Worship Service - Palm Sunday, 4/2/2023 9:30am
Easter Schedule
Sunday, April 2nd. Walk with Jesus as we move into the events of Holy Week.
Maundy Thursday Worship, Thursday, April 6th at 7:00PM. Join us as we remember the last supper of Jesus with his friends and
receive communion.
Easter Sunday Worship Service, April 9th at 9:30AM. We in- vite you to join us and bring family and friends as we celebrate Jesus’ glorious resurrection from the dead. Special Music will be presented by the Sanctuary Choir.
OAK LAWN COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH
229 Wilbur Avenue, Cranston,
RI
Home of the Original
MAY BREAKFAST
154thYear
Monday, May 1, 2023
7:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Adults: $10.00; Children 10 and under: $5.00 Clam cakes, Scrambled Eggs, Ham, Cornbread, Apple Pie, Coffee & Juice
SERVED FAMILY STYLE , COME ALONG AND BRING A FRIEND!
Welcome to Oak Lawn Community Baptist Church
At Oak Lawn Community Baptist Church, we support people as they seek to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We are an American Baptist Church in partnerships with American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island and American Baptist Churches, USA. We are ecumenically minded and seek opportunities for
worship and service with other community churches.
Our church welcomes diverse families. We provide for Christian Education (Sunday School) for school aged children, as well as a nursery for pre-school children during worship services.
A very important part of our worship at Oak Lawn Community Baptist Church is our music program. We have been blessed with a strong music ministry consisting of a Sanctuary Choir, Hand bell Choir, two
organists, and many musically talented members who readily share their gifts during the worship services throughout the year.
At the conclusion of worship every Sunday all are invited to the fellowship hall to join in conversation and refreshments.
Oak Lawn Community Baptist Church is located at 229 Wilbur Avenue in Cranston. We warmly invite you to worship with us on a Sunday morning at 9:30 am. Until then, may our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ richly bless you!
From The Deacons
April 2023
Dear Friends,
In her book, “Kneeling in Jerusalem,” Ann Weems writes in
part:
“Lent is a time to take the time to let the power of our faith story take hold of us,” ...”a time to identify our living unto Christ,” ... “a time to hover over the thoughts of our hearts,” ... “a time to ponder and a time to wonder,” ... “Lent is a time to allow a fresh new taste of God!”
What a wonderful time in our faith journey! A time that is set aside, specifically, to examine our hearts, souls, and minds. A time to pause, ponder and listen...What does God and his Son, Jesus, mean to me? What do I mean to God and his Son, Jesus?
As we travel through Lent, we are preparing for Holy Week. The week “that begins with hosannas” (AW) as Jesus enters Jerusalem, and “ends in horror” (AW). The time for preparation.
Please join us on April 2 , Palm Sunday, at 9:30 am. Receive your palms and enter the gates of Jerusalem. Let us go into this week with passion and palms.
As we move on through our journey, we come to the time to give thanks and break bread, to give thanks and drink of the cup. “The time to eat, drink, remember. The time to ask, “Is it I?” (AW). We call this time Maundy Thursday. The word maundy comes from the Latin, mandatum which means “mandate or command”. In John 13:34 we read what Jesus told his disciples that night... “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” Let us break bread together as we receive communion on Maundy Thursday, April 6th at 7:00pm.
And now we come to Good Friday. Why, oh why, do we call it GOOD Friday? “ Because Jesus could not have been resurrected without dying” (HP). In 2 Corin.5:21, we read, “God put the wrong on him who never did anything wrong, so we could be put right with God.” “The only road to Easter morning is through the unrelenting shadows of that Friday” (AW). “The only One named Savior died upon a cross” (ML). In 1 Corin15:57 (MSG), we read, “But now in a single victorious strode of Life, all three---sin, guilt, death---are gone, the gift of our Master, Jesus Christ. Thank God.” “IT IS FINISHED”. He did it for you, he did it for me.
CHRIST IS RISEN! CHRIST IS RISEN, INDEED!
Need we say more? Please join us as we celebrate EASTER and all that it means on Sunday, April 9th at 9:30am.
Happy Easter and may you have Blessings Beyond Measure,
Judy Butzier, Chair of Deacons
Inspiration and quotes have come from the following:
Ann Weems---“Kneeling in Jerusalem”
Max Lucado---“HE CHOSE THE NAILS”-----“Jesus”
Bible---NRSV---THE MESSAGE
Holy Week To Do List
1. Spend time with Jesus - Psalm 27:8
2. Let Him prioritize my day - Matthew 6:33
3. Pray instead of worrying—Philippians 4:6
4. Be honest about my sins—James 4:10
5. Think of others - Philippians 2:3-4
6. Wait patiently for God to act - Psalm 27:14
7. Be willing to do hard stuff - Matthew 16:24
8. Read God’s Word - Psalm 119:9-16
9. Do what it says - James 1:22
10. Let Christ lead me
Oak Lawn Community Baptist Church's first congregational workshop was held on March 19 led by Rev. Courtny Davis Olds. Approximately 30 people attended as Rev. Courtny explained the overall duties of the search committee. She then had us work in small groups discussing the pros and cons of a full time vs. part time pastor. The thoughts of the small groups were then combined for a large group discussion. Rev. Courtny's goal was not to reach any final conclusion but to have us present various aspects of each side of the pastor issue.
Our next workshop is scheduled for April 23 with more information to follow. Thank you to all who came and participated.
Corrine Ricketson
Search Team Covenant of Commitment
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We will pray for the search team, our church, and our perspective pastor.
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We will see the leading of the Holy Spirit.
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We will agree on clear roles and responsibilities.
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We will pursue with integrity the pastoral selection process
upon which the team has agreed.
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We will respect the opinion of others.
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We will strive for peace, cooperation, respect, and unity in
our discussions.
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We will maintain confidentiality—candidate names, references, and team discussions will not be shared beyond the team and our consultant. We will not disclose confidential information to friends, family, or others.
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We will be punctual and attend all meetings, if at all possible.
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We will follow through on assignments.
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We will respect and communicate support for the team’s
decision as we recommend a candidate to our congregation.
The Church received a postcard from sunny Florida. It reads....
Happy Valentine’s Day to
our church family!
Miss you, wish you were here!
Love, Paula and Karen
Note from Calvary Baptist Church Food Pantry
The Calvary Baptist Church Food Program would like to thank you for all the support you have given us in the past 5 years. It was begun in faith and continues in faith.
The Portaclores De Su Gracia Church of Providence requested to use our church for a food program. They have worked with the Providence Rescue Mission. They will hold food products and other products for distribution every Wednesday and Friday mornings.
The Elijah Project is partnering with them and Calvary will also assist them financially and with any food we receive as donations. Any donations we receive will go to this program. Any food donated will have to be delivered Wednesday or Friday mornings.
Thank you all for the help and support you have given us. We hope we can continue to work with you and will support us. The need seems to be increasing all the time.
God bless you all. Martha and Rick Robison, Carol Hall Walker.
A Note from Rev. Phyllis & Lynne
Dear Friends of Oak Lawn Church,
WOW! What an overwhelming feeling when we opened your
Thanksgiving card and saw the $2000.00 love gift. Such love! We had spent Thanksgiving in KY with family. We have been blessed by family and friends throughout this traumatic time. We are living with
Christine in Coventry until we can occupy an apartment in Johnston. Starting all over with only our lives and car and some summer clothes and YET we are blessed! We do have our lives, our car,
outfits from our girls, and so much love!! Thank you for being part of our lives with your love. God
is good—all
the time.
Love, peace & joy, Lynne & Phyllis
A Note from Mary
HOW CAN I THANK YOU?
What a wonderful retirement celebration!! I haven’t felt this appreciated in a long time.
I thank you for your presence at the coffee hour, for the kind words, for the cards and presents and for the VERY generous gift of money. I couldn’t believe it! Also, I thank the Music Committee for planning this event, from the invitations to the refreshments and more.
It is my firmly held belief that music (and our music program in particular) goes a long way towards fueling the vitality of our church. I thank you in advance for your continued support and participation. And I thank God for bringing me here to Oak Lawn Community Baptist Church to serve you with my music gifts. I’ll see you soon.
Love, Mary Ackroyd
Bell Choir's Sounds of the Season from 12/11/2022
The Legend of the Dogwood
There is a legend, that at the time of the Crucifixion, the dogwood had been the size of the oak and other forest trees. So firm and strong was the tree that it was chosen as the timber of the cross.
That it was used for such a cruel purpose greatly distressed the tree. Jesus, nailed upon it, sensed this, and in His gentle pity for all sorrow and suffering said to it "Because of your regret and pity for My suffering, never again shall the dogwood tree grow large enough to be used as a cross. Henceforth it shall be slender and bent and twisted, and its blossoms shall be in the form of a cross... two long and two short petals. And in the center of the outer edge of each petal there will be nail prints, brown with rust and stained with red, and in the center of the flower will be a crown of thorns,
and all who see it will remember."
Submitted by: Robin Butzier
Worship Service
Sundays, 9:30am ET
Contact Us
Oak Lawn Community Baptist Church
229 Wilbur Avenue
Cranston, RI 02921-1016
Phone: 401 944-0864
Interim Pastor: The Rev. Tim Chesser
Or use our contact form.
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