Worship ServicesSunday, Aug. 68:45, 10, and 11:15 a.m.Pastor Laura Adam“God, Where Are You?”Jeremiah 8:18-9:1

Sunday, Aug. 138:45 and 11:15 a.m.Pastor Jim Roberts“The Potter’s House”Jeremiah 7:5-7; 18:1-6

Sunday, Aug. 1310 a.m. “Pathways”Pastor Katy Fitzgold“Never Too Far Gone”Jeremiah 7:5-7; 18:1-6

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Welcome, Pastor Laura Smith Adam!Sunday, Aug. 6All servicesSanctuary

Join us as Minister for Pastoral Care Laura Smith Adam preaches at all three services. Pastor Laura retired from active ministry in the Rio Texas Conference in 2016 after serving as Senior Pastor at Manchaca UMC from 2009-2016. Laura’s active ministry spanned a total of 27 years, grounded in locations like Edinburg, Santa Rosa, Utopia, Port Lavaca, Brownsville, and Manchaca. Come greet her!

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We’re Off To See the Wizard!Sunday, Aug. 68:15 p.m. (but arrive early!)Zilker Park

Put on your favorite Oz character costume and follow the yellow brick road to family night Sunday, Aug. 6, at Zilker Hillside Theater! The musical begins at 8:15 p.m. Come early and bring a picnic and a blanket (no chairs, please). Join your friends from Oak Hill UMC!

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UMW Book Club Meets This MonthThursday, Aug. 3110 a.m.Panera Bread (4625 W. William Cannon Dr.)

The August UMW Book Club selection is “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood. This book, first published in 1986, has lately been revived as we consider the role of women and diversity in society. Join us! Please contact Diana Goodloe at dianagoodloe@gmail.com if you have questions.

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AUG. 4, 2017

A PUBLICATION OFOAK HILL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

7815 Hwy. 290 W.Austin, TX 78736 • (512) 288-3836

Pastors Jim Roberts, Katy Fitzgold, Laura Smith Adam

Theology Pub Begins Next MonthSunday, Sept. 35-7 p.m.Waterloo Ice House (9600 Escarpment Blvd.)

Theology Pub. Family friendly. Informal. Conversation about lived faith. Social time. Beginning in September on the first Sunday of every month, we’ll meet at Waterloo Ice House with childcare in tow from 5-7 p.m. Join us!

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Say Hello to Our New Members!Valerie Momii (below left), daughter of Keith and Sybil Momii, joined Oak Hill UMC at the Pathways service July 23. Valerie trans-ferred her membership from Moody UMC in Galveston. June Johnson (below right) joined Oak Hill UMC at the 11:15 a.m. service July 30 by transfer of membership from another United Methodist Church in Austin.

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New! Donate Through Give+ Smartphone AppNow available! Members, visitors, and guests may download Give+ to their smartphone from the App Store or Google Play (for free). Simply searching for Give+ will enable anyone to quickly find and download the app. Then, making donations directly from any smart-phone using a debit/credit card or bank account is a snap. Using Give+ members, visitors and guests will be able to:

• Set up an account that provides for secure and convenient recurring donations;• Make a onetime donation as a guest without establishing a Give+ account; and• Manage and review giving history.

We hope you will consider this new way to contribute to our ministries. If you need assistance installing or using Give+, visit www.oakh-illumc.org/giving/ or contact Angie Bragg in the church office. Note: if you already have an automatic bank draft agreement with Oak Hill UMC in place, please do not replace that arrangement with a Give+ recurring donation.

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Oak Hill UMC earns A+ for Backpacks/School Supplies DriveOak Hill UMC received a gold star for its effort to supply backpacks and school supplies for elementary-aged students at two nearby affordable housing complexes filling approximately 75 backpacks. But the generosity didn’t stop there.

Forty-five more empty backpacks were donated as well as additional supplies that will be used throughout the year by children at the Live Oak Trails apartments and the adjacent Learning Center at Southwest Trails that serves both complexes. Monetary donations to-taling $435 will be used by Foundation Communities for educational supplies for Southwest Trails and other Learning Centers in South Austin. “My hope was that OHUMC would meet the needs of the 48 children in Live Oak Trails that include many just out of homelessness,” said David Matustik, who along with Diana Goodloe spearheaded the drive at the church. “The response greatly exceeded expectations. We have blessed many families.” Together with donations from the greater Oak Hill community, the 60 students at the Southwest Trails Learning Center will also receive full backpacks. The Backpacks/School Supplies Drive was the second major effort between Oak Hill UMC and Foundation Communities as the church reaches out to meet needs in its neighborhood. Earlier, the church sponsored an Easter egg hunt, along with crafts, games, and lunch at Southwest Trails. Foundation Communities is in need of volunteers for the Learning Centers and other programs. Check www.foundcom.org to learn more about opportunities.

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Our Presence, Our Gifts, and Our PrayersPresence (July 23):

8:45 a.m. — 11410 a.m. — 6711:15 a.m. — 201Legacy Oaks — 38Sodalis — 11Total — 431

Gifts (July 23):

General Fund — $22,755School Supplies — $435Building Fund Debt Retirement — $317Endowment Fund — $1,010.53Deaf Ministry — $30

Presence (July 30):

8:45 a.m. — 9910 a.m. — 7011:15 a.m. — 223Legacy Oaks — 38Sodalis — 9Total — 439

Gifts (July 30):

General Fund — $12,954Endowment Fund — $1,010.53Missions (Backpacks) — $140

Prayers:

Lucy Cornell, Walter Earnest and family (on the death of his wife, Bunny), Emma Fink (great niece of Lou Heavner), Doris Holden, Kathy Kulesza, Connie Masullo (Lynn Sampsell’s sister), Mary Ethel Moore, Dea Powell, Don Spencer (Tim Spencer’s father), Bob Stapleton, Nancy Tiller, prayers of thanksgiving for the birth of Adalyne Ruth Lee Robinette (parents are Casie and Sean Robinette; grandparents are Jon and Diana Nelson).

Stephen Ministers care for people facing tough times through confidential, one-to-one Christian care. They provide the emotional and spiritual care needed when someone is faced with a crisis or difficulty such as grief, spiritual needs, health issues, relationship problems, job situations or other life challenges. If you are in need of someone to share your concerns, please email Rae Barho at raebarho@gmail.com or call her at (512) 589-5871 and ask about speaking with a Stephen Minister. For more information: www.oakhillumc.org/stephen-ministry/.

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YOUTH NEWS! Help Us Paint the Youth Lounge AreaSaturday, Aug. 1210 a.m.-3:30/4 p.m.Youth Lounge

Join us as we get our youth area in tip-top shape and ready for a new school year! Here’s the link to sign up:http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0a4baeae2ba4f94-paintWe also need help with snacks! Here’s the link to sign up:http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0a4baeae2ba4f94-snack1

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YOUTH NEWS! Back-to-School Retreat!Aug. 18-20Well Spring Retreat Center in Blanco

It’s time to tune our hearts and get our minds right for the new school year! Come out and enjoy an overnight retreat filled with water games, fellowship, worship, break-out sessions, outdoor activities, and more! Chaperones are needed as well!

Cost is $25 per person and is for grades 6-12. Email or text Matt (matt@oakhillumc.org) to sign up or for more information.

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GO! Day Scheduled Aug. 19 Attention, mission-minded folks—Saturday, Aug. 19, will be another GO! Day at Oak Hill UMC. Join us as we serve our community in mission. Here are some opportunities:

• Dick Nichols Park/Circle C/Williamson Creek cleanup• Paint or plant at Burke Foundation• Central Texas Food Bank Kyle distribution• Cookies for teachers• ARCH meal serving (Friday, Aug. 25)

Check out the sign-up table in the Narthex!

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Go Tubing with the UMMSaturday, Aug. 26San Marcos

The United Methodist Men (UMM) have planned a tubing trip for Saturday, Aug. 26, in lieu of our August breakfast meeting. The plan is to meet at the church around 8-ish for a “grab & go” breakfast and then car/van pool to San Marcos for the tubing adventure. Details for this event and sign-up will be available in the Narthex this Sunday and the following Sunday. Join us!

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Trustees CornerMuch has been accomplished this summer toward maintenance of our facilities. Some highlights include:

• Assimilation of our new Facilities Administrator, Daniel Urrutia, with the help of Adam Matustik (our go-to interim), other staff members, and several trustees who were performing contracting management duties.

• Bringing on two new trustees, Liz Armstrong and Amy Jackson, who replaced two of our Board members who resigned for health reasons.

• Cleared several roads in back area for better accessibility and moved boulders to front driveway border to preclude parking on sprinkler heads. Thanks to Art Barkis and his machinery.

• Cleanup of our two large storm water retention ponds (in correction of City of Austin citation).• Repair of five AC units.• Extensive landscaping work in trimming ornamental bushes and trees, clearing brush, treating weeds, and removing leaves and

rocks. Included clearing for playground safety and expansion.• Plan for three additional playground areas. Sandbox built in front of Children’s Bldg. Fencing to be installed soon with funding by

the preschool dedicated account.• Power washing of mildew from outside walls of Sanctuary and HVAC walls.• Repainting of Pastor Laura’s office.• Extensive work on mapping and repairs to irrigation system. Work started in April, problems found to be much more extensive

than anticipated, and finish hoped for in later August. Work being performed by volunteers (saving many $ thousands). More on this when complete.

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Stewardship Corner“Giving is always extravagant, life changing, and joyous as witnessed by God’s self-giving in Christ’s death and resurrection.” — from “Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations” by Robert Schnase

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Reconciling CornerI haven’t had much time to write the column this week so I thought I would just share this prayer I found on the Reconciling Ministries website. I hope you find it as moving as I do.

Dear God of Inclusion, God of Love. God of Justice and God of All,

We pray that you listen to the cries of our hearts, Oh Lord. We cry out for justice in our communities and acceptance in our homes and churches.

We pray that you change the judgmental hearts of your people. Grant those who are hurting the strength to carry on. Allow your love to mend and heal the precious hearts that have been broken, torn, and abused.

Allow your sweet peace to rest among the lives in turmoil caused by a lack of acceptance and understanding. Transform your church-es, Dear God, and let them not be buildings of condemnation but sanctuaries of love and acceptance of your children.

Bless the hearts of those who are yearning to belong in your Kingdom. Teach us all to love without discrimination and without judg-ment. Let our lights shine brightly in the dark places. Teach us to live and exist in unity as you have created us.

Guide us to speak up for the voiceless and to stand up for those who are facing injustices. As we push towards inclusion and justice we pray that your love breaks down every barrier that pushes back against us. We pray these things with pure hearts of love and grati-tude for the blessings, inclusion, and justice that is to come.

Amen

Written by Rhys Caraway, a queer black man of faith.From: A Season of Becoming. Restoring and being restored for the transformation of the church and world. A daily Lenten devotional from Reconciling Ministries Network.

To join the Reconciling Ministries Network go to: www.rmnetwork.org/join.

Patti CharltonReconciling Team Chairpcharlton1@austin.rr.com

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Two Members Become Stephen Ministry LeadersAlana Oehler (below left) and Diana Goodloe were commissioned at the 11:15 a.m. service on July 30 as new Stephen Ministry Leaders. Diana and Alana attended 50 hours of training in early July and have joined the leadership team to help organize, teach, and supervise our Stephen Ministers. The leadership is necessary for the Oak Hill UMC Stephen Ministers to continue to minister to hurting people in our congregation and community. Please pray for Diana and Alana and all your Stephen Ministers.

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“Young at Heart Travelers” PresentationMonday, Aug. 216:30 p.m.Adult Education Building, Room A203

You’re invited to enjoy a slide show presentation for the group’s next tour: “Discover Croatia, Slovenia, and the Adriatic Coast!” The dates are April 7-18, 2018 — 12 days of fun, fellowship, and fantastic scenery!

• Experience the wonder of 16 cascading lakes at Croatia’s Plitvice Lakes National Park• Spend three nights in Dubrovnik, “the pearl of the Adriatic” (see photo below)• Stroll through Split to see the famous Diocletian’s Palace• Take a “Pletna” boat to the picturesque island in the center of Lake Bled

For more information, please contact Kathy or Joe Gathright at (512) 288-0957 or kgath@aol.com.

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Oak Hill United Methodist Church7815 Highway 290 WestAustin, TX 78736www.oakhillumc.org

The Cornerstone (USPS 012-959) is published by Oak Hill United Methodist Church at 7815 Hwy. 290 W., Austin, TX 78736. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Cornerstone, 7815 Hwy. 290 W., Austin, TX 78736. This newsletter issues weekly. Subscription rate: $12/year. OHUMC office hours are 9 a.m. -5 p.m. M-Th and 9 a.m.-noon Friday. Submit announcements and articles to cornerstone@oakhillumc.org.

Ministers All members of Oak Hill UMCPastors Jim Roberts Katy Fitzgold

Laura Smith AdamDirector of Music Ministries Suzanne PenceAssociate Director of Music Ministries Kati CoxPathways Worship Leader Greg GrahamHandbell Choir Director & Accompanist Cathy IngersollDirector of Preschool Ministries Jennifer BarkisDirector of Children’s Ministries Jenny HolmDirector of Youth Ministries Matt VillegasFinancial Administrator Angie BraggFacilities Administrator Daniel UrrutiaOffice Manager Kathy WilliamsonDirector of Communications Don KerrAudio/Video Technician Evan Ingersoll

Mark Your Calendars!Sunday, Aug. 13 — Oak Hill 101 (10 a.m., Jim’s office)Saturday, Aug. 19 — Go! DaySunday, Aug. 20 — Blessing of the BackpacksSaturday, Aug. 26 — Tubing with the UMMSunday, Aug. 27 — Promotion SundaySunday, Aug. 27 — Youth SundaySunday, Aug. 27 — Church Council MeetingSunday, Sept. 10 — UMW Sunday