FINANCIALS

Worship S.S.

10/7 233 133 10/14 226 116 10/21 192 119 10/28 214 113

Midweek

10/3 131 10/10 157 10/17 133 10/24 130

10/31 125

General Fund Giving: Oct. YTD

37,535 250,062 Expenses:

Oct. YTD 23,040 235,547

General Fund Bank Balance

as of Oct. 31

$88,944.90

Missions Fund Qtrly. Obligation

$14,537.50 4th quarter balance

as of Nov. 26 $18,534.63

SUNDAY SCHOOL12/2 Joel & Wendy Ivarson12/9 Cory & Chrysta VanderPloeg12/16 Nick & Becky Erdmann

WORSHIP SERVICE12/2 Joel, Charity, Lily Anderson, Christi

Patterson, Liz Wilson12/9 Vernon Tjossem, Laci Kenney, April

Wilson, Debbie Kelley, Carolyn Kranig12/16 Karen Mugge, Abby Caldwell, Ron &

Jan Brown, Denise Lundell12/23 Joel & Sarah Gnade, Kristen Peterson,

David & Julie Wester12/30 Joleen & Abby Stout, Lorna Wilson,

Dave & Sally Carlson

WEDNESDAY EVENINGS12/5 Christina Dobson, Erin Wilson12/12 CaLeigh & Jeff Olsen12/19 Cindy & Bruce Godbersen

PRAYER ROOM12/2 Kent & Laura Lundquist12/9 Ron & Danette Morgan12/16 Joel & Andrea Orthmann12/23 Lyle & Sue Peterson12/30 Doug & Joleen Stout

CHILDREN’S CHURCH12/2 Wendy Ivarson, Sally & Dave Carlson, Kimberly

Peterson12/9 Bethany Hancock, Charity Anderson, Lyndsay

Wolfswinkel12/16 Tiffany & Ryan Harper, Cody & Kari Stika12/23 Erin Wilson, Charity Anderson, Kristin Patterson12/30 Erin Wilson, David & Julie Wester, Julie Swanson

HEAD GREETER John Beier

S E R V I N G

S C H E D U L E S

ATTENDANCE

NURSERY FOR SPECIAL EVENTSJaron and Liz Wilson

December 2018

If you switch serving times with someone, please notify the office at oakdale@oakdalechurch.com.

NURSERY

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory . . .” (John 1:14)

I’ve come to believe that a little reflection every now and then is a valuable exercise. And in doing a bit of it recently, I’ve realized that I managed to let the summer go by and only use my tent once. I, a guy who loves the outdoors and spends a lot of the year planning and dreaming about our upcoming adventures, set it up and slept in the great outdoors just once. And it was at Valley View Park, just a few yards from the shelter house and its restrooms. How can this be? Lord willing, we’ll make up for it this coming summer!

Well, in my reflection, knowing that Advent and Christmas are just around the corner, my thoughts went from my recent tent-pitching to the Son of God’s tent-pitching. What the Apostle John said about Jesus and his incarnation came to mind, and my thoughts turned from mild disappointment over a summer past to thanksgiving and praise.

Let me share this wonderful tidbit and see if it perhaps stirs in you some similar thoughts and feelings. In a verse that many of us know well and could probably quote since our Sunday School days, the Apostle John says that “the Word became flesh” (John 1:14). The eternal Son of God who has always been, humbled himself, put skin on, and became what he had created. He became human. He was born in Bethlehem by a poor, young woman. This is the incarnation. This is the event that we celebrate and marvel at each Christmas.

But John goes on to stay that he “dwelt among us.” God the Son came to this world; he entered time and space and “tabernacled” (Gr. skenoo) among humanity for some thirty-three years. His eternal spirit dwelt in the same kind of “tent” (II Corinthians 5:1-4) that every other human’s does, and he was therefore vulnerable to weakness, fatigue, and pain. This is what makes him our perfect high priest, our perfect intercessor before the Father. He understands completely our struggles, and he sympathizes with our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:14-15).

And if that isn’t worship inspiring all by itself, think of the significance of the Apostle’s word choice, one that is accurately translated “tabernacled.” Like God dwelt with his people in the Tabernacle during their wandering years, providing revelation and communion, God the Son dwelt among humanity and provided all that and more. The glory of God that was seen at the tabernacle- it was seen in Jesus as well, who was “full of grace and truth.” The Scriptures, many of which were written by eyewitnesses, describe the glory of God that they saw in him (I John 1:1-4).

This Advent and Christmas season, will you pause from the busyness that will be upon us before we know it and reflect on the wonder of the incarnation? Will you resolve to read and to listen to the familiar story of Jesus’ birth with fresh eyes and an open heart? And whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast or not, will you give thanks that Jesus, God’s Son, tented among us as he did, accomplishing everything that the Father sent him to this earth to accomplish, in his life, death and resurrection?

Pastor Jonathan

General Board Report

The board met on November 20 and here is a recap of what’s going on:

• We have been working on a much needed sabbatical policy for our pastoral staff. If will be ready to review by the congregation at the annual meeting.

• We approved technology spending to enhance the video capabilities we offer in the sanctuary. With this upgrade our broadcast of services will be higher quality. So shut-ins, snowbirds, and anyone who missed the service will have a better worship experience.

• We have begun work on the 2019 budget. It is exciting to see the plans that the various ministries have put together for next year. Oakdale continues to be blessed with amazing lay workers, who along with the pastors, carry the load of ministry.

• FYI - Pastor Tyler will hopefully be moving to the family’s new home on December 17. Between now and then we will need some work teams to do some interior painting and a few other improvements. Please watch for that announcement of times, and help us prepare the Stauffer’s home for them.

• THANK YOU! - Three times this week alone I heard people who are new to Oakdale make comments about how loving and welcoming the Oakdale family is. As we continue to move towards a “living life together” model, thank you for your spirit of love and hospitality.

Gene PetersenChairman

Helping HandsThursday, December 13

10 amBring a sack lunch.

General Board MeetingTuesday., December 18

7:00 pm

What’s Happening at

Oakdale?

Oakdale Evangelical Free Church 1207 450th St., Meriden IA 51037

712-443-8385 oakdale@oakdalechurch.com

www.oakdalechurch.com

Oakdale 101 Sunday, December 9

5:00 pm

Oakdale 101 is a class for anyone interested in knowing more about Oakdale Church and the Evangelical Free Church of America. This class is a prerequisite to membership at Oakdale. Please contact Pastor Jonathan or the church office if you would like to attend. We will welcome new members into the church family at our annual congregational meeting in January.

Care Center Worship Services

Please join others as we provide the worship service at Cherokee Specialty Care at 2:30 pm on Sunday, December 16 and at Heartland Care Center in Marcus at 1:15 pm on Sunday, December 30.

Church Directory

We will be printing a new church directory soon and we want all the contact information to be correct. Do you still have your landline phone? If not, or if you have other contact information changes, please notify the church office. We need updated photos of singles and families, especially those with growing children. Please email photos to oakdale@oakdalechurch.com by December 15. A family photo works best when all family members are seated or standing at approximately the same height. Children through college may be included.

Summer Camp Hidden Acres summer camp registration has opened. Visit their website at hacamps.org to view the camp schedule and to register. The early bird registration discount expires March 31, 2019 and some camps are full by then. Be sure to look for the new camps they have added this year.

Sunday School Schedule

There will be no Sunday School classes on

December 23 and 30.

Please join us at 10:30 am for our worship services.

CHRISTMAS AT OAKDALE

Wednesday Schedule

We will not have a meal or Bible instruction on

Wednesday, December 26.

We resume our regular Wednesday family ministries

schedule on January 2.

December 7 Ladies’ Christmas Event, 6:30 pm catered meal

December 16 Children’s Christmas Program, 6:00 pm Everyone is invited to the presentation of “Who Is He In Yonder Stall?” by our Sunday School children. Please bring Christmas cookies and snacks to share for the fellowship time following the program.

December 23 Christmas Caroling in Our Communities starting at 6:00 pm Watch the bulletin for details.

December 25 Julotta at 7:00 am. Join us for a candlelit Christmas morning worship gathering. Julotta is a Swedish tradition. “Jul” is the Swedish word for Christmas and “otta” is the time slightly before dawn.

December 31 New Year’s Eve Game Night at 7:00 pm. Bring board games, snacks, and friends!

Merry

Christmas

Bridal Shower For Bethany Beier

Tuesday, December 11 7:00 pm

All ladies are invited to a bridal shower for Bethany Beier in the church fellowship hall. Bethany is registered at Bed, Bath, and Beyond and Target.

Quilting Adventureswill not meet in December.

The next meeting will be January 3.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11