Fast Facts

an e-update on life at

First Presbyterian Church

December 16, 2021

Worship - Sunday, December 19, 2021

Seasonal greenery and berries dates are available December 26 and January 2. To provide flowers or 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.

What a joy to host another fantastic concert in our Grace Notes Advent Series! I'm grateful for the chance to collaborate with Nancy Maria Balach and John Schuesselin and create beautiful music. Join us next week as we conclude the series with Dr. Elizabeth Moak.



Peace,

Creighton Holder, Director of Music

“Come one, come all to the church for Christmas Caroling! Adults and any families who would like to go on tour with Creighton to Oxford Wheel Estates, Nottingham Hill, and The Magnolia at Oxford Commons join us in the church parking lot at 4:15. Smaller children and their families are invited to join Barrett caroling around the square. We’ll all meet back at the Fellowship Hall by 5:30 for cookies and hot cocoa. Let’s spread some Christmas cheer, singing loud for all to hear!”

Changes to Sunday Morning Schedule

On Sunday mornings, 12/26 and 1/02, there will be no Sunday school or Children's Craft Time during the service. There will still be a nursery provided for our youngest disciples during the 11:00 service.

Adult Faith Formation

Join us for our last class on Advent Characters, as talk about Mary and Jesus this Sunday, December 19th, at 9:45 in the Fellowship Hall.  

Beginning, Sunday, June 9th, join us in the Fellowship Hall for an informal discussion on the lectionary passages for the day. All you need to bring is your curious mind, open heart, and a willingness to delve into what the scriptures might have for us. No preparation required, and you can drop in any given Sunday without losing the thread. If you’ve got a favorite translation of the Bible, bring it. If not, don’t worry. We’ll have fun and learn from each other as listen for the Spirit in each other’s voices.

PYF

(Presbyterian Youth Fellowship)

Our semester-ending PYF bonfire at Greg Patton's farm was filled with fun, laughter, and some amazing gag gifts! We've had a great year so far and look forward to a wonderful spring semester!

UKirk Ole Miss extends an enormous "THANK YOU!" to all of you who have served as Tuesday night meal providers! Our Fall Semester has come to a close; however, if you are interested in providing meals for the Spring semester, the sign-up calendar will soon be available on the ukirk website. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please email Allison at [email protected]. Again, thank you, and Merry Christmas!

Oxford First United Methodist Church holds its food distribution next Wednesday, December 22 from 9:30-1:00 at their church, 102 Dylan Avenue next to the Mary Cathey Head Start off Old Sardis Road. 250-300 needy Lafayette County families are served through this monthly outreach program. FPC volunteers are asked to assist in distributing the groceries to clients in the drive through at OFUMC. Even an hour of your time would be greatly appreciated. This could be your mission!

To find out more about this event on Sunday, December 19, benefitting More Than A Meal and showcasing the Southern Living Idea Home, click here.

Oxford First United Methodist Church and FPC are planning a five-week seminar for a dialog in racial healing this spring. Approximately ten members from each congregation will meet weekly to faithfully explore together what it means to be a more whole and united community in Christ. The seminar will be led by Dr. Cade Smith, the University's Assistant Vice-Chancellor for Community Engagement. If you would like to volunteer to participate in the seminar or have questions, please email [email protected] or call the church office. Thank you for your prayerful consideration.

Oxford First United Methodist Church holds its next food distribution Wednesday, December 22 from 9:30-1:00 at their church, 102 Dylan Avenue next to the Mary Cathey Head Start off Old Sardis Road. 250-300 needy Lafayette County families are served through this monthly outreach program. FPC volunteers are asked to assist in distributing the groceries to clients in the drive through at OFUMC. Even an hour of your time would be greatly appreciated. This could be your mission!

The Doors of Hope Transition Ministry, based in the education building here at FPC, 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. Each month graduates of the program meet with current clients during the Step 2 Dinner. While sharing a meal together, clients are encouraged by the success stories of their predecessors. The Step 2 Dinner is held the second Tuesday of the month in our fellowship hall. Two FPC volunteers are needed to order prepared meals from Larson's Cash Savers and deliver them to the church. The FPC volunteers then sit at table with the clients to become better acquainted with their stories. The next dinner for which volunteers are needed is Tuesday, January 11, 2022 at 5:30 pm. If you would like to volunteer, please call the church office, 234-1757 or email [email protected]. This could be your mission!

The Family Crisis Services of Northwest Mississippi is a comprehensive victim services organization. It is the only nonprofit in Oxford that specifically addresses and provides services to victims of interpersonal violence--sexual assault, domestic violence, homicide, etc. Staff and volunteers are available 24/7 to provide crisis intervention services. Recently, Family Crisis Services experienced a $200,000 cut in federal funding. Six staff members, including their intervention child psychologist, were laid off. Interested in helping? Current needs include monetary donations, cleaning supplies, basic office supplies, paper toiletries, and new stuffed animals for each child that the facility receives. If you would like to donate any of these supplies, please drop them by the church office. More information is available at oxfordadvocacy.org or call 234-9929.

Haven House, our resident recovery facility for people with substance abuse, appreciates the donations of Bibles, study materials, and daily devotional booklets. If you have some religious books to share, please bring them to the church office.

Curious about the various FPC mission activities? A new email account has been created specifically for keeping FPC members abreast of mission plans, outreach programs, committee minutes, etc. If you would like to be kept in the mission loop, contact the Mission Team at [email protected]. Your name will be placed on Mission Ministry's contact list. We look forward to keeping everyone informed of FPC's outreach opportunities.

Lovepacks provides supplemental food for school age children in need, on weekends and holidays. We can stop hunger!

We are always in need of non-perishable, kid-friendly food donations to fill Lovepacks! These can be dropped off 8:30 am-4:30 pm Monday-Friday at the church office or in the narthex on Sundays!

Here is a list of needed items:

• Pop Top cans of Chicken Noodle or Vegetable Soup
• Pop-Top cans of Ravioli
• Peanut Butter Crackers
• Ramen Noodles
• Cheese Crackers
• 16 oz. Jar of Peanut Butter
• Non refrigerated Pudding
• Apple sauce pouches
• Granola, Breakfast, or Protein bars

A huge THANK YOU to those who have donated. FPC and Oxford Lovepacks appreciates you!

New Member Class in 2022

A new member class will begin this coming January! Please contact Barrett if you are interested in becoming a member of our church family!

Remember in Prayer

FPC Members: Family of Lynton Dilley; Max Williams; Louise & Nolan Waller; Porter Callery; Teresa Flautt; Lydia Moak; Susan & Tom Meredith; Michele Howie; Margaret Fancher; Family of Betty Mullen White; Joe Murphey; Tommy Patrick; Marianna O

Family and Friends: Bob Flautt; Family of Elise & William Winter; Parchman Prison inmates; Haven House residents; Our Haiti partners; Oxford & Lafayette County First Responders; Community leaders  

U. S. Military: SSgt 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. 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.  

Upcoming Birthdays and Anniversaries

December Birthdays

16 Kate Rosson

17 Logan McPhail, Wes Snellgrove

18 Marty Mauldin

19 Derek Baker, Joyce Gibbs

20 Matthew Chow, Hale Freeland, Grace Gillespie

21 Julie Field

22 Maggie Abernathy, John Edge, Robert Hall, Mike Lovelace, Davis

McCool, Randall Mize

December Anniversaries

18 Matthew and Melissa Graves

21 Bill and Ann Dickins, Pick and Jody Scruggs

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

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 Frances Saralvarez in the church office at [email protected].