Third Sunday of Advent
Celebration at the Manger
Scripture: Isaiah 9:6
(Image: drawing by Abbie Curry, 2018 Celebration at the Manger art contest winner)
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Ministry News and Upcoming Events
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Celebration at the Manger
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Such good tidings of great joy!
My name is Lauren James and I will be playing the part of Mary in the Celebration at the Manger program Sunday, December 16.
And my name is Noel Albarran. I will be playing the part of Joseph. Lauren and I would like to personally invite you to come watch us as we act out the story of the night Jesus was born.
Of course, we aren’t the ONLY ones in the program. There will be animals, angels, shepherds, prophets…
...wise men, Innkeepers, an Emperor…Oh, and Jesus will be there too!
Please join us Sunday at 10:00 a.m. as we present the 5th annual Celebration at the Manger program. Invite your family, friends and neighbors.
All are welcome! We look forward to seeing you then!!
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Advent Calendars & Devotionals
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Around the community, many preparations are taking place. Tables are set for festive Christmas gatherings. Furniture is rearranged to make space for the Christmas tree. In much the same way, the Season of Advent is a necessary and life-giving time for us to prepare space in our hearts and souls for the celebration of Jesus’ birth at Christmas.
In the lounge is a variety of materials for all ages in our OPC family. From creative and engaging Advent Calendars for our children and youth to Advent Devotionals for adults, you are encouraged to find just the right resource to help you and your family create the space you need to welcome
Emmanuel – God with Us.
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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Everyone interested in serving in the congregation's missional journey outward through Mission in Russia 2019 should join us for a brief informational meeting in the sanctuary of the Seminary Church at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, December 16. If you're not able to be a part of this meeting, please see Bill Fisher of the Mission and Outreach Committee for information and registration.
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Nativity on Film:
Who is Mary? Is she an ethereal blonde with a halo radiating about her head? A middle eastern teenager riding a donkey? A British waitress laying her baby in a shopping cart? A Mexican immigrant in the southwest searching with for a place to stay in the cold desert night? These are some of the visions of Mary that we will meet this Wednesday, December 19th at 7:00 p.m., in the new state of the art screening room in (the Sanctuary) in the Seminary Church. We're going to be talking about the ways that the birth of the Christ child has been portrayed in the movies over the last century. We'll be screening clips from over a dozen films, some familiar and some rare, but all unique and thought provoking. Come join us at 104 East Church Street Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. for the Nativity on Film.
Click the link provided for a preview:
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Lift your voices! Join in the Chorus! Sing Hallelujah!
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Come, be a part of a lively holiday evening! All are welcome! Our annual caroling excursions to the Knolls, Woodland Manor and homes of others who can’t get to worship services will take place on Friday, December 21 from 5:00 to approximately 7:00. We will meet at the Seminary promptly at 5:00 and then break into groups…we will need plenty of cars/drivers! The Youth will join us before their lock-in that same evening! We have song books, bells, and lots of enthusiasm!
Returning to the Seminary, we will have a pizza dinner together, thanks to Membership, Fellowship, and Evangelism Committee. Also included, the famous LaRosa’s chocolate chip cookies!!
Be a part of this meaningful holiday event! Please sign up after worship on December 16th in the Lounge, or call/text Pat Gifford at 513-255-5416. This will help us plan groups and numbers for dinner!!
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Kiwanis invites you to....
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Ring the Joyous Bells!
At Kroger... Be a Bell Ringer and
Make
Change
Happen.
Each shift is one hour long, and one can volunteer for as many shifts as desired.
Currently, times are available on December 17,21,22, and 24.
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Candlelight Christmas Eve
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Celebrate the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ with your church family at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, December 24 at the Candlelight Christmas Eve Service.
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The Deacons would like to thank the congregation for their generous giving this year! The Kroger Rewards program garnered
$1547.23
, all of which went to help fund monthly donations of food and personal grooming supplies to the
Oxford Community Choice Pantry
. If you do not already do so, use your Kroger shopping to help others. To sign up, please refer to the OPC website. Once again, thank you and keep giving!
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Church Services at The Knolls
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If you are unable to attend some of our church services on Sunday mornings, we have another option for you. Becky Quay shows recent church services on DVD in the Country Kitchen at 10:00 a.m. All are invited to join us on
Thursday, December 27
(
Christmas falls on the 4th Tuesday)
. If you would like to join us, but need a ride, just give Becky a call at 523-5747
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Many children who receive free and reduced-price school meals are left without the nutrition they need on the weekends and holiday breaks.
The BackPack Program, a partnership between St. Mary’s and the Shared Harvest Food Bank, aims to reduce this nutrition gap by discreetly supplying 175 students from Kramer, Bogan and Marshall schools with a bag of food each Friday throughout the school year.
The cost to sponsor one student for a year is $50, though any amount is welcome. Checks can be made to Oxford Presbyterian Church with “BackPack Food” in the memo line.
This is a Mission and Outreach Committee collaboration with St. Mary’s as we address local food insecurity. Any questions, please contact St. Mary’s at 523-2153.
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The Spirit of Scotland is an an eight-day guided tour exploring our sacred heritage, sponsored by the Oxford Presbyterian Church. If you ever dreamed of walking the historic streets of Edinburgh and Stirling, sauntering across the holy isle of Iona, witnessing the majestic beauty of the Scottish Highlands, or exploring St. Andrews’ ancient university and golf course, the Spirit of Scotland is for you. The tour leader is Rev. Lawrence Bartel in coordination with Rev. James Wallace (Church of Scotland). Ecumenical and welcoming, interested friends and neighboring congregations are invited to join us in May 2020 for this exciting spiritual journey.
A brochure and complete itinerary will be available in January.
Informational meetings will be on Sunday, January 13, at 11:30 AM, and Thursday, January 24, at 6:30 PM, in The Seminary, 104 E. Church St. (corner of Church and Popular).
Inquiries can be addressed to the following:
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A new calendar for
Altar Flowers for 2019
has been placed near the water fountain next to the Molyneaux Lounge and is ready for entries.
Thank you for a great 2018 year. People were so generous to help when we needed altar flowers.
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Fair Trade Coffee, Tea and Chocolate available.
See Prue Dana after Celebration at the Manger.
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Your Stewardship Matters
Generous living in Advent, and throughout the year,
is about approaching each day with an open heart, an open mind, and an open hand.
What can you do today to live more generously?
What generous and faithful choices can
you make today that will make a difference in the future?
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Oxford Presbyterian Church | 101 N. Main Street, Oxford OH 45056
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