Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
In preparation for worship,
we encourage you to read the Scripture passage
and reflect on what God’s word might be to you.
Scripture: Mark 4:35-41
Message: "Across the Sea"
JOIN us for WORSHIP from HOME or in the SANCTUARY.
on Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
and activities to nurture faith
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Ministry News and Upcoming Events |
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On Tuesday, June 15, 2021, the Session of Oxford Presbyterian Church determined that it was no longer necessary for parishioners to preregister for Sunday worship services. This practice began last fall when the pandemic was strong, and contact tracing was necessary to ensure the safety of the congregation and our staff.
Since then, the situation in Butler County has steadily improved. Weekly new cases of infection have reached exceedingly low levels in the Oxford area, and most of the congregation is now fully vaccinated. Many health departments are also scaling back their contact tracing programs. For these reasons, the Session has decided that pre-registration will no longer be required to attend in-person worship on Sunday mornings.
Before leaving home, please perform a health assessment (temperature check, no cough, no flu-like symptoms).
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A Gathering of Friends
When:
TOMORROW - Saturday, June 19,
AND Saturday, July 17, at NOON
Where:
6500 Springfield Rd.
Please bring:
- your own lunch for snacking,
- your own chair for the best seat in the park,
- your own kids (or borrow the neighbors’!) for the playground,
- your best walking shoes for either of the marked trails,
- your smile and happy personality for sharing a fun time with friends!
See you on June 19!
- Connections Committee
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Christian Education Survey |
The Christian Education committee would like to hear from you! We would appreciate your feedback about current programming and possible future programming opportunities. Please take a moment to complete this Christian Education Survey.
THANK YOU!
- OPC Christian Education committee members
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Creating a Healthy Community - Relay for Life of Oxford |
Join us Saturday, June 19th in the uptown park from 6:00 - 10:30 pm. Our church still has a team and invites all of you to participate with us. The luminaria ceremony will begin at approximately 9:30 p.m.
If you are not able to join us in person, please consider donating to our team as we continue to work to find a cure for cancer. Thank you for all of your support!
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Eradicating Systemic Poverty (ESP) Team |
The Eradicating Systemic Poverty (ESP) team invites you to join us in the on-line national assembly on June 21: The Poor People's Campaign Moral Revival and Launching a Third Reconstruction. This call will unite the poor and dispossessed against systemic racism, poverty, and ecological devastation.
Click on Third Reconstruction to register.
Note: the Third Reconstruction will address poverty and low wages from the bottom up. It is a non-partisan resolution that affects everyone.
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Summer Reading Opportunity! |
On behalf of OPC members, the ESP team has purchased copies of a book, available now, at no cost, for summer reading, in preparation for a late summer/early fall book discussion group that focuses on poverty and scripture. The title of the book is: Always With Us? What Jesus Really Said about the Poor by Liz Theoharis. The author is an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and one of the leaders of the Poor People's Campaign. Several of the ESP team members have read this book. Speaking for myself (Anne Bailey), I found the book to be challenging and informative, going as far back in time as the early teachings of Jesus to the era of now, when poverty and inequality face so many in a land of relative wealth.
You may pick up a copy of the book in the church office.
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A new Bible study “Adventure” coming this summer
“THE STORY” is a novel of the Bible, but in 31 chapters rather than 66 books, that see the progression of characters as you would in any novel. And you get all the intrigue, drama and romance you would expect from any “good book.”
Since this will be your adventure as well, we’d like to know:
* If you as an individual/ couple/ family are interested
* What dates and times would work best for you this summer
A copy of this delightful and informative book is available, for your interest, in the church office and will soon be available for $5 each. You may also find this book reviewed on Amazon.com, where a hardcover currently goes for $4.93 (plus shipping and taxes).
or 513-325-8313 ASAP with your interest and if you have any questions.
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Connecting as the Beloved Community |
Mary Jane Roberts managed the pandemic with three F’s - family, faith and friends. Christmas was celebrated with part of the family in a large garage, 50 degree weather, socially distanced. Another family group met in the parking lot of a Cincinnati hockey rink to exchange gifts. Being able to Zoom into Sunday morning worship services was such a blessing. Faith has gotten her through some rough times in her life. Friends stepped up, following a surgical procedure, with food and visits. She continued to observe student teachers virtually. “Looking at challenges as opportunities can carry all of us through the tough times”.
Pastor Marc found many good things resulting from the pandemic. He and his favorite walking companion, Bella both feel healthier due to more time spent outdoors, exploring Oxford and surrounding areas. Marc enjoyed watching OPC become more creative in handling this most unusual situation. He found time to revive his passion for creative writing, which had been on the back burner for sometime. There is an energy gained from thinking outside the box - something Marc hopes will continue into the future.
Church “family” took on an entirely new meaning for Kent Peterson during the months of social isolation and safety protocols he practiced during the pandemic. While in-person worship was suspended, the only people Kent shared physical space with were the worship leaders on any given Sunday. Even masks and distancing could not dampen his joy in being able to be present with other people live and in person. Heartfelt gratitude to Pastor Lawrence, Pastor Marc, Nick Fears, Rick Sayers and Lynn and Doug Jacobs for sharing their gift of physical presence during this painful and lonely time of isolation.
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Last weekend at Vacation Bible School, OPC youth along with friends from Faith Lutheran and Oxford United Methodist Church sang songs, played games, gardened, and learned about Jesus’ love through the Parable of the Sower. We learned to have “good, rich soil” in our hearts by being kind to others and sharing God’s word with our friends.
Many thanks to the OPC volunteers who made this year’s VBS a success: Carla Blackmar Rice leading the gardening, Erica Chaney & Sue Wilson leading the preschool class, Savannah Hofer helping with decorations, Pastor Marc sharing the Word during story time, Megan Murray leading games, Missy Pepper helping with decorations and leading the primary class, and Bryson Fears helping with story time and games on Friday. Special thanks to Carol Schaber for helping coordinate the service project of collecting summer snacks for TOPSS.
OUMC friends who helped make this VBS include: Rachel Henry and Madeline Marston leading music, Emily and Ellie Shoker assisting with the preschool and primary classes. Faith Lutheran volunteers include: Annie Caudill and our fearless leader, Lara Freidline along with her mother Holli. Thank you for providing this programming to our youngest members!
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Thank you for a fantastic June Blood Drive.
Listed below are the overall results:
- 55 people registered to give blood!
- 52 were successful! (40 was the goal)
- 130% percent of goal!
- Over 156 lives will be positively impacted because of total donations!
Next Blood Drive: Friday, July 9 (8:30 am – 4:00 pm)
Community Blood Center donors are the GOAT!
(Greatest Of All Time).
Make a commitment to give 3 times this summer and collect all three limited edition GOAT t-shirts
CORRECTION: The article that appeared in the June/July newsletter regarding the blood drive contained a misprint advertising the wrong date and time. That correct date and time has been updated here.
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“[Generosity] is a learned character trait…
It is not a haphazard behavior but a basic orientation to life."
- Christian Smith
To give via QR code, scan the code in the image below with your phone and follow the brief prompts. View a video tutorial here on giving through QR code.
To give via text message, text opc1825 and your designated amount to 73256. For example, text "opc1825 25" to 73256 for an offering of $25 and follow the prompt. View a video tutorial here on giving via text message.
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Living Into Hope
“...faith isn't about having everything figured out ahead of time;
faith is about following the quiet voice of God
without having everything figured out ahead of time.”
- Rachel Held Evans
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Oxford Presbyterian Church | 101 N. Main Street, Oxford OH 45056
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