everything [in] between: faith & works
Luke 10: 38-42 (Mary and Martha host Jesus)
In many translations, Jesus says that “Mary has chosen the better part,” which has been used to create a divide between Mary and Martha. However, in the Greek, Mary has chosen the “good portion,” and Martha’ s tasks are called “ministry.” Therefore, perhaps Mary represents our faith, our desire to know God intimately, and Martha represents our good works, our desire to transform the world. Both are needed, and both are good.
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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Water Safety at First Pres
The Oshkosh Water Utility has identified a portion of our church’s water service line as galvanized material that may have absorbed lead. This means there’s a potential risk of lead contamination in our drinking water. To ensure the safety of our congregation and visitors, we have taken immediate steps: all water fountains are closed, and filters certified for lead removal have been installed on sinks used for drinking water. Additionally, bottled water is available in the multi-purpose room (103) refrigerator. Please feel free to help yourselves.
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From Disaster to Hope
High in the mountains of Nepal, hundreds of remote hill villages dot the landscape in a terrain that is as precarious and vulnerable as the people themselves. People like Dilliram Bhatta [dill-i-ram bot-tah].
The village of Gorkha, where Dilliram and his family live, has historically had no source of clean drinking water. He and the other villagers regularly walked 45 minutes down the hill to get water for their households and livestock and then carried it back up. Water scarcity became even worse for the village when a massive earthquake hit Nepal in April 2015.
The unprecedented disaster caused catastrophic damage, including the destruction of the village’s closest water supply, leaving the families no choice but to travel even farther for water. Their appeals to the local government for a solution to their water crisis proved fruitless. Read more.
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2025 Re-Confirmation Class Starting!
March 16, March 30, April 13, April 27, May 11, May 25 First Pres Campus
Our “re-confirmation” class starts this Sunday! We have one child who will be going through confirmation, and any adults who want to join the discussions are welcome. The plan is to hold Confirmation class after services on Sunday every other week from March 16 through May 25, with confirmation taking place on Pentecost – June 8. You and your family and friends would be very welcome to attend!
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Easter Flowers to Adorn the Sanctuary
Ordering Deadline: Sunday, March 23, 2025
Easter flowers will grace the sanctuary of First Pres this Easter and add to the beauty of our liturgical celebrations. Share the beauty of Easter by sponsoring a flower. Flowers can be given in memory of a loved one or to honor family and friends.
If you would like to be a patron, please complete the online order form. Payment options include online, mailing a check to the church office, or placing payment in the offerings box located in the church sanctuary. Please note “Easter Flowers” in the memo line of your check. Thanks so much for your support!
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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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Brown Bag Bible Exploration
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Noon – 1:30 p.m.
Magnolia Hall at First Pres
Join us for a heartfelt gathering where we come together to praise God and study God’s Word, the Bible. You'll enjoy a warm and friendly setting as we explore the teachings and honor Jesus Christ! Remember to bring your Bible, your lunch, and your passion for discovering more about God’s message.
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Community Breakfast
Saturday, March 22, 2025 | 8:00 – 10:00 a.m. | Magnolia Hall at First Pres
Coming sooner than you think – the Community Breakfast! Join us with your family and friends for engaging conversations and delicious meals. Reunite with old friends and meet new ones. If you feel inspired, we’d be grateful for any help you can provide while you’re there. We’re seeking support in many ways – whether it’s setting up, cooking, cleaning, serving, or just chatting with guests. Let’s collaborate to make this a fantastic event for everyone! Whether you’re there to eat, volunteer, or both, it’s always a delight to see you and enjoy some time together!
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Lunch with Friends
Saturday, March 29, 2025 | 11:30 a.m. | Two Brothers Family Restaurant | 1930 Rath Lane, Oshkosh
Join us for great company, great food, great times!
For planning purposes, please call the church office by 10:00 a.m. no later than Thursday, March 27, 2025, to let us know how many will be coming. Or use our convenient online RSVP option!
But if you’re not sure about coming and can’t RSVP, no worries. Just come on over, and you’ll be welcomed with a big smile.
This is a “no-host” event. Please call the restaurant at 920.233.9090 for menu and pricing.
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Mental Health First Aid Training
Saturday, April 5, 2025 | 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
NAMI Oshkosh | 525 N. Main Street, Oshkosh
Register: info@namioshkosh.org or 920.651.1148
The NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Oshkosh is sponsoring Mental Health First Aid training. This skills-based course gives people the tools to identify, understand, and respond to someone who might be struggling with a mental health or substance use challenge – and connect them with the appropriate support and resources. Training materials, lunch, snacks and beverages will be provided. Register today, as space is limited.
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Qdoba Fundraiser for Christine Ann
Wednesday, April 9, 2025 | 4:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Qdoba | 1990 Menard Drive, Oshkosh
Make your meal count! Join us for a QDOBA Fundraiser benefiting Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services. Show the QR code when you order in person or use it online at qdoba.com with the code QDOBAGIVES to support Christine Ann’s mission of providing safety, support, and hope to those impacted by domestic abuse. Every bite makes a difference. Thank you for helping us make an impact!
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March Is Women’s History Month!
This month, we celebrate the incredible contributions of all women—cisgender, transgender, and nonbinary individuals who identify as women—who have shaped our history and inspired change.
We’re proud to uplift voices and continue advocating for equality and safety for every woman. This month is a chance to honor the past, embrace the present, and pave the way for future generations.
For 2025, the National Women’s History Alliance (NWHA) proudly presents the theme “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations.” This theme celebrates the collective strength and influence of women who have dedicated their lives to education, mentorship, and leadership. Through their efforts, they have served as an inspiration for all generations — both past and present.
Throughout history, the process of information sharing has been a powerful catalyst for change. An honest, open examination of new insights and knowledge can create a framework for collaboration. This, in turn, promotes the well-being of groups, businesses, communities, and society as a whole.
From classrooms to boardrooms, and from grassroots movements to global initiatives, women educators and leaders have played a pivotal role in nurturing minds and inspiring transformative action. The 2025 theme spotlights the contributions women have made to the American educational system, the free marketplace of ideas, and the very fabric of our democracy.
Goals & Objectives
Honor: Recognize the achievements and contributions of women educators, mentors, and leaders.
Inspire: Motivate all generations to pursue education and leadership roles.
Educate: Raise awareness about the unheralded legacies of women from every walk of life, highlighting their unique contributions and diverse backgrounds, including socioeconomic status, ethnicity, race, culture, abilities, and personal experiences.
Unite: Bring together communities to explore, share, and celebrate women’s history and achievements.
Envision: Create a blueprint for the future that honors our foremothers and builds bridges for the next generation of women.
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All People Are God’s Children
Ask yourself, how can it be that across the country, massive, concerted efforts are underway to eliminate LGBTQIA+ rights and diminish that community into near nothingness – “erasing” those individuals? Why have we forgotten that all people are God’s children? So, let’s put this into perspective. The narrative below was written by Jesy Littlejohn, Director of Operations at More Light Presbyterians (MLP) and published in the MLP March 2025 newsletter. After you’ve read the narrative, think about what you would say to Jesy, a child of God just like you.
For as long as I can remember I’ve been someone who has loved having pictures of my friends and family around me. From my locker to my dorm room to the walls in my house to the bulletin boards in my office — there is comfort in having ‘my people’ with me. I can look up and see my wife and my children and be met with instant joy and ease. I can see pictures of my friends, some people I have known for years and some whose relationships are just beginning to fully blossom, and know that with these folx I am fully seen and known.
We continued to be inundated by news cycles filled with despicable and hateful legislation being introduced at every level of government — much of which negatively impacts the LGBTQIA+ community. Queer, and especially Trans, erasure seems to be, if not definitively is, one of many goals of the current administration. It is disheartening to be so hated by so many when so many have never laid eyes on me, shared space with me, or even heard my name.
And then I remember my community, and my pictures. I may be hated by some, but I am also so deeply loved and needed by others. I believe that God has nudged me to these people, folx from all across the country, for such a time as this. We are not alone — we do not do this work alone — we are not meant to do this work alone. We go with the love of the Creator, the grace of our Lord, the fellowship of the Holy Spirit and the friendship of our community of believers. Surround yourself, friends, and know that you are loved and needed in this world.
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Free Speech: Is It Becoming a Myth?
The reality of attacks on one of our most basic rights – freedom of speech – is jarring. These article excerpts from the Wisconsin Council of Churches and The Presbyterian Outlook must give each of us pause as to what is happening in the U.S. and what response is required from each of us to stop this erosion of our rights. It’s happening right in our own backyard. And there is no guarantee that our own First Pres Facebook posts won’t face the same retribution as we continue to post content in pursuit of social justice for all.
Note: Meta owns both Facebook and Instagram platforms.
On Free Speech and Information Security
Rev. Kerri Parker, Executive Director, Wisconsin Council of Church
March 11, 2025
Dear ecumenical colleagues –
We live in a time when information is being consolidated onto fewer and fewer platforms owned by a small group of very wealthy and influential people. Many of us have come to rely on these platforms to distribute news about our churches and groups—live stream worship services and other events, invite people to activities, post articles, share photos, recruit volunteers, and otherwise promote good work.
It has been a concern that it is easy for one, a few people, or an algorithm to decide that an organization or person’s presence online should be shut down, with little or no recourse. This has just recently happened to a publication we are familiar with [The Presbyterian Outlook].//
Presbyterian Outlook banned by Instagram: What happened and where to find us now
Teri McDowell Ott, Editor & Publisher, The Presbyterian Outlook
Published March 5, 2025 | Updated March 6, 2025
Dear readers,
The Presbyterian Outlook’s Instagram account was recently and permanently suspended by Meta for allegedly violating community standards. We were not informed which standard we violated — even after requesting clarification. Our appeal was reviewed and denied within 10 minutes, leaving us with no recourse. Our account, along with all the unique content we created for it, is gone.
This happened on February 19, as our social media producer was uploading content from our recent issue on civil rights. While Meta has not explained, this timing is the only connection we can draw between our content and the suspension. We are left to assume that our account was reported by one or several individuals and that Meta’s institutional shift away from fact-checking laid the groundwork for our ban.
We want our followers to know why you can no longer find us on Instagram. We considered starting over with a new account, but there’s no guarantee this won’t happen again. More importantly, our mission remains unchanged: we are committed to publishing content that values the diversity of God’s creation, the equity of God’s justice, and the inclusion of Christ’s welcome.
This suspension is more than frustrating — it has tangible consequences. Social media is a key way we share our digital content. We’ve invested staff time and financial resources into boosting our content through Meta’s platforms to expand our reach and make Presbyterianism more digitally discoverable. While we will continue using Facebook, we are also shifting our focus to platforms like Bluesky and its new Instagram alternative, Flashes.
//
As the only independent, multimedia publisher serving the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), we have recently enjoyed remarkable growth by embracing digital strategy and media expertise. This growth has allowed us to sustain our print magazine despite the rising costs of publication. We are grateful for your support — whether as readers, subscribers, or donors — which enables us to navigate challenges like this and continue our mission in service to Christ’s church.
Thank you for standing with us.
Gratefully,
Teri McDowell Ott
Update: We [The Presbyterian Outlook] received news early on March 6 that our Instagram account was restored. We believe our editorial — and, more importantly, the support of our readers and friends — precipitated an internal review that resulted in our account being reinstated. Now the question becomes: Do we return to Instagram?
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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. | | | | | | |
