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As a congregation, and as Christians, we at First Presbyterian Church, Oxford have, since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, sought to reflect the ideals of Christ, loving and serving those around us, and protecting our brothers and sisters both in our congregation and in the community around us. We decided early on in the course of the pandemic to heed the advice of the CDC and MSDH and adopt the recommendations set forth by these institutions of experts in the field of disease and epidemiology. To that end, the session of the church has elected to recommend that all - those vaccinated and those unvaccinated, adults and children alike - resume wearing masks while inside the church building. All other aspects of the service will remain as they have been since May. As we stated at the beginning of the pandemic: “This is a fluid situation with no clear time frame. Our response will require persistent monitoring, flexibility, and patience.” This is merely a bump in the road, and we will continue to gather as a congregation to worship, to praise and celebrate, to answer God’s call, and to feel Christ’s presence here at First Presbyterian.

Financial Summary

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As our church family continues ministering during this season of change, please continue to remember your faithful giving to our church. The ministry of FPC continues to make an impact within our congregation and throughout our community.

 

There are a variety of ways you can give:


 

If you need help with any specific ways to give, please contact Frances Saralvarez at fsaralvarezfpc@gmail.com.

Worship

Sunday, August 1, 2021

10th Sunday after Pentecost

10:30 am worship with communion*


Sunday, August 8, 2021

11th Sunday after Pentecost

10:30 am worship*


Sunday, August 15, 2021

12th Sunday after Pentecost

10:30 am worship*


Sunday, August 22, 2021

13th Sunday after Pentecost

10:30 am worship*


Sunday, August 29, 2021

14th Sunday after Penteocst

10:30 am worship*


*online worship available

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Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for? (Audience) Why should they care? (Benefit) What do I want them to do here? (Call-to-Action)


Create a great offer by adding words like "free" "personalized" "complimentary" or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take an action, so think about inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining"!

Join us for worship each Sunday at 10:25 am on Facebook Live. You do not have to have an account to join us. The video will go live on the church's public Facebook group. If you do not have a Facebook account, a message will pop up asking if you wish to join. Simply click, "not now" at the bottom of that message and it will go away. You may then enjoy the video as it plays live. 

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We need your help! Sunday School teachers are needed for early elementary and junior/high school classes. If you are able to help in any way, please contact the church office or Kathryn Elliott by clicking here to sign up.

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Sanctuary flower dates are available August 8, 15, and 29. To provide flowers in honor or in memory of a loved one, contact Margaret Fancher at fancherm@bellsouth.net or 662-234-1359. Contributions to the Flower Fund are greatly appreciated.  

Your church needs your help!

 

Volunteers are needed for children's church each Sunday. This is a great way to connect with our FPC children! Click the button below to sign up. 

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Sign up here!

Lectionary texts for August


August 1 - Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15; Psalm 78:23-29; Ephesians 4:1-16;

John 6:24-35

August 8 - 1 Kings 19:4-8; Psalm 34:1-8; Ephesians 4:25-5:2;

John 6:35, 41-51

August 15 - Proverbs 9:1-6; Psalm 34:9-14; Ephesians 5:15-20;

John 6:51-58

August 22 - Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18; Psalm 34:15-22; Ephesians 6:10-20;

John 6:56-69

August 29 - Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9; Psalm 15; James 1:17-27;

Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

Remember in Prayer

 

FPC Members: Mary Helen "Babe" Carr; Ashley Callery & family; Hale Freeland and family; Matt Nielson and family; Family of Bobbye Wiley; Family of Mary Freeman; Janet Barnes; Family of Shelby Smith; Teresa Flautt; Caroline McIntosh; Tommy Patrick; Family of Shirley Crawford; Helen Scruggs; Family of Mary Sims; Lark Lindley Wells; Lydia Moak; Max Williams; Family of Marleah Hobbs; J. T. Davis; Becky & Joe Murphey; Lynton Dilley; Debbie McElreath

 

Family and Friends: Family of Shirley Styers; Sherry Wall; Family of Linda Chavers; Family of Deborah Pittman Cox; Alex Sessions; Lynnette Porcelli; Betty Gurner; Donna Buckley; Family of William Gietzen; Family of Steve Milner; Daniel Kwak; Ellington Family; Family of Tom Mullen; Norma Myers; Family of Florence Pulliam; Stephanie Polk; Taylor Polk; Family of Jane Chancey Dubberly; Family of Randy Lutz; Charles Moseley; John Hamauei and family; Rhona Justice-Malloy & Amanda Malloy; Joyce Sumners; Richard Bremer; Sarah LaPrade; Mary Tyler Browne; Patch Hailey; Family of Carolyn Stevenson; Sigrid Morrison Long; Pauline Dick; Bill Sessions; Roun McNeal; Jamie Henderson Turner; Brad Hovious; B. Jones; Pat Gillenwater; Mark Barnes; Joe Houston; Matt Branch; Erica Baggett; Mackenzie Stetz; Mike Smith; Parchman Prison inmates; Haven House residents; Our Haiti partners; Oxford & Lafayette County First Responders; Community leaders

 

U. S. Military: SSgt 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.

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The FPC prayer chain is ready if you or someone you know is in need. This is a confidential list that is independent from the names listed above. Please contact Carlisle Wood at carlislewood@gmail.com or 662-832-8606. All requests are held in strict confidence.  

Adult Faith Formation

New Small Group Has Been Formed

 

We are the Arc-Benders, and we invite you to join us in our mission to become a Beloved Community. Martin Luther King, Jr. paraphrased the abolitionist and Unitarian minister, Theodore Parker, when he said, “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice”. We want to bend the arc in our community. We believe we are created by an omnipresent God who calls his children to live in harmony with one another and with all of Creation. Social constructs of race, culture, and economics often estrange us from one another and are antithetical to Christ’s clear instruction. We will use Bible Study, authentic conversation, and mission activities to accomplish our goal of authentic racial reconciliation and justice in our community. We have current plans to walk to the Square from our church on September 25 at 2:00 pm and join with the Lafayette Community Remembrance Project. They will dedicate a new plaque - on the east side of the Courthouse - remembering and memorializing the seven known lynching victims in our county.

 

We invite anyone interested in finding out more about our group to a cookout at Greg Patton’s home at 5:00 pm on Sunday, August 29. Please RSVP your attendance at the cookout by emailing Greg Patton at gopatton@hotmail.com. If you have questions, email any of the members of our group.

 

 

Ruth O’Dell delloruth@gmail.com

Greg Patton gopatton@hotmail.com

Carey B. Hanson costumes@olemiss.edu

Christy Nielson christysims@gmail.com

Wil Howie wilhowie@livingwatersfortheworld.org

UKirk

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As FPC begins to work its way back toward normal, UKirk Ole Miss is excited to be doing the same! We're still waiting on official word from the University about student organization guidelines for the Fall, but we're planning to welcome back Tuesday night meal providers this next semester! Our Fall schedule is available on our website here, and we hope you'll join us in supporting college students by feeding them on a Tuesday evening. We'll eat at 6pm each Tuesday, and homemade and restaurant meals are welcome. 

 

A new school year also means making new friends! We're busy representing UKirk at many of this summer's new student orientations, but a personal connection can go a long way in connecting a student with our community. If you know a student heading to Ole Miss in the Fall and would like to make sure we know them too, fill out this referral form. 

 

If you've got questions about either thing, find me (Allison Wehrung) at ukirk.olemiss@gmail.com.  

Etcetera...

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2021-2022 VIP Schedule


August 12 - appetizer supper at JoAnne Oliver's. Bring an appetizer

and the recipe. BYOB


October 14 - dinner at Mary and Sam Haskell's.


November 18 - meet at the Sipp for wine and small plate and then

go to the Ford Center to see "A Light in the Piazza" featuring

Mary Haskell.


December 9 - Christmas party at the home of Melissa and Matthew

Hall. Bring an appetizer and the recipe.


February 3 - catered supper at the church 6PM


March 3 - bingo night at the church. Bring a gift to share as a prize.

Light supper provided. 5:30 PM


April 7 - dinner at the Country Club of Oxford 6PM


May (day tbd) - supper and drinks at the Coop

 

Hope we have good crowds for these fun events!

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Presbyterian Women Officers for 2021-2022

 

Kathryn Elliott - Co-Moderator

Caroline McIntosh - Co-Moderator

Lisa Tollison - Vice Moderator

Whitney Bolen - Secretary

Margaret Fancher - Treasurer

Marianna Ochs - Historian

 

Thank you for your willingness to serve FPC in this way!

Mission

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The Doors of Hope Transition Ministries, based at FPC, provides educational resources, financial assistance, job training, and life skill instruction for working single parents in the Oxford community. Currently, there are children in the first, fifth, and eighth grade whose mothers are enrolled in DOH. These children are in need of school supplies. Please consider purchasing one or more of the items and delivering them to the church this week. Other means of supporting DOH will be forthcoming next month. Stay tuned!


First grade supplies

  • 1 package of cap erasers
  • Four 24 count crayons
  • 1 headphone, wired or earbuds (not Bluetooth)


Fifth grade supplies

  • 1 backpack (no wheels) or book bag
  • 1 1.5" 3 ring binder
  • 1 package loose leaf paper, wide ruled
  • 1 5 tab divider, plastic with pockets or 5 divider folders with holes
  • 1 set pens
  • 1 box #2 pencils
  • 1 pencil bag
  • Highlighters
  • 1 headphone, wired or earbuds (not Bluetooth)


Eighth grade supplies

  • 3 composition notebooks, wide ruled
  • 1 2" 3 ring binder
  • 1 write on dividers, 8 pack
  • Pens, blue or black
  • 1 box #2 pencils
  • 1 package loose leaf paper, wide ruled (notebook paper)
  • 1 package graph paper
  • 1 headphone, wired or earbuds (not Bluetooth)
  • 1 4-pack Expo dry erase markers
  • 1 reusable water bottle
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Lovepacks provides supplemental food for school age children in need, on weekends and holidays. We can stop hunger!

 

We are always in need of non-perishable, kid-friendly food donations to fill Lovepacks!

 

Here is a list of needed items:


  • Pop Top cans of Chicken Noodle or Vegetable Soup
  • Pop-Top cans of Ravioli
  • Peanut Butter Crackers
  • Ramen Noodles
  • Cheese Crackers
  • 16 oz. Jar of Peanut Butter
  • Non refrigerated Pudding
  • Apple sauce pouches
  • Granola, Breakfast, or Protein bars
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The Pantry is looking for a volunteer to substitute for the regular inventory taker as needed. The job will not require regular involvement and will only take about one hour. If interested, please call Ann O'Dell at 234.2907.

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Haven House, our resident recovery facility for people with substance abuse, appreciates the donations of Bibles, study materials, and daily devotional booklets. If you have some religious books to share, please bring them to the church office.

Update from Bongnotte, Haiti


Since 2013 FPC has partnered with the residents of Bongnotte, Haiti, a small hamlet some 30 miles west of the capital of Port-au-Prince, in providing health care and clean water. Dr. Gladys Memnon, a retired Haitian/American physician, established a medical clinic in the village following the earthquake that devastated the country in 2010. Over the years members of FPC have traveled to Bongnotte to operate mobile medical clinics, assist with an elementary school, and to establish a Living Waters purification system for the community. The clinic, run by three Haitian physicians, is now open 6 days a week. It provides medical care in a region where access to healthcare facilities is sharply curtailed. The water purification system continues to provide clean water for hundreds of residents. The incidence of dysentery and skin infections is markedly down in those villagers who have access to the clean water.


Due to political instability and more recently the pandemic, members of FPC have not been able to return in person to work alongside our Haitian brothers and sisters the past two years. We miss our friends, particularly in this challenging time. FPC has, however, been able to assist financially through a line item in our annual Mission budget. The physicians in the clinic earn $1,300/month, the nurse $625/month. FPC offsets these salaries monthly by $200 and $100 respectively. Expenses of the Living Waters system are offset by $80/month. As Dr. Gladys has recounted time and again, our ongoing support is deeply appreciated. Please continue to hold our Haitian sisters and brothers in prayer as they yet again navigate a difficult time in their nation's history.

News from the Pews

Honorariums & Memorials

 

~ With gratitude for contributions to First Presbyterian Church ~ 


In memory of:


Mary Freeman


Patsy & Guff Abbott

Melba & Bill Bowlin

Ashley & John Callery

Yung & Dean Chow

Patsy & Jay Eads

Sally Featherstone

Anne & Robert Gowdy

Walk, Nancy & Andrew Jones

Judi King

Pat & Ernie Lowe

Emily & Don Newcomb

Adalene & Ben Pettis

Judy & Barry Rose

Art Smith

Joyce Smith

Kay & Larry Tyler

Nancy Warner

Jennifer Williams

Nila & Max Williams

Melinda Wright


Walter Nance


Will Nance


Shelby Smith


Adalene & Ben Pettis


Bobbye Wiley


Yung & Dean Chow

Mary Ann Cropp

Emily & Don Newcomb

Adalene & Ben Pettis

Kay & Larry Tyler

Nila & Max Williams


In honor of:


Fay & Earl Grissinger


Becky & Jay Evans

Upcoming Birthdays & Anniversaries

August Birthdays


1 Homer Burkett, Russell Coon, Walker Coon, Diane Scruggs

2 Ellie DeVoe, Allison Harris, Walter Kersey, John Schuesselin

3 Susan Abbott, Waylon Kennon

4 Sharron Alexander, Elizabeth Ann Miers, Don Whitten, Mary Glynn Wright

5 Creighton Holder

6 William Lewis, Al Ling, Ruth O'Dell

7 Harper Lovelace, Rush Mayo, Baxter Montgomery

8 Ella Chiniche

9 Wyatt McCool

10 Barron Rosson

11 Gale Gurner, Brynnen Quick

12 J.J. Jones, Juniper Nielson, Dan Olson, Bill Sloan

13 Megan Bundren, Ernest Flautt, Lee Miers

14 Bob Joiner, Christy Nielson

15 Kathryn Duke

16 Dubbie McClatchy, Matthew Ueleke

17 Rocky Hardin, Joslin Williams

19 Henry Hyneman, Polly Taylor

21 Kate Abraham, Julie Chadwick, Ann McIntosh, Nancy Rogers, Virginia Smith

22 Danny Collins, Kathryn Elliott, Hugh Monteith, Tennyson Monteith, Machelle Williams

25 Andrews McLellan, Kate Newman, Allison Wehrung

26 Mary Haskell

27 Bill Bowlin

28 Marion Bishop, Richard Gurner

29 Sarah Margaret Hester

30 John Edge, Kate McPhail

31 Mary Dale Byars, Nat Harris, Lauren Hollis, James Ling


August Anniversaries


5 Jane Lyle & Trey Byars

6 Kaitlyn & Tyler Flowers, Jody & Ron Wilson

7 Kate & Christopher Newman

8 Melissa & Matthew Hall, Lynn & Bill Sloan

12 Wendy & Jay Carmean, Elizabeth & David Coon

16 Ashley & John Callery

17 Julie & Billy Chadwick

19 Kathryn & Ray Hill

21 Mary Cates & Robert Williams

23 Sarah & Jeffrey Hollis, Cydni & Kris Kersey

28 Ashley & Pratt Wilkinson

30 Mary Edith & George Walker

The Session

 

 CLASS of 2021

Hayden Alexander, Pete Boone,

Julie Field, Carmille Hovious,

Ruth O'Dell

 

CLASS of 2022

Susan Abbott, John Abernathy,

Trey Byars, Kevin Christian,

Greg Patton

 

CLASS of 2023

Allyson Ashmore, Kathryn Elliott, Goodloe Lewis, Drew Mauldin,

Lee Miers

The Diaconate



CLASS of 2021

Thelma Curry, Karen Elliott,

Luke Harris, Brian Hyneman,

Niles Lovelady

 

CLASS of 2022

Gabrielle Chiniche, James Day,

Rob Howell, Cliff Smith,

Pattye Wilson

 

Class of 2023

Laura Jackson, Chloe Lloyd,

Allison McCord, Shae Orrell,

Adam Quick

Your Church Staff


The Congregation

The Ministers

Rev. Barrett C. Milner

Senior Pastor

Frances Saralvarez

Office Administrator

D. Wade Simpson

Property Manager

Rev. Allison C. Wehrung

Pastor, UKirk Ministry

Jessica M. McPhail

Dir. of Communications

Creighton R. Holder

Director of Music

LaShaunda Sisk

Nursery Director

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