February 19, 2021
The First Sunday in Lent

In preparation for worship,
we encourage you to read the Scripture passage
and reflect on what God’s word might be to you.

Scripture: Mark 1:9-15
Message: "Again & Again: Strengthening Our Knowledge of God"

JOIN us for WORSHIP from HOME.
Click Live-stream to join us for worship
on Sunday at 10:00 a.m.

Click Sunday Bulletin to enhance your worship experience

Click Sunday School to connect with teachers
and activities to nurture faith
Ministry News and Upcoming Events
Lenten Creation Care Podcast Series
Podcasts are a great way to explore new ideas. This Lent, our Christian Education Committee teamed up with our Caring for Creation team to develop a series of “Caring for Creation” podcasts. Each week, you are invited to listen to one of the podcasts linked HERE and then join members of our Caring for Creation team on Sundays on Zoom starting at 11:45 am for a coffee hour discussion of the week’s listening. Please contact Carla Blackmar-Rice if you have technical difficulties at cablackmar@yahoo.com and she will be glad to assist you.  
 
Information for Zoom Meetings is here (please scroll to bottom of document for more information)
Join Zoom Meeting
Lenten Reflections
In Lent, we're reminded that, again and again, we hold hope together throughout the Journey to Jerusalem. We need the 40 days of Lent because this season shapes us into more faithful disciples.

Each Wednesday throughout Lent, members of the OPC Staff will be offering individual messages of hope on our YouTube channel and social media pages.

Join us this Lent as again and again, we bring all of who we are to Christ and trust that God will meet us with hope, time and again, along the way.
Lenten Devotionals
Lent is a time to reflect, to grow, to pray, and to prepare for Easter. This year’s Lenten devotional Again and Again invites us to return to the practices that transform and renew. This wonderful resource for your family includes art, reflections, and poetry that can help deepen your spiritual life as we walk through the season of Lent together.

Please let us know if you would like a Lenten devotional by contacting the church office and requesting your copy. It can be mailed to you or you can pick it up. 
Fellowship in the Virtual Molyneaux Lounge
Our life together as the Body of Christ is more important than ever as we overcome this pandemic with resilient faith, hope and love. Gather online with your brothers and sisters in our faith community for connection, conversation, as well as spontaneous moments of hope and encouragement.
 
As time permits, we will reflect together on these worship themes. As we begin the journey of Lent together, God meets us at the edge of life. How has Jesus come to you, time and again, in your life? Where are the edges in your life right now and how is God meeting you there?
 
Join us this week after worship at this link on Zoom as we explore deeper bonds of fellowship.
Worldchanging 101 at Youth Group
Youth Group will be meeting in the seminary building this Sunday evening at 6:30 p.m. Our 6-week book study of "Worldchanging 101" by David LaMotte continues with Chapter 9, "Community." The book is available in both paperback and Kindle form. Masks and facial coverings are required, and there will be temperature checks at the door.

If you would like for the church to provide you with a physical copy of the book, please contact Pastor Marc
Honored Woman Award
As we anxiously anticipate the arrival of spring in 2021, we are again seeking from our congregation nominations for the Honored Woman’s Award. We wish to recognize that person who has given faithfully and selflessly to the betterment, growth and outreach of OPC. Please nominate by means of a letter indicating the contributions made to the church as a whole.
 
Letters must be received by February 28 to Susan King or Becky Quay to be considered. Thank you.
 
Connecting as the Beloved Community
Debbie Davidson is missing the interaction with real live people, especially the chancel choir. In the warm months she, along with a few friends, socially distanced for lunch at the TRI park, bringing their own brown bag. That has been replaced with the occasional indoor lunch with these same friends. She feels that she is getting lazy, snacking more and thus COVID-19 now means the extra 19 pounds that have crept upon her. Debbie and Renee have been pursuing their interest in Pokémon which gets them out of the house and into the car from time to time. Pokémon?? - a virtual search to find animated critters that show up on your phone. Ask Debbie for details.

Greg Hughes returned to work at AK Steel in August 2020. He is not a fan of remote work so is glad that he is able to be on site. Peggy, a pharmacist at the Oxford Kroger for many years, has transferred to the Trenton Kroger store. Son Alex, who had brain surgery at the Mayo Clinic a year ago, is working at LaRosa’s and also doing some drafting work for his Dad. Michael continues his studies in music at UC.

Greg and Peggy see this time of slowing down as a gift. It is an opportunity to bond with nature on their 35 acre property and feel closer to the land.

Mark and Debbie DeGennaro are both working on site - Debbie teaching in Hamilton and Mark at the Miami Art Museum. They have been taking lots of walks, enjoying visits from their three girls, and also the peace and quiet that comes with a less busy house. They miss traveling to visit their mothers in California and Cleveland. Debbie is becoming more proficient playing the piano. Mark can be heard strumming the guitar when not in the kitchen creating delectable meals.
Eradicating Systemic Poverty Team - A Story of Progress
The Eradicating Systemic Poverty Team (ESP) has seen some signs of hope and progress during this season of lock-downs, illness, and unemployment. We will share with you a story in which many forces came together to result in hope for a young man here in Oxford. He will go by the fictitious name of Luke, now age 24. Luke was homeless for 4 years, truly struggling. Then, last fall, the city of Oxford purchased and funded transitional housing for those who qualified as homeless but had the possibility of moving toward independence in the future. Luke was one such candidate. He lived in one of the transitional housing units as long as was allowed under transitional housing guidelines. He worked with case workers and obtained a job and began to learn management skills. He also found an apartment that he could afford to live in on his own. Meanwhile, the ESP Team learned from the Family Resource Center (FRC) staff that he was in need of furniture for his apartment. The word went out and two members of the OPC congregation brought a bed, mattress and box springs—along with sheets, pillow, and a blanket and more to him. They noticed there was no other furniture present—not even a can opener—so shopping they went! Soon Luke had acquired a few more “essentials”—items most of us would naturally have (such as a shower curtain) that he had not owned for a long time, if ever. Gradually, Luke’s new home is becoming more home-like with the addition of chairs and a table. He still could use a floor lamp—or any lamp—and perhaps a small tv and side table. He’d probably like a place to store his clothes.

If you have spare household items that you no longer need or use and would like to donate them, let Anne Bailey know: baileyae@miamioh.edu

I can arrange to have them picked up and delivered.
OPW Mission Pledge
As you receive your letter for the annual mission pledge request, please know, if you wish to give an OPW mission pledge online you may do so. Just use the church online giving program and choose the OPW account. Any amounts given to this account currently will be accepted as a mission pledge. Thank you.
Love in Action - COVID Vaccinations
Navigating the process required to schedule a vaccine appointment may take persistence and patience. As a result, volunteers from our church family are ready to assist and guide you through the appointment process. If you encounter any difficulty in this endeavor, please contact the church office.
Community Blood Drive Results
Thank you for a fantastic blood drive February 17. There were 3 first time donors!

Here are the overall results.
 
  • 53 people registered to give blood!
  • 39 were successful!
  • 3 First Time Donors! WOW!
  • Over 117 lives will be positively impacted as a result of total donations!
 
Mark your calendar for the next Community Blood Drive, Friday, March 12 from 9:00am – 4:30pm.

APPOINTMENTS REQUIRED
Sponsor Code #321

COVID-19 Antibody test will be performed on all blood donors as part of our standard testing.
Congregational Concern
Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life, the one who believes in me shall live, even though they die.”
John 11:25-26
 
Becky Rudolph, a cherished member of the Oxford Presbyterian Church family and long time choir member passed away Wednesday, February 17. Please keep Mike and family in your prayers.

Cards of sympathy may be mailed to:

Mike Rudolph
200 Morgan Cir.
Oxford, OH 45056
Your Stewardship Matters
With gratitude and appreciation, prayerfully engage these two translations of Jesus’ teaching in Luke 6:38
Give away your life;
you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back –
given back with bonus and blessing.
Giving, not getting, is the way.
Generosity begets generosity. (The Message)
 
Give, and it will be given to you.
A good measure, pressed down, shaken together,
running over, will be put into your lap;
for the measure you give will be the measure you get back. (NRSV)
 
Your time, talent and treasure are truly vital to this ministry. If you are worshipping with us via the livestream, in lieu of a contribution to the physical offering plate, we would encourage you to mail your pledge/tithe to the church office or give through one of these digital avenues. To give online both conveniently and securely, you may access our online giving opportunity from your computer at https://onrealm.org/oxfordpresbychurch/Give.
 
To give via QR code, scan the code in the image below with your phone and follow the brief prompts. View a video tutorial here on giving through QR code.
 
To give via text message, text opc1825 and your designated amount to 73256. For example, text "opc1825 25" to 73256 for an offering of $25 and follow the prompt. View a video tutorial here on giving via text message.
 
Questions? Contact office - office@oxfordpresbychurch.org.
Living Into Hope

A life of hospitality begins in worship, with a recognition of God’s grace and generosity. Hospitality is not first a duty and responsibility; it is first a response of love and gratitude for God’s love and welcome to us.

-  Christine Pohl
Oxford Presbyterian Church | 101 N. Main Street, Oxford OH 45056