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Join us to remember the greatest morning in history as we worship Jesus Christ through a joyous Easter Sunday Worship Service.
Sunday, April 20, 2025 | 9:30 a.m.
In Person - First Pres Sanctuary | Facebook Live | YouTube
As you come into this sacred place on Easter morning, we encourage you to bring with you a flower,
from your yard,
from along your street,
from a florist,
from your neighbor’s flower bed.
From many different sources these many different flowers [will] come.*
If you happen to leave home without a flower, we'll have a basket of flowers available from which you can choose. And if you'll be joining us online, please keep a flower next to you.
*Adapted from Communion Liturgy that was written by Rev. Rex AE Hunt
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Luke 24: 1-12 (The women grieve and Peter runs to the tomb.
Grief is a healthy response to Jesus’ death and a valid way to enter worship on Easter morning. And yet, the women at the empty tomb are given hope amidst their mourning. The other disciples don’t believe the women’s message, but Peter, living in the in-between of grief and hope, runs to the tomb to see for himself. Grieving doesn’t have to make us hopeless. Hope can compel us to take action when we are deep in grief.
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Daily devotional prayer cards from A Sanctified Art may be found here. Just click on the card in which you're interested and it will expand.
Our friends at A Sanctified Art have provided a special e-reader version of this year’s Lenten devotional, which you can access on your computer and mobile devices. In order to protect their work, please refrain from sharing this link or posting it on social media. Click here.
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Last month, we ran an article about the conversations the Session is having regarding the building and our future in this space. At our Session meeting this week, we continued that conversation, getting some updates about conversations various Session members have had with people and organizations in our community. We continue to look at what makes us as a congregation unique and how we can serve Oshkosh with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love. We are currently in the research phase – figuring out what our options are and how to proceed. Once we have some solid ideas, we will hold some congregation-wide conversations as we make decisions about our future. In the meantime, we want to hear from you – what are the ministries that are closest to your heart? What activities does our congregation participate in that you want to continue or expand? Feel free to reach out to any of the Session members with your thoughts, and please keep us in prayers as we do this work of discernment.
Ruling Elders currently serving on the Session are listed below. Please call the church office if you would like their contact details.
Rosangela Berbert * Andrew Bosma * Joann Cross * John Cross
Hillory Davila * Barbara Goldthwaite * Michael Patton * Gregg Zillges
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Stewardship
As we continue to look forward to the future, we are excited about what God has in store for our faith community. We believe that with your continued support, we can make an even greater impact and reach even more people with the message of love, hope, and salvation. Thank you for your generosity, faithfulness, and commitment to our church’s mission.
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Spring Is Here – So It’s That Time of Year
The time has come for our annual spring boiler shutdown on April 23, 2025. We’re hopeful that the colder temps are behind us. But, knowing that the heating has been shut off, please be mindful of weather reports and dress in layers when you come to the church for worship and events so that you are comfortable.
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Who’s Graduating This Spring?
Please give the office a shout if you know of anyone in our faith community who is graduating from high school, college, vocational/trade school, etc., at the end of the spring semester. And just a reminder, graduates can be anyone from teenagers to adult learners. It’s great to acknowledge and celebrate these accomplishments by folks of any age! Thank you!!!
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Be a Flower Patron!
Sponsoring flowers for Sunday worship is a beautiful way to remember your loved ones.
The cost is $45 per Sunday, and we have 2 dates still available for 2025: May 4 and August 3. All you need to do is use the link to choose a Sunday.
Your payment may be mailed to the church office or placed in the offering box in the sanctuary. Please write “Sanctuary Flowers” in the memo line of your check. Or use the convenient online payment option.
Note: Date reservations are on a first come, first served basis.
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Sponsor Flowers Here
Pay Online Here
(choose 'Give to Flower Sponsorship' in the dropdown menu)
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Easter Flower Patrons
Thank you to those who have sponsored Easter flowers this year. Plants are available to take home after worship on Easter Sunday. If you’d like to make other pickup arrangements or want us to find a loving home for the plants, just give the church office a call.
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Sunday, April 20, 2025 | Approximately 10:30 a.m. | Magnolia Hall at First Pres
The Easter worship service is scheduled for Sunday, April 20th at 9:30 a.m. After the service, everyone is warmly invited to join us for a light Easter brunch in Magnolia Hall. If you have some time to spare, come enjoy a lovely brunch and connect with both old and new friends! And don’t worry about bringing a dish to share; we’ll take care of everything!
Don't worry if you haven't RSVP'd - that's absolutely fine! Just stop by, and you’ll be welcomed with a friendly smile.
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Saturday, April 26, 2025 | 8:00 – 10:00 a.m. | Magnolia Hall at First Pres
Bring your family and friends along for some great conversations and prepare yourself for the Community Breakfast! Join in for some delightful food and engaging conversations. It’s a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with old friends and meet new people.
If you're up for it, we would love any help you can provide while you're there. We could use assistance in different areas, such as setting up, cooking, cleaning, serving, or just chatting with guests. Let’s team up to make this event a memorable one for everyone! Whether you’re coming to enjoy a meal, lend a hand, or do both, it’s always a pleasure to see you and share some quality time!
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Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Noon – 1:30 p.m.
Magnolia Hall at First Pres
Join us for a special gathering where we’ll worship God and dive into the Bible together. You’ll feel right at home in our friendly environment as we explore the teachings and celebrate Jesus Christ! Make sure to bring your Bible, your lunch, and your excitement for discovering more of God’s word.
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Saturday, June 7, 2025 | 8:00 a.m. – noon | First Pres Parking Lot
June is just around the corner, so it's the perfect time for all you gardeners to start your plant cuttings and gear up for our Great Plant Exchange! And if you're not into cuttings, that's totally fine! Feel free to join us as you are – and keep in mind, you don’t have to bring a plant to take one home!
Indoor and Outdoor Plants - free to a loving home!
Meet friends & exchange gardening tips
Drop off your extra flowers and plants to share with others
Donate plants in non-returnable containers
Pick up something new for your own garden
Non-invasive plants only!
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Oshkosh Pride Community Check-in
Thursday, May 1, 2025 | 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Elsewhere Market and Coffee House| 531 N. Main Street, Oshkosh
Oshkosh Pride is dedicated to improving the mental health of LGBTQIA2S+ people at all of their intersections.
Please join us for community support and delicious beverages in a welcoming atmosphere. Together, we can help process our feelings, build community, and share our hopes and dreams for the future. It can help us feel better when we talk about what’s on our mind with new and existing friends in a non-judgmental space.
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Family to Family
Mondays, May 5 – June 30, 2025 (no class on Memorial Day) | 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Fox Valley | 211 E. Franklin Street, Appleton
Registration Required: call Vivian Flanagan at 920.740.3499 or email vivian@namifoxvalley.org
Register Online Here
Family-to-Family is a free, 8-session education course for family and friends of people living with mental illness. The program offers a relaxed, trusting, and safe environment for participants to develop insight, skills, and emotional understanding to support the mental health recovery of a loved one.
This evidence-based course is taught by a team of trained instructors who also are family members of people living with mental illness. The instructors will guide participants to better understand, advocate for and support loved ones while maintaining their own and their family's well-being.
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Aging Advocacy Day 2025
Tuesday, May 13, 2025 | 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Best Western Premier Park Hotel | 22 S. Carroll Street, Madison
Registration Required by Friday, April 25, 2025: call 877.886.2372
Register Online Here
The Wisconsin Aging Advocacy Network (WAAN) is hosting its 9th annual Aging Advocacy Day. The will be held at the Best Western Premier Park Hotel (22 S. Carroll Street, Madison) and at the Wisconsin State Capitol. This event gathers citizens from around the state to meet with constituents from their Senate and Assembly district and their legislators/legislative staff. They want to hear personal stories about how specific policy issues and proposals would impact older adults and their families. The priority talking points for 2025 include ADRC investment, direct care workforce support, home delivered meal funding, healthy aging grants, and fall prevention. Lunch will be provided.
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Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) condemns bombing of Al-Ahli Hospital and demands Protection for the Christian Community and all in Gaza
Source: PC (USA) Washington Office
April 13, 2025
On this blessed day of Palm Sunday, Christians around the world gather to worship and commemorate Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem during one of the most sacred times of year as Holy Week begins.
Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) condemns in the strongest possible terms the bombing of Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza. Al-Ahli is an Anglican institution and one of the oldest, continuously operating hospitals in Gaza. It is Gaza’s only Christian hospital and its only cancer treatment center. The bombing of the Anglican Al-Ahli Arab Hospital is a violation of the sacredness of life and it is especially abhorrent during this sacred time for Christians.
The deliberate targeting of a medical facility is a clear violation of international law—a war crime and a crime against humanity.
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Sunday Worship Service: 9:30 a.m. † In-Person † Facebook † YouTube | | | |
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| First Presbyterian Church is a member of More Light Presbyterians, a coalition of churches whose mission is to work for the full participation of the LBGTQ community in the life, ministry, and witness of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and in society. | | | | | | |
