Oakmont United Methodist Church

419 Maryland Ave

Oakmont, PA 15139

412-828-9499

Summer worship times

9:00 AM Contemporary Service

10:30 AM Traditional Service

July 8th

10:00 AM

Outdoor Combined Service

July 23-27

6:00-8:30 PM

Vacation Bible School

July 29

VBS Sunday

10:00 AM in Social Hall

Dear Friends,

Summer solstice marks the longest day of the year for us in the north and reminds us

that summer is here. Last year my family marked the day by running, I mean jogging, well

maybe just walking a race with our grandchildren. We did not do that this year, but we all still

noted the change in the daylight to about 15 hours on June 21st.

Summer is our growing season. Are you growing in your faith this summer? In our

new purpose statement we say: We want to grow in our dedication to the worship of God, the

teaching of God’s word and the caring ministry to others. We do this through Christ’s grace,

mercy, and love which we share with the world through our daily living.

A key word in this statement is “grow.” In the summer season we want to grow. As

such the idea is to grow up towards God, grow deep in our knowledge of God and His word,

and grow out reaching to others in caring acts of love. Are you growing in Jesus Christ?

Jesus used similar words when he tells his disciples to abide or remain in him if they

are to grow and flourish…

So this summer “abide” in the Lord! Worship weekly, study the word, walk in Jesus’

love. Remember to give generously, be responsible to your calling, serve joyfully, show

mercy and honor God.

Sincerely in Christ,

Pastor John

They shall be called oaks of righteousness…

(Isaiah 61:3)

JULY/AUGUST 2018

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same

bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in

me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them

into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye

shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified,

that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

WORSHIP THEMES AND TOPICS FOR JULY AND AUGUST

Because of Bible School and the attempted trip to the Ark in Kentucky, the Pastor has

chosen some Old Testament characters to be the focus for sermons. Let us together

learn from Moses and Noah.

Sunday, July 1st Holy Communion

Scripture: I Corinthians 7:17-24

Sermon: Free to Serve Christ

Sunday, July 8th

Combined Celebration OUTSIDE on back lawn 10 AM

Scripture: John 8:31-36

Sermon: Free Indeed

Sunday, July 15th

Scripture: Exodus 3:1-10

Sermon: The Call: Moses

Sunday, July 22nd

Scripture: Exodus 33: 7-11

Sermon: Tent Meeting

Sunday, July 29th

Combined Service at 10:00 AM

VBS celebration in fellowship hall.

Sunday, August 5 Holy Communion

Scripture: Exodus 33: 12-23

Sermon: Holiness and Mercy Meet

Sunday, August 12

Scripture: Genesis 6: 5-8

Sermon: No Regrets

Sunday, August 19

Scripture: Genesis 6: 9-22

Sermon: Follow the Directions

Sunday, August 26

Scripture: Genesis 7: 1-6

Sermon: When the Rains Come

Sunday, September 2nd Labor Day Weekend

Scripture: Genesis 3:14-19

Sermon: Work Made Difficult

UPCOMING COMBINED SERVICES

July 8th at 10 AM on church lawn

July 29th at 10 AM in Social Hall

September 9th at 10AM followed by church picnic

Balance 4/30 -$18,506.65

Income $11,176.10

Expenses $19,804.29

Balance 5/31 -$27,134.84

PRAYER CONCERNS

Please continue to pray for Edna Beglin, Gail Burner, EmmaLee Crannell, Barbara Davis, Martha

Ewart, Mary Gardner, Gillen Geary, Joann Hildebrand, Becky Houston, Betty Mayhorn, Joyce

Miljanovich, and Marigene Nelson.

IN SYMPATHY

Our sympathy and prayers go out to the family and friends of Lou Miljanovich who passed away on

June 4th.

MEMORIAL DONATIONS

Memorial donations in memory of Grace Campbell have been received from Chuck & Betty Scott,

Betsy McQuilin, Diane & Robert McCutcheon. Barbara Marcus, Jan & Jim Beiber, the Dale

Neubert family, and Karen & Jim Sweetland.

A memorial donation in memory of Lou Miljanovich has been received from Jan & Jim Beiber .

GENERAL FUND NUMBERS FOR MAY

NEWSLETTER DEADLINE

Articles are due by August 15 for the September newsletter.

If you would like to receive your newsletter by e-mail, please call the church office

or send us a message at oakmontumc@gmail.com

THANK YOU FOR THE MEMORIAL GERANIUMS!

105 geraniums were donated and joyfully planted. Feel free

to weed and water on occasion. It will be fun to watch them

grow along with us as we grow in our faith.

Friends Together will meet

for breakfast on Tuesday, July 3rd.

All are invited to come to Freedom

Square Diner in Verona at 9:00

a.m. No reservation is needed, just

come if you are able. Good food

and good conversation promised!

CONGRATULATIONS TO 2018

GRADUATES KYLIE BRIGGS (Plum

HS), DYLAN HAWK (Valley HS), AND

CRYSTAL MITCHELTREE (Plum HS).

COMBINED WORSHIP SERVICE

Sunday July 8th at 10 AM

on the church lawn

HOPE CIRCLE BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP

Hope Circle will meet on Monday, July 9th, at 7:00 P.M. in

the church parlor to discuss Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult, in

which the author deals three of the most divisive and essential

issues faced today by our country – prejudice, race, and justice.

The novel challenges the reader to explore these issues in a way

that is uncomfortable, but ultimately meaningful. A hospital com-

plies when a white supremacist family demands that Ruth Jeffer-

son, a 20-year veteran nurse who is African-American, be re-

moved from their newborn’s case. When the baby goes into car-

diac arrest, Ruth pauses before performing CPR and is ultimately

charged with a serious crime. As Ruth and her public defender

learn to trust each other, they each must confront their prejudices.

As with any novel by Picoult, the author doesn’t give easy answers

but instead pushes the reader to a place of introspection.

Please consider joining the group for an hour of discussion

and fellowship.

LIBRARY NEWS

A wonderful addition to our library shelves this month is "The Jesus Storybook Bible"

by Sally Lloyd-Jones, with lovely illustrations by Jago. This set also includes the

complete book on 3 audio CDs. Every story whispers His name. This is a beautiful

collection for children. Listed in the acknowledgements:

My heart owns none before Thee,

For Thy rich grace I thirst;

This knowing, if I love Thee,

Thou must have loved me first. Josiah Conder, 1836.

Barbara Marcus,

Church Librarian

OUMC will have a booth at the Oakmont street sale

on July 28th and we could use your help!

Please consider volunteering in one of the following ways.

_____ I can help with setting up. (8:30 – 10:00 am)

_____ I can help to work the booth.

I am available at the following time(s):

_____ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

_____ 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm

_____ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

_____ I can help to take down and clean up afterwards. (3:00 - 4:00 pm )

_____ I can bake items for the sale.

(Please package items for sale if possible)

___ I will drop items off at the booth.

___ I will need items picked up.

Name _______________________________

Phone # _______________________________

OUMC BAKE SALE

JULY

1 Nathan Delo

Leanna DiMatteo

2 John Meister

4 Bonnie Pahlman

Nicole Whigham

7 Marie Lewis

8 Nancy Morrison

Maddox Rager

10 Joyce Miljanovich

Isabella Walsh

12 Laura Biery

Darleen Eden

Sarah Jane Lacey

14 Julie Chapa

16 Marsha Wycich

18 Tracy Provenza

19 Donna DeTurck

21 Barb Pellegrino

22 Jane Sykes

23 Donald Hibbitts

24 Scarlett Fichte

26 Jason Kelley

27 Eleanor Hitchak

31 Donald Nelson

AUGUST

1 Bill Hall

2 Martha Ewart

Bill Moore

7 Willie DeTurck

9 Christa Assad

Heather Fichte

10 Scott Ashbaugh

12 Grace Hunter

13 Sterling Fichte

Tina Whitehead

14 Michael DiCocco

16 Sandra Macpherson

18 Michele Handyside

20 Edwin Allen

Bill Charlton

22 Caroline Kelley

23 Zane Crowell

24 Karen Sweetland

25 Carolyn Grimes Hawk

27 Lee Dezzutti

28 Gayle DiCaprio

29 Ari Crowell

30 Burl Davis

Shannon Hatcher

Ron Kircher

We apologize if we inadvertently

missed your birthday.

Please call the church office and let us know about your very special day!

This was published in the January 2006 edition of the Springdale

United Presbyterian Church newsletter. I thought it should be shared.

Tohu va-vohu (A phrase)

Ptolemy Tompkins, writer in Daily Guideposts 2005, says the first

time he came across this phrase was in Professor Everett Fox’s translation

of the Book of Genesis. In the King James translation it is “without form

and void” - this being in the original Hebrew description of the condition

of the earth at the time of creation.

Fox translates the words as “wild and waste” emphasizing that in

the Hebrew there is a suggestion that in the course of creation God brings

order out of a condition of chaos.

Tompkins thinks there is something thrilling about the way the

sound of these alien words manage to conjure up the state of things before

God set to building and ordering the universe.

Sometimes we have chaos in our own lives but God can bring order

and beauty oout of any condition. Lord, send forth your Holy Spirit and

make a new creation from the tohu va-vohu of our lives.

Gail Burner

Sound, Sight and Safety

Sound, Sight and Safety is the new capital fund drive for the Oak-

mont United Methodist Church. The Trustees would like to finish and

make changes and updates to the facility. Sound is first priority and in-

cludes upgrades to our sound system to enhance hearing and versatility.

Sight refers to a new projection system for the sanctuary that preserves the

integrity of the design. Safety will give us updated security systems. This

will help to protect those who work in the building. Special gifts towards

this project can be made now. Mark such gifts as “Sound, Sight and Safety

project.” Please do not detract from your regular giving to fund this pro-

ject.

To date, $7,150.00 has been allocated to the campaign. Additionally, the

golf outing realized a profit of $2524.00. A goal of $40,000 has been set

for the campaign.

The purpose of the Oakmont United Methodist Church is to grow in our

dedication to the worship of God, the teaching of God’s Word and the car-

ing ministry of Christ. We do this through Jesus’ grace, mercy, and love

which we share with the world through our daily living.

Come enjoy worship outdoors

on the church lawn

Sunday, July 8

at 10:00 am.

Please indicate below where you can help:

_____Set up tent Mon., July 2 at 7:00 pm

_____Set up chairs before service at 9:00 am

_____Tear down chairs after the service

_____Help with reception

_____Serve as a greeter or usher (circle)

NAME____________________________