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Why So Gloomy on Good Friday?
Throughout my years of ministry I have heard some say they do not like a Good Friday service. “It is too depressing,” some have said. Why have a service focused on the death of Christ and our sin when we are forgiven, post-resurrection Christians? Let me give three answers to that question.
- Joy is Maximized When Pain and Sacrifice are Fully Appreciated
The old saying goes something like, “You never know what you have until it’s gone.” The underlining truth in this statement is that we often take for granted, and hence don’t fully enjoy, the good things we have in life. How easy this is to have happen with our enjoyment of the blessings we receive from God! The Good News is that God’s blessings are never removed from us because we take them for granted.
God invites us to celebrate and sing of his glorious steadfast love. That celebration springs from understanding how desperately we need, yet never deserve, God’s love. The psalmist testifies to this experience: “For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning…You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever!” (Ps. 30:5, 11-12).
Let’s maximize our joy in the resurrection by feeling the weight of our desperate need.
- God’s Presence is More Fully Experienced in Brokenness
Over and over again in Scripture humility is celebrated over pride as the acceptable posture before a holy God. Consider Isaiah 57:15, “For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.’”
While affirming his holiness and transcendence (his “out-of-this-world-ness”), God promises to “dwell” with the contrite and lowly spirit. Contrition is brokenness over sin. Before a holy and eternal God, we have no footing of our own to stand on. Our only hope is his mercy and grace, which he has promised to the humble and broken (see James 4:6). It is only through humility, spurred on by brokenness over sin, that we cultivate a “closer” walk with God.
Let’s draw near to God by being humbled together.
- God’s Grace is Most Effective in Weakness
Isn’t this what Paul affirms in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me”? God so delights to give his grace to the humble and demonstrate his power in our weaknesses. Why wouldn’t we “boast” with Paul of our weaknesses, which are magnified in the death of Christ? Isaiah tells us, “The LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him” (Is. 30:18).
Let’s wait on the Lord for his abundant and sufficient grace!
- Pastor Dale Thiele
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CELEBRATING THE RESURRECTION
Easter is the greatest holiday for Christians. Make plans to join Oak Hills to celebrate the resurrection and prayerfully consider who you will invite to join us.
GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE – Friday, April 18, 7pm in the Chapel at STA
(Communion Served)
EGG HUNT AND EASTER RECEPTION – Sunday, April 20, 9:45am
EASTER MORNING WORSHIP – Sunday, April 20, 10:30am (no Sunday School)
Joyplosion is Coming - June 10-12
Save the dates to be a part of our children's summer Bible program. We'd love for you to help serve our kids and kids in the community. Volunteer here. Kids' registration will begin May 4. Help us spread the word and invite kids.
MISSIONS AT OAK HILLS
SACRED ROAD MISSIONS TRIP –
July 25-August 2
Anyone interested in this missions trip should contact Suzanna Stagemeyer to learn more about the ministry and the details of the trip.
HAITI MISSIONS TRIP –
October 31-November 8
Medical missions and mercy ministry among the poorest in the western hemisphere. Excellent opportunity to share the love of Christ. For more information contact Jamie Paauw.
FOR THE WOMEN
THURSDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY
End of the Year Party – Thursday, April 24, 7pm at Julie Walters’ Home (130 E. Grand St., Gardner, KS 66030)
No study tonight (due to Easter week).
FOR THE YOUTH
SUMMER CAMPS
River Ranch for Sr. High – July 7-11
Clearwater for Jr. High – July 28-31
Excellent opportunities for fun and connecting with other students. Contact Connor Lutz for more information.
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THIS WEEK AT
OAK HILLS
April 18 - April 25
FRIDAY, April 18:
MEN'S BIBLE STUDY @ 6:30am at Perkins (87th & I-35)
GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE @ 7:00pm at STA Chapel, Communion Served
SATURDAY, April 19:
NO MEETINGS
SUNDAY, April 20:
NO SUNDAY SCHOOL
EGG HUNT & RECEPTION @ 9:45am
WORSHIP SERVICE @ 10:30am, Learning Jesus: Celebrating Sickness, Mark 2:13-17; Pastor Dale Preaching
MONDAY, April 21:
NO MEETINGS
TUESDAY, April 22:
SESSION MEETING @ 7:00pm at TBD
WEDNESDAY, April 23:
KID360 @ 7:00pm at Park Woods Presbyterian Church
YOUTH GROUP @ 7:00pm at Park Woods Presbyterian Church
THURSDAY, April 24:
MEN'S BIBLE STUDY @ 6am at Panera Bread (Lackman & 87th)
WOMEN'S BIBLE STUDY PARTY @ 7:00pm at Julie Walters' (130 E. Grand St., Gardner, KS 66030)
FRIDAY, April 25:
MEN'S BIBLE STUDY @ 6:30am at Perkins (87th & I-35)
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OAK HILLS
PRAYER POINTS
Missionaries of the Month:
Ben and Julie Jensen
Ben and Julie Jensen are long-term Mission to the World missionaries preparing to join an established church-planting team in Japan’s third-largest city, Nagoya. The Japanese are one of the largest unreached people groups in the world, and the Nagoya area is the most unreached part of Japan.
Currently, the Jensens live in Olathe as they raise support. During the past two months, they have connected with 15 churches in Kansas, Colorado, New Jersey, New York and Connecticut.
The Jensens have reached 57 percent of their needed monthly support for the mission field. From their March 31 update: “We want to say a big ‘thank you’ to all who are faithfully giving to send us to Japan, and thank you to all who are praying for us, too. We can’t tell you enough how much we value your partnership. We could not pursue God’s call to the mission field without you!”
Other praise and prayer items:
-Ben passed his licensure tests at the beginning of March — a stepping-stone toward his ordination.
-Praise for safe travels as the Jensens connected with new churches. Also, they’re encouraged and thankful to the Lord that progress toward the field seems to be accelerating now that Ben is raising support full-time.
-The Jensens have several relationships with churches and pastors in South Korea, and they’re exploring the possibility of pursuing partnerships with them. Pray for guidance in determining if a trip there would be fruitful.
-Continue to pray for their Japanese conversation partners in Kansas City, Kan., and Fumika as the Jensens reach out to them during their brief time in the U.S. this school year.
The Mark Challenge
As we start a sermon series on the Gospel of Mark, we are challenged to invite someone not attending church to explore Christianity and what it means to follow Jesus by reading Mark. Right now we're invited to pray and start making the invitation:
1. Pray that God would provide a reading partner for you, that he would make clear who to ask.
2. Pray that God would open up the opportunity to read the gospel with this person, that God would open their heart to be receptive to this invitation.
3. Pray for others at Oak Hills as we seek to take up this challenge together.
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For more information about a specific ministry and events, contact the listed ministry leader.
Worship Ministry—Josiah Smith
Youth Ministry—Connor Lutz
Children’s Ministry—Grace Schwabauer
Nursery Ministry—Halle Paauw
Adult Christian Education—Bill Burns
Life Groups—Dale Thiele
Men’s Ministry—Dale Thiele
Women’s Ministry—Ashley Muehlbauer
Mercy & Diaconate—Dan Mangan
Missions—Jamie Paauw
Office Admin. Asst.—Gerie Owens
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