DECEMBER 3, 2008
VOLUME LV  NUMBER 7
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CHRISTMAS MISSIONS EMPHASIS
Prayer Meeting on Wednesday, December 3, will be led by Pat and LaMon Brown, Oakhurst members who serve with International Ministries of the American Baptist Churches. LaMon teaches Bible and other courses at Payap University in Chiang Mai, Thailand. In addition to Thai students, others come to the school from tribal groups in Thailand and Myanmar (Burma), so the impact of Payap University extends even beyond Thai society. As LaMon relates to students at Payup University, Pat develops relationships with women and children in deepening their faith and helping them to discover ways in which they can be effective in their ministries. She also consults with parents of children with special needs.

HANGING OF THE GREENS
We decorate the sanctuary for Advent and Christmas, for all ages. Cherub Choir will sing. Join us for church supper at 5:45 p.m., followed by this service which begins in the Fellowship Hall, and proceeds up to the Sanctuary. (To make a reservation for Wednesday supper, contact Cathy in the church office, ext. 221, or cathy@oakhurstbaptist.org at  before Tuesday at noon.)

SCHEDULE FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
12:00 p.m.    Centering Prayer Group (Chapel)
5:45 p.m.    Church Family Supper
6:15 p.m.    Childcare for infants and toddlers (Room 106)
6:30 p.m.    Carol Choir (Room 109); Cherub Choir (Room 108); Handbell Choir (Room 300)
6:30 p.m.    Prayer Meeting: Christmas Missions Emphasis led by Pat and Lamon Brown, missionaries from Thailand (Prayer Meeting Room)
7:40 p.m.    Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal (Room 103)
Thursday, December 4, 2008
10:30 a.m.    Good Fellowship Club (Fellowship Hall)
Friday, December 5, 2008
6:30 p.m.    Rainbow Fellowship Potluck (Ken and Lisa Stone’s house)
Saturday, December 6, 2008
                    Sparta Prison Trip
9:00 a.m.    Children’s Advent Festival for ages 3–grade 5
Sunday, December 7, 2008—Second Sunday of Advent: Hope
                    Messenger deadline
9:00 a.m.    Café Oakhurst (Fellowship Hall)
9:30 a.m.    Church School for all ages
10:50 a.m.    Morning Music: What4
11:00 a.m.    Worship
1:00 p.m.    Gospel Choir rehearsal (Room 103)
1:00 p.m.    Youth and Parents lunch (Twain’s)
3:00 p.m.    Reception in celebration of Edith and Harold Williams’ 65th wedding anniversary. All are invited. (Fellowship Hall)
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
12:00 p.m.    Centering Prayer Group (Chapel)
5:45 p.m.    Church Family Supper
6:15 p.m.    Childcare for infants and toddlers (Room 106)
6:30 p.m.    Carol Choir (Room 109); Cherub Choir (Room 108); Handbell Choir (Room 300)
6:30 p.m.    Hanging of the Greens Service: We decorate the Sanctuary for Christmas. Service begins in the Fellowship Hall and moves up to the Sanctuary. For all ages.
7:40 p.m.    Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal (Room 103)
Thursday, December 11, 2008
6:30 p.m.    Finance Committee (Conference Room)
Saturday, December 13, 2008
2:00 p.m.    Handbell Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary)
Sunday, December 14, 2008—Third Sunday of Advent: Love
 9:00 a.m.    Café Oakhurst (Fellowship Hall)
 9:30 a.m.    Church School for all ages
10:50 a.m.    Morning Music: Handbell Choir
11:00 a.m.     Worship
1:00 p.m.    Gospel Choir Rehearsal (Room 103)
5:30 p.m.    Youth and Deacons meet to participate in Love Feast.
6:00 p.m.    Moravian Love Feast. Child care provided. Reception in Fellowship Hall to follow.

MORNING MUSIC
Morning Music begins November 30 and continues until January 11. Plan to be here at 10:50 each Sunday to enjoy music by a wonderful variety of Oakhurst musicians. Brochures with all of our Advent/Christmas/Epiphany events are available at the church or online at www.oakhurstbaptist.org.

CHILDREN’S ADVENT FESTIVAL
The Children’s Advent Festival will be Saturday, December 6, from 9 a.m. to noon for Kindergarten though fifth grade. (Pre-schoolers age 3 and older are welcome but must be accompanied by a parent.) The Advent Festival is an Oakhurst tradition when children make crafts and bake and or decorate
cookies at various stations in the Fellowship Hall. For more information, contact Lou Clymore.

CHURCH CHRISTMAS PARTY
Please join us for this year’s all church Christmas Party on Wednesday, December 17. We will eat church supper together at 5:45 p.m., followed by an intergenerational play directed by Rick Epting in the Sanctuary. The play is called Matt and Lucy’s Version Births, starring Will Swinson as Matt and Pat Craft as Lucy. The Cherub and the Carol Choirs will both sing and will be joined by a special adult quartet for some songs. Of course there will be angels, shepherds and wise men. You will be so very, very sorry if you miss this one. After the play, we will enjoy the desserts we all bring in the Fellowship Hall.

WE NEED BUN BAKERS
This year’s Moravian Love Feast will be December 14. We need 12 people to do this in order to make it happen. Please contact Bob Herndon if you can help.

REMINDER
Edith and Harold Williams’ 65th Wedding Anniversary Reception
December 7, 3:00-5:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall

HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH  EVENTS
Below is info to mark your calendars. There will be a deposit due and a deadline to sign up by December 15. More details on cost will follow but some preliminaries are included below.  
January16-18: Retreat with Glendale Baptist Church youth in Nashville, Tennessee
(The youth of Granville First Baptist may also join us)
We will stay in the homes of Glendale youth. On Saturday, we will have a retreat focusing on the PeaceJam curriculum and will have Saturday evening free. We will worship with Glendale on Sunday and participate with their youth in the service. Each youth who is able will be asked to contribute to the cost of common meals, transportation, and other costs to be determined as we plan with the Glendale leaders.
Note: The event below is only for those currently in high school. However, current eight graders who might want to be involved in future PeaceJams are invited to the event above.
PeaceJam Conference at Florida State University in Tallahassee
We will leave on Friday, March 20, as soon as everyone going is available. PeaceJam is Saturday, March 21, 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. Sunday, March 22, 8 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. We will depart as soon after 3:30 as possible. More information on costs will follow. Note: as always, funds are available for any Oakhurst families who need assistance.

DISCERNMENT CLASS
You are invited to attend a new six-week Church School class on discernment starting Sunday. January 11. at 9:30 a.m. on the third floor of the educational building. This class has been designed to create a context for discerning spiritual gifts, callings, and/or ways to be connected to our community. The class will also provide reflection, feedback and information about the processes and procedures that guide our community. If this context sounds like it meets a need for you, then we would love to spend these mornings with you. Please let us know if you plan to attend by calling or emailing Janet Fluker. 

YOUTH & PARENTS LUNCH FIRST ­SUNDAY EACH MONTH—DECEMBER 7
The first Sunday of the month Youth and Parents meet after church at 1:00 p.m. at Twain’s in Decatur for lunch and fellowship. All middle and H.S. youth and their parents are invited.

OUR NEWEST MEMBERS
Members Who Joined on Great Day, November 23
EunSun Alexander •  Matthew Alexander • Tyler Askew
Gabriel Haggray • Annie Hardison-Moody* • Michael Johnson
Willa Rose Johnson • Peter Kilmarx • Jeff McLendon
B.J. Morris • Kim Owen • Kurt Shifflett
Karol Eubanks Vellines • Steve Vellines • Rebecca Waugh
Elizabeth Wilson
*Joins as a Friend of Oakhurst
 
RAINBOW FELLOWSHIP POTLUCK
We are honored to once again host the Rainbow Christmas Potluck gathering on Friday, December 5, starting at 6:30. It is a general potluck.  David & Dalon are bringing some ham and we’ll be providing a meat dish and a dessert (maybe a side, too, depending on the events of the day) as well as the drinks. Please reply all and let everyone know what you plan to bring so we can fill in as needed. We look forward to celebrating Christmas with our friends in the Rainbow Fellowship. [The Oakhurst Rainbow Fellowship (lesbians, gays, bisexuals and friends) has a potluck/fellowship each quarter. If you would like to be added to the mailing list to receive an email about each gathering, please contact Cathy in the church office. Everyone is welcome!]
                    —Lisa and Ken Stone

TREASURER’S REPORT
for period ending October 31, 2008
Cash in Checking Account                        $256,420.14
Revenues Year To Date                               481,529.69
Expenses Year To Date                                538,351.15
Total Revenues less Expenses                  ($ 56,821.46)
Building Fund receipts less expenses        ($35,145.42)
All other receipts less expenses                 ($21,676.04)

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OAKHURST BAPTIST CHURCH
Every member a minister
CHURCH TELEPHONE 404-378-3677 • FAX 404-378-3225
www.oakhurstbaptist.org
    Lanny Peters                    Pastor (lanny@oakhurstbaptist.org)
    Melanie Vaughn-West     Pastor (melanie@oakhurstbaptist.org)
    Karen Shipp                     Minister of Music (karen@oakhurstbaptist.org)
    Cathy McGaughey          Office Manager (cathy@oakhurstbaptist.org)
    George Payne                  Custodian
    Rachel Frank                   Assistant Minister
    Ben Curry                       Seminary Intern

Oakhurst Recovery Program
ORP Office Phone: 404-371-0590; Fax: 404-371-0577
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   Joe Canzoneri                Editor, The Oakhurst Messenger
Published 25 times a year (bi-weekly except in July and December)
by Oakhurst Baptist Church, 222 East Lake Drive, Decatur, GA 30030