Oxford Presbyterian Church

December 1, 2022

Good afternoon, everyone.

We are now almost a whole week into 2022’s Advent Season. One hymn that is used frequently during Advent is John M. Neale’s O Come, O Come Emmanuel. The hymn has its origins in the 12^th century Roman church. Each verse calls upon the Savior by one of the names by which He is known. The first verse explains the condition of God’s people as they feel separated from their creator defender and Lord. They call out to Emmanuel, God with us, to be delivered and restored. Verse 2, which does not appear in our hymnal, refers to the anticipated Savior as “Lord of Might.” The verse calls upon Almighty Jehovah, the giver of the Law. A scripture reference is Exodus 19:16. Amazing how we see God’s people waiting for the Messiah throughout their history. We watch for him, still. (from 101 Hymn Stories, Osbeck)

 We invite you to participate in one or more of the following worship opportunities for the Second Sunday of Advent:

8:08 a.m. in the sanctuary with communion.

11:00 a.m. in the sanctuary with communion. 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/).

Offerings are now being received by passing the plate at our in- person worship services. 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.

Second Sunday of Advent, December 4, 2022

Scripture readings: Isaiah 11:1-10 and Matthew 3:1-12

Sermon title: “Fire?”

Liturgist: Walter Gould

8:08 a.m. – Worship in sanctuary

9:45 a.m. – Bible Jeopardy! (Adult Sunday School) in the sanctuary

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

The return of Adult Sunday School – Sunday School will resume with our new study: Bible Jeopardy! We will jump into the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles this year with the hopes of hearing God speak to us while having a lot of fun!

 Mission of the Month – The mission emphasis for December is the Christmas Joy Offering. This offering is received throughout the UPUSA and support Historically Black Colleges and Universities that are a part of the denominational family. Retired ministers are also included as recipients of the resources received as part of the Christmas Joy Offering.

It is also time to get ready for our OPC Angel Tree mission. Most likely, Angels will receive Walmart cards. If you have an Angel (child or older adult) that you would like to nominate, please contact Ellen Gould. Nominate “Angels” and make donations using OPC’s offering options from now until DECEMBER 10^th.

Announcements:

• 2^nd –12:00 p.m. – Service of Witness to the Resurrection for Becky Baird, Elmwood Cemetery
• 6^th – 7:00 a.m. – Choir Rehearsal in Choir Room
• 7^th – 10:30 a.m. – Book Club meets at Strong Arm Baking Company
• 7^th – 12:30 p.m. – Midweek Prayer in Sanctuary
• 7^th – 6:30 p.m. – OPC Men’s Supper
• 8^th  – 5:30 p.m. – Book Club meets at Tobacco Wood Brewing Co. and via Zoom

 Book Club – Will meet this week at the usual times and places. We are reading the final book George MacDonald’s curate series: The Baron’s Apprenticeship. Come join us for fun and friendship and fellowship!

Midday Prayer – Will be held Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. in the sanctuary.

 Upcoming Dates to remember:

• Saturday, December 10 – Deadline to suggest Angels and to donate to the Angel Tree mission
• Sunday, December 11 – Deadline to submit orders for poinsettias in the sanctuary
• Sunday, December 18 – Poinsettias will be placed in the Sanctuary (details forthcoming)

Prayers for: Frank Anderson, the Baird family, Betty Baynes, Michael Boyd, Cynthia Broaddrick, Linda and Mike Diamond, Randy Downey and family, Julie Gaydon, Marlene Grenier, Millie Hartford, Boyce Harvey, Sylvia Hendrick, Randall Hightower, Hannah Hobgood, Cotina Jones, Franz Koeneke, BK McCloud, Donnie Messer, Laura Messer, Jeanette Owen, Rufus Owen,  Jason Parkin, Greg and Dottie Price, Mike Reavis, Donald Rogers, Betsy Sanders, Kelli Owen Smith, Lynn Stone, Ed Street, Keith Street, Melvin Weaver, Ed Webb, Alice Evans Woodlief, and Merilyn Wright.

Happy Birthday to: Paul Hesse – 6^th, Ashlee Morgan – 9th, David Barnes – 10^th

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

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¹ Give the king your justice, O God,
and your righteousness to a king’s son.
² May he judge your people with righteousness,
and your poor with justice.
³ May the mountains yield prosperity for the people,
and the hills, in righteousness.
⁴ May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,
give deliverance to the needy,
and crush the oppressor.
⁵ May he live while the sun endures,
and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.
⁶ May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,
like showers that water the earth.
⁷ In his days may righteousness flourish

and peace abound, until the moon is no more.
¹⁸ Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
who alone does wondrous things.
¹⁹ Blessed be his glorious name forever;
may his glory fill the whole earth.
Amen and Amen. (Psalms 72:1-19 NRSV)

Blessings in Christ,

Alan