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Bible Studies, Groups, and Committees

Bible Studies

Adult Sunday School Classes (Weekly)

Oakmont Chapel Presbyterian Church offers Sunday School Classes for all adults over the age of 19. Multiple classes are offered giving many study topics options and learning formats. Some current topics of study include: “The Book of Acts”, “How We Got the Bible”, “Scripture Discussion Group”, and “The Case for Christ”. Some learning formats used to teach and direct these classes include: open discussion, PowerPoint presentations, videos, music, books, websites, etc. Below is an explanation of each current  Adult Sunday School class option:

Children’s Sunday School Classes (Weekly)

Oakmont Chapel Presbyterian Church offers Sunday School classes for children 3 years of age to 5th grade. After 5th grade, the child becomes a member of the Oakmont Youth Group. Each age category is divided up into groups, giving appropriate activity and learning differentiation to all children involved. The main purpose of Oakmont Chapel’s Children Sunday School program is to provide all children of the church an individualized approach to learning about God and the love of Jesus Christ through hands-on activities and interactive lessons while developing meaningful and lasting relationships with other children. Children Sunday School classes are offered every Sunday at 9:30am.

Tuesday Night Ladies Bible Study (Weekly)

Each Tuesday night at 6pm a group of ladies gather for prayer, Bible study, fellowship, and support. The group consists of members from Oakmont Chapel and the surrounding community. A mixture of ages, backgrounds, and a broad spectrum of experience as believers can be found within this amazing group of ladies. These ladies seek to study scripture and other materials which will enrich their lives and strengthen their hearts for Christ. While some are new to the faith and some with many years of discipleship, these ladies truly care about each other and are committed to walk alongside one another as they study a variety of topics from Jonah by Priscilla Shirer, to Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxes, to Anxiety-Finding Calm in a Chaotic World by Max Lucado. All ladies, who are serious about growing in their walk with Christ, are welcome to join.

Youth Sunday School Classes (Weekly)

Oakmont Chapel Presbyterian Church offers Youth Sunday School classes for all students 6th grade through 12th grade. Everyone, within the age bracket, is invited to attend and/or join! Oakmont Chapel’s Youth director plans meaningful lessons each week that encourage all Youth Group participants to dig deeper into their faith while also learning about themselves and the world around them. The lessons designed for the Youth use individual and group approaches to strengthen their faith, build their character, and develop skills to make faith-based choices to help create a life that leads to Christian living based on Christian principles.  Youth Sunday School classes are offered every Sunday at 9:30am.

Groups

IGNITE (Twice Monthly)

IGNITE is a twice-monthly Bible study and dinner group for adults who are 25 years of age or older. Each member brings a small dish to share with the group over a discussion and video based on current group study lessons. While all members of IGNITE differ in their walks of life and age, their commonality is to “IGNITE” the love of Christ within themselves and others while also developing a deeper understanding about God, His precious son- Jesus, and the principles of Christian living that promote a life created from making faith-based choices. The members of IGNITE boldly profess their love for our King and His son through study, discussion, fellowship, outreach, and mission projects. IGNITE shares the love of Jesus Christ within their group, with the Body of Believers at Oakmont Chapel, within the Community locally, and within our state. All are welcomed to participate/ join. All study materials are provided. IGNITE meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month.

Presbyterian Men (Twice Monthly)

Presbyterian Men is a bi-weekly Bible study and support group for the men of Oakmont Chapel Presbyterian Church. They meet on the second and forth Wednesdays of each month. Their mission is to lead men into a vital relationship with Christ and assisting them in their spiritual, personal, and community development. The principle avenue for accomplishing their mission is through morning meetings that include breakfast, fellowship, and Bible Study. Each Bible Study session is led by members within the group. The lesson guide plan and resource used is designed by the National Presbyterian Men’s Ministry. Currently, the Presbyterian Men are studying the Gospel of Matthew. Some hallmark church events that the Presbyterian Men are responsible for sponsoring include: the annual Costa’s Valentine dinner and the annual Easter pancake breakfast.

Presbyterian Women (Monthly)

Presbyterian Women is an organization of the women of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) committed to nurturing faith through prayer and Bible study and supporting the church’s mission. Some of the missions the Oakmont Chapel Presbyterian Women (PW) have supported and will continue to support are: 1st Light Women’s Homeless Shelter, Presbyterian Home for Children, Meals on Wheels, Mission Haven, Columbia Friendship Circle, Presbyterian Disaster Relief, PW’s Thank, Birthday and Least Coin offerings and the Oakmont Chapel Vacation Bible School and Youth program. We meet the 1st Tuesday of each month, September through May. Our Bible Study for the 2017-18 year will be “Cloud of Witnesses- The Community of Christ in Hebrews”.  Pw is held on the first Tuesday of each month.

The Oakmont Chapel Choir (Weekly)

The Oakmont Chapel Choir is made up of volunteers from our church family who feel especially called to serve God through their gift of music.   We are a committed group of brothers and sisters who definitely find our place of belonging and encouragement in the choir family.  We meet at 7:00 on Wednesday nights to, not only prepare for our Sunday morning anthems, but spend time together in prayer for each other’s concerns.  Our Music Dedication Day is a special event held in the fall, featuring the many avenues of music available here at Oakmont, such as vocal choirs, chime choir, soloists, ensembles, and instrumentalists.  The Christmas and Easter Seasons are special times of musical memories with Choir Cantatas and Children’s music.   We are always looking for those who are passionate about leading others to worship God through music.  Come join us!!  Practice is every Wednesday night from 7pm until 8pm.

The Oakmont Chapel Youth Group (Weekly)

Our youth program hopes to educate our youth in the Bible and influence them to search out mission work. We work with 5 other Presbyterian churches in the area on Sunday nights. This has given a strength and a following to our Sunday programs that had been missing for a while. We now Spend our times together learning about God and our role in the world and how we can use that role to help others. All our youth and adults feel that the bonds we are growing are helping to not only strengthen us as individuals but to help strengthen our ties to each other in a wonderful way. We hope that when they leave our program we will have left them with a strong basic understanding of Jesus and a need to continue their biblical study for the rest of their lives.

Committees

Adult Education Committee

The Adult Education Committee is charged with providing for adult Christian education at Oakmont Chapel. At present, four adult Sunday School classes, a young adult group, a Presbyterian Men’s group, and a Presbyterian women’s group are offered.

The Adult Education Committee also provides the programs for the weekly Wednesday Suppers. The programs are a mix of brief Bible studies, Church history, speakers from outside mission projects and other topics.  Adult Education tries to provide a variety of study topics and teaching styles while helping us to know and love God better.

Children’s Education Committee

From the time, a child is born or enters the church and is baptized, Oakmont Chapel is geared to support them in their journey on their faith walk. We follow the outline of Oakmont Chapel’s Faith Foundations Booklet (available to parents) for the direction to guide our children. Our adults support them at an early age by showing their love for God and the child by supporting their growth through nursery, Sunday School, Children’s Time, Kid’s Worship, being an Acolyte, Vacation Bible School and other fun activities. The youth also take an active role in guiding the children by interacting with the children.

  • Children’s Sunday School Classes- A nursery and three (3) classes have been provided for newborns through 5th graders. The 3-year old’s through 5th graders begin all together with music, then breaking down into the three (3) classes where they are instructed in learning about God and the Bible. For special music for the church service, our choir director leads, Cheryl Campbell, the children.
  • Children’s Time- Children are led by example. From 3 years old on, a child is exposed to Worship experiences in the Sanctuary.  During Children’s Time, a short message is presented to the children and then they leave to go to Kid’s Worship. On the days of Communion, the children return to the sanctuary to participate in the Lord’s Supper with their parents.
  • Children’s Worship- Provides a message for the children that takes the Children’s Time message and helps the children understand the message, usually followed with a fun craft or game.
  • Easter Egg Hunt- he egg hunt is preceded by the children making Resurrection Rolls, then hearing the story of Easter.
  • Vacation Bible School – is typically held the last week of July with an average of 35 children and numerous adult helpers. The theme each year is faith- based.

Fellowship Committee

The Fellowship Committee works to ensure a strong Christian community is established and maintained at Oakmont Chapel through activities that involve food and fellowship. The Fellowship Committee provides meals for the Wednesday suppers, schedules the Summer Dine Arounds, plans the Annual Christmas Dinner at Bright Star, hosts the after-service meal on Boy Scout Sunday, and Sponsors the Annual Oakmont Chapel Birthday Celebration lunch. The Fellowship Committee also hosts bridal showers, baby showers, and church-wide lunches and dinners. The Committee works hard at menu planning, dealing with caterers, cooking, and after meal clean-up. The Fellowship Committee’s purpose is to make possible a way for church members to enjoy each other’s company while sharing meals and attending events in the love of Jesus Christ.

Mission Committee

The Mission Committee at Oakmont Chapel is very enthusiastic, and active with a goal of serving the needs of God’s people in the world. The purpose of the Mission committee is to organize and lead most of the church wide Mission activities. The projects we do may change from year to year depending on where the needs are greatest. Projects get dropped or added.   Although Oakmont Chapel has a designated Mission Committee, all members of Oakmont Chapel are encouraged to participate in all mission projects and Oakmont Chapel members always give generously. Our projects over the last few years have included:

  • Mission Mardi Gras Party:   A party with food, a jazz band made up of Oakmont Chapel members, a parade, and silent and live auctions. This party is a chance to socialize, have fun and raise money which usually goes to foreign missions such as Bibles, water filters, malaria vaccines, and mosquito netting for the Congo.   We also have given to domestic projects, such as house building in Appalachia.
  • One Great Hour of Sharing– This is a worldwide offering usually collected on Easter Sunday for disaster relief around the world.
  • Hope Lodge- Provide dinner at Hope Lodge, which offers housing assistance for cancer patients and their families.
  • Pentecost Canpaign– This starts in May and usually ends in July. In remembrance of Pentecost, we collect nonperishable foods and monetary donation for a local food bank.
  • Lunch fundraiser- for the Presbyterian Home for Children
  • Operation Christmas Child Shoe Boxes– Church members donate toys, school supplies, and personal hygiene items for shoe boxes to be sent around the world by Samaritan’s Purse. We also collect money for shipping.   All church members are invited on a Saturday in mid-November to help pack the boxes.   In 2016, we packed 163 boxes.
  • Harvest Festival- Mission cooks and serves the food for the Harvest Festival.
  • Centsability– On the 2nd Sunday of every month we collect a special offering for hunger.
  • Presbyterian Home for Children- Mission members decorate a cottage at the Presbyterian Home for Children the first Saturday in December.   Other church members are invited to help.
  • Oakmont Chapel ESL Classes- Oakmont Chapel hosts an English as a Second Language program sponsored by the presbytery.

Oakmont Chapel Session and Elders

The Presbyterian Church takes the form of government practiced by the first century church.  The church elects and ordains its own presbyters or Elders.  The government of the Presbyterian Church is representative, and the right of God’s people to elect Elders is inalienable.

Elders are men and women elected by the congregation from among its members.  The nomination and election of Elders shall express the diversity of the congregation’s membership.  The qualities of an Elder should demonstrate a person of strong faith, dedicated discipleship, and love of Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.  Elders are elected to serve terms of three (3) years.

The Session is the body of Elders elected to lead the congregation.  The Pastor serves as the Session’s moderator.  The Session has the responsibility for governing the congregation and guiding it, so that the congregation is and becomes a community of faith, hope, love, and witness.

The Session has responsibility and power to:

  • Provide that the Word of God maybe truly preached and heard.  This responsibility includes providing a place where the congregation may regularly gather for worship, education, and spiritual nurture. planning and leading efforts to reach into the community and the world with the message of salvation.
  • Provide that the Sacraments be rightly administered and received.  This responsibility includes authorizing the celebration of the Lord’s Supper and the administration of Baptism.
  • Nurture the covenant community of disciples of Christ.  This responsibility includes all aspects of membership; providing programs of nurture, education, and fellowship; encouraging faithful stewardship of personal and financial resources; managing the physical property of the congregation for the furtherance of its mission; leading the congregation in participating in the mission of the whole church; prepares and adopts a budget and determines the distribution of the congregation’s benevolences.

The Oakmont Chapel Presbyterian Church Session holds stated meetings monthly. Special meetings may be called as deemed necessary.  Minutes are recorded for all Session and congregational meetings.

Outreach Committee

The Outreach Committee of Oakmont Chapel Presbyterian Church seeks to demonstrate God’s love by promoting church programs and special opportunities at Oakmont Chapel. The committee reaches out, invites, and engages visitors by publicizing our events and activities through utilizing all forms of marketing and media. The Outreach Committee strives reach out and share the “Good News” and love of Jesus Christ with the neighboring community. We also welcome newcomers and aim to provide opportunities for all to participate in the life of our congregational family.

Pastoral Care Committee

The Pastoral Care Committee is composed of a group of nurturing members who meet monthly under the guidance of our minister. Our committee seeks to keep up with situations of need among our members through information from the church office and word of mouth. Here are some of the ways our committee reaches out to current and prospective members:

  • Visiting our shut-in members.
  • Placing prayer and suggestion cards in the sanctuary pews to be collected in offering plates or dropped in designated collection boxes.
  • Evaluating members’ attendance.
  • Greeting and contacting visitors.
  • Sending cards to the sick and those in need of encouragement.
  • Offering communion periodically to our shut-in members.
  • Sending birthday cards each month to our members and regular visitors.

Property Committee

The Property Committee is responsible for the care, upkeep, repair and refurbishing of the building, the grounds and the contents of the building. Monthly fire checks of the extinguishers, exit lighting and emergency lighting are done in compliance with fire regulations for “commercial” buildings. Members of this committee do as many of the maintenance repairs as possible so that costs of such items are kept to a minimum.  This committee is in search of younger members of the congregation who can assist in keeping our church attractive and a desirable place to worship and interact with members and visitors. Those seeking an opportunity to serve the church in this manner are always welcome.

Stewardship Committee

The Stewardship Committee provides blessings to Church Members by encouraging and challenging them to generously give to the Church of their time, talents, and monetary resources. Our purpose is to support Oakmont Chapel Presbyterian Church and it’s Missions by informing the membership of needs and missions, encouraging fiscal support, and providing accountability for their gifts of time, talent and money. The committee also timely reports and communicates the financial status each month through treasury reports to the Session which are available to members and the public.

The committee accomplishes the above by conducting an annual Stewardship Campaign, by preparing an annual draft budget for Session approval, by reporting member’s tithes and offerings, by requesting committee and other member inputs on needs, and by assisting the Treasurer in all financial aspects of the Church. We also provide written interim reports and oral stewardship minutes for the congregation. Future Goals for the Stewardship Committee include providing for a balanced budget, reduction of our long-term loan, continued monetary accountability, and the preparation of draft three and five year.

Technology Crew

The Oakmont Chapel Presbyterian Church Tech Crew enhances each church service and/or special church event through PowerPoint presentations, video recordings, lighting in the sanctuary, and controlling of sounds heard through speakers and from microphones. The Tech Crew helps each service flow smoothly from one transition to another by providing a meaningful and modern use of technology. This group of members works diligently behind the scenes to provide all people at Oakmont Chapel with a communicative and inviting experience.

 

At Oakmont Chapel, everyone is encouraged to use his or her time and talents. Most church activities are coordinated by our committees. If you are interested and want to learn more, ask any of the church staff.