Judy Russell: Oshkosh churches offer hospitality and more during EAA AirVenture week

It’s EAA AirVenture week in Oshkosh and at least two of the city’s churches offer hospitality and more to visiting aviators, missionary pilots and tourists.

The second floor of the Parish Center at the Sacred Heart site of St. Jude Parish is transformed into a “hotel” for visitors. The parish offers “a peaceful place to stay” and says it is known “for our homemade goodies for breakfast.” The variety of breakfast items, depending on the day, may include a hot dish, juice, fruit, bars and cookies.

But during EAA AirVenture the parish is best known for its many years of operating the “Sacred Heart Food Booth — the best food booth in town,” which opens July 21 near the main entrance to the air show grounds and is open through July 28, when the event wraps up. The booth offers a variety of items, and seating is provided in a large tent adjacent to the booth, which is also near the main bus stop on the grounds. Normal hours for the booth are 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Another church, Wesley United Methodist of Oshkosh, has been involved for the last eight years in preparing and serving a dinner meal for missionary pilots of the Mission Aviation Support Association. This year, church volunteers will serve the MASA meal from 3 to 8 p.m. July 25 on the AirVenture grounds.

In its monthly newsletter, Wesley noted many of these pilots have been attending what is now called AirVenture (formerly EAA Fly-In) for more than 30 years to make connections with the aviation community. The current annual number of guests at the dinner meal averages around 200, but in some past years hospitality was provided to approximately 400 missionaries and their families.

More Judy Russell:Click here for more faith columns by Judy Russell

• The Leadership Conference of Women Religious is offering a Virtual Prayer Space for anyone who wishes to pray for discernment by all during the Republican and Democratic national conventions, and the days surrounding the presidential election. The 24 hours of contemplative prayer contain no presentations or comments. The first days — July 15-18 — have concluded. The next Prayer Space is Aug. 19-22 and the final Prayer Space days are Nov. 4-6. Anyone can join online as the religious women from around the world pray in silence. The prayers are “for discernment of delegates, voters and elected officials, peace and non-violence in the process of nomination and election, and the transformation for each of us in this time of polarization and division.” To join the Virtual Prayer Space, visit bit.ly/VirtualPrayerRM. The LCWR is an association of leaders of congregations of Catholic women religious in the United States. It has its headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland.
• A new free Lunchtime Organ Recital series will take place in Fox Valley churches starting July 31. Each recital is scheduled for 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. The first will feature organist Ethan Mellema at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 200 N. Commercial St., Neenah; Aug. 7 the recital will be at Zion Lutheran Church, 912 N. Oneida St., Appleton, and will feature Donald VerKuilen; and the last recital Aug. 14 will feature Dr. Erich Knapp and take place at First English Lutheran Church, 326 E. North St., Appleton.
• A Cornhole Tournament will be offered for the first time at the St. Mary Church picnic in Omro Aug. 11. The entry fee per team is $20. Teams of two will compete in a bracket-style competition to win all the marbles. Sign up in Marian Hall at the church, 730 Madison Ave. The office phone number is 920-685-2258.
• The next free Community Breakfast at First Presbyterian Church in Oshkosh will run 8 to 10 a.m. July 27 in Magnolia Hall, 110 Church Ave. The breakfast is a cornerstone for connection and support, offering a home-cooked meal “and a starting point for meaningful conversations.” Whether you are seeking assistance, looking to help, or simply want to be part of a community that cares, you are welcome to come. The church is just steps away from the Saturday Oshkosh Downtown Farmers' Market.
• The women of Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church in Oshkosh are collecting for Lutheran World Relief School and Personal Care Kits. They plan to pack these in August for shipping this fall. Drop off donations in the totes outside the church Fellowship Hall, 1860 Wisconsin St. Some items needed for the school kits include 70-sheet notebooks, 16- or 24-count crayon boxes, pencil sharpeners, blunt scissors, unsharpened pencils with erasers, black or blue ballpoint pens (no gel pens), and 12-inch/30-centimeter rulers. Personal care items needed include dark-colored bath towels of 52 inches by 27 inches maximum size, adult tooth brushes in original wrapper, sturdy combs (preferably wide-tooth), and 4- or 5-ounce bar soap in original wrapper. Church office hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays, and the phone number is 920-235-4850.
• Father Micheal D’Souza is one of six new international priests in the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay. For the next few months he will be at Most Blessed Sacrament Parish in Oshkosh being mentored by Pastor Jerry Pastors and Deacon Rick Hocking. The priest is from Hyderabad in the state of Telangana in India. He was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Hyderabad in 2011. He has served as a principal and vice principal at numerous schools, and as a hospital chaplain.

Thought for the Day: Conflict is not necessary if no one wants to fight. Fighting is something we choose to do; it is not something we must do. We can walk away from struggles that will only lose more than they gain.

Judy Russell of Oshkosh writes about happenings at area centers of worship. To submit news for her consideration, email oshkoshsubmit@thenorthwestern.com with the subject “Church news.” Deadline is 5 p.m. Mondays.