by Office Manager | Dec 31, 2014 | 2014, Newsletter Articles
Messenger renewals are due January 15, 2015. If you are a current subscriber and your membership is expiring in 2015, you have already received an email or phone call informing you of this. Renewal prices are $14.50 for 1 year; $27.00 for 2 years. Please place your check made out to Oakton Church of the Brethren (with Messenger of the memo line) in the white box in the Narthex labeled Messenger Subscriptions or give your check to Shirley Roth. First time subscribers can join for a bargain price of $7.25 per year. Please call Shirley at 240-461-2235 if you have any questions.
by Office Manager | Dec 26, 2014 | 2014, Newsletter Articles
MANY THANKS to our guest speakers, who did a great job of keeping the pulpit filled during the recent months! Jan Burket, Leslie Connolly, Angela Finet, Kip Kosek, Matt Landes, and Vern Wingert, and the Jr. High class under the direction of Jan and Brian Bachman.
by Office Manager | Dec 24, 2014 | 2014, Newsletter Articles
The Star of Bethlehem has a long history from the Birth of Christ. 3 Wise Men were led to Bethlehem
by the star. Mathew Chapter 2 says that they saw a Star in the East ,following it to Bethlehem. They found the Christ Child there, worshipped him and gave him gifts
My experience was a trip to Israel near Christmas 1996. My singing group sang in Manger Square with Church of the Nativity nearby. After singing perched on supports of a huge Christmas tree, I headed for the edge of the Square, then I looked up at the sky .There was one bright shinning object in the sky over Bethlehem Could that be the Star of Bethlehem? I was not sure. Anyway, that was a special time for me with much to see and explore in Israel on that trip.
Many carols have Stars in their words.
OH Holy NIGHT
The Stars are brightly shining (night of Savior’s Birth)
OH Beautiful Star of Bethlehem
Beautiful Star of Bethlehem shine on us
Jesus is now that Star divine
Oh Little Town of Bethlehem
Silent stars go by
Dark streets shineth (stars are shining)
Away in a Manger
The Stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay
Silent Night
Wondrous Star, lend your light
-Submitted by Lincoln Cory
by Office Manager | Dec 17, 2014 | 2014, Newsletter Articles
In the spring of 2014, our church embarked on the Vital Ministries Journey (VMJ) process. VMJ is a deliberate approach, using study and reflection of short Bible passages in a small-group setting, to examine who we are as a congregation and what we aspire to be. More than 40 of us participated in the small groups. We then got together for a celebration gathering after church one Sunday, where we shared the perspectives of our individual groups and reflected on what the VMJ process meant to us. The Board and the Deacons then met in a retreat setting where we further shared our findings.
It has always been our intent to continue with the VMJ process as we move forward in our lives together at the Oakton Church of the Brethren. We named a small working group comprising Leslie Connolly, Rob Powell, and Gretchen Zience who were responsible for strategizing what our next steps might be. To that end, this working group has met and has discussed how we should go forward. We decided that we would like to provide our reflections through several installments that we will share in the bulletin and newsletter.
Therefore, this first installment is meant to recap briefly where we’ve been in this journey, as we’ve summarize above. In the future, we’ll talk about what we heard you say about what is important in our lives together. We’ll also reflect on where we want to go in the future and how we think we’ll get there. In the meantime, please feel free to contact any of us if you have questions or comments.
Leslie Connolly, 571-296-7097
Rob Powell, 703-476-1656
Gretchen Zience, 703-244-7190
by Office Manager | Dec 17, 2014 | 2014, Newsletter Articles
Rev. Musa Mambula of the Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) will be speaking at Meadow Branch COB on Sunday afternoon, December 21, from 4-5:00 pm. Rev. Mambula will update us on the situation in Northern Nigeria where the Boko Haram has been persecuting Christians, the majority of whom are EYN members. There will be an opportunity for a love offering to support the Nigeria Crisis Fund of the Church of the Brethren which will be matched by the Mission and Ministry Board up to $500,000. For more information on the event please call Meadow Branch Church (410-848-7478). For updated information on Nigeria, go to www.brethren.org and follow the links.
by Office Manager | Dec 16, 2014 | 2014, Newsletter Articles
You are invited for Christmas Eve Worship, Communion, and Candle-lighting on Wednesday, December 24 at 7:00 p.m. Angela Finet will bring a message on the theme “The Response to the Knock” and there will be congregational singing, soloists, and instrumentalists. Please plan to add this worship opportunity to your holiday schedule.
