June 15 update

​Greetings Oak Hill Church,
 
            I am excited to be writing this update to you with the news that we will be given the opportunity to resume our in-person worship services this Sunday, June 21. It is kind of hard to believe that it was three months ago that we last met together face-to-face as the unknown and uncertainty of the coronavirus began to impact our normal rhythms and routines. Even though we have not been able to meet in-person these past weeks, the Lord has still continued to work and move in ministry within and beyond our church. I am extremely thankful for the team of staff, volunteers, and leaders within our church family that have stepped up in some amazing ways to help lead and serve us as a congregation in these past months. I am humbled and thankful to be a part of this church and this team that joyfully gives of their time, energy, and gifts to serve the Lord, love His people, and help build His Kingdom.
            A special note of thanks also goes to you as our congregation for all of your grace, patience, and understanding as we have continued to navigate these times as well. This has not been a perfect process nor a flawless season, but God is greater than our imperfections and faults. His grace and power go well beyond where we are lacking. We are so grateful for the ways that you have continued to support the mission of God and the mission of Oak Hill Church both financially and with your time, presence, and encouragement in various ways.
            According to the survey that we sent out a couple of weeks ago, our church leadership feels that we are at a place where we can resume coming back together in small groups for our worship services. We recognize that not everyone is at a place where they feel comfortable being in a group setting at this time and that is both understandable and appropriate. This is why we will continue to offer video recordings of our worship services on both our website and our YouTube channel.
            We will be doing our best to create a space and an experience that follows appropriate guidelines and safety measures to help ensure safety and precaution as we gather in-person. Many of the steps we are taking have been adopted and a part of many of the places that we have been living and operating in for the past months (stores, businesses, churches, etc.) There is a Congregational Protections and Protocols Plan that is attached to this email which will provide further information and clarity on some of these safety measures and details. Also, please take a look at the Resuming In-Person Gatherings section that is a part of this update as well.
In his letter to the church in Ephesus, the Apostle Paul writes these words to the believers: Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:2-6 NIV)
            As a body of believers, we are encouraged to live in the reality of these words as well. As we have navigated our lives through the past three months each of us have no doubt had to rely on the grace, strength, and hope found only in Christ. The reality is that our gentleness, patience, and faith have been tested in various ways over the past weeks, but these words in Ephesians 4 still ring true. Paul writes that we are one; we are unified by the Spirit of God that is alive and living inside the heart of each believer and we are called to place our hope, trust, and confidence in this “oneness” that God creates in and through His church. There is a unifying power that is at work and it is a power that brings peace.
            As we look to resume our in-person worship services this Sunday, June 21 there will no doubt be a wealth of opportunity for us to live and rejoice in the power of this unity as brothers and sisters in Christ. We must also take care to notice that there will also be a wealth of opportunity for us to become divided and frustrated as well. Paul’s reminder and encouragement to us is that we would allow God’s Spirit to work in our hearts and lives to build unity. Our hope and prayer as a church is that we would each humbly and gently enter into this next phase together, as one, with an immeasurable amount of grace, patience, and love for each other as we strive to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.   
 
Connecting Lives in Grace and Truth
 
Resuming In-Person Gatherings

• Here are some additional reminders and details as we look to resume our in-person gatherings:
  • We ask that you practice proper social distancing of at least 6 feet between persons of a different household.
  • If you are someone who is at-risk because of your age and/or health condition or if you are uncomfortable being in groups at this time we kindly encourage you to worship with us online.
  • If you, or someone in your household, is showing symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, we kindly encourage you to worship with us online.
  • Hand sanitizer will be available throughout our building and our restrooms will be stocked with soap for proper hand hygiene.
  • Masks are recommended but are not required.
  • Upon arrival to church you will be led to your seat by one of our ushers. We ask for your patience and understanding as we look to appropriately accommodate all who are in attendance.
  • Offering baskets will be available near the sanctuary doors
  • There will be no nursery or Children’s Church during our service. Our infant nursery will be available for nursing mothers and/or for diaper-changing space.
  • There will be no food or beverage served, but you are welcome to bring your own from home.
  • We will not have Bibles, hymnals, pens/pencils, or activity bags available at this time. Please be sure to bring what you need from home.
  • Due to our limited space and capacity, we are encouraging all socializing to be done outside in the parking lot or on our lawn following our worship service.
• In order to ensure that we are adhering to our COVID policies, as well as the recommendations made by government and health leaders, we are only allowed to operate at 50% of our capacity while ensuring social distancing. This means that we will only be able to accommodate 90 people for our in-person worship service. If your household is desiring to attend in person, please fill out the form found in the following link to indicate your in-person attendance for Sunday, June 21: https://myoakhillchurch.churchcenter.com/people/forms/141842

 
Going at Oak Hill

• We have some fun and exciting ways that our congregation has been a part of community support and relief efforts in the past weeks. One of the ways we are looking to do this is by giving you the opportunity to provide some food and household items for those impacted in the Minneapolis area. We are planning on making a one-time donation of food and household items to Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in North Minneapolis. If you feel led to bring some of the items that they are requesting, we ask that you bring them to church by Sunday, June 21 and we will deliver them later next week.
• Breads, canned goods, pasta, sauces, crackers, kid’s snacks, cereals, toilet paper, paper towels.

 
Online Services

• Join us online for our Sunday services. A recording of our Sunday service will be posted on our website and our YouTube channel shortly after the conclusion of our live in-person service.
• Check us out on YouTube or on our website to see the latest sermon or go back and watch some from our archives under the “Messages” tab on our main webpage.

 
Media Team Volunteers

• As we continue to utilize the potential of technology in our online services, we need your help to continue making this a reality. If you have interest, gifts, or skills in sound production, visual media, or helping film/record our worship services, please contact the church office so we can get you plugged in to continue making these videos and service recordings accessible to our congregation and effective for broader ministry.

 
Oak Hill Spring Clean Up

• Are you looking to get out of the house, do something active, and help out at church? As we prepare to walk through the process of reopening our facility for future gatherings and events, we need your help as we prepare our facility and our grounds for this to happen.
• If you would like to be involved in both indoor and outdoor projects around Oak Hill, please use the following link to sign up for a date/time to come and help out: https://myoakhillchurch.churchcenter.com/people/forms/134594.
• You can also call the church office to sign up for a day, time, or project.
• We ask that you call ahead or use the form so we can be taking necessary precautions to coordinate when people are here relative to group size. We also ask that you bring your own equipment (work gloves, rakes, etc. for outdoor projects.)

 
RightNow Media

• Sign up to join our subscription for the largest online Christian digital library in the world.

 
Giving

• We are extremely thankful and grateful for your financial gifts. Your support goes to further ministry in building God’s Kingdom at Oak Hill and around the world.
• There will be offering baskets placed near the sanctuary doors to receive cash or checks from our in-person worship services.
• Checks can be mailed to the church office at 8901 France Ave S, Bloomington, MN 55431
• Check out the link for our online giving on our main webpage. Just a few simple clicks and you’re supporting God’s ministry at and through Oak Hill. (Hint: If possible, we encourage you to set up your giving through your bank account (ACH transfer) as this involves a lesser fee per transaction compared to a credit/debit card.)

 
Connection Groups

• Are you looking to join a small group or a Bible study? We have several options of groups that are continuing to meet during this time. Contact the church office for a list of people to contact to join one of these groups.

 
Prayer Chain

• Do you have a prayer request or something you would like us to pray for as a church? Email the church office with your prayer request and we will send it out to everyone to cover your request in prayer.

 
CLBA Convention

• The 2020 CLBA Convention has been cancelled, but there will be mail ballots that will be delivered to each congregation’s delegates for the synodical-elected positions. Please contact Pastor Ben or the church office if you have an interest or willingness in being a delegate of Oak Hill.

 
In Christ,
Pastor Ben and the Oak Hill Elder Board