…this coming Sunday, at long last we have a welcome lunch. The meal will take place at 1pm and acts as a great opportunity to meet others who are new to Oasis and to hear some of the story of how and why we exist.

If you would like to come please contact the office on 0121 628 0001 and speak to Gus or talk to someone this Sunday on the welcome team.

We have the added bonus of two visting speakers picking up on the Hope theme with Steve Hurd speaking in the morning on ‘Hope in suffering’ and Terry Hotchkiss in the evening on ‘Hope in healing’.

So Sunday looks set to be one not to miss!

(Remember to arrive at 10:15am for free tea and coffee to avoid disappointment)

…this is a quick reminder that tomorrow is the official launch of of ‘Oasis Orange Thursday’ where we get to don on our Orange T-shirts!

So don’t forget your t-shirt!

But Why?

Visibility…gives an opportunity for us as individuals to be a little more visible than usual about our faith, and also allows us make Oasis a bit more visible.

Fun…is a key reason behind OOT that knowing God and revealing Him is meant to be fun. Also what we are asking is for people to send in a photo to reveal the best or most extreme or most unlikely place they have worn theiur T-shirt. Send photo’s to admin@theoasischurch.com. We will then from time to time post the photo’s on the website.

Together…we get to do something during our weeks in the different places we find ourselves in. Reminds us we are not alone but part a community as we live out our faith.

If you want to buy a t-shirt contact the office at above email address or on 0121 6280001 to purchase one fro £3

This Sunday we get to join in with the Edgbaston Cricket Ground funday and the 100 or so volunteers from Oasis will be wearing our loudest ever (colour wise) t-shirts to identify ourselves within the crowds. However, seeing the t-shirts reminded me of the impact wearing the Oasis t-shirt had on me last year at the funday as I wore it to, from and at the fun day.

But it’s just a T-shirt, right?

As I wore the T-shirt blazened with Oasis church, I found that I was noticeable and that I stood out as someone who was representing Oasis church and therefore the one the church is all about, God…there was no hiding!

I found myself thinking more about how I was acting and speaking not beacuse I had to but because I wanted to give people a postive experience of church and therefore God who I was representing. The problem was as I thought more about the impact of wearing the t-shirt was having I was left with this uncomfortable question…

…do I always act and speak the same with others when I am not wearing the t-shirt?

You see wearing the T-shirt revealed an identity I wanted to live up to but when I don’t wear the t-shirt do I still?

The unfortunate answer was as I thought about it I realised the answer was no, I don’t always.

Therefore since last year I have given myself to living sub-consciously as though I am wearing an Oasis t-shirt that reveals my identity as a follower of Jesus part of His church and the freedom, hope, love, joy and life that that brings…it has made the world of difference in my every day existence in the way I speak and act towards others.

That’s me but how about you?

Sub-consciously we can wear t-shirts that are labeled in so many ways how about discovering afresh or for the first time wearing one that causes you to live from a place of freedom, hope, love, joy and life?

I hope you enjoy wearing orange.

But it’s just a t-shirt, isn’t it?

Life rhythm from Oasis church on Vimeo.