Highlights Inside•Wednesday Bible Class Resumes, page 2•A Successful Summer at AMEN, page 3

•Message from the Isaiah 58 Buddies, page 5 •Stewardship & Property Committee, pages 4 & 5

Oak Hill NewsNo. 08 AUGUST 2014 Vol-ume 64

Making disciples for Jesus Christ.

Greetings Oak Hill!

It is with tremendous excite-ment that I begin this adventure in ministry with you this summer.

And after all the planning, preparing, packing, and praying, we are finally here, ready to worship and serve with you! Before I came to the office, on this very first day, I pulled up the daily scripture reading on my phone and found these lines from Psalm 67:

May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, 

that your way may be known upon earth, your saving power among all nations. 

Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.

I was instantly reminded that God has already been so gracious to us and has blessed us so much. This church has been blessed for generations and has seen pastor after pastor, elder after elder, member after member, visitor after visitor, baptized baby af-ter baptized baby--God’s face shining upon them all. I am proud of the work your PNC did in searching for the congregation’s new partner in ministry. I’m impressed with the legacy of leadership Kathy and Chris and each of the pastors before them have pro-vided. I am touched by the welcome members have offered Tegan and I. I am blown away by the com-munity you are! My prayer as I begin to join in the work you are already doing, in the work God is already doing through you, is that we will continue to feel that blessing mentioned in Psalm 67. I pray that God will continue to make God’s way known upon us and that in response we will be full of praise. I kind of hope we’ll be full of potlucks and mission trips and movies on the parking lot and trivia nights and Bible study and hymn sings and oh so much laugh-ter, and did I mention potlucks? But all of those gatherings and programs and potlucks always as praise. Praise to a God who loves us. Praise to a God who provides for us. Praise to a God who has called us together to serve as witnesses in this com-munity.

Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.

Hallelujah!Love and peace, Erin

Pictures from our drive to St. Louis and Erin’s Ordination on July 6th in Baltimore:

EVANGELISM AND MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

FELLOWSHIP LUNCHEON

First Sunday Potluck LuncheonJoin us for our First Sunday Potluck Luncheon on Au-gust 3. The Evangelism and Membership Committee is hosting and will provide dessert and drinks. Every-one is asked to bring a dish to share that will serve at least 8 people. It will be a true “potluck” with no main dish provided by the committee. Please plan to stay after church for food and fellowship!

Timely TopicsIf you were unable to view the webcast on reducing gun violence when it aired, you might like to check it out <http://faithsunited.org>.  Professor Daniel Webster offered some data about permits to pur-chase.  As many states are doing some portion of limiting unauthorized carrying of firearms, Missouri repealed our law August 28, 2007.  Since then, there has been a 14% increase in gun violence and a 24% increase in firearm homicides in Missouri.  Con-necticut has saved 296 lives in the ten years since

they adopted permits to purchase licensing.  There are more firearm suicides than homicides.  Seventy-four schools have experienced some form of vio-lence since the Newtown tragedy.  Faiths United is recommending states pursue some form of limitation to curb unauthorized purchase of firearms.  The eight states bordering Missouri have less incidences than Missouri.  Do you see the connection?  Check the information.  Spread the word.  Join the memo-rial vigil on December 11th.  On March 19th, ob-serve March Sabbath.  Wear orange on the 25th of each month to remind all of us to pray for an end to violence.

WORSHIP AND CHRISTIAN EDUCATIONCOMMITTEE

Sunday, September 7

Sunday School classes for all ages will resume on September 14.

Further information will be in the weekly bulletins as we get closer to September.

Wednesday Bible Study will resume on August 6, 2014. The group will be using materials from “Theo-cademy: Form Your Faith. Anytime. Anywhere.” The online materials are a project of the Synod of

Mid-America. We will be using a set of video lessons prepared for new members called “Being Presbyterian: Foundations of Presbyterian Discipleship.” Lessons include 11 minute videos and discussion and leader materials. Topics included in this selection of lessons will be:

1. A People of Grace 2. Wicked Bad 3. Who do they say that I am?4. Update Your Faith System 5. Blessed to be a Blessing.

If you can’t make the Wednesday Bible Study these materials will be offered later in the year during Sun-day School time. Donna Cook will be facilitating the class. Class is at 11:00 a.m..

MISSION COMMITTEE

A Successful Summer at AMEN

As we welcome in the month of August we say goodbye to our last AMEN|Saint Louis mission group of the summer. With your love and support we were able to welcome nine groups to the house this summer from all over the US! From Michigan to Colorado, Nebraska to Indiana, groups trekked across the country for a week of service and reflection in our city. Over 100 adults and youth completed well over 3000 hours of community service this summer at agencies like Isaiah:58, Cornerstone, Gateway Greening, KidSmart, The STL Area Foodbank, and The Board of Religious Organizations (to name a few)!

It was a great opportunity to meet with these visiting groups, hear their stories, and share with them the stories and challenges we deal with in the Saint Louis community. While the hard work and long hours the groups put in were much appreciated, I know too that the trips were a learning experience that might just have inspired change in our visitors and made an impact in their lives beyond just their week with us in Saint Louis. I know I’ll take with me the many stories and memories of weeds plucked and seeds of hope planted.

Thank you to those who donated goods, time, or money to the mission of AMEN this summer. It is most certainly a team effort and we couldn’t have done any of this without your help.

Also a big thanks to those who participated in our Tuesday Potluck Dinners at church. Every group

mentioned what a warm and welcoming congregation we have and how impressed they were with the ministry we’re doing here in Saint Louis. I couldn’t have said it better myself. As we look forward to next year and beyond I hope you’ll continue to be a part of our mission at AMEN|Saint Louis and join us in

welcoming the groups to come.Next year I will be unable to serve again in

this position as my education is taking me to an architectural internship in another city over the summer, and yet I am very confident in the direction AMEN|Saint Louis is heading and ready to see what God has in store for this ministry. What started as a simple idea merely a few years ago has now grown bigger than any of us ever imagined and I’m so honored to have been a part of the team.

Be on the lookout for announcements about groups joining us in our “off season.” Elon University will be in residence for the fourth consecutive year in September and we’ll have several groups next spring. Also check out our upcoming Room At The Inn dates taking place in the AMEN House.

Thanks for a great summer!

Brendan GregorySummer Site CoordinatorAMEN|Saint Louis

Room at the Inn

Oak Hill will be hosting Room at the Inn clients in AMEN House Saturday, August 30. The clients are women and children and families who are homeless and are working with services provided by Room at the Inn to get their lives back in order, find jobs and housing. We'll need folks to pick up clients on Saturday about 5 p.m. from the Bridgeton location and trans-port them to Oak Hill. Volunteers are needed to make up the beds after we find out the number and

family makeup of the clients. We need people to provide dinner for the clients and church volunteers who will visit with families during the evening. Overnight hosts are needed as well. Sunday morn-ing we will need someone to provide breakfast and drivers to return the clients to the Room at the Inn center. There is a signup sheet in the back on the sanctu-ary. If you have any questions, please contact Dena Roper or Donna Cook.

MISSION COMMITTEE (cont’d)

School/Art Supply Drive

The Mission Committee is hosting a school and art supply drive to benefit The Board of Religious Organizations and to assist Christine Woodward in her work with students in need in the University City Schools. BRO will put together art kits and back packs for children to distribute during the holidays and Christine will be helping the students she serves throughout the year with needed school supplies. Watch for sales on supplies at all of your favorite shopping venues. These sales usually start at the end of July and continue into early August. Some of the things we are looking for include back packs, spiral notebooks, loose leaf paper, pens, pencils, markers, construction paper, rulers, erasers, folders and other fun back to school goodies! Boxes are in the Large Assembly Room. Contact Christine Woodward or Donna Cook with any questions.

Message from the Isaiah 58 Buddies!

It may not feel like autumn yet, but in August, we’re back in school!!! Yea!! (That’s strictly the opinion of Blue Lucy. Purple Betty and Salmon Eli would be happy with a little more summer play time.) School means: packing lunches! So in September, our friends at Isaiah 58 are hop-ing for fun lunch box items. See below!

August 1st Sunday: Tuna (canned)2nd Sunday: Creamy Salad Dressing, like

Miracle Whip (in a plastic jar)

3rd Sunday: Sweet Pickles or Relish (in aplastic jar)

4th Sunday: Saltine Crackers (boxed)5th Sunday: Jello-O

September (Thanks for helping ur young friends with

Food for lunch boxes!) 1st Sunday: “Jif to Go” Creamy

Peanut Butter (package of small 1.5 or plastic cups of peanut butter)

2nd Sunday: Saltine Crackers (Yep, more! They pack nicely ina lunch box.)

3rd Sunday: Small individual cartons offruit juice (package of smallcartons)

4th Sunday: Raisins (package of smallindividual boxes)

Your mission work with Isaiah 58 is all aboutsharing food with others.

Thanks for your generous spirit!

Your Isaiah 58 Buddies,Blue Lucy, Purple Betty, and Salmon Eli

Questions? Ask Valery York-Schneider

STEWARDSHIP AND PROPERTYCOMMITTEE

You may have noticed various construction projects around the facility and I would like to update you on the status. The southeast bell tower roof was repaired and the ceiling damaged created by the leak has been repaired. The AMEN House repairs are complete and the house is functioning. We also have a new ceiling with light fixtures in the Children’s Sunday school room. We will have the tile floor refinished by the time classes resume. The floors in the kitchen and large and small assem-bly rooms have been stripped and waxed. Currently we are working on broken boiler pipes and a sewer pipe break outside of the Theleos Classroom. We should have these repairs complete and the holes filled within the next two weeks. Some prayers are needed on these areas--but we will prevail!

STEWARDSHIP AND PROPERTYCOMMITTEE (cont’d)

These are just a few of the items on our plate, and I want to thank all of you that have helped on these and the other unmentioned projects. Our budget has been stretched beyond its limits; and if you have any spare time or money available, the Stewardship and Property Committee can always find a way to use them. Our pledge drive is only once a year, but our needs for your assistance are year round. Thanks and we appreciate your patience as we up-grade our home.

Will WoodwardChair, Stewardship and Property Committee

SESSION HIGHLIGHTS

The following actions were reported or approved by Session in their July 16, 2014, Stated Scheduled Meet-ing:

The average worship attendance in June was 86.

Membership as June 30, 2014 is 140.

Financial Report for June

& Year-to-Date 2014June 2014 Total

IncomeBudgeted $14,542.00 $89,900.00Actual $16,971.87 $82,951.86

ExpensesBudgeted $17,568.83 $97,536.00Actual $15,223.49 $99,317.05

Session approved the use of the church on Saturday, August 30, 2014, by the Tibetan Monks for a cooking class to demonstrate and teach the preparation of one of the staples of Tibetan cuisine called “momos.”

Session approved the use of the church on February 17 and 19, 2015, by St. Louis Oasis, a nonprofit educa-tional and volunteer program for adults over 50. The building will be used to conduct educational classes.

Session approved paying for Pastor Erin’s stay at Tower Grove Manor and for gas reimbursement for her drive from Maryland to St. Louis. These pay-ments will replace the previously approved funding of an airplane trip to St. Louis for Pastor Erin to look for housing. Funds are still available from the amount ap-proved for the Pastoral Search Expenses.

PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN

Circle 2 will meet at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 26, at Sorrey’s at Mackenzie and Heege Roads (formerly Tsevis, has a new menu). All are invited to join us for an evening of good conversation and fellowship.

Circle 3 will not meet in August. Our next meeting will be Thursday, September 11, in the Theleos Room at 10:00 a.m. Please bring a sandwich – salad, dessert and chips will be furnished.

BOOK CLUB

The book club will not meet in August. 

ARTS AND CRAFT CLUB

The Arts and Crafts Club will meet on Friday, Au-gust 8, at 6:30 p.m. in AMEN House. It will be a bring your own craft and potluck event! Come hangout with us! Please contact Dena Roper with any questions.

Under the Oak Tree

Please add the following to your church directory:

Pastor Erin’s email address is erin.counihan@oakhillpcusa.org. She can also be reached at the church office (314) 664-5525.

We thank our Summer Site Coordinator Brendan Gre-gory for the wonderful job he has done this summer with the mission teams who have come to St. Louis this year in connection with our AMEN/Saint Louis

program. He has been a great representative from our church and assures us he has enjoyed every minute!

Why did the Pharisees protest one day when Jesus’ disciples plucked and ate grain directly from the field?

A. Because a banquet was awaiting hem; they didn’t want the disciples to spoil their appetites.B. Because it wasn’t the disciples’ field; they had no right to the grain.C. Because it was the Sabbath and such “work” was prohibited.D. Because the grain wasn’t yet ripe.

Answer: See Matthew 12:1-2

LECTIONARY AUGUST

Sunday, August 3

Gen. 32:22-31; Psalm 17:1-7, 15; Rom. 9:1-5; Matt. 14:13-21

Sunday,August 10

Gen. 37:1-4, 12-28; Psalm 105:1-6,16-22, 45b; Rom 10:5-15; Matt. 14:22-33

Sunday,August 17

Gen. 45:1-15; Psalm 133; Rom. 11:1-2a, 29-32; Matt. 15:(10-20) 21-28

Sunday,August 24

Exodus 1:8-2:10; Psalm 124; Rom. 12:1-8; Matt. 16:13-20

Sunday,August 31

Exodus 3:1-15; Psalm 105:1-6. 23-26. 45c. Rom. 12:9-21; Matt. 16:21-28

A 90-10 split

When the weather prediction is for a 10 percent

chance of rain, do we sigh and grumble and stay in-doors? Or do we go ahead and picnic, golf or hike because the chance of bad weather is so low?

When doctors say our child has a 90 percent chance of full recovery from a deadly illness, don’t we re-joice at the great prognosis? We quickly decide we can live with the slight chance of some impairment.

When a really tough exam comes back with a 90 percent grade, aren’t we glad to have done well?

When a politician runs for office, 90 percent of the vote would be considered an overwhelming man-date.

Why then, when God gives us 100 percent of our material blessings, are we so horrified at the thought of giving him 10 percent back?

Oak Hill NewsOak Hill Presbyterian Church,

4111 Connecticut StreetSt. Louis, Missouri 63116-3926 (314) 664-5525

www.oakhillpcusa.org

office@oakhillpcusa.org

We are a welcoming congregation where visitors are always expected!

Service of Worship – 11:00 a.m.

Nursery Care – 11:00 a.m.

The ministers of Oak Hill Church are its members assisted by:

Rev. Erin CounihanPastor

Ms. Susan BrownMinister of Music

Ms. Carole AdamsSecretary

Articles for publication in the

Oak Hill News need to be

submitted in writing to the church office by the3rd Monday of each month.