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Fast Facts
an e-update on life at
First Presbyterian Church
December 14, 2023
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Worship - December 17, 2023
9:00 am & 11:00 am
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Third Sunday of Advent
"Signed, Sealed, Delivered"
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 & Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
This week's lectionary texts:
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Psalm 126
Luke 1:46b-55
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
John 1:6-8, 19-28
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Join us for worship this Sunday, December 17 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. | | |
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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.
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First Presbyterian Church, Oxford - Advent 2023 | |
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Advent Calendar
DECEMBER 17, 2023 | SUNDAY
PYF CHRISTMAS PARTY | 5:00 pm | Patton Farm
* SERVICE OF LESSONS & CAROLS | 6:00 pm
DECEMBER 19, 2023 | TUESDAY
ADVENT SERVICE of WHOLENESS and HEALING | 5:30 pm
DECEMBER 20, 2023 | WEDNESDAY
GRACE NOTES ADVENT SERIES | 12:00 pm | Nancy Maria Balach, soprano & John Schuesselin, trumpet
Free luncheon to follow
CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS EVE MUSICAL REHEARSAL | 4:30 pm
COMMUNITY CAROLING EVENT at ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES | 5:30 pm | Gather in the courtyard
DECEMBER 24, 2023 | SUNDAY
* CELEBRATION OF CAROLS | 10:00 am
* FAMILY-FRIENDLY CHRISTMAS EVE WORSHIP with CHILDREN’S MUSICAL | 4:00 pm
* CHRISTMAS EVE TRADITIONAL WORSHIP with CANDLELIGHT & COMMUNION | 5:30 pm
DECEMBER 31, 2023 | SUNDAY
* COMBINED WORSHIP| 10:00 am
JANUARY 7, 2024 | SUNDAY
* TWO WORSHIP SERVICES RESUME| 9:00 am & 11:00 am
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The last Advent Wholeness & Healing service for the year will be on Tuesday, December 19th, at 5:30 pm in the Sanctuary. These 30-minute services offer peace and solitude for all during an overwhelming Christmas season by making space for prayer, scripture, and communion. | |
Come and bring your voices to do some Christmas Caroling, FPC style! Next Wednesday, December 20, we will visit assisted living homes around town. We’ll gather in the courtyard beforehandat 5:30 pm. We’d love to have all of you! Come let’s “make a joyful noise to the Lord!” | |
Join us as we celebrate this season with beautiful music! Works by Gwyneth Walker, Elizabeth Poston, Undine Smith Moore, Sally Ann Morris, Cecilia McDowall, Karen Marrolli, Eleanor Daley, Sally Beamish, Bernadette Farrell, and Elaine Hagenberg. | |
Children and Youth Faith Formation | |
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Children's Christmas Pageant
The return of the Christmas Pageant is here! At the 4pm family service on Christmas Eve, the children of the church will share the Christmas story through song! There will be 4 rehearsals for kids grades preK4-5th on Nov. 29, Dec. 6, Dec. 13 and Dec. 20. While we hesitate to use the word mandatory, we would like to convey very strongly the importance of attendance for your child at all 4 of these rehearsals so they can know the material and feel comfortable in front of friends and family on Christmas Eve!
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PYF Christmas Party
All high school and middle school students are invited to join us for the PYF Christmas party on December 17 from 5pm to 7pm at Patton farm. We will have chili, a bonfire, and a white elephant gift exchange. Make sure to bring a wrapped gift that you have spent $0 on. Gifts can be found or foraged. See you there!
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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 TODAY. 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.
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Seasonal berries and greenery dates are available December 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.
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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]. | |
FPC has partnered with Doors of Hope Transition Ministries for a several years now by providing office space and hosting the Step 2 Dinner the second Tuesday of each month. New volunteers to host the meals are needed. It's easy! Pick up the prepared meal from Larson's, serve the meal in the fellowship hall, and sit at table with new friends. For more information and to sign up, click here. | |
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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 December, snack pack pudding is requested. Your contribution may be left at the church office anytime. Questions? Contact
Carmille Hovious at 662-380-1471.
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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.
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Memory Makers of Oxford ([email protected]) is a respite day service for those with memory loss. Structured activities provide enrichment for participants while allowing a much need respite for caregivers 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. Call 234-3332 for more information. For a list of needed items, click here. | | |
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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.
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Remember in Prayer
FPC Members: Carey Hanson; Majorie Selvidge; Becky Murphey; Curtis Wilkie; Family of Tommy Patrick; Ann Dickins; Margaret Fancher; Louise Waller; Mrs. Pat Atkinson; The Family of Charles Montgomery; The Family of William “Wylie” Coleman; The Family of Nancy Rogers; Sarah, Cliff, and Sterlin Smith; Scottye Boone; Jean Blackston; Leon McCullouch
Family and Friends: Kicky Stovall; Thomas Hines; Olivia Flautt; Dale Mathis; Dr. Keith Mansel; Ellen Nicholas; Dr. Gladys Memnon and Friends in Bongnotte, Haiti; 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.
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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.
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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.
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Upcoming Birthdays and Anniversaries | |
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This Week's Birthdays:
15 - Kristina Carlson, Thomas Embry, Vaughn Grisham, Mary Miers, Laura Whitten
17 - Logan McPhail
18 - Marty Mauldin
20 - Hale Freeland
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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].
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