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(Note on Images - For Advent, we will be featuring the photography of Steve Gifford. Steve shares, "After being diagnosed with Parkinson's at the age of 36, I took up wildlife photography and have been enjoying it ever since. God has richly blessed us along the way and opened many doors as we enjoy His creation and share its beauty with others through pictures." The above images are inspired by Jesus' words from Mark 13:24-37)
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Join Us for Worship at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday!
1st Sunday of Advent
Scripture: Mark 13:24-37
Message: "Words within the WORD"
Including the Sacrament of Holy Communion
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Oxford Presbyterian Women
invites YOU to their
Annual
Cookie Sale
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Molyneaux Lounge
Crafts & SERVV Gifts also available.
All proceeds benefit missions.
Any cookies and crafts my be dropped off
today (Friday) until
7:00 p.m.
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Alternative Christmas Gifts
What Christmas gift do you get the person who already has everything? A gift that will help the person who has nearly nothing! Donate to the Bethesda Christian Community Center in your friend's or family member's name. Your donation will help furnish the newly completed Center so that their mission can continue and expand to provide services for the displaced women and children in Barranquilla, Colombia, Beautiful handmade cards will be available for Alternate Giving Donations at the Cookie Walk on Saturday, December 2 and in the Molyneaux on December Sundays following the church service
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Celebration at the Manger
Rehearsal for the Celebration at the Manger program continues on Sunday, December 3 at 10:15 a.m. in the Geneva room. We look forward to working with all the children and youth as we prepare for this annual event.
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Oxford Presbyterian Church
Invites YOU to ...
Lunch ~ Crafts ~ Advent Materials
11:30 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.
Pizza, salad and beverage provided.
There will be plenty for everyone.
All are welcome.
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Advent Calendars & Devotionals
Advent begins this Sunday, December 3.
This rich and meaningful season prepares us for the celebration of Jesus' birth at Christmas. Advent is a time of expectant waiting for the good news of great joy. Yet for too many in our culture, Advent is forgotten in our rush to attend festive parties and purchase special gifts.
A variety of materials are available for all ages of our OPC family. Creative and engaging Advent Calendars are available to our children and youth at the Advent Workshop.
Outside the church office, you'll find three unique printed Advent Devotionals including
Moving Toward the Manger reflections on the writings of Frederick Buechner.
Or if you prefer to follow an online devotional, then Pittsburgh Theological Seminary has a resource for you. As part of the PC(USA), Pittsburgh Theological Seminary offers a daily Advent devotional through this link -
http://www.pts.edu/devotional_1
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Mitten Tree
The Mitten Tree is bursting with mittens for children of all ages. If you are able, please take a mitten from the tree, write out your check for $40-$50 payable to OPC, place it in the envelope, and bring it all to the Molyneaux after services on:
December 3,
December 10 and
December 17.
Cash is also accepted, as well as donations of any amount. These donations are given to the Family Resource Center where needy children will be sure to receive a gift at Christmas. Gifts are purchased by the parents of these children while under the supervision of Resource Center Volunteers. Parents are thrilled to be able to make choices for their children that would otherwise be impossible. Let us help light up yet another face this Christmas! See Karen Shearer for answers to any questions.
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Decorating at Safe Haven Farms
Come join the happy group of OPC elves traveling to Safe Haven Farms on Sunday, December 3 to decorate their center for the Christmas season. We will meet in the alley behind the church at 1:30 p.m. and can carpool or drive separately to Middletown. Directions will be available. Questions? Ask Karen Shearer.
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Service of Comfort
There are many expectations of Advent and Christmas ... joyful gatherings with family and friends...a world suddenly at peace. The intensity of the season often magnifies our emotions and sometimes reminds us of the losses we have experienced.
During such a season our congregation and community is invited to make the space and take the time to gather for a reflective time of worship through candlelight, mediation, and peaceful remembrance. On
Thursday, December 7 at
4 p.m. in the sanctuary of the Memorial Building we gather with the congregation of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church for a
Service of Comfort.
This service is created for all those throughout the community for whom Christmas is a difficult time. This gracious time allows those who have experienced loss, illness, separation from loved ones, and more - to encounter God's mercy and love in a spacious setting during the Christmas season.
All are welcome. Come and hear words of hope as we seek the light of Christ in the midst of our darkness.
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OPW Christmas Tea
You're invited to join the OPW on Sunday, December 10 at 2:30 p.m. in the Molyneaux Lounge for their Christmas Tea. The program is a Carol Sing with Jean Derickson at the piano and Karen Simpson reading a story. Cookies will be served. The hostesses are the Coordinating Team. Everyone is welcomed to attend. Questions? Contact Karen Simpson at 523-8363, or
[email protected]
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The Deacon's Advent Food Drive
The Deacons request your donations of food and money for the Advent Food Drive. Food and Monetary donations may continuously be given throughout Advent.
Please leave bags of food in the Narthex and if you prefer to make a monetary donation, please make a check out to the Oxford Presbyterian Church with Advent Food Drive in the note field or if cash, mark pew envelope Advent Food Drive. The Deacon's will use the money to purchase food for the Oxford Choice Food Pantry.
Oxford Choice Food Pantry needs canned fruit, canned vegetables; spaghetti sauce, cereal, and peanut butter. One specific items is meals in a can (e.g. Chef Boy-Ar-Dee-type food like ravioli and others, including Kroger brand). We always put them in the bags and for some reason have not been getting as many as in past years in food drives. Toilet paper, personal care items like body wash, deodorant, shampoo and hair conditioner. New: We are collecting plastic bags for use in the Oxford Choice Food Pantry.
Please leave bags in the food pantry box in the hallway past the offices. |
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Creating a Healthy Oxford Community - Dear World
The Miami University Community is invited to participate in
Dear World - an interactive, award-winning event that unites people through pictures in its distinct message-on-skin style.
On Thursday, December 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the Fritz Pavilion of the Armstrong Student Center, the Dear World team will show their work from around the world, followed by a presentation of all of our community's portraits. This evening is sure to be equal parts powerful and memorable. Click here for more information - http://miamioh.edu/cca/performing-arts-series/events/dear-world/index.html
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Altar flowers are needed for December 31. You may sign up on the calendar which is located next to the water fountain or call Marge Smith at 523-3895.
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Our Church Website is "Re-formed"
It has been re-designed to be mobile device friendly with many engaging pictures that tell our story. The front steps of the site - the home page - is designed to be inviting to newcomers, with dynamic images and quick pictorial links to featured pages.
Intuitive headings such as Learning & Growing, Mission & Outreach, and News & Events make it easier to find what you are looking for. A new Resource section has been added that provides easy access to useful information such as Facility Usage, Weddings, and Memorial Garden.
This "re-formed" website has been a team effort - and you can all be part of this team as well! After you have looked over our new site, please share any suggestions for content updates using the suggestion link in at the bottom of each page.
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CCNS NEWS:
The CCNS families were invited to our first CCNS Private Train Expo Fundraiser. We had 13 families attend, which totaled 70 people! If you have time Saturday or Sunday (December 2nd and 3rd) from 10:00 am. until 5:00 p.m. the Train Expo will be a great event to start off the Christmas Holiday! LOCATION: 3088 Millville Oxford Rd. There will be a free Shuttle service from Marshall School. All proceeds benefits local families living with M.S. And other local non-profits. Not handicap accessible!
The children had a great morning celebrating the first day of December with Pastor Lawrence. Learning about the true meaning of Christmas through stories, music and a short field trip! He will be returning on December 14th to meet with our Tuesday and Thursday class. Thank you, Pastor Lawrence for a fun Friday morning!
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Living Into Hope
For outlandish creatures like us,
on our way to a heart, a brain, and courage,
Bethlehem is not the end of our journey but only the beginning -
not home but the place through which we must
pass if ever we are to reach home at last.
-
Frederick Buechner
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Oxford Presbyterian Church 101 N. Main Street Oxford, OH 45056 513-523-6364 [email protected] www.oxfordpresbychurch.org |
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See what's happening on our social site
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