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Oxford SDA Sabbath Service 11th January 2025

The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The LORD is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works. All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee. They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power; To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of His kingdom. Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations. The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down. The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season.

Psalms 145: 8-15 (KJV)

Announcements

Change of pastors - Pr Tihomir Zestic - On 15th December, 2024, the SEC Executive Committee voted to invite Pastor Tihomir Zestic to assume care of Oxford, Oxford International, Banbury and Wantage churches, effective from 1st February, 2025. Pastor Rudi's last Sabbath with us, officially as pastor of our church at Oxford church, is 25th January, 2025. We thank God for Pr. Rudi and his family. They've been a great blessing to our Church for over 5 years and we pray that God grant him grace as he moves to Bracknell soon to look after Bracknell and Guildford churches. Please let us all extend a warm welcome to our new pastor when we comes to Oxford.
Music Ministries:
1. The Church Choir: The music department is inviting new members to join the Church Choir. If you are interested, please see Bro. Kofi, Sis. Nicole, or Sis. Mutsa for more information.
Prayer Ministries:
1. This Sabbath, 11th January, 2025, our services will be focused on the on-going 10 days of prayer that commenced earlier in the week. All are welcome to our fellowship.
2. Our Tuesday, Mid-week prayer and bible study sessions are held in-person at church. Please invite friends, and neighbours, as we stand in the gap, seeking the Lord in Prayer and bible study. We would also like to remind the church community (those who are willing and able) that we will be fasting and praying every other Tuesday of the week in our respective homes. Testimonies and breakthroughs will be shared when we meet for prayer at 7pm at Oxford Seventh-day Adventist Church.
3. GAP prayer group is open to all members who would like to pray and intercede for others. Every day 6am and 2pm. Kindly note that we use a free conference call app for GAP prayer meetings on this website, freeconferencecall.com . To participate:
  1. Download the free App on your mobile or laptop
  2. Then call this number 03330154193.
  3. If prompted, then enter this Access ID: 521037#
We are delighted to invite the church family to our upcoming Baby Dedication Service scheduled for Sabbath, 25th January. This is a wonderful opportunity to dedicate our little ones to the Lord and celebrate the blessings of new life within our church family.
Families interested in participating are encouraged to reach out to Pastor Rudi or any of the Elders (Jan Rabusic, Christopher Streete, Martin Mupandare or Andrew Adongo) by 18th January to allow sufficient time for arrangements. Let us come together as a church community to support and pray for these young lives and their families.
Special thanks to all who prepared a dish for this Sabbath's lunch and to those who will help in serving and cleaning upstairs.
Next Sabbath, 18th January, 2025
1. Sabbath Programme: PRAYER MINISTRIES (conclusion of 10 DAYS OF PRAYER)
2. Elder on duty: Eld. Martin Mupandare
3. Lunch Rota: Sisters Rachel and Rose to coordinate
SEC, BUC and other external announcements:
1. Members of Oxford Church are encouraged to join the SEC '10 Days of Prayer' online service starting on Wednesday, 8th January, 2025 at 7pm. Please see flyer below for more information. Final day will be held in person at Oxford SDA church next Sabbath, 18th January, 2025.
2. The SEC Evangelism Expo will take place from 10am on Sunday, 12th January 2025 at the Newbold College Gym. All church officers are encouraged to attend and tap into the rich resources the SEC is offering.

Order Of Service

09:45am - 10:00am

Sabbath School Service

09:45am - 10:00am

Welcome & Prayer

Praise and Worship

10:00am - 10:50am

Adult Lesson Review:

Church Sabbath School Session:

SS 2025 Quarter 1: God's Love and Justice

Lesson 02: Covenantal Love

Memory Text: "Jesus answered and said to him, 'If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him" (John 14:23, NKJV).

"Keep your wants, your joys, your sorrows, your cares, and your fears before God. You cannot burden Him; you cannot weary Him. He who numbers the hairs of your head is not indifferent to the wants of His children. 'The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.' James 5:11. His heart of love is touched by our sorrows and even by our utterances of them. Take to Him everything that perplexes the mind. Nothing is too great for Him to bear, for He holds up worlds, He rules over all the affairs of the universe. Nothing that in any way concerns our peace is too small for Him to notice. There is no chapter in our experience too dark for Him to read; there is no perplexity too difficult for Him to unravel. No calamity can befall the least of His children, no anxiety harass the soul, no joy cheer, no sincere prayer escape the lips, of which our heavenly Father is unobservant, or in which He takes no immediate interest. 'He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.' Psalm 147:3. The relations between God and each soul are as distinct and full as though there were not another soul upon the earth to share His watchcare, not another soul for whom He gave His beloved Son. "—Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ, p. 100.