WEEKLY

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Andersons Andrew, Stacy, Autumn, Kaedon, Tailyn

This Christmas we want to wish you all the best as we celebrate the birth of Christ - the gift of God’s own son to a world in need – a gift given for you and for me.

From our family to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

The Andersons

Thursdays 7:00 to 8:30 pm The Inn is an awesome worship experience held each week - a time of growth & more

After-party 9:00 to 10:00 pm Following The Inn, hangout for a time together eating, talking and enjoying life

Get Connected Connection Points NEW in January – Connection Points: the small groups ministries of The Inn

M E R R Y C H R I S T M A S F R O M

The Inn

The Inn, a ministry of Oregon City Evangelical Church, exists for young adults, ages 18 through 30 to come and encounter and experience God in ways that are real (authentic), relevant (makes sense) and reaching (applicable in all things).

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he

is Christ the Lord!

Did You Know? "Jingle Bells" was first written for Thanksgiving and then became one of the most popular Christmas songs.

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New Years Revolution

revolution |ˌ revәˈloō sh әn| noun a dramatic and wide-reaching change in the way something works or is organized or in people's ideas about it

Every January a tradition that has carried on for thousands of years; initially symbolizing the changing of the year based on the season, it has been adapted over time to include symbolism in the changing of a habit, goal, task, and even a life.

The problem is that this tradition of New Year’s Resolutions is synonymous with a lack of follow-through or seeing resolutions to fruition, and a lot of times our resolutions tend to be trivial, addressing things only on the surface, rarely deeper.

Join us in this January as we start a new series entitled New Year’s Revolution – a series designed to look deeper, dig deeper and go deeper into real life change. We will look at what it means to celebrate a revolution of the mind, body and soul.

Be there!

The Inn's First Annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Party!

We are serving an Italian-themed dinner and lots of snacks so come hungry! Wear the ugliest,” UGLY - You aint got no alibi.” holiday sweater you can find. There will be a prize for the ugliest sweater, so come with your game faces and ugly sweaters on! A word of caution: We don’t advise asking mom to borrow one of her sweaters. We cannot be held responsible if you do…

Admission is 2 cans of food. Come expecting a great night full of food, laughter, games, music, pictures, making memories & more.

Thursday, December 18 6:30 to 8:30 pm

Oregon City Evangelical Church

Suggested Reading WILD GOOSE CHASE By: Mark Batterson

Suggested Listening TODAY IS THE DAY By: Lincoln Brewster

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A look from The Inn-side In September of this year we launched our new ministry. Starting from a core group of about 8 young adults, ages 18 to 30, we met for the first time to dream, discuss and pray about the future of what has become known simply as The Inn.

Those of us who met for the first time talked about an experience that boiled down to three key areas which have now affectionately become known as the 3 R’s - Real, Relevant and Reaching –

in other words, we desire to be real (authentic) in everything that we do, relevant (makes sense) in all things, and reaching (applicable).

It is our hope that everyone involved will experience God through our events, our times hanging out together, in our music and worship, prayer, programs, biblical messages, small groups, missions, discipleship, and in life lived together.

The long and short of it is simple. We desire a ministry where everyone can experience transformation in their lives and community based on experiences they have with Christ as a direct result of time spent with, in and through the ministry of The Inn.

We look forward to what God has in store in ’09!

Stay connected to The Inn with weekly updates, relevant blogs,

upcoming events & activities, devotionals, the latest in music and more by visiting The Inn online. theinn-ocec.blogspot.com It’s pretty sweet - you get to connect with others, share your thoughts, peep out the latest in what we’re reading, as well as check out some of the sweet tunes we’re rocking out to. What are you waiting for? Check it out…

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From the desk of Andrew Anderson This year has been awesome! And when I stop to consider how much has occurred this year, I am left in a total state of amazement – a surreal feeling at the very least. If you would have asked me this time last year where I would be twelve months from that point, I could have never imagined, in my wildest dreams all that God would allow me to be a part of. This time last year I was unpacking the Christmas boxes, setting up

our obviously fake tree and listening to really bad

music compilations – the best of Christmas – featuring the music styling of such greats as The Beach Boys, Boyz II Men, Mariah Carey, Dave Matthews and more. With the wreath hung on our door and the presents piling up under the tree, I was reflecting on a year of life and ministry in North Carolina while allowing myself to get lost in thoughts of what might be in 2008. Among the visions were thoughts of traveling as an evangelist and itinerant speaker, playing football for the Philadelphia Eagles, giving Kobayashi a run for his money at

Nathan’s hot dog eating competition and winning on the game show, Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader. Needless to say life has

been like a box of chocolates, and I never saw what I would get coming.

Okay, so, that said, I am totally excited about the place that God has brought us - back in the 97045, a pastor at Oregon City Evangelical Church, starting The Inn, the interpersonal development as a person, father, pastor

and friend, my weight loss, and believe you me there’s more. Wow! Considering each point as I type them out is pretty unbelievable.

Thank you, God, for bringing me through 2008.

I am enthusiastically anticipating an incredible 2009, and if it’s anything like this last year, I’m in for quite a ride. Of one thing I am certain, I will count it a blessing and look forward to living life with you in the coming year. Let’s take this ride together.

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The Inn-Ja’s The Inn-Ja’s, what? Yah - good question. It’s a co-ed indoor soccer team that we’re involved in, and it’s a blast!

Our first session started the end of November and has been a ton of fun. Young adults from every background form our team. It’s been quite an experience; one that we’d like to pursue again in the next session (beginning Jan 12th).

As John Lussier reflected on his time at one of our games, here’s what he had to say. “I had the pleasure of seeing our Inn-ja's soccer team today, and let me tell you...they...well...They have an amazing cheer squad behind them! (They also have amazing, dedicated, and vibrant players! Tim Alban had a great score tonight, Tim and Ryan had some awesome saves tonight, and I saw some really great teamwork and hard-play out there on the field!)

At the end of the game someone came up to me and mentioned that the other team wished they had a cheering section like the Inn-ja's did. It made me realize the impact that Christ makes on each and everyone of us as we live our daily lives”.

Pretty exciting and way worth the investment and involvement, we would love for you to experience The Inn-Ja’s in action. If you’re interested in playing, sign-ups are underway now; don’t miss out on this awesome opportunity!

You've probably already heard about it twenty times or so but I am still kind of

shaken over the news from Black Friday. Two dead at a Toys-R-us in Cali (which may have been gang-related); one employee dead at a Wal-Mart in New York. Searching back it seems that Black Friday violence is more of a norm than anything. Some even began calling the day Black and Blue Friday over the years. You ready for a shock and awe moment? I don't think Christians can participate in Black Friday any longer, as it stands, or even some of the things it represents. To me, at the point I am in my journey, it seems that Jesus would just not have us participate. Christ broke the Sabbath for the sake of life and a person's health. I think we are called to break away from Black Friday for the same reasons. He called for a radical love of God, and directly opposed that to the love for things and money. Black Friday, and the things it represents (materialism, consumerism, the scarcity-mindset, win-to-win competition, giving-for-the-sake-of-anything-but-generosity, etc.) are not part of the Kingdom. Doesn't Christ make a difference in how we shop and why? May God bless us with the insight on how to shop and live like Christ. My prayer goes out to those hurt and lost on Black Friday.

Thoughts from John Lussier

Was it for the TV or the vacuum?

The Inn-Ja’s co-ed soccer team Contact Robbie Lowrie to sign-up today:

luckycath21@yahoo.com (E-mail) 971.230.8233 (Cell)

Ponderings from The Inn In this newsletter you’ll find out about the happenings within The Inn, gain some perspective on what God is doing in and through here, experience some of the reflections from 2008, and learn more about how to get plugged in. Merry Christmas!

The Inn

PO BOX 10 Oregon City, Or 97045

[Recipient]

MERRY CHRISTMAS THE INN - 2008