Donation Options
- Place in the offering box on Sunday
- Mail to the church
- Donate online here
All donations made through mail or the offering box will be sent forward to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.
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Hurricane Helene Relief
On September 26th, Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida; and Hurricane Milton has just hit landfall in recent days. The impacts of these hurricanes across a 500-mile span will be felt for years to come. Rescue efforts continue in many communities. First responders continue to work around the clock; however, many communities are still inaccessible.
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) is part of a large and dedicated community of disaster response organizations. PDA has three initial deployment teams in Tampa Bay Presbytery, Holston Presbytery (Eastern Tennessee), and Western North Carolina Presbytery. Two additional deployments are scheduled to Northeast Georgia Presbytery and Foothills Presbytery (South Carolina).
In addition, PDA has sent six initial assistance grants to six Presbyteries to support unmet immediate needs and two church damage grants. They anticipate additional grant requests.
Progress is being made but much emergency/response work needs to happen to restore basic services. Please continue to pray for survivors, those who have experienced loss of loved ones, and responders.
Please consider a donation to PDA. Know that your support of PDA is addressing immediate needs and will provide the necessary resources to support the long-term recovery, which will take many years.
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Food Week of Action and World Food Day
October 13-20, 2024
Food Week of Action is brought to you by the Climate Justice Alliance, the US Food Sovereignty Alliance, the Presbyterian Hunger Program, and 99 other co-sponsors. It includes World Food Day (October 16), International Day for Rural Women (October 15), and International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (October 17).
Everyone is the key word for the 2024 Food Week!
Let us – everyone – join forces in our communities and across the land to protect the land, foodways, and people in the food system.
We salute the hard work of farmworkers, family farmers, fishers and all those producing agroecologically in harmony with nature. This year we also thank those in cities, rural counties and regions who are building more resilient and equitable local food economies that protect and cool the planet. And we bow in gratitude to all those laboring in the food chain, particularly those who are oppressed by unjust immigration policies and inhumane conditions.
And here’s what you can do.
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Dinner with Friends
Monday, October 14, 2024 | 5:00 p.m.
Greene’s Pour House at Westhaven Golf Club | 1400 S. Westhaven Drive, Oshkosh
920.385.1382 | Online Menu
Join us for great company, great food, great times!
For planning purposes, please let us know by today, Friday, October 11th, how many will be coming. Just call the church office or RSVP online. This is a “no-host” event. Please call the restaurant for menu and pricing or check their online menu.
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Brown Bag Bible Exploration
Tuesday, October 15, 2024 | Noon – 1:30 p.m.
Multipurpose Room #103 at First Pres
Living a life with Christ is a lifelong journey. In God’s Word, the Bible, God gave us the perfect manual to get to know Him and learn to navigate this life we have been given. So, bring your Bible, bring your thirst for God’s Word, bring your lunch, and join us for Brown Bag Bible Exploration.
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Purple Thursday 2024
Thursday, October 17, 2024
National Domestic Violence Hotline:
call 1.800.799.SAFE (7233)
Text START to 88788
Join our ‘Purple Thursday’ campaign on Thursday, October 17, by wearing purple to show our support for those who have experienced domestic violence and abuse. Let them know that help is available for themselves and their families.
Have you ever wondered why domestic violence agencies across the United States uniformly use the color purple to bring awareness to their cause? Different organizations use unique colors to highlight and market what they champion. Breast cancer uses pink, Livestrong cancer survivors wear yellow, domestic violence uses purple.
Why purple? For starters, it’s the color of royalty and who wouldn’t want to be associated with that? According to History.com, a purple tunic was selected as the royal uniform of the Persian king Cyrus. In Rome, many of the emperors chose to wear the color regularly, yet forbade their ordinary citizens from wearing purple clothing under penalty of death. The dye was incredibly difficult to manufacture, so supply of purple fabric was hard to come by and very expensive, thus reserved for the select few who could get their hands on it and afford it – mainly royalty.
However, the color purple became associated with the strength of women in the United States who fought to gain the right to vote in the early part of the 20th century. They chose the colors purple, white, and gold to wear when they petitioned for their cause because those were the colors of the National Women’s Party.
In July 1978, more than 100,000 women marched on Washington, D.C. in support of equal rights and many of them wore purple and lavender to make a stronger visual impact as they assembled in support of their cause.
The U.S. Military awards a purple heart to those who have been wounded in service. According to Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara (New York State Assembly), “for survivors of Domestic Violence, who may also be wounded both physically and emotionally, the color is meant to be a symbol of peace, courage, survival, honor, and dedication to ending violence.”
For the reasons listed above, not to mention the fact that purple has been associated with women for many years, purple was selected as the color to promote awareness for the first Domestic Violence Day of Unity in October 1981. Eventually, this Day of Unity turned into an entire Month in 1987 and two years later, Congress passed legislation designating October Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Since then, purple has become universally used in almost all nonprofits that support survivors of domestic violence.
The third Thursday of October has now become nationally recognized as Purple Thursday where people nationwide are encouraged to wear purple to increase awareness for domestic violence. It is also an easy way for people to show their commitment to promoting healthy relationships.
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Dine Out Against Domestic Abuse
Thursday, October 24, 2024
Join Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services for their 6th Annual Dine Out Against Abuse fundraiser. When you dine in (or carry out) at any of the participating restaurants, a portion of the sales from October 24th support Christine Ann.
Here are some of the participating restaurants, but call Christine Ann at 920.235.5998 before the 24th to get the final list, as well as addresses:
AJ’s Riverside * Buffalo Wild Wings * Chicken Grill * Dauntless Soul Brew Co.
Elsewhere Market & Coffee House * Fox River Brewing Company * Little Siam Thai Kitchen * Mike’s Place Family Restaurant * The Roxy * TJ’s Harbor Restaurant * TJ’s Highland Steakhouse
So, don't forget to mark your calendars and fill your bellies on Thursday, October 24th.
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The Macabre Market
Friday, October 25, 2024 | 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Venue 404 | 404 N. Main Street, Oshkosh
Indulge your dark side with the Oshkosh Art Collective and enjoy an evening of all things Creepy, Goth, and Halloween! You’ll be supporting local artists, makers, and businesses; and here’s what you can expect:
- Booths filled with art, gothic decor, medieval metal work, steampunk inventions, diy projects, and more
- Tarot card readings
- Spooky treat by Sweet Jules Bakes
- Curated music and vinyl from Eroding Winds Record Shop
- Gothic-themed selfie display by To Die for DIY
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Bad Faith Documentary
Thursday, October 24, 2024 | 6:00 p.m.
Trinity Episcopal Church | 303 Algoma Boulevard, Oshkosh (Sanctuary basement – elevator available)
The final showing of Bad Faith in Oshkosh is coming soon. If you want to learn the history behind the rise of Christian Nationalism in the U.S. and the dire implications it could have if they succeed in their goals, then take time to attend. This is a 90-minute film with optional brief discussion after the movie concludes.
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Leaf No One Behind: Yard Waste Clean Up
Sunday, November 3, 2024
Starting at 10:00 a.m.
Pre-registration due:
Monday, October 28, 2025: call 920.886.2372
Partners of the Oshkosh Healthy Aging Group are organizing a volunteer event to engage neighborhoods in a day of yard cleanup. If you or someone you know is seeking yard help, register today.
Priority is given to people with disabilities or aging conditions that inhibit leaf removal. Note: This is for Oshkosh residences, applicants do not need to own the home.
If you’re interested in volunteering, call 920.886.2372 by October 29th for details.
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Meal Teams Needed
Day By Day Shelter | 420 Ceape Avenue, Oshkosh
920.203.4536 | denise@daybyshelter.org
Gather a few friends, family members, or coworkers to create a Meal Team and bring a warm, home-cooked meal to our shelter guests. It’s easy, fun, and a great way to help out!
How It Works:
- Plan a simple meal
- Pick up ingredients or shop from the shelter pantry
- Prepare the meal in advance or have food delivered from your favorite local restaurant
- Serve the meal with a smile
Whether you love cooking or prefer to keep it simple, our warming kitchen makes it easy to heat and serve!
It’s a small effort that makes a BIG impact at the Day-by-Day Shelter! Call or email Day By Day to sign up today and gather your team. Available dates are October 13, 16, 18, 19, 22, 23, 25, 27, and 31.
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Let’s Talk about Energy Assistance
Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP) | 800.506.5536
Winter is on its way! So, let’s talk about energy assistance.
The Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP) assists eligible households with their heating and electric bills. Regular energy assistance is a once-a-year benefit available between October 1st and May 15th each year.
Call WHEAP with questions about the application process and income limits. And if you’re disconnected or without heat – or will be disconnected soon – WHEAP will talk with you about your options.
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In Philadelphia’s Center City, all God’s children can find their place at The Welcome Church
With clergy from the ELCA and the PC(USA), the church ministers to the city’s chronically homeless
by Mike Ferguson, Editor, Presbyterian News Service
October 7, 2024
The Welcome Church in Philadelphia, a church without walls, is served by an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America pastor and by the Rev. Schaunel Steinnagel, a Minister of Word and Sacrament with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the associate pastor of The Welcome Church. It’s recognized as a community ministry by the Presbytery of Philadelphia and is a congregation under development in the ELCA’s Synod of Southeastern Pennsylvania.
According to Steinnagel, “The Welcome Church is a congregation made up predominantly by people experiencing chronic homelessness” who currently worship at outdoor venues in Center City, the Philadelphia neighborhood in the heart of one of the nation’s historic communities. “We are focused on confronting poverty, and we seek to be conscious of racism and being an antiracist organization.” Read more.
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Minute for Mission: World Food Day
by Rev. Rebecca Barnes, Coordinator, Presbyterian Hunger Program, Compassion Peace & Justice
October 16, 2024
October 16 is World Food Day. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization theme for 2024 is “Right to Foods for a Better Life and a Better Future”:
The world’s farmers produce enough food to feed more than the global population, yet hunger persists. Around 733 million people are facing hunger in the world due to repeated weather shocks, conflicts, economic downturns, inequality and the pandemic. This impacts the poor and vulnerable most severely, many of whom are agricultural households, reflecting widening inequalities across and within countries.
Food is the third most basic human need after air and water — everyone should have the right to adequate food. Human rights such as the right to food, life and liberty, work and education are recognized by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and two legally binding international covenants. Read more.
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