Hello, Oak Chapel friends,
Many thanks to those who braved the weather on Wednesday night to attend our Ash Wednesday service and begin the holy season of Lent. Lent is a time for us to clean out our closets – those inner places where we hide our junk to create an appearance of a neat and tidy life. What is it that we are hiding? And who are we hiding from? What are our inner motivations? God calls us to take stock of these things to prepare our hearts for the transformation of Easter. Won’t you begin this Lenten journey in church this Sunday? My sermon, titled “An Opportune Time,” is based on Luke 4: 1 – 13.
Our Sunday evening Lenten series begins this week, too. We are hosting the service, Rev. Tom Fish from Moreland UMC will preach, and there will be refreshments in Fellowship Hall afterwards. See further details below.
Below you will also find other 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, 2/14 is Phyllis Weaver. Her assistant next Sunday, 2/21 is Miriam Zech.
Canton Charge Basketball Game
The United Methodist Men are sponsoring a trip to see the Canton Charge at the Canton Civic Center on Sunday, February 28. The game starts at 3:00 p.m. We will carpool from the church parking lot, leaving at 1:45 p.m. Kim Domer has prepaid for 10 tickets at $14.50 each. Additional tickets can also be purchased at this price. Please see Kim to reserve your spot for this afternoon of fun and fellowship.
Second Sunday Selfie Day
This week is Second Sunday Selfie Day. The goal of this emphasis is to enhance our church’s presence on social media. Take a selfie with your pewmate, the pastor, or whomever, and then post those pics to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or other social media with the hash tags #selfiesunday and #oakchapelumc. This is a simple way to tell others you worship at Oak Chapel United Methodist Church! If you don’t know how to post pictures to social media, the pics can also be texted to April Aten (330-234-1940) or Pastor Robin (330-234-7717) and they will post them to the church’s social media sites for you.
Winter Rally Day
It’s just two weeks away! Our Winter Rally Day on Sunday, February 21. The theme of the day is “It’s Snow Fun!” and our worship will center on 1 Corinthians 12:27 where we will explore the uniqueness of snowflakes and their correlation to us. There will be a few surprises in worship so you won’t want to miss it! Then stick around afterwards for our Fellowship Luncheon with more fun and games.
Evening Lenten Worship Services
During Lent we will continue our annual tradition of Sunday evening worship with other United Methodists. This year, all five of the United Methodist Churches in Wooster will participate. The theme is “Finding Home” and offerings will go to Wayne County Habitat for Humanity. The services will be held at 7:00 p.m., except on Sunday, February 21 when Wooster UMC will host Tetelestai. That service will be at 2:00 p.m. The schedule is as follows:
Sunday, February 14 – Oak Chapel UMC with Rev. Tom Fish preaching (John 14)
Sunday, February 21 – Wooster UMC hosting Tetelestai (a Passion Play “It is Finished”) at 2:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 28 – Moreland UMC with Rev. Kris Patt preaching (Joshua 24:15)
Sunday, March 6 – New Pittsburg UMC with Rev. Robin Dillon preaching (Psalm 84)
Sunday, March 13 – Church of the Cross UMC with Rev. Charlie Tobias preaching (Revelation 21)
Electronic Sign Update
Over the last two years the Trustees and the Memorials Committee have been working to get a new church sign to enhance our church’s presence on Old Lincoln Way. At their meeting on January 18, the Trustees voted to get the necessary permits, and pending final commitments of memorial funds, the sign will be ordered and the necessary foundation work will begin. Renderings of the sign have been posted on the bulletin boards throughout the church building. Take a look!
Opportunities for Ministry Next Week
Sunday, 2/14 – Sunday School at 9:30am
Worship at 10:30am
Lenten Worship at Oak Chapel at 7:00pm
Monday, 2/15 – Acorn Deadline!
Bible Study at 9:15am
Trustees at 7:00pm
Tuesday, 2/16 – Girl Scouts at 5:45pm
Membership Care Committee at 7:00pm
Wednesday, 2/17 – Choir Rehearsal at 7:00pm
Saturday, 2/20 – Weight Loss Support Group at 9:15am
It is a privilege to be your pastor and to serve among such an amazing community! I look forward to worshiping with you in church on Sunday!
Grace and peace,
Pastor Robin