Oxford SDA Sabbath Service 25th January 2025

4 minutes ago4 min read

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Galatians 6:9-10 (NIV)

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 he 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. Our Tuesday, Mid-week prayer and bible study sessions are held in-person at church and on Zoom. 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.
2. 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 this 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. 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, 1st February, 2025
1. Sabbath Afternoon Bible Study: "Should women wear trousers? And other Christian lifestyle questions."
2. Elder on duty: Eld. Christopher Streete
3. Lunch Rota: Potluck lunch - Each family to bring and share a dish
SEC, BUC and other external announcements:
1. The Diaconate Training will take place this Sunday, 26th January, from 10:00 am to 1:30 pm. This year, joint training is being conducted by the ministerial associations of the North England Conference and the South England Conference in collaboration with the Ministerial association of the British Union Conference.
2. Christian Home and Marriage Week 2025 - this hybrid programme that celebrates and strengthens Christian homes and marriages. You can join us in person or online via SEC Media livestream. See flyer for details: 📍 Venue: Filipino International Church
  🗓️ Dates: Monday, February 10 - Friday, February 14 (No session on Thursday)
  ⏰ Time: 7:30 PM
  ✨ Culmination: Divine Service on Saturday, February 15, at 11:15 AM
3. The SEC Women's Ministries invites all to the Women's Ministries Leadership Conference themed, Empowerment Through Prayer, Faith & Leadership. This will take place, 7th-9th March, 3pm - Friday to 4pm - Sunday. See flyer for details or Click here for registration.

Order Of Service

09:45am - 11:00am

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 04: God Is Passionate and Compassionate

Memory Text: "Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you" (Isa. 49:15, NKJV).

Emotions are often viewed as undesirable and to be avoided. For some people, emotions are intrinsically irrational, and thus, the good man or woman would not be described as "emotional." In some ancient Greek philosophy, the idea of the "rational" man, who is (mostly) either impervious to passions or who rules over his emotions by way of unemotional reason, is prized as the ideal.

Unbridled emotions can be problematic, yes. However, God created people with the capacity for emotions, and God Himself is displayed throughout Scripture as experiencing profound emotions. If God can experience deep emotions, as the Bible consistently portrays, then emotions cannot be intrinsically bad or irrational—for the God of the Bible is perfectly good and possesses perfect wisdom.