It's stewardship season!  Sunday, November 10, is Pledge Dedication Day for our 2014 pledges.  Please see the separate article by the Stewardship and Finance Committee for details about this year's program. 

            As we think prayerfully about what we will give to the work of our congregation for next year, please consider four principles for giving that come from the scripture.  Dr. Albert Winn has called them "deeply embedded principles" of Christian giving.  Recommended by the Apostle Paul in First and Second Corinthians, they are regularity, proportionality, priority, and risk.  These principles are a guide for making our financial giving a spiritual practice related to our commitment to Christ.  

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CHRISTIAN EDUCATION 

Christine Garton, Director of Christian Education, can be reached at cgarton@OxfordPresbyChurch.org or you can call or text her cell phone at 850-276-3231.

ADULT VOLUNTEERS AND DRIVERS ARE NEEDED FOR THE KIWANIS FOOD DRIVE FROM 1-4 PM ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3.  Teams of adults and youth will go door to door to collect food.  Please meet at the Seminary at 12:45 PM.  If you can help, PLEASE contact Christine Garton.

THANK YOU to our October 2nd-5th grade Sunday School teachers Debbie DeGennaro, Greg Hughes, Michael Hughes, and Christine Garton. 

 

IN OUR PRAYERS

                   

THE TUESDAY AFTERNOON CIRCLE 

will meet at 1:30 p.m., Nov. 19 in the Country Kitchen of the Knolls of Oxford. Becky Quay will lead the lesson, Jean Butterfield will do the Mission Yearbook reading and Sarah Soika will share the Least Coin reading. Members of the Circle are invited to eat lunch together at the Knolls. Please call Lawretta Clum to make a reservation. The cost is $6. 

There is no meeting in December. 

THE TUESDAY EVENING CIRCLE

meets at 7:30pm on November 5 at the home of Vi Suit.  Co-hostess is Connie Everhart, Karen Simpson will lead devotions and Janet Holmes will do the program.

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I was looking at our bulletin board. We get thank you notes for our donations which came from our 2012 Fund Raising efforts and I want to share 3 of them with you:

• We support the Family Resource Center to which we gave $335.00. The donation went to help programs that help families in their efforts to achieve self-sufficiency. Included in this is emergency assistance with rent and utilities which served 336 families in the Talawanda School District. Diane Ruther-Vierling, Executive Director.
• We gave $180 to Oxford Seniors which was deposited into the Transportation account. Joan Potter-Sommer, Executive Director.
• One Way Farm received $300, which helped bring extras to the children living there. Barbara Condo, Executive Director/Founder.

 

And I'd like to say Thank You to all those who contributed to this year's Birthday Offering. Your response to the plea amounted to $1,187.00! Together we can make a difference.

 

Karen Simpson, Coordinator of Studies and Mission Interpretation.

 

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Church Women United in Oxford will be celebrating World Community Day on Sunday, November 3, starting at 2 p.m., in the Oxford United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall. Need a ride? Contact Karen Simpson, 523-8363.

 

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FALL RUMMAGE SALE

The 2013 Fall Women's Rummage Sale Oct. 17-19 has a preliminary total of $2012.88.  Thank you to the congregation for making this generous number possible. All the proceeds go to local, national and international missions. 

Special Kudos to Co-chairs Ginny Staberg and Barbara Mecklenborg. You made it happen.

 

Our thanks go to all:

                The Sorters

                The Donors

                The Set-Up Crew

                The Shoppers

                The Clean-Up Crew

 

A special thanks to Marty Miller for taking charge of the boxes and helping folks carry their donations and to Dave Butcher and his neighbor Bill Long for delivering the remainders of the sale to the Oxford Resource Center.  Also thanks to Nancy Moeckel for taking charge of publicity, Janet Ziegler for handling the money, and Susan King for chairing the Boutique. Members of Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity assisted with set-up and tear-down.  Their help was greatly appreciated. 

 

Our appreciation of your donations of time and effort and good cheer go to the workers:

Carol Burkholder, Diane Young, Margaret Butcher, Susan King,

Leanne Staley, Joe Simpson, Karen Simpson, Robert Simpson, Becky Quay, Jack Staberg, Jane Jackson, Sue Wilson, Paula Foltz, Dave Wilson, Jane Baer, Pris Berry, Janet Holmes,

Grady Holmes, Lucy Soika, Nick Soika, Sarah Soika, Lawretta Clum, Marilyn Curry, Judy Herold, Ann Hardy, Betty Reinhart, Jan Reinhart, Jo Reinhart, Sue Siegel, Carol Flee, Sue Skillings, Lynn Cronk, Brad Cronk, Nancy Sturgeon,

 

Thank you and Thanks be to God!  The Women's Rummage Sale has been operating now for over 110 years!!!

If your name was inadvertently let off this list, please let us know so that we can properly thank you.

 

RUMMAGE MISSION IN ACTION:             

SUITCASES TO CHILDRENS SERVICES.

 

Most children in foster care carry their belongings in black garbage bags. Each child averages 4 moves while in foster care.  We contacted Butler County Children's Services in Hamilton and they were thrilled to receive as many suitcases as we could donate.  What a joy it was to connect suitcases to these children.  Thank you to everyone who donated a suitcase, backpack, or carryon size piece of luggage.  These items went straight to mission!

 

DID YOU KNOW?

Suitcases For Kids (www.suitcasesforkids.org) is an international nonprofit organization with chapters in every state as well as nine foreign countries.  It was started 6 years ago by a 10 year old.

 

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STEWARDSHIP AND FINANCE COMMITTEE

Dear Member of the Oxford Presbyterian Church,

Based on a number of measures, last year's stewardship campaign format worked well.  We intend to follow the same process this year. We want to complete the fall campaign BEFORE the 2014 budget is required so that we have an accurate income estimate. Without a good estimate, it is difficult to draft a realistic budget.

In a separate letter, you will receive a letter similar to this one plus a pledge card and a return envelope.   Members of the congregation are asked to pledge by November 8.  On Sunday afternoon, November 10, a team of Church volunteers will attempt to facilitate the completion of the pledging process by visiting members who have not yet responded.

We have a good Church blessed with talented leadership and a caring community of believers.  We ask that you reflect on what the Church means to you as you determine your pledge amount for 2014.  Please consider increasing your pledge in order to support the vital ministries of our church.  We want to maintain Oxford Presbyterian's presence in our community as a welcoming, caring and prayerful congregation who give of themselves for others in Christ's name.

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Tom Holmes and John Curry

Members of the

SEMINARY OPTIONS TEAM

As many of you know, the Seminary Building is beginning to show its age.  There are significant structural and internal condition issues.  The second floor has been closed to use for some time now.  The stained glass windows need attention soon.  Old carpeting, lack of air conditioning and moisture issues impact our safe use of the building.  As a congregation, we need to decide whether or not the Seminary will be part of the long-range facility plan for our church.  As a first step in this process, the Session has appointed the "Seminary Options Team."   The Team is exploring and gathering information on as many options as possible, including cost ranges for each option and the impact each option might have on our programming and mission.  This information will then be used by you, the congregation, as a basis from which to offer further input, other options and ideas, and feedback.  With your input, the Team will report back to Session, with a recommendation, so that the Facilities Go Team can proceed with the overall Facilities Planning project.

Please watch the bulletin, newsletter, and website for progress reports and requests for your response, input and feedback. At any time, feel free to contact Team members with your thoughts, suggestions, and ideas.  Their names and contact information are on the back of this note.

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HYMN FESTIVAL

 

A hymn festival, designed by organist Lynn Jacobs, exploring and celebrating the wonder of music in our faith, will be the highlight ofthe worship service on November 17, 2013. There will be three main areas of focus -

 

• the POWER of music in our faith,
• the COMFORT of music in our faith,
• the JOY of music in our faith. 

Each part of the service will include congregational hymns, scripture and inspirational readings, choral anthems, instrumental music and hand bells.

  

Instrumentalists include: Stephen Lytle and Tyler Graves, trumpet; Greg Phillips, horn; Darren Ling, trombone; Alex Stahl, tuba; William Albin, timpani; Emma Hamlet, flute;  Doug Hamilton, violin; Janice Murray, piano.  Doug and Joan Hoover will be soloists in the anthem, "Neither Death Nor Life". 

 This hymn festival is made possible by the generous support of anonymous donors to the church

 

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RETREAT  

 

Would you enjoy a time of refreshment and re-creation for your body, mind and spirit?  Would you enjoy having fun with others in your church family? Come to the church retreat led by a wonderful nationally-known leader, Dr. Nancy Copeland-Payton of Sand Point, Idaho.  She's a physician, minister, author, and spiritual director. It's in a beautiful facility 45 minutes away in Glendale, north of Cincinnati, with private single rooms with private baths and lovely spaces both inside and on the grounds.  Ample scholarship help is available; just talk to Mark or Barbara.  There is an option just to come for the day Saturday (from 9 a.m. top 4 p.m.). See the brochure here for more information and a registration form and register soon!  The retreat center needs to know the number of participants soon.  Thanks!

 

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THE HOLIDAYS ARE COMING!

THE HOLIDAYS ARE COMING!

 

The call has gone out and bakers, crafters and cookie elves are busy making preparations for the Oxford Presbyterian Women's annual Cookie Walk. On Saturday, December 7 at the Seminary Building, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., holiday cookies, candy, crafts and Christmas treasures will be available for sale. Proceeds from the sales benefit OPW mission projects.

 

Anyone wishing to volunteer for elf duty as bakers, workers or crafters for the event can so indicate on the Cookie Walk forms located in the November Sunday bulletins and available online here. In addition to the sale day, volunteers will be needed on Friday, December 6, to assist with set-up and receipt of cookies For additional information or questions, please contact Connie Everhart at 523-4120 or Diane Young at 255-6051 or cyoung9999@yahoo.com.

It's stewardship season!  Sunday, November 10, is Pledge Dedication Day for our 2014 pledges.  Please see the separate article by the Stewardship and Finance Committee for details about this year's program. 

            As we think prayerfully about what we will give to the work of our congregation for next year, please consider four principles for giving that come from the scripture.  Dr. Albert Winn has called them "deeply embedded principles" of Christian giving.  Recommended by the Apostle Paul in First and Second Corinthians, they are regularity, proportionality, priority, and risk.  These principles are a guide for making our financial giving a spiritual practice related to our commitment to Christ.  

Giving regularly whether it's weekly, monthly, or annually is a way of being mindful in our giving.  It's an acknowledgment that both our need to give and the needs of the church and other charities go on week by week, month by month.  Giving regularly also helps express our gratitude for God's love for us which is always faithful and constant.

Giving proportionally is another way to be intentional in our giving.  A tithe (10%) was the ancient biblical norm and it's a good place to start.   But there's more to tithing than the number 10. For some 10% is not possible while others who have greater resources may feel that 10% is too small a challenge.   The important question is:  What proportion of our total resources would be a gift that demonstrates clearly our gratitude to God for all the gifts of life and especially the greatest gift of Jesus Christ our Savior?

Giving as a matter of priority means putting our giving to church and other charities first.  We're sometimes tempted to wait until other expenses are taken care of but making our giving a top priority is one concrete way we can put God first, as the old prayer goes,  "not only with our lips but with our lives". 

Giving as risk is part of the Christian practice of giving.  We commit to give an amount challenging enough to make us reorganize other priorities.  What is it that we really need as opposed to those things we may want but really don't need that much in view of God's call for us to build up loving community and serve the needs of others? What might we give away that will be a fitting sign of our awe and gratitude for the risk God has taken for us in becoming flesh in Jesus and through him giving such a sacrificial, extravagant gift of love to the world? 

Let's reflect on these deeply embedded scriptural principles as we decide what we will give in 2014.  God has richly blessed us with a wonderful church in which we may enjoy and support each other in our mission of "seeking God, serving others, and sharing the good news of Christ will all".   May God help us through our gifts to pass on the blessing we have received for the life of the world.

Mark and Barbara Barnes, Co-Pastors 

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