First Press

An online newsletter

December 2022 edition

“We light this candle as a sign of the coming light of Christ.  As the Lord has promised, in days to come...the nations shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”  These were among the prophetic and hopeful words shared of the prophet Isaiah as we gathered to worship last Sunday.  I looked on in pensive joy as the Ringquist family joined flame to wick; another Advent season began anew.  And I remembered why this season of the church calendar year means so much to me.  

“Advent” means coming or arrival.  And this word, “Advent,” as our Book of Common Worship (Westminster John Knox Press, 2018, 163) reads: “...has a double significance, as in Advent we celebrate Christ’s coming into the world and look with longing for his coming again.”  And for me, it is the longing, the acknowledgement of our pain and brokenness – coupled with the possibility to hope and find joy anew – that makes Advent such a unique and welcomed season for reflection and reformation of the soul.   In a sense, Advent is the one time of year when we can affirm with boldness that, though we live in a world of crippling and relentless grief, where hopelessness and fear confound, and where the light and grace of faith’s promise often seems fleeting, God will come again.  Into our longing hearts, our God will come and work out a day when all hurt and pain will be powerless to us, when swords become plowshares and spears become pruning hooks, when nations war no more.  

This is the relentless grace of this season!  It is why we light candles each week in our worship together: to give witness to that truth that God’s light continues to gather and to grow, that God’s light will come again to brighten the darkness that consumes and overwhelms, that the one true light has come into the world, burning brighter than any darkness will ever overcome.  Watch and wonder as the light grows brighter!

In hope,

Barrett

In Person Worship: 9:00 am & 11:00 am 

If you can't join us in person, join us for worship on Sunday mornings at 10:55 am on Facebook Live. 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. Click here for the link to Facebook live.

Online worshipers may now find the weekly bulletin on the church's website under the Online Worship page. Click here for the Online Worship page, then click the link titled "Weekly Bulletin."

The Lectionary Texts of December

December 4: Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19; Romans 15:4-13;

Matthew 3:1-12

December 11: Isaiah 35:1-10; Psalm 146:5-10; Luke 1:46b-55; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11

December 18: Isaiah 7:10-16; Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19; Romans 1:1-7;

Matthew 1:18-25

December 25: Isaiah 62:6-12; Psalm 97; Titus 3:4-7; Luke 2:1-20;

Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalm 98; Hebrew 1:1-12; John 1:1-14

Remember in Prayer 

FPC Members: Keith & Cheryl Hayward; Scottye Boone; Jean Blackston; Leon McCullouch; Family of John Edge, Family of Joe Murphey; Jane Henderson; Family of Dr. Bobby Kennedy; Michael Abraham; Doug & Margaret Fancher; Family of Jeffrey Butler; Thomas Wade Simpson; Family of Nolan Waller, Family of Helen Scruggs, Family of Janet Barnes; Family of Ann Caroline McIntosh; Family of J.T. Davis; Tommy Patrick; Marianna Ochs; Family of Lynton Dilley; Max Williams; Lydia Moak; Michele Howie; Family of Betty Mullen White

Family and Friends: Family of George Caffey; Family of Pat Ewing; Family of Dr. and Mrs. Gerry Foret; Family of Helen Nielson; Family of Shirley Bragg Donnelly; James Chavers; Kathy Bremer; Susan Treas-Ewing; Nancy McPhail; Charlyn Wilson; Family of Thomas Mayo; Family of George Walker; Family of Gloria Smith Griffith; Valentina Iepuri and Ukraine family; Charissa Johnson; Sarah Luchin and Family; Sigrid Morrison Long; Connie Whelan; Lenoir Stanley; Doors of Hope Families; Bob Flautt; Lafayette County Detention Center inmates; Parchman Prison inmates; Haven House residents; Our Haiti partners; Oxford & Lafayette County First Responders; Community leaders  

U. S. Military: SSgt Jason Freeland, USAF 17th Special Tactics Sqaudron 

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. 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.

Seasonal berries and greenery dates are available December 4, 11, 18, 25 and January 1 2023. To provide seasonal greenery and berries in honor or in memory of a loved one, contact Margaret Fancher at fancherm@bellsouth.net or call 234-1359. Contributions to the Flower Fund are greatly appreciated.

The church needs volunteers to help "green" the sanctuary during Advent. We will gather in the sanctuary at 9:00 am each Friday during December. If you have access to fresh cedar, pine, and magnolia, we need that to decorate. Bring your clippers and gloves (if you need them). If you can help, please call Margaret Fancher or the church office.

Anyone interested in an FPC member directory can call the church office at 234-1757. One will be printed for you.

SEND US YOUR PICTURES! 

You may have noticed a new bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall. It is there to celebrate our members and inform one another of the many gratifying activities and outreach programs here at FPC. If YOU have a photograph of any FPC related activity (and in this age of the ubiquitous phone who doesn't!) please forward those pics to fpcsocial924@gmail.com for posting on the bulletin board to share with all. Thank you!

The Carroll Barr Circle is writing Christmas cards for the inmates at the local Detention Center. If you have extra cards with appropriate messages, please leave them in the church office. Thanks.

- Ann O'Dell

We have a Pantry client named Lacresha Gable who had a house fire and lost everything. She has a daughter and son and is also caring for a granddaughter and grandson. She is currently staying with her grandparents until a mobile home she found is finished being renovated.

Right now, she needs the following:

towels

clothes for children:

boy 2 months—wears size 6-9 mo. clothes

girl 4 years—wears size 8 pants and shirts

daughter 13 years -- wears size 13 juniors and womens size 14 shirt

son 11 years-- wears size 14 jeans and size 14-16 shirt

Lacrecia's phone number is 662.832.3335. Any donors may call her with any questions about sizes. 

Donations may be brought to The Pantry and put in the box on the front porch on Wednesday and Thursday mornings. Walmart gift cards and cash donations may be left in the church office.

- Ann O'Dell

Adult Faith Formation

Join us for our last meeting of 2022 on December 7th at 4:30 pm. We will pick back up in January with our normal First & Third Wednesdays.

Church Family Tradition for the

Whole Family

Youngish Adults

Camp Hopewell

All are invited to join us in celebrating Allyson & Darren's 22 years at Hopewell on December 10 from 4-6! Let us know if you plan to be there by clicking here to RSVP.

Church Wide Christmas Caroling

December 14 at 5:30 pm

Come and bring your singing voices to an evening of Christmas Caroling, FPC style! Or just come and “make a joyful noise to the Lord”! We’d love to have all of you! As we did last year, we’ll meet in the church parking lot and then those who wish to stay close can ramble around the Square, and those who’d like to go out to some neighborhoods and an assisted living facility can join our group on the church bus (and assorted cars).  

Presbyterian Youth Fellowship

Children and Youth Faith Formation

Music 

FPC is involved in over a dozen outreach ministries locally, regionally, and internationally. Below are updates on a few of those ministries that are made possible through your participation and financial support. In this stewardship season we thank you for your time and financial commitment.

Last month, a group from FPC traveled to Dawson Springs, Kentucky, to assist in the reconstruction efforts following last December's deadly tornados. Though 60% of the small town was destroyed and 13 residents lost their lives, the residents strive to recover. Some families still do not have running water or adequate heating as winter approaches.

 In two days of work the group constructed a deck on one home and laid flooring in another. FPC will return in the spring to further the recovery effort. In this stewardship season, we thank you for your financial support which makes this FPC outreach and others like it possible.

FEEL CALLED TO VOLUNTEER?



• In Good Order is a new group of volunteers seeking to assist FPC members who may need a little extra help with a yard project or light home repairs. If you would like assistance, please contact the church office.

Since 2013 Doors of Hope Transition Ministries, housed at FPC, has provided life skills, support, and assistance to local families. Through budget and financial counseling, a limited period of housing subsidy, and educational opportunities, clients learn to break the crippling patterns of dependence and start new lives for themselves and their families. 

Each month FPC hosts the Step 2 Dinner where alumni of the program share their success stories and give encouragement to those families currently in the program. Last month our youth pulled out favorite family recipies and cooked a delicious Thanksgiving dinner for the DOH families. Their hospitality and generosity were greatly appreciated. 

 In this season of stewardship, we thank you for your continued financial support of FPC that makes such effective outreach and engagement possible.    

News from the Pews

Memorials & Honorariums

~ With gratitude for contributions to First Presbyterian Church ~

In Memory of:

Shirley Bragg Donnelly

Irma Buchanan 

 First Presbyterian Church

Oxford, Mississippi

Congregational Summary of Stated Session Meeting –

November 14, 2022

1. Approval of Previous Minutes. Elder Patton moved to approve the minutes for the stated session meeting of October 11, with a correction to note that the financial support for Hatian medical personnel salaries was made with funds from the team’s annual budget allocation, rather than a separate fundraiser. The motion was seconded and approved.

Elder Goodwiller then moved to approve the minutes from the congregational meeting of October 30, as submitted. The motion was seconded and approved.

2. Ministry Team Reports.

a. Finance (Susan Abbott, 2022 & Richard DeVoe, 2024). Elder Abbott reported that the team was in the process of analyzing year to date giving for current pledges. She also indicated that the team would be looking for options to defray credit card costs in the coming year, as the church currently incurs a 3% surcharge for contributions made by credit card.

b. Property (John Abernathy, 2022 & Bradley Goodwiller, 2024). Elder Abernathy reported that the two side towers had required extensive trim work repair due to rot, and that the main tower had also required repair. He reported that the team had budgeted in a $15,000 contingency and $10,000 for new front doors, and that doors would be deferred to a future date given the unexpected trim repair costs. The team reported that it expected to use all of

the budgeted funds for the current scope of work.

c. Children & Youth Faith Formation (Kathryn Elliott, 2023 & Catie Hester, 2024). Elder Elliott reported that the youth would be hosting Doors of Hope for a Thanksgiving dinner, and that the Church had reserved the Armory for November 27 for a church-wide event. The team also reported that it had planned a cookie decorating event for December 11, and tree sales

would begin Saturday, November 26.

d. Membership & Hospitality (Kevin Christian, 2022 & Lee Miers, 2023). Elder Christian reported that the Membership & Hospitality committee was working on plans for the annual Christmas caroling route with stops planned for several neighborhoods.

e. Mission (Greg Patton, 2022 & Melissa Hall, 2024). Elder Patton reported that the Mission Team had met with Betsy Chapman of Oxford Community Market, and that Kathleen Mayo had taken the lead on serving as the Church’s liaison with the organization. He also reported on the team’s tornado relief efforts in Kentucky and indicated that the team was planning a

return trip. He reported that the recently formed yard work and maintenance team, In Good Order, had not yet gotten any requests for assistance. He also indicated that the Mission team was in the process of discussing with the Property team placing a Little Free Pantry on the Church grounds.

f. Personnel (Trey Byars, 2022 & Goodloe Lewis, 2023). Elder Byars reported that the Personnel team had completed its annual staff meetings, and that the APNC was continuing its search process.

g. Worship (Hale Freeland, 2024). Elder Freeland reported that the Church would be hosting two Christmas Eve services and one service on both Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Financial Summary 

Upcoming Birthdays & Anniversaries 

December Birthdays



1 Baxter Elliott, Brett Estes, Kathy Griffith, Brent Hardin

2 Margaret Fancher, Sandy Grisham, Mary Kay McDowell, Kay Meadors

3 Ashley Abraham

4 Ernie Lowe

5 Mary Clark Hayward, Robert Williams

6 Charles Cascio, Dean Chow, Ty Gillespie

7 Steve McCord, Tom Meredith

8 Sandra Webb

9 Rosie Cooper, Gracyn Gordon, Sharon Lovelace, Carrie Milner

10 George Abdo, LeAnne Neal, Syd Shaw

11 June Goza, Miles Luster, Matt Nielson, Ben Pettis, Damein Wash

12 Emma Flautt, Allison McCord, Jenny McPhail 

13 Guff Abbott

15 Kristina Carlson, Thomas Embry, Vaughn Grisham, Mary Elizabeth Miers,

Laura Whitten

17 Logan McPhail, Wes Snellgrove

18 Marty Mauldin

19 Derek Baker

20 Matthew Chow, Hale Freeland, Grace Gillespie

21 Julie Field

22 Maggie Abernathy, John T. Edge Jr., Robert Hall, Mike Lovelace,

Davis McCool, Randall Mize

23 Jack Hill, Liza Orrell

24 Lee Mize

25 John Atkinson, Marjorie Selvidge

27 Cliff Smith

28 Allison Crawford, Lainey Schuesselin

29 Kristen Phillips

30 Helen Kenwright

31 Ashley Callery



December Anniversaries:

4 Tommy & Lu Ann Smith

5 Todd & Susan Abbott

6 Ernie & Machelle Williams

8 Jim & Suzan Deloach, Doug & Maribel Sullivan-Gonzalez

11 Charles & Laura Montgomery

12 Sparky & Jenny Kate Luster 

21 Bill & Ann Dickins, Goodloe Lewis & Angela Avery

22 Guff & Patsy Abbott, Richard & Ann DeVoe, David & Susan Shaw

24 Monte & Marianna Ochs

28 Sam & Mary Haskell

29 Monte & Joyce Gibbs

30 Trey Bridgers & Sarah Kathryn Dossett, Doug & Margaret Fancher, Ed & Julie Field, Hale & Cynthia Freeland, Guy & Lele Gillespie, Roy & Marjorie Selvidge

Your Church Staff

Rev. Barrett C. Milner

Senior Pastor

Rev. Deb de Boer

Interim Associate Pastor

Rev. Allison Wehrung

Pastor, UKirk Ministry

Creighton R. Holder

Director of Music

Dave Garvey

Director of Faith Formation for Children and Youth

Frances Saralvarez 

Office Administrator

Kate Hill 

Communications Director/Administrative Assistant

D. Wade Simpson

Property Manager

Wendy Brady

Nursery Director