weekly update

Greetings Oak Hill Church, 
 
I am sure that there have been many lessons, reminders, and realities that have become reinforced or cemented in your minds and hearts during these weeks of sheltering in place. As we collectively begin to move the dial seemingly back to some semblance of normalcy (whatever that may mean), it will be interesting to see how some of these learned principles go with us. For example, you may have grown accustomed to this new rhythm that we have been on. In speaking with many of you, the additional time to not have to be running around chasing schedules, due dates, and timelines has been a welcome relief. For others, the increased time investing in family has been refreshing (Of course, you may also be ready for a break from some members in your family, but looking back you will definitely have appreciated this time nonetheless…) Even the inner introvert in all of us might have appreciated these quiet moments to one degree or another as well. 
Regardless of where you are at on the spectrum, one of the true joys for me during this time, and one that I have heard countless times from others, is the greater connection that each of us are experiencing with God’s Word. Whether you were in a normal rhythm of going to His Word and taking in the promises of Scripture or not, there is no doubt that this time has given each of us the opportunity to be strengthened in our faith or be still before the Lord and take in what He is trying to show and teach us during this time. We have all had opportunities in these past weeks to be shaped by a fuller realization of His power, His provision, and our reliance and need for who He is and what He does. Like all of the previous things I have mentioned, I hope that this does not phase out once we come back into a post-COVID world. I hope and pray for me, and for you, that this time would bear fruit in thankfulness to God for how He carried us through these times and a reminder of the power and presence of His Word that guides our lives, calms our hearts, and refreshes our spirit. 
This week, we continue in our series on the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Colossian Church and we get to Chapter 2, which houses our theme verses for this series. In verses 6 and 7, Paul writes: So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Let our prayer be that we have been built up and strengthened in our faith during this time and let our lives coming out of this be continuously shaped by the gift of faith and new life that allows us to overflow in thanksgiving to those around us for what has been done for us and given to us by Christ. 
 
Connecting Lives in Grace and Truth 
 
Congregational Meeting Tonight 

• There is a congregational business meeting tonight (May 18) that will share some information about our new staff hires as well as a vote on renting property for church use. Use the link from the previous emails to join the meeting at 7:00 pm through Microsoft Teams. 

• All votes regarding the property rental must be cast by Wednesday, May 20. You can email or call the church office with your vote if you are unable to make the online meeting. 

 
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. 

• 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. Use the list below to contact the group leader to join in on studying God’s Word. These also serve as some good social outlets too. 

• Sunday 

• 6:30-7:15 pm on Zoom 
• A Study of the Holy Land by Ray Vanderlaan 
• Digital study guides available for purchase ($7) 
• Contact Janelle Baird (janellevesta@hotmail.com) or Tom Bothun (tbothun@design1ep.com) 

• Monday 

• 7:00-8:30 pm on Zoom 
• Contact Tom Seaver (tomseaver@live.com) 

• Tuesday 

• Women in the Word 

• 10:00-10:45 am on Zoom 
• God of Creation by Jen Wilkin 
• Contact Janelle Baird (janellevesta@hotmail.com) 

• Wednesday 

• 6:30-8:30 pm on Zoom 

• The Book of James 
• Contact Dave Erickson (daviderickson72@gmail.com) 

• Wednesday 

• Women in the Word 
• 6:30 pm on Google Hangouts 

• IF: Gathering 2020 sessions (5-week study beginning April 29) 
• Contact Sara Brue (sarannemootz@gmail.com) 

• Thursday 

• Young Adults 
• 6:30-8:30 pm on Zoom 

• 2 Corinthians 
• Contact Ben Bigaouette (benbigaouette@myoakhillchurch.com) 

 
Community Involvement 

• If you are looking for ways to serve and support local efforts in the metro area, take a look at some of the following options: 

• Help at Your Door – Shop for groceries at the Bloomington Cub Foods for those not able to go out and shop for themselves. (https://helpatyourdoor.org/volunteer/) 
• Hospitality Center for Chinese – Sign up to be a virtual conversation partner for a Chinese student/family at the University of Minnesota. (https://hcchinese.org/) 
• Salvation Army (https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/ways-to-give/) 
• VEAP (https://veap.org/) 

 
In Christ, 
Pastor Ben and the Oak Hill Elder Board