Great Oakwood Family,

Our hearts and prayers are with our Oxford community!  This tragedy has hit our community hard and will have a major impact for years to come.  You are probably trying to figure out how to help or what to do or how to make a difference just like I am today.  I received advice from a former mentor this morning and this afternoon I spoke with a Pastor from Parkland, FL who went through a similar tragedy recently.  His input has been incredibly valuable.  He encouraged our church to help the helpers when we don’t know how to help.

Today I found people helping and found a way to help the helpers.  Here is what Oakwood did today:

  • We gave $1,000 to Woodchips because they were feeding First Responders and our community.
  • We committed $500.00 to Signorama to help pay for the signs they are giving out for free (I think we will give them more than that).
  • Pastor Ben opened the church to High School students.  We had great adult volunteers there to feed students and give them a place to come talk about their experience and to pray together and to be together.
  • We developed a plan to bless the Oxford High School staff (teachers, counselors, administrators, support) with a Christmas gift. (more info coming…we will need your help!)

Here is what needs to happen the rest of this week:

  • The Legacy Center in Oxford is opening free for all Oxford students and families tomorrow from 12:30pm-7pm.  I offered the great family of Oakwood to be the “trash team”.  We need to empty trash cans and put new garbage bags into cans throughout the event and then have a clean-up team there at the end to sweep, mop, take out trash, etc.  I need 1 person at each hour (1pm, 2pm, 3pm, etc.) to take out trash.  Then I need a team of 6 to 10 people at 7:30pm to finish up.  To volunteer contact P.D. at pd@oakwoodcc.org  Leave your name and time you can serve.  First come first serve, I’ll confirm your time by email.
  • Adult volunteers needed at Urban Air on Thursday and Friday evenings for four-hour shifts.  If you can serve contact P.D. at pd@oakwoodcc.org and I will put you directly in contact with the manager.
  • Friday at 7pm Community Prayer Vigil at Centennial Park downtown Oxford (where we had Worship in the Park this summer).  Attend and participate to share the love of Jesus with our community.
  • Attend church this Sunday for an important message from God’s Word for this troubled time.  Invite hurting people to come with you.  Now’s the time!  Don’t miss this opportunity!  Two services 9am & 11am.

Thank you for being a caring church! Now let’s “BE” the church and show up and serve!

God Bless,
P.D. (Psalm 139)