​Greetings Oak Hill Church,

“Absence makes the heart grow fonder, but it sure makes the rest of you lonely.”
 
This quote, which is popularly attributed to late Peanuts creator and native Minnesotan, Charles Schulz probably goes a long way in describing how many of us are feeling in these days of quarantine and social distancing. No matter what your normal relational rhythms or preferences have been, this unprecedented level of isolation has had its challenges.
 
Thankfully, we live in a time where technology can help bridge the gap a bit when it comes to our new “normal” these past few weeks. But even FaceTime, Zoom, phone calls, and texts don’t ultimately solve the issue or fill the void that many of us are experiencing. This is because God did not create us to do life alone. He created us for relationships; with one another and with Him. He made us to enjoy and rely on the support, encouragement, and joy that we experience with close friends and family, and as a church family.
 
At Oak Hill Church, we have been continuing to navigate these days balancing both caution and faith in God’s provision. We have had to use creativity, innovation, intentionality, and technology in new ways to help provide some consistent avenues of engagement as we continue to connect lives in grace and truth. As the uncertainty surrounding the actual timeframe of the coronavirus marches on, we are continuing to look to recommendations made by our state and local government and health care officials regarding large group gatherings due to stopping the spread of this virus and the potential it has to put extra strain on our health care system.
 
It is with these recommendations in mind that we will be extending our cancellation of all on-site activities at Oak Hill Church until further notice. We will continue to update you regarding our ability to gather in person again as more information is shared and the recommended restrictions are lifted.
 
In the meantime, we will continue to encourage you to take advantage of several of these opportunities to stay connected with Oak Hill in the days and weeks ahead:
 
Online Worship Services

• Live stream our worship service on Sundays at 10:30 am. You can access this through our website or our YouTube channel.
• Video and audio of each sermon will be uploaded to our website following the live stream.

 
Giving

• Checks can be mailed directly to church (8901 France Ave S, Bloomington, MN 55431.) You can also drop off your gift but please call ahead to make sure someone will be there to meet you. Please call or email the church office if you need envelopes or stamps.
• Give online by clicking on the Planning Center Giving icon on our main web page or by downloading the Church Center app and creating your account through Oak Hill Church.

 
Prayer Chain

• Call or email the church office or Pastor Ben with any prayer requests you would like us to email out to everyone each week.

 
RightNow Media

• Sign up to join our church’s subscription to RightNow Media on our website. Click on the icon on the main page and begin browsing thousands of videos for Bible studies, personal or family devotions, and videos for kids.

 
Online Connection Groups

• We encourage you to continue to connect with your small groups using various video conferencing options (Zoom, FaceTime, Skype, Google Hangouts, etc.)
• Also feel free to use these for some social time, online game nights, etc. with folks from Oak Hill.

 
Benevolence Fund

• As a reminder, our church does have a Benevolence Fund for members of our congregation that could use some extra financial assistance. During these uncertain times, please call or email the church office or Pastor Ben if you need any financial assistance (gas cards, Cub Foods cards, medical expenses, utility payments, rent/mortgage, etc.)

 
As always, we encourage you to stay up to date on all of this information and more on our website, social media (Facebook and Instagram,) and through your email.
 
Even though we may be experiencing a physical absence from one another, let us continue to be in prayer, be encouraged, and be joyful in expectation for the day when we can all return together. What a celebration that will be!
 
Let me leave you with these words from the prophet Isaiah. The reassuring part about this passage is the comforting reality that we are loved by a God who is never distant. He is always near. He is bigger than any social isolation and He is greater than any loneliness that we may be experiencing. He invites you to rest in His promises, He desires to comfort you with His power and His presence, and He calls us to trust His provision as we go from day to day.
 
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. (Isaiah 41:10 NLT)
 
In Grace and Truth,
Pastor Ben and the Oak Hill Elders

​Greetings Oak Hill Church,
 
            As we enter another week with our new “normal,” my hope and prayer for you is that you are continuing to look to the Lord for your strength, endurance, joy, love, and satisfaction in these unique days. There is so much about this situation that we are currently in that can be a burden or weigh us down. It’s at times like this where we are invited to lift our gaze upward to marvel again at the character and nature of God, who loves and cares for us as His children.
            It is with this perspective, that I invite you to take a moment to reach through Psalm 145 this week. You may find yourself reading through it several times and that is totally fine too! In this psalm of praise, King David echoes this posture of awe and amazement at who God is to us.

• He is a great King who is compassionate and gracious
• He is renown for His mighty acts and His abundant goodness
• He is trustworthy in all of His promises and faithful in all that He does
• He is righteous in all of His ways
• He is near to all who call on Him
• He watches over all who are His
• And He is worthy of praise

What a wonderful reminder to us as we live this week. May our hearts remember His mighty deeds and His faithfulness to us. May we also, give Him praise for all that He has done and all He continues to do.
 
Here are a few reminders and updates for the week ahead that we encourage you to make a part of your activity this week as we live as the Body of Christ:
 
Email and Social Media

• Continue to check your emails and our social media sites (Facebook and Instagram) for updates, encouragement, and communication on life as Oak Hill Church.

 
Prayer Chain

• Remember to email or call the church office or Pastor Ben if you have a prayer request you would like for us to send out to the congregation on our email prayer chain.

 
Online Services

• If you were unable to watch our service from last Sunday, it is posted on our church website and our YouTube channel.
• We will be live streaming our recorded worship service on Sundays at 10:30 am on YouTube. You can access this from our church website by clicking on the image of our sermon series “Jesus Is _______”, located in the middle of our main webpage, or by clicking here: YouTube.
• Following our live stream, we will post the video to our website. You can access this by clicking on the “Jesus Is ______” sermon series found under the “Messages” tab on the top bar of our website. The video will also be archived to our YouTube channel for viewing.

 
RightNow Media

• Remember to create your profile to join our subscription to RightNow Media.
• Click on the image for RightNow Media on our main webpage to access content for personal or family devotions, Bible studies, kid’s videos, or other topical resources.

 
Planning Center Giving

• Even in these uncertain times, financial giving continues to be important and valuable to the mission of the church and our ministry as Oak Hill Church. Remember, you can mail cash or check to the church directly or give online.
• Planning Center Giving is our new online giving platform. If you have not yet signed up for this, you can access this by clicking on the Planning Center Giving image on the main page of our website.
• You can also download the Church Center app for both Android and iPhone users. This not only allows you to give on your phone, but you can also track your giving as well. We would also encourage you to update your personal information (address, email, phone number, etc.) which will automatically update our church database so that we have the most accurate and up-to-date information to communicate with you.

 
Small Group Options

• During this time of quarantine and social distancing, relationships are still an important part of ministry here at Oak Hill. Even though how we feed our relationships might look differently for a short time, here are some options for some online video conferencing platforms that can be utilized for small group Bible studies, group chats, or just socializing with your church family. Obviously, many of us are learning new technologies and ways to communicate so play around, explore, try a few, and be patient as you learn.
• Zoom
  • https://zoom.us/
  • Sign up with a valid email address and invite others to meet by entering their email address(es). Zoom will email them a link to join the meeting.
  • Free, unlimited meetings up to 40 minutes per meeting.
• UberConference
  • https://www.uberconference.com/
  • Sign up with a valid email address and invite others to meet by entering their email address(es). UberConference will send out a link to join the meeting.
  • Free, unlimited meetings for up to 45 minutes per meeting.
• Google Hangouts
  • https://support.google.com/hangouts/answer/3115553?co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&hl=en
  • Make a video call for up to 10 people at a time for as long as you like.
  • The group organizer must have a Google account, but can invite anyone to the video chat.
• Skype
  • https://www.skype.com/en/features/group-video-chat/
  • Download the app, create your profile, and video chat with up to 50 people at a time for as long as you like.
• FaceTime
  • https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209022

 

• Facebook Messenger
  • https://www.facebook.com/help/messenger-app/1414800065460231?helpref=topq
  • Users must have Facebook accounts to be on the video call.

 
Continuing in grace and truth,
Pastor Ben
 
 

​Greetings Oak Hill,
 
            In times like this, it is such a gift to know that we can trust and rest in the character of God. As the world around us changes so quickly amid these unique and challenging times, it is so reassuring to know that who God is never changes; He remains the same. He is the constant amid the chaotic. He is the calm in the storm. He is the rock among shifting sand. He is the light breaking through the darkness. He is peace in troubling times. In Psalm 46, we are reminded of this reassuring perspective that we are invited to have as believers in Christ: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging…The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” (Psalm 46:1-3, 7 NIV)
 
            No matter what is happening around us, we are invited to trust and have confidence in the unshakable promises of God. As we continue to navigate these unique and unprecedented times, we continue to lean on the certainty of God’s Word in uncertain times. Due to the nature of this coronavirus pandemic, and in collaboration with recommendations and decisions made by leaders in our government and the healthcare profession, we have had to make some decisions regarding how ministry will operate in the coming weeks. These decisions were not made lightly, nor were they based out of fear. Rather, our hope is that these decisions will aide and assist in lessening the spread and impact of this virus in our nation, our state, and our communities.
 
            Therefore, we have decided to cancel all on-site events and activities at or connected with Oak Hill Church until March 29. After this point, we will continue to reassess our ministry activities on a week-by-week basis. Please note that this does not mean that being the Church has to stop or that ministry has halted. Rather, the nature and scope of how we do ministry will look and operate differently for a period of time. We firmly believe and trust that the Lord will use this time to continue to shape us as His church in our families and our communities. We intend to offer some unique and creative ways to continue to engage as a church family and connect lives in grace and truth.
 
Oak Hill Ministry Plan
 
All on-site events are cancelled until March 29 including:

• Sunday School and in-person worship services
• Monday Men’s Basketball
• Tuesday Women’s Study
• Wednesday Supper @ Six
• KidZone and Little Lights
• Wednesday Women’s Study
• On-site small group and Bible study gatherings
• Feed My Starving Children packing event
• Spring Choir rehearsals
• Women’s IF Gathering
• Pastoral Candidacy Weekend (postponed)

 
Communication

• We will primarily be communicating and sharing information via email, social media (Facebook and Instagram), and our website
• The church building will be staffed and available at varied times during each week. Please contact the church office or Pastor Ben if you are planning on stopping by

 
Weekly Connecting Points

• Stay tuned to our social media pages for weekly posts of encouragement, prayer, and updates
• Create your online profile with RightNow Media to access some amazing devotional and Bible study videos for you and your family. Access RightNow Media through the app or by following the link on our website.

 
Congregational Care

• Please contact the church office with any prayer requests that we can send out on our email prayer chain
• Please contact the church office or Pastor Ben if you would like to be placed on a call list for weekly check-ins

 
Giving

• This component will still remain essential to the ministry of Oak Hill in the coming weeks. Even though we will not be corporately meeting, there is still ministry that is happening and taking place. We are still operating on our budget which includes sending money to support both international and local mission as well as our internal ministries. Please continue to make this an intentional piece of your worship with us in the weeks ahead.
• Any gifts of cash or check can be mailed directly to the church
• If you are already signed up to give online through Vanco, you can continue to do so
• If you are not yet signed up to give online or would like to switch to our new online giving platform, please follow the link on our church website to get set up through Planning Center Giving. (Watch for a separate email with more information on this)

 
Services

• Beginning on March 22, you can access a recording of our full worship service for the week either on our Oak Hill Church YouTube channel or by following the link on our website.
• These videos will be available to download and watch from either platform by Sunday morning. If possible, we encourage you to meet in small groups (no more than 10) and families to watch these services. Feel free to snap a picture of your group and post it to our social media accounts.

 

Greetings Oak Hill Church,

We know that many of you are continuing to follow the news reports surrounding the continued impact and spread of the coronavirus across our nation. We are still feeling the effects of this pandemic in various ways here in Minnesota. As the influx of updates and information continues, our desire is to continue to keep you aware and updated regarding our processing of these events as they shape our lives together as a church body.

One of our main concerns is to continue to ensure the safety and well-being of all people that are connected to our congregation. There have been some precautionary steps that we have taken to help assist in this endeavor and more may follow. We take very seriously, the responsibility of making sure that Oak Hill can be a place where we proceed with appropriate caution while trusting in the care and provision of God.

It is with this in mind that we intend to proceed with gathering for worship tomorrow (Sunday, March 15.) We will continue to monitor reports, press releases, guidelines, and recommendations from state and local government and health officials that will play into this decision, but the plan will be to meet for church at 10:30 am. Please note that the plan will be to only have a worship service on this date.

Here are some important additional details to know for Sunday, March 15:

• All Sunday School classes will not meet (children, youth, adult)
• The nursery will be closed
• Only coffee, water, and juice will be served during the after-service fellowship time (no snacks)

In addition to these specifics for this Sunday, we also will be refraining from passing the offering plates during the worship service. Instead, there will be boxes available at the back of the sanctuary to drop your cash or check. You are also invited to give online.

We would also like to remind you of some of the other precautionary steps we encouraged during our last email:

• Please be sure to wash and sanitize your hands often. Our bathrooms are stocked with soap and we will have hand sanitizer available in the Fellowship Hall.
• If you are not feeling well, we encourage you to stay home to rest or seek medical attention if necessary.
• Be conscientious in our greeting of one another. It may be advisable to avoid shaking hands or giving hugs during this time.

We will continue to update you as we process ongoing ministry activities beyond this Sunday service. We want to continue to do our due diligence in being both good citizens of God’s Kingdom and this world that He has given us to live in. We also want to make wise decisions that are balanced by faith and best practice.

We would encourage you to keep praying. Pray for those who are being directly impacted by this virus. Pray for God’s comfort and peace to be near those who are anxious and fearful. Pray that people would find reassurance in His promises. We also encourage you to reach out in love to those around you. In uncertain times like this your neighbors, co-workers, or classmates may ask a question or be struggling with a fear in which the answer is found in the Gospel. Be encouraged to share the hope we have in Christ as His children. Finally, we invite you to trust. Trust that God is in control. Be reassured that He is big enough to handle this crisis. Rest in the promises of the Creator of the Universe and find comfort in His Word which is certain and sure of the hope that is ours through Christ.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

In Grace and Truth,
Pastor Ben and the Oak Hill Elders

Greetings Oak Hill Church Family,

As concerns about the spread of the coronavirus have grown in the past weeks—including here in Minnesota—we are planning to take certain precautions as we continue to gather for worship on Sunday mornings. It should be noted that these common health practices should not be taken out of context or used to incite panic or fear. The intent behind these precautions is solely for preventive purposes and not meant as a means to create anxiety, distrust, or division. Many of these common health practices apply for any and all times during this normal cold and flu season, not just in certain situations.

1.  Please ensure that you have a consistent habit of washing and/or sanitizing your hands. This goes a long way in deterring the spread of any germs (cold, flu, etc.) We will have some hand sanitizer available, or you can wash your hands in the bathrooms.
2. If you are feeling ill, we encourage you to stay home, rest, and seek medical care, if needed. You will still be able to read the weekly View newsletter and listen to the sermon on our website once it is uploaded.
3. For the time being, it would be appropriate to adjust how we greet one another or at least be open to the fact that some people might not feel comfortable shaking hands or sharing a hug. If you do want to greet someone in this way (as many customarily do) please be sure to ask them first and don't be offended if they decline. They still love you!
4. We will also be making some practical and reasonable attempts to limit communal touching of items so this may affect small areas of our Sunday experience. For example, we will not pass the offering plates during the worship service. There will be designated offering receptacles in the back of the sanctuary where we would encourage you to place your cash or check for the offering. This will be similar to how we take our Benevolence offering each month. As always, you can give online as well. Communion may also look different in that we may avoid passing the elements and rather have them served by the elders. We will also be limiting our fellowship time after the service to strictly coffee, lemonade, and water.

Again, we are not intending to overreact or be caught up in fear and worry in the midst of this, but we also want to be wise and appropriately cautious. Please continue to show love, care, concern, and respect for each other as we process and progress through this time. Many of these decisions are being made by a motivation of Christian love for each other.

Lastly, none of these precautions in and of themselves will completely remove any fear, worry, or anxiety that you may be experiencing. This is where we, as followers of Christ, have a different vantage point. We are invited to place our fears, doubts, and anxious thoughts confidently in the hands of an all-powerful, all-knowing God. In times of uncertainty, His promises are certain and true! Read these words from Psalm 27, John 14, and Philippians 4:

The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1 NIV)

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27 NIV)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV)

We are invited to trust in the provision and care of our Heavenly Father. We are called to be assured that nothing is too great for Him to handle or is beyond His ability to control. We are called to know His peace that is beyond what we can grasp or understand. And we are called to pray. Let us pray together that God would be near to those that are impacted by this virus. Let us pray that God would be near to each of us and protect us. Let us pray that God would give us His peace for ourselves and for our neighbors.

In Grace and Truth,
Pastor Ben and the Oak Hill Elders