First Presbyterian Church
FIRST PRESS              an online newsletter                             August, 2014

With another school year fast approaching, it's time to again start thinking about the new year at FPC as well. I want to share with you two exciting updates.

 

First, our capital funds program is still very much in progress, having just passed its mid-point on the calendar (the pay-in period continues through December 31, 2015). Soon, the Session will have an opportunity to interview architects for the final component of the program. This last phase focuses upon expanding Fellowship Hall to accommodate additional meeting space so desperately needed on our campus, plus renovation of both bathrooms and the youth room if feasible. Initially, architectural plans will be required and the project will unfold from that point. I am looking forward to this final phase of the program and the new opportunities it will provide the congregation. Debt reduction and mission financing will continue over the next 18 months, leaving the church poised to serve its community and the world for years to come. Thank you once again for sharing and supporting this vision for Christ's church!

 

Secondly, I am pleased to introduce the Covenant Bible Study for 2014-15. The study is brand new and utilizes the gifts of many of our nation's brightest theologians, including Christine Yoder, David Bartlett and Christine Chakoian. It centers around our relationships with God, with each other and with the world and differs from other Bible studies in that it emphasizes the biblical concept of covenant - the unique relationship God chooses with us as God's people.

 

This 24-week study, which convenes weekly for 90 minutes in a home or elsewhere, moves between the Old and New Testaments in a way that shows the interconnectedness of scripture as a whole. Each week begins with a thought-provoking, 20-minute video conversation between biblical experts which serves as a model for the kind of personal learning and sharing that is central to Covenant Bible Study. It also stimulates further discussion among group members (after all, it is through community - through shared reflection and engagement together - that we best discover the Bible's transformative power).

 

To help a Covenant group deal with busy schedules, the episodes are structured in a modular way to provide flexibility without sacrificing committed study. Three 8-episode segments each explore a different aspect of covenant life and examine what covenant means. And, each small group sets its own schedule for completing the study.


Why should you participate? Covenant Bible Study creates a learning experience where scripture meets everyday experience - within and beyond the sphere of church life. It builds trust in others as well as confidence in scripture. And it provides an exciting new opportunity to better understand God's call, God's love and God's unexpected favor.

 

I invite all of you to consider forming a group of 8-12 members (or signing up individually to become a member of a group) and dedicating yourselves to the in-depth study of God's word for us today. There have never been more challenging times than ours, requiring us to seek a path forward in the world as people of the Way.

 

More information on this study, including cost (very affordable!), a dedicated website link and sign-up instructions, will be available throughout August using all our vehicles for communication.

 

Ann joins me in urging each of you to prayerfully think about utilizing this life-changing tool. It's exactly what is needed for such a time as this. 

 

 John's signature

Worship 

Summer Worship Schedule Continues Through August 10

 

10:00 am - Worship with Communion

No Sunday School

Nursery Weekly: 9:45 - 11:15 am

Our Regular Worship Schedule Resumes August 17

with two services of worship

8:30 am with Communion

11:00 am

 

Labor Day Weekend Worship - Sunday, August 31

ONE SERVICE ONLY - 10:00 am with Communion

 

Sanctuary flower dates are available October 5, 12, 19, 26 and November 2, 9 and 23.

 

If you would like to provide flowers in honor or memory of a loved one, please contact Margaret Fancher at 234-1359 or [email protected].

 

8:30 am Communion Servers Are Needed!

 

Volunteers are needed to serve communion by intinction during 8:30 am worship beginning August 17. This is a simple task to perform, but is also quite meaningful to both server and recipients. If you would like to help your church in this way, please email Sally Hines at [email protected] or call the church office at 234-1757. 

Lectionary Texts for August

 

August 3 - Genesis 32:22-31; Psalm 17:1-7, 15; Romans 9:1-5; Matthew 14:13-21

August 10 - Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28; Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b; Romans 10:5-15;

Matthew 14:22-33

August 17 - Genesis 45:1-15; Psalm 133; Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32;

Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28

August 24 - Exodus 1:8-2:10; Psalm 124; Romans 12:1-8; Matthew 16:13-20

August 31 - Exodus 3:1-15; Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45c; Romans 12:9-21;

Matthew 16:21-28

Summary of the Stated Session Meeting

There was no July meeting. The next Stated Session meeting will be held August 11, 2014, at 5:30 pm in the Session Room. 

Financial Summary


   

"Securing Our Future" Capital Campaign Update

July, 2014

 

Total Pledges                                    $ 2,156,733.00

Total Contributions Received            1,125,812.78

  

 

Please continue making your capital contribution payments. With much prayerful consideration, these funds have been committed and need everyone's support to fulfill our goals. Likewise, the remaining summer months are generally slower collection times in the life of the church, primarily due to members vacationing. If you fall into this category, please remember you can still fulfill any financial commitments via mail. You don't have to be present to pay!

A Reminder: FPC Members Can Access Pledge/Giving Information Online

 

Two years ago, the Session elected to purchase a new financial system for FPC.  One of the key factors driving this decision was that the Session wanted to provide FPC members with the ability to review their giving amounts online and offer them the ability to make updates to their contact information.  Ultimately, ACS church management software from ACS Technologies was selected, and the Finance ministry team embarked on the task of migrating all of 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 setup your online account is located on the church's website.  

Music

Organ Rededication Featuring Ramirez Set for Sunday November 9, 4:00 pm

Ra�l Prieto Ram�rez is the first Spanish organist in recent times to establish himself among the elites of the international concert scene. His powerful personality, passionate expressiveness, gift for communication and outstanding technique make him shine with a unique light. He was appointed at age 27 as the first Organist-in-Residence of the Auditorio Nacional de M�sica in Madrid, Spain's National Concert Hall. Within the first six months of his appointment, he increased attendance at the hall's organ recitals by a multiple of 30, and critics hailed him as one of the most exciting talents on the music scene in Spain.

I had the opportunity to hear Ra�l when he performed at the 2012 American Guild of Organists convention in Nashville. Since then, his career in the United States has blossomed. He secured a contract with the prestigious concert management team of Phillip Truckenbrod Concert Artists, and is now one of their most sought-after performers.

Our organ is not just for FPC; it is also a gift we should share with the community. We often take for granted the many things that surround us in worship...the simplistic beauty of our sanctuary and its stained glass windows, the excellence of the word presented each Sunday, the offerings given by the  choir and soloists and yes, the organ that so greatly aids our praising God through song. While none of these material things are truly necessary, they do enhance our offerings to God and are a witness to the community of our faith in God.

I hope you will join me as we rededicate this amazing instrument to the glory of God. Ra�l is accustomed to playing for capacity crowds, so invite your friends to join you for this special event in the life of First Presbyterian Church and Oxford. The event is free and open to the public. Child care will be provided.
Joe Signature

Children's and PYF News


 
A huge thank you to our wonderful VBS co-directors, Laura Montgomery and Lee Mullen. With their leadership and the support of many other volunteers, we had a wildly successful program this summer with 80 children...a new FPC record! 

 


 

As we start to get ready for a new year, mark your calendars for Sunday, September 7 for Rally Day, our annual day to kick off the new Sunday School year with a celebration of our children and teachers. We hope you have all had a fantastic summer and we can't wait to have you back for another great year! 

 

 


 

Your Children's Education Ministry team needs Sunday School teachers in all age groups. It is simple, fun and rewarding to share your time and energy with our youngest members. Contact Daniel Howie at the church office to learn more about how you can help! 

 

 

PYF will kick things off this year on Sunday, August 24 with a pool party. We will meet at the church at 4:00 pm to take the bus to the Haskell residence and return by 7:00 pm. Please bring a bathing suit and a towel. If you are currently in 7th-12th grades, please come join us as we start a new PYF year.


 
Be on the lookout for our PYF letter and calendar of events. If you do not receive one, please contact the church office so we may correct your address.

 

Daniel Howie


Christian Education  

 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 Making Sense of Scripture, a video curriculum featuring Dr. David Lose. 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.

VIP Calendar of Events

 

Tentative plans have been made for the following VIP activities this fall. Watch the bulletin and newsletter for more information about specific dates and times. The VIPs (Very Important Presbyterians) are age 55 and older. They enjoy monthly outings and gatherings throughout the year. Come enjoy one of these events in 2014!

 

August        Kate Freeman Clark Art Gallery & Lunch in Holly Springs

 

September   The Taming of the Shrew at Panola Playhouse in Sardis

 

October       Harvest Festival at French Camp on Saturday, October 11

 

November   Brice's Crossroads Visitors' Center and Battlefield

 

December    Lunch gathering in Oxford

 

 

Food, Faith, & Fellowship

First Presbyterian Church
Oxford, MS

Brochures with detail may be found in the 
church office or the Nathex
Etcetera...
Presbyterian Women Logo


Save the Date!

Tuesday, September 9

6:00 pm


 
It's a time and place you won't want to miss. The Presbyterian Women's Welcome Dinner is a special time of gathering all our circle members to greet new members and remember those who have passed on. This year, we have a special opportunity. Kathy Brummett, our guest speaker, is associated with a group called Life for the Innocent, which rescues children who are victims of human trafficking. You will want to be there, so watch for more details in the September newsletter and make your reservation with the church office.

 

The Prayer Shawl Ministry...

 

will meet Monday, August 4 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 but cannot attend a meeting, please contact Margaret Fancher at 234-1359 or [email protected].

Pews2 News from the Pews

We extend sympathy to:

 

Winn Hutchcraft, whose niece, Ann Andrews, died June 21, 2014 in Nashville, TN.
 

Wil Matthews, whose uncle, Richard Stafford, died June 30, 2014 near Jonesville, LA.

 

Ed Field, whose father, Dr. R.J. Field, died July 22, 2014 in Centerville, MS.

We extend congratulations to:

 

Mary Kate and Edward Duke, who were married June 21, 2014.

 

Hannah Leslie Yates and Rush Mayo, who were married June 28, 2014.

 


 

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!

Memorials and Honoraria 

 

~ with gratitude for contributions to First Presbyterian Church ~

 

In Memory Of:

    

Martha Elkins 

Larry and Kay Tyler

Helen Bowers

Charles & Sue Treas

Dorothy Lee Tatum

August Birthdays & Anniversaries

 

Birthdays

 

1 - Homer Burkett, Russell Coon, Walker Coon, Diane Scruggs

2 - Ellie DeVoe, Kyle Shannon

4 - Mary Glynn Wright, Sharron Alexander, Elizabeth Miers

5 - Dari Mansel, Whitney Harris

6 - Al Ling, Tennyson Monteith

7 - Rush Mayo, Harper Grace Lovelace

8 - Jon Rawl, Ella Chiniche

9 - Wyatt McCool, Jessica Simpson

10 - Barron Rosson, Carnice Woods

11 - Mary Freeman, Gale Gurner

12 - J. J. Jones, Bill Sloan

13 - Betty Coon, Ernest Flautt, Lee Miers, Megan Bundren, Dean Thompon

14 - Earl Grissinger, Jr., Bob Joiner, Marshall Love

15 - Olivia Duke

16 - Emmie Ellen Wade, Matthew Ueleke

17 - Joslin Williams

18 - Maggie Thompson

19 - Lark Lindley, Polly Morrison Taylor, Henry Hyneman, Kyle Campbell

21 - Virginia Smith, Caroline McIntosh, Julie Chadwick, Nancy Rogers, Kate Abraham, Jennifer Hitt

22 - Kathryn Elliott, Danny Collins, Machelle Williams

24 - Patricia Treloar

25 - Abby Manning, Kate Newman

26 - Mary Haskell

27 - Claire Mauldin, Bill Bowlin, Nolan Shannon

28 - Richard Gurner

29 - Sarah Margaret Hester

30 - Kate McPhail

31 - James Ling, Mary Dale Byars, Lauren Hollis

Anniversaries

 

5 - Jane Lyle & Trey Byars, Nicole & Tim Tucker

6 - Jody & Ron Wilson

7 - Kate and Christopher Newman

8 - Melissa & Matthew Hall, Lynn & Bill Sloan

9 - Nancy & Jerry Warner

10 - Michelle & Marshall Love

11 - Meredith & Jon Rawl

12 - Elizabeth & David Coon, Wendy & Jay Carmean

14 - Donna & Kenneth Joslin, Kristina Carlson & Doug Alexander

16 - Ashley & John Callery

17 - Grace & Dennis Feller

19 - Kathryn & Ray Hill

20 - Lauren & Denson Hollis

21 - Mary Cates & Robert Williams

23 - Sarah & Jeffrey Hollis

25 - Mary Kay & Les McDowell

28 - Ashley & Pratt Wilkinson

30 - Mary Edith & George Walker

First Dates

 

The Men's Breakfast Group will resume meetings in the fall.

Piecemakers meet the first Tuesday at 9:30 am, each Wednesday at 9:00 am and Saturday, August 9 at 10:30 am in Fellowship Hall.

The Diaconate will meet until Tuesday, August 5 at 5:45 pm.

The Session will meet until Monday, August 11 at 5:30 pm.

The Book Club  will meet Tuesday, August 12 at 1:30 pm in Conference Room 101.  This month's book is, "The Beginner's Goodbye," by Anne Tyler.

The Grief Support Group will meet Tuesday, August 26 at 10:00 am at the home of

Fannie Elliott.

The Worship Ministry Team will meet Sunday, August 31.

 

Reminder: Newsletter deadline for submissions is Friday, August 15. 

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