Hello, Oak Chapel Friends,
Whew! It’s another bitter cold wintery morning! I missed worshiping with all of you last Sunday, but given the sub-zero temperatures and the high winds, we felt it was best to cancel. The weather forecast for this Sunday seems like a heat wave in comparison! We have a busy weekend ahead of us at Oak Chapel UMC – the All Sons Banquet is tomorrow evening at 5:30 and our Mardi Gras Madness (including breakfast) is Sunday morning at 8:15. Please see the details for these events below and plan to attend. I look forward to seeing you there!
Below you will also find other announcements and important information about upcoming events. Please review and mark your calendars accordingly.
All Sons Banquet
It’s not too late to reserve a spot for tomorrow night’s United Methodist Men’s Annual All Sons Banquet. The meal begins at 5:30 p.m. The speaker is Mike McClintock, who will share his experiences of bicycling across the country. All men are invited. Contact Kim Domer at 330-749-3461 for more information. The suggested donation for the meal is $10.
Mardi Gras Madness
We are looking forward to Mardi Gras Madness this Sunday morning, February 22 at 8:15 a.m. Breakfast will include pancakes and sausage. Teams will build shoebox floats which will be included in our Mardi Gras parade. Prizes will be given for the winning float. Join us for other games, fun and fellowship to celebrate our church’s educational programs. Pastor Robin will also lead a children’s lesson during the 9:30 Sunday School hour.
Children’s Sunday School Assistants
Terra Aten is the leader of the young children’s Sunday School class (PreK to 2nd grade) that meets during worship each Sunday morning. Her assistant this Sunday, 2/22 is Evelyn Silver. Her assistant next Sunday, 3/1 is Phyllis Weaver.
Lenten Hymn Study
Even if you missed the first session of Pastor Robin’s Lenten Hymn Study, you may still join us next Wednesday, 2/25. Sing (or read!) your way through this Lenten season with “Will You Come and Follow Me? An Adult Lenten Study on Hymns.” This study examines the texts of various Lenten hymns (one per week). Each session challenges participants to work through the meaning of the text and how it relates to us today. We will also learn about the hymn writers. The class sessions are on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.
The remaining schedule is as follows:
February 25 (6:30 p.m.) “Will You Come and Follow Me (The Summons)”
March 4 (6:30 p.m.) “Lord of the Dance”
March 11 (6:30 p.m.) “To God Be the Glory”
March 18 (6:30 p.m.) “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”
March 25 (6:30 p.m.) “All Glory, Laud, and Honor”
Lenten Sermon Series
Many people give something up for the forty days of Lent. Often this “giving up” takes the form of food or a bad habit. But God desires more from us. And for more than forty days. Beginning Sunday, February 22, Pastor Robin will do a sermon series titled “Giving It Up,” inviting her listeners to consider giving up such things as control, expectations, superiority, enemies, popularity and death. Let’s give up more than chocolate this year!
World Day of Prayer
Church Women United will host its annual World Day of Prayer Service on Friday, March 6 at 1:30 p.m. at Congress Community Church. The theme is “Prayer for All Occasions” with speaker Gayl Cottrel. There will be an ingathering of paper products. We will carpool from Oak Chapel, leaving promptly at 12:59 p.m. For more information, please contact Joanne Jolliff at 330-264-6658.
Prayer Workshop
On Saturday, March 14 from 9:30 a.m. till Noon, Pastor Robin and others will lead an experiential workshop on prayer. Participants will learn about various forms of prayer and spiritual disciplines including lectio divina, iconography, prayer beads, the Examen, journaling and walking a labyrinth. The season of Lent is a good time to incorporate new disciplines and everyone is invited.
Sunday Evening Lenten Services
This year we will continue our annual tradition of Sunday evening worship services with other United Methodist Churches in the area. In addition to Moreland and New Pittsburg UMCs, this year Wooster UMC will join us for this time of worship and fellowship. The services will be on Sundays at 7:00 p.m. The schedule is as follows:
March 1 – Rev. Tom Fish preaching at Wooster UMC
March 8 – Rev. Charlie Tobias preaching at Oak Chapel UMC
March 15 – Rev. Robin Dillon preaching at New Pittsburg UMC
March 22 – Rev. Jon Heavilin preaching at Moreland UMC
Church Cancellation Policy
On these cold and blustery days, we are reminding you of our church cancellation policy:
In the event of inclement weather or other emergencies, the decision to cancel worship and/or other church activities will be made by the Administrative Council Chairperson (currently Bob Troutman), the Trustees Chairperson (currently Kim Domer), and the Pastor. The details of the policy are as follows:
~Decisions regarding cancellation of worship will be made by Sunday morning at 7:00
~Church will automatically be canceled in the event of a Level 3 Snow Emergency
~Notifications of cancellation will be communicated via the following methods:
o Announced on Wooster Radio 104.5 WQKT
o Church-wide e-mail distribution
o Notice on the church website
o Notice on the church Facebook page
o The church phone voicemail message will indicate if worship is canceled
~The electronic phone tree will NOT be used in these circumstances so please be sure to check one of the communication methods listed above.
In circumstances in which the church remains open, parishioners are advised to be cautious and use their own best judgment and discretion regarding church attendance.
Opportunities for Ministry Next Week
Sunday, 2/22 – Mardi Gras Madness at 8:15 a.m.
Sunday School at 9:30am
Worship at 10:30am
Saplings Youth Group at 6:30pm
Monday, 2/23 – Bible Study at 10:15am
Prayer Shawl Ministry at 5:30pm
Staff-Parish Relations Committee at 7:00pm
Tuesday, 2/24 – Membership Care at 7:00pm
Wednesday, 2/25 – Lenten Hymn Study at 6:30pm
Choir Rehearsal at 7:30pm
Thursday, 2/26 – Table Tennis at 7:00pm
Saturday, 2/28 – Weight Loss Support Group at 9:15am
Chocolate Retreat at Wooster UMC at 10:00am
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