Highlights Responding With Love, page 2 AmeriCorps Team Open House, page 2 Inside Jon Troast Concert, page 3 Advent Evening Study Group, page 4 Oak Hill News No. 11 NOVEMBER 2015 Volume 65 Making disciples for Jesus Christ. I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. Psalm 9:1 Last month, three of our members stood up in worship and told you why and how they felt called to serve and give to God through Oak Hill Presbyterian Church. Then, a letter went out, and we all thought and prayed and wrote down our inspirations, our dreams and our pledges on little blue cards, blessed them and shared them with this church. a growing sense of mission in which all Oak Hill s people can be involved continue to reach out to the community with love + service As we enter this season of giving thanks, let us be thankful for the passions and dreams God has placed on our hearts for this congregation, for our church family, and for our community. I pray that God will inspire us all to creatively work towards these dreams and to live out our passions together, as inspired by Christ. And yes, this will help us plan for the budget, and yes this helps us all to be thoughtful about how we are spending our money, time, and talents, but also, I just love hearing your dreams for our church. That question on that little blue card is one I ask people all the time- what is your dream for this faith community, for this neighborhood, for your family? Because that dream, it speaks to our passion. And we are blessed to be a people full of passion. Our dreams for Oak Hill included to be a warm, inclusive, safe place where the word of God is lived out. to see Oak Hill thrive as a neighborhood church. to continue to grow and thrive all to receive Jesus Christ into their hearts increased membership/attendance the continuation and expansion of the love and discipleship of all the congregation to offer refuge to migrant families, to grow within the community May we be so bold. May we be so blessed. In Peace and Joy, Pastor Erin
OAK HILL NEWS NOVEMBER 2015 2 MISSION COMMITTEE November 15 Open House! Responding With Love to the Churches Burned in St. Louis As you ve seen in the news, 7 churches were vandalized by arson in September in St Louis. Please keep the members, pastors, staff and neighbors of New Life Missionary Baptist Church, St. Augustine s Catholic Church, Ebeneezer Lutheran Church, New Northside Missionary Baptist Church, Shrine of St. Joseph, Bethel Nondenominational Church and New Testament Church of Christ in your prayers as they do the work of cleaning, healing, repairing and rebuilding. Oak Hill Pres is helping out by responding with prayers... and chairs. We have loaned 115 of our folding chairs to New Life MBC to use as they will worship outside these next two weeks, due to the significant damage to their building. Thank you to Rick Soles, Lisa and Mark Thompson, Kris, Richard and Ronnell Crawford and DeShawn Hess for loading and hauling all those chairs! Our Presbytery also applied for and received a grant from Presbyterian Disaster Assistance to contribute to these congregations rebuilding expenses. Come meet the Americorps Volunteers! We're honored to be hosting a group of Americorps volunteers at AMEN House from Nov. 1 Dec. 16. The group will be working with Energy Care St. Louis www.energycare.org providing winterization improvements to people in need in St. Louis City and County. The group will be learning and practicing their craft at the AMEN House. This week they winterized the AMEN House and it is already feeling warmer over there! Join us at an Open House, following worship on November 15 to learn about their work and meet the volunteers. And, of course, refreshments will be provided! For more information about the Open House or about the AmeriCorps team at AMEN House, contact Donna Cook. The Great Oak Hill Pizza and Human Foosball Third Tuesday TGS Neighborhood Youth Night! Don't miss it! Tuesday, November 17, 2015. 6:30-8:30 PM come meet the neighborhood kids and join in a game of Foosball, foot pool, Yahtzee, Connect Four, or Giant checkers with plungers and crowns! Crazy? You bet! Fun? Indeed! Bring a snack to share if you can. Can't make it but want to help out? Drop of 2 liter beverages, snacks, Capri Sun Packs, cookies, veggies, water or make a donation of $5 to "sponsor a pizza". Mark your donations with "Human Foosball ". We had a great turn out for October, the neighbors are excited about the program and so are we! See you there. Contact Donna Cook with any questions.
MORE MISSION COMMITTEE OAK HILL NEWS NOVEMBER 2015 3 Message from the Isaiah 58 Buddies! CONCERT! Come join us for a night of fellowship, music and fun as the Mission Committee welcomes singersongwriter, Jon Troast on Friday, November 13, 2015 at 7:00 PM. A free will offering will be collected to support our mission projects, including the neighborhood foosball outreach. Jon has performed at Oak Hill before on April 18, 2009, you can learn more about Jon and listen to some of his music at www.jontroast.com. Here is a review about Jon s music from Music review.net With the combination of crafty lyrics and exceptional musical accompaniment, Jon Troast has the potential of becoming the next greatest discovery in the music world. Jon s musical influences appear to span a wide range including folk, rock, country, pop, alternative and Christian. He is easily comparable to James Taylor and John Mayer and yet, stands on his own two feet effortlessly. Hope to see you there! The Buddies are all excited as we plan the January menu because we will be celebrating a New Year!! 2016! Can you believe it? Of course, there is still a lot of time left to enjoy in 2015, but it s fun to look forward and dream up delicious foods to celebrate the incoming New Year. This year, the Buddies thought about some of our favorite foods from the South. In particular, black eyed peas. For centuries, even in the days of the Pharoah, black eyed peas have been a symbol of good luck and fortune. The superstition went something like this: since black eyed peas were inexpensive and modest, anyone who ate them was showing humility. Many believed that this humility would save them from the wrath of the heavens for any vanity they might have. Well, for certain, there is good fortune in their scrumptious flavor! Especially when cooked with ham. (Actually, black eyed peas are not really peas or a beans; they are lentils.) The Buddies hope you ll cook some up for yourself on New Year s Eve. We certainly plan to! November 1 st Sunday - Canned chicken 2 nd Sunday - Stove top dressing mix (boxed) 3 rd Sunday - Corn muffin mix (boxed) 4 th Sunday - Green beans (canned) 5 th Sunday - Pumpkin pie filling (canned) December 1 st Sunday - Chicken and dumplings (canned) 2 nd Sunday - Carrots (canned) 3 rd Sunday - Crackers 4 th Sunday - Hot chocolate (instant packages) January 1 st Sunday Ham (canned) 2 nd Sunday Black eyed peas (canned) 3 rd Sunday Any kind of greens, like spinach, collard greens, or mustard greens (canned) 4 th Sunday Applesauce (canned or plastic) 5 th Sunday Cornbread mix (boxed) As always, it's helpful (but not required) to have tab top openers on cans. Our friends at Isaiah 58 are so grateful for your generous sharing of food. Questions? Ask Valery Welch!
EVANGELISM AND MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE A BIG THANK YOU to all who came out and made Halloween such a fun night at Oak Hill! We gave out ALL the candy (160 bags!!) and heard some truly terrible jokes (and a few good ones too). What a fun night to be in the neighborhood! WORSHIP AND CHRISTIAN EDUCATION COMMITTEE Advent Devotionals and Evening Study Group Advent Devotionals will be available in the sanctuary beginning on Nov. 29 th. The Worship & Christian Education committee has chosen a booklet called Proclaiming the Good News of God s Peace: Reflections on the Belhar Confession, published by the Presbyterian Peacemaking Commission. The 15-member General Assembly Special Committee unanimously recommended the addition of this confession to the PC(USA) Book of Confessions, and Presbyteries voted affirmatively for that action. The final step will be a vote at the 222nd General Assembly held next year in Portland, Ore. OAK HILL NEWS NOVEMBER 2015 4 With the rash of gun and racial violence seen throughout the country in 2015, the Belhar Confession seemed to be especially relevant this year. There will be an Adult Study Class based on the devotionals held on Thursday nights during Advent. Look for more details soon. The following information is from www.pcusa.org/news/2015/9/22/2015-adventdevotional-reflections-belhar-confessi/: Cliff Kirkpatrick, co-moderator of the General Assembly Special Committee on the Belhar Confession, Professor of World Christianity and Ecumenical Studies at the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminar and Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the PC(USA) Emeritus, shared his thoughts on why the Belhar Confession makes a good backdrop for Advent devotional messaging. During Advent we wait for the coming of the Word become flesh (John 1:14) in the birth of Jesus Christ and in his ministry of love justice and peace, says Kirkpatrick. Through these Advent devotions we engage in the age-old practice of praying, studying and preparing our hearts for Jesus and his ministry. Like the coming of Jesus in a manger in Bethlehem, the Belhar Confession comes to us from those on the margins in our time from the so-called colored church in South Africa, oppressed by the violence and discrimination of apartheid yet pointing us to the good news of Jesus Christ and challenging us to follow his way of unity, reconciliation and justice. It s truly providential that the Belhar Confession is coming to prominence at the very time we need it most, he says. With the resurgence of racism and racial violence in our society and church, having this voice calling us to repent and build a community around unity, reconciliation and justice is something we need badly in the PC(USA). These themes are important for us as we deal with way too much division in our church.
Sunday School There will be a new Advent-themed Adult Sunday School class beginning November 29. Sunday School classes begin at 9:30 a.m. each Sunday. The Children and Youth class will begin a new Bible story and Ms. Susan has already begun teaching the songs for the Children s Christmas performance in December. Scottish Heritage Service The roots of Presbyterianism can be traced to Scotland, and Oak Hill will celebrate our faith s Scottish heritage on Nov. 22. Matt McMullin, who is proud of his Scottish heritage (and his kilts) will serve as the beadle (a lay person who assists the minister). We will feature Scottish hymns during the service. If you have a kilt, wear it to church, and bring your tartan plaids! Nursery Workers Needed Please let Kim McMullin or Lisa Thompson know if you would like to work in the church nursery during service. We need help about once every two months. Helpers are required to have a Family Care and Safety Registry screening on file before working. OAK HILL NEWS NOVEMBER 2015 5 PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN Women of the congregation are invited to become a part of Presbyterian Women, Circle 3. We will be meeting in the Theleos Room on the first Thursday of the month at 10:00 a.m. Please bring a sandwich for lunch. Salad, chips and dessert will be provided. Join us for fellowship and projects as we plan and prepare for our annual Cookie Sale in December. Presbyterian Women are continuing to save pull tabs from soda cans for Ronald McDonald houses, and Box Tops for Education for St. Margaret of Scotland School, attended by some Oak Hill children. We are no longer saving greeting cards, but will be saving empty pill bottles with labels and glue removed for the Malawi Project, which sends recycled prescription containers to Malawi for use in rural hospitals and village areas. (Malawi is the eighth poorest nation on earth). Please place items in the threedrawer cabinets outside the kitchen and in the narthex. We appreciate your support of our projects! SESSION HIGHLIGHTS The following actions were reported or approved by Session in their October 14, 2015, Stated Scheduled Meeting: The average worship attendance in September was 57. Membership as September 30, 2015 is 121. Financial Report for September & Year-to-Date 2015 September 2015 Total Income Budgeted $15,872.83 $141,606.00 Actual $10,223.66 $136,418.90 Expenses Budgeted $15,042.19 $140,119.75 Actual $17,210.70 $140,877.37 BOOK CLUB Book club will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 13, at the Barrow residence, 6570 Oleatha, to watch the movie Because of Winn-Dixie. Please bring your own dinner. We are always looking for new members. Please feel free to join us! ARTS AND CRAFTS CLUB Craft Night Craft Night is on a break this month as instead we ll be gathering for the Jon Troast concert! Join us for the music on Nov. 13 th and then next month we ll all get back to the craft action! Session approved Pastor Erin s vacation for 11/24-11/29.
OAK HILL NEWS NOVEMBER 2015 6 UNDER THE OAK TREE Meet That Member The next Presbytery Gathering will be held on Saturday Nov. 14 th at 10am at First Presbyterian Church in Edwardsville. Elders Donna Cook and Lisa Thompson have been elected by the session to attend with Pastor Erin. PCUSA Special Offerings Christmas Cards Did you know that you can order your Christmas Cards through the church? The Special Offerings program of the PCUSA sells Christmas cards with the proceeds benefiting our world mission, programs for youth, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and so many other ministries of the PCUSA. Click here for more information about these special cards: https://marketplace.mimeo.com/pcusa#name=13 LECTIONARY FOR OCTOBER Isaiah 25:6-9 November 1 Psalm 24:1-10 Revelation 21:1-6a John 11:32-44 November 8 November 15 November 22 Thursday, November 26 Thanksgiving Day November 29 First Sunday of Advent Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17 Psalm 127:1-5 Hebrews 9:24-28 Mark 12:38-44 1 Samuel 1:4-20 1 Samuel 2:1-10 Hebrews 10:11-25 Mark 13:1-8 2 Samuel 23:1-7 Psalm 132:1-18 Revelation 1:4b-8 John 18: 33-37 Joel 2:21-27 Psalm 126: 1-6 1 Timothy 2:1-7 Matthew 6 25-33 Jeremiah 33:14-16 Psalm 25:1-10 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 Luke 21:25-36 Meet Toby Eckert! Toby is a life- long Oak Hiller who currently serves as a ruling elder and chair of the Membership and Evangelism Committee as well as serving the state of Missouri as a boss type for Vocational Rehabilitation which provides services to people with disabilities in their efforts to become employed. Toby is married to Victor and they have two children, Paige and Victor. When did you join Oak Hill? My parents were married here, so I ve been attending Oak Hill all my life. Why did join Oak Hill as a member? I joined as a member at 14 because my mom was in charge of the confirmation class. Why do you stay at Oak Hill? I remember sitting in the sanctuary, all by myself, sometime after college, and some random, little-old-church-lady came up to me and talked to me and asked me how I was doing, and you know you just know you re home. Also, I come from a family of doers. And there s lots to do. I do bells. I do choir. I do dishes. What are some of your favorite Oak Hill memories? Eating M&Ms in the choir loft as a teenager. And, well, I did get married here. What is one dream you have for Oak Hill? For people to find rest.
OAK HILL NEWS NOVEMBER 2015 7 SCENES FROM OAK HILL Blessing of the Animals Oak Hill News Oak Hill Presbyterian Church, 4111 Connecticut Street St. Louis, Missouri 63116-3926 (314) 664-5525 www.oakhillpcusa.org office@oakhillpcusa.org We are a welcoming congregation where visitors are always expected! Christian Education 9:30 a.m. Service of Worship 10:30 a.m. Nursery Care 10:30 a.m. Youth Puppet Show The ministers of Oak Hill Church are its members, assisted by: Rev. Erin Counihan Pastor Rev. Dr. Alan Meyers Parish Associate Halloween Candy Packing Ms. Susan Brown Minister of Music Ms. Carole Adams Secretary Articles for publication in the Oak Hill News need to be submitted in writing to the church office by the 3 rd Monday of each month.