Fast Facts a weekly e-update on life at FPC February 13, 2020

Worship - Sunday, February 16

6th Sunday in Ordinary Time Matthew 5:21-37 9:30 am Sunday School 10:30 Worship (communion) This week's lectionary texts: Deuteronomy 30:15-20 Psalm 119:1-8 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 Matthew 5:21-37

February 26, 2020 5:30 pm   A service of worship for Ash Wednesday, including the imposition of ashes, will be held Wednesday, February 26 at 5:30 pm in the Sanctuary. A nursery will be available.

A sanctuary flower date is available February 23 . No flowers during Lent. To provide flowers in honor or in memory of a loved one, contact Susan Joiner at sjoiner@oxford.ms or call 662-808-3240. Contributions to the Flower Fund are greatly appreciated.

Attention Parents of 7th & 8th Graders!!   Any parents of 7th and 8th grade youth at FPC who have not gone through confirmation are invited to a brief interest meeting this Sunday, February 9 immediately following worship in Fellowship Hall. Confirmation is that time when individuals claim the promises made at their baptism and become active members of the church. This year’s confirmation experience will begin on Friday, February 28 and continue Saturday, February 29 with an overnight retreat at Camp Hopewell. Following the retreat there will be a series of Sunday afternoon meetings at 3:00 pm on March 1, 15, 22, 29 and April 5, 19 and 26. The confirmands will be examined by the Session on Monday, May 11 at 5:30 pm and received into membership during worship on Sunday, May 17. This is an important time in the life of our youth and the church, so please help your son or daughter consider whether this is a commitment they are ready to make.

In the spirit of last year's Mr. Rogers' movie night, the Adult Faith Formation Ministry Team invites all adult members of the congregation for another educational movie night on Sunday, February 23rd, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at Tallahatchie Gourmet. We are pleased to be joined by Drew Billings, Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Ole Miss as we discuss the theological themes present in The Lion King . This is a great opportunity to feel, know, and share as we reflect, discuss and prepare ourselves to talk about these theological themes with others. Our children will also get to participate with their own special program on the church property while adults gather at Tallahatchie Gourmet. RSVPs for adults and kids may be given to the church office. Be on the look out for more information soon about this exciting education opportunity!

ATTENTION VIP's! The VIP's will gather between 5:30 and 5:45 at McEwen's on Thursday, February 20. Please find attached a copy of the dinner menu. The specials for the evening will be available the day before. We will meet in the private room at the rear of the restaurant. We hope to have a good crowd. It is always fun to get together.

Also, on Tuesday, March 3 the VIP's will gather in the Fellowship Hall for a night of bingo. We hope for a big crowd...it will be a lot of fun. Each person who attends is asked to bring a prize for the winners. Remember there will be both men and women in attendance. We do need to know ahead of time who will be coming so we will have plenty of heavy snacks ready for you! Contact the church office to RSVP. Hope you all will be there!

We hope you'll have your children join us for JAM (Jesus and Me) each Wednesday at 5:30 pm in Fellowship Hall. We've had great success thus far with over 20 kids each and every week!! All children are invited to bring a friend!! Please have them register online at the link listed below. Children need to be picked up by 7:00 pm. Every 3 year old (must be potty trained) through 4th grade is welcome to join us.

Register

Volunteer

Lenten Spiritual Formation Opportunity Centering Prayer Introductory Workshop First Presbyterian and St. Peter's Episcopal churches are sponsoring a workshop introducing the method of Centering Prayer, scheduled for Saturday, February 29, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Peter's parish hall. All are invited to attend, whether new to Centering Prayer, or who already practice. Kris Mink, a former parishioner at St. Peter's, will be the presenter. Kris is a commissioned presenter of Centering Prayer from Contemplative Outreach, Inc. Flyers are available in the church office and in the narthex of the sanctuary. For additional information and to register, contact Ann O'Dell at 662-234-2907 or ago@olemiss.edu .

UKirk Ole Miss is grateful to those of you who have volunteered to provide Tuesday night dinners so far! If you're still interested in supporting college students in this way, there are available dates in March and April. Find the schedule and sign up form at ukirkolemiss.org/tuesday-meals , or email Allison Wehrung with questions ( ukirk.olemiss@gmail.com ).

FPC Members: We are serving at More than a Meal this Tuesday, February 18 . More Than a Meal is a non-profit serving a warm meal every Tuesday night to Oxford and Lafayette County residents. Please click here and sign up to bring an item or sign up to serve. There are still a few spots that need to be filled. Thanks in advance for your help!

Pancakes and parades have become a Shrove Tuesday tradition at FPC. Join your church family and our Episcopalian brothers and sisters on Tuesday, February 25 for a Mardi Gras parade around the Square. Everyone will begin to gather at 5:00 but the parade won’t start til 5:30 pm. Afterward the FPC church family will gather in Fellowship Hall for a pancake supper with sausage, syrup, whipped cream and chocolate chips. According to tradition, Shrove Tuesday, or Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday is the time to eat up all the eggs, milk and sugar before the fasting of Lent. You may not be into fasting, but you don’t want to miss the Pancake Supper. Don’t forget to don your favorite Mardi Gras attire and bring beads or other items to throw to those enjoying the parade! All are welcome! This year we encourage participants to bring items for Lovepacks. Lovepacks provides food for children in our community who may not have meals on weekends and holidays when not in school. Items needed are: 10-18 oz Pop-Top Chicken Noodle or Vegetable Soups Pop-Top Ravioli Snack Pack Pudding Cups Cheese/Peanut Butter Crackers 16 oz. Jars of Peanut Butter Pop Top Beanie Weenies Granola Bars Pop Top Canned Fruit (Please, No Fruit Cups)

Remember in Prayer FPC Members: Family of Jane Boykin; Leon McCullouch; Family of John Neff; Family of Pat Bittmann; Scottye Boone; Pierce Buford; Deb de Boer; Max Williams; J. T. Davis; Becky & Joe Murphey; Lynton Dilley; Walter Nance; Mary Kay McDowell; Joe Burnett; Pierce Buford; Debbie McElreath; Marleah Hobbs; Director of Music/Organist Search Committee; Pastor Nominating Committee   Family and Friends: Family of Joan Bagby; Susan Treas; Family of Carolyn Aldridge Delorio; Jamie Henderson Turner; Family of Joel James; Family of Don Dees; Family of Leland Smith; Bill Flautt; Lowry Davis; Family of Jerry Newcomb; Family of Don Gleason; Alex Sessions; Brad Hovious; B. Jones; Pat Gillenwater; Angel Thompson; Ted Stocker; Tom Callery; Tom Mullen; Ruth Ellen Duvall Kuhnel; Linda Chavers; Mark Barnes; Joe Houston; Matt Branch; Erica Baggett; Mackenzie Stetz; Betty Hoar; Mike Smith; Parchman Prison inmates; Haven House residents; Our Haiti partners; Oxford & Lafayette County First Responders   U. S. Military: A1C Jason Freeland, USAF 4th Air Support Operation Please pray, too, for those with unspecified needs. If you wish to have a name removed or added to this list, please contact the church office.

The FPC prayer chain is ready  if you or someone you know is in need. Please contact Catherine Mize at katemizesn@gmail.com or 662-832-0423. All requests are held in strict confidence.

Upcoming Birthdays and Anniversaries

February Birthdays 13 Michael Blackburn, Kylea Boutwell, Lucy Chiniche, Daniel Payne, Vicki Stevens 16 Olivia Briscoe 17 Mamie Embry, Tad Wilkes 18 Catherine Field, Leslie Orrell, Linda Scarbrough, Aubrey Wigginton 19 Shirley Crawford, Angela Manley February Anniversaries 15 Gale & Richard Gurner 17 Patsy & Jay Eads

If we've overlooked your birthday or anniversary and you wish to have it included in Fast Facts, please contact Jessica McPhail in the church office.  These announcements are sent weekly from the church. If you don't want to receive them, or if your email address has changed, please send a message to Jessica McPhail in the church office at  jmcgeefpc@gmail.com .

First Presbyterian Church www.fpcoxford.net 924 Van Buren Avenue Oxford, MS 38655

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