Fast Facts 12.1.22

Fast Facts

an e-update on life at

First Presbyterian Church

December 1, 2022

Worship - December 4, 2022

9:00 am & 11:00 am

Second Sunday of Advent

"Can You Imagine?"

Psalm 72: 1-7, 18-19 & Isaiah 11:1-10

This week's lectionary texts:

Isaiah 11:1-10;

Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19;

Romans 15:4-13;

Matthew 3:1-12

Join us for worship this Sunday, December 4 at 10:55 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. Click here to access the live video. 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.

Online worshipers may 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 online bulletin will available the Friday after Fast Facts is sent out each week.

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; Teresa Flautt; Lydia Moak; Michele Howie; Family of Betty Mullen White

Family and Friends: Family of George Caffey; Family of Helen Nielson; Family of Shirley Bragg Donnelly; 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 [email protected] or 662-832-8606. All requests are held in strict confidence.

Seasonal greenery and berries 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 [email protected] 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.

Members are invited to help decorate the Sanctuary for Christmas by purchasing poinsettias for $12 each in memory or in honor of friends or loved ones. The deadline for ordering is Thursday, December 8. Please click here for the order form . Printed out order forms are available in the church office as well. Be sure to list your information as you would like it printed in the bulletin and return it to the church office with your payment attached.

Church Family Tradition for the

Whole Family

Sunday, December 4

4-6 pm

Come to learn about the rich history represented on the Chrismon tree. We will make Chrismons to share with those who need a symbol of Christian love in this season. The ministry teams for Children, Youth, and Adult Faith Formation hope everyone will join us for this intergenerational event.

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!

Children and Youth Faith Formation

Our last gathering of 2022 will be Thursday, Dec. 8 from 5:30-7:30 at the Hall's. Please carpool if possible. I had requested that you let me know early whether you would prefer to bring an appetizer or wine for the group. I have

only heard from a few. We have 2 people bringing wine and about 6 bringing an appetizer. That's not enough of either. I'm assuming that more than 8 people are planning to attend, so PLEASE let me know whether or not you're coming and what you'd like to bring. This is always a fun time together. See you there.

-Sally Hines

Music at First

Scout Troop 45

At Monday’s meeting Troop 45 brushed up on its emergency preparedness by practicing several first aid techniques. One of Scouting's centers is to help youths be ready for and to feel confident in any situation. This readiness experience is expressed in the BSA motto “Be Prepared.” Scout readiness training is known as learning "Scout Skills." And as the boys are finding out, Scout Skills are life skills.

Using what’s at hand: a clip board serves as an ideal splinting aid.

Practicing splinting a “broken” leg…our victim seems a little too happy about his situation.

Here the Scouts make a quick stretcher with poles and sweatshirts.

Adopt a DOH Family this Christmas!

The Doors of Hope Transition Ministry, based in our education building, is an outreach agency that assists single parents in their efforts to become self-sufficient. Through finance and budget counseling, a limited period of housing assistance, educational opportunities, and employment searches, clients learn to break crippling patterns of dependence and start new lives. There are currently 16 families in the program. Each family consists of a single mother with 1-4 children. In this season FPC members are invited to brighten Christmas for a DOH family by providing requested clothing, household items, and toys for Christmas. FPC members are able to individually or collectively adopt a family as can Sunday school classes, PW Circles, etc. If you would like to adopt a family, contact Mary Margaret Andrews, 901-233-5463 or email [email protected]. Please deliver your gifts wrapped to the church office by December 18th. Thank you!

Upcoming Birthdays and Anniversaries

This Week's 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

This Week's Anniversaries:

4 Tommy & Lu Ann Smith

5 Todd & Susan Abbott

6 Ernie & Machelle Williams

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

If we've overlooked your birthday or anniversary and you wish to have it included in Fast Facts, please contact 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 the church office at [email protected].

Weekly Calendar

Thursday, December 1

5:30 pm Membership & Hospitality Meeting

Sunday, December 4

9:00 am First Worship Service*

9:45 am Sunday School Classes

11:00 am Second Worship Service*

4:00 pm Church Wide Chrismon Decorating

5:00 pm Presbyterian Youth Fellowship

5:00 pm Arc Benders

6:00 pm Music at First Piano Studio Winter Recital

Monday, December 5

7:45 am Coffee @ Heartbreak:

6-8th grade girls

12:00 pm CYFF Meeting

4:30 pm Worship Team Meeting

Tuesday, December 6

6:00 am Men’s Breakfast @ the Beacon

7:45 am Coffee @ Heartbreak:

6-8th grade boys

5:00 pm Mission Ministry Meeting

5:30 pm Diaconate

5:30 pm Wholeness & Healing Service

Wednesday, December 7

7:45 am Coffee @ High Rise:

9-12th grade girls

8:15 am Men’s Bible Study

12:00 pm Grace Notes Advent Series:

Oxford Civic Chorus

5:00 pm Officer Nominating Committee

6:00 pm Children’s Choir

6:45 pm Chancel Choir