Easter & Holy Week 2020

Celebrate the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ with Onalaska United Methodist Church this year! All are welcome to participate in our special services, which will be available on our livestream channel at http://youtube.onalaskaumc.org

Although we can’t worship together at church because of the COVID-19 pandemic and Wisconsin’s “Safer at Home” order, we can certainly praise in place! No advance preparation is required, but if you are able to gather the materials listed below the services will be even more special.

Prayer requests can be texted to 608-799-4484. We welcome your online gifts to support our ministry at http://give.onalaskaumc.org

HOLY THURSDAY, APRIL 9

“Poured Out” Drama and Communion
4:30pm (livestream) & 6:30pm (video)

Pastors Park and Anna-Lisa Hunter and family invite you to join them around the table for a dramatic presentation. Hear Mary Magdalene, Simon Peter, Judas, the Roman soldier at the cross, Mary the mother of Jesus, and Salome share their eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ final meal and hours. Join us in symbolic acts recalling that evening, and in shared communion online.

Download: Program and music (PDF)

Advance Prep: bread and grape juice, a small dish with oil, bowl of warm water and a towel, candle in center of table.

GOOD FRIDAY, APRIL 10

Good Friday Reading
All Day (podcast)

OUMC member Mark Bertrang offers a special audio podcast reading of Matthew’s account of Jesus’ last days, available from his website.

Stations of the Cross Prayer Walk
All Day (King, 4th, and Locust Streets)

Park in the lower lot off King Street and follow the signs for a 14-station meditative prayer walk recalling Jesus’s arrest, trial, crucifixion, and burial. Begin in the garden of Gethsemane, travel to the cross, and end at the tomb. Please observe safe distancing if others are present.

Tenebrae Service
8:00pm (video)

Our traditional and somber service of darkness. OUMC members will read the Passion story from John 18-19 by candlelight. At the death of Christ, the Light passes out of the world, the last candle is extinguished and we wait for Easter Sunday in darkness.

Download: Program and music sheets (coming soon)

Advance Prep: lit candle

SATURDAY, APRIL 11

Stations of the Cross Prayer Walk
All Day (King, 4th, and Locust Streets)

Park in the lower lot off King Street and follow the signs for a 14-station meditative prayer walk recalling Jesus’s arrest, trial, crucifixion, and burial. Begin in the garden of Gethsemane, travel to the cross, and end at the tomb. Please observe safe distancing if others are present.

EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 12

Easter Celebration Services
8:30am Classic (livestream)
11:00am Praise (livestream)

Our traditional Easter services, livestreamed with great music and the Good News of Jesus’ resurrection. Pastor Park preaches “All Shook Up!” from Matthew 28:1-10. Thunder and lightning, very, very frightening! In Matthew’s account of Jesus’ death and resurrection, the earth moves. How has Christ shaken our world and shifted the earth under our feet?

Join us in the great Easter shout, “Christ is risen indeed!” Special God Moment witness by Zoe de Boer. Jessica Gobel offers an Easter kid moment. At the Classic Service, the World Methodist Choir performs “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today!”

Download: worship slides with song lyrics (coming soon)

Advance Prep: record a short video of you or your family shouting “Christ is risen indeed!” and share it with onaumc.pastor@gmail.com by Saturday morning to be included in the celebration video during the service.

SUNDAY, APRIL 19

Holy Humor Services
8:30am Classic (livestream)
11:00am Praise (livestream)

The Sunday after Easter is Holy Humor Sunday. “Laugh at the devil, and he will flee from you.” Fresh from Easter, we rejoice with the risen Jesus Christ! Pastor Park preaches “A Blessing of Laughter” from Genesis 21:1-8. God has an amazing sense of humor. Blessings and belly laughs go hand-in-hand. Anytime we think we’ve got life figured out… Suprise! God pops up.

The puppets will share jokes, and you can send in your own jokes by video in advance or share them by text message during the service.

Download: worship slides with song lyrics (coming soon)

Advance Prep: record a short video of yourself telling a joke and share it with onaumc.pastor@gmail.com by Saturday morning.

COVID-19: Staying Connected

Church tower and lightCOVID-19 has drastically affected our lives, as people are advised to stay home as much as possible to limit spread of the disease. Onalaska UMC is also affected, as we can no longer host gatherings of more than 9 people.

During this time, people need a loving and supportive church community and the assurance of faith more than ever. We continue to shine the light and hope and love of Christ into the world.

Here is how Onalaska UMC is responding to COVID-19…

DAILY DEVO:

  • Join a live daily devotion and prayer time at noon, Monday-Friday led by Pastor Park and other church leaders.
  • Join online at  https://zoom.us/j/449058122
  • Or, call 1-312-626-6799 and enter meeting ID “449 058 122”

WORSHIP:

  • Do not come to church! We are worshiping online only at this time.
  • Watch our Sunday services live at http://youtube.onalaskaumc.org
  • Download worship materials Friday before from http://www.onalaskaumc.org
  • Not on the internet? Call the church office at 608-783-3380 and we will mail you the worship order and pastor’s sermon each week.

PRAYER:

  • Email weekly prayer requests to office@onalaskaumc.org
  • Text Sunday morning prayer requests to 608-799-4484 during the services.
  • Call 608-783-3380 x22 to leave voicemail prayer requests for Pastor Park during the week.

VISITS:

  • Contact Pastor Park (608-799-4484) or Becky Barnes (608-386-9723) for telephone visitation.
  • In some cases, we may also be able to do in-person visits.

SUPPORT:

OUTREACH:

  • Need help? Call the church office and we’ll find someone to assist you.
  • Want to help? Call or email the office and we’ll put you on a list of willing helpers.
  • We will serve the Community Dinner the second Tuesday monthly as a drive-through.
  • Local food pantries are hard-hit. Donate and designate “Food Pantry” to assist.

MEETINGS:

  • We will be using the Zoom video conferencing service for phone and internet meetings, small groups, studies, etc.
  • Watch for more information, or contact your group leader.

NEWS:

OFFICE:

  • The church office remains open Monday-Friday 8:00am-2:30pm.
  • Please call ahead to 608-783-3380 to discuss your needs.
  • You can still purchase Scrip from the office.

The Apostle Paul offers us these words of advice: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

Friends, I give thanks for you and for our church community. We need to be careful, but we do not need to be afraid. We are here for each other and we are here for the world in the name of Jesus Christ.

Peace be with you.

Park

Pastor Park Hunter

Church for Palm Sunday April 5, 2020

As we celebrate Palm Sunday, Pastor Park Hunter preaches “At the Name of Jesus,” based on Philippians 2:5-11. When Jesus enters Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-11), people shout his name and call for power. They shout his name again a few days later, calling for blood (Matthew 27:22). But the real power of Jesus’ name is in humility, and that is what we claim for ourselves.

We are celebrating a traditional Methodist love feast this Sunday instead of communion. Please have something simple to eat and drink ready at home during the service. Love feasts usually include shared testimony and praise. You can send two sentences of praise, a photo, or a short 30-second video to Pastor Park (pastor@onalaskaumc.org) by Saturday 4/4 at noon to include in the service, OR text your praise testimony Sunday morning to 608-799-4484 and we’ll read it out loud.

Polly Crow will visit with a special message. Dr. Mark Beahm will share a God Moment about faith and medicine. Hymns at the 8:30a Classic service will be accompanied on organ and piano by Sandy Koster. Zoe de Boer leads the music team at the 11:00a Praise service.

Between services, we will have a drive-through Palm Sunday parade. Line up before 10:00am along Locust Street east and into the north drive. (Please don’t leave your cars to visit – help us maintain social distancing.) At 10:00am, Jessica Gobel and Pastor Park will pass out palms as you drive under the covered drop-off, and then you can go around the block shouting “Hosanna!”

Onalaska UMC worship services for this Sunday are available only by live stream on our YouTube channel. Please don’t come to church. Instead, stay at home and “praise in place!”

Here’s how to participate…

  • Download the worship slides so you can follow along… 8:30 Classic or 11:00 Praise (PDF)
  • Live stream worship at 8:30 and 11:00 from our YouTube channel.
  • During worship, text prayer requests to Pastor Park at 608-799-4484.
  • Give electronically, or contact the office to request mail-in giving envelopes.

If YouTube doesn’t work for you, contact our office (608-783-3380 or office@onalaskaumc.org) and we will mail you a copy of the worship slides and Pastor Park’s sermon the week following.2020 04 05 classic 2020 04 05 praise