Oaks this year. (95 precious souls have been baptized into Christ so far in 2009 with more on the way this weekend. At the same time our impact on missions around the world has never been greater) So while we are being more disciplined than ever using the resources that we have, we believe more than ever we need to shine the light of hope through Christ to our community. While we have made many cuts in the budget, frozen salaries, and have for the first time in years actually lowered the budget for next year, we do not believe that we can afford to reduce any of our vital staff and still accomplish the great calling that God has given this church. We feel certain you would agree.
So please prayerfully consider giving the first gift of the Christmas season to the One who has given us everything. The One who’s birth and life and death is the greatest gift we’ve ever received. If your gift is a sacrificial gift of love and faith, it will be pleasing to God no matter the amount. Thank you for helping us SHINE BRIGHT the light of Christ this Christmas and in the new year.
Thanks and God bless,
Randy
A Transforming Update
November 19, 2009 By
The long and winding road that has been our “Help!” series comes to an end THIS SUNDAY with the message: “HELP! I Need Transformation.” Does your walk with Jesus seem stuck in neutral? Are you struggling with the same issues year after year? Does your “new life” in Christ look an awful lot like your “Old life” before Christ? Then come this Sunday and find out how to be transformed by getting the Spirit into your life. This would be a good Sunday to bring a friend.
As we come to the end of this series I want to thank Emery and the band for the tremendous job they’ve done breathing new life into some 40 year old Beatles songs (it’s been fun hearing these songs in church). Thanks to Bill Dailing for the great “HELP!” sign above the stage. And thanks to all of you who’ve taken the time to email positive feedback on the messages. It helps to know that we’re making a difference and that some people really do apply on Monday what they hear on Sunday.
Decisions for Christ – Last weekend the baptistery was busy as 7 more precious souls were baptized as an expression of their commitment to Christ. On Saturday we rejoiced as Irene Biroscak, Novely Figuerua, and Lillian, Julias, and Illeanna Torres were baptized and then on Sunday Anna Blasdel and Maggie entered the waters of grace. 94 people have been baptized into Christ at Twin Oaks this year (a new record) and more are expected to take that step of faith this coming Sunday. If you’d like to join them or if you have questions about accepting Christ or baptism, give me a call. Please check out the photos of these recent decisions at http://www.flickr.com/photos/24147812@N05/sets/72157603995712040 and keep them in your prayers as they follow Jesus.
Discovery 101 – THIS SUNDAY – 5-7pm – This is a class for anyone who is new to Twin Oaks and wants to know about our beliefs, history, future vision, ministries, and what membership means here. In addition we will cover how to become a Christian and answer your baptism questions. This class is also a prerequisite for anyone wanting to become an official member of Twin Oaks. Sign up Sunday at the Ministry Center or email me for more information.
Elections – THIS SUNDAY – Don’t forget that we’ll have a short congregational meeting after each service this Sunday to elect new elders and deacons. Dale Hendershot has been nominated to be a new deacon and Dan Watkins has been nominated as elder. In addition, Jeff Prong is up for re-election as elder and Greg Dube, Lawrence Hrabnicky, and Josh Wheeler as deacons.
Women’s Christmas Tea – Friday, December 4th – 6:18pm -This year’s theme is “Mary, Did You Know”. Sherri Willitt from Flint is our guest, and you will not want to miss this! Table sign-up with hostess/guests will begin Sunday, November 1st. The cost will be $5 plus every guest needs to bring a large appetizer and the hostess will provide the dessert and decor. Check the table in the foyer for further information. This has become a memorable CHRISTmas memory for our ladies. Don’t miss it!
In2It Crafts - Saturday, December 5 – 10am – Interested in learning some new crafts? This is the group for you. Our first class will meet soon. The fee is $10 + a few assorted supplies. The $10 covers your painting supplies, which can also be used on future projects. If you’d like to attend this class, please give your money to Chris Wheeler before the class meets and pick up your list of supplies you need to bring with you. There is a sign-up sheet at the Ministry Center. This class will be fun and you’ll go home with a finished project.
Birthday Present for Jesus offering – December 6th – Every December we take up a special offering that we call a “Birthday Present for Jesus”. It is our way of putting Jesus first and giving the first gift of the season to the One whose birth is the reason for the season. Your gifts (above and beyond your regular tithes) will go toward the much-needed Phase 2 expansion. For those who made “IMAGINE KIDS” commitments this offering goes toward that pledge. For others this is a way for you to join in. Special envelopes will be available or you can use your regular tithe envelopes and just note which check is for “Birthday Present…”
“Wish Upon a Star” got off to a great start last Sunday as almost all of the stars were taken from the tree. More have been added for this Sunday so if you’d still like to help a local child in need have a merry Christmas, please take a star or 2 this Sunday. We are working through the local schools to reach out to these children by providing Christmas gifts (of $20 or less) from Twin Oaks. (Please make these purchases after your tithes and offerings, not with them) Don’t forget to return the wrapped gift with the star attached on December 13th when we will present them as an offering to Jesus during the services. For more information contact Jackie Simpson at 734-247-4848. She’ll also need several volunteers to sort and deliver the gifts.
Media team help needed - The Media Team needs your help. Be a part of creating and displaying what you see on the screens every Sunday during service. You don’t need to be a computer expert. All you need is a willingness to learn and a few hours a month. Come and join this exciting ministry. For more information contact Emery Sears at worshipminister@hotmail.com or Lisa Fivecoat at princess5coat@yahoo.com
Have an old guitar you want to unload? One of the families that was contacted for the “Star” outreach mentioned that their teenage daughter would really love a used guitar but obviously they can’t afford one. If you have one you’d like to donate let Jackie know at 734-247-4848.
Financial thanks – In yesterday’s mail we received 3 tithing checks from people that I’m assuming will be out of town this weekend and wanted to make sure they took care of their tithe first. This has been happening more often lately. Let me say thank you to all of you who are taking your financial support of Twin Oaks and your commitment to God seriously in these tough times. Each week our offerings are below expenses and we need everyone who calls Twin Oaks home to be faithful in their giving if we are going to avoid cutting ministries. With everyone doing their part and trusting God we’ll make it through this recession.
Joke of the week - A man went to the police station wishing to speak with the
burglar who had broken into his house the night before.
“You’ll get your chance in court,” said the desk sergeant.
“No, no, no!” said the man. “I want to know how he got into
the house without waking my wife. I’ve been trying to do
that for years!”
Have a great week and I’ll see you (and your guests) Sunday,
Randy
