Christmas at Oasis
We put our Christmas tree up on the weekend! Our tradition used to be the 1st of December, but it didn't feel like we enjoyed it for long enough. What about you, when did you set up your tree? What about listening to Carols? The radio station I listen to has snuck a few in already. In the lead up to December I'm often asked when we're going to start singing Carols. For those asking, we're starting this week the 1st of December! It seems like there isn't enough time to fit all the great songs into one month, but we'll sure do our best.
As a Church this Christmas season, we will explore the wonderful message behind some of our most well-known Christmas Carols in our series 'The Sound of Hope'. During the five-week series we will discover how each of these songs point us to the beauty and wonder of our Saviour. Which songs will we look at, you ask?
Sunday 8th December, O Come O Come Emmanuel
Sunday 15th December, O Holy Night
Sunday 22nd December, O Come All Ye Unfaithful
Christmas Eve & Day, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Sunday 29th December, Go Tell It on the Mountain
We also have the opportunity to sing Carols and Christmas songs at our annual Christmas Festival event. The Christmas Festival is on Sunday the 15th of December. There will be Festival fun with free jumping castles, kids activities, face painting, live music, snow cones, fairy floss, fresh donuts and more! The Festival runs from 4pm to 7pm and Carols shows are at 3pm, 5pm, and 7pm. As we were reminded on Sunday, there are lots of ways we can support this event. How can you help? First of all… come along and invite your loved ones! Share the Facebook Event on your social media, give a flyer to your colleagues or neighbours. Another way you can get involved is to serve, there are lots of ways you can help whether it's directing traffic, making snow cones, facepainting, and so much more! Use this link to sign up today.
We also want to remind you that the Community Dinner is being held next Friday. The Community Dinner is a special three-course dinner we put on for those in our community who are in difficult circumstances. During the dinner we share the good news of Christmas, give gifts to children, and hampers to families in need. It's a wonderful time we can tangibly share the love of Jesus with our neighbours. If you are able to financially give towards the dinner you can do so through our usual giving methods, just reference 'Community Dinner'.
On Sunday the 8th of December we also have an opportunity to bless those in need at New Life Orphanage. New Life Trust is an Australian based Charity that provides relief for orphans and abandoned children in Myanmar. Every year we hold a special offering for New Life's Christmas Appeal. These funds go towards a special Christmas lunch and gifts that are given not only to the children in the orphanage, but also the local community.
We hope you're able to come together either Christmas Eve (6pm) or Christmas Day (9am) for our Christmas Service. We will explore the birth of Jesus and discover what it means for our lives and our world.
For all that's going on during this Christmas period we ask that you will join us in prayer. Pray that God will use all that is happening to draw more people to Himself. To open eyes to see the grace and the goodness of Jesus.
'But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.''
Luke 2:10-11
