OPPC Mission Statement

Blessed by God's love, the Orchard Park Family seeks to grow in our faith, and to reach out with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Hello Orchard Park,

Welcome to the E-newsletter of Orchard Park Presbyterian Church. Orchard Park Presbyterian Church has many offerings for enrichment in your spiritual journey, fellowship opportunities with our neighbours, programs with the community, and mission opportunities to support and help communities close by and around the world. We hope you find ways to connect and feel close to home with us.

WORSHIP WITH US

Join us this Sunday (5/28) for Worship, Fellowship, and Learning.

Please join us in welcoming Bob Heimach this Sunday. Here are the list of activities happening. We hope you can join us. All are welcome!

10:00 a.m. Worship (Sanctuary & Online)

11:00 a.m. After Service Fellowship (Lounge)

11:30 a.m. Rehearsal (Music Room)

Last Week's Worship Service.

Did you miss last Sunday's worship service? click here to be taken to the online worship page of our website.

Did you know?

The sermon is available for pickup during worship and after worship it is put on the website with that weeks worship service? If you are interested in reading, listening, or pondering the sermon click here.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

Please help us in welcoming our new members to OPPC. The names correspond to the photos from left to right, Elyse Barajas, Ron & Melissa Byram, Ellison Escocio, Patricia (Pat) Ertel, Henry Kramer, Brian & Jenn with Cade and Eli Otto, Donna Page.

Church Office Closed

Monday, May 29^th, Memorial Day

Sign Up for Text Reminders and Notifications

If you would like to receive text messages from OPPC, click here .

PER CAPITA

The Finance and Stewardship Committees would like to remind you that the Per Capita for 2023 is $43.16 per confirmed member of each member household. If you have not already paid your Per Capita for 2023, please consider doing so at your earliest opportunity. Thank you to those members who have already paid Per Capita for the current fiscal year. We appreciate your promptness.

MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH

Each year millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental illness. During May, we raise awareness of mental health to help fight stigma, provide support, educate the public and PCUSA advocates for policies that support people with mental illness and their families.

5 things about depression most people don't realize.

Depression is not one thing.
Compound depression.
The roads of depression are two-way streets.
Depression always happens in context.
Depression is not a battle to be fought. It's a message to be understood.

If you would like to read the article, please click here.

Mental Health Seminar

May 20, 2023

On Saturday, May 20, we had 34 participants and 12 leaders/volunteers join us for a morning of talking about a difficult topic: suicide. Our leaders for the day included Kristie Watts; Rebecca Palvik-Heger, Emily Paxton and Shelly Wood.

We wanted to acknowledge and bring awareness to May as Mental Health awareness month. During our keynote, we learned some facts and statistics about suicide. For instance, suicide is the second leading cause of death for those ages 10-14 and 20-34. Males complete suicide at a higher rate than females, although females attempt suicide four times more frequently than males.

When Kristie Watts, our keynote speaker, asked how many have been impacted by suicide, virtually every participant raised their hands. THIS is a conversation we need to have.

We further learned that things that contribute to suicidal behavior are a disconnection to others and believing that one is a burden to others. However, there are things that protect us from death by suicide. In addition to connections with family and friends, spiritual connectedness is a critical piece of protection. We in faith communities covenant with every baptized child/adult that we will walk with them and nurture them in faith. On May 20, we were given tools- information for urgent needs- like the 899 hotline number for 24/7 mental health care and other resources at our disposal.

The connection with one another was palpable; it was clear that we all long to make a difference and work toward eliminating stigmas around mental health and suicide. We are grateful that we were provided tools to help; we are grateful for those who gathered to learn; we are grateful for the congregations, communities, camp and schools that will benefit from this information, provided both in person and as resources given to these various groups. We also give thanks for the generosity of the Presbytery of Whitewater Valley, who funded this event. May we continue to become more aware and advocate for mental health wellness!

DINNER

FOR 8

DINNERS FOR 8 SUMMER SESSION

We will be starting up a summer session of Dinners for 8 to run from approximately June through October. We will pair up groups of 4 couples (or pair up individuals) for a total of 8 people. The pairs take turns hosting the group for dinner – we try for 4 dinners in total. The host provides the main dish (Stouffers frozen lasagna or pizza is fine! It can be anything you’re comfortable serving) and the others typically bring an appetizer, salad or side, and dessert. Those who have done this in the past agree it is a really great way to get to know members of our congregation better on a more comfortable, smaller scale.

Please sign up on Main Street or email Chris List Christine.List9@gmail.com if you have any questions or are interested in signing up for the summer session.

FAVORITE HYMNS AND PRAISE SONGS PROJECT

Do you have one or two favorite hymns or contemporary praise songs that you love to sing in worship? During the month of May, you will find brightly colored note cards in our pew hymnals. You may use these cards to write the titles of favorite hymns and songs and share any personal connection you may have with them. From these cards we will make a list of favorites and try to refer to it when planning our services. We look forward to hearing from you and singing some of your favorites in worship!

YOU ARE INVITED

Albert Chen & Stephanie Kim would like to invite you to a special event in honor of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. A dance troupe from National University of Taiwan Arts will perform at the Palladium on Wednesday, June 7^th at 7 pm. As one of the sponsors, we’d love to see the Palladium filled with our friends, family, and colleagues. There is no cost to attend, but you do need a ticket which you may reserve here: thecenterpresents.org.

EVENTS

CARAVAN BOOT DRIVE

LAT DAY TO BRING BOOTS IS JUNE 9TH.

We are collecting gently used boots to take to Harlan, KY on caravan. The wonderful people of Appalacia need them. Please start bringing them and drop them off on main strat in the designated box.

If you have any questions please reach out to Dr. Kristin Lehr, Youth Outreach Dierector, at klehr@orchardpark.org

Sunday, June 11:

The congregation is invited to come to the Kids Zone

(Rooms 118-119) to see the new play place we have for our children and the preschool.

Children are invited to enjoy time to play and snacks will be provided! Please join us!

Sunday June 25:

The Art of Community: The Stories Principle- Show and Tell!

Using our summer book theme, The Art of Community, the Deacons are hosting a pitch in lunch; main course will be provided and congregational members are invited to bring a side to share (but please come regardless). Everyone is asked to bring a personal item with them that prompts a story from one’s life. We will share with one another our items and our stories. This gathering will be held in the Lounge following worship.

Want More?

If you would like to learn more about OPPC Events & Announcements or what you may have missed. Click Events & Announcements to be taken to to the latest news section of our website.

ADULT EDUCATION

Please join us for our summer adult programming.

Revelation & Armageddon

Wednesdays in June

Starting June 7th, a summer study on the Book of Revelation and reading "Armageddon" by Bart D. Ehrman.

Wednesdays in June, 7:00 pm to 8:30pm in the lounge. Everyone is Welcome. Childcare Avaiable.

To confirm your partcipation email Rev. Dr. Shelly Wood at shellywood@orchardpark.org.

The Daniel Plan

Sunday Mornings in June 11:10 North Chapel

Dates: Sundays 6/4-7/9

Time: 11:10 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Location: North Chapel

Healthy life style helps you to take care of yourself and then care for others. Rick Warren has developed a 40 day plan that has 6 elements to work toward this goal. The elements are : Faith, Food, Fitness, Focus and Friends. We will be doing a study of each element over a six week period this Summer. Please consider joining us for learning, sharing and fellowship. Hosted by Karla Gaston, if you have any questions please feel free to email at karlagaston@att.net.

Our American Community

Dates: Sundays 6/4 - 10/1

Time: 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

Location: North Chapel

Citizens have a responsibility to understand their society and participate in its political process. Let’s set aside specific partisan issues and attempt to understand our current condition, what divides us and what could reengage us. Let’s discuss the core chapters of a half dozen key books in five months.

Our challenges are great, but our understanding of people, communities and politics is better than ever. Americans have much in common. There are common sense steps that can improve our political process and produce better results for all of us.

Used books will cost $10 each.

Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis, Robert D. Putnam, 2015
Liberalism and Its Discontents, Francis Fukuyama, 2022
Why We’re Polarized, Ezra Klein, 2021
The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion, Jonathan Haidt, 2013
The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels, Jon Meacham, 2018
The Road to Character, David Brooks, 2015

Discussion leader Tom Kapostasy is a retired finance and operations manager. He has taught college accounting and economics courses, a variety of corporate management, leadership and operations seminars in addition to Christian Heritage classes at OPPC. tkapostasy@outlook.com.

CHILDREN & YOUTH

There are many enrichment opportunities for children and youth at Orchard Park Presbyterian Church. We encourage you to look at the website to view all activities.

To learn more about enrichment opportunities for children click here.

To learn more about enrichment opportunities for youth click here.

Camp Pyoca: July 16-22.

If you would like more information, click here.

REGISTRATION IS OPEN

Click here to register.

Rising 3rd Grade and above are can participate.

MISSIONS

OPPC has many mission opportunities throughout the year both local and world wide. If you would like to learn more about those opportunities click here to read the Mission Spotlights.

Final Tally Just In!

OPPC members donated $2,265 to One Great Hour of Sharing in 2023. That's a 39% increase over 2022 contributions. Including the $3,000 challenge monies from the Mission Operating budget, OPPC contributed $5,265 to provide relief from natural disasters, food for the hungry and support for the poor and oppressed. And this is just one of the many special offerings and requests you respond to throughout the year. Your contributions show that Presbyterians are there with those who need us. Thank you Orchard Park!

Carmel Summer Meals 2023 Program:

The Merciful HELP Center’s Carmel Summer Meals provides breakfast and lunch items/ingredients to children in the Carmel community who qualify for the free/reduced meal program. We need your help to pack food bags for the children of the families we serve!

If you would like to sign up, please click here.

Connect With Us

Sign Ups for OPPC

These are the active signups for Orchard Park Presbyterian Church.

*Sign Ups have been updated for June - December 2023*

Just click on the category and it will take you to the sign up.

If you have any questions please contact Brittany Glass at bglass@orchardpark.org

Posts of Interest

Have you looked at our blog posts on the website?

Each category gets updated as information becomes available or events get added.

If you would like the most up to date information, under the section Latest News on the website home page, will give you the just uploaded content.

These are the direct links (Just Click the category):

Enrichment Opportunities for Children

Giving

Follow us on social media

There are many ways in which to connect and feel Close to Home at Orchard Park

To view the website click here.

To follow the Facebook Page click here .

To follow the Instagram account click here.

To follow the Twitter account click here.

To follow the TikTok account click here .

The Week Ahead

May 29 - June 4, 2023

Did you know that you can view the OPPC calendar at any time? This claendar is regularly updated with all the events, groups, and meetings happening at OPPC. To view the calendar click here.

MONDAY

Office Closed - Memorial Day

TUESDAY

6:15 a.m. Men’s Bible Study (Library)

9:00 p.m. IBA (Pavilion)

7:30 p.m. Nar-Anon (120)

8:00 p.m. AA (Stars Don't Fall) - (121)

WEDNESDAY

9:00 p.m. IBA (Pavilion)

9:30 a.m. Together Today (Lounge)

THURSDAY

9:00 a.m. IBA (Pavilion)