Fast Facts a weekly e-update on life at FPC February 20, 2020

Worship - Sunday, February 23

Transfiguration of the Lord Matthew 17:1-9 9:30 am Sunday School 10:30 Worship (communion) This week's lectionary texts: Exodus 24:12-18 Psalm 2 or Psalm 99 2 Peter 1:16-21 Matthew 17:1-9

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

JAM continues this week. Every 3 year old (must be potty trained) through 4th grade is welcome to join us. All children are invited to bring a friend to enjoy dinner, Bible study, and other activities!! Children must be picked up by 7:00 pm.

Sanctuary flower dates are available April 19 and 26 and May 17. 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.

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 this Sunday, February 23rd, from 4:30 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!

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 to the Pancake Supper. Lovepacks provides food for children in our community who may not have meals on weekends and holidays when not in school. Monetary donations are also accepted. 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)

Wednesdays Together returns for Lent beginning March 4th! For five weeks, we will gather for a Lenten worship service at 5:35 pm followed by a simple supper at 6:00 pm. Worship services are designed to provide a peaceful experience to reflect upon various Lenten themes. JAM (Jesus and Me) continues at the same time for our children while this is offered for youth and adults. Afterwards, all are welcome to join in the congregational bible study starting at 6:45 pm. Contact the church office with any questions and hope to see you there!

Attention Parents of 7th & 8th Graders!!   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.

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 .

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!

On Saturday, February 8, 2020, members of the Mission Committee hosted Jimmy Allgood, Lafayette County Emergency Management Director, Alan Ivy – Oxford Police Department, 4 members of the Oxford Fire & EMT Department, and 38 members of our church family for CERT (Community Emergency Response Training) Training. First Aid, Home & Personal Preparedness, & Active Shooter Response were topics covered during the 6.5 hour training. The training was well received and the CERT team plans to begin meeting quarterly to discuss subjects and listen to speakers’ topics that affect our community, church, and families.

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 ).

Camp Hopewell is excited to invite all women to its 2020 Women’s Retreat April 3-4: Here I Am. Guided by the story of Moses at the burning bush along with the Enneagram personality type indicator, keynotes, worship, and personal reflection time will dig into who we are in the world and what God has to do with it. Participants are also welcome to stay at camp the night of April 4 to enjoy extra fellowship time together! Register at camphopewell.com/here .

Remember in Prayer FPC Members: Family of Elizabeth Black; Family of Jane Boykin; Leon McCullouch; Joe Burnett; 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; 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 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 20 Will Lewis 21 Sarah Smith 22 Max Hill 24 Sallie Abernathy 25 Edward Duke, Katherine Estes, Thomas Harris, Chase Neal, Mary Williams 26 Charles Cascio, Jr., Riley Mullen February Anniversaries 20 Debbie & Kent Boutwell

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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