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A Publication of the Oak Hill United Methodist Church
September 24, 2021


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Worship Service


Sunday, September 26
facebook.com/OakHillUMC


 9:45 Sunday School
11:00 Worship
 

Everyone is welcome.
No Facebook account needed.

Pastor Stephen
"God's Temple" 

Part II of the sermon series "The Church at its Best"

Get the Sunday Worship Bulletin
Click to Make a Donation


Messy Church Next Saturday!


Save the date! Join us on Saturday, September 25th from 5:00-7:00pm for Messy Church! In this gathering, we’ll enjoy another picnic together outside and then learn through interactive stations from Blind Bartimaeus and Jesus about persistence, compassion for those on the fringes and new beginnings.

As an offering, we’ll be collecting used eyeglasses to pass on to the Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center which provides vision screening and assistance in developing countries. A collection box will be placed in the narthex for anyone wanting to contribute donations leading up to our Messy Church gathering.


Breakfast This Sunday


The United Methodist Women will provide an All Church Breakfast this Sunday, September 26th. They will be serving from 8:45 until 10:45 am in the Fellowship Hall. Please call or email Pam in the church office to RSVP so we  know how much to prepare. Even if you don't RSVP please join us. We look forward to seeing you there.
 


OHUMC Early Response Team Reminder


The Early Response Team (ERT) training will be held tomorrow, September 25. The class will be held in the Adult Education Building in room 206 from 8:30 to approximately 3 PM. A light lunch will be provided. If you would like to attend this class and have not registered for it simply click here.
 
For more information about becoming part of our ERT, please contact either Ron Kettler at ronkettlerphd@gmail.com or Adam Matustik at tubaman693@yahoo.com.
Please contact Diane Merwarth for more information.

If you missed out on the first session of the Visioning Process or just want a summary of what was discussed, please click here to be a part of the process so far.

October 2nd is our next session. During this process we will engage in holy conversations that will help us listen for God’s vision for this congregation.  If you would like to join us, please click here to RSVP.


The process is being led by Ann Jenkins, a professor of psychology who has led church planning for more than a decade. She led the visioning process at Pastor Stephen’s previous congregation, and he assisted in her work with other congregations. Ann brings rich experience, a commitment to the Church, and a deep spiritual life that will help us listen to God and one another.  

We are meeting three Saturdays this Fall – September 18, October 2, and October 16. Each session runs from 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. The sessions will be distinct and will build upon previous sessions. We would like to encourage you to participate in the process, even if you cannot attend all three sessions. Childcare and a light lunch will be provided.  

The visioning process is extremely interactive and provide time for each of us to share our hopes and dreams for Oak Hill.  

If you are interested in being a part of the visioning process please click here to let us know you plan to attend. This will allow us to prepare accordingly.


Prayer Walk October Comes to Campus


If you’ve been hearing about the great experience of our monthly Prayer Walks, October presents an easy opportunity to check it out.
 
Our October Prayer Walk is scheduled for Oct. 2, the same date as our second visioning gathering. To allow regular attendees an opportunity to participate in both, and to give attendees at the visioning process an opportunity to center before the gathering, Prayer Walk October will start at 8 am at our own labyrinth. We will finish by 9 am, giving participants in the visioning process sufficient time to gather for its 8:30 start.

In 325 A.D. Christians placed a labyrinth on the floor of their church. Although Christians must have been using the labyrinth earlier, this is the first historical record we have of the Christian use of the labyrinth. Since that time labyrinths have been prayed, studied, danced, traced and drawn as Christians sought to use this spiritual tool to draw closer to God. 

Theme for this October Prayer Walk is vision. As usual, Laurie Sharp will lead us. Give us an idea of who is coming by signing up at 
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d4eaead2cabffce9-prayer  

Don’t know until the last minute if you can make it? No problem, you can also, join us at 8 am without signing up.  

Questions:  Contact Vicki Matustik at vicki@oakhillumc.org


Early Risers Rejoice

 

Next Sunday, October 3rd, we will add an 8:30 am service to our worship schedule. This additional worship experience will allow us to reach people who prefer an earlier worship time. It will also give more space to spread out as we continue to practice social distancing. 


For the time being, our 8:30 am service will be very similar in style and format to our 11:00am service. We are excited about one difference: we will celebrate Holy Communion each week at the early service as one of the ways we give thanks for all that Christ is doing in our lives.


Our 11:00 service will continue to be livestreamed on our website and Facebook page for those unable to attend in-person. 


Two Opportunities To Make a Difference

 
Two upcoming events through Oak Hill offer participants an opportunity to truly make a difference in someone’s life.
 
A Home of Their Own – Habitat Build
On Saturday, Oct. 9, Oak Hill will send a team to work on the 2021 Methodist Habitat build, working to make the dream of a home ownership a reality for an Austin family.
 
Every two years Austin area Methodist churches work together to provide funding and volunteer workers for a Habitat home. The 2021 Habitat home is under construction in NE Austin at 7101 Zachary Drive, 78724. Oak Hill UMC has fulfilled its financial pledge of $9,000. We now needs volunteer workers for our two assigned work days - Oct. 9 and Nov. 13. If you can paint, chalk, hammer, or operate power tools, you can help construct the 2021 Methodist build and help this family realize their dream. 

Ernie Rebuck leads the Oak Hill effort and will be in the courtyard on Sundays leading up to the work day to answer questions. To participate, please register at https://austinhabitat.volunteerhub.com/lp/oakhillumc  

Please remember to sign the required liability waiver when you register.
 

A chance to stay at home for elderly and handicapped
The following week, we will partner with Interfaith Action of Central Texas (iACT) to rehab and paint an Austin home. Often the homeowners are handicapped, elderly, or both. All have limited financial resources to make the necessary exterior repairs to keep the home safe and allow them to remain in their beloved home. A team from Oak Hill will work weekdays Oct. 11-15 to replace siding and window frames, and power wash the property. On Saturday, Oct. 16, we will finish our work by giving the home a fresh coat of paint.  We need many hands for paint day.  Can’t make it all day?  No problem, a few hours will help. Matt Bales will lead the construction crew working weekdays and Vicki Matustik is the contact for the paint team.

Volunteers can work as many hours as they have to give on either team. Matt and Vicki will also be in the courtyard to answer your questions and sign you up.  
 
Contact Vicki Matustik at vicki@oakhillumc.org for questions about either the Habitat Build or the Hands on Housing project.
 
It’s a busy time for everyone, but these two opportunities afford you to be part of a life changing event for the homeowners we serve.  

Central Texas Food Bank

Oak Hill brings a team to serve at Central Texas Food Bank each month. Last Thursday's team is pictured above. Our October date is Thursday, Oct. 21 from 8:30 to noon. To sign up for the October event, click here: https://cafb.volunteerhub.com/lp/oakhillumc/  

Each month, our team serves in the food bank warehouse inspecting and preparing food to be distributed to the more than 70,000 Central Texas households who rely on this service to put food on their table. The September team helped provide almost 7,500 meals in their morning shift. Not bad use of a Thursday morning!

Questions?  Contact Vicki Matustik at vicki@oakhillumc.org

Church-wide Prayer Chain Up and Running


The church-wide prayer chain is once again up and running. We would love for you to participate. To sign up to pray simply send an email to prayers@oakhillumc.org and you will be added to our contact list. You can also share your prayer concerns for family, friends, and colleagues with other members on the list.

Each Monday and Thursday there will be a volunteer that will send prayer concerns to the prayer chain team. Please know that we will be following HIPPA rules and limiting details of health concerns. If you have any questions, please email Ann Morse (amorse3876@gmail.com) or Pam Sheffield (office@oakhillumc.org). If you were on the previous prayer chain contact list, we will be adding your email address automatically. Feel free to let us know if you wish to be removed.

UMW Book Club 


Our September selection is Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger. Narrated by a  teenage boy, Frank Drum, the story includes four incidents of violence, but also the ever present grace of God. Our meeting will be on Thursday morning, September 30, at 10:00. If possible, we plan to meet in person in the Adult Education Building Room 101.

If you are new to the group, I will be happy to add you to our email list. Contact me if you have any questions, Diana Goodloe.

Join us for Theology on Tap


Looking for a casual setting to connect with others and grow in your faith?  

Pastor Stephen will lead a weekly conversation at a local pub. Visit around the table over food and your favorite beverage as we have honest discussions about life and faith. We’ll base our conversations on the same scripture passage that is used in worship each Sunday.  

The location has outside seating where we spread out to stay safe. Parents, there’s a large playground for kids. The meeting time allows parents to drop off and pick up teenagers from Youth Group at the church. 

If you need childcare, please let us know by Friday at 6 pm so that we have adequate staffing. Click here to register for childcare.

Where:   Waterloo Ice House on Escarpment
When:    Sundays, 5:15 - 6:45 p.m.
               September 12 - October 17

Who:      Anyone interested in making new friends and having
               honest conversation
Cost:      Whatever you order.  Remember to tip generously.  


United Methodist Women Manna Bags


Manna bags to share with our homeless brothers and sisters are available for purchase in the reception area just outside the sanctuary. Chloe Circle members felt the bags should contain more self care products. in order to afford the additional items the price has been increased from $3 to $5 per bag, 

Each Manna Bag contains a pair of new socks and a Mylar blanket for warmth as well as a toothbrush, toothpaste, hair comb, sanitizing wipes, band aids, and lip balm for hygiene and comfort. For snacking the bags contain seasoned tuna packets and fruit leather rolls. Of course the bags also have important contact information for various organizations that offer help and support.  

Please contact Marilyn Cannon for more information.


A Call to Prayer 


Our church is engaged in a visioning process to explore where God is leading the people of Oak Hill United Methodist Church. A vital part of this process will be for us to pursue the heart of God through prayer. Your pastors invite you to take a moment each day to specifically pray for God to place God’s vision for OHUMC upon our hearts. 

More specifically, we want to unite in prayer at the same time every day from now through the end of October. We invite you to set an alarm, mark off time in your planner, or send yourself a reminder to pray at 7:15 (am or pm - you choose!). You are welcome to use your own words, or you can recite the Vision Prayer below. Let’s unite our hearts in prayer as we seek God’s guidance for our future. 

To download the Vision Prayer click here.

Thank You from Pastor Laura


Dear Friends,
 
My heart overflows with gratitude for your kind sendoff on this past Sunday. Your cards and notes, gifts and well-wishes – and especially your prayers – touch my heart. It’s been my joy and privilege to serve Christ with you these past 4 years. We took some unexpected detours along the way, but we came through it with a new-found appreciation for one another, for our church family, and for how precious it is to be together. God has big dreams for you Methodists at Oak Hill!  And I can’t wait to see those dreams unfold in the years to come! You will be in my heart and in my prayers ….
 
God’s Peace,
Pastor Laura

New Job Openings


Oak Hill United Methodist Church is looking to fill four new positions. For full details on the positions and how to apply, please click on the job title.

Office Manager (Part Time) - Support the mission of Oak Hill by performing administrative functions for the church in order to empower the congregation to serve its mission.     

Technical Director (Part Time) - The Technical Director leads Oak Hill UMC in its online, audio, and video ministries. This ministry will enable the church to worship with excellence both online and in person.

Day Porter Position (Part Time) - We are currently seeking an energetic and highly motivated individual to join our team as Day Porter. The Day Porter will be responsible for cleaning and sanitizing, meeting rooms, classrooms, restrooms, kitchen, dining room and other common areas. 

Custodial Position (Part Time - Evenings) - The custodial person will be responsible for cleaning and sanitizing, classrooms, restrooms, kitchen and dining room and all other common areas. The ideal candidate for this position is detail-oriented, flexible and willing to take on non-routine cleaning and special task as the need arises.

COVID Safety Protocols


Our Responsible Return Team has listened to the guidance of public health officials and made changes to our COVID safety protocols. Out of Christian love for those who are not yet vaccinated:
  • We highly encourage everyone including children over two-years of age to wear a mask when gathered indoors with others
  • We highly encourage everyone to wear a mask when gathered outdoors if you are not practicing social distancing.
  • All worship leaders, including pastors, musicians, and church staff will wear masks indoors if they are in close proximity to others
  • Everyone working with children and youth will wear masks when gathered indoors. If outdoors and not practicing social distancing they will also wear masks.
We strongly urge all to get vaccinated and to wear masks while indoors. We cannot make more clear our desire to ensure our congregation is safe. Until the threat of COVID passes, we need to work together to slow the spread of this disease. Let’s live into Jesus’ call to act in love by getting vaccinated and wearing a mask.

Sunday School Classes

If no building or time is mentioned, classes will meet in the Adult Education Building from 9:45 - 10:35 a.m. each Sunday.

  • Children's Sunday School Gathering - Meet in the parking lot in front of the Children's Building - In Person - Contact Jennifer Barkis.
  • Christian Fellowship - Room 202A - In Person - Contact Alice Wiley.
  • Family Faith - Room 201A - In Person - Contact Kristen Bridgeman
  • Friends in Faith (FIF) - Room 205 - In Person - Will Zoom simultaneously if requested. Contact Tina Hart 
  • Friendship Bible Class - Room 203 - In Person - Will Zoom simultaneously if requested. Contact Chuck Feuerbacher 
  • Open Door -  Room 206 - In Person - Will Zoom simultaneously if requested. Contact Vicki Matustik.
  • Regenerates - Room 102 - In Person - Contact Susan Coffman.
 
          

Zooming & In Person

  • Girl's Choir - Host Gillian Westerman - Zoom - Meets Sundays from 1:00-2:00 p.m.
  • Hillside Ringers - Handbell Choir - Contact Sarah Walton - Meets every other Sunday at 11:00 a.m.
  • Mom2Mom - Book Club - Contact Catharine Corder -  Meets in person in members' backyards and porches every other Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
  • UMW Book Club - Book Club - Contact Diana Goodloe - In Person - Meets the last Thursday of the month at 10:00 a.m.
  • Wednesday Morning Study Group - Contact Meryl Kettler.
Stephen Ministers care for people facing tough times through confidential, one-to-one Christian care. They provide the emotional and spiritual care needed when someone is faced with a crisis or difficulty such as grief, spiritual needs, health issues, relationship problems, job situations, or other life challenges. If you are in need of someone to share your concerns, or if you are interested in becoming a Stephen Minister, please email Alana Oehler or call her at 512-289-1988. For more information click on:
www.oakhillumc.org/stephen-ministry
 
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