This week, the Session approved the 2025 operating budget which will be presented at the annual meeting in January. We continue to think about how to be good stewards of the resources we have, and we rely both on the contributions of our flock, as well as our investments. We are grateful for all the pledges, the regular giving, the one-time offerings, and all the time and talent that you all give to keep this church going. 

The Session also talked about the reality that the road ahead for many people is going to be challenging. Session is committed to providing a safe and welcoming place for all in our community, especially the most vulnerable people. We, as a church, have done good work this year in growing our presence in the community, with our assistance to unsheltered people, the Blessing Box, and the Community Breakfast. Pastor Deb has been making connections with the public health department, Esther, and other organizations in Oshkosh; we continue to partner with Trinity Episcopal and First Congregational on various services and events; we are grateful for the good relationship with our neighbors at the Oshkosh Mosque; and the doors continue to signal to our community our intent to be welcoming to all, especially those who have previously been excluded by Christian communities.

Complimentary Holiday Items:

Ready for a New Home

Because of recently donated new holiday decorations for the church, we are offering our gently used holiday items, including 2 artificial Christmas trees, to anyone who wants to offer them a new home. The items will be in the front alcove by the church office for the taking on Sunday, November 24th. This is first-come, first-take and for this one Sunday only. Any remaining items will be donated to Goodwill.

Christmas Poinsettias

Adorning the chancel with poinsettias beautifies the sacred space of our church during the Christmas season! If you’d like to sponsor poinsettias this season, please order no later than Sunday, November 24, 2024. Convenient forms will be in the Sunday bulletins or order online here.

Presbyterian Giving Catalog

The Presbyterian Giving Catalog provides an easy way to give a new kind of gift - tangible gifts of practical and lasting benefit, such as chickens, goats, oxen, garden wells, community gardens, and training. These gifts also link each of us more closely with one another and with God. The Giving Catalog has over 40 gifts that can be given, gifts that address some of the most important issues people face at home and around the world. Clean water, aid for refugees, widespread hunger and women’s empowerment are just some of the causes that can be supported through the Giving Catalog.

Generous gifts to the Presbyterian Giving Catalog are signs of our gratitude: feeding the hungry, comforting the brokenhearted, and sharing our faith with young and old. Your gift provides help, hope, and relief to people, families, and communities in need. Each gift is just the beginning. The smallest seed can grow into something transformative, taking root and making the earth change.

Community Breakfast

Saturday, November 23, 2024 | 8:00 – 10:00 a.m. | Magnolia Hall at First Pres

The community breakfast serves as a vital hub for connection and support, providing a wholesome, homecooked meal along with a chance to spark meaningful conversations. We invite you to join us in this experience—whether you're seeking help, eager to lend a hand, or simply want to connect with a caring community. Together, we aren’t just enjoying a meal; we’re nurturing the very foundations of our community.

Christmas Cookie Exchange

Sunday, December 8, 2024 | 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. | Magnolia Hall at First Pres

A cookie exchange is a fabulous way to celebrate the holidays and get everyone together! So, here’s the scoop on how this will work while you Connect Over Coffee after worship:

• 2 dozen cookies are requested (6 each in plastic sandwich bag - labeled with cookie name) BUT
• You don’t need to bring cookies to get some!
• Bring copies of your recipe to share with anyone who finds your cookies delicious!
• Drop off on Sunday morning, December 8th, in the “Cookie Exchange” bin next to the hospitality table (by church office)
• Meet in Magnolia Hall at 10:30 a.m. to choose treats - and hang out with the crowd!

Lunch and a Movie: White Christmas

Sunday, December 8, 2024 | 11:45 a.m.| Multipurpose Room (#103) at First Pres

RSVP: on or before Wednesday, December 4, 2024

Don’t miss this fabulous opportunity to gather with friends and family for an afternoon at the movies. Laugh, talk, and bond with all who attend. Feel free to bring your own camp chair if that enhances your comfort at this event!

We’ll enjoy a scrumptious chili lunch (regular and white meat chicken) – plus mini corn dogs, corn bread, fixins’, and more; and then the movie begins! The classic White Christmas will bring joy to your heart! Two talented song-and-dance men team up after the war to become one of the hottest acts in show business. One winter, they join forces with a sister act and trek to Vermont for a white Christmas. The real adventure starts when the star performers discover that the inn is run by their old army general who’s now in financial trouble. And the result is the stuff dreams are made of!

So, bring your family and friends. And let us know today that you’ll be joining the fun! Convenient forms will be in the Sunday bulletins or order RSVP here.

Free Hot Cocoa Fundraiser for Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services

Thursday, December 5, 2024 | 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Periwinkle Poppy Boutique| 665 N. Main Street, Oshkosh

Enjoy a free cup of hot cocoa and treats at Periwinkle Poppy Boutique while watching the holiday parade! DONATIONS ARE HIGHLY encouraged! All donations will benefit Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services, INC. 

Ecumenical Blue Christmas Service

Wednesday, December 18, 2024 | 6:00 p.m. | Peace Lutheran Church | 240 W. 9th Avenue, Oshkosh

Join us as we participate in an ecumenical Blue Christmas on December 18th with our friends and neighbors from other churches in the Oshkosh community. The service offers comfort to all who are grieving and struggling to find joy and hope during the season. A Blue Christmas Service is a tradition that happens around the longest night of the year; and through song, prayers, and readings, we acknowledge pain and emptiness alongside hope. It’s a reflection which gently speaks of light in darkness.

Men Who Cook for Christine Ann

Help make a difference by donating high-quality items for the upcoming Men Who Cook fundraiser! It is the largest fundraising event drawing over 400 people for an amazing evening of unforgettable food crafted by over 40 men in our community from a variety of professional backgrounds.

They’re looking for new, thoughtful items that can be used in raffle baskets or silent auction packages. Examples include gift cards, luxury products, unique experiences, or themed basket items (think spa, wine & dine, cozy nights in, etc.). 

Your generosity will help support Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services and make their event even more impactful! To donate, please contact MenWhoCook@christineann.net or call 920.235.5998 to make arrangements for donation drop-offs. Thank you for supporting survivors and strengthening our community!

Go Teal for Alzheimer’s Awareness Month

Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline: 800.272.3900

November is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, a time to heighten awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and show support for the more than 6.2 million Americans living with it.

While the entire month is dedicated to raising awareness about the disease, it also focuses on increasing support for caregivers and sharing available resources.

If you think it only affects seniors, you’d be wrong. Early-onset Alzheimer’s targets those under the age of 65. Over time, the disease becomes debilitating because of its progressive nature. Available treatments slow the progression, but there is no cure.

Caregivers provide 24-hour care in most circumstances. As the disease progresses, the stress becomes overwhelming. Often, they receive respite from visitors; but many become isolated as time passes. A broad spectrum of resources from support groups to memory care and educational tools provides caregivers assistance.

Continuing research requires support and early screening programs. As we increase our knowledge of the disease and improve treatments, early intervention will improve outcomes.

Why Teal? Teal is the Alzheimer’s Awareness color of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA). AFA uses teal because it has been shown in color psychology studies to be a calming color. This is helpful when designing and decorating spaces and events to be welcoming and comforting to those living with Alzheimer’s. So, next time you see someone dressed in teal, remember the more than 6 million people living with Alzheimer’s and the help they need.

National Runaway Prevention Month

Hotline: 800.786.2929

November is National Runaway Prevention Month (NRPM), a public awareness campaign designed to bring to light the experiences of runaway and homeless youth that too often remain invisible. Did you know that:

• One in seven kids between the ages of 10 and 18 will run away at some point.
• There are 1 million to 3 million runaway and homeless kids living on the streets in the United States.

November has been recognized as National Runaway Prevention Month (NRPM) since 2001, following the landmark White House Conference on Exploited and Runaway Children. For more than two decades, the National Runaway Safeline (NRS), with support from the Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB), has partnered with national, state, and local organizations, Youth Ambassadors, companies, and individuals to shine a light on experiences of youth who have run away or experienced homelessness.

So, what can you do? If you know a runaway or a youth who is in crisis, let them know that help is here. Then, lend them your phone so that they can call the NRS hotline. And here’s what the NRS can do:

• NRS provides free services to youth in crisis aged 12 to 21. They hear from young people who are at home and simply need somewhere to turn for advice. They also connect with youth who have run away or were kicked out of their home and are now couch surfing, living in their car or staying in shelters or on the street. If you are still unsure about how NRS might be able to help, contact us and we can refer you to another service, if needed.
• When a youth can’t go back to living with their parents, NRS can help create an alternative plan that keeps them safe. This is a complex situation, but there are options.
• NRS services are 100% confidential; no one will know that the youth has contacted NRS or the details of what they’ve shared. NRS can contact parents or the police on the youth’s behalf, but they won’t do so without permission. NRS is a mandatory reporter, so if the youth is experiencing abuse, NRS will advise if information must be reported to the authorities. They can only report what the youth tells them.

Black Mountain Presbyterian Church and volunteers bringing ‘beautiful spirit’ to feeding and supporting the community

Darla Carter, Communications Strategist, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

November 26, 2024

In the midst of the devastation from Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina, Black Mountain Presbyterian Church (BMPC) has become a refuge for those seeking food and comfort in a time of crisis.

Pastor Mary Katherine Robinson and Associate Pastor David Carter Florence are among the Good Samaritans who have been tending to the needs of community members coming to the church for assistance in the wake of Helene, a powerful storm that hit the area in late September.

While hundreds of meals have been served, the church also is providing another much-needed ingredient: compassion.

After historic flooding and other damage, some people “just need a hug,” Robinson said. “They need a shoulder to cry on. … There are some that lost everything that they have.” Read more.

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