The Place 2B: helping, providing hope, changing lives, living the gospel

Judy Russell
·7 min read

The latest newsletter from Father Carr’s Place 2B in Oshkosh tells about some of the special events in which the ministry participated, or offered, this summer, including having a Father Carr’s Breakfast Stand on the EAA AirVenture grounds for the first time.

Jim Boehm, executive director, also revealed that “requests for shelter and transitional housing are increasing. Since June 1 we have invited 36 men and 46 women and children to stay with us in The Bethlehem Inn and be part of our Life Enrichment Program. In the same time, we had 29 residents, having been part of our LEP, secure their own housing and move out.”

“Our LEP provides the structure our residents need to improve their physical, mental, financial and spiritual health,” Boehm wrote.

Since June 1, the center’s food pantry provided weekly groceries to 4,620 people. The Our Daily Bread program serves 25 to 40 people each day for those who need a meal, sandwich or loaf of bread for the day. The Saint Francis Free Clinic saw a record number of patients. Its services are expanding, and there is hope to add dentistry in the near future. The clinic has more than 60 volunteers, 23 of them being health providers.

Regarding the breakfast stand during AirVenture, he wrote, “We served breakfast every morning during the air show, from 5 to 10 a.m. Chef Larry London created a menu with great variety, some classic breakfast ingredients and a hometown Wisconsin flavor. Every time a ‘Sheboygan Breakfast Bowl’ was ordered, the Charlie Berens imitators let us know. Our early-morning breakfast patrons acknowledged the work Father Carr’s does. They asked good questions and thanked us for being there to serve them and the impoverished community of Oshkosh. A big thank you to the volunteers who bravely showed up every morning before sunrise to help out.”

There is much more ministry at the Place 2B, much of it not generally known to the general public. We’ll try to tell you some more of it in the future.

Check out some upcoming Oshkosh area church and religion events:

  • The 10th annual Pet Blessing/Pet Remembrance Service, offered by the Animal Ministries Group of First Congregational Church in Oshkosh, will be this Saturday, starting a 10 a.m. This service will be held in conjunction with FCC’s neighbor, Trinity Episcopal Church, 203 Algoma Blvd. If your pet is well-behaved, bring it with you. Animals should be on a leash or crated, and be current on all vaccinations. Participants also can bring a photo, their pet’s favorite toy, or another remembrance item if they can’t bring their pet. Attendees can park in either of the church lots. The service is free, but donations of cash or most-needed animal shelter items will be collected for the Oshkosh Area Humane Society.

  • Kick off your autumn with a free performance by “two tremendous tuba players” at noon Tuesday in the sanctuary of First Congregational Church, 137 Algoma Blvd., Oshkosh. Professor Marty Erickson will be joined by Devin Otto, UW-Oshkosh tuba faculty, in the 37-minute offering. After the music, there will be a luncheon in Fellowship Hall. The meal will include two kinds of homemade soup, a variety of homemade breads, salad, desserts and coffee. Because First Tuesday is self-funding, it is suggested that those partaking in the meal donate $8 per person to defray costs.

  • In the second program of the Lakeside Speakers Series of 2023-24, the presenter will be Father Michael Maher, SJ, who will speak on the Knights of Columbus’ history of promoting civil rights. Maher is adjunct instructor of history at Marquette University, Milwaukee. His presentation, open to the public, will be 6:30 to 8 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Jesuit Retreat House. Refreshments will be served. The retreat house, which sponsors this series, is on Lake Winnebago, 4800 Fahrnwald Road, 6 miles south of Oshkosh on Highway 45. Admission is free, but donations are accepted. RSVP is appreciated, but not required. Call 920-231-9060, or email office@jesuitretreathouse.org. Presentations are in the Loyola Lounge or St. Ignatius Chapel.

  • The Rev. Nancy Taylor, pastor of First Congregational Church in Oshkosh, has announced that she will retire at the end of August 2024. The goal is to find a new pastor to start by Sept. 1, 2024, and only use a Bridge Pastor if needed.

  • CEM Promotions is sponsoring a free concert by the Siegmann Family Band at 12:30 p.m. Oct. 8 at Countryside Christian Church, 1483 Burr Oak Road, Oshkosh. The band of singers and instrumentalists has a repertoire that includes southern gospel and bluegrass Christian music. On Oct. 13, CEM is sponsoring a free concert by King’s Conquest, a Christian band, at River Shores Church, 2535 Church St., Berlin. King’s Conquest is a 2023 Wisconsin Area Music Industry Award winner for Best Christian Band in the state.

  • There is one position remaining in the Handbell Choir for the fall season at First Presbyterian Church in Oshkosh. No previous music experience is required to be part of the choir. All you need is a desire to learn more about the bells; the ability to participate in weekly rehearsals, 6:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays in the Westminster Room of the church, and the ability to ring in worship, as scheduled on six Sundays, September through May. If interested, or if you have questions, email Mary Willadsen at handbells@oshkoshpresbyterians.org, or call the church office at 920-235-6180.

  • Two Catholic parishes are sponsoring pilgrimages on Oct. 13. St. Jude’s outing will be to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse. The cost of $65 includes transportation, lunch at the shrine’s Culina Mariana Café, tour of the church, and time for Stations of the Cross, the rosary, or exploring the grounds with the beautiful fall colors. The group will depart at 7 a.m. from the Sacred Heart parking lot. To register, call the parish office, 920-235-7412, or email rsaley@stjudeoshkosh.org. St. Mary Parish/Winneconne is offering a Pilgrimage to Holy Hill, including transportation, lunch and all activities of the day for $50. The bus departs at 8:15 a.m. Register by Oct. 5 by calling the parish office, 920-582-7712. The group will depart from the church, 210 Pleasant Drive.

  • The food ministry (Birdie’s Box) at Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church, 1860 Wisconsin St., Oshkosh, is in particular need of peanut butter, canned meat, cereal, oatmeal and dry goods. Cash donations also are welcome so volunteers can shop for the items most needed at any particular time.

  • The book chosen for the Fall Bible Study at St. Jude Parish is “God is a Man of War: The Problem of Violence in the Old Testament,” by Father Stephen De Young. The book, according to the parish, “offers a fresh interpretation of Old Testament accounts of violence by exploring them through the twofold lens of Christian tradition and historical context.” Sessions begin Monday, from 8:30 to 10 a.m., and end Nov. 13, in Leannah Hall at the Sacred Heart site. To register for the study, or just to order the book, contact Rob Saley at the parish office, 920-235,7412.

  • Local charities will benefit when Altrusa International Club of Oshkosh hosts a Quarter Rama on Oct. 15 at La Sure’s Banquet Hall, 3125 S. Washburn St. The $26 ticket includes a brunch buffet and one bidding paddle. The doors open at 9:30 a.m., brunch starts at 10:30 a.m., and the bidding starts at 11:30 a.m. Tickets are available from Altrusa members and at Travel Leaders and West Pointe Bank.

Thought for the Day: This, too, shall pass … now would be good.

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.

If you missed Judy's column last week: Sanctuary ‘playground’ at Peace Lutheran aims to enhance kids’ worship

This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Father Carr's helps provide food, health care, housing