Life Together

Weekly Potluck

“The risen Christ eats. Indeed he makes a point of doing so publicly. ‘They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it before them.’ Eating in the presence of God is our future. Food will be part of the renewed creation. Food is not left behind with the resurrection. References to a future feast are not just metaphors for our future existence. Our future is a real feast.” -Tim Chester, A Meal with Jesus

A key component of Oak Church’s Sunday morning ministry is a weekly potluck to nourish all attendees physically, socially, and spiritually. All are invited to partake and everyone who is able is encouraged to generously bring enough food to feed not just your self or your own family but plenty to extend hospitality to strangers and visitors.

Community Garden

One of the first things we did as a new church was to plant a garden. This garden signifies the hope, healing, and hospitality in and through Christ we long to experience and express. It also represents our rootedness in Lakewood and will doubtlessly provide many opportunities for creative collaboration, care, and feasting.

We gather each Sunday evening at 5:00pm to tend to the garden. All are welcomed! Contact Nancy Breslin with questions.

Mustard Seed Groups

Jesus once told a story likening the Kingdom of Heaven to a tiny mustard seed that then grows into maturity in size and stature for the sake of the “birds of the air.” It is our hope that Oak Church exists throughout the week, scattered as Mustard Seeds, growing as small local kingdom outcroppings, places where God’s reign and rule is present, groups of people growing in hope, healing, and hospitality in and through Christ together, little enclaves that provide shade, safety and flourishing to our neighbors around us, colonies of the kingdom where we grow closer to each other and to our King.

Click here to hear the The Kingdom is Like…A Mustard Seed (sermon on 9/20/15).

Contact Rachel Breslin to find a group.

Midweek Morning Prayer

“To clasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world.” -Karl Barth

Each week we gather on the front steps of Oak Church, hot or cold, rain or shine, to pray for our neighbors and each other. We long together that God’s Kingdom might come and his will be done, in Durham as it is in Heaven. Aided by Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals, we gather from 7:30am-8:15am on Wednesday mornings to hear God’s Word. All are welcome and coffee (and sometimes a pastry) is provided.

Oak Arts

Throughout summer of 2016 and into the fall a group of artists and creatives from Oak Church collaborated in a mixed media worship arts project. On October 30, 2016, they presented a new communion table, textiles, pottery, & music as we explored the “Give Us the Bread We Need for Today” petition from the Lord’s Prayer.

Next: TBA

Hi Everyone,

After our meeting on Saturday, I’ve felt inspired and excited to start my next project! In this meeting, I shared a little about Alabama Chanin‘s method of producing hand-sewn, cotton jersey garments, sourced sustainably and within Alabama from seed to fabric. Alabama Chanin’s style uses a combination of traditional quilting stitches, stenciling, applique, and reverse applique. For our next meeting, we will try our hand as some of these sewing techniques. Below, I have listed some basic supplies you may want to bring, but I will have extra in case you aren’t able to go out and get your own. Either way, there will be plenty of supplies for everyone to try their hand at some of these techniques and possibly inspire your next project.
Also, if you’re curious to know more about Alabama Chanin and founder, Natalie Chanin, here is a podcastwhere she shares her story and business model. And if you’re really nerding-out on Natalie Chanin (like me) here’s another from The Moth.
Basic Supplies for Stitching
I will have copies of instructions for how to make different types of stitches.
  • 100% cotton jersey fabric (I believe Alex had some to bring. I found some at the Scrap Exchange. Feel free to bring an old T-shirt to deconstruct as well)
  • Button craft thread – sturdy and slick enough to hold cotton jersey together and provide a showy stitch
  • Embroidery floss – for embellishments
  • Sewing needles – preferably #9 sharps, embroidery, or milliners needles
  • thimble
  • rubber finger caps
  • pins
  • fabric scissors
  • rotary cutter + cutting mat (I have this and will plan to bring. Perhaps we could use a couple rotary cutting stations?)
Stenciling Supplies
With the aid of Erin’s cricket, we may also get into some stenciling. Alabama Chanin uses stencils to make applique and reverse applique designs.
  • Permanent or textile markers
  • Textile paint
  • Clean spray bottles with adjustable nozzles, for spraying textile paint onto fabric
  • Butcher paper (for masking off areas that don’t require stenciling or to place between layers of a T-shirt)
  • 4″ embroidery scissors, for small detailed applique work
Let me know if I’ve forgotten anything or you can think of any additional supplies that may be helpful. I’m super excited! Here are some inspiration pictures for your pleasure.

During the Lenten season of preparation for Holy Week 2015, each Sunday we explored one of Jesus’ final words from the cross paired with an original piece of visual art by Nate Hood.