In A Nutshell | March 13, 2014

Hello, Oak Chapel Friends,

I trust you have fared well in the ups and downs of our crazy weather this week. Though I love living in a place where one can experience all four seasons, it seems rather odd to experience all of them in the same week! The sun was warm and bright on Tuesday afternoon and I enjoyed my first convertible ride of the season while doing some visits. I’m looking forward to Spring and the new growth that season represents. I pray that it will be a season of new spiritual growth for us as individuals and as a congregation at Oak Chapel UMC.

I’m excited about worship this Sunday and I hope you will be there for us to experience it together. Our District Superintendent, The Rev. Dr. Valerie Stultz, will preach a sermon titled “Lambs to Sheep, Sheep to Shepherds” based on John 21: 15 – 17. Valerie is an excellent preacher and she has a way of engaging the congregation to live out the scriptures. She will also join us for our fellowship luncheon following the service and you will have an opportunity to greet and chat with her then. Please bring a dish to share and your table service.

We are also hosting the first Sunday evening Lenten service at 7:00pm.

Below you will find announcements and other important information about upcoming events. Please review and mark your calendars accordingly.

Terra Aten is our nursery coordinator and works in the nursery each Sunday morning. Her assistant this Sunday, 3/16 is Miriam Zech. Next Sunday’s (3/23) assistant is Dick Silver.

Pastor Robin will be away next week from Monday, 3/17 through Friday, 3/21, and she will not have access to phone, texts or e-mail. For pastoral emergencies, please call Pam Domer at 330-601-3926 or Rev. Jim Pfander at 216-470-0703.

Our Sunday evening Lenten worship services begin this Sunday, March 16. Join us as we continue this tradition with the Moreland and New Pittsburg UMCs. There will be a time of fellowship after each service. The schedule is as follows:

Sunday, March 16 – Rev. Tom Fish preaching at Oak Chapel UMC

Sunday, March 23 – Rev. John Heavilin preaching at Moreland UMC

Sunday, March 30 – Rev. Robin Dillon preaching at New Pittsburg UMC

Sunday, April 6 – Rev. Jim Pfander preaching at Oak Chapel UMC

Please mark your calendars and plan to attend!

The UMW annual Call to Prayer & Self-Denial service will be at Shreve United Methodist Church on Thursday, March 27 at 6:00pm. The evening begins with a light supper. We will met at Oak Chapel at 5:30pm to carpool. Please make reservations with Evelyn Silver by March 24.

Georgia Taylor has given Pastor Robin and the congregation a challenge. Georgia thinks she can finish knitting her long-awaited prayer shawl before we have 100 people in attendance at worship for three consecutive Sundays. Pastor Robin thinks we can easily have 100 people in worship before Georgia finishes her shawl. Betsy Bower upped the ante and suggested that the “winner” get to throw a pie in the face of the “loser.” How do you think this challenge will end? Come to worship and find out!

The Outreach Committee is offering gift baskets for members of the congregation to share with families moving into your neighborhood. These baskets include homemade bread, jelly, a copy of the Wooster Weekly News and information about our church. We are collecting baskets to use for this project and welcome volunteers to bake bread or donate homemade butter, jams or jellies. Please contact Pam Domer or Ann Kahrig to help with this project or if you have a new neighbor to whom you would like to give a basket.

The annual All Sons Banquet sponsored by the United Methodist Men is scheduled for Saturday, March 22, 2014.  The 5:30pm catered dinner includes Swiss Steak, trimmings, and home-made pie.   The after banquet speaker is Joshua Johnson, a thirty-one year old cancer survivor from Youngstown.  Joshua’s presentation “I Ride For Those Who Can’t!” will touch on his life’s journey so far; ranging from football player, teacher, charity cyclist, and husband/father to be. He will illustrate how his faith in Christ has anchored his choices in life.  A lively Question and Answer period will follow the 6:30 presentation. The 6:30 after-dinner presentation is Free Admission.  Dinner reservations ($10) are required. Please sign up on the clipboard located in the Narthex. For more information, please see Pastor Jim Pfander or Bill Braucher.

Oak Chapel United Methodist Women Trip to New York City

The United Methodist Women (UMW) are planning a trip to New York City this Fall. The cost is $450 per person which includes transportation, seminar, and lodging. Lodging will be at the Alma Matthews House which is owned by the denomination-wide UMW.

$100 deposit due March 30, 2014 – non refundable, but transferable. The remaining $350 is due prior to travel. Please also plan about $100 extra as spending money for meals, subway/cabs, and any entrance fees or theater tickets.

Sunday, 3/16 – Sunday School at 9:30am

                        Worship with Rev. Valerie Stultz at 10:30am

                        Blood Pressure Screenings after worship

                        Fellowship Luncheon after worship

                        Youth Groups at 6:30pm

                        Lenten Service – Oak Chapel at 7:00pm

Monday, 3/17 – Bible Study at 10:15am

History and Records at 6:30pm

                        Trustees at 7:00pm

Wednesday, 3/19 – Vacation Bible School Planning at 5:45pm

                        Bible Study at 6:30pm

                        Choir rehearsal at 7:30pm

Saturday, 3/22 – Weight Loss Support Group             at 9:15am

                        All Sons Banquet at 5:30pm

It is a privilege to be your pastor and to serve among such an amazing community. I look forward to seeing you in church on Sunday!

Grace and peace,

Pastor Robin