"Seeking to do everything for the glory of God"
If you’re on our OEFC email list, you should be receiving these announcements weekly via an Email Newsletter. Those who do not have access to email or are not on our list yet, can pick up a printed copy of them in the Foyer (only a limited number are printed). Please take a minute to read through the announcements each week as they will included updated information. We appreciate your patience as we all adjust to these changes and invite you to share your comments with us via email.
Church Life
THANKSGIVING EVE SERVICE: We hope that you will join us TONIGHT (Wednesday, Nov. 23, at 7 PM) for our Thanksgiving Eve Service. This is something new for OEFC and will be a more intimate, informal time of praise & thanksgiving, with music and testimonies. (Should last less than 1 hour.)
ADVENT COOKIES (for the 4 Sundays prior to Christmas)… Each year we invite the whole congregation to get in on the Cookie-making for our after-church coffee fellowship time. The congregation is divided into 4 groups alphabetically and each family is asked to bring 2 dozen cookies to share on their “assigned” Sunday. Enjoy the holiday baking without having to deal with all those luscious calories sitting around the house. If you can’t bring cookies on your week, please find someone to trade weeks with.
Nov. 27 families: Lesco thru Outram
Dec. 4 families: Panfili thru Wise
Dec. 11 families: Anderson thru Cott
Dec. 18 families: Daniels thru Leggett
The ladies who have been bringing cookies once a month are asked to bring cookies on the week corresponding to the alphabetical grouping above rather than their usual assigned week (in some cases it may still fall on your usual week!). Questions? See Donna Raaberg (office@oefc.org).
ABF CLASS… Adult Bible Fellowship class will not meet on Thanksgiving weekend (Sunday, Nov. 27), but will resume on Dec. 4th, focusing on the prayers Paul prayed in his letters.
SALVATION ARMY’S “Angel Tree”… This year we are getting a bit of a late start, but are planning to once again give you an opportunity to provide gifts for area kids who might otherwise not get a gift. Watch for more information. Once we have the tags, you can pick a tag, purchase the gift, and bring the UNWRAPPED gift to the Church (we'll let you know the deadline as soon as we do). Donations of wrapping paper would also be appreciated so that parents can wrap the gifts themselves. See Beryl Carpenter if you have questions about this year's "Angel Tree" or to let her know you're interested in participating.
LADIES: LAST MINUTE GIFT IDEAS…
Thursday, Dec. 1st @ 6 PM (originally scheduled for Dec. 2nd).
Looking for some last minute gift ideas? We have ideas for family, friends, neighbors & teachers. Come join us for a demonstration-filled evening and some hands-on activities. We will be demonstrating several things with chocolate, sugar scrubs, spiced nuts, hot cocoa stirrers, a gift in a jar, an ornament, and gifts for kids.
There will be samples and lots of giveaways. We are asking for a $5.00 donation for the supplies.
Sign up Sunday on your yellow Welcome card or email the Church Office!
OEFC's ANNUAL CHRISTMAS DINNER...
A Primetime Christmas
Friday, Dec. 9th @ 6:30 PM
Join us for dinner and a drama presentation.
Our dinner: Pork Roast and Rice Pilaf prepared by our own Jim & Penny Helfrick
$7 for adults / $4 for kids (10 and under)
Advance Payment Appreciated!
Our drama: "A Primetime Christmas"
performed by our own Student Ministries
Sign-up with Debbie McIndoo by Dec. 4th!
CHRISTMAS CARD MAILBOX… Once again you will be able to save on postage by placing your Christmas cards for OEFC Family members in the expandable Christmas Card file in the Foyer (starting Nov. 27th). The file is set up alphabetically by last name. Be sure to also check periodically and pick up any cards addressed to you!
CELEBRATE THE GIFT OF JESUS (using tracts)
"The Virgin will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, meaning Savior."Isaiah reminds us of our need for a Savior - that we, like sheep, have gone astray.
Each one has turned to our own way. Do you know someone still wandering, lost and missing the Christ of Christmas? The Christ who loves them and desires to forgive sin and bring joy and abiding peace within. Christmas is a promise. Christ is as near as a personal invitation to come live within.
Many Christmas tracts to share and give are on the foyer table. Jesus IS the Gift that lasts forever.
YOUNG FAMILIES will have a Night Out on Wednesday, Dec 7, 6-8 PM. It’s a chance to leave the kids here while mom & dad go out for dinner, shopping, or whatever. Email Pastor Bart (bartlesco@oefc.org) by Dec.4 to sign up for childcare.
OEFC PRAYER TEAM… If you’d like to join our Prayer Team, praying for the needs shared by our OEFC Family, please see Donna Raaberg or make note of it on your yellow Welcome card. Prayer requests are sent out by email to our Pastors, Elders and our wonderful team of Prayer Warriors throughout the week.
DIRECTORY UPDATE... A NEW OEFC Directory Update page will be coming out soon to add to your Church Directory. It will include several of our newer attenders and new addresses for a bunch of those already listed. You don’t have to be a member to be included!
**If you are not yet listed in our Directory (name, street address, phone, email address and photo), but consider OEFC to be your home church, and would like to be added to our Church Directory, please see Donna Raaberg after the service THIS Sunday or email the Church Office (office@oefc.org)!! We’d like to get digital pictures taken of the new additions ASAP!
A NOTE OF THANKS…
I wanted to say “thank you” to all the mighty people who have been praying for me. I finished my exam Saturday, Nov 19 @ about 4:30pm. I really felt at peace, and had plenty of energy for the 2 day marathon! For those who I didn't get to tell, the exam was 4 hours on Friday and two 3 hour sessions on Saturday. The board's method for evaluating the test results take's 7-8 weeks. The last few months, years even, have been in preparation for the exam and I am looking forward to some time with my family again.
Sincerely,
Margo Panfil
SMALL GROUPS & BIBLE STUDIES...
North Kitsap Small Group: meets Mondays at 7 PM, but locations vary. Please call Cindy (908-5693) for any date/location changes. (NK is taking the month of December off)
Seabeck Area Small Group meets at the Donohoes’ on Tuesdays at 7 PM. (taking Dec. 20 & 27 off)
Keatley Small Group meets at Keatleys’ at 7 PM on Tuesdays. (taking Dec. 13, 20, and 27 off)
Silverdale Small Group meets at Brownings’ on Wednesdays at 6:15 PM. (taking Dec. 21 & 28 off)
Young Families Small Group meets on Wednesdays 6:30-8:00 PM in the Upper Room. Childcare available. See Pastor Bart. (see announcement above about Young Families Night Out on Dec. 7; taking Dec. 21 & 28 off)
Men’s Small Group will NOT meet THIS Saturday (11/26), but will meet on Dec. 3rd at 8 AM in the Upper Room. They will not meet on Dec. 10th as that will be a Men’s Breakfast at 8 AM in the Foyer.
Women’s Bible Study meets Tuesday mornings, 10 AM in the Upper Room, taking an in-depth look at the 23rd Psalm. They will wrap up on Dec. 6th.
Knitting & Crocheting Group… Our knitters will only meet once a month in Nov. & Dec. Our next meeting will be Thursday, Dec. 8th, from 11:30 AM for a luncheon at Merrily Barnebey’s home.
In the Community
FOOD BANK DONATIONS… We collect your donations for the Central Kitsap Food Bank year-round. There is a green in the Foyer is for your canned food and other non-perishable items. Flour, sugar, etc… the kitchen staples… are always needed, as well as canned meats, veggies, pasta, fruit, etc.
PEARSON PARTNERSHIP—SWEATPANTS: There is an ongoing need for sweatpants in sizes XS – Large for kids to change into if they have an accident at school or fall in the mud on the playground. See Karol Rarig.
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