Worship Guide
December 15, 2024
Welcome!
NEW TO FAIR OAKS?
We’re glad you joined us this morning! We recognize that this is an unusual way to meet for the first time but we still want to get to know you, hear your story, and serve you in any way we can. If you’d like to know more about Jesus, receive prayer, or get connected to people who would love to love you (or all the above), simply click the connect button and tell us how we can help.
We are a House of Refuge.
If you find yourself in an unplanned pregnancy, we want you to know that you are not alone. God sees you & loves you, & as God’s people, so do we. Click here to learn more about how we can help support you in this journey.
WHAT’S HAPPENING AT FAIR OAKS?
+ Christmas At Fair Oaks
With Christmas Eve being so near to Sunday, we’re trying something a little different this year. We will be turning our normal 10 a.m. gathering next Sunday (December 22nd) into our Christmas service instead of hosting an additional gathering on December 24th. There will be Christmas carols singing 🎶, a performance from our Kids Ministry (with costumes!) 😇, and a shorter-than-normal message about the good news of Christmas.🎄 * Since the kids will be joining us for this service, there will be no Kids Ministry next Sunday but we will have the toddler room available by reservation. Email Carol Grieb (c.grieb@fairoaks.org) to reserve your child's spot.
+ Senior Ministry Fellowship Christmas Celebration | This Thursday, 9:30am-1:30pm
Come enjoy the activities - watercolor painting, card making, and Bible study. Helmuth. Philip Hight and his accompanist, Michael, will be performing. Lunch will be a Ham Christmas Dinner with Cherry Cheesecakes for dessert, $5.00 donation suggested.
Family News: A memorial service will be held for Griffin Koerber on Saturday, Dec. 21st at Destiny Church in Rocklin, CA (6900 Destiny Drive, Rocklin, CA 95677). Children are welcome to attend. The service begins at 1pm and will be followed by a reception with food, so if you are planning to come, please contact our church office (at 925.222.5717 or admin@fairoaks.org) to let us know so we can help Destiny Church know how many people to plan for.
Sermon Notes
Wrestling With God #9: Longing For Justice (Genesis 34)
Today’s Big Idea: The justice you’re longing for is found in Jesus.
A Gross Injustice
“The assault was devastating to Leah, but the blow that had brought her down was the fact that her father didn’t care and didn’t defend her. He could have been Leah’s hero. He could have stormed over to the young man’s house and demand an apology for his daughter; he could have demanded that the young man turn himself over to the police. But instead, he went golfing. If her dad had done anything to defend her—even a simple angry phone call to the young man—he could have spared his daughter months of agony. Instead, it took eighteen months of counseling to help her depression abate.” - Meg Meeker, Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters
More Injustice
Jacob’s passivity - increases the pain by sending the message that your life/pain doesn’t matter.
The brother’s revenge - increases the pain by creating an endless cycle of injustice.
The Gospel
- The tension: we are all sinners & sufferers
Response
After the sermon, we take some time in our service to reflect on and respond to the work of the Spirit in our lives. Here's 3 ways you can do that.
1. Prayer (for everyone)
Whatever stuff has come up for you today, you were not made to navigate this alone. Let us know how we can pray for you and support you as you seek to respond to the work of the Spirit this week!
2. Communion (for followers of Jesus)
Communion is a powerful way we can remember the gospel and rest in the finished work of Jesus.
3. Give (for those who call Fair Oaks home)
Giving is a great way for our hearts to respond to God’s generosity toward us and to help more people meet Jesus. Learn more.
Last Week’s General Fund Giving
$5,375.55
Weekly Budgeted
$9,814.00
YTD
$462,898.84 (96%)
Last Week’s Campus Renewal Funds Raised: —
Campus Renewal Phase 2 Total: $168,999.35