Time to Trim the Excess and Fortify Our Faith in 2022 Another joyous Christmas holiday has come and gone, and once again I am feeling the effects of overindulgence. It usually begins with a Thanksgiving Day feast — complete with turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes — and concludes five or six weeks later with aContinue reading “In A Nutshell | January 7, 2022”
Author Archives: Oak Chapel UMC
In A Nutshell | December 31, 2021
Hold on to the Keys to the Kingdom Few things rankle me more than losing my keys, and unfortunately I do it more often than I would like to admit. You know how it goes, right? You come into the house from the garage with your hands full of groceries or some other item, andContinue reading “In A Nutshell | December 31, 2021”
In A Nutshell | December 24, 2021
Embracing the Real Christmas Story ‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house…well you know the rest of the story, right? Santa and his reindeer brought gifts of joy to every girl and boy, and they all lived happily ever after. Well, that’s one version of the Christmas story, but it is obviouslyContinue reading “In A Nutshell | December 24, 2021”
In A Nutshell | December 17, 2021
‘Tis the Season to See the Light One of my favorite Christmas activities — although we don’t do it as often as we would like — is to visit the various light displays in the tri-state area. There are many fabulous shows in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Some are professionally done and chargeContinue reading “In A Nutshell | December 17, 2021”
In A Nutshell | December 10, 2021
Generosity Reigns Supreme at Oak Chapel The gifts are piling up under the Chrismon Tree in the Sanctuary, and Christmas is still two weeks away! How wonderful it is to be associated with such a kind, caring, and compassionate congregation! You have given freely and generously to a young homeless couple and their two infantContinue reading “In A Nutshell | December 10, 2021”
In A Nutshell | December 3, 2021
May the Peace of Christ be with You, Today and Always! As we prepare for the second Sunday of Advent, I invite you to take a few moments from the hustle and bustle of your holiday preparation to rest and relax. This week, we will light the candle of peace, and let’s face it, weContinue reading “In A Nutshell | December 3, 2021”
In A Nutshell | November 26, 2021
Book of Discipline Provides Enlightenment and Inspiration When it comes to recommending great reads, The United Methodist Church’s Book of Discipline is unlikely to be found on anybody’s Top 10 list. However, because I am required to have at least some working knowledge of its contents, I can tell you that there is, in fact,Continue reading “In A Nutshell | November 26, 2021”
In A Nutshell | November 19, 2021
Lifting Christ’s Name with Praise and Thanksgiving This weekend, we will celebrate Christ the King Sunday, a sacred but somewhat understated observance in the church. Our Catholic friends often refer to this as theFeast of Christ the King, or the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of theUniverse. Either way, it provides an opportunityContinue reading “In A Nutshell | November 19, 2021”
In A Nutshell | November 12, 2021
How Making and Mixing Candy Can Bring Us Together If you have not yet had an opportunity to participate in one of our Glass Candy making sessions — or even if you have — please consider joining us on Monday evening for what might be our final gathering this year. Our expert “Brewmeister,” Elizabeth Feldman,Continue reading “In A Nutshell | November 12, 2021”
In A Nutshell | November 5, 2021
Help Us Help Others Come in from the Cold I think it’s safe to say that most people don’t like weather extremes. Some prefer warm summer evenings; others enjoy crisp fall mornings; but most of us would choose 72 degrees and bright blue skies over anything else. Unfortunately, the weather in Ohio does not alwaysContinue reading “In A Nutshell | November 5, 2021”