Luke chapter 10 tells the story of the sisters Mary and Martha of Bethany, who provided hospitality to Jesus and the disciples. At Oconee Street UMC, we had our very own Mary and Martha who embodied that spirit of hospitality through their work at Our Daily Bread: Mary Weisenburg, who coordinated Our Daily Bread for 14 years, and Martha Collins, … Read the rest
OSUMC will practice radical hospitality and intergenerational discipleship so that lives and the community are transformed by God’s love.
-Oconee Street UMC Vision Statement
What now?
You have the vision statement in front of you, so be in prayer for how we will inhabit it and be challenged by it. Aaron Farnham challenged the church to read Luke leading up … Read the rest
Dear Church,
This past Sunday I preached on “radical hospitality.” Radical hospitality is understanding that our belonging is tied up in the belonging of others; it is recognizing the call to give up our power or ownership in spaces we inhabit; it is welcome informed by the pursuit of justice. There are many ways that churches can practice radical hospitality, … Read the rest
Dear Church,
As promised, here are some of the “too technical to include in a sermon” details of what to expect the next few weeks as we learn about our vision. As was mentioned at the vision day, this is a short term vision; it will guide us for the next couple of years in setting measurable goals but is … Read the rest
OSUMC Racial Justice Task Force invites you to an Evening at the Museum on Thursday, July 28, 2022 at the Georgia Museum of Art. We will be viewing, experiencing and reflecting on two specific exhibits at the museum, “Carrie Mae Weems: The Usual Suspects” and “Call and Response,” a collection of works by African American artists. After, we’ll gather for … Read the rest
Supporting U-Lead Athens is part of the immigrant justice mission of Oconee Street UMC. U-Lead Athens began in August 2014 to provide college mentoring, access, and scholarships to Athens-Clarke and adjacent county students who are un(der)documented immigrants (and thus banned from UGA and charged three to four times in-state tuition elsewhere) or children of immigrants.
U-Lead would not exist without the … Read the rest
— By JoBeth Allen —
I didn’t know this biblical history, recounted in Ezra 6:1-12. “Jerusalem receives reparations when the people return after exile: King Darius uses the royal treasury to fulfill the reparations even though he was not the king who forced them to abandon their homeland. It was not King Darius’ personal wrongdoing that caused … Read the rest
Today is the day when we give to causes that work toward mercy and justice. While good causes abound, here are a few of the efforts that Oconee Street UMC invests in with time and money. We invite you to learn more about them and donate as you are able.
WHAT THEY DO: ARK is an Athens-based organization … Read the rest
Athens-Clarke Commissioner Russell Edwards recently said that he has not heard from citizens who support a proposed Community Police Oversight Office as much as he has heard from those who oppose its creation. As a result, Edwards has questioned the wisdom of moving forward with the proposal which developed in response to 2018 incidents of police officer use of force … Read the rest
David was glad to be out of jail and anxious to get back to his job in a restaurant. However, he was having severe pains in his hands, feet, and back, making it difficult to be on his feet for an entire shift. He went to the energy room to get a diagnosis and treatment but was unsuccessful. Through our … Read the rest