Hello, Oak Chapel friends,

Today is Good Friday, the day we set aside to remember the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. I have always had a difficult time calling this day “good” as it is a day of death; a day of darkness and mourning. The only reason we can call it “good” is that God overcame death through the resurrection. Death did not – and does not! – have the final word. Last Sunday at the close of worship, I encouraged you to come to our Holy Week services. Tonight at 7:00 is the Good Friday cantata titled “For Such a One as This.” It is a very moving dramatic and musical presentation about Jesus’ last days and hours. Come, sit in the darkness of Jesus’ death, for then and only then, can we truly celebrate the light and the joy of the resurrection.

Our Resurrection celebration begins on Sunday morning at 7:30. The youth will lead this service. They have prepared a fun and meaningful skit that you won’t want to miss. Then stick around for breakfast provided by the Sing-Mar class at 8:15am. Jen Moser has some activities for the kids between breakfast and Sunday School at 9:30. Then join us for our traditional resurrection worship with communion at 10:30.

Why not invite a friend to worship with you this Sunday? Hope to see you there!

We will celebrate Holy Communion during our Easter worship. Since we typically collect pantry items for People to People Ministries on Communion Sundays, please bring them this Sunday, March 31 instead of Sunday, April 7 (UMW Sunday).

The United Methodist Women will lead worship on Sunday, April 7, with guest speaker, Dr. Maggie Jackson. In honor of this day and because of the United Methodist Midwest Mission Distribution Center’s great need for layette kits, we are asking people to bring one or more of the following items to worship that day.

The Annual All Sons’ Banquet will be Saturday, April 13. Dinner, consisting of Swiss steak, potato, vegetable and pie, will be served at 5:30pm. The suggested donation for the dinner is $10. Reservations for the dinner must be made by April 8. The program, titled “Let’s Talk Baseball” will be presented by Jim Pfander, the General Manager and COO of the Akron Aeros (and son of our own Rev. Jim Pfander!). The program is free and will begin at 6:30pm. This is a great opportunity to invite your friends, neighbors and co-workers to our church.

Our annual Super Hymn Sing will be held on Sunday, April 14 from 4 – 5:30pm, followed by a light meal. We will sing both old and new favorites and there will be special music. If you have a favorite hymn you’d like to sing, please contact Frances Boyer at (330) 264-5133 or greatlifeliveit@sssnet.com. Invite your friends and neighbors. All are welcome.

The Trustees have scheduled a work day for Saturday, April 20 at 9am. There will be a variety of tasks for people of all abilities. Please help us maintain and beautify our church building and grounds!

On Saturday, May 18, Oak Chapel will join with other United Methodist churches around the globe in the fourth annual “Change the World” weekend. This day of service will challenge us to make a difference in our community and world. There will be three options for service that day for people of all ages and abilities. We will start and end the day with some reflection time and lunch will be served.

Sunday, 3/31 – Easter Sunrise Service at 7:30am

                   Easter Breakfast at 8:15am

                   Traditional Resurrection Worship at 10:30am

Monday, 4/1 – Retirees Breakfast – Milltown      at 8:00am

Wednesday, 4/3 –Morning Circle at 9:30am

                   Choir rehearsal at 7:30pm

Saturday, 4/6 – Weight Loss Support Group at 9:15am

It is a privilege to be your pastor and to serve among such an amazing community. See you church!!

Grace and peace,

Pastor Robin

Hello, Oak Chapel friends,

This weekend is Daylight Savings Time. Set your clocks ahead one hour on Saturday night to be sure you are not late for church!

This Sunday’s worship will focus on a very familiar parable in the gospel of Luke –the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15: 1 – 3, 11b – 32). We will look at the context in which Jesus shares this story with his listeners and examine ourselves in our relationships with God and others. In my message titled “The Ending is Up to Us,” I hope to offer a new perspective on this well-known parable.

Why not invite a friend to worship with you this Sunday? Hope to see you there!

Cheryl Rastetter and Cathy Shallenberger are organizing a group to make blankets to be given to the children of Valley Head, West Virginia at our Mountain Vision Christmas Party in December. The fleece has been purchased and now needs to be cut. Please join us in Fellowship Hall tomorrow (Saturday, March 9) at 9am for a cutting party.

On Sunday there will be a special offering for One Great Hour of Sharing. These gifts cover the operating costs of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), making it possible for UMCOR to use 100% of all other designated gifts toward the projects their donors specify. UMCOR is dedicated alleviating human suffering around the globe. They provide humanitarian relief when war, conflict or natural disaster disrupt life to such an extent that communities are unable to recover on their own.

The Audit Committee has begun its work reviewing the financial records of each church group. Please submit your ledgers, bank statements & other supporting documentation to Gene Taylor as soon as possible. Should you have any questions, please contact Gene.

Our church directories/bicentennial yearbooks have arrived. The directories are marked with each family’s name and will be available for pick-up in the Narthex on Sunday morning.

Once again this year, we will decorate the altar with spring plants for Easter. If you wish to remember or honor a loved one with a lily, daffodil or tulip plant, the cost is $9.00. Order forms will be in this Sunday’s bulletin or can be picked up in the Narthex. Sunday, March 24 is the firm deadline to place your order. Please see Elizabeth Feldman if you have any questions.

On Thursday, March 28 at 7pm we will have a traditional Maundy Thursday worship service. The word maundy comes from the Latin wordmandatum, meaning commandment, taken from some of Jesus’ final words to his disciples as he washed their feet at the Last Supper, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another” (John 13: 34 NRSV). Join us that evening as we remember Jesus’ final meal with his disciples.

The following evening, Friday, March 29 at 7pm, Oak Chapel’s choir and others in the community will present For Such a One as This. This dramatic worship experience is a unique retelling of the greatest story ever told. You will not want to miss it. Invite your friends and neighbors to this meaningful and soul-stirring service.

Our annual Super Hymn Sing will be held on Sunday, April 14 from 4 – 5:30pm, followed by a light meal. We will sing both old and new favorites and there will be special music. If you have a favorite hymn you’d like to sing, please contact Frances Boyer at (330) 264-5133 or greatlifeliveit@sssnet.com. Invite your friends and neighbors. All are welcome.

Sunday, 3/10 – Evening Lenten Service – New Pittsburg at 7pm

Monday, 3/11 – Bible Study – The Way at 10:15am

Girl Scouts at 6:00pm

Finance Committee with SPRC and DS at 7:00pm (in Fellowship Hall)

Tuesday, 3/12 –Outreach Committee at 10:30am

Membership Care Committee at 7:00pm

Wednesday, 3/13 – Choir rehearsal at 7:30pm

Thursday, 3/14 – Christian Education Committee at 7:00pm

Saturday, 3/16 – Weight Loss Support Group at 9:15am

Itis a privilege to be your pastor and to serve among such an amazing community. See you church!!

Grace and peace,

Pastor Robin