It's Tuesday again! That means Amber will be be singing hymns on Facebook Live at 4pm, with the help of my dad, mum... and maybe some of the children too.

Join us if you can and sing along with us! You can also watch live on the Church Website and Youtube Channel.

Here are the links (if you need them):
> Watch on Amberjane Vickery Facebook
> Watch on Calvary Chapel Oxford YouTube Channel
> Watch on the Church Website

Dear Church Family,

We are writing to give you an update about our Sunday Services and when we might be able to return to meeting in-person.

We have been encouraged to receive a lot of positive feedback regarding our online services, especially the after-church Zoom fellowship time. We are thankful to the Lord for the work He continues to do in and through us all, and we appreciate your continued prayers and support as we seek to navigate through this challenging season together.

Earlier this week, we met as a Leadership to talk and pray about how and when we can resume meeting in-person on Sundays. While the current circumstances make it practically very difficult, we do want to return to in-person services as soon as possible.

Among the practical difficulties, which we would ask you to keep in prayer, are:
The current Government restrictions, which among other things, mean that we cannot provide a Children's Ministry
The reduced number of people available to volunteer
The fact that we are not able to provide a live-stream of the service for those who are not able to come; and
Botley Baptist Church's decision not to open for services
Having considered all the issues and implications, we have decided it best to remain online-only during February while working towards resuming in-person services in March (Lord willing).

This decision gives us time to work out some of the practical difficulties, while ensuring everyone can participate in our Sunday morning service and after-church fellowship until then.

Finally, we recognize how challenging this season is for everyone and want to assure you all of our continued love and prayers. We would encourage everyone to participate in our online services/groups where possible and pray for one another often!

And if you need prayer, encouragement, or help in any way, please don't hesitate to get in touch. We are here for you.

Yesterday we looked at the final part of Paul's prayer for the Colossians, contained in Colossians 1:9-14. It's a wonderful prayer, in both its content and its example, and here is a summary of some of the key lessons we have learned:

1. It's so important that we pray for one another in the body of Christ. We all need prayer because we all need God's help. One of the most important things we can do for each other in the church is to pray for one another.

2. It's so important that we pray for one another's spiritual needs, as well as our physical and practical needs. Often were tend to focus on people's practical needs (sometimes almost exclusively) but it's interesting to note that in all of Paul's prayers recorded in the New Testament, his focus was on the spiritual needs of the believers: their spiritual growth; that they would grow in knowledge of God; His word; that they would be strengthened by Spirit etc etc. This is an important priority, not because because we cannot deal with the practical physical issues of life without a solid spiritual foundation

3. It's important we balance our petitions in prayer with praise and thanksgiving in prayer. It is good to to ask God for things! We should, we must, and God wants us to! But much of our prayer time is given over to praise and thanksgiving? It's important we have balance of both

4. It's important to remember we can pray the prayers of scripture! This prayer of Paul (like the many other prayers in the Bible) is not just an example for us to follow (although it is that) but it's also a prayer we can pray! We can pray the scriptures! And when we pray the Scripture, we are praying the Word of God; and when we pray the Word of God; we know we are praying in the will of God; and we know that God always answers our prayers according to His will!