Oxford Presbyterian Church

April 7, 2022

Good afternoon, everyone.

We are, this week, looking forward to Palm Sunday. We read in the Gospels that the people waved palm branches to welcome Jesus into the city. Did you ever wonder how Palms are significant is Scripture? In Psalm 92, we read that, “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree.” Consider how “the Good Man” is like a palm tree: They are both upright. They can bend, but do not fail to stand straight and tall. They are both fruitful. Date palms produce fruit that is remarkably nutritious. “The Good Man” bears the Fruits of the Spirit and shares God’s love through the sharing of these fruits. Both the palm and “the Good Man” possess beauty. When they respond to the Master’s call, others see and appreciate their beauty. Both the palm and, “the Good Man” have rough and humble beginnings, yet both enjoy ultimate triumph. The Palm branches welcome ”the Good Man” as He enters the city to begin the process of His ultimate triumph. Happy Palm Sunday!

As always, we invite you to participate in one or more of the following worship opportunities:

8:08 a.m. in the sanctuary. If you want to come and remain in your automobile, you may park on Gilliam Street or behind the church building and turn your FM radio dial to 89.50 and you will be able to listen to the worship service.

11:00 a.m. in the sanctuary. This service is also broadcast via Facebook Live if you are unable to join us. If you have a computer or tablet or smartphone with an internet connection, you should be able to receive the stream. You do not need to have a Facebook account to participate. Our stream appears on the church’s Facebook page which is here:  https://www.facebook.com/Oxford-Presbyterian-Church-152011345379561/. If you miss the broadcast, the service will remain on our Facebook page for the next several days.

3:00 p.m. our worship is also broadcast on WCBQ 1340 on the AM radio dial. The radio broadcast of our worship is an easy way to listen in and participate. If you know of someone in our community that does not do computers or finds them frustrating to use, please let them know of this alternative. Please note that as we have returned to in-person congregational worship, the radio broadcast of each service is aired the following Sunday.

The Sunday worship bulletin for those who are unable to join us will appear in your emailbox late Saturday evening or early Sunday morning, complete with hymns and sermon so that you may have your own house-church worship. As always, you can listen to sermons through our website right here: https://oxfordpres.org/media/#sermons, and at The Oxford Exchange, found here: http://theoxfordexchange.blubrry.net/. Sermons are posted the Tuesday following the Sunday they were preached.

Our website, www.oxfordpres.org, has calendars, newsletters, the OPC WEEKLY, sermons, and even ways to give your offerings (right here: https://oxfordpres.org/give/).

We also have an offerings drop-box situated next to the door on the back side of the church at the top of the ramp if you want to drop off an offering. Or, you can mail offerings to Oxford Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 652, Oxford, NC 27565. They will be collected and deposited.

Palm Sunday, April 10, 2022

Scripture readings: Psalm 118: 1-2, 19-29 and Luke 19: 28-40

Sermon title: “The stones would shout out”

Liturgist: Earron Couch

Thanks to Carolyn Steger, Judy Miller and Rachelle Messer, Kathy Webb, and the rest of the choir for leading our music.

8:08 a.m. – Worship in sanctuary with shortrange broadcast on 89.50 FM

11:00 a.m. – Worship in sanctuary also broadcast via Facebook Live. The stream can be found at https://www.facebook.com/Oxford-Presbyterian-Church-152011345379561/

3:00 p.m. – Worship broadcast on WCBQ 1340 AM

Mission of the Month – In April, we will receive offerings on Easter Sunday and the 2^nd Sunday in Easter to support the PCUSA’s One Great Hour of Sharing. “A gift to One Great Hour of Sharing enables the church to share God’s love with our neighbors in need around the world by providing relief to those affected by natural disasters, providing food to the hungry, and helping to empower the poor and oppressed.” (from the PCUSA’s Presbyterian Mission Agency).

Attention! Oxford Presbyterian Church is hiring! We are looking for an Administrative Assistant to work about ten hours per week. Duties include providing clerical support to the pastor and general administrative duties. If you or someone you know would be a good candidate for this position, please apply by sending cover letter and resume to info@oxfordpres.org no later than April 30^th. A job description can be found on the church’s website: https://oxfordpres.org/admin-job-description/.

Special Note: Easter Sunday is April 17^th. Traditionally, members of the Oxford Presbyterian family are invited to purchase potted lilies to be displayed on the chancel for the morning worship services. This year, in light of the increased need for resources at Area Congregations In Ministry (ACIM)  instead of lilies, church family members are invited to make donations to ACIM. The suggested donation is $10. If you would like to participate in this unique celebration, you may donate using the method of your choice and designate your donation as, “ACIM.” You may also designate and person you would like to honor or memorialize by including a note with pertinent information. A list of donors and honorees/memorials will be included in the worship bulletin on Easter Sunday morning. If you have questions, please contact Carol Barnes.

Announcements:

• 7^th – 5:30 p.m. – Lenten Bible Study meets via Zoom
• 11^th – 6:30 p.m. – Presbyterian Women’s Circle meets
• 12^th – 7:00 p.m. – Choir rehearses in sanctuary
• 13^th – 10:30 a.m. – Book Club meets at Strong Arm Baking Company
• 13^th – 12:30 p.m. – Midweek Prayer in Sanctuary
• 14^th – 6:30  p.m. – Maundy Thursday Worship
• 15^th – 6:30 p.m. – Good Friday Tenebrae Worship
• 17^th – 6:30 a.m. – Easter Sunrise Worship

Lenten Bible Study – Our Book Club has once again converted to the Oxford Presbyterian Annual Lenten Bible Study during the season of Lent. We meet for the final time tonight via Zoom at 5:30 p.m. Our study is titled If God is for us, who is against us?: Paul’s Letter to the Romans. We will resume with All the Light We Cannot See the week after Easter.

If you are interested in joining us via Zoom tonight, the link is here:

Join Zoom Meeting by video:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86362095051?pwd=MU80ZjVnM1FYdDI5N0lDdFJ1MTF3dz09

Meeting ID: 863 6209 5051

Passcode: 4vjArZ

Join Zoom Meeting by audio:

+1 301 715 8592 US

Meeting ID: 863 6209 5051

Passcode: 480960

 Midday Prayer – Meets Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. in the sanctuary.

Prayers for: Frank Anderson, Becky and Isabella Baird, Betty Baynes, Michael Boyd, Cynthia Broaddrick, Linda and Mike Diamond, Randy Downey, Julie Gaydon, Marlene Grenier, Millie Hartford, Heather Hightower, Randall Hightower, Hannah Hobgood, Cotina Jones, Barbara Laurent, BK McCloud, Donnie Messer, Laura Messer, Jeanette Owen, Rufus Owen, Jason Parkin, Greg and Dottie Price, Mike Reavis, Donald Rogers, Kelly Ann Sterner, Lynn Stone, Melvin Weaver, Alice Evans Woodlief and Cathy Yancey.

Happy Birthday to: Happy Birthday to: Nico Yancey – 12^th, Vivian Oney – 14^th, Richard Hobgood – 16th

Remember to utilize our website! – www.oxfordpres.org.

Also, if you are on Facebook, please friend us here:

And if you are on Twitter, please follow us here:

⁹ Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress;
my eye wastes away from grief,
my soul and body also.
¹⁰ For my life is spent with sorrow,
and my years with sighing;
my strength fails because of my misery,
and my bones waste away.
¹¹ I am the scorn of all my adversaries,
a horror to my neighbors,
an object of dread to my acquaintances;
those who see me in the street flee from me.
¹² I have passed out of mind like one who is dead;
I have become like a broken vessel.
¹³ For I hear the whispering of many—
terror all around!—
as they scheme together against me,
as they plot to take my life.
¹⁴ But I trust in you, O Lord;
I say, “You are my God.”
¹⁵ My times are in your hand;
deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.
¹⁶ Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your steadfast love. (Psalms 31:9-16 NRSV)

Blessings in Christ,

Alan