Oak Lawn Community Baptist Church

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!

A Message From Pastor Barbara

November 2019

Happy season of Thanksgiving! It is good to be back, and first of all, I give thanks for you!

The Bible gives us a rather tall directive regarding thanksgiving and to be candid, one that I have struggled with from time to time. I believe after I share the scripture, you will be able to relate.

Here it is: 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV) “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

That verse is clear about the fact that giving thanks to God is something God wills for us. I want to do God’s will and I am sure you do, too. Yet, there are two words in the verse I quoted that I have struggled with and it is the word, “in everything.”

Does God really expect us to be thankful in everything? How can that be? The words of Isaiah come to mind.

Isaiah 55:8-9 (NKJV) reads, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.”

This is God basically saying to humanity: “I’m smarter and wiser than you, so trust me.”

Another scripture drives the point home again...
Romans 11:33-34 (NKJV) reads, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of

God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?”

There are many things it is hard to be thankful for, such as the loss of a loved one, however, even in our grief we can still find blessings to be thankful for, including the presence of God as God comforts us in the midst of tears and sorrow!

Instead of our focus being on the “why” it happened, we can, through the grace of God begin to focus on the “what” should we do now, or “how” can we trust God more than we ever have before?

Perhaps this time of the year is a challenge for you or someone you know. Still, I encourage you to find something to thank God for and begin to focus on the good things God has blessed you with!

Gracefully yours,

Pastor Barbara

Annual Church Life Report

2018-2019 Annual Church Life Report full[...]
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Annual Church Life Report 2017-2018
Report is available to download here:
2017-2018 Annual Church Life Report full[...]
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