Spirit of the season!!!

I was on my parent's computer and emailed myself all of my old speeches from high school and sermons I used to give when I was a Baptist Minister. Here is one that I gave just over 4 years ago at the Christmas Assembly my senior year of high school (I was the Student Body President).

Also with this speech, I got into a lot of trouble giving it. I was asked not to give it at the 2nd assembly, but I did anyway.
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The Spirit of the Season

What is it about this time of the year that brings people together? Is it because of family? Receiving gifts? The Spirit of the Season? Or my favorite, getting out of school? Or it might be because of one of the religious holidays we share? Well, whatever your choice is, we all have one thing in common! The gift of giving.

As you already know we have had many opportunities to give this Christmas. We have had the Canned Food Drive, Clothes for Teens, The Competition with Burg, and FCS was collecting money to help a family this Christmas. I would personally like to say thank you and I am proud of the students at West Carrollton Senior High. Because it was you who donated the cans, it was you who gave up YOUR OWN MONEY, and it was you who gave up your old clothes for people in need. You did this to help others, No one made you! Now that’s what Christmas is about. Its not about receiving gifts, but about giving gifts.

Have you ever noticed how busy it gets around this time of the year? Take a look around and you will see what I mean. The traffic is really bad, parking lots are full, and stores are packed with customers! Everyone is getting prepared for this one day. Kids are getting excited, and parents are panicking, not knowing if they will be done in time.

But then, everything comes to a stop. And a certain silence and joy fills the air. Everything calms down, and there is a since of peace. Churches light up, stores close, parking lots are now empty, and there is no traffic on the roads.

And when two strangers pass for the first time, it is as if they have known each other their whole lives. Because they know, at that time, there is a sense of peace on earth.

Then at midnight on Christmas Eve, we all come together. Just for a moment in a little stable in Bethlehem!

So now as you can see, Christmas is a very busy time and full of excitement. But in the end, we all calm down and come together! So this Christmas remember, its not about giving or receiving gifts, but it’s about the mighty spirit of the season.

HE IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!!!

Thank you very much, and please include our troops in your thoughts and prayers.

Merry Christmas and God Bless!

How Catholics at Liberty got started

It is hard to believe that I have been a student at Liberty University for two and a half years now. And that this May I will be graduating! I transferred to Liberty after my freshman year because I wanted to study for the Baptist Ministry. After being at Liberty only a few months I soon realized what I was missing in my life was the Eucharist!

It was then that I joined RCIA at Holy Cross Catholic Church. It was during this year that I lost all of my friends at school (except my roommates and one other friend). It was Easter of 2007 that I came into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church!

After going through what I did my first year, I knew I couldn’t be the only Catholic (even though I thought I was). So my second year there, I started a facebook group and looked up all the people who had “Catholic” on their religious views and added them as a friend (whether they were future students, current students or alumni). The group grew to over 50.

From that facebook group, there were two students that I gave rides to mass every week. One of the students was from Peru and hadn’t been to mass for six years. It was Psalm Sunday of 2008 that he was able to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Eucharist for the first time in six years!!!

During the summer of my junior and senior year, I started to pray for someone to step up and take this ministry over when I graduate, and I also prayed for the intercession of Jerry Falwell to help this ministry grow. Well, just after 2 weeks into my senior year, we grew to six students, and have been growing ever since!

Throughout this semester, I have seen God work in many different ways! I have seen some students struggle with their faith, but then truly find their faith! I’ve seen students return to the Church after many years of being away! And I have seen many students that where very anti-Catholic become very interested in the Church!

Every Sunday the students have a way to get to mass. We also have a weekly dinner at a restaurant on campus. And we do many more things like: cook-outs, prayer groups and a weekend trips!

With my last semester approaching quickly, I have decided to step down as the leader of this group. In January, we will be holding elections for a full leadership team, and we will be creating a constitution and are now in the process of getting this group approved by Liberty!!!

The main reason why this group was started is because I wanted the Catholic students to have the chance to make it to mass and receive the Sacraments. Also so that they know they are not the only Catholic at LU. As we begin next semester, we have around 20 Catholic Students that are involved and over 50 students that we are in contact with (this is not counting our growing non-Catholic group that is involved)!

Please pray for the Catholics at Liberty and this ministry!

God bless,
Chris Osgood

Late Update

Hey everyone!

Sorry yet once again for the very late update. The internet at school has been out most of the time, and when it has been up, I was able to answer very few of the emails received.

So, over the past two weeks. We will just put it this way, not a lot was going on except packing, finals, saying good bye to friends and holding a very important meeting with the Catholics at Liberty.

So to make this very short, we had a great week. There was a small Christmas party that my friend had (I attached a picture of the group). There was also three baptisms at church this past Sunday and the Liberty Catholics received a blessing. It was a great service! (pictures of the baptism are attached also).

Besides all of that, we had a meeting with the Catholics at Liberty and discussed things for next year. I am really excited for next semester and year! We are in the process of creating a constitution and picking leadership for next semester. I made it known that I am stepping down next semester. I want another student to start heading it up, and I be there to help him/her out, and that way they will know what to do after I am gone. It was very hard for me to say that I am stepping down, but it is the best thing for the group, and the only way it will survive.

Well, besides all of that, the finals went well. Next semester is going to very tough, but assuming everything goes as planned I will graduate in May!!!

God bless,
Chris Osgood

Thanksgiving break

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and is now enjoying Advent!

Once again I apologize for the late update. The internet on campus has been going in and out, so although there was a lot that happened last week, I will make this short.

Sunday before Thanksgiving I went to a Bible Study on "suffering". It was a great study! It lasted around 6 hours and seemed like 2! Bob (the guy who leads it) gave me a lot of materials on the Catholic Church and some that will help with school!

On Tuesday I took the psychological exam for the Arch-diocese of Cincinnati. Lets put it this way, parts of my brain that I never knew I had where hurting afterword's. Although I hated it, I really enjoyed the day because I was able to have lunch with some of the seminarians and faculty from the seminary. Then I went to dinner with Deacon Shawn (thanks for having dinner with me).

Wednesday, I had lunch with Sarah (she is the one from back home that is thinking about becoming Catholic). We talked and it sounds like she is still trying to decide if she wants to become Catholic.

Besides all of that, I just spent time with the family and friends. Overall, it was a great and relaxing week! I have attached some pictures of the UC football game and Thanksgiving with family.

PRAYER REQUESTS: Please pray for Deacon Tony's family. He just lost his mother last week. And also for a graduate from Liberty University who is thinking about the Catholic Church. Then finally, for me and finals this upcoming week!

God bless,
Chris Osgood