Fast Facts

an e-update on life at

First Presbyterian Church

February 23, 2023

Worship - February 26, 2023

9:00 am & 11:00 am

A printable version of this week's calendar is available here!

Our church community had a wonderful time celebrating Mardi Gras with a parade & pancake supper! Read more about the event and see all of the pictures here!

Would you like to help put dinner out, or clean up for our hungry diners? We could use your help! Sign up here.

Presbyterian Youth Fellowship

UKirk Ole Miss is seeking meal providers for their Tuesday night gatherings. If you are interested in supporting college students in this way, find the

schedule at ukirkolemiss.org/tuesday-meals.

Questions? Contact Allison at ukirk.olemiss@gmail.com. 

We would love to have your help getting the church grounds in great shape for Spring. Get more information and sign up here!

Join us! The Mission Team meets the first Monday of each month at 5:00. We seek creative and effective means to serve “the least of these.” If you would like more information, call the church office or contact David Shaw, dcshaw82@gmail.com.

THIS SUNDAY!

Cents-Ability is a PCUSA initiative to combat hunger in local communities. Originally known as the Two-Cents-A-Meal program established by Presbyterian Women in 1976, Cents-Ability asks families to collect a few pennies per meal to support local food resources. In 2022

St. Andrew Presbytery awarded eight $1,000 grants to hunger assistance programs in Pontotoc, Grenada, Hernando, Marks, Oxford, Batesville, Horn Lake, and Ripley.

How does it work?

February 26^th is Cents-Ability Sunday! Containers for collecting donations will be provided to all FPC members, not just to those with children. Take your container home and place it on the table where you eat your meals. Drop a few cents in the container at each meal. Paper bills and checks work just as well! Periodically, on “Collection Sundays” members are asked to bring their containers to worship. Children will present their containers during the children’s sermon. The collective savings power of one congregation can be impressive. For example, a congregation with 100 families donating a nickel per meal can raise over $5,000 annually.

All participating churches in St. Andrew Presbytery forward their donations to the Presbytery office. Through an annual grants application process, Presbytery then distributes the funds to are a programs combatting hunger. If you would like more information, call the church office or go on line to PCUSA.org and search Cents-Ability.

Thank you for your participation!

Need a helping hand? In Good Order is a group of FPC volunteers available to assist members who may need a little extra help with a yard project or light home repairs. If you would like assistance or know of someone who does, please contact the church office.

FPC continues to collect food items to stock the shelves for Lovepacks. This in-school pantry provides food for 250 children in the Oxford and Lafayette county schools that experience hunger in their homes. The following is a list of suggested donations.  Please bring them to the church office.  For more information contact Carmille Hovious, 662-380-1471 or click the link below.  

Pop top can of chicken noodle or vegetable soup

Ramen noodles

Pop top cans of ravioli

Peanut butter and crackers

Cheese crackers

16 oz. Jar of peanut butter

Nonrefrigerated pudding

Granola, breakfast or protein bar

Apple sauce pouches

https://www.lovepacksoxford.com

FPC volunteers continue to deliver nutritious snacks twice a week to Leap Frog (theleapfrogprogram.org). Leap Frog provides Tier 2 literacy support to 60 first through third grade students in Oxford and Lafayette schools. Students meet after school four days a week to improve their reading skills. If you would like to provide snacks for these children, click here.

FPC members host the Doors of Hope Step Dinner

(doorsofhopeoxford.org) the second Tuesday of each month. DOH families attend the meal to support one another in their efforts to become self-sufficient and financially independent. Successful alumni of DOH participate as well to encourage current clients with their success stories. FPC members pick up the prepared meal from Larson's and serve it in the fellowship hall. If you are interested, click here.

A new opportunity! Holding Hands (holdinghandsoxford.com) is a local secondhand shop with a higher calling.  The nonprofit resells donated clothing and household items while employing intellectually impaired individuals. The shop is open to the public Monday through Saturday and accepts donations of clothing, household items, and furniture. It offers a pick-up service for donations three days a week. All members from PYF through VIP are invited to volunteer a few hours of their time at the store to sort and organize inventory. For more information please click here:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0a4caba92fa1ff2-holding#/

Remember in Prayer

FPC Members: Family of Nancy Rogers; Family of Alisa Reed Elliott; Sarah, Cliff, and Sterlin Smith; Mary Kay McDowell; Keith & Cheryl Hayward; Scottye Boone: Jean Blackston; Leon McCullouch; Family of John Edge; Family of Joe Murphey; Jane Henderson; Family of Dr. Bobby Kennedy; 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; Marianna Ochs; Family of Lynton Dilley; Max Williams; Lydia Moak; Michele Howie; Family of Betty Mullen White

Family and Friends: Family of Richard Flautt; Family of Barbara Callery; Mike Flautt; Family of George Caffey; Family of Pat Ewing; Family of Dr. and Mrs. Gerry Foret; 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 carlislewood@gmail.com or

662-832-8606. All requests are held in strict confidence.  

Sanctuary Floral Arrangement dates are available April 23, May 21, June 4, 18, July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30.To provide flowers in honor or in memory of a loved one, contact Margaret Fancher at mfancher42@gmail.com or call

234-1359. Contributions to the Flower Fund are greatly appreciated.

If you want a particular date to provide flowers on Sunday morning, please reserve the date early.

Upcoming Birthdays and Anniversaries

This Week's Birthdays:

24 Sallie Abernathy

25 Katherine Estes, Thomas Harris, Mary Williams

26 Lilly Biedenharn, Riley Mullen



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 fpcstaff924@gmail.com.