Caring for Creation Sunday
In preparation for worship,
we encourage you to read the Scripture passage
and reflect on what God’s word might be to you.
Scripture: John 20:11-16
Message: “Stewards: Challenged, Enriched & Renewed”
JOIN us for WORSHIP from HOME or in the SANCTUARY.
on Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
and activities to nurture faith
(Note on cover image: Favorite Trees (left to right) --Emilia and Eloise Hofer: maple, Lola Albarran: fir (in Luxembourg!), Abby, Hannah, Lucy and Sadie Chaney: maple, Claire Murray: maple, Oran Rice: sycamore, Cora Murray: Japanese Maple, Noel Albarran: fir, Lydia and Jens Bartel (as babies!): Yellow Birch, Oliver Rice: Weeping Cherry)
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Ministry News and Upcoming Events |
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Interested in Joining One Another for Worship In-Person? RSVP! |
Join us in-person as we live-stream our 10:00 am. 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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Youth Group Neighborhood Pick-up with the Caring for Creation Team! |
Take our fancy new OPC Trash Grabbers and Safety Vests out for their inaugural voyage! Youth group is cleaning up litter in the blocks around the Memorial Church on April 25 at 4:00 p.m. Bring work gloves/ gardening gloves if you have them, and dress for low-grade mess. It should be a fun chance to walk and talk. Adults are welcome.
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Confirmation Service Project this Monday! |
This year's confirmation class will be meeting at TOPPS this Monday, April 26 from 3:30-5:00 pm 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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Creating a Healthy Oxford Community |
The ESP Team recently heard about a virtual event of significance to our missions being hosted by League of Women Voters of Oxford.
Community, Food, and Sustainability in Oxford
Wednesday, April 28 | 7:00 p.m.
Ross Olson, LWV Oxford Natural Resources Portfolio Director, and Ann Fuehrer, Talawanda Oxford Pantry & Social Services (TOPSS) Executive Director, will discuss the relationship between food insecurity, community gardens, and homelessness in the Oxford area.
Olson will provide information on a pilot project to create a pollinator and food production garden and food forestry plot near Merry Day Trailer Park and TOPSS on US 27. Fuehrer will discuss how TOPSS, providing food to area residents since 2007, is implementing innovative solutions in the face of increased demand and challenges over the last year.
Everyone is welcome to attend.
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"Trees for Life" Giveaway Saturday, May 1 - 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. |
Dick Munson, member of the Caring for Creation Team and our OPC-enviro-hero is giving away lots of baby oaks, buckeyes, and paw paws-- trees that can grow and provide shade and nourishment to our community for the next hundred years!
Pick up your tree beginning at 9 a.m. and join us for brief Blessing of the Trees at 9:30 a.m.
Spread the word, plant the trees!
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The Worship & Music Committee has designated Sunday, May 2nd as Choir Appreciation Day. Despite the hiatus of the Chancel Choir necessitated by the COVID pandemic, we have been blessed by the presence of our Student Choral Interns who have weekly supplied our service with their beautiful singing of hymns and solos.
We have been truly blessed not only by their musical talents but by the gift of their kind, generous, faithful spirits as well. Both Kate Trybus and Andrew McLeese (Caleb Orr’s successor) are graduating this year and sadly will be taking their leave from us. Happily, we get to enjoy the presence of Aaron Garner and Ellie Wilmes for yet another academic year!
Whether leaving or staying, these fine young singers have enhanced our worship experience with much beauty and respite from a decidedly difficult year. We are so grateful to each and every one of them for all that they bring to us!
Should you wish to express your personal thanks or appreciation to our singers, please feel free to leave notes or cards for them in Kent Peterson's mailbox at church. You could also mail them or drop them off to the church office in the days leading up to May 2nd. Many thanks for your kind consideration!
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New Members Experience this Spring! |
If you are interested in learning more about membership at Oxford Presbyterian Church, we invite you to join us for a New Member Experience facilitated by Pastor Marc. We will be meeting in the Molyneaux Lounge directly following worship on May 2 and May 9. New Member Sunday will be May 16. If you are interested in learning more or would like to register, please contact the church office for more information.
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Community Blood Drive Results! |
Thank you for a fantastic blood drive (April 14).
Overall results – there were EIGHT first time donors!
49 people registered to give blood!
40 were successful!
100% percent of goal!
8 First Time Donors! WOW!
Over 120 lives will be positively impacted as a result of total donations!
Mark your calendar for the next Community Blood Drive, Friday, May 7 from 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Community Blood Center donors are the GOAT! (Greatest Of All Time).
APPOINTMENTS ARE REQUIRED
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Flowers are needed for the communion table for May 16, May 23 and May 30. Max Stacy will deliver them to the church. After the service, they will be delivered to our shut-ins by the deacons. If you wish to have your own flowers, we could make an arrangement for that.
Please call or email Marge Smith to place an order. Phone: 513-523-3895 or email: smithme2010@hotmail.com. The cost of the flowers is $20 and payment can be mailed to Nick Fears (our financial secretary) at the church. Thank you, for your support.
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Connecting as the Beloved Community |
Jan Reinhart has been riding out the pandemic in her cozy room at Woodland Manor. Spring reminds her of the walks she took in past years, soaking up the beauty of the spring flowers. There was a time when Jan could identify each bloom she passed - crocus, tulips, and daffodils, spring beauties, snow drops, celandine and more. She appreciated the lovely bouquet that Marge Smith brought to her, brightening up her room. Jan has been using her church directory so much that it was dog eared and held together with a rubber band. Bridgite kindly sent her a new one. Jan is getting much pleasure from reading a Bible that recently came into her possession.
Jane and Don Kelly have not been overly affected by the pandemic. Don is the epitome of a homebody so staying in their comfortable abode is quite alright with him. Jane has been whittling away at her “to do” list that has been ignored for some time. Trips into the kitchen picked up for a while, but she has managed to cut back on those. A recent highlight was the outdoor wedding of a grandson near Hamilton. Basically Don and Jane are just enjoying life.
Sandi and Will Hazleton have become much more proficient on the computer. Zoom meetings have kept them active with various groups as well as family. They play games with their girls online, Will has enjoyed ILR classes, Sandi is pursuing her interest in genealogy - (says she goes to her room to play with dead people). People are finding it easier to attend meetings, via Zoom, if they are not inclined to go out, particularly at night. Perhaps this will carry over in post pandemic times. Some of those in the mature generation are learning that computers are not as scary as they once thought.
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I would like to thank everyone for the prayers, encouragement, cards and flowers during this period of surgery and healing. I feel like I am on the road to recovery.
Thank you,
John Curry
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Local Mission Partnership Update - TOPSS |
In 2018, Talawanda Oxford Pantry and Social Services (TOPSS) began a fundraising campaign for a new building on Merry Day Park. The building from which TOPSS served the community since its inception in 2007 would not be available as of June 30, 2020. This long-time local mission partner asked in good faith for significant financial contribution from our congregation for this new facility to serve our neighbors. Our congregation responded very generously.
Since May 2020, TOPSS has now been serving the community from two buildings owned by the Family Resource Center (FRC). Early in 2021, TOPSS decided to forego the opportunity to build a new facility since they are happily co-locating with the FRC. Click here to read the full communication from TOPSS.
As conscientious stewards of our financial support, TOPSS reached out to our congregation with this update. They reported that all of the monies raised between 2018 & 2020, were expended for architectural/civil engineering plans for the proposed facility as well as renovations of their current space at the FRC.
Our Mission & Outreach Committee and the Board of Deacons recently voted in support of TOPSS retaining the financial support extended in 2018. At Tuesday’s meeting, the Session of OPC also voted that TOPSS retain the finances to further TOPSS mission “to alleviate hunger and provide nutrition information to families and individuals in need.” Stay tuned for more information from ESP about upcoming opportunities how your gift of time will make a difference through this local mission partner.
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The Spirit of Scotland
Tuesday, June 7 – Wednesday, June 15, 2022
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A visit to Scotland and the cradle of the Presbyterian Church will create memories you will cherish forever. The majestic scenery of the highlands and isles, castles, churches, and cities where every stone tells a historic tale... a proud heritage of our Reformed faith - your “Learning Journey” to Scotland will be an unforgettable experience.
For more information and to register for the 2022 Spirit of Scotland click here. Contact Pastor Lawrence, our Group Leader, with any inquiries.
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Be still, my soul, and steadfast.
Earth and heaven both are still watching
though time is draining from the clock
and your walk, that was confident and quick,
has become slow.
So, be slow if you must, but let
the heart still play its true part.
Love still as once you loved, deeply
and without patience. Let God and the world
know you are grateful.
That the gift has been given.
- Mary Oliver
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
Christianity has tended to view the resurrection as Jesus’s triumph over physical death.
But for Christians in the wisdom tradition (who include among their ranks the very earliest witnesses to the resurrection) its meaning lies in something far deeper
than merely the resuscitation of a corpse.
Jesus’s real purpose in this sacrifice was to wager his own life against his core conviction that love is stronger than death, and that the laying down of self which is the essence of this love leads not to death, but to life.
- Richard Rohr
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Oxford Presbyterian Church | 101 N. Main Street, Oxford OH 45056
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