Oxford Presbyterian Church

December 15, 2022

Good afternoon, everyone.

As with so many seasons, Advent is rapidly marching along in 2022. We have been reminded that the Season of Advent is a time when God’s great and perfect gift is ours through His amazing love. In the hymn, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” various names of the Savior are recounted for us to remember the countless ways he came to serve his beloved family. In verse 4, Jesus is called “Day-Spring.” The literal meaning of this term is “sunrise.” What a joy to realize that the morning of our Lord’s birth was the dawning of a wonderful new day. When the priest, Zacharias heard of Jesus’ birth, he exclaimed, “The day-spring from on high has visited us, to give light to them who sit in the darkness and in the shadow of death.” Luke 1:78-79 (from 101 Hymn Stories, Osbeck)

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

8:08 a.m. in the sanctuary.

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/).

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.

Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 18, 2022

Scripture readings: Isaiah 7:10-16 and Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon title: Miracle and Mystery

Liturgist: Paul Hesse

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

We will collect our Pennies for Hunger in worship

 The return of Adult Sunday School – Sunday School continues 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 PCUSA and supports 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.

Many, many thanks to everyone who participated in this year’s Christmas Angel Tree Mission. A detailed report is forthcoming but rejoice in the knowledge that many more Angels were generously served this year than ever before.

Announcements:

• 18^th – 12:00 p.m. – Session meets following worship
• 20^th – 7:00 a.m. – Choir Rehearsal in Choir Room
• 21^st – 10:30 a.m. – Book Club meets at Strong Arm Baking Company
• 21^st – 12:30 p.m. – Midweek Prayer in Sanctuary
• 22^nd  – 5:30 p.m. – Book Club meets at Tobacco Wood Brewing Co. and via Zoom
• 24^th – 5:00 p.m. ­– Christmas Eve Worship at Timothy Darling Presbyterian Church

 Book Club – Will meet this week at their 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 – Meets Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. in the sanctuary.

 Upcoming Dates to remember:

• Sunday, December 25 – Pick up poinsettias from the sanctuary

Prayers for: Frank Anderson, the Becky 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: Ajayla Hester – 18^th, Emily Hamilton – 19^th

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

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¹ Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph like a flock!
You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth
² before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh.
Stir up your might,
and come to save us!
³ Restore us, O God;
let your face shine, that we may be saved.
⁴ O LORD God of hosts,
how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?
⁵ You have fed them with the bread of tears,
and given them tears to drink in full measure.
⁶ You make us the scorn of our neighbors;
our enemies laugh among themselves.
⁷ Restore us, O God of hosts;
let your face shine, that we may be saved. Psalms 80:1-7

 But let your hand be on the man of your right hand,
the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself!
¹⁸ Then we shall not turn back from you;
give us life, and we will call upon your name!
¹⁹ Restore us, O LORD God of hosts!
Let your face shine, that we may be saved! (Psalms 80:1-7, 17-19 NRSV)

Blessings in Christ,

Alan