Check Out Corrected Date for Breakfast with Friends!
May 1, 2026 † Volume 1, No. 3
Happening
Soon
Brown Bag Bible Exploration
Tuesday, May 5, 2026 | Noon – 1:30 p.m. | First Pres Multipurpose Room #103
Join us for an incredible gathering where we'll explore the Bible together. You'll be greeted with warmth in our welcoming atmosphere as we share our thoughts! Remember to bring your Bible, your lunch, and your enthusiasm to enhance your understanding of God’s teachings.
Breakfast with Friends
Saturday, May 16, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.
Delta Family Restaurant | 515 N. Sawyer Street, Oshkosh | 920.235.0900
Don’t miss out on this scrumptious event! Let us know on or before Wednesday, May 13, 2026, that you’ll be coming. Call the church office or use the convenient online RSVP form.
This is a “no-host” event. Please call the restaurant for the menu and pricing.
Bingo Party
Sunday, May 17, 2026 | 10:45 a.m. | First Pres Magnolia Hall
Are you ready for some fun, excitement, and good company!! Come join us for our upcoming bingo party! We'll provide lunch and all the bingo supplies. Bring yourself, bring your family, bring your friends! And we ask that you bring a dessert to share.
Community Breakfast
Saturday, May 23, 2026 | 8:00 – 10:00 a.m. | First Pres Magnolia Hall
Along with a warm and nutritious meal, the Community Breakfast creates a chance for people in the community to forge new friendships and share uplifting words with each other.
So, we would really appreciate your help in spreading the word that this is the perfect spot for anyone seeking support, wanting to lend a hand, or just wishing to join a caring community. Together, we’re not only sharing a meal; we’re cultivating the foundations of our community. Looking forward to seeing you at breakfast!
The Great Plant Exchange
Saturday, June 6, 2026 | 8:30 a.m. - Noon | First Pres Parking Lot
June will arrive sooner than we think. So, it’s the perfect moment for all you gardening enthusiasts to begin your plant cuttings and prepare for our Great Plant Exchange! And if you’re not into cuttings, that’s totally fine! Feel free to join us just as you are to socialize – and keep in mind, you don’t have to bring a plant to take one home! Here's what you need to know:
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
You don't have to bring a plant to take one home!
Non-invasive plants only!
Worth
Mentioning
Pastor Deb Time Away
Pastor Deb will be away from May 4 - 10. In case of an emergency, please contact the church office.
Who's Graduating This Spring?
If you happen to know anyone in our faith community who is graduating from high school, college, vocational/trade school, etc., at the end of the spring semester, please give the office a shout! Just a friendly reminder that graduates can be teenagers or adult learners. It’s wonderful to recognize and celebrate these achievements, no matter the age! Thank you!!!
The Barmen Declaration
During the upcoming May 17th worship service, you'll be hearing about the Barmen Declaration. So, what is this declaration?
The Theological Declaration of Barmen is in our Book of Confessions, one of only three additions to the book made in the 20th century. The declaration, a call to resistance against the theological claims of the Nazi state, was adopted in an emergency assembly of German Protestant churches in 1934. The churches were alarmed by the encroachment of the Nazi state into their freedoms and autonomy. The Nazis pressed to create a single Reich Church under a single government, and required loyalty oaths from the ministers to the new regime and to Hitler personally. The traditional boundary between Church and State was to be abolished.
In six brief articles, the Barmen Declaration boldly asserted the freedom of the churches to order and govern themselves and rejected any arguments that they needed another Leader besides Jesus Christ. Among those who attended the assembly was theologian Karl Barth, who is considered to be the primary author of these articles.
Click here to read the full declaration (pages 279-284 in the document).
Healing
Begins in Community
Turning Silence Into Connection
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and it provides a chance to stand with your community and show that no one struggles alone. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) 2026 theme "Turning Silence Into Connection" invites everyone to join NAMI in speaking up against mental health stigma.
By sharing our lived experiences, learning from each other’s experiences, and building strong community connections, we can challenge stigma and create spaces where people are supported, understood, and find healing.
Every story shared turns silence into connection, and connection into healing. Together, we can strengthen communities and create opportunities for empathy, understanding, and meaningful change.
Mental health impacts everyone in our communities. Your experience, your journey, and your voice can help break stigma, build understanding, and create hope and healing for others.
Stigma grows in silence. Healing begins in community. This Mental Health Awareness Month share your story to help break the silence. Be the reason someone realizes they don’t have to face this alone. Mental Health Awareness Month is about more than awareness. It’s about showing up for one another.
Whether you’re living with a mental health condition, supporting a loved one, or advocating for change, NAMI offers free programs, resources, and opportunities for support, connection, and healing. Contact details are below:
NAMI Oshkosh | 525 N. Main Street, Oshkosh | 920.651.1148
May Events! Northeast Wisconsin Rainbow Collective
Reading the Rainbow
Sunday, May 3, 2026 | 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Oshkosh Public Library Conference Room | 106 Washington Avenue, Oshkosh
Meet up at the Oshkosh Public Library Conference Room every month for cozy vibes and book talk. You're welcome to join in even if you didn't read the book (but beware - there will be spoilers).
May's book is A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers.
Note: Books are not provided. You are encouraged to check out the library or shop at local booksellers to pick up your copy
This group is for middle and high school students who identify within the LGBTQ+ community, are questioning, or are strong allies. Join us for support, education, resources, and community!
Be in community with other queer folks while doing some self-care activities.
Free Community Art Room Space
Monday, May 4, 2026 (every 1st Monday of the month) | 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Community Room Inside the Oshkosh Food Co-Op | 155 Jackson Street, Suite 101, Oshkosh
This is a self-study event in a safe, relaxed environment for adults and children (accompanied by an adult) to enjoy the richness of an artistic community.
Feel free to bring a project you're currently working on or your own favorite supplies. If you're just starting out or don't have any gear of your own, there are supplies available on site for anyone who needs them.
Beyond the great vibes at the Co-Op, you'll have a dedicated creative partner in the room. Oshkosh-based artist Raven Lev will be on site to make sure you're never truly stuck - whether you need a hand with a tricky technique, a second pair of eyes on a project, or just a little professional guidance to get a new piece started. It's a unique chance to grow your skills alongside a local professional who is truly invested in the Oshkosh art scene.
The event is free, but donations are always appreciated to help keep the art supply bin stocked for everyone to use. Plus, you're helping build a fund for a dedicated, permanent space right here in Oshkosh for everyone to enjoy the richness of an artistic community environment.
2026 Synod School
July 26 - 31, 2026 | Buena Vista University, Storm Lake, Iowa
We are excited for Synod School 2026. Synod of Lakes & Prairies has provided a full schedule of great programming for all ages. The Synod School catalog is now online for your review.
The intergenerational atmosphere of Synod School offers excellent programs for children and youth in mission, study, and fellowship. High-quality childcare for infants and toddlers is offered as well. Scholarships of $60 for the first 72 first-time registrants are available, as well as additional Synod School scholarships. See the Synod School catalog for details.
Winnebago Presbytery encourages everyone who feels called to attend Synod School to do so. Scholarships are available to youth and adult members of Winnebago Presbytery. Access the scholarship application here.
