May 27 Update

Greetings Oak Hill Church,

            Being the sports fan that I am, my attention has been tuned into many of the talks and discussions surrounding the potential return of live sports in the weeks and months ahead. Even if you could care less about when or if the NBA or MLB will return, the reality is that we can all think of things in our lives where a void has been created due to the coronavirus pandemic.
            To borrow a common sports phrase that might accurately sum up this experience that we have all been facing in the past months: “There is no playbook for that…” A playbook is pretty essential to any successful team. The playbook houses a wealth of information, strategy, and direction that gives a team a recipe for success and victory in any given match or game. Not having a playbook can lead to some very interesting and unknown outcomes. Having a playbook can bring predictability, security, and assurance.
            In the days that each of us have spent navigating the changing times, this saying has kept popping into my mind. There clearly is no playbook for what we are going through and experiencing. This was unexpected. Not too many of us have ever gone through an experience like this before. Each of us as individuals, as families, and as the church have had to just do our best to react, plan, and move forward as more information is known, more directives and recommendations are passed along, and as the Lord continues to lead and guide us through this time.
            With all that to be said, our team of leaders at Oak Hill has continued to seek the Lord and process what our next steps could look like in the weeks and months ahead. There has been a lot of recent movement and information given that gives us further indication of what our post-COVID world could look like as we emerge from shelter in place. One thing is obvious: Things will be different. Nearly every aspect of our lives will look differently than it did before. Whatever thoughts we might have had even two weeks ago about timelines and guidelines have probably been reshaped. The same goes for us as Oak Hill Church. We have tried to do our best to continue to balance caution and faith. Our intent is to continue to be good citizens as members of this world and of God’s Kingdom. Our desire is that we would be led by God’s best timing, ways, and procedures. While we have not been perfect in that, He is still very much guiding this process for us even when we don’t always get it right.
            As we continue to pray, process, and prepare for resuming our in-person gatherings, worship services, and other various ministries, would you join us in praying about these decisions and all of the details and logistics that need to still be worked out? We all need to be bringing this before the Lord as we seek to honor Him and honor one another in these discussions. There is no time like the present for us to be unified and supportive of one another. We all need to extend a fresh dose of grace and truth to one another that is supportive, encouraging, and understanding as each of us process what this looks like for us as individuals, as families, and as a congregation. The Apostle Paul encourages us with similar words as he reminds the believers in Ephesians 4: 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.
​            Let this be our prayer and pursuit as we walk through this together as a group of sinful people radically changed and renewed by God’s grace. May He guide us, strengthen us, and shape us as His children.
Connecting Lives in Grace and Truth
 Oak Hill Staff Update

• Many of you have heard the exciting news about our staffing transition and the hiring of Drew Skog and Josiah Militzer to join our ministry team. Here is just a snapshot of what each of their new roles will look like:
• Drew Skog – Director of Community Life
  • Part-time (20-25 hours per week)
  • One of Drew’s initial focus points will be to support the youth transition during these summer months as Josiah settles into the role
  • Supporting and enhancing current ministry teams, committees, and events within our congregation
  • Supporting and enhancing the social-relational connections within our congregation
  • Community outreach
  • Assisting in the preaching, teaching, and visitation ministry of the congregation

• Josiah Militzer – Youth Director
  • Part-time (30 hours per week)
  • Leading and directing our youth program (grades 7-12)
  • Building relationships and spiritual formation for our youth
  • Maintaining a broad congregational connection and visibility within various ministries
  • Supporting and enhancing the social-relational connections within our congregation
  • Assisting in the preaching and teaching ministry of our congregation

 Reopening Plan

• The Oak Hill Elder Board and Property and Finance Team have been working hard in our discussions and plans for the next phase of our reopening process. We are planning and intending to resume in-person gatherings and worship services at some capacity later in June. Stay tuned for further updates and details as these plans are finalized.
• We will also be sending a short survey to gain insight on potential attendance to our live events. Watch for an email in the coming days. Your input will greatly assist in our decision-making process.

 Online Services

• Join us for our Sunday services which stream online at 10:30 am on our YouTube channel or our website.
• 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 thank you for your continued giving and generosity even in these unique days of not being able to gather collectively. We sent out a brief financial update last week that showed our financial position to be in a good position. Thank you again for your continued financial support of ministry here at Oak Hill
• 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 with 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 remotely. 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.

 In Christ,
Pastor Ben and the Oak Hill Elder Board