The document is a Christmas newsletter from The Inn ministry. It contains greetings from the Anderson family, information about upcoming events at The Inn like an ugly Christmas sweater party, and reflections on the past year from Andrew Anderson. It also promotes getting connected to The Inn through their blog and joining their co-ed indoor soccer team, The Inn-Ja's. The newsletter aims to share about what God is doing through The Inn and how readers can participate.

1. MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM
the
Andersons Andrew, Stacy, Autumn, Kaedon, Tailyn
The Inn
The Inn, a
ministry of Oregon City
Evangelical Church, exists for
young adults, ages 18 through 30
Today in the town of David a
to come and encounter and
experience God in ways that are
Savior has been born to you; he
real (authentic), relevant (makes
sense) and reaching (applicable in
is Christ the Lord!
all things).
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
WEEKLY
Did You Know? Thursdays After-party Get Connected
7:00 to 8:30 pm 9:00 to 10:00 pm Connection Points
The Inn is an Following The Inn, NEW in January –
quot;Jingle Bellsquot; was first
written for Thanksgiving awesome worship hangout for a time Connection Points:
and then became one of experience held together eating, the small groups
the most popular
each week - a time talking and ministries of The
Christmas songs.
of growth & more enjoying life Inn

2. THE INN CHRISTMAS - 2008
Suggested Listening
TODAY IS THE DAY
By: Lincoln Brewster
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
New Years
asking mom to borrow one of her
Revolution
sweaters. We cannot be held responsible
if you do…
revolution
Admission is 2 cans of food. Come
әō ә
expecting a great night full of food, noun
laughter, games, music, pictures, making a dramatic and wide-reaching change
memories & more. in the way something works or is
organized or in people's ideas about it
Thursday, December 18
6:30 to 8:30 pm
Every January a tradition that has carried on for
Oregon City Evangelical Church
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
Suggested Reading
Resolutions is synonymous with a lack of follow-
through or seeing resolutions to fruition, and a lot of
WILD GOOSE CHASE
times our resolutions tend to be trivial, addressing
By: Mark Batterson
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!
2

3. THE INN CHRISTMAS - 2008
A look from The Inn-side
In September of this year we launched our new It is our hope that everyone involved will
ministry. Starting from a core group of about 8 experience God through our events, our times
young adults, ages 18 to 30, we met for the first hanging out together, in our music and worship,
time to dream, discuss and pray about the future prayer, programs, biblical messages, small
of what has become known simply as The Inn. groups, missions, discipleship, and in life lived
together.
Those of us who met for the first time talked
The long and short of it is simple. We desire a
about an experience that boiled down to three key
ministry where everyone can experience
areas which have now affectionately become
known as the 3 R’s - Real, Relevant and Reaching – transformation in their lives and community
based on experiences they have with Christ as a
in other words, we desire to be real (authentic) in
direct result of time spent with, in and through
everything that we do, relevant (makes sense) in
the ministry of The Inn.
all things, and reaching
(applicable). 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…
3

4. THE INN CHRISTMAS - 2008
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.
4

5. THE INN CHRISTMAS - 2008
The Inn-Ja’s
Was it for the TV You've probably
already heard
The Inn-Ja’s, what? Yah - good question. It’s
or the vacuum? about it twenty
a co-ed indoor soccer team that times or so but I
we’re involved in, am still kind of
shaken over the news from Black Friday. Two
and it’s a blast!
dead at a Toys-R-us in Cali (which may have been
Our first session gang-related); one employee dead at a Wal-Mart in
started the end of New York. Searching back it seems that Black
Friday violence is more of a norm than anything.
November and has
Some even began calling the day Black and Blue
been a ton of fun.
Friday over the years.
Young adults from
every background You ready for a shock and awe moment?
form our team. It’s
I don't think Christians can participate in Black
been quite an
Friday any longer, as it stands, or even some of
experience; one that
the things it represents.
we’d like to pursue again in the next session
(beginning Jan 12th). To me, at the point I am in my journey, it seems
that Jesus would just not have us participate.
As John Lussier reflected on his time at one of our
games, here’s what he had to say. “I had the
Christ broke the Sabbath for the sake of life and a
pleasure of seeing our Inn-ja's soccer team today, person's health. I think we are called to break
and let me tell you...they...well...They have an away from Black Friday for the same reasons. He
called for a radical love of God, and directly
amazing cheer squad behind them! (They also
opposed that to the love for things and money.
have amazing, dedicated, and vibrant players!
Tim Alban had a great score tonight, Tim and
Black Friday, and the things it represents
Ryan had some awesome saves tonight, and I saw (materialism, consumerism, the scarcity-mindset,
some really great teamwork and hard-play out win-to-win competition, giving-for-the-sake-of-
anything-but-generosity, etc.) are not part of the
there on the field!)
Kingdom.
At the end of the game someone came up to me
and mentioned that the other team wished they Doesn't Christ make a difference in how we shop
and why?
had a cheering section like the Inn-ja's did. It
made me realize the impact that Christ makes on
May God bless us with the insight on how to
each and everyone of us as we live our daily
shop and live like Christ. My prayer goes out to
lives”. those hurt and lost on Black Friday.
Pretty exciting and way worth the investment and
Thoughts from John Lussier
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 The Inn-Ja’s co-ed soccer team
Contact Robbie Lowrie to sign-up today:
out on this awesome opportunity!
luckycath21@yahoo.com (E-mail)
971.230.8233 (Cell)
5

6. MERRY CHRISTMAS THE INN - 2008
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]