December 7, 14, 21 SeriesDecember 7 - Christmas WK1 -Matthew 24:37-44 [Pastor Brandon]
The Point: It's About Living Differently While We Wait.
December 14 - Christmas WK2 -Matthew 3:1-3, Romans 15:4-6 [Haven Pierce]
The Point: Peace Doesn't Mean Quiet - It Means Trust.
December 21 - Christmas WK3 - Matthew 11:2-6, James 5:7-10 [Pastor Brandon]
The Point: Joy Exists Even When Life Doesn't Feel Perfect.
Middle School 9:30AM Service
9:15AM - Donuts and Drinks served
9:30AM - Welcome, Crowd Game, Worship
10AM - Talk Time - Split into groups by grade and gender
10:40AM - Dismiss
December 3 - MDWK Christmas Party!!!
6:00pm Pizza, Photo Wall, Decorate Christmas Sign Craft, Gumdrop Guess
6:30pm Welcome, Group Game MS and HS
6:55pm Christmas Story: Kate F, Dawson P, Everly S, Caleb L
7:10pm Split Middle/High School
7:35pm Tiffs Treats Food Truck - Hot Chocolate and Cookies
8pm Dismiss
What do Middle Schoolers do for Wednesday Night?
MDWK Schedule:
Leading At Home Parent Devotional
Welcome to the Parent Resource Page!
If you have not already, click the link above for a Devotional For Parents by Empowered Homes Ministry.
Sunday Middle School Service 9:30AM
-9:15AM - Super Donuts and Juice served
-9:30AM - Welcome, Crowd Game, Worship
-10AM - Talk Time - Split into groups by grade and gender
-10:40AM - Dismiss
Location: Oakwood Student Pavilion
December 7 - Heart of Hope - Students Help Serve Rudy's Plates and Drinks at both settings.
Believe Weekend - Feb 12,13,14February 13-14, 2026
Cost:
Early Bird: $100 November 19 - December 31, 2025
Regular: $125 January 1 - January 31, 2026
Late: $150 February 1 - February 13, 2026
BELIEVE WEEKEND UPDATE:
Hi Parents & Students,
We hope you’re doing well! We want to take a moment to share an important update about our upcoming Believe Weekend and a shift we’re making to better serve our students, families, and volunteers.
Over the past few years, Believe Weekend has taken place as an overnight retreat at an off-site camp (TBarM). While this model has created great memories and spiritual impact, we’ve also faced growing challenges—rising costs, limited availability, volunteer strain, and increasing logistical concerns.
After seeking wisdom from parents, leaders, and staff, we’ve decided that this year Believe Weekend will move from an overnight camp experience to a conference-style event held here at the church.
We will launch Believe Weekend with a free preview night for everyone on Thursday, February 12 and then students will come to Oakwood on Friday night, February 14 and all day Saturday, February 14 for sessions, breakouts, and fun activities, but will be dismissed home each evening. However, we encourage students who will miss the overnight experience to arrange spending the night with their friends on their own!
Why the Change?
This shift allows us to:
What Will the Weekend Look Like Now?
Although we won’t be staying overnight, students will still experience the core elements that make Believe Weekend meaningful:
We’re confident that this structure will allow us to create an impactful, high-energy weekend that is both spiritually rich and more accessible for everyone!
What’s Next?
The theme for this year’s Believe Weekend is KINGDOM COME. Based out of Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6, our focus will be on equipping students to understand their role living in and bringing God’s kingdom to the world around them. We want to see the students who attend BelieveWeekend be launched back out into the community to take the gospel to their friends, teams, schools, and neighbors.
Registration is live now with our early bird pricing lasting until December 31. You can sign your students up HERE.
In the coming weeks, we’ll send more details about the full schedule and ways to serve. Our goal is to keep Believe Weekend a highlight of the year—one that helps students encounter Jesus and build deep community.
If you have any questions, we’d love to talk more. Thank you for trusting us with your students. We’re excited for what God will do this year!
Grace and gratitude,
Brandon Best & Trevor Pierce,
Oakwood Student Ministry
Looking for a Podcast that works like an "on-the-go" devotional for you and your family?
Listen to Faith Conversations
For some reason, I really, really like Episode 6
Merry MDWK Christmas!!!
Did you pick up the Advent Devotional pass out this past Sunday? Oakwood is stepping through the Advent Season to draw closer to Jesus in preparation for Christmas Time! We have some paper copies left, but if you want to buy a digital copy, CLICK HERE for the Website
One verse that stood out to me today was John 1:4-5.
4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:4-5 ESV
This thought that Jesus is the true light connects with me in a special way. I don't know about you, but I grew up in a small town in the Panhandle of Texas. We had a great community of church friends and knew most of the people that lived by us on the block. One thing that our family did during the Christmas Season was drive around the neighborhood and look at all the Christmas lights. Maybe the small town life, with less to do, left many people with time to decorate the whole place up right. Seeing the lights stand out in the darkness always thrilled my young heart, because Christmas was comming soon!
Fast forward to our time today, the beauty of downtown New Braunfels, all lit up, the lights strung up around the block, all remind us that Jesus is the true light. He shines in the darkness, and darkness doesn't stay in that place. Darkness must flee. Whatever your Christmas tradition looks like, remember that the first light show lit up Christ, our savior, on the day that changed eternity. A baby, lying in a manger, with a star shining above, leading those near and far to the Savior of the World. Darkness had no chance on that day, and it doesn't stick around today either.
TONIGHT!!! December 3 - MDWK Christmas Party!!!
6:00pm Pizza, Photo Wall, Decorate Christmas Sign Craft, Gumdrop Guess
6:30pm Welcome, Group Game MS and HS
6:55pm Christmas Story: Kate F, Dawson P, Everly S, Caleb L
7:10pm Split Middle/High School
7:35pm Tiffs Treats Food Truck - Hot Chocolate and Cookies
>>Weekly Update - Christmas 3 Week Series
Sundays 9:30AM @ Student Pavilion
December 7 - Christmas WK1 -Matthew 24:37-44 [Pastor Brandon]
The Point: It's About Living Differently While We Wait.
December 14 - Christmas WK2 -Matthew 3:1-3, Romans 15:4-6 [Haven Pierce]
The Point: Peace Doesn't Mean Quiet - It Means Trust.
December 21 - Christmas WK3 - Matthew 11:2-6, James 5:7-10 [Pastor Brandon]
The Point: Joy Exists Even When Life Doesn't Feel Perfect.
December Dates to Remember:
>> December 3 - MDWK Christmas Party!!!
Our Last MDWK for 2025 is our Oawood Students Christmas Party!!!! 6pm-8pm
>> December 7 - Heart of Hope - Students Help Serve Rudy's Plates and Drinks at both settings.
>> BELIEVE WEEKEND Online Sign Ups are OPEN!!!!
KINGDOM COME
Date: Feb 12,13,14
Need some Middle School Direction? We have created an Online Parent Newsletter to update you about what is going on and give you some resources for your family as well.
Check Out our Parent Resource Page Here
>>STAY IN THE LOOP
CHECK OUT our Oakwood Students Instagram
CHECK OUT Oakwood Students on our website
>>How can my student get baptized?
In case you have missed the River Baptism, we STILL BAPTIZE AT CHURCH!
We have created a new Oakwood Students Baptism Form.
If you are considering one of our main services, fill out the form below.
CLICK HERE FOR THE BAPTISM FORM
In Christ,
Pastor Brandon
Middle School Pastor
Oakwood Church
ARTICLE: THREE REASONS CHARLIE KIRK'S MURDER IS RELEVANT TO US ALL
In world of various political beliefs and fleshing out our faith in culture, I seem to find that Dr. Jim Denison has a good grasp on assessing how followers of Jesus can evaluate and respond to current events.
We had a great first MDWK!!!!Shout Out To MDWK Small Group Leaders!!!DBU NIGHT went Fantastic!!!
>>The Point WK1 - Jesus Invites Us To Follow Him
>>Application - Drop Your "Net" or Whatever it is that is holding you back from following Jesus>>The Point WK2 - Jesus Is The Only Foundation That Lasts >> Application - 1. Learn What Jesus Said (Read the Bible) 2. Do Something With It (Put it into practice)