Hello, Oak Chapel Friends,
Memorial Day Weekend is here! We celebrate the end of a school year and graduations. It’s the unofficial start of summer. In our zest to plan cook-outs and parties, thought, we sometimes forget the meaning of this civic holiday. Memorial Day is a day on the civil calendar for remembering and honoring those who have given their lives in battle. The day is also known as Decoration Day for the custom of placing flags at the graves of the patriotic dead. Without legitimizing war, there is a resonance with one of our recent gospel lections: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
I was browsing through the United Methodist Hymnal the other day deciding on hymns for upcoming worship services, and I came across a hymn titled “O God of Every Nation.” It is a prayer that I think is quite appropriate as we consider Memorial Day this weekend.
O God of every nation, of every race and land,
Redeem your whole creation with your almighty hand;
Where hate and fear divide us, and bitter threats are hurled,
In love and mercy guide us, and heal our strife-torn world.
From search for wealth and power and scorn of truth and right,
From trust in bombs that shower destruction through the night,
From pride of race and station and blindness to your way,
Deliver every nation, eternal God, we pray.
Keep bright in us the vision of days when war shall cease,
When hatred and division give way to love and peace,
Till dawns the morning glorious when truth and justice reign,
And Christ shall rule victorious o’er all the world’s domain.
May this be our prayer this Memorial Day weekend and beyond!
I trust you will join us for our annual Memorial Day service at the Warner-Pioneer Cemetery this Sunday, May 24 at 9:30 a.m. Then come back up the hill for our Pentecost worship in the Sanctuary at 10:30 a.m. My message “Advocate or Agitator?” is based on Acts 2: 1 – 21 and John 16: 4b – 15. Everyone is encouraged to wear red as a symbol of the power and fire of the Holy Spirit in our midst.
Below you will find announcements and important information about upcoming events. Please review and mark your calendars accordingly.
Children’s Sunday School Assistants
Terra Aten leads the young children’s Sunday School class that meets during worship each Sunday morning. Her assistant this Sunday, 5/24 is April Aten. Her assistant next Sunday, 5/31 is Tracy Braucher.
Summer Worship Schedule
At its meeting on Monday, May 11, the Administrative Council affirmed the Worship and Christian Education Committees’ proposal for our summer schedule. Beginning Sunday, June 7, we will have one morning worship service in the Sanctuary at 9:30 a.m., with Sunday School following at 10:30 a.m. This schedule will continue through Labor Day weekend.
Graduate Recognition Sunday
On Sunday, June 7, we will honor our graduates. If you know of anyone graduating from high school, college, or other post-secondary education, please notify the church office.
Lunch to Honor Arden Boyer
The United Methodist Men have honored Arden Boyer for his service to our country and to Oak Chapel UMC for his organization of our annual Memorial Day services at the Warner-Pioneer Cemetery. The men invite all members of the church to lunch at Jake’s after Sunday School on Sunday, June 7. To make reservations for the luncheon, please indicate your participation on this Sunday’s attendance sheet.
Pastor Robin’s Ordination
Pastor Robin will be ordained during Annual Conference at Lakeside this June. The Service of Commissioning and Ordination will Tuesday, June 16 at 7:30 p.m. in Hoover Auditorium. Everyone is invited to the service and to the party hosted by Robin’s parents immediately following the service at Lakeside United Methodist Church. The Staff-Parish Relations Committee (SPRC) would like to get an idea of how many people plan to attend the ordination so that transportation can be coordinated. Please indicate your interest on this week’s attendance slip. The SPRC is also planning a party to be held at Oak Chapel on Sunday, July 5 immediately following worship.
Opportunities for Ministry Next Week
Sunday, 5/24 – Memorial Day Service at Cemetery at 9:30am
Pentecost Worship at 10:30am
Monday, 5/25 – Memorial Day – Office Closed
No Bible Study or Meetings
Tuesday, 5/26 – Girl Scouts at 5:45pm
Membership Care Committee at 7:00pm
Wednesday, 5/27 – Choir Rehearsal at 7:30pm
Thursday, 5/28 – Christian Education Committee at 7:00pm
Saturday, 5/30 – Weight Loss Support Group at 9:15am
Akron Rubber Ducks Game, leave at 5:15pm
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