Volunteers Needed: VBS time is coming fast. We will be holding VBS on June 22 thru 26 in the evening. Please consider helping with this great Mission. Contact Dyan Stevenson at 610-998-0307. Go here to the VBS page for more info..

Empty Boxes are needed -- We are in need of empty boxes that would be suitable to build a biblical city for VBS.  Try to make them appr. 2-4 ft long and high.  Please bring them into the church office and they will be taken care of.

Blood Pressures -- Next Week

Sunday, June 29th at 4:00 pm -- the Oxford Art Series will be hosting Genia Maslov, a violinist.  (Daughter of the Maslov's who performed the piano duo in January).  Genia studies at Julliard and has performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra.

July 11th (due to the July 4th Holiday) First Friday Lunch Brunch  meets at the church at 11:15 to head towards the Tidewater Inn in Havre De Grace, Maryland.   Please Sign up in the Church office if you will be attending.

August 2 -- NOMADS picnic -- Mark your calendars for the August 2nd NOMADS summer picnic at the Home of Barb and Steve Hill.  Contact John and Margo Kraybill if you are available to attend.  Contact info is 610-345-0833 Kraybill@verizon.net.  See the July Lamplighter for more info.

The Rev. D. Kerry Slinkard.

            Kerry, ordained in 1989, holds a Master of Divinity degree from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary.  He was a Pastor for nine years in Dallas, TX, and was most recently the Associate Pastor at First P.C. in Newark, Delaware.  Kerry is a l973 engineering graduate from Washington University in St. Louis, and worked in product design, sales and market research before owning printing and graphic arts businesses for five years.  It was during his active membership at the Woodlands Community Presbyterian Church in The Woodlands, Texas, that he responded to a persistent call to the ministry.  Kerry has been married to Lisa for thirteen years.  They have a daughter, Yujie (5), adopted from China.  Kerry’s two children, Ellie (26) and Matt (23), from his previous marriage live in San Antonio.

            Kerry has demonstrated a gift for ministering to congregations that are seeking change by being able to identify the issues, articulate a vision for addressing them, and work with the congregation to achieve a new beginning.  During his first pastorate he facilitated the merger of two congregations, becoming their pastor after the merger.  At First Church, Kerry designed a consolidated organization for the committees and ministries of the church, and most recently re-structured the Associate Pastor’s call to include serving as Presbyterian Campus Minister for the University of Delaware.

            We have found that Kerry relates well to all age groups in the church, and he sees addressing the needs of younger members and families in the church today as a major challenge.  The significant growth of Oxford and the surrounding area – much of that growth comprised of young and growing families – provides a wonderful opportunity to re-focus our ministries to better address these new families, blending the traditional activities of our church with their spiritual and social needs.

            Kerry has been active at the Presbytery level.  He re-wrote the Stated Rules of Grace Presbytery and the constitution for the Texas Conference of Churches.  He has served on and moderated two Presbytery Councils, and has served on both the Committee on Ministry and the Committee on Preparation for Ministry.  We believe these skills will be of value in enabling Kerry to organize the church for new growth and broader ministry to individuals in the congregation and the community.

            Kerry has a preaching style that is personal and relevant to the church and community today.  He likes to take advantage of “teachable moments” for individual spiritual development in small group settings.  We hope his music talents will also enhance the worship service and broaden our outreach in this area. 

            We are confident you will agree that Kerry is an excellent choice to lead Oxford Presbyterian Church into a new era of ministry and service to the Lord. 

                                    In Christ together,          The Pastor Nominating Committee