Updated: August 20, 2020
Good news! Beginning Sunday, September 13, we’ll gather for service each Sunday morning this fall at 9:30a in our beautiful backyard! We will continue to offer online service every Sunday at 9:30a on Facebook and Vimeo – so you can come to church every week whether in person or online – whichever option is right for you! Find signups on our Events Page HERE!
Updated: July 20, 2020
Dear Oak Hills Church Family,
One of my favorite moments early this summer happened on Sunday evening, June 7 th. That night, about 200 of us pulled into our church parking lot to attend our first Service in a Circle. My heart was touched as I saw your smiling faces and felt the excitement of being together again. My sincere thanks to all of you for being so supportive of our plan to gradually gather back in person as a church community. I know it hasn’t been ideal but it has been a perfect way to allow everyone to attend within their level of comfort. I believe this process has represented the grace of Jesus and has been a wonderful witness to those outside the church. Let me update you on our plans moving forward and also share something important the Lord has laid on my heart concerning the mission of Oak Hills Church.
Next Step Plans
In August, we will have two more Sunday evening Services in a Circle. This time, however, we will be in socially-distanced circles in our backyard rather than in our cars in the parking lot. This will be a wonderful way to prepare us to move into September, when we’ll begin to gather for weekly, in-person, Sunday worship services. All the specific details of our backyard August Services in a Circle and our weekly, in-person, Sunday services starting in September will come your way soon. Remember, our services are also always available online!
*All plans are subject to current state health regulations and guidelines.
Our Mission at Oak Hills Church
We’re all very aware of the incredible challenges our world has faced since the beginning of this year. My prayer for our church has been that we would experience God’s presence, provision, and peace. I’ve also been praying that God would give our Oak Hills family a renewed passion for our mission to reach the unchurched. Recently, as I was reading through the gospel of Luke, I noted again how Luke emphasized over and over that Jesus came to reach the outsider. There are numerous examples, but one that stuck out to me was how, after deciding to follow Jesus, Levi the tax collector invited all his friends to come to a party to meet Jesus. Notice the reaction of the church “insiders”:
Luke 5: 29-32
“Levi gave a large dinner at his home for Jesus. Everybody was there, tax men and other disreputable characters as guests at the dinner. The Pharisees and their religion scholars came to his disciples greatly offended. “What is he doing eating and drinking with crooks and ‘sinners’?” Jesus heard about it and spoke up, “Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? I’m here inviting outsiders, not insiders—an invitation to a changed life, changed inside and out.”
Three specific events over these past months have reminded me of how much I want to have the attitude of Jesus toward reaching those outside the church:
1. The killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis has caused me to want to lift myself out of my limited knowledge about racial inequality and make sure I do whatever I can to make it right.
2. The response of some church insiders demanding their rights has caused me to want to be better at giving up my rights for the outsider so they, too, can have a chance to know the love and grace of Jesus.
3. The reading of the gospel of Luke has reminded me that 29 years ago we asked 20 church insider families to start a church for outsiders and…they actually did it! From day one, we embraced the mission to turn unchurched people into fully devoted followers of Jesus. I desperately want to see that mission not only renewed, but reimagined in our church in the days, weeks, and months to come.
I look forward to seeing you all soon and experiencing together all the good things God has in store for our church.
It’s a privilege to pastor the wonderful people of Oak Hills Church,
Pastor Rod Carlson
Updated: May 22
Dear Oak Hills Family,
Ever since this pandemic began, our desire has been to do all we could to stay connected, care for each other, keep growing deeper in our walk with Jesus, and be a good witness to those who are un-churched. My sincere thanks to all of you. Because of your faith and maturity in Jesus, we’ve continued to be Christ’s body even though we’ve not been able to be in the church building. In many ways I feel like we’ve been able to live out what the Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus, “The church is Christ’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.”
While we will continue to have our weekend worship services online throughout the summer, I’m excited to tell you about four special outdoor services we have planned in June and July. These services will allow us to slowly gather back together, get reconnected, and begin to experience the joy of corporate worship with our church family. More details will be coming your way but let me give some basics.
- Outdoor services on June 14th, 28th, July 12th and 26th
- Services will start in our vehicles in the parking lot and then move to the backyard when we are able
- To keep everyone safe and comfortable, we will abide by all of the recommendations given to us by our government and medical experts
- We’ll get to see each other, smile, wave “hi,” and be reminded of the wonderful group of people who make up Oak Hills Church
Throughout the early summer months, we’ll keep a close watch on all that’s happening and prayerfully consider the best way to move back into our building for our worship services.
I miss you all and look forward to seeing your smiling faces soon,
Pastor Rod
P.S. Another wonderful way to get together with others this summer is to join a Better Together summer small group. These groups will either meet online, or in smaller groups socially distanced in a park, the church backyard, or an outdoor coffee shop. If you’re interested, go to “Better Together Summer Small Groups” on our app or click HERE to take you to our Events page.
COVID-19 is affecting all of our lives in one way or another, and now is the time to come together and be the Church! Could you use a little kindness? Are you looking for ways to share kindness with others? Let us know by filling out the form below!
