|
Fast Facts
an e-update on life at
First Presbyterian Church
November 9, 2023
| |
|
|
Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
"Expectant and Hopeful Living"
Psalm 78:1-7 & Matthew 25:1-13
This week's lectionary texts:
Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25
Psalm 78:1-7
Amos 5:18-24
Psalm 70
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Matthew 25:1-13
| |  |
Join us for worship this Sunday, November 12 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 Worship
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.
| | |
Join us next Sunday, November 19, during the Sunday School hour for our special Creation Concert! | |
We would like to invite anyone willing to give up a small part of their Saturday in order to help tidy up the church lawn. This clean up will go a long way in sprucing up the front yard. It’s a wonderful and satisfying way of serving your church community. Click here to sign up! | |
Children and Youth Faith Formation | | |
|
|
PYF Hosts Thanksgiving
On November 14th in the Fellowship Hall, PYF is hosting a Thanksgiving dinner for ministry partners, Doors of Hope and The Pantry. The youth will be serving the meal and sharing fellowship during the meal. If you are available and feel called to serve, please contact Dave!
| | |
|
Christmas Trees are Back!
Come get in the Christmas spirit and support PYF summer trips all in one! Christmas tree sales will begin on Friday, November 24th and go while supplies last so plan on getting there early to get the tree of your dreams. The lot will be open from 9am to 5pm every day. This year we are adding a preorder option. If you would like to preorder your tree, click here!
| |
| |
|
|
CYFF Invites you to Ice Skate
with us!
The Children's and Youth Faith Formation committee invites you to join us for ice skating at the Old Armory Pavilion on November 26th at 6pm. Get in the holiday spirit with skating, cookies, coco and church wide fun! More details to come!
| | |
|
Children's Christmas Pageant
It's back! Get ready for our annual Children's Christmas pageant performed during the family service on Christmas Eve. Children aged Prek4 through 5th grade are invited to join us. Required rehearsals will take place from 4:30pm to 5:30pm Wednesday nights starting November 29th and going through December 20th. We are asking for a 4 week commitment so your kids can be comfortable with the music, the performance and the volunteers.
| |
|
We would like to cordially invite you to the showing of Carolyn Crowder's documentary "At the River". Carolyn will be joining us for the showing and a discussion afterwards. It will be held on November 29, at 5:30 pm, in the Fellowship Hall. Popcorn and soft drinks will be provided! | |
"At the River" is a feature length documentary about a certain time and place in the deep south. In the Civil Rights era of the 50's and 60's most Presbyterian ministers stood on the banks of the cultural river of segregation and white supremacy. They opted not to stir the water in their congregations and communities. However, a few young, southern Presbyterian ministers did brave those currents through their sermons, community organizing, and participating in the marches and protests. They faced dangerous, hate-filled consequences for these actions. "At the River" chronicles their lives and their decisions, as well as director Carolyn Crowder's first-hand experience as a young white southern girl from Montgomery, Alabama, in those mean and turbulent times. To learn more about Carolyn's life and the reasoning behind the creation of the documentary, please click here. | |
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 December 14. Click here for the order form. 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. Poinsettias can be picked up AFTER the last service on Christmas Eve.
| |
|
|
Seasonal berries and greenery dates are available December 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31 2023. To provide seasonal greenery and berries in honor or in memory of a loved one, contact Margaret Fancher at the email or phone number above.
| |
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, [email protected]. | |
This Sunday, November 12th is FPC's next Cents-Ability Collection Sunday. Cents-Ability is a PCUSA initiative to combat hunger in our local communities. Continue to collect a few pennies per meal at your dinner table and bring your donation to worship that Sunday. Need a collection container? They are available in the Narthex of the Sanctuary and in the church office. Our children will be asked to bring their containers forward during the children's sermon at the 11:00 service on the 12th. So keep saving those coins! | | |
|
|
Happy Birthday!
Next year is Camp Hopewell’s 75th birthday and Clean Water U’s 20th anniversary.
David Mills, Hopewell's new executive director, is making plans for a year-long celebration. He would like to put a group together to spearhead the celebration. If you or someone you know would like to be on this Task Force, please let him know. You can contact David at
[email protected]
or call 662-577-4310.
| | |
A local ecumenical effort is underway to supply sleeping bags for the more than 100,000 orphaned Ukrainian children displaced by the war. A shipping container has been made available to churches in north Mississippi to securely deliver the sleeping bags and other supplies by Christmas. If you would like to contribute to the effort, bring a new or clean, lightly used sleeping bag to the church office by tomorrow, November 10. Your concern is deeply appreciated. | | |
|
Welcome!
FPC has partnered with Doors of Hope Transition Ministry for a number of years by hosting office space and the Step 2 dinner each month. We have now extended an invitation to these families to attend our Wednesday Together dinners in the coming weeks. So, if you see an unfamiliar face on a Wednesday night, extend a warm hand of welcome and share some of FPC's gracious hospitality!
| | |
Each Friday volunteers gather at the OU Methodist kitchen for the weekly “Food Rescue.” Left over produce from the Oxford Community Market as well as surplus food from Greek houses on campus are brought to the kitchen. From these foods, volunteers assemble meal boxes and distributed them to residents of the various public housing facilities in Oxford. Volunteers to assemble and deliver the meals are needed Fridays from 2:30-4:00. From the underground parking garage at OU Methodist, go through the double glass doors to the kitchen. All able-bodied Presbyterians are invited to assist in this creative food distribution program. No need to sign up. Just show up! | | |
Frequently, individuals knock on the church door asking for aid—a meal, payment of a utility bill, a safe place to spend the night. There is a small pastor’s discretionary fund, and those in need are referred to Interfaith Compassion Ministry. Yet the Mission Team wanted to do more. FPC now offers Blessing Bags to anyone who would like one. The bags contain a nonperishable meal, toiletries, a few clothing items, and a list of community pantries, free meals and other public services. If you or your family would like to assemble a Blessing Bag, click here for suggested items. Questions? Contact Marty Mauldin at 662-832-3925 | | |
|
LovePacks
(lovepacksoxford.com) is an in-school pantry that provides food for 250 children in the Oxford and Lafayette county schools who experience hunger in their homes. For the month of November, ramen noodles. Your contribution may be left at the church office anytime. Questions? Contact
Carmille Hovious at 662-380-1471.
| | |
|
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. FPC volunteers are available to replace air filters, repair a dripping faucet, snug up that loose cabinet door, haul off a large limb in the yard, etc. If you would like assistance or know of someone who does, please contact the church office at
662-234-1757.
| | |
|
A New Opportunity to Serve the Least of These
What talents would you like to share? Are you a music leader? Do you enjoy reading a story to a group? Do you dance? Do you arrange flowers? What is your favorite dessert, snack or soup to prepare? Is there a craft or art project you’d like to share with others?
These talents and many others are always appreciated by the participants of Memory Makers of Oxford ([email protected]). A respite day service for those with varying degrees of dementia, Memory Makers has for almost 20 years provided structured activities including exercise, crafts, socialization, music, brain-stretching games, and other meaningful activities. Twelve participants are accommodated four days a week from 10-2:00. Furthermore, the program provides a much need respite to caregivers, allowing them time to take a break from the daily responsibility of caring for their loved one. Volunteers to assist with programing and provide snacks are always appreciated. If you would like to provide a couple hours of your time, call 234-3332 for more information. Various supplies are always needed as well; for a list of suggested items, click here. This could be your mission!
| |
|
Remember in Prayer
FPC Members: Becky Murphey; Curtis Wilkie; The Family of Tommy Patrick; Ann DIckins; Margaret Fancher; Louise Waller; Mrs. Pat Atkinson; The Family of Charles Montgomery; Family of William "Wylie" Coleman; Family of Nancy Rogers; Sarah, Cliff, and Sterlin Smith; Scottye Boone: Jean Blackston; Leon McCullouch
Family and Friends: Dr. Keith Mansel; Dr. Gladys Memnon and Friends in Bongnotte; Family of Tommy Marshall; Family and Friends of Dr. Jack Davis Brown; Susan Treas-Ewing; Margaret Burnett; Family of Dr. Macklyn Ward Hubbell; Doors of Hope Families; Lafayette County Detention Center inmates; Parchman Prison inmates; Haven House residents
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.
| |
|
November 19 is still available if anyone would like to purchase Sanctuary Floral Arrangements. To provide flowers in honor or in memory of a loved one, contact Margaret Fancher at [email protected]
or call
662-701-9604. 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.
| |
|
Do you feel called to bring communion to the
farthest pew?
If you’ve been ordained as a Deacon or Elder, you are qualified. Just sign up here, and stop by the church office to get a home communion kit
before you go.
| |
|
Upcoming Birthdays and Anniversaries | |
|
This Week's Birthdays:
9 - Bill Freeman, Lisa Hickman-Tollison
12 - Guy Gillespie
14 - Carmille Hovious, Samuel Lewis, Max Robinson
This Week's Anniversaries:
10 - Justin & Anne Grace Kennon
| |
|
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].
| | | | |
