Bulletin
November 8, 2026
All Campus Announcements Bloomington Bedford
ALL CAMPUSES
Vision Night / Family Meeting
Mark your calendars for Sunday night, November 15 at 6pm for our Vision Night! We are really excited about where we are headed as a church in the next couple of years and we want to share that with you, our family! Everyone is welcome and encouraged to join us. We cannot overstate how important this night is and how much we want you to be here. That night is going to look very different from our usual Family Meetings. We are very excited about where we feel the Lord is leading us over the next 2 years together. Plan to be here. Bring your people, your family, your connect group and see and hear the Lord is leading us.
Built Series Stories
If you are looking for more in the conversation around the Built series, you can find those full videos and podcasts here.
Built Series Video Conversations
BLOOMINGTON:
Bible App Sermon Online
Follow along online this weekend! Download the free YouVersion Bible app and click the 'events' tab in the lower right corner to find us on the map or click the link below to go directly to this weekend's outline.
YouVersion Bible App Sermon Outline
6giving
Hey high school students: Join us Sunday night, November 22 at 6:00pm for 6giving! There were be plenty of food and plenty to be grateful for! Join us in the Fellowship Hall and bring a friend! See you there!
6 Schedule Update
Due to the Vision Night on November 15, there won't be any 6 for our High School Ministry that evening. The 6 will return on November 22.
Angel Tree / Season of Care
Join us this Christmas season to bring the joy of Christmas to a foster child! Visit the Angel Tree in the lobby and choose the name of someone you would like to brighten this Christmas season. Each of these children are a part of the Monroe County Department of Child Service system and are facing a very challenging childhood experience. Gift tags are available with a child's age/gender and gift wish list on the tree. After choosing an age/gender, purchase the gifts and return them in early December to be distributed on December. For more information, email Jeff Baldwin.
Bloomington Campus Text Messages
If you are interested in text messages about Bloomington campus specific news and information, text keyword: East to 812.324.8644 to join our texting group.
CareFest
Join us on Saturday, November 7, from 8:00am–12:00pm for CareFest, a church-wide morning of service as we head into our community to share the love of Jesus in practical, meaningful ways! We'll gather in the Sherwood Oaks Fellowship Hall at 8:00am before heading out at 8:45am to serve local nonprofits, community organizations, neighborhoods, and individuals through a variety of hands-on projects. CareFest is about more than getting projects done. It's about showing our neighbors that they are seen, valued, and loved. Whether you're serving alongside your family, Connect Group, ministry team, or friends, there's a place for you to make a difference! Sign up to serve on a project that fits your interests and abilities, invite others to join you, suggest a person or organization that could use a helping hand, or pray for the volunteers and neighbors impacted by this day of service. Childcare will not be provided, and children must be supervised at all times. For more information, contact Jeff Baldwin.
Deck the Halls
It's almost time to Deck the Halls again for the Christmas season!!! Do you love decorating for the Christmas season? Bring those skills and join us in decking the halls here at Sherwood Oaks on Sunday, November 29 from 12:00-3:00pm. Grab your favorite Christmas sweater and your connect group and join us. Anyone can serve. We need folks who love to primp a tree and folks who just want to carry it to where it needs to go. We'll meet in the Fellowship Hall around 12:00pm for lunch! (Yep, we'll feed you and your elf crew!) We'll even have some Christmas cookies! Click below to register and let us know you're coming!
Family Commitment Sunday
Please join us for our annual Family Commitment Sunday on November 8 to celebrate the newest members of your family and to dedicate your child to the Lord. We will have a brief ceremony on stage during each service, followed by a brunch reception. You are welcome to invite family and friends to join you for both! Please click to register below. If you have questions, contact Lauren Hong.
Family Commitment Sunday Registration
Gingerbread Bash
Join us for an amazing family Christmas celebration called "Gingerbread Bash" on Saturday, December 12 from 3:30-5:00pm in the Fellowship Hall. It's a gingerbread nativity-building party perfect for the whole family. Along with creating and decorating your own gingerbread nativity, you'll enjoy games, singing, hearing the Christmas story straight from the Bible and discovering how Jesus is the true star of our lives. It's an incredible way for your family to celebrate our Savior's birth. Registration coming soon.
Groups
We believe we're better together! Your group of people might be waiting for you! Take your first step toward finding your people by checking out our groups page below or contacting our Groups Ministry Leader, Beth Long.
Hill Climber Coffee Mission Project - Honduras 2027
Ever wonder where the coffee that we drink on Sunday morning comes from? Join us in January of 2027 as we journey to Honduras to our mission partners His Eyes/Hill Climber Coffee in rural Honduras. You'll have a chance to meet the staff of the churches and children's programs in several village settings along with the center for His Eyes ministries. The project dates are January 11-16, 2027 and the cost of the trip is $1450. Click the link below to register or contact Brad Pontius with questions.
Hill Climber Coffee Mission Project
International Conference on Missions
Each year, missionaries from around the world gather in one location for an annual International Conference on Missions. There will be incredible speakers telling awesome stories of God's actions around the globe. This year, that conference (ICOM) will gather in St. Louis November 12-14. We are planning to take a group from Sherwood Oaks. This will give us an excellent opportunity to connect with our global mission partners from around the world and hear updates from their ministries as well as hear stories from others. Transportation and hotel accommodations will be available through our Global Engagement Department. If you have questions or would like to attend, contact Brad Pontius or Norma Landgraff.
Melody of Grace : Women's Wednesday AM Study
Hey ladies! Join us starting October 28 for a new study by Whitney Capps called "Melody of Grace." Grace. It's a word we hear often and a concept we value but how do you explain it? It's more than a cliche or a catchy phrase in a worship song. It's more than what God gives us; it's who He is. In this 7-session Bible study, Whitney will examine passages throughout the Bible to explore the transformative power of grace! This study begins on October 28 through December 16 (not meeting on November 25 due to Thanksgiving) at 9:30am in room 222. Click below to register and purchase your study materials.
Melody of Grace Registration and Materials
Operation Christmas Child / Season of Care
It's that time of the year again! Operation Christmas Child begins October 4 at Sherwood Oaks. Swing by the main lobby or most main entrances to pick up a ready to go shoe box or feel free to use a shoe box of your own. Choose an age and gender for a child to receive, fill it up with Christmas goodies and bring it back on or before November 16. (If you need suggestions on what should go into the shoe box or how to pack it, you can find instructions online here or visit the lobby display for more information.) This is a simple way to bring the joy of Christmas to a child around the world this holiday season. Additionally, Sherwood Oaks Bloomington is a regional hub for shoe box collection. Watch for a sign up opportunity to receive and process those shoe boxes and get them one step closer to being shipped out into the hands of kids around the world November 16-23. For more information, contact Jeff Baldwin.
Operation Christmas Children Volunteering
Salvation Army Bell Ringers
Join us Saturday, December 19 for our annual Salvation Army Bell Ringers day in Bloomington. For one day, Sherwood Oaks takes over ringing all the Red Kettle bells for the Salvation Army. Did you know that the difference between a kettle collecting nearly nothing and a kettle collecting approximately $40-50 per hour is a person ringing that bell. Join us in ringing the bell! This is a great family or Connect Group activity! Dress up! Play an instrument! Be creative and support our community! Click below to grab your favorite store and a time that works for you!
Thanksgiving Hospitality
Do you have a little extra room at your Thanksgiving table this holiday season? Could you make a little room for an international student studying at Indiana University but far from home? The Thanksgiving Hospitality initiative provides an opportunity for Sherwood Oaks families to build relationships with international students, share the love of Christ and engage international students in discussions around faith and American traditions. Host dates are available between November 21 and 28. Click the link below to register or email Kristi Huston with questions.
Thanksgiving Hospitality Registration
Top Notch Ark Encounter and Creation Museum Trip
Join our Top Notch Ministry for a trip to Kentucky for the Ark Encounter, the Creation Museum and a riverboat sightseeing trip April 20-22, 2027. The trip will be on a Diamond Tours motor coach bus. Overnight accommodations will be in the Cincinnati area. This trip is open to all Sherwood Oaks members or attenders and their friends or family. We'll depart from SOCC Bloomington at 8:00am on April 20. A $75 deposit is required to reserve your seat by December 7 with final payment being due on January 22, 2027. Please contact Connie Phares to reserve your spot and make payments.
Upward Basketball
It's almost Upward Basketball season again! Upward is a great place for kids to learn the fundamentals of basketball in an environment where everyone gets to play and everyone learns about Jesus! Athletes participate in 1 practice a week and 1 game per week (with the exception of preschool and kindergarten where their practice and games are combined). All practices and games are hosted at the Crestmont Boys and Girls Club. If you register before November 14, registration for Upward is $100. After November 14, registration is $120. If a parent volunteers as a referee or a coach, you receive a 50% discount on your athlete's registration. Evaluations will be held at the Boys and Girls Club on Saturday, November 7 from 10:00-12:00pm or Monday, November 9 from 6:00-8:00pm. Please plan for your athlete to attend 1 of these evaluations. Click below to register your athlete or yourself to volunteer.
Upward Participant Registration
BEDFORD:
Bedford Bible App Sermon Online
Follow along online this weekend! Download the free YouVersion Bible app and click the 'events' tab in the lower right corner to find us on the map or click the link below to go directly to this weekend's outline.
5th Sunday Breakfast
Join us Sunday morning, November 29 for our next 5th Sunday Breakfast at 9:00am in the Worship Center! Bring something to share and we'll see you there! Then stick around for church starting at 10:00am!
Bedford Campus Email Group
In an effort to get the right information to the right groups of people in a more effective manner, some changes are coming to the weekly Top Three Things email. Starting this August, we'll begin to send out a Top Three Things specifically for Bedford. This will ensure that when you open the Top Three Things each week, you'll see the information you want and need to see quickly and efficiently. In order to facilitate this change, we need you to take a second and click below to subscribe to the Bedford campus email group so you continue to see the information that's important to you!
Bedford Campus Text Messages
If you are interested in text messages about Bedford Campus specific news and information, text keyword: "Bedford" to 812.324.8644 to join our Bedford Campus texting group.
Hymn Sing
Join us for the Hymn Sing at Sherwood Oaks Bedford on Sunday night, November 8 starting at 5:00pm. The whole community is invited to join us for this evening of praise. See you there or tune into our YouTube channel to watch online.
Men's Celebration
All men are invited to SOCC Bedford for a night of celebration on December 11 at 6:30pm! Enjoy a night of dinner, worship, devotion, and an awesome time of fellowship! This event is free for all men.
Weekend Attendance and Giving Update
Your continued financial support enables us to serve our communities and the world. *Note: On July 1, 2025, we started a new fiscal year.
Attendance 10/25/2026:
In-person: 1748 | Online: 343
September 2026 Offering Update:
Monthly Given: $307,450.45 | Monthly Under: $86,816.22
Yearly Given : $970,179.15 | Yearly Under: $212,620.85
Dollar Club: Bloomington : $11,158.15
Starting on February 1, 2025, we are making an adjustment to how we report our weekly financial giving. We will not be sharing weekly numbers in terms of giving totals. We recognize that offering styles and rhythms have changed drastically in the last decade or so. Therefore, weekly numbers tend to fluctuate in a way that's unhelpful in seeing our church's overall giving health. In response to this, we will share a monthly financial and giving snapshot on the first Friday of every month that reflects the previous month's giving and budget numbers. We hope that will give a more accurate picture of how our giving has supported the ministry of Sherwood Oaks. If you have any questions, please contact our Business Office Manager Elizabeth Moore or email .
Join us in giving to Sherwood Oaks
Current Financial Update: November 1, 2026
Thank you for your support.