Third Sunday of Easter
In preparation for worship,
we encourage you to read the Scripture passage
and reflect on what God’s word might be to you.
Scripture: Luke 24:36-48
Message: "Active Witnesses & Engaged Disciples"
JOIN us for WORSHIP from HOME or in the SANCTUARY.
on Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
so you may be comfortable with our health and safety precautions
as we live into Christ’s teaching to love our neighbors as ourselves.
and activities to nurture faith
(Note on image above: photo of creation's beauty by Marcia Perry)
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Ministry News and Upcoming Events |
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RSVP for In-Person Worship |
Join us in-person as we live-stream our 10 a.m. Sunday Worship Service in the Memorial Church Sanctuary. Registration is open for everyone at this link. Registration to attend in-person is now open for worship through Sunday, May 9. Questions about registering? Contact us here.
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The Connections Committee |
IT WAS SO MUCH FUN, LET’S DO IT AGAIN!
Connect with friends at Peffer Park or the Gazebo at the community park.
Sit and Chat and Chew!
BYOL, BYOD, BYOC, BYOU
(that’s lunch, drink, chair, and uniqueness)
TOMORROW - Saturday, April 17 at noon.
And mark your calendar now for Saturday May 15 and June 19.
It’s getting better, but let’s still wear masks.
The Connections Community hopes YOU can be there.
“There is nothing better than a friend, unless it is a friend with chocolate.”
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Youth Group Picnic Sunday at 6:30 p.m.! |
Join us for a special youth group outdoor picnic and discussion night! It's BYOBF (Bring Your Own Bagged Food), a mask, and a Bible! We'll meet in the Seminary Church and walk outside from there (Note: if weather is nasty, we will meet inside the Seminary Church as a back-up). Masks are required!
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Campus Ministry Discussion Group |
Our discussion group nights for college and campus students will be meeting this Monday, April 19th at 7:00 P.M. over Zoom with "Worldchanging 101" based on the lessons from the book by David LaMotte. If you would like to participate, please contact Pastor Marc. All materials will be provided.
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Invitation to Submit Articles |
The OPC newsletter is an open access, print and online, peer reviewed, top notch, award-winning newsletter. Its circulation is in the high 3 numbers!
We publish Pastor accounts and commentary, Committee reports and invitations, Team write-ups and more. You can join in helping the public understand our mission by submitting your articles on whatever you might want to, by April 20. Include pictures, poetry, fun stuff and varied and diverse information. Don’t miss out on seeing YOUR name in print, as a byline to YOUR column. Send items to your local editor, Nancy Moeckel at moeckenj@miamioh.edu. I double dog dare you to come up with something!
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Calling all kids and youth: Tell us about your favorite tree! |
Our Caring for Creation Team is planning a special Creation Care worship on April 25. The focus is trees! For the children's message on this day, we are creating a slide show where our kids each show a picture and maybe say a sentence or two about a tree in their life that is meaningful to them. Children and families, please check out our request for pictures and upload your photos using this survey by April 21 at 10pm.
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God is so generous and gracious! Today our two missional call teams of Eradicating Systemic Poverty and Caring for Creation are making an impact in our congregation, community and beyond.
Both of these missional call teams were born out of broad and enthusiastic congregational engagement in our “Called to Life!” Journey. While this “Called to Life!” journey is unique to how the Holy Spirit is calling Oxford Presbyterian Church, we are part the Myrtle Collaboration that is funded by the Lily Endowment. The Myrtle Collaboration and Lily Endowment seeks your assessment through a congregational survey conducted through Samford University.
Everyone in the Oxford Presbyterian Church family is encouraged to take the survey at this link. You do not need to have been involved in any part of the “Called to Life!” process to take the survey.
Thank you so much for your time and investment in our mission as we reach out in faith and love.
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Confirmation Mission Project on April 26th! |
This year's confirmation class will be meeting at TOPSS on Monday, April 26th from 3:30-5:00 p.m. for an afternoon service project. They will need to wear a mask and bring shopping bags filled with canned, non-perishable food items for curbside shopping. For more information, please contact Pastor Marc or check the weekly confirmation e-newsletter.
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Our Caring for Creation Team will be giving away native trees on May 1 from 9am-12 in front of the Memorial Church in honor of Arbor Day and Earth Day. We would love volunteers to assist, and ask for your help in spreading the word to those who may be wishing to plant more trees. Special request: if you have planted one of the "Trees for Life" trees, we would LOVE a picture of how the tree looks today. It may start small (remember, Oaks start with the root system)-- but we want your images, no matter how humble. Email to Carla B Rice cablackmar@yahoo.com or upload here.
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Looking for a Local Mission Project? |
The Mission and Outreach Committee and the Eradicating Systemic Poverty Team of OPC want you to be aware of the following volunteer opportunity taking place over the summer and early fall as part of the Presbytery of the Miami Valley.
- Want to be a part of creating a home for a first-time homeowner who was impacted by the Memorial Day tornadoes in 2019?
- Want to share your DIY skills, or learn new ones and make new friends, working alongside members of Brethren Disaster Ministries - our team leaders?
- Can you volunteer for a minimum of three consecutive days in the week beginning on a Monday, with a maximum of five days? (Must be 18 years and up.)
The Presbytery is excited to partner with Brethren Disaster Ministries (BDM) in rehabilitating the home at 4658 Marlin Rd in Trotwood as part of the Tornado Survivors PATHWAY to Homeownership Program.
Please check the May newsletter for more information.
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Connecting as the Beloved Community |
Carol and Steve Flee - The pandemic has not stopped the adventuresome Flees from their outings. They have been ferreting out the covered bridges in Preble and Butler Counties. The search started at, where else?- the internet. So far they have seen 30, or so, and are logging them with photos. They have seen Stephanie and family twice during the shut down, and Travis and family once. Carol is spending a lot of her time making cards, and her products are very creative. Steve gets out of the house daily to walk. It is a time to think, reflect, and he meets many others out doing the same. “Things will get better - we just need to stay the course”.
Ted and Cathy Fujii - Health issues seem to be dogging the Fujiis. Ted had a stroke in 2019, is using a walker and experiencing some dementia. He is still able to use his computer - a blessing. Cathy has had hip and knee replacements. In times past Cathy was an avid bowler. When the Oxford Lanes closed due to the pandemic it left a hole in her life. Of the four Fujii offspring Cindy is in town and Carla in Westchester, which has been most helpful to Mom and Dad. Blair is in Columbus and Bryce in southern California.
“We do the best we can”.
Buzz and Eddie Green have seen lots of movies and documentaries. Zoom meetings and social media have filled in the spaces created by the pandemic. Unfortunately, Eddie suffered appendicitis in July 2020 which continued with after effects until this January. She is doing much better now, but it was difficult to cope with during the pandemic. In addition to Eddie’s health issues their Maltese Poodle, Dixie, suffered a ruptured disc in January. Buzz was able to travel to Orlando to visit with his son and grandchildren and attend an event in Louisville - a treat to be out of town!
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Pruning Workshop - Thank you |
Thank you to Dick Munson, member of the Caring for Creation Team, for hosting a successful pruning workshop on April 10. If you look closely at the Memorial Church garden, you'll see the results of his expert instruction.
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If you have vases (all sizes except very large ones) that you no longer need, the Deacons could use them. They may be placed in the narthex before Sunday services, or in the box outside of the church office.
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COVID-19 Emergency Outreach Fund |
As COVID continues to impact Oxford, our community faces so many challenges and opportunities as we all care for one another through this pandemic. Our ministry remains in close communication with our community mission partners.
If you know of a neighbor who has been impacted by this pandemic, our ministry is actively prepared to assist. The congregational response to the COVID-19 Emergency Outreach Fund has been generous. Please contact our church office if you know of a family or individual who has been impacted by this pandemic. We actively seek to help.
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The word “Give” appears 921 times in the bible – almost as many times as “Faith,” “Hope” and “Love” combined. Giving is an expression of your faith in the Lord, your hope for the future, and your love for others. Prayerfully consider expressing your faith, hope and love through your stewardship of your time, talent and treasure in the Oxford Presbyterian Church family.
To give via QR code, scan the code in the image below with your phone and follow the brief prompts. View a video tutorial here on giving through QR code.
To give via text message, text opc1825 and your designated amount to 73256. For example, text "opc1825 25" to 73256 for an offering of $25 and follow the prompt. View a video tutorial here on giving via text message.
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Living Into Hope
It is not easy to convey a sense of wonder,
let alone resurrection wonder, to another.
It's the very nature of wonder to catch us off guard,
to circumvent expectations and assumptions.
Wonder can't be packaged,
and it can't be worked up.
It requires some sense of being there
and some sense of engagement.
- Eugene H. Peterson
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Oxford Presbyterian Church | 101 N. Main Street, Oxford OH 45056
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