God's Power Today

CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE MARCH 2012

GOD’S POWER TODAY

INSIDE THIS ISSUE MINISTER IN THE MIRACULOUS - BY ROY TODD YOUTH UPDATE SCHOOL UPDATE

Refreshments will be served at the end of the meeting.

Our offering today is for a new fund to support overseas trips.

Buses will be returning to the Seacourt Park & Ride until 1.40pm

CRĂˆCHE Ages 0 - crawling Vale Room

TODDLERS Ages walking - 2 years Cherwell Room

EARLY YEARS Ages 3-4 Ridgeway & Wytham

INFANTS School years 1-2 Hinksey Room

JUNIORS School years 3-6 West Oxford Primary

YOUTH School years 7-11 With guest speaker Tom Buttler who heads up the team that leads Salt and Light Youth UK

GROUPS

WELCOME

THIS MORNING

16+ Our speaker today is Roy Todd Thames Hall

WELCOME TO OUR CELEBRATION

We hope that you enjoy our time together. Above are some useful bits of information about our meeting. If you have any questions, please ask one of the stewards.

minister in the

miraculous

There are three important steps that those who desire to experience the miraculous power of God need to take in order to move in the right direction: 01|THE FIRST STEP TAKES YOU

OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE

This is a huge challenge for many of us. It means being willing to move away from the safety and security of the familiar, trusting someone else to lead you instead, going where you haven’t been before. For me, my initial step into the miraculous was totally unexpected, something which I didn’t even feel prepared for.

Yet whilst my experience is undoubtedly unique, the principle is the same for everyone. That is a requirement to have complete and utter faith in God no-matter what circumstance seems to be before you. But like the mother eagle who swoops down to catch her eaglets when they’re learning to fly, so the Lord is always there for you. He is your guide and it’s a matter of believing in him, confident that he knows the way ahead.

02| THE SECOND STEP TAKES YOU

INTO THE UNKNOWN

Seeing more of the miraculous is a journey after all. Each miracle is different, just as every leaf has a distinct design or all finger prints are uniquely lined. This is where courage must rise up. Some miracles are spectacular. Others aren’t. continued>

03| GOD’S POWER TODAY

Some involve deliverance from circumstances while others are to do with provision of strength to go through challenges.

03| THE THIRD STEP TAKES YOU

BEYOND YOURSELF

A miracle is an extra-ordinary event initiated by divine authority. They don’t happen by the abilities of humans but come about by the power of God. Yet there are undoubted instances of human faith playing an important role in seeing the miraculous happen, even if reason is challenged in the process. We do well to heed the wise words of Proverbs 3:5 ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding’.

I’ve found that the vast majority of un-churched people who I have spoken to are open to God. They’re searching for wholeness, longing for fulfillment and desperate for reality. C. S. Lewis astutely observed that many people are blind to the obvious so need something to get their attention. Surely the multitudes flocked to see Jesus because they saw someone who was authentic, offering real solutions to their real needs. Christ’s message has not changed. He is the same yesterday, today and forever!

In an age that is often closed to organized religion but open to the spiritual, the church needs to rediscover its God-given mandate to minister in the miraculous. To do so is to demonstrate signs to make people wonder – so that they may be shaken from their doubts and disbelief and come in awe and wonder to the God of wonder, who longs to know them and restore them into an eternal friendship with himself.

So you want to see more of God’s power in your life? Well if you do, it’s about living with a conviction that nothing is too difficult with God, no-matter how difficult the situation. He is looking for people of faith. Clever arguments and endless debates are not going to make a difference in a world that’s in desperate need. It is people who know what it is to see the power of God manifested through their lives. When Jesus died on the cross and rose again from the dead, he not only made it possible for us to receive his forgiveness but his ascension made way for the coming of the Holy Spirit so that every Christian can be empowered carry on his work. Miracles are an intrinsic part of God’s good news. The possibilities of what God can do through a person who is truly full of his Spirit are endless.

Whilst western culture is generally not enamored by dry Christianity, in my experience,

ROY TODD

RELEVANT

George Harrison, member of the Beatles, was a spiritual seeker all his life. He once stated: ‘My purpose in life is to find out who am I, why am I here and where am I going – that’s what we all need answering.’ What he was saying is that most people’s life quest is to discover identity, purpose and destiny. He was right: it’s just that so many people seek all the right things in all the wrong places. Yet in Christianity lies the answer: Jesus Christ. Not a religion but a person. He offers reality, fulfilment and wholeness. In him we find identity, purpose and destiny.

KIDS CAMP RUN THE RACE! Didn’t win tickets for the Olympics? You’re in luck because this year Kids Camp is going to Run the Race! There’s will be lots going on with crafts, messy games, campfire, woodland activities, a Camp Olympics and of course learning more about God. Kids Camp is run by The King’s Church, Didcot (part of OCC) and is open to all children currently in Year 1 – Year 6 from OCC churches. Kids Camp will run from 21 to 22 July 2012 at Court Hill, near Wantage.

Year 1 children are invited for Saturday, Year 2 – 6 are invited for the weekend (two full days and one night). Weekend Campers: £40.00 (£36.00 if you pay by 24 June 2012). Day Campers: £20.00 (£18.00 if you pay by 24 June 2012).

Contact Richard and Tessa Case from The King’s Church on 01235 821276 or email richard@casebase. net for more details and an application form.

05| GOD’S POWER TODAY

21 – 22 July 2012

OCC AREA YOUTH Monster Turkey (MT) back in December was just a brilliant time, lots of fun and a great environment for our young people to invite their mates to. The broom ball at the ice rink was amazing (I was on the winning Side!!) and all went smoothly without incident!! If you don’t know what broom ball is then ask one of the young people this morning.

At the end of last year we significantly ramped up our area youth celebration: HIGH voltage praise and worship, lighting, a smoke machine, great speakers and visiting gifted worship leaders to both encourage and invest in our own young worship leaders. These have been powerful times for the young people to engage with God in a relevant way that is challenging, encouraging & focuses them towards

TURKEY

Jesus. Please pray that these will be times of ENCOUNTER for ALL!!!

With the massive success of Monster Turkey in December, throughout 2012 we will be organizing a number of other area socials for the young people known as Mini-Turkey (see the info) as well as the annual MT in December.

Mini-Turkeys will be great opportunities to invite mates to, have lots of great laughs and create memories for the future. (For more info speak to your youth leader).

Please continue to pray for the area team as we look to move forward in shaping the future in all that God wants do in and through the young people of OCC… Looking forward to all that God is doing throughout 2012, Chipper & Anna

TING ICE-SKA S E O G Y KE M MINI TUR ARCH 8-10:30P M 0 3 Y FRIDA £7.20 DAY OUT ICERINK CHURCH IG B E OXFORD H KEY AT T MINI TUR 2 JUNE £30 AY INFLATED SATURD EY GETS BER K R U T I MIN PTEM AILS AY 22 SE FOR DET H T U SATURD O Y / .ORG.UK SEE OCC

RADICAL DISCIPLES MALCOLM DUNCAN EQUIPPED AND EMPOWERED 28 JULY – 1 AUGUST 2012 www.saltlight.org/transform12

KATHERINE RUONALA

At this time of year The King’s School goes into DRAMATIC MODE. Last week, the Primary school put on a musical about the life of Moses called ‘Holy Moses’ with their customary flair, and on Wednesday 28th and Thursday 29th March, the Secondary school are bringing the book of Acts alive with a home grown production entitled ‘Acting Acts’. All welcome (tickets are £4.00 each or £10 per family).

Talking of fundraising, by using the EASYFUNDRAISING web browser, you can help us raise money for the school. Why not visit http://www.easyfundraising.org. uk/register-supporter/?char=18572? Also we are collecting Active Kids Vouchers: if you can collect these from Sainsbury’s and pass them on to your representative these are a great way of getting free equipment for the school.

The Primary School recently held an OPEN DAY – a chance to see the school in action and learn about the concept of Christian Education. A good number of families visited us. If you were unable to make it on the day but would like to come and visit, we would love to meet you. Please ring the school office on 01993 778463 and make an appointment.

CHRISTMAS FAYRE: Save the date! The King’s School Christmas Fayre will take place on Saturday 17 November 2012. We are already taking bookings for stalls, and donations towards the Fayre. If you have any new but unwanted gifts, or second hand books in good condition, please pass these on to your church representative: w w w. o cc. o rg. u k / t h e - k i n g s - s c h o o l / news/christmas-fayre-2012.

For stall bookings please contact: Linda Ridgway: linda.j.ridgway@hotmail.co.uk

Last week the Secondary School held ‘PIGLET DAY’: everybody came to school with at least one article of pink clothing in aid of the work of Dr. Jan White in Uganda.

Why piglets? Jan has organized a choir competition to reach out into her local community, and each entry receives a piglet.

We raised £130, which should enable her to purchas six and a half piglets! I believe she has so far attracted thirty six entries!

BOOK! NOW

EARLY BOOKING DEADLINE = EASTER DAY

As we approach the Easter holidays, we rejoice that both the Cross and the Tomb are empty, and Jesus reigns victorious with his Father. HALLELUJAH!

FUTURE CELEBRATIONS 20 MAY: area – with Steve Thomas 01 JULY: centre region celebration 08 JULY: west & south region celebrations 16 SEPTEMBER: regional celebrations 18 NOVEMBER: area - with Joel Edwards

07| YOUTH AND THE KING’S SCHOOL, WITNEY

THE KING’S SCHOOL EASTER GREETINGS!

THE KING’S CENTRE Osney Mead, Oxford, OX2 0ES 01865 297400 office@occ.org.uk

ABINGDON COMMUNITY CHURCH Ed & Kate Evans 01235 521622 ede@occ.org.uk THE KING’S CHURCH, DIDCOT Robin & Lisa Howard 01235 848422 robinh@occ.org.uk HENLEY BAPTIST CHURCH Roger & Di Cole 01491 576883 rogerc@dtwo.co.uk SWINDON COMMUNITY CHURCH John & Gail Reeve 01793870916 johnreeveuk@hotmail.com WANTAGE COMMUNITY CHURCH Neil & Denise Townsend 01235 771152 neilt@occ.org.uk SOUTH REGION ADMINISTRATOR Nigel Watt 01367 718 498 nigelw@occ.org.uk

SOUTH REGION TEAM LEADER NEIL TOWNSEND

STEPPING STONES FOUNDATION UNIT New Yatt Road, Witney, OX29 6TA www.occ.org.uk/steppingstones

CARTERTON COMMUNITY CHURCH Matt & Anna Biddlecombe 01993 846510 mattb@occ.org.uk CHIPPING NORTON COMMUNITY CHURCH Paul & Lottie Meathrel 01608 646127 paulm@occ.org.uk COTE BAPTIST CHURCH Richard & Rachel Bloomfield 01993 850134 richnraychbloomfield@btinternet.com COMMUNITY CHURCH, MORTON-IN-MARSH Dan & Kerstin Campsall 01608 812445 danc@occ.org.uk NORTH WITNEY COMMUNITY CHURCH Gary & Jackie Pizzey 01993 702615 garyp@occ.org.uk WEST WITNEY COMMUNITY CHURCH Jason & Jennifer Huffadine 01993 702979 jasonh@occ.org.uk WYCHWOOD HOUSE CHURCHES Tony & Charlotte Osborn 01993 878169 tony_osborn99@yahoo.co.uk WEST REGION ADMINISTRATOR Matt Biddlecombe 01865 297400 mattb@occ.org.uk

WEST REGION TEAM LEADER GARY PIZZEY

THE KING’S PRESCHOOL, BICESTER www.occ.org.uk/bicester

GEOFF & MARY NORRIDGE 01993 772375 GeoffN@occ.org.uk

CEDRIC & AUDREY HOBBS 01993 700295 CedricH@occ.org.uk

DAVID & ROSIE FREEMAN 01865 751474 DavidF@occ.org.uk

BRYN & DOROTHY FRANKLIN BrynF@occ.org.uk

ROGER & DI COLE 01491 576883 rogerc@dtwo.co.uk

MIKE & LIZ BEAUMONT 01865 864253 MikeB@occ.org.uk

STEVE & LORRAINE THOMAS 01993 850990 SteveT@occ.org.uk

APOSTOLIC MINISTRY TEAM TEAM LEADER STEVE THOMAS

Oxfordshire Community Churches | A Family On Mission Together | Registered Charity 1056921

THE KING’S SCHOOL, WITNEY New Yatt Road, Witney, OX29 6TA 01993 778463 www.occ.org.uk/tks

COMMUNITY CHURCH, THAME Kevin & Debbie Bowers 01844 260319 kevinbo@occ.org.uk CENTRE REGION ADMINISTRATOR Andrew Clark 01865 297420 andrewc@occ.org.uk

Oxford Church Office 01865 297420 oxford@occ.org.uk

PATHWAYS CHURCH, BANBURY Barrie & Mary Wood 01295 279268 barriew@occ.org.uk BICESTER COMMUNITY CHURCH Steve & Tammi Beegoo 01869 240651 steveb@occ.org.uk THE LEYS COMMUNITY CHURCH Chipper & Anna Betts 07985 982804 chipperb@occ.org.uk LIFEHOUSE COMMUNITY CHURCH, KIDLINGTON Mark & Katherine Eley 01865848659 markeley84@gmail.com OXFORD COMMUNITY CHURCH Stephen & Beverley Jones 01865 402141 stephenj@occ.org.uk

CENTRE REGION TEAM LEADER STEVE JONES