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Congregational Text for 2012: Jesus said to Simon and Andrew,

“Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” and immediately

they left their nets and followed him. Mark 1:17-18

Oak Grove Leaves Oak Grove Moravian Church

120 Hammock Farm Road

Winston-Salem, NC 27105

336-595-8167 E-mail: oakgrovemoravian@embarqmail.com

Rev. Matthew W. Allen

Pastor Angie Renigar

Editor

December 2012

Oak Grove Mission Statement

Our mission is to glorify God through worship, bring people to faithful

discipleship in Christ, equip them for ministry in the church and the

world, and grow in our love for one another through fellowship.

FROM YOUR PASTOR

We’ve had such a good year in 2012. We have been celebrating our 125th anniversary all year and have enjoyed many fun events. Everything we have done has been well supported and well at-tended. Some highlights include Heritage Night, dedicating the new graveyard fence and arch, completion of a Prayer Garden, Old Fashioned Lawn and Birthday party, Oak Grove History Mo-ments, and the Anniversary Lovefeast. Sometimes it is good to just celebrate and be together as a church family. This Advent and Christmas season will give us many opportuni-ties for fellowship and service. There will be activities at the church, such as Candle Trimming, Choir Cantata, Advent Family Night, Children’s Christmas program, and the Christmas Eve Lovefeast. We will also be doing ministry and service in the com-munity. We will provide lovefeasts at Arbor Acres, Trinity Glen, and the Rescue Mission. We will participate in the Walkertown Parade, and we will Christmas carol to shut-ins. Advent and Christmas is a busy season and it gets busier every year. Whether or not that’s a good or bad thing, it is reality. And so we must be more intentional and work that much harder to experience Christ in Christmas. When we are in worship the four Sundays of Advent may we empty our minds of everything except the Christ Child. May we experience joy, hope, peace, and love represented by the four candles in the Advent wreath. May the four weeks of Advent truly prepare us for Christmas Eve and the celebration of the birth of Jesus. In “Joy to the World” we sing “let every heart prepare Him room.” In this secular world in which we live and all the things that com-pete for our time and attention, we must make room for the Christ Child. Make room in your heart for the Lord Jesus and may you experience His grace, love, and mercy anew this Christmas. As we lift our candles high on Christmas Eve may the love and light of Christ shine in us and may it glow for all to see. Merry Christmas and I’ll see you in church!

Matthew

3. Mark Disher

Jamey May

4. Linda Holt

5. Christian Day

Bobby Wolfington, Jr.

6. Samuel Grindstaff

9. Clarence Sell

11. James D. Marshall

15. Gray Comer

Billy Comer

17. Wesley Vanhoy

5. David & Athena Weavil

6. Arnold & Andra Reeves

9. Wayne & Tangee Stevens

14. James & Elizabeth Marshall

17. Harvey & Betty Seivers

Keith & Linda Miller

23. Jerry & Geraldine Ellegood

Bill & Marie Motsinger

27. Frank & Whitney Marques

DECEMBERDECEMBER

18. Marty Homstad

19. Amy Davis

20. Laura Jane Styers

24. Judy Dillon

27. Hanna Smith

29. Gary Marshall

30. Noah Kirby

Mark Buchanan

31. Mitchell Styers

Alan Priddy

Newsletter Notes

From around the Southern Province Last year’s statistics for the Province have been published, and as is our custom, we want to cheer the churches that showed gains in all three categories of confirmed communicants, total membership, and average attendance. Accolades this time go to Macedonia, Christ the King, New Beginnings, King, Rural Hall, Fulp, Covenant, Ardmore, Friedberg, Trinity, and Union Cross. Eleven church-es! Let’s see that trend carry over into this year.

On the down side, though, prayers of concern must go out for Bethania, Little Church on the Lane, Leaksville, Enterprise, Grace, New Hope (N.C.), Mizpah, Bethesda, Fries Memorial, Home, Immanuel New Eden, Messiah, and Providence, all showing decline in all three statistical categories. May they be in-spired by the 11 showing gains.

In it all we must remember: We, not just the ministers, are Christ’s best ambassadors. It’s our opportunity to invite a friend, acquaint-ance, neighbor, co-worker to come with us to church, and then make our newcomer feel as at home as we are in our worship.

One of our ministers reports: “We’re having lots of visitors with many of them continuing to come back! In a time when mainline Protestant denominations, including the Moravian Church, are expe-riencing continuing decline in membership, we are fortunate to be growing again. We are still a small congregation, but we are doing an incredible amount of ministry and outreach with so many of you roll-ing up your sleeves and working together.”

So pat yourselves on the back, blessings of Advent and Christmas to all, and let’s step into a New Year of renewal and growth in Christ’s little Moravian Church.

Richard W. Starbuck

Moravian Archives

JOINT BOARD REPORT November 13, 2012

The Trustees presented the 2013 budget to the Elders and it was unanimously approved by the Joint Board. Many thanks to Johnny Vanhoy, David Hester, and Harvey Seivers for preparing the budget.

BOARD OF ELDERS REPORT

The board spent time in prayer for the various needs of members and friends of the church. Offerings for Thanksgiving and Christmas were designated. Committee reports were given. The CEC has been busy with many programs and activities this fall. The CEC wants to start using the curriculum The Story with youth and adults on Wednesday nights and the younger children on Sunday mornings for Sunday School. The Story is a dynamic curriculum that presents the story of the en-tire Bible and all age groups study the same lesson at the same time. It is hoped that this new curriculum will get more people coming on Wednesday nights and bring forth much spiritual fruit. The Advent and Christmas schedule was reviewed.

Hebrews 10:25

Let us not neglect our church meetings, as

some people do, but encourage and warn

each other, especially now that the day of

his coming back again is drawing near.

Robin Hancock will be practicing

“Morning Star”

with the children immediately following Worship on

12/9 and 12/16 for 10 minutes in the Blessed Begin-

ners (K-2) classroom. If your children are interested

in singing for the Christmas lovefeasts, please have

them report there before Sunday School/Christmas

play practice.

ACOLYTES 2. Katrina Stevens

9. Hayley Wolfington

16. AmyLynn Colona

23. Sidney Hooker

30. Sam Peddycord

FLOWER CALENDAR

2. Margaret Hoerner

9. Jane Farmer

16. Pam Ellis

23. poinsettias

30. available

USHERS

Mike May

Steve Price

Gerald Peddycord

Bobby Wolfington, Jr.

CRISIS CONTROL MINISTRY

DONATION

Canola Oil (24 oz.)

CD MINISTRY

2. Georgia Brown

9. Loretta Snow

16. Lib Westmoreland

23. Bonnie Peddycord

30. Betty Seivers

NURSERY WORKERS

2. Eric & Anita Linville

9. Patrick & Carrie Linville

16. Jane Farmer & Bonnie Peddycord

23. Susan, Sarah & Laura Price

30. Hazel Beasley, Marion Clark & Hanna

Smith

December Workers

Building Campaign Memorials

and Honorariums In memory of:

Don Barneycastle

Mr. and Mrs. G.M. Barneycastle

Mr. and Mrs. L.S. Thomason

Mozelle and Alvin Snow

Delmore Ernest Hester

In honor of:

All the Children in Our Church

Erin Hedrick’s Birthday

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

Continuing The Vision……..

……..Building The Future

Update on Capital Campaign Funds

From the beginning of our Campaign we have total donations of

$248,248.55. There is a pledge balance of $34,797.00 that has yet to

be received.

Please continue to support our Campaign with your prayers and mone-

tary gifts.

John 1:17

The law was given through Moses;

grace and truth came through

Jesus Christ.

To the Oak Grove Congregation:

Thanks to all of you for the kind and thoughtful

deeds: the calls, cards, visits and especially your

prayers. A special “thanks” goes to the Wom-

en’s Fellowship for the two quarts of stew which

saved me from several trips to the dining room!

It all helps me through some difficult times.

Willie Disher

Thank you

Christmas Eve Lovefeast and Candle Service

Oak Grove Moravian Church

December 24, 2012 7:30 p.m.

Band prelude at 7:00 p.m.

Christmas Lovefeast Arbor Acres

December 4, 2012 7:00 p.m.

Band prelude at 6:30 p.m.

Christmas Lovefeast Trinity Glen

December 12, 2012 2:00 p.m.

Band prelude at 1:30 p.m.

Christmas Lovefeast W-S Rescue Mission December 18, 2012

7:00 p.m.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Financial Update

The Board of Trustees last met on

Tuesday, November 13, 2012.

Financial reports were discussed

and approved .

A drain pipe has been installed on

the gutters at the west side of the

Fellowship Hall. A hanger has been

installed for the water hose outside

the kitchen door at the faucet.

The proposed church budget for

2013 was discussed and approved.

The next board meetings will take

place on Tuesday, January 8th.

Christmas Play Rehearsal Schedule

Sunday, December 2 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 12 6:30 p.m. Sunday, December 16 11:00 a.m.

Final Dress Rehearsal—To be determined

(December 18, 21 or 22)

Christmas Play Sunday, December 23rd 11:00 a.m. Fellowship Hall

7th Annual Advent Family Night

Moravian Christmas Trivia, Name That Christmas Carol

Stories and Crafts for the younger ones Decorating the Fellowship Hall Christmas Tree

Sunday, December 9th, 2012 Supper served at 5:00 p.m.

Christmas Gift Idea! Oak Grove Moravian Church Collectible Plates!

There are two styles to choose from, one pictures the old church and the other pictures

the current church. $20 each. Give the pair for a lovely commemorative

display. Checks may be written to Oak Grove with “plate” written on the memo line.

Oct. 2012 Jan.-Oct.

Operating Income $ 11,880.00 $140,053.85

Operating Expenses $ 15,240.83 $147,708.93

Ahead (Behind) ($ 3,360.83) ($ 7,655.08)

OCTOBER

STEWARDSHIP

ATTENDANCE

7th…….80

14th…….86

21st…….95

28th…….87

Do you sometimes wonder if God hears your prayers? Do you ever ask yourself, “What is the point of pray-ing”. Do you long to experience the power of prayer in your daily life? The Women’s Bible Group is starting a new book entitled,

“The Essentials of Effective Prayer”.

The group meets monthly on the se-cond Saturday of each month in the Margaret Hammock Class at 10:00 am. Please join us as we learn the key principles of prayer and gain a deeper understanding of how prayer can draw you closer to His heart.

You are invited to go

Christmas Caroling

To the Shut-ins

Sunday, December 16, 2012

4:00 p.m.

The Walkertown

Community’s

67th Annual

Christmas Tree

Lighting Service

Love’s United Methodist

Church

in Walkertown on

Sunday, December 2, 2012 at

7:00 p.m.

CHRISTMAS

CANTATA

presented by

OAK GROVE

MORAVIAN CHURCH

ADULT CHOIR

December 16, 2012

9:45 a.m.

“Shout the

Good News”

by Lloyd Larson

DECEMBER 2012

There is a compelling sentence in an article found in

the December issue of Stewardship:

“Let us not be ashamed to have the Lord

look not only at our gifts, but also into our

hearts.”

Christmas, of course, is basically all about giving.

Christians understand that the first Christmas giver was

God. As the Gospel of John puts it, “God so loved the

world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes

in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John

3:16).

It is because of that incomparable gift that we Chris-

tians are stirred to be givers ourselves. We give because

God has given to us greatly and generously. We respond

to God’s blessed gift to us by giving back to God

through God’s church and Christian institutions that

strive to meet the needs of those suffering from various

causes. Christmas inspires us to also give to others: fam-

ily members and friends whom we love and cherish.

We need to remember that we give because God has

given to us first. We give because our hearts are greatly

appreciative of what God has given to us: our families,

our lives, our talents, and so forth. But we give mainly

because of the gift God gave us in Christ who saves us,

sustains us, and who gives us meaning, hope, and joy as

we live out our life’s journey from now to eternity.

Prayer: Loving God, we rejoice in your bountiful gifts

to us day in and day out. We thank you most of all for

your matchless gift of Christ our Lord, whose birthday

we joyfully celebrate again. In his name we pray. Amen

Inspiring a deeper understanding of true givingInspiring a deeper understanding of true givingInspiring a deeper understanding of true giving

A Stewardship Moment