Bearing Witness in Minneapolis

Our faith community and the greater Oshkosh community are grateful for Pastor Deb's safe return from Minneapolis. She shared her experience with us during worship this past Sunday, and we want to highlight her powerful sermon.

Ecumenical Vigil/Prayer Service

Tuesday, February 3, 2026 | 7:00 p.m.

Trinity Episcopal Church

203 Algoma Boulevard, Oshkosh

Please join us at this ecumenical vigil/prayer service to remember and pray for those who have been killed, injured, abducted, or disappeared by ICE and Border Patrol.

Never forget...

Ash Wednesday Service

Wednesday, February 18, 2026 | 6:00 p.m.

First Pres Sanctuary † Facebook † YouTube

We invite all to our Ash Wednesday service. The season of Lent is about intentionally opening ourselves up to what's underneath the surface, what's hidden in the dark, what tectonic plates need to shift for something new to be born. Lent means to disrupt us and lead us to action.

Lenten Study Series Unveiled

Turning Over Tables by Kathy Escobar

Every Sunday after worship

February 22 - March 29 | 10:45 - 11:45 a.m.

First Pres Sanctuary

This year, our church will use the season of Lent to facilitate conversation navigating how, together, we can turn the tables and build a world where justice, healing, and equity reign supreme.

With keen insight and unwavering conviction, visionary pastor Kathy Escobar guides us on a Lenten journey inspired by the ways of Jesus to dismantle the systems that perpetuate inequality and injustice. From flipping the moneychangers’ tables in the temple to uplifting the poor and marginalized, Jesus’ actions and words turn the world’s idea of power on its head. With each week of Lent, we'll dig deeper into Jesus’ challenge to the pervasive influence of privilege and oppression that have dominated since ancient times.

Although it's not necessary to read Turning Over Tables to participate in the Lenten study series, feel free to purchase a copy. Any number of outlets are selling Turning Over Tables; and for your convenience, we've provided several links where you can buy hard copies or eBooks. In case your budget needs to prioritize other expenses, we'll have a few extra copies on hand.

Annual Giving Statements

For those who have made financial contributions, the 2025 giving statements were emailed on January 22, 2026, to those for whom an email address is on file. Otherwise, the statements were mailed via USPS, also on January 22nd. If you don't have your statement by Saturday, January 31st, please get in touch with the church office.

Bad Weather Closure Info

If the weather turns bad, kindly refer to the following sources for information on First Pres closures:

• First Pres Facebook page
• First Pres website
• Your email inbox (if you’ve provided the church office with an email address)
• Your mobile phone text messages (if you’ve opted in to receive texts from the church)
• WBAY-TV (ABC 2) (Green Bay - Fox Cities) 
• WBAY website

Men Who Cook

Oshkosh Convention Center | 2 N. Main Street, Oshkosh

Saturday, March 28, 2026 | 5:00 p.m.

Click here to register as a chef or buy tickets.

Make a monetary donation here.

It's the 25th Anniversary of Men Who Cook! This signature event is Christine Ann's largest fundraiser of the year, and here's what's new this week!

• Tickets are on sale!
• Chef registration is open to EVERYONE!

Chefs, you’ll prepare 250–300 small tasting portions of your best dish (with a $50 gift card from Festival Foods to help with ingredients), and you’re welcome to use the Convention Center’s commercial kitchen to prep. Chefs also get their own fundraising page for some friendly “Top Chef” competition, plus guests get to vote on their favorite dish of the night. It’s a fun, meaningful way to share your talents and support survivors in our community. Email Christine Ann for a promo code at MenWhoCook@ChristineAnn.net.

Guests, you'll enjoy an unforgettable evening featuring incredible food from 30+ local chefs, exciting silent and live auctions, and inspiring stories of impact. Your ticket includes full event access and the chance to make a meaningful difference for survivors of domestic abuse in our community.

This event will be here before we know it, so take action now.

Day By Day Shelter Needs Our Help

420 Ceape Avenue, Oshkosh

Donation Hours | Monday - Thursday | 9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

By Appointment: call or email Jessica | 920.203.4536 | jessica@daybydayshelter.org

To make a monetary donation, please click here.

The Shelter is in need of the following items immediately:

all-purpose cleaning spray ~ laundry soap ~ fabric softener ~ liquid bleach ~ dryer sheets

warm gloves/mittens ~ hand/toe warmers ~ coffee pods ~ instant oatmeal packets

And now, a Day By Day status update during this frightful weather we've been experiencing:*

"As promised in our capital campaign, when the weather outside turns frightful (below zero degrees), Day by Day Shelter opens 15 additional emergency beds for those experiencing homelessness in our community. With the weather dropping into dangerous levels the past few nights, Day by Day opened emergency beds last Thursday, and will continue to provide emergency shelter until this Friday morning.

In total since last Thursday, 51 emergency beds were utilized. Prior to this cold weather response, Day by Day opened its emergency beds four nights in December as well, serving 29 individuals. In addition to providing emergency beds on top of the 50 beds that are full each evening, Day by Day provides those receiving emergency beds a hot dinner, continental breakfast, hot shower, laundry for personal clothing and bedding, new/donated clothing, and hygiene products.

With the additional beds, Day by Day also has to call in additional staff to help support this emergency. We estimate our cold weather response plan costs the Shelter approximately $500 per day in supplies, utilities and staffing. Therefore, we are asking those who are willing and able to consider helping."

*Reprinted from Day By Day Shelter Facebook post of January 26, 2026.

Comforting words for a hurting city

The Rev. Margaret Fox’s preaching at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis resonates

January 26, 2026 | Mike Ferguson | Presbyterian News Service

LOUISVILLE — Few sermons preached by PC(USA) teaching elders receive a standing ovation, but that’s how the congregation at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis responded Sunday following stellar preaching by the Rev. Margaret Fox, the church’s associate pastor of adult ministries.

Watch the service here, with Fox beginning her sermon at the 28:35 mark.

With Isaiah 6:1-8 and Luke 5:1-11, as her preaching texts, Fox used biblical call stories to speak words of compassion and comfort to residents of a city that has suffered the deaths of two of its residents at the hands of federal immigration agents.

Fox, who’s also trained as an attorney, said she woke up Saturday morning “with a renewed sense of resilience, connectedness and purpose” following Friday’s demonstrations, an interfaith worship service, and “the supportive presence of elected officials, the hundreds of clergy who traveled in from across the country … the great peaceful crowd that formed downtown, the messages of love and support coming in from around the country. All came together to cultivate a shared sense that Minnesota is figuring out something important about how to do resistance and mutual care, and that our community has something to say to the country and the rest of the world about how to stand up against tyranny and how to stand together with and for each other.”

But by mid-morning Saturday, “that brief sense of hopefulness was shattered” as reports of the killing of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti began to circulate. Read more.

Sunday Worship Service: 9:30 a.m.

In-Person † Facebook † YouTube

Accessibility Information: There is an elevator available for access to the 1st floor, and the space is navigable by wheelchair.

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.