Oxford Presbyterian Church

March 17, 2022

Good morning, everyone.

Today is St. Patrick’s Day, a feast day that is observed both in various churches around the world as well as in popular culture. I can remember back to 1^st grade where we were advised to wear green to school on March 17^th, lest we be pinched for no doing so. In college, a friend’s father (of Irish descent) asked me on St. Patrick’s Day if I’d like to share a green beer. In Chicago and several other municipalities across the country, there are sizable parades held every March 17 to commemorate the man (and to have another excuse for a big party). What is it about St. Patrick that is so worthy of remembrance?

I think it stems from the path that his life took. Born into a wealthy Roman family in 5^th century Britain, when Patrick was a teenager he was kidnapped by pirate raiders and taken to Ireland and enslaved as a shepherd. It was while working in the pastures that Patrick would later say he found God, and that God instructed him to flee to the coast and take a boat back to Britain. Once home, he became a priest. Now, one would think that his experience of Ireland would be a dark and harrowing and traumatic memory for Patrick that he would gladly leave behind. But Patrick would not flee from his past. Instead, he went back to Ireland with love for the very people who had enslaved him and endeavored to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to people who did not know they were made and loved by God. Patrick saw his captors as God saw his captors, in need of forgiveness and redemption, needing to be liberated from sin. The life of Patrick is a witness to all of us of the transformative power of Jesus Christ for all peoples.

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.

3^rd Sunday in Lent, March 20, 2022

Scripture readings: Isaiah 55:1-9 and Luke 13:1-9

Sermon title: “The Slow Yet Certain Hope”

Liturgist: Earron Couch

Thanks to Carolyn Steger, Rachelle Messer, Cathy Yancey, and Kathy Webb 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 – Our monthly mission emphasis for March is the Children’s Hope Alliance. The Alliance is the ministry of the Barium Springs Home for Children and the Grandfather Home for Children, two residences that provide hope and healing for at-risk and hurting children and families. Online gifts can be made here à https://www.childrenshopealliance.org/donate/.

Announcements:

• 17^th – 5:30 p.m. – Lenten Bible Study meets in the sanctuary and via Zoom
• 22^nd – 7:00 p.m. – Choir rehearses in sanctuary
• 23^rd – 10:30 a.m. – Lenten Bible Study meets at Strong Arm Baking Company
• 23^rd – 12:30 p.m. – Midweek Prayer in Sanctuary
• 24^th – 5:30  p.m. – Lenten Bible Study meets in the sanctuary and via Zoom

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 on Wednesdays at Strong Arm Baking Company at 10:30 a.m. and Thursdays in the sanctuary and 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.

If you are interested in joining us via Zoom on Thursdays, 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: Cheryl Hester – 24^th, Ed Potter – 24^th, Dudley Barnes – 25^th, Wesley Harrell – 25^th

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

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¹ O God, you are my God, I seek you,
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
² So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
³ Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
⁴ So I will bless you as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands and call on your name.
⁵ My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast,
and my mouth praises you with joyful lips
⁶ when I think of you on my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
⁷ for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.
⁸ My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me. (Psalm 63:1-8 NRSV)

Blessings in Christ,

Alan