Thank you Missions Team for a great Kenya Come to Silly Saturday Supper!  Click here for pictures and here for Kenyan Feast recipes.

OPC's Partnership with Kithino Parish in Kenya

We have embarked on an exciting venture - the establishment of a partnership with the Kithino Parish in Kenya. This is part of Blackhawk Presbytery's Kenyan Network program. It is all new to us. Click here for some general guidelines we have received about establishing partnerships.

On July 24, 2010 our own Deanna Drake visited Kithino Parish in Kenya. Click here to see the Power Point Presentation she used in her meeting with them.

On March 5, 2011 we had a Kenya Come to Silly Saturday Supper event which included some great Kenyan Foods (click here for recipes used), a "story telling" and some fun games for kids of all ages.

On Sunday, March 6, 2011 Deanna Drake was with us for both worship services and the Word Alive! adult Sunday School class. Thanks so much Deanna for sharing about your experiences in Kenya and particularly about your visit to Kithino Parish  For a brief time we were even on the phone with Rev. Kaburu. M’nyiri until we lost the phone connection.

Recent Communications

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Letter sent Nov. 18, 2010 to the Kithino Parish:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Kithino Parish,

Greetings to you in the name of Christ!

 Fall has come to Oswego.  The air is cool and crisp in the mornings and the bright autumn sun reflects off the trees in vibrant colors of red and yellow and brown. The days are much shorter and soon it will be dark when we go to work and when we come home.  Jesus is the light of the world and we think about that especially this time of year.

 With the change in season we are reminded that advent is nearly upon us.  Advent is always a special time at Oswego Presbyterian, but this year doubly so because it is the first Christmas in our new sanctuary... Praise be to God!

 Always in our hearts is the mission of the Kithino Parish, which you shared with us in your greeting.  We pray for God’s guidance as you minister to the needs of your churches and community.  We pray for God’s abundance as you expand your congregations and churches.

 On October 3rd  - World Communion Sunday – Pastor Jack talked about the meaning of communion to the fellowship of Christians worldwide and in Discovery Time (the children’s sermon) Pastor Terry, using a globe of the earth, talked about how far it is from Oswego to Kithino; that even across such a great distance we are still in “communion” with you... we eat the same bread and drink the same wine.

 Deanna was at our worship service on October 3rd and brought with her welcome greetings from the Kithino Parish.  To commemorate the occasion we joined together in lighting the fellowship candle Deanna brought with her.  We will be lighting the candle at special occasions during the year to remind us of our brothers and sisters in Kithino Parish.  Meanwhile we, too, will keep the light of the fellowship candle burning in our hearts.

 As you pray for us we have two particular requests:

- We are in the process of discerning the needs of our congregation related to the position of Associate Pastor.  Please pray for hearts open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

- The churches in our community are starting a homeless shelter which will be open during the coldest part of the year (October – April).  Please pray for generous support for these people in need.

In addition we continue to pray for Deanna Drake as she begins her seminary journey and for the vocation of Rev. Brenda as she nurtures the Kenya Partnership.  May God bless them both.

            “We trust in God the Holy Spirit, everywhere the giver and renewer of life.  The Spirit justifies us by grace through faith, sets us free to accept ourselves and to love God and neighbor, and binds us together with all believers in the one body of Christ, the Church.”        – A Brief Statement of Faith (PCUSA)           

Keep the Faith! 

Pastor Terry Hennesy

Pastor Jack Lilley

Elder Ted Mathewson

The People of Oswego Presbyterian Church

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On August 24, 2010 Ted Mathewson, our Kenyan partner contact, received the following email:

PCEA KITHINO PARISH

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF EAST AFRICA

P O BOX 37- 60202

NKUBU      

22ND AUGUST 2010

 

Dear Brethrens in Oswego U.S.A,

 

We greet you all in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

 

With a lot of joy and gratitude do remember that this great day that our partnership was launched.  We owe our compliments to Deanna Drake and Rev Brenda who acted as a link between us and your church in U.S.A.

 

We are glad too, to learn that Deanna Drake arrived back in U.S.A safely after a very moving and inspiring sermon here.  The candle that was lit to mark the beginning of or partnership is still burning in our hearts.

 

Our annual church calendar is coming to an end in 30th September 2010 as such we are involved in various activities to wind up the year:-

  1. Church school music and drama festival competitions are being held this August 2010 for four days.
  2. Regional Women’s’ Guild Convention was concluded this Sunday.
  3. The final Parish gathering meeting was held on 15th August 2010 to raise money for maintenance of Ministry Fund (M.M.F) .
  4.  Various lay church leaders and group leaders’ election are kicking off next Sunday.

It is our hope that we shall continue to remember and pray for each other to strengthen our partnership.  

 

God bless you long live our partnership  

 

REV KABURU I. M’NYIRI

PARISH MINISTER.