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FIRST PRESS an online newsletter June, 2014
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I remember my first "announced" visit to First Presbyterian Church in early 2004. Some weeks after being called as your 25th pastor, I had come to Mississippi to be examined by the Presbytery of St. Andrew at the little country church in Van Vleet. As long as I was close, it made sense to stop in and meet the staff. We greeted each other guardedly, wondering what kind of marriage it was going to be but hopeful for all God had in store. In what were then aging offices, I met Denise Faust and Bobbye Wiley and Gray Wallace and S.T. Jamison and Robert Aubrey. Together with Diane Lindley, Mary Poole and Ned Beckes, your interim pastor, they were the people keeping the wheels in motion back then.
Later, Cindy and I returned to close on our house and meet more of you before moving from Kentucky for good that May. On Tuesday, June 1, I sat down in the old pastor's office downstairs, with its fresh coat of paint and a brand new desktop computer, and began my work here in earnest. Five days later, on June 6, I stood in the pulpit, emotionally overwhelmed and paralyzed with fear, to deliver my first sermon, an achingly bad (now that I've re-read it) missive on Isaiah 43 entitled, "What's Your Name Again?" You listened politely and allowed me to see the sun rise on June 27 when I was installed with enough bagpipes and drums to shake the foundations of our venerable sanctuary, a service of worship for the ages.
What a wild ride it has been! Ten years of talking and growing, of births and illnesses, of renovations and overhauls, ten years of praying and singing, of laughing and crying, of picnics and egg hunts, ten years of debating and dreaming, of meetings and missions, of weddings and funerals, ten years of grace and mercy, ten wonderful years of your unconditional love for me and mine for you, ten years in the presence of a God who has been unshakably good to First Presbyterian Church in ways too numerous to count.
And just now, on this first day of June, 2014, you have feted my family and me with a celebration of those ten years we shall never forget...my cup runneth over. Thank you to Ann, Ben, Trey and Hale, among others, who made that memorable occasion happen. And thanks to all of you for putting up with a lanky Type A, late blooming refugee from the business world whose sense of humor can be oppressive and whose striving for excellence can seem noxious. Thank you for your copious amounts of patience whenever I have messed up. Thank you for tolerating the many manifestations of my brokenness. Thank you for giving my wife and daughters ample space to be themselves rather than hold them to high "pastor's family" expectations they could never meet.
And thank you for being the awesome, kind, loving, beautiful, faithful people you are...not without peccadillos any more than myself, but deliciously real and interesting just like William Faulkner says you are. I still brag to my seminary friends that I'm at the Shangri-la of Presbyterian churches, and I mean it. You are the reason I still easily get out of bed every day. You are the reason it is a privilege to be a pastor.
In my first sermon that day, I ended by saying, "God has called you by name. God loves you just as you are."
May that abiding, unchanging truth carry you all your days. And may you know the joy only the eternal God makes possible, through our risen Lord, Jesus Christ.
Peace,
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One of my favorite Scripture passages is Acts 2:44-47, which describes the early church following the events of Pentecost. Those verses tell about a community of people that care for one another, tend to each other's needs, worship together and share food and fellowship. At FPC, we worship together in a group of diverse ages and interests, but when we gather for fellowship, mission or study, we often gather among people who are a lot like we are. The youth gather for a meal and either games or study every week; our softball team and their families gather for games and a cookout; young adults get together for a crawfish boil; those 50 and older get together and go out to dinner; the VIPs take trips; men gather for Tuesday breakfasts and the Presbyterian Women have a study and a meal once a month. All of those are fun events that give members of the congregation opportunities to get to know one another. But those kinds of events take on a new dimension when the age groups get all mixed up. The best softball games are the ones where members who haven't used a softball bat in thirty years show up to cheer on the team along with the wives and girlfriends and toddlers. The VIPs and the youth really enjoyed packing Lovepacks together in April. Having college students go to Haiti with people their parents' and grandparents' ages is eye-opening for young and old alike. We are, after all, a church family and as such we're made up of different aged people with many different gifts to share.
Beginning in June, the Membership and Hospitality Ministry Team will be encouraging you to mix things up a bit with our "Church Family Nights Out." They begin with a concert in the Grove in June, an ice cream social in July and a Blessing of the Backpacks in August. Some of you may be asked to help by making a freezer of ice cream or by firing up the grill to cook burgers, but these monthly events are planned for all of us at FPC. It's a time for us to enjoy fellowship with one another and get to know each other a little better. The ministry team hopes it will strengthen the sense of family among our church members and help us to care for one another's needs because that will impact our worship, study and service to the community and beyond. Make time this summer to join your church family for a night out. It will be good for all of us!
Blessings,
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Summer Worship Schedule
10:00 am - Worship with Communion
No Sunday School
Nursery Weekly: 9:45 - 11:15 am
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Lectionary Texts for June
June 1 - Acts 1:6-14; Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35; 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11; John 17:1-11
June 8 - Acts 2:1-21; Psalm 10424-34, 35b; 1 Cor. 12:3b-13; John 20:19-23
June 15 - Gen. 1:1-2:4a; Psalm 8; 2 Cor. 13:11-13; Matt. 28:16-20
June 22 - Gen. 21:8-21; Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17; Rom. 6:1b-11; Matt.10:24-39
June 29 - Gen. 22:1-4; Psalm13; Rom. 6:12-23; Matt. 10:40-42
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Summary of the Stated Session Meeting - May 12, 2014
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The Session of First Presbyterian Church held its stated monthly meeting on Monday, May 12, 2014, at 5:30 pm in the Session Room. Eleven Elders were present.
Ministry Team Highlights:
1. Finance:
AcessACS, an online system for members to access their financial giving and contact information, will be rolled-out soon, and there will be an article with the appropriate link in the June newsletter. The following motions were made by the Finance Ministry Team and, after discussion, carried unanimously:
* Motion to mail paper giving statements to the FPC membership in June and December of each calendar year. Members may request them more frequently if desired.
* Motion to transfer oversight of use of $5,000 gift earmarked for making improvements to the basement to Property Ministry Team, with the Property Ministry Team working directly with the Scoutmaster to develop a proposal for the best use of this gift.
* Motion to continue relationship between FPC and Dwight L. Young Group for the purpose of annual financial audits.
2. Property:
* The following motion was made by the Property Ministry Team and, after discussion, carried unanimously:
Motion to allow Camp Hopewell to use the church bus for their summer trip.
* A bus check inspection form has been completed for use by all groups using the bus.
* All HVAC units will be checked, and a computer board will be replaced for the sanctuary units to operate correctly.
* Columbarium sales total 16 out of 36 niches, with 19 being needed to break even.
3. Children's Christian Education:
* All VBS teachers are in place with four additional volunteers.
* Plans continue for the Youth trip to Montreat with another record-breaking group.
4. Mission:
The following motions were made:
* Movant, Elder Al Ling - Motion to allow UKirk use of north half of Annex space at no charge.
The motion was seconded and, after discussion, carried unanimously.
* Movant, Mission Ministry Team - Motion to use funds left in Pentecost account and those obtained from Pentecost offering on June 8 to go to Allison Stewart, our choir member, who is going to be a PCUSA Young Adult Ministry Volunteer in Northern Ireland beginning this August for a year. After discussion, the motion carried by acclamation.
New Business:
1. The following motions were made, seconded, and, after discussion, carried unanimously:
* Movant, Moderator - Motion that Freeman memorial funds be used to establish an annual "Freeman Lecture Series for Adult Education."
* Movant, Moderator - Motion to approve the 2013 Annual Statistical Report.
* Movant, Moderator - Motion to approve the installation of Presbyterian Women officers on May 25, 2014, at 10:00 am: Moderator-Mary Edith Walker; Vice-Moderator-Ann DeVoe; Secretary-Julie Field; Treasurer-Margaret Fancher; Historian-Lisa Hickman-Tollison.
2. The June Stated Meeting will be held June 16 instead of June 9.
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"Securing Our Future" Capital Campaign Update
May, 2014
Total Pledges $ 2,156,733.00
Total Contributions Received 1,115,733.78
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FPC Members Can Now Access Pledge/Giving Information Online
Two years ago, the Session began consideration of a new financial system for FPC. One of the key factors driving this decision was the desire to provide FPC members with the ability to review their giving amounts online and make updates to their contact information. Ultimately, ACS church management software from ACSTechnologies was selected, and the Finance Ministry Team embarked upon the time-consuming task of migrating all the church's financial data to the new cloud-based system.
Now that the migration has been successfully completed, both the Finance Ministry Team and the Session are pleased to announce that FPC members can now enroll for online access to their contribution and contact data using ACS's AccessACS software. The link to access your information, along with instructions on how to set up your online account, is located at fpcoxford.net under "News & Events" and by mid-June will have its own permanent tab on the home page labeled "AccessACS." We hope you find this new way of managing your contributions and data to be both efficient and effective.
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Pantry Helpers Needed for the Month of June
First Presbyterian and Burns United Methodist Churches will manage the Food Pantry on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in June. On Tuesdays, volunteers are needed to stock and organize the shelves, unpack boxes, help unload supplies from the truck and pack snack bags and fresh vegetables. This work is generally done in the morning but sometimes in the afternoon. On Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 to 11:00 a.m., volunteers are needed to shop with the clients. Shopping lists are available. This is a wonderful ministry within our community, but it requires lots of volunteer help. Please call the church office at 234-1757 to sign up to help, even if only for an hour or two. Youth may volunteer if accompanied by an adult.
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The organ is receiving its final voicing as I write this article; once this is done, the organ project will be complete. Plans are underway for a recital with an internationally known organist to demonstrate the organ's capabilities and, more importantly, to rededicate this venerable instrument to the glory of God.
Visually, there is no comparison to the previous facade and console, and I'm sure everyone can appreciate the beauty these new additions bring to FPC's historic sanctuary. Tonally, non-musicians may not hear the improvements; however, if you could hear the instrument in a side-by-side, before-and-after demonstration, I am confident all would recognize the vast improvement.
The Chancel Choir is winding down for the summer. We will continue to participate in worship through the end of June, even though most all of our scholarship singers have left for the summer. In July, the choir will take some well-deserved time off before the busy Fall season gets underway. The choir could use more singers from within our congregation and I know we have folks who are very capable! Please seriously consider joining us in the Fall! Thanks to all for your continued support of the music ministry here at FPC.
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 Another amazing year has come to an end and PYF has wrapped up for the semester. We are sad to lose such a strong senior class of young women, but look forward to welcoming the new 7th graders into the PYF family. This summer, we anticipate our annual trip to the mountains of North Carolina during the week of June 8-14 for the Montreat Youth Conference. Then, from June 28-July 5th, we'll travel south to New Orleans on a mission trip to help with the continuing Katrina cleanup efforts. Thank you all for the incredible support you give to your PYF!  We would like to extend a big "Thank you" to all those who continue to support us through the wonderful gift of food! -Cindy Semmes -Maggie Abernathy -Allyson Ashmore -Ann Kelly -Maribel Sullivan-Gonzalez |
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Use the link below register your child today for FPC VBS July 14-18!
Register Now
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Congratulations to our graduating seniors and their families!
Brynn Ashmore (University of Mississippi)
Elizabeth Black (University of Mississippi)
Mary Shields Craft (University of Mississippi)
Ellie DeVoe (University of Mississippi)
Grace Gillespie (University of Mississippi)
Isabella Moak (University of Mississippi)
Kara Rose (University of Mississippi)
Sophie Semmes (Auburn University)
Renee Sullivan-Gonzalez (University of Mississippi)
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Congratulations to the 2014 Confirmation Class
(with thanks to their Elder mentors)!
Katherine Louise Abraham
Elder Karen Chain
Avery Harwell Atkinson
Elder David Flautt
Mary Clark Hayward
Elder Lele Gillespie
Daniel Louis Hall
Elder Darren Ashmore
Coleman Merrick McCool
Elder David Shaw
Eleanor Morgan McIntosh
Elder Teresa Flautt
Sarah Neely Mullen
Elder Pat Lowe
Emma Haralson Williams
Elder Karen Elliott
Joslin Olivia Williams
Elder Allyson Ashmore
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Session Approves Annual Lecture Series
At its stated meeting on May 13, the Session unanimously approved the creation of the Freeman Lecture Series for Adult Christian Education. This annual event, the date for which will be set by the Adult Christian Education Ministry Team in collaboration with the pastors, will commence in 2015 and will honor the memory of the Rev. Dr. David R. Freeman, our longtime parish associate who died on January 14, 2014.
David had many gifts, but central among them was the gift of teaching. He and his wife, Mary, led the Disciple Bible Study series for several years at FPC. David also taught other classes here, shepherded continuing education as "pastor to pastors" for the Presbytery of St. Andrew and remained interested in nurturing adult Christian education throughout his long and successful tenure as a respected pastor at five other churches before retiring to Oxford.
The Freeman Lecture Series will bring to our church some of the nation's best theological minds - seminary professors, Bible scholars, authors, preachers and others - whose objective will be to provide stimulus and education for persons in our congregation and the greater Oxford community in order to:
* foster faith development;
* create public awareness of critical issues central to faith development; and
* inspire further study, action and service that can make a difference in the world.
The Series will be free and open to the public.
The Session has directed that memorials to FPC in David's memory, presently totaling nearly $6,500, be set aside in a dedicated agency account to fund initial lectures.
If you would like to financially support this important ministry in addition to your regular and capital program giving, please make your check payable to FPC and designate it "Freeman Lecture Series." All gifts are tax-deductible and will be acknowledged in First Press, our monthly newsletter, unless anonymity is requested.
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Adult Sunday School Resumes August 17
The following Adult Sunday School classes will be available:
The Wired Word - Discussion revolves around a current news event and its implications for the life of faith. The class meets with Rev. John Semmes in Fellowship Hall.
2, 3, 4 Class - Young adults meet in the Library to discuss important theological topics. Matthew and Melissa Hall, along with Rev. Ann Kelly, facilitate the discussion.
Adult Bible Study - Hale Freeland leads a co-ed Bible study in Room 101 of the Sanctuary building based on a book of the Bible or a book about the Bible.
Men's Bible Class I - Led by Max Williams, this group meets in the Session Room (upstairs in the Sanctuary building) to discuss The Present Word curriculum.
Men's Bible Class II - Members of the class rotate leadership of this Bible study which meets in Room 102 of the Sanctuary building.
Women of Faith - Corinne Cullen leads a study of the Bible with women of varied ages in the annex building.
The Alton Bryant Sunday School Class - This co-ed Bible study class under the leadership of Nolan Waller uses The Present Word curriculum.
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Sanctuary flower dates are available
June 15, 22, July 6 and 20.
If you would like to provide flowers in honor or
memory of a loved one, please contact Susan Joiner at
[email protected] or 662-808-3240.
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Attention All Golfers!
The 2nd Annual FPC Golf Scramble is scheduled for Saturday, June 7th at the Ole Miss Golf Course, 147 Golf Club Drive, Oxford. Cost for the tournament is $50 per person and team pairings are encouraged. Payments should be made by check or cash to the church, and please note payments for "Golf Tournament." The tournament is a shotgun start in a scramble format, beginning at 8:00 am, though golfers are encouraged to arrive at 7:00 am to enjoy the range and to get organized. If you have any questions, please contact Jeb Bishop at [email protected].
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FPC Men's Softball Action Continues
It's not too late to catch the FPC men's softball team in action. Join them at FNC Park on the evenings listed below and you are sure to enjoy the fun and fellowship!
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FPC Family Night Out Begins June 22
Beginning in June, the Membership and Hospitality Ministry Team is encouraging FPC members to enjoy a night out beginning with the Summer Sunset Concert on June 22 in the Grove. Grab your lawn chairs and join other members of the congregation for an evening out of the house. Entertainment that evening will be provided by the Soul Tones, featuring Effie Burt and our own Damein Wash. Come enjoy a relaxing evening with other members of the church family.
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Summer Sunday Lunches Begin June 1
Summer Sunday Lunches begin Sunday, June 1 following the 10:00 am worship service, and continue through the month of June. Each week, there will be a simple meal hosted by the deacons, the Men's Prayer Breakfast group and other members of the church in Fellowship Hall. Join us for this month of food and fellowship following worship.
Church Office Hours Reminder
The church office will close each Friday at Noon beginning June 6 and continuing through August 8. Normal operating hours will apply Monday-Thursday (8:30 am-4:30 pm).
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Congratulations to the 2014-2015 officers for Presbyterian Women, who were installed on May 25:
Mary Edith Walker, Moderator
Ann DeVoe, Vice-Moderator
Julie Field, Secretary
Margaret Fancher, Treasurer
Lisa Hickman-Tollison, Historian
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The Prayer Shawl Ministry...
...will meet Monday, June 2 at 1:00 pm in Conference Room 101. We invite anyone who enjoys knitting and crocheting to join us in making prayer shawls for members and friends and baby blankets for our newly-baptized babies.
If you are interested in participating and cannot attend a meeting, please contact Margaret Fancher at 234-1359 or [email protected].
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 News from the Pews
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Catherine Servati, whose brother, John, died on April 28, 2014 in Tuscaloosa, AL.
Greg Patton, whose father, Orin Patton, died April 30, 2014 in Marion, TX.
Suzan Clark, whose father, Frank Shugart, died on May 6, 2014 in Snowflake, AZ.
Jennifer Williams, whose grandmother, Elizabeth Joslin, died May 12, 2014 in Batesville, MS.
We extend congratulations to:
Jennifer and Chad Redditt on the birth of their son, William Chadwick Redditt, born April 30, 2014 in Oxford.
Scott Wallace, who has been named Dean of Student Life at Georgia Regents University in Augusta, GA.
Jennifer Williams, who was named Lafayette Middle School Parent of the Year for 2013-14.
If you have good news to share about yourself or someone you know in our church family, please email Suzan Clark at [email protected] so we can share it!
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Memorials and Honoraria
~ with gratitude for contributions to First Presbyterian Church ~
In Memory Of:
David Freeman
Lawrence & Mary Bond
Lisa Hickman-Tollison & Family
Dewey Hickman
Robert Harl Alexander
Lisa Hickman-Tollison & Family
Bill & Nancy Rogers
Monte & Joyce Gibbs
Bill & Ann Dickins
Susan Jenkins
Lisa Hickman-Tollison & Family
Willam Anderson
Lisa Hickman-Tollison & Family
Orin Patton
Darrell & Paula Whitaker
In Honor of:
Andrew Jones
Greg & Betsy Patton
Walk & Nancy Jones
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June Birthdays & Anniversaries
Birthdays
2 - Sloan William Hollis, Emily Semmes, Gary Wright
3 - David Flautt, Jr., Margie McLeod
4 - Patsy Abbott, Martha Brock, Dora Leache
5 - Bradley Mayo
6 - Allyson Ashmore, Sadie Grace Bynum, Jacquelyn Gage, Susan White
7 - Jennifer Williams
8 - Elizabeth Black, Reed Wallace, Jerry Warner
9 - Brooke Coghlan, Fay Grissinger, Ben Neff, Molly Tanner,
11 - Brum Abernathy, Lock Elliott, Thomas Franklin, III, Denson Hollis, Brian Hyneman, Henry Johnson, John Semmes
13 - Bill Rogers, Will Rogers
14 - Judy Edgar, Finnley Flechas, Hunter Haney, Sallie Wilkerson
15 - Katie Goodwiller
16 - Teresa Flautt, Art Smith
17 - Les McDowell, Cindy Snellgrove
18 - Suzanne Black
19 - Lindsey Estes, Frances Sullivan-Gonzalez, Jimmy Williams
20 - Niles Lovelady, Shely Shows, Heath Stevens
21 - Jenna Atkinson, Miller Callery, Nellanne Davis
22 - Olivia Estes, Tim Tucker
23 - Sheena Boran, Amelia Lindley
24 - Miriam Lovelady
25 - Keith Hayward, Catherine Freeland, Linda Abbott, Talmadge Lewis, Lucius Brock
28 - Sharon Fenger, Mary Rhodes Manley, Carter Thompson
29 - Jean Crawford, Anderson McIntosh
Anniversaries
1 - Elizabeth & Chuck Sherman, Nellanne & Carl Davis, Barbara & Ronnie Robinson
2 - Bess & John Currence, Erin & Hayden Alexander
4 - Maggie & John Abernathy
5 - Sadie & Kyle Shannon
6 - Betty & George Abdo, Suzan & John Clark
7- Gail & Dick Hercules, Janellen & James Day
8 - Nila & Max Williams, Amy & Granville Sherman
12 - Sandy & Vaughn Grisham, Vicki & Michael Stevens
13 - Barbara & J. T. Davis, Ferriday & Charly McClatchy
16 - Moni & Stuart Simpson
19 - Ruthann Ray & Rex Deloach, Blair Hobbs & John T. Edge
20 - Linda & Sam Jennings, Katie & Bradley Goodwiller
21 - Randall & Lee Borden
25 - Sheena & Keith Boran
30 - Jennifer & Jonathan Parker
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First Dates
The Men's Breakfast Group meets Tuesdays at 6:45 am in Fellowship Hall.
Piecemakers meet the first Tuesday at 9:30 am, each Wednesday at 9:00 am and the second Saturday, at 10:30 am in Fellowship Hall.
The Diaconate meets Tuesday, June 2 at 5:30 pm in the Session Room.
The Book Club will meet Tuesday, June 10 at 1:30 pm in Conference Room 101. This month's book is "The Tilted World," by FPC members Tom Franklin & Beth Fennelly.
The Session meets Monday, June 16 at 5:30 pm.
The Grief Support Group will meet Tuesday, June 24 at 10:00 am at the home of
Fannie Elliott.
Reminder: Newsletter deadline for submissions is Monday, June 16.
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The Session
Class of 2014
Jay Chain, Mary Haskell, Bob Joiner, Al Ling, Jennifer Redditt (clerk)
Class of 2015
David Flautt, Carole Haney, Niles Lovelady, Kathy Neff, Jennifer Williams
Class of 2016
Maggie Abernathy, Bill Bowlin, Bette Butler, Melissa Hall, Ernie Williams
The Diaconate
Class of 2014
Winn Hutchcraft, Scott Paul Manley, Jennifer Parker, Kay Tyler, Billy Wood
Class of 2015
Carmille Hovious, Margie McLeod, Lee Mullen, Shae Orrell, Chuck Sherman
Class of 2016
Betty Abdo, Sarah Brooke Bishop, Sam Jennings, Anna Ruth Kesler, Tony Mize
Your Church Staff
The Congregation Ministers Ext.
John M. Semmes....... Pastor............................. [email protected] 15
Ann H. Kelly............. Interim Associate Pastor. [email protected] 12
Joseph W. Garrison... Dir. of Music/Organist.... [email protected] 17
Claire Taylor............. Dir. of Elementary [email protected]
Daniel S. Howie........ Dir. of Children's Ed....... [email protected] 18
Howard Dudley..........College [email protected]
Frances Saralvarez.... Office Administrator ....... [email protected] 10
Suzan S. Clark........... Secretary......................... [email protected] 11
Carnice L. Woods..... [email protected] 11
Wade Simpson.......... Property Manager.......... [email protected]
Diane W. Lindley...... Nursery Coordinator....... [email protected]
924 Van Buren Avenue * Oxford, Mississippi 38655 * 662-234-1757 * fpcoxford.net
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