A couple weeks ago, I found myself giddily engaged in a Milner Summer Tradition, as beloved as lazy beach strolls and brisk mountain hikes.  Alongside my boys I cheered on the National League (the only league, in my humble opinion) in Major League Baseball’s midseason All-Star Game.  It’s a tradition not started in this generation; no, this tradition began with my father.  Each mid-July he’d invite over his closest pals: folks with whom he practiced law, folks from his small group from church, folks even from his college years, and some folks who - like him - just couldn’t help but adore the game.  They’d gather to cheer on the blessed or abhorrent league of their choosing.  They’d eat mostly brats and dogs (“health food” was the name they gave their spread), drink a few beers, cheer a few innings, but mostly they’d reconnect.  Some of these men would go a year between visits, but during these summer gatherings, it was as if no time had been lost.  It wasn’t really about the game.  It wasn’t even (believe it or not) about the food.  It was about sharing time and sharing stories with friends, old and new.

It’s one of the things about summer that I just love.  And even as school is about to start, and I suppose we should all be thinking about the routines adopted at the start of another school year, I can’t help but notice that summer seems to be just hitting her sun-baked, sweat-drenched stride.  And I’m not quite ready to give up summer and give into the “normalcy” of another year.  I’m not ready to give up the “just because” cookouts with friends and colleagues.  I’m not ready to give up the impromptu, late-evening pizza parties around a pool.  I’m not ready to give up the random excuses we all make to get together with dear friends…on a beach, by a pond, or watching the kids streak through a backyard sprinkler.  I’m not ready to give them up, because I’m not ready to give up the times we get to casually, lazily, amiably reconnect.

And this sort of reconnection is what’s at the heart of FPC’s August Lunches, being hosted each Sunday after worship this month.  I’m told the food will be somewhat superior to that served at the Milner’s annual All-Star Game “cookout;” however, I have no doubt that the spirit will be very much the same.  It will be a time for those of us who aren’t quite ready to give up summer to gather together, to be together, and to casually and amiably reconnect.  I invite you to come and be a part of this offering: to take a break and to take the time to reconnect with good friends, old and new.

The table is set, and there is a place for you.

In hope,

Barrett

Summer In Person Worship: 10:00 am

Remember in Prayer 

FPC Members: Louise Waller; Nina & Tommy Patrick; Sally Booke; Mrs. Pat Atkinson; Ben Pettis; The Family of Charles Montgomery; The Family of William “Wylie” Coleman; The Family of Nancy Rogers; Sarah, Cliff, and Sterlin Smith; Keith & Cheryl Hayward; Scottye Boone; Jean Blackston; Leon McCullouch

Family and Friends: Susan Treas-Ewing; Margaret Burnett; Family of Dr. Macklyn Ward Hubbell; Doors of Hope Families; Lafayette County Detention Center inmates; Parchman Prison inmates; Haven House residents

U. S. Military: SSgt Jason Freeland, USAF 17th Special Tactics Sqaudron

Please pray, too, for those with unspecified needs.

If you wish to have a name removed or added to this list, please contact the church office.

The FPC prayer chain is ready if you or someone you know is in need. This is a confidential list that is independent from the names listed above. Please contact Carlisle Wood at carlislewood@gmail.com or 662-832-8606. All requests are held in strict confidence.

Sanctuary Floral Arrangement dates are available August 6, 13, 27, September 3, 10, 17, 24, and October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29.  To provide flowers in honor or in memory of a loved one, contact Margaret Fancher at mfancher42@gmail.com or call 662-234-1359.

Contributions to the Flower Fund are greatly appreciated.

If you want a particular date to provide flowers on Sunday morning, please reserve the date early.

Anyone interested in an FPC member directory can call the church office at 234-1757. One will be printed for you.

Membership & Hospitality

Bibles & Brews returns August 2, and continues each first and third Wednesday from 4:30-6pm at the Growler. All are welcome! We'll kick off the Fall with fellowship time and a fun game this first week, and settle into Bible study starting August 16. If you'd like to join the email list or GroupMe for reminders and more details about the topic each week, contact

Allison Wehrung (ukirk.olemiss@gmail.com) or Andy Spaulding (aspauldingfpc@gmail.com). 

Stewardship Committee

The Stewardship Committee would like to announce the launch of our

2024 campaign! Be on the look out for information at the congregational luncheons each Sunday in August, as well as the coming newsletters. Specifically, there will be pledge forms available to be filled out at

the luncheons. We are excited to announce, along with the finance committee, that we have taken steps to decrease the budget deficit dramatically.

 These are exciting times at FPC!  

Children & Youth Faith Formation

The month of July was jam packed full of fun for our FPC Kids!

A few of our middle schoolers took a trip to Wisconsin for camp at the Great Escape Midwest. They spent the week worshipping, playing games, and exploring things BEYOND this universe (Colossians 3:1-4). The following week was Vacation Bible School for our younger kiddos. This year's theme was Operation Restoration. During the week they learned to make connections between mending their actions and Bible stories to learn simple ways to live out daily life with faith. Their week was spent singing, dancing, playing, coloring, and painting. They ended the week with everyone's favorite, WATER DAY!

Thank you to everyone to made all of this happen this summer!

PYF Fall Break Mission Trip

Join us on the First Annual Fall Break Mission Trip with the PY group from First Presbyterian Church of Oxford. Our PYF group will be partnering with the Son Servants organization to serve a community in Huntsville, AL. Students grades 7 through 12 and their parents are welcome to sign up to serve in helping with minor construction projects, serving an impoverished community and learning more about the way God is working through them from Sunday October 8th through Thursday October 12th. Price will be determined at a later date. Scholarships will be available. 

UKirk Ole Miss is getting ready for a new school year together! UKirk wouldn't be possible without FPC's continued support. Here are a couple ways you can join with us in supporting college students this Fall: 

• Provide a Tuesday meal. The fellowship time we share during dinner before our weekly worship/Bible study nurtures our community and gives students a much needed break in their busy weeks. You can find our meal schedule here.
• Refer a student. If you know someone heading to Ole Miss in August (or you are that person!), we would love to have a head's up so we can reach out with a personal invitation. Let us know using the referral form on our website. 
• Help students at other schools find the closest UKirk. If they're staying nearby, Allison probably already knows where the closest UKirk is, or she can find out. If you'd like to help connect a student elsewhere, here's the national referral form. 

If you have questions about any of these things, email Allison (ukirk.olemiss@gmail.com). Thank you again for your continued support!

The Mission Team meets Thursday, August 7 at 5:00 in the Session Room of the Sanctuary building. Please join us as we seek creative and effective means to serve “the least of these.” If you would like more information, call the church office or contact David Shaw at dcshaw82@gmail.com.

Cents-Ability is a PCUSA initiative to combat hunger in local communities. For more information about our denomination's national effort,

click here. Churches in St. Andrew Presbytery collect loose change, pool the funds, and award $1,000 grants to hunger assistance programs in our Presbytery which is roughly the northern third of the state. Last year eight grants were awarded, two of which went to the Oxford Pantry and LovePacks. FPC will continue to have quarterly Collection Sundays. Your participation does make a difference, so keep saving those coins! 

 LET'S STOCK THE SHELVES!

LovePacks (lovepacksoxford.com) is an in-school pantry that provides food for 250 children in the Oxford and Lafayette county schools who experience hunger in their homes. As a new school year is starting, stocks are low, and food donations are needed. On August 6th, FPC members are asked to bring nonperishable food items to church to restock LovePacks' shelves. Questions? 

Contact Carmille Hovious at 662-380-1471. 

News from the Pews

Memorials & Honorariums

~ With gratitude for contributions to First Presbyterian Church ~

In Memory of:

Shirley Donnelly

Ben & Adalene Pettis

Alisa Elliott

Ben & Adalene Pettis

Dr. Charles Montgomery

Ben & Adalene Pettis

Nancy Rogers

Ben & Adalene Pettis

First Presbyterian Church

Oxford, Mississippi

Congregational Summary of Stated Session Meeting –

July 24, 2024

The Session of First Presbyterian Church held its stated monthly meeting on Monday, July 24, 2023 at approximately 5:30 pm in the Session Room. The meeting was held on the fourth meeting of the month due to summer scheduling conflicts.

1. Approval of Wedding Application. The Session approved the wedding application of Robert Hall and Lindsey Fournier for their wedding to be held February 10, 2024 with a rehearsal on February 9, 2024.

2. Approval of Moving Stated Meetings. The Session approved moving its stated meetings from the second Monday of the month to the third Monday of the month.

3. Ministry Team Reports.

a. Finance (Richard DeVoe, 2024 & Brent Hardin, 2025). Elder DeVoe reported that the Finance Team was continuing to scrutinize the budget and had implemented a credit card fee surcharge for credit card transactions. He also reported that the committee was exploring applying for the Employee Retention Credit.

b. Property (Bradley Goodwiller, 2024 & Bo Elliott, 2025). Elder Bo Elliott reported that the committee was focusing possible options for the Annex, and would be forming a sub-committee to obtain input from the Congregation regarding long-term visioning for the space.

c. Adult Faith Formation (Mary Haskell, 2023 & Carole Haney, 2025). Elder Haney reported that the Team had met in both June and July, and highlighted the upcoming Adult Bible Study program, which would be led by Reverends Milner and Spaulding. She also reported that Wednesdays Together programing would begin Wednesday, September 27.

d. Children & Youth Faith Formation (Kathryn Elliott, 2023 & Catie Hester, 2024). Elder Kathryn Elliott reported that summer PYF had been well-attended and that Vacation Bible School had been a great success with approximately 100 children in attendance. Reverend Milner reported that Montreat had also been a wonderful experience for the youth, and

Elder Manley and Reverend Spaulding provided an update on the Great Escape. Elder Kathryn Elliott announced that Rally Day would be held September 10.

e. Membership & Hospitality (Lee Miers, 2023 & Angela Manley, 2025). Elder Miers reported that the first summer luncheon would be held August 6, with the deacons hosting on August 14, and the Men’s Sunday School class on August 20. He reported that the Church picnic would be held September 24.

f. Mission (David Shaw, 2025). Reverend Milner highlighted the Mission minutes. He also reported that The Pantry was in the midst of renovation effort and had requested to provide a Minute for Mission during a worship service.

g. Worship (Hale Freeland, 2024). Elder Freeland reported that the Worship Committee had received positive input regarding the worship services, and had increased communion to each week based on congregational feedback. Reverend Milner reported that the Church would resume its two worship services on Rally Day.

Financial Summary 

Upcoming Birthdays & Anniversaries