June 29th update

Greetings Oak Hill Church,
 
            It is good to be a part of God’s family as His Church. It is a humbling reminder to both recognize and realize that each of us have a place to believe and belong together. We are united in the reality that we are sinful, messy people who have been redeemed and cleansed by the radical love of God shown to us through His Son, Jesus Christ. We live in the present of this ongoing and renewing work that the Holy Spirit is performing everyday in each of our lives. We connect and share our lives together in ways that demonstrate humility, gratitude, and community and we live out of the hope that we have because of God’s love and faithfulness to each of us.
            When we really sit back and think about it, God is extremely generous to us. He is exorbitant in His desire to give us more than we deserve and bless us in ways beyond our imagination. Even when our lives seem to be falling apart or we feel like we are barely hanging on. Even when challenging and difficult circumstances are thrown our way, His promises hold true and His commitment to us remains firm. How good is that!?!
            It is out of God’s gifts to us that we give. It is out of His generosity that we are invited to be generous. If you were with us this past Sunday, we shared about some exciting updates regarding Overflowing Hope. Overflowing Hope is one of the ministry branches of Oak Hill that seeks to reach out beyond our walls to share the love of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is connecting with our broader community both right in our own neighborhoods and around the world as we connect our lives with others.
            This year, Oak Hill has committed to allocate four quarterly gifts from our Overflowing Hope fund to support various projects, groups, and organizations that embody this sense of “Going” with the Gospel. Our Going Team has spent time praying about and processing how these gifts can best be used to further and build God’s Kingdom during these unique days and our attention focused on our own immediate context in the Twin Cities for this quarterly gift.
For this 2nd Quarter Allocation, we have committed to the following partners:

1. A gift of $2,500 to support Minnesota Miles for Meals through Second Harvest Heartland. Our very own Henry Long is specifically raising money for this endeavor to provide food and meals to those who have been impacted financially due to the coronavirus and we are partnering with him in his personal goal to raise $5,000 for this cause.
2. A gift of $1,000 to All People’s Church in Minneapolis. These funds will go to help the victims of the riots that took place in the Greater Minneapolis area. Due to this church’s proximity to these events, they have been strategically supporting local families and businesses in their attempt to rebuild and restore their livelihoods. Their desire is that these gifts and relationships would lead to meaningful Gospel-centered conversations about Jesus.
3. A gift of $1,000 to Community Emergency Service. This organization seeks to offer food assistance to those in need in both North and South Minneapolis. This is done with things like grocery assistance and Meals on Wheels.

Thank you for your continued generosity that overflows out of the hope and the gifts that God has given you. These gifts do not take place without you first giving them and so we thank you for the ways that you are helping change and transform lives by sharing the love of Jesus to our communities. Let’s be in prayer that these gifts would go to further the sharing of the Good News of Jesus Christ to those not yet in His family.
           
Connecting Lives in Grace and Truth
 
In-Person Worship

• We invite you to our in-person worship services on Sundays at 10:30 am. Please check our website for our COVID Preparedness Plan that provides details on some of the safety measures we have in place for when we gather.
• We will not have a sign-up for attending our in-person services as we have been able to accommodate those able to attend.

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.

Volunteers

• We have an incredible group of people that are devoted to using their gifts and talents to support our various ministries, be in relationship with others, and help make things go smoothly here at Oak Hill. These folks serve in many capacities that are both highly visible and behind the scenes and yet each one is invaluable to the work that God is doing here at Oak Hill to further His Kingdom. Would you consider serving in any of the following ministry areas? If so, please contact the church office for more details.
  • Audio/Sound
  • Visual Media
  • Video/Camera
  • Greeter/Usher

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.)

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.

Oak Hill Library

• Our Oak Hill Library is open during office hours. Feel free to stop in to pick up some new reading material for the summer.

RightNow Media

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

Food Drive Thank You

• A huge thank you to those of you that helped organize and donate to the Food Drive for Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in Minneapolis. The items have been delivered and are going to families and individuals in need in the Greater Minneapolis area during these difficult times.

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. The deadline for becoming a delegate is July 10.

 
In Christ,
Pastor Ben and the Oak Hill Elder Board