December Parent Newsletter

It's Christmas time! 2024 is right around the corner, and we are gearing up for the end of 2023. Here are a few highlights from last month, some prayers for December, along with what is coming up this month!

November Highlights

In November, we have continued to receive new first time visitor cards from new kids. Most of them are middle schoolers, and it is so great to see the youth invite their friends to come to youth group for the first time!

Additionally, OSM Thanksgiving was a huge hit! Thank you so much for all of you who were able to bring food. We had a great amount, and were able to feed somewhere between 31-34 people. Everybody left with a full stomach and fun memories.

December Prayers

Please join us in prayer through the month of December as we are praying for the following:

Holiday Travels - Let's be praying for all of the families who are traveling to and from Fallon this month. Prayers for safety and fond memories to be made!

Evangelism - This has been working! We still want everyone to come to know Jesus. Without this drive, we become barely more than a social club for insiders. Let's continue to pray - and invite - others into a Christlike community where they might come to know and receive God's grace for them!

December Study - Revelation Ends!

We will be concluding the book of Revelation study on December 10th! This has been a great study, as we looked to what God's plan for restoring all things will be.

On December 17th, we will be doing a Christmas-themed small group Bible study. There will be no middle school Sunday school on Christmas Eve and New Years' Eve.

2024 - New City Catechism

Starting on January 7th, we will be starting our study through the New City Catechism curriculum. This has been one of my favorite studies to go through, and it is one that I believe will be very effective in teaching kids the core fundamental beliefs of Christianity. If you are interested in looking at the catechism, you can find it for free here! There is also a phone app to download. Keep in mind that we will be using the Kid's version to the answers, which are shorter and easier to memorize!

If you are interested in the curriculum we will be using, let me know and I can get that to you!

Christmas Series - "What are we Waiting for?"

The last youth group of 2023 will be December 10th (HS) and December 13th (MS), as we give leaders a break during the holiday season. High school will resume January 7th, and middle school on January 10th.

November 26th marks the start of our Christmas series. Leading up to Christmas, the Church has historically seen Christmas as a time to celebrate the first coming of Jesus, while also anticipating the second return in this season. Though Advent technically begins December 3rd, we will be using the 3 weeks we have to look at 3 reasons why we should be excited about the return of Jesus, as well as invite our friends into this same hope that we carry!

As always, if you are interested in the teaching content or curriculum for any series, reach out and let me know!

OSM Strike Teams are a great way to get plugged in with serving around the church! Here is how it works:

Sign up here!

When I get asked about a service opportunity, you'll receive a text from me!

If you are willing and able, reach out and let me know, then I will connect you with the point person to find a time and date to help!

This can count as service hour opportunities. Just let me know beforehand. If you have any questions, let me know!

* We really want to try and attend as many events as we can, but note that cost, time, and other obligations may intervene with our ability to attend most events.

A Complex Rat Race

Have you ever tried to solve a complex maze on paper? If you begin at the provided starting location(s), you will inevitably lose yourself in so many choices that all seem reasonable, yet most are ultimately futile. It can be frustrating if you are trying to expedite your trek through the maze by starting at the orgin and working your way forward from there. Anyone familiar enough with maze solving knows that the best way to solve a maze is to start at the end, and work your way backward from there. If you know your end goal, you work your way backwards through complex problems with greater ease and efficiency.

During this Christmas season, I have found myself reflecting on the return of Christ. We know that one day, Christ will return to make all things new (Revelation 21-22), and He will finish what He started. Meanwhile, while we are waiting for His return, His Spirit is working within us toward the end goal of forming Christ within us. Paul says this so beautifully in Philippians 1:6, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. In other words, the Spirit of God is working within us with the end goal in mind: forming Christ in us.

Now, I'd like to pose a question for you: What is your end goal in parenting? What is it that you desire your child to be when they become a full adult? Scary question, I know! However, some of you are realizing that an adult child is just 7 years away, others are already looking at their kids and seeing adults! Yikes! In these precious and formative last years of early and middle adolescence, what is your end goal? What do you desire them to know, what principles do you want them to understand, what responsibilities should they be able to handle?

I'm no expert by any means. But I think it's important to keep in mind our end goals in all things, just as the Spirit of God within us reminds us of our end goal: Christlikeness. Don't get caught in the rat race of raising children with numerous choices that all seem reasonable but could prove futile. Discern the end goal, and plan and pray for it with all the time you have left with them in your house! See what God might do with the remaining time when we prayerfully and purposefully bring our end goals into our choices today. I can't wait to see the results!