Dear OSC family,
Seasons change. As your Co-Lead Pastors, we are reminded of all that has unfolded at OSC over the past twelve months. Just over one year ago, Claire Watson joined our staff as a part-time Youth and Children’s Minister and has now become our nearly full-time Family Minister. Last fall, OSC was immersed in the migrant crisis. Many of you helped us house, feed, and befriend dozens of asylum seekers from across the world in our church. That experience led us to renovate our basement last spring, making it more hospitable and useful for the community. Over the summer, our food pantry grew, adding new distribution days to meet growing community needs. And, of course, this fall we’ve added The Collective Table podcast to provide thoughtful, progressive Christian content and dialogue for our community groups every fall and spring.
There are always more changes coming. Recent shifts in policies for handling homeless encampments, enacted at both the State and local levels, have ramped up OSC’s advocacy for unhoused persons here in Oceanside. Our Justice Works Team is actively engaged in this work. Our worship team is growing, with new leaders stepping up to lead worship as Joey’s travel schedule for his full-time job increases. We are grateful to have so many talented people at OSC.
Perhaps most significantly, November 2024 marks the beginning of OSC’s 150th year. This is an incredible milestone. Our church has existed longer than telephones, record players, or light bulbs! Moreover, our current 5-year strategic plan, called our “Mission Commitment,” expires at the end of our 150th year in December 2025. We think our 150th year is the perfect time to empower our entire congregation to dream about what The Oceanside Sanctuary can become next.
You are invited to be part of that process. Where is the Spirit of God leading us? This is the big question that will enliven our discussions, prayers, and plans in the coming year. At the end of that year-long process, at our 150th birthday party in November 2025, we hope to have a new Mission Commitment, created by all of us, to guide OSC’s next season of life.
Along the way, we are going to celebrate! This is too big a birthday not to stretch it throughout the year. Our first celebration will be directly after church on Sunday, November 17th, when we will celebrate our 149th birthday and kick off our 150th year. We hope you’ll join us!
Blessings,
Jason & Jenell Coker
Co-Lead Ministers
PS: We need a 150th Year party planning team! If you love party-planning and want to help, please click here.