Fast Facts
an e-update on life at FPC
August 19, 2021
Worship - Sunday, August 22, 2021
13th Sunday after Pentecost

Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18
Ephesians 6:10-20

This week's lectionary texts:

1 Kings 8:1, 6, 10-11, 22-30, 41-43
Psalm 84
Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18
Psalm 34:5-15
Ephesians 6:10-20
John 6:56-59
Join us for worship this Sunday, August 22 at 10:25 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. 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.  
Sanctuary flower dates are available August 29 and September 5, 19, and 26. To provide flowers in honor or in memory of a loved one, contact Margaret Fancher at [email protected] or 662-234-1359. Contributions to the Flower Fund are greatly appreciated.  
We need your help! Sunday School teachers are needed for early elementary and junior/high school classes. If you are able to help in any way, please contact the church office or Kathryn Elliott by clicking here to sign up.
Your church needs your help!
 
Volunteers are needed for children's church each Sunday. This is a great way to connect with our FPC children! Click the button below to sign up. 
As a congregation, and as Christians, we at First Presbyterian Church, Oxford have, since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, sought to reflect the ideals of Christ, loving and serving those around us, and protecting our brothers and sisters both in our congregation and in the community around us. We decided early on in the course of the pandemic to heed the advice of the CDC and MSDH and adopt the recommendations set forth by these institutions of experts in the field of disease and epidemiology. To that end, the session of the church has elected to recommend that all - those vaccinated and those unvaccinated, adults and children alike - resume wearing masks while inside the church building. All other aspects of the service will remain as they have been since May. As we stated at the beginning of the pandemic: “This is a fluid situation with no clear time frame. Our response will require persistent monitoring, flexibility, and patience.” This is merely a bump in the road, and we will continue to gather as a congregation to worship, to praise and celebrate, to answer God’s call, and to feel Christ’s presence here at First Presbyterian.
New Small Group

We are the Arc-Benders, and we invite you to join us in our mission to become a Beloved Community. Martin Luther King, Jr. paraphrased the abolitionist and Unitarian minister, Theodore Parker, when he said, “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice”. We want to bend the arc in our community. We believe we are created by an omnipresent God who calls his children to live in harmony with one another and with all of Creation. Social constructs of race, culture, and economics often estrange us from one another and are antithetical to Christ’s clear instruction. We will use Bible Study, authentic conversation, and mission activities to accomplish our goal of authentic racial reconciliation and justice in our community. If you have questions, email any of the members of our group.
 
Ruth O’Dell [email protected]
Greg Patton [email protected]
Carey B. Hanson [email protected]
Christy Nielson [email protected]
Wil Howie [email protected]
Troop 45 recently had its first meeting of the fall semester with a full complement of Scouts and Scoutmasters! It was a special meeting, as we found ourselves back at FPC and down in the Scout Room after more than a year meeting off campus. Following CDC guidelines and FPC policy, all Scouts were masked. We look forward to many more Monday night meetings, though you may see us up top, either out front on the lawn or in the courtyard to even better observe Covid social-distancing recommendations. Many thanks to FPC for giving us a home…we are happy to be back!
Tuesday Morning Men's Breakfast is back at the Beacon! Come join in the food and fellowship each Tuesday morning at 6:00 am.
As the FPC begins to work its way back toward normal, UKirk Ole Miss is excited to be doing the same! We're still waiting on official word from the University about student organization guidelines for the Fall, but we're planning to welcome back Tuesday night meal providers this next semester! Our Fall schedule is available on our website here, and we hope you'll join us in supporting college students by feeding them on a Tuesday evening. We'll eat at 6pm each Tuesday, and homemade and restaurant meals are welcome. 
 
A new school year also means making new friends! We're busy representing UKirk at many of this summer's new student orientations, but a personal connection can go a long way in connecting a student with our community. If you know a student heading to Ole Miss in the Fall and would like to make sure we know them too, fill out this referral form. 
 
If you've got questions about either thing, find me (Allison Wehrung) at [email protected]. 
The Pantry is looking for a volunteer to substitute for the regular inventory taker as needed. The job will not require regular involvement and will only take about one hour. If interested, please call Ann O'Dell at 234.2907.
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.
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
Remember in Prayer
 
FPC Members: Mary Helen "Babe" Carr; Ashley Callery & family; Hale Freeland and family; Family of Bobbye Wiley; Family of Mary Freeman; Janet Barnes; Family of Shelby Smith; Teresa Flautt; Caroline McIntosh; Tommy Patrick; Family of Shirley Crawford; Helen Scruggs; Family of Mary Sims; Lark Lindley Wells; Lydia Moak; Max Williams; Family of Marleah Hobbs; J. T. Davis; Becky & Joe Murphey; Lynton Dilley; Debbie McElreath
 
Family and Friends:  Family of Shirley Styers; Sherry Wall; Family of Linda Chavers; Alex Sessions; Lynnette Porcelli; Betty Gurner; Donna Buckley; Family of William Gietzen; Family of Steve Milner; Daniel Kwak; Ellington Family; Family of Tom Mullen; Norma Myers; Family of Florence Pulliam; Stephanie Polk; Taylor Polk; Family of Jane Chancey Dubberly; Family of Randy Lutz; Charles Moseley; John Hamauei and family; Rhona Justice-Malloy & Amanda Malloy; Joyce Sumners; Richard Bremer; Sarah LaPrade; Mary Tyler Browne; Patch Hailey; Family of Carolyn Stevenson; Sigrid Morrison Long; Pauline Dick; Bill Sessions; Roun McNeal; Jamie Henderson Turner; Brad Hovious; B. Jones; Pat Gillenwater; Mark Barnes; Joe Houston; Matt Branch; Erica Baggett; Mackenzie Stetz; Mike Smith; 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
August Birthdays

19 Henry Hyneman, Polly Taylor
21 Kate Abraham, Julie Chadwick, Ann McIntosh, Nancy Rogers, Virginia Smith
22 Danny Collins, Kathryn Elliott, Hugh Monteith, Tennyson Monteith, Machelle Williams
25 Andrews McLellan, Kate Newman, Allison Wehrung

August Anniversaries

19 Kathryn & Ray Hill
21 Mary Cates & Robert Williams
23 Sarah & Jeffrey Hollis, Cydni & Kris Kersey
If we've overlooked your birthday or anniversary and you wish to have it included in Fast Facts, please contact Jessica McPhail in 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 Jessica McPhail in the church office at [email protected].
First Presbyterian Church | 924 Van Buren Ave | Oxford, MS fpcoxford.net | 662.234.1757