FIRST PRESS an online newsletter March, 2015
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One word.
Every prayer begins with one word.
Entering Haiti last month was a powerful experience. A country rocked to its core by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake in 2010, it already had enough problems before the temblor took its toll, killing tens of thousands and leaving decimated the country's already arcane infrastructure. To get anywhere, you have to navigate Port-au-Prince, the filthy, smog-choked city of 2.5 million with enough unsettling sights and sounds to send any timid western missionary running back to Toussaint Louverture Aiport, return ticket in hand.
In Leogane, the quake's epicenter just west of Port-au-Prince, much has been done to rebuild and put the Haitian people back on solid ground. Hospitals are open, commerce is buzzing and the streets are again filled with energy. But poverty is still legion. Medical care is still lacking. Homes still remain unrepaired. Hunger still persists. Orphanages, with their plywood shelters and open latrines, still struggle to deal with the needs of countless children, most given up by penniless parents unable to support them.
In nearby Bongnotte, our base for the week, we found a rural, agricultural community living on meager rations and wages. For obvious reasons, no one has a weight problem there, or anywhere else in Haiti for that matter. The local water supply is contaminated and harbors all manner of microorganisms that consistently bring sickness and suffering. Children in the nearby pre-school, many of them with contagious skin conditions, play with one another in dangerously close quarters. Houses as we know them don't exist; only shelters made of corrugated metal or container vessels or just cardboard boxes dot the countryside, none with power or running water or sewage lines. Their smiles are infectious, but the eyes of the people, young and old, all bear out the unmitigated truth that life in Haiti is hard.
Yet, in the midst of such a lamentable landscape, there is faith - and plenty of it. The new and sizeable Bongnotte church commands a strong physical presence when viewed from the hills above it. Worship is rich and boisterous and real. No "Frozen Chosen" there, just the painfully transparent souls of the people whose central focus - despite their great need - is Jesus Christ and the unbridled hope he brings to their lives. Who could blame them for falling prostrate at the cross, a long list of wants in hand, begging for mercy? Who could blame them for beginning their petitions by asking, "How long, O Lord?"
But they don't. In fact, they begin all their prayers with one word.
Mesi.
In their beautiful Creole tongues, they repeatedly shout Mesi to the rafters before they do anything else. Thank you for a new day. Thank you for blue skies. Thank you for mangos in the trees. Thank you for shelter. Thank you for family. Thank you for church. Mesi. Mesi. Mesi. Hearing that word spoken over and over again was overwhelming as I heard them pray aloud their individual petitions in Sunday worship and at a Wednesday sunrise service (yes, a Wednesday sunrise service...when is the last time any of us attended one of those?). Thank you? For WHAT? Look around you. Are you kidding me?
Not at all. "Thank you" is the very nexus of their emotional conversations with God, two words hardly spoken enough to Him by us rich Americans - we the ones with everything to praise, we the ones lacking so little. If citizens of one of the world's poorest countries, with their hand-me-down clothes and mismatched sandals and rotting teeth and dim economic prospects, can begin every prayer with, "Thank you," why shouldn't we?
When the prayers are over, and the people are quiet, the worship leader finishes with a siren call to his people: Beni Swa L'Eternal - "Blessed be the Eternal God." And with thunderous accord, they all shout back: Beni Swa L'Eternal!
Eternal indeed. And loving. And gracious. And everywhere, even in the most forsaken place the Western Hemisphere has to offer...a place where the words of another poor Soul must carry such enormous weight: "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."
Mesi, God, for Haiti.
Mesi.
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The biggest lesson from all my experiences in Haiti over the last three years is patience. Things move slowly in a Third World country. This time last year, we fully expected to have installed a water system in Bongnotte by now. We've sent Darren and Allyson Ashmore, Jay Chain, Jon Crawford and Niles Lovelady for Clean Water U training at Hopewell. Jay and Darren went on for solar training at Solar Under the Sun. There was a building to be built and a water line to be put into place by our Haitian partners and we got to see them with our own eyes on our recent trip. There are other questions now as we begin to work out our covenant and decide who is responsible for each of the next steps. There is education to be done by our partners in their community. In the meantime, each trip we make - whether we do mobile medical clinics, spend time with the preschoolers, or help with educating others about the need for clean water - strengthens our relationship. The participants on our last trip felt committed to sustaining that relationship, and that will mean allowing time for all the pieces to come together. We believe we will one day help the people of Bongnotte install a water system. It will happen in God's time though, not ours.
Blessings,
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Summary of the Stated Session Meeting
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The Session of First Presbyterian Church held its stated monthly meeting on February 16, 2015, at 5:30 pm in the Session Room. Eleven Elders were present. Elders Bill Bowlin, Bette Butler, Walter Nance, and Jennifer Williams were excused.
Ministry Team Check-In:
Mission:
a. The Moderator gave a brief description of the Haiti mission trip. Approximately 300 patients were treated in 3 different clinics. The group also visited and served one of the orphanages in the area. One disappointment of the trip was that the people who were to install the water purification system had run out of funds. Education of the people in this community about the importance of using sanitary water was one of the purposes of the trip. The group has committed to intensify the education portion of the project and to put the rest of the project on hold until a later time. At the end of the trip, the group enjoyed the hospitality of Dr. Gladys Memnon and her husband in their home. The Moderator expressed confidence our church's potential for having a very strong relationship with this community.
b. The Moderator asked for prayers for the UKirk group and their mission trip to the same community in Haiti during Spring Break.
Finance:
The Finance Ministry Team presented the proposed budget for 2015. It was noted that the 2015 pledges totaled $771,237.00 with a total of 178 giving units.
Property:
a. The Property Ministry Team presented a plan of care for the courtyard tree by Woodland Tree Service.
b. The invoice from Carter Hord Architects was presented for the time they have spent with contractors bidding on the Fellowship Hall project.
c. A rental proposal for the south end of the annex property for use as a restaurant from a local resident was presented.
Adult Christian Education:
a. Wednesdays Together are set to begin September 9, 2015, and to conclude October 28, 2015, pending the availability of Fellowship Hall.
b. Lenten Wednesdays Together are scheduled February 25, March 4, March 17, and March 24. A soup and salad dinner will be served at 5:30 pm in Fellowship Hall and self-led worship will be held from 6:15-6:45 pm in the church sanctuary.
Children's Christian Education:
a. Diane Lindley will interview applicants to replace 2 nursery workers.
b. Volunteers have responded well to the nursery online sign-up.
Membership and Hospitality:
The Golf Tournament will be held Saturday, April 18, 2015, in memory of Jerry Warner.
Our 2 commissioners, David Flautt and Kathy Neff, gave a report on the presbytery meeting that was held the previous week.
The next Session meeting will be held March 16, 2015, at 5:30 pm in the Session Room.
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"Securing Our Future" Capital Campaign Update
December, 2014
Total Pledges $ 2,149,933.00
Total Contributions Received $ 1,639,279.77
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Regular Worship Schedule
8:30 am - Worship with weekly communion
9:45 am - Sunday School for all ages
11:00 am - Worship with communion each first Sunday
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Easter Worship Schedule - April 5
Identical services of worship will be offered
Easter Sunday, April 5, at 8:30 am and 11:00 am
Communion will be offered by intinction
at the early service, with seated communion
served during 11:00 am worship.
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Lectionary Texts for March
March 1 - Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16; Psalm 22:23-31; Romans 4:13-25; Mark 8:31-38
March 8 - Exodus 20:1-17; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25; John 2:13-22
March 15 - Numbers 21:4-9; Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22; Ephesians 2:1-10; John 3:14-21
March 22 - Jeremiah 31:31-34; Psalm 51:1-12 or Psalm 119:9-16; Hebrews 5:5-10;
John 12:20-33
March 29 - Mark 11:1-11 or John 12:12-16; Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29; Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 31:9-16; Philemon 2:5-11; Mark 14:1-15:47 or Mark 15:1-39 (40-47)
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Sanctuary flower dates are available
April 26 May 3, 17, June 14, 21 and 28
If you would like to provide flowers in honor or
memory of a loved one, please contact Susan Joiner at 662-808-3240 or [email protected].
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Easter Lilies Available for Purchase
Easter lilies or Sanctuary cross flowers can be donated in memory or in honor of a loved one for $15. For your convenience, an order form is available below for your use. You may also print a form by going to fpcoxford.net and clicking on the link. Please return your order to the church office, along with your check made out to FPC, no later than Thursday, March 26.
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Give to Lovepacks
The Lovepacks Food-of-the-Month for March is granola bars. Donation bins are located in the church office, the narthex and in Fellowship Hall. This is something all of us can do to help provide food for school children in our area who might go hungry on weekends and holidays. Every little bit helps!
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Thank you!
Thank you to those of you who have signed up to help with the Hispanic Ministry Meals this month:
March 1 Greg, Betsy, Spencer and Kathleen Patton
March 8 Diane and Dick Scruggs, Martha and Joe Burnett and Cindy Semmes
March 15 Covenant Bible Study group (Jennifer Hitt)
March 22 Mission Ministry Team
March 29 Carroll Barr Circle
Your help is greatly appreciated!
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More Than a Meal Coming Up
It's a new year with new opportunities for the FPC More Than a Meal team to provide meaningful service to our community. Our next chance to host will be on Tuesday, March 24. There are myriad ways to volunteer and make a true impact with MTaM. For more information about ways to participate or contribute, please e-mail coordinator Tricia Barrios Showalter at [email protected]
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The left picture is from Jr. High PYC retreat and the top picture is from the rainy and cold Sr. High PYC retreat.
A big thank you to Katie Howie and Christopher Newman for chaperoning our retreats this year. We had some interesting weather, but the PYC did a fantastic job of leading us on our "Unexpected Journey!"
The Children's Ministry Team would like to thank those that helped in the nursery during the month of February:
Brent and Ramey Hardin
Sarah Brooke Bishop
Ashley Callery
David and Emma Flautt
The Children's Ministry team is launching a new sign- up program to help support our ever-growing nursery since you guys won't stop having babies! It is very simple to sign up...just follow the link at the bottom, enter your email address and take a slot! You do not have to register for an account; the page takes your email so that it can send you a friendly reminder!
It's very easy to help in the nursery and we have a paid staff person in every room, so you only need to assist them. We need a total of three volunteers for every 11:00 am worship service. You only need to be an FPC church member to sign up and help fill those baptismal promises you make almost every Sunday!
Please do not hesitate to ask me if you have any questions and I look forward to seeing YOU in the nursery soon!
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The following Adult Sunday School classes are 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 Ed Croom, meets in the Session Room (upstairs in the Sanctuary building) - currently studying the Wisdom Literature of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs using the Westminster Bible Companion Series.
Men's Bible Class II - Members of the class rotate leadership of this Bible study class which meets in Room 102 of the Sanctuary building.
Women of Faith - Corinne Cullen leads a study of Colossians through Jude 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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Memorials and Honoraria
~ with gratitude for contributions to First Presbyterian Church ~
Dewey Hickman
Annette and Gary Kornegay
Wanda & Michael Sturm II Annette & Jerry Lee Joe Hudspeth & Janet Harris Martha Hudspeth Joyce & Albert Searway Patsy & Guff Abbott Bette & Jeff Butler Dorothy Lou & Mack Aldridge Emily & Don Newcomb Rose Paris Fran Sam & Family Alice Callicutt Darri & Keith Mansel Joann & Irwin Bell Barbara Magee Sandra & Frank Crosthwait Harter & Robert Crutcher Everette Culpepper Cheryl & Michael Joe Cannon Debra Bryson Jean Shaw Linda Smith Julie & Ed Field Rene & Edward Morgan Doris Murry Mr. & Mrs. Will Lewis Ann & Bill Canty Dr. & Mrs. Jeff Evans Carole & Hal Haney Lula Gregory Circle Pat & Ernie Lowe Gayle & Michael Henry Carolyn & Gary Carter Mary Kay & Les McDowell Carol & Cary McGonagill Betty & George Abdo Anthony Farese Mr. & Mrs. Dennis Craig Donna & Bill Gottshall Maggie Parker Mitzi & Bill Linginfelter Shirley & Eddie Crawford Allison & Steve McCord Laura & Steve Cox Lynton Dilley Julia & Bill Baker Alisa Elliott Fannie Elliott Martha Faye & Hardy Farris Margaret, Jennifer & Tom Hall Dora Leache Ann & Richard DeVoe Laura & Brent Smith Libby & Leon McCullouch Judy & Tony Jones Margaret Anne & William Alias
Melba & Bill Bowlin Bobbie & Syd Shaw Mary Edith & George Walker Martha & Jim Chambless Becky & Greg Taylor Kathy & Robert Burkhalter Pam & Billy Bratton Sally Booke Cornelia Mason Jane McLarty Martha McLarty Mr. & Mrs. Robert Elliott Corrine Cullen J. J. Jones Grace & Dennis Feller Susan & Thomas Meredith Swift & Herbert Rogers
Ruth Jones Stanhope
Alan Jones & family
Charles Treas
Patsy & Guff Abbott Christina Torbert Everette Culpepper Martha Booth Jean Shaw Ann & Bill Canty Carole & Hal Haney Mary Edith & George Walker Lynton Dilley Harriet & Stephen Gorove J. J. Jones Ann & Richard DeVoe Allison & Steve McCord
Bette & Jeff Butler Lolly Pilkington Fran Sam & Family Lynton Dilley J. J. Jones
Robert F. Cooper, Jr. Family of Martha Lu Jackson Carole & Hal Haney Mary Edith & George Walker Kay & Larry Tyler Ann & Richard DeVoe
Jerry Warner J. J. Jones
Martha Lu Jackson J. J. Jones
Rev. Dr. David Freeman Mary Edith & George Walker Clarice Amann
Thomas Franklin Parkinson Mary Sims
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CIRCLE DATES
Alma Shaw Circle will meet at 9:45 am, Tuesday, March 17, Mary Freeman,
600 Sage Cove.
Barbara Conlee Mize Circle will meet at 6:00 pm, Tuesday, March 10,
High Point Coffee.
Carroll Barr Circle will meet at 7:00 pm, Tuesday, March 17, Marianna Ochs,
917 Bonnie Blue Drive.
Esther Ethridge Circle will meet at 12:00 pm, Thursday, March 19, Fellowship Hall.
Gerry Duvall Circle will meet at 12:00 pm, Tuesday, March 17, Fellowship Hall.
Lula Gregory Circle will meet at 9:45 am, Tuesday, March 17, Ingrid Kondos,
308 Lakes Drive.
Marjorie Lewis Circle will meet at 2:30 pm, Monday, March 16, Room 101.
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Annual Easter Egg Hunt Coming Up!
The annual Easter Egg hunt will be held Saturday, April 4 at 10:30 am, again at the home of Diane and Dick Scruggs (700 Faulkner Woods Place). Parents or grandparents bringing children are asked to supply one dozen plastic filled eggs per child to the church. Please put the child's age on the sack. Candy inside the eggs should be sealed. In addition, we would like to serve grapes, cut up melon or strawberries, goldfish crackers, cookies or cubed cheese and small bottles of water. Please bring your plastic eggs and food contributions to the church office no later than Thursday, April 2. Fruit may be brought the day of the egg hunt.
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The Prayer Shawl Ministry
will meet Monday, March 2 at 1:00 pm in Room 101.
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Camp Hopewell's Annual Open House will be held
Sunday, March 29th from 1-5pm.
This is a great opportunity for new campers and families to tour Hopewell, meet some of the summer staff, ask questions and get a good glimpse of what their camper's week will be like this summer. Refreshments will be served and the event is free! Please join us!
Any questions? Please contact:
Allyson Ashmore
Director of Camps and Conferences
Camp Hopewell
24 CR 231 Oxford, MS 38655
www.camphopewell.com
662-234-2254
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Register for the 2015 Jerry Warner Memorial Golf Tournament
The 2015 Jerry Warner Memorial Golf Tournament will be held Saturday, April 18, at the Ole Miss Golf Course. Donuts and water will be available at 7:00 am with start time at 8:00 am. Men and women, members and friends of FPC may sign up as an individual ($50) or a team ($100). Payments are due to the church office no later than March 27. All single players will be paired with another player on March 30 unless you request a specific partner. Please RSVP to Jeb Bishop at [email protected]. Proceeds from the tournament will go to Camp Hopewell in memory of Jerry Warner. Call the church office to register.
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FPC Softball Registration Begins
It's time to sign up for FPC men's softball, which will begin later this spring. Early sign-up means there is time for a little practice and to order shirts for players. All males age 18 and older are eligible to play. Sign up by calling the church office or emailing Ann Kelly at [email protected]
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News from the Pews
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Sympathy of the congregation is extended to:
Bonnie McCurdy, whose son-in-law, Ankur Tanna, died February 4 in New York City.
Mary Glynn Wright, whose father, L. C. Wright, died February 6, 2014 in Booneville, MS.
Hale Freeland, whose brother, Tom Freeland, died February 21 in New Orleans, LA.
We extend congratulations to:
Abby and Eli Manning on the birth of their daughter, Caroline Olivia Manning, born January 29, 2015.
Jenny Kate and Sparky Luster on the birth of their daughter, Lila Jennings Luster, born February 1, 2015.
Lucia and Louis Brandt on the birth of their grandson, James Moses Solon, born February 12, 2015.
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March Birthdays & Anniversaries
Birthdays
1 - Joe Garrison
6 - Robbie McCurdy
7 - Max Williams, Brett Person
8 - Judy Chambers, Trey Cobb, Danny Kelly
9 - Ed Perry, Adalene Pettis
10 - Cal Montgomery
11 - Winn Hutchcraft, Phillip Embry
12 - Lenore Hobbs, Ashley Wilkinson
13 - Jason Freeland, Emily Snellgrove
14 - Alene Pulliam, Claire Stevens, Justin Cluck, Brooks Williams, Ann Person
15 - Ella McIntosh, Tommy Cribbs, Jr., Neil Eads
16 - Susan Joiner, Olivia Sherman, Griffin Tanner, Hannah Mayo
17 - Elizabeth Coon, Steven Cox
18 - Robert Gowdy, Leighton McCool, Wes Estes, Captain Alexander, Anne Douglas Tanner, Mary Charles Matthews
19 - Hayden Alexander, Alexis Longsdorf, Brynn Ashmore
20 - Kim Ling, Alyssa Wilson, Molly Neff, Becky Dykes, Doug Alexander, David McPhail
21 - Ava Manning, Harry Embry, Greer Smith, Amy Sherman
22 - Hampton Hardin
23 - Clinette Conlee, Erin Alexander, Nancy McCurdy, Frances Saralvarez
24 - Ren�e Sullivan-Gonzalez, Nan Davis
25 - Sophie Semmes
26 - Josh Gibbs
27 - Joe Burnett, Frances Abernathy, Jess Edge, Mary Anna Wright
28 - Joel Edlin
29 - Andrew Westmoreland, Kelly Shaw
30 - Fran Sam, Sterlin Smith
31 - Greg Patton, Elizabeth Monteith, Kim Funderburk, Melinda Thompson
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Anniversaries
3 - Meg & Mike Bartlett, Cindy & Eric Snellgrove
10 - Sara Brooke & Jonathan Bishop
15 - Angela & Scott Manley
19 - Rosie & Steve Vassallo
20 - Karen & Bryan McCartney, Jen� & Art Smith
22 - Natasha & Mark Atkinson
30 - Jenny & David McPhail
31 - Nan & Tom Davis |
First Dates
The Men of the Church will meet for breakfast each Tuesday at 6:45 am in Fellowship Hall.
The Property Ministry Team will meet Tuesday, March 3, at 5:30 pm.
The Mission Ministry Team will meet Thursday, March 5 at 5:30 pm.
The Book Club will meet Tuesday, March 10 at 1:30 pm in Room 101. This month's book will be "All the Light We Cannot See," by Anthony Doerr.
Piecemakers meet the first Tuesday at 9:30 am, each Wednesday at 9:00 am and Saturday, March 14 at 10:30 am in Fellowship Hall.
The Session will meet Monday, March 16 at 5:30 pm in the Session Room.
The Grief Support Group will meet Tuesday, March 24 at 10:00 am at the home of
Fannie Elliott.
The Christian Education Ministry Team will meet March 31 at 5:30 pm in Room 101.
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Daylight Saving Time begins March 8
Remember to set your clocks forward one hour!
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Reminder: The April deadline for submissions to First Press is Monday, March 16.
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The Session
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
Class of 2017
Tom Meredith, Walter Nance, David Shaw, Christina Torbert, Mary Glynn Wright (clerk)
The Diaconate
Class of 2015
Carmille Hovious, Margie McLeod, Lee Mullen, Shae Orrell, Chuck Sherman
Class of 2016
Betty Abdo, Sarah Brooke Bishop, Anna Ruth Kesler, Tony Mize
Class of 2017
Kevin Christian, Catie Hester, Laura Montgomery, Diane Scruggs, Cliff Smith
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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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