Star Word

How could you use your star word and your journey with it to teach someone about faith?

The Great Invitation

All-Church Forum

Sunday, October 5, 2025 | Following Worship (approximately 10:30 a.m.)

Throughout the month of October, Pastor Deb and the Session will be presenting a worship series we are calling “The Great Invitation,” and we need your participation! As we continue to discern where God is leading us as a congregation, we want to spend a month focusing on our shared work of hospitality and welcome to all.

This series will kick off on October 5th, which is World Communion Sunday; and after worship, we will be hosting a chili lunch/potluck and an all-church forum. Rooted in the spirit of our faith, this gathering is a unique opportunity to explore what it truly means to create a welcoming and loving environment for all, just as we are called to do.

This forum will feature engaging discussions on how we can cultivate a culture of genuine welcome and practice hospitality in our church community and beyond. Whether you are a long-time member or new to our community, your voice is essential to this important conversation.

We need your involvement! Can we count on you to attend?

First Pres Logo Unveiled!

We are so excited to introduce our new logo! If you ordered our new t-shirts this past summer, you've already had a sneak peek. Now you'll begin seeing it more often in places like our new welcome cards, newsletters, and more.

This new logo is designed to reflect the heart of our community. The stained-glass effect of the rainbow and heart shape mirrors symbols we use throughout First Pres Oshkosh, including the beautiful rainbow on our sanctuary door. The deep navy blue pays homage to the cross in the PC(USA) seal.

The purple doorway is especially meaningful. This color represents the soul and resilience of the LGBTQIA+ community, symbolizing pride in one's identity. In our logo, the open doorway represents a spiritual journey and an inclusive, welcoming space for everyone to feel a deep connection to themselves and our community.

We are so excited for this new logo to be a part of our faith journey together!

Being the ‘Hope-Bringers’

Adriana Soto Acevedo (AH SAY-VAY-DOE) hungrily soaked up every experience at the 69th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, an intergovernmental body promoting women’s and girls' rights throughout the world. “I went there to absorb and learn,” she shares. And learn she did. 

Adriana attended the conference as a delegate affiliated with Iglesia Presbiteriana en Arecibo (EE-GLA-SEE-A PRES-BEE-TEHR-EE-ANA EN AHR-EE-SEE-BOH) in Puerto Rico, the Presbytery of Philadelphia and Princeton Theological Seminary — where she will complete a dual degree program next year.

By attending the U.N.’s largest annual gathering on gender equality and women’s empowerment — with sessions on improving access to feminine hygiene products, clean water and sanitation facilities — Adriana received an exhaustive education in only 10 days’ time. Read more.

If you feel called to give, please make your donation by Sunday, October 5th. Thank you!

Traveling Oshkosh Memory Café

Wednesday, September 17, 2025 | 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.

Menomonee Park Picnic Shelter #2

Pratt Trail across from the Children’s Amusement Center, Oshkosh 

Join this wonderful “Picnic Lunch in the Park” with some good food, fresh air, and a few rounds of bingo!

Christine Ann's Purse Bingo

Wednesday, September 24, 2025 | Doors Open: 5:30 p.m.

Gibson Social Club | 537 N. Main Street, Oshkosh

Join this exciting evening at Purse Bingo, supporting Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services!

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. where you’ll enjoy a registration, cocktail and light appetizer hour, along with a 50/50 raffle and more. The main event, Purse Bingo, begins at 6:30 p.m.

This is a cash-only event, so please come prepared to join in the fun and support a great cause. Don’t miss your chance to win fabulous designer purses while making a difference in our community!

Streets of Hope - 3rd Annual Fundraise for Day By Day Shelter

Where Art Becomes Action!

Friday, October 10, 2025 | 6:00 p.m. | Becket's Atrium | 2 Jackson Street, Oshkosh

Buy tickets online here.

This is an unforgettable evening celebrating the impact of creativity and collective giving. Streets of Hope returns as Day by Day Shelter’s signature fundraising event, uniting local artists, community leaders, and compassionate supporters to raise critical funds for individuals experiencing homelessness in Oshkosh.

Streets of Hope honors the creativity and resilience of those who’ve lived the realities of the street, turning adversity into art and stigma into strength. Rooted in street culture, this one-of-a-kind fundraiser celebrates bold expression, shared humanity, and the power of hope.

The event features:

• Original works by local artists
• Live music, moving stories, and immersive experiences
• Food, drinks, and community connection

100% of proceeds support Day By Day Shelter services, including safe shelter, meals, clean bedding, laundry, showers, mental health and AODA support, health services, and specialized programming to help guests get back on their feet.

Join us for a night where art becomes action and every moment helps build a stronger, more compassionate community.

Every Thursday from October 16 - November 20, 2025 | 3:00 - 4:30 p.m.

Oshkosh Public Library (lower-level conference room) | 106 Washington Avenue, Oshkosh

More Information & Registration: Alisa Richetti | 920.236.1227 | arichetti@winnebagocountywi.gov

This is a free, 6-week evidence-based workshop that can help caregivers:

• Reduce stress
• Improve self-confidence
• Set goals and problem solve
• Make tough decisions
• Communicate effectively with family, doctors, and paid caregivers

A PDA partnership is helping to bring health care and women's empowerment to remote communities in Pakistan

Darla Carter | Presbyterian News Service | September 5, 2025

LOUISVILLE — Women and children living in remote areas of Pakistan are receiving much-needed medical care thanks to a partnership between Community World Service Asia (CWSA) and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.

PDA is helping to fund two health care vans that go into remote villages where residents would otherwise have difficulty receiving care because they live far away from medical facilities or come from segments of society that are systemically oppressed. 

"The current project that PDA is supporting is providing essential preventative and curative health services through mobile health units to drought affected communities in Umerkot, which is in southern Pakistan," said Shama Mall, a deputy regional director for CWSA. “We prioritize women and children.”

Among the people in the area, “there's a huge presence of religious minorities who are quite vulnerable, who are socially, politically and economically isolated and marginalized, and they don't have access to health care very easily because of the context that they're living in," she said.

Access challenges have contributed to poor health outcomes, with past outbreaks of diseases such as diphtheria, measles and malaria leading to fatalities among infants and children, according to CWSA. Read more.

Sunday Worship Service: 9:30 a.m.

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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.