he Messenger
FEBRUARY 2015 Vol. 57 No. 2
from the Pastor
It is a great joy and honor to share with you, my church family, that we will be joining Grace Bible, Oxford Community, Christ Presbyterian, and College Hill Presbyterian churches in a sermon series during February focused on evangelism. Last February we did something similar in partnering on the subject of marriage as Paul addressed it in 1 Corinthians 7. This year we will study four different texts as we examine different evangelism facts. As we talked together as brothers about what the Lord is doing in our churches, we felt that we could be doing more individually and collectively to engage lost people in Oxford. As the culture becomes increasingly secular, it is also becoming increasingly broken. While evangelistic approaches of old may not be connecting as well in a post-Christian society, there is also a real spiritual hunger as the social experiment in “life without God” comes to its obvious conclusions. The church and the gospel have never been more relevant to the needs of people. We have to get out from behind our stained-glass windows and into their lives with the good news of Jesus Christ. What might be the outcome if a couple thousand Oxonians got energized simultaneously about the centrality of gospel witness for every believer, not just the paid ministers? What might happen to Oxford if that much salt and light were poured into our schools, neighborhoods, and workplaces? We will gather together on the last Sunday evening of February for a combined worship service to display our unity in the power of the gospel and worship together the God who has called us by grace into fellowship with Himself. We will have a panel of all the pastors to discuss our common vision for exalting Christ in this city. I can’t wait to see what God will do in this time together! Dr. Eric Hankins
TOUCHOXFORD A light meal will be provided at 6 p.m., followed by our dedicated time of outreach. Join us in making phone calls, writing letters, and visiting. Feb. 2 Preschool & Adults
WEEKLYFOCUS:
Feb. 9 Children & Adults
Feb. 16 Youth & Adults
fbcoxford @fbcoxford n www.gotofirst.org 800 Van Buren Ave., Oxford MS 38655 n 662.234.3515
Bulletin Board Our Family Mother's Morning Out Registration for 2015-16 is Feb. 4
at 10 a.m. Registration forms available at www.gotofirst.org. Call Janet Hankins at 832-4069 for more information.
STUDENT NEWS
Winter Jam Tour Feb. 26 at the BancorpSouth Arena in Tupelo. $10 at the door. Please sign up on the Youth Board. XFuge on Mission July 6-10 in Orlando, FL! Registration is open. Contact Brandon for more information. Super Summer 2015 Scripture Memory Worksheet #2 due on Feb. 15
FBC Volunteers at the Oxford Food Pantry Each week in March, workers will be needed Tues.-Thurs., 8:30-11:30 a.m. On Tues. we will stock shelves and unload supplies. On Wed. and Thurs. we will help serve the clients and restock shelves. For more information, contact Jim Propes at 236-4758 or
[email protected].
Library & Media Center Open Sundays 9:30-11 a.m. and Wednesdays 5-7 p.m.
NEW BOOKS AND DVDs:
The Encounter, Run On, Miracles, When the Game Stands Tall, Little Heroes, The Secret Plan, Bugtime Adventures, Desperate, The Third Target, Just 18 Summers
Baby Dedication
is March 22 during the 11 a.m. service Sign up with Kristen by March 1.
[email protected] or 801-4487.
Sunday school attendance Jan. 4-682 Jan. 18-676 Jan. 11-600 Jan. 25-659
Budget for Jan. 2015 Budget $151,172.65 Building $5,365.79 Designated $17,869.96 Total $174,408.40 Building Fund to date
$5,664,619.55
LOTTIE OFFERING LOTTIEMOON MOON CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS OFFERING
National Goal: $175 million First Baptist Oxford Goal: $80,000 Given to Date: $87,058.00 New Member in January Elouise Savage February Deacons of the Week Feb. 1-7 Mike Quarles, Dan Reed, Chris Riley Feb. 8-14 Hal Davis, Mitchell Diggs, Tom Eber Feb. 15-21 Paul Hale, Kevin Howell, Matt Moore Feb. 22-28 Jim Pryor, Keith Scruggs, Hank Addy Congratulations To Erica & Zack King on the birth of a daughter, Mary Walker King, on December 18. To Mary Margaret & Steven Daniels on the birth of a son, Conner Knox Daniels, on Jan. 21. Grandparents are Bonnie & Bruce Mize. Our Sympathies To Mr. Max Whitehead & family in the loss of his Brother, Thomas Whitehead, of Alabama. To Dr. Nelson Little & family in the loss of his father, Robert “Dick” Little, of Grenada, MS To Mrs. Debbie Little & family in the loss of her mother, Dewey Cobb Hickman. To Rose Marie Harvey & family in the loss of her sister-in-law, Gayle Bourdain, of Long Beach, MS. To Mrs. Farrah McAlexander & family in the loss of her stepfather, Ira Shipp. To the family of Mary Catherine Alexander in their loss.
February
Check out featured events at www.gotofirst.org
FEB. 1
8:30 a.m. Worship Service 9:45 a.m. Bible Study classes 11 a.m. Worship Service No evening activities
FEB. 3
7 a.m. Youth Prayer Breakfast at Chick-Fil-A 11 a.m. XYZ Valentine’s Program & Luncheon Noon Prayer Meeting
FEB. 4
5 p.m. Fellowship Meal 5:30 p.m. AWANA 5:30 p.m. A Journey through Grief 6 p.m. Adult Bible Study 6 p.m. Women’s Explorers Bible Study 6 p.m. English as a Second Language 6 p.m. Rev.o.lu.tion Youth Worship 6 p.m. Celebration Choir Rehearsal 7:30 p.m. Worship Band Rehearsal
FEB. 8
8:30 a.m. Worship Service 9:45 a.m. Bible Study classes 11 a.m. Worship Service 4 p.m. Youth Bible Drill 5 p.m. Children’s Choir 5 p.m. Experiencing God-small groups 6 p.m. Experiencing God-pastor session
FEB. 10 7 a.m. Noon
Youth Prayer Breakfast at Chick-Fil-A Prayer Meeting
FEB. 11
5 p.m. Fellowship Meal 5:30 p.m. AWANA (Crazy Hair Night) 5:30 p.m. A Journey through Grief 6 p.m. Adult Bible Study 6 p.m. Women’s Explorers Bible Study 6 p.m. English as a Second Language 6 p.m. Rev.o.lu.tion Youth Worship 6 p.m. Celebration Choir Rehearsal 7:30 p.m. Worship Band Rehearsal
FEB. 15
8:30 a.m. Worship Service 9:45 a.m. Bible Study classes 11 a.m. Worship Service 4 p.m. Youth Bible Drill 5 p.m. Children’s Choir 5 p.m. Experiencing God-small groups 6 p.m. Experiencing God-pastor session
FEB. 17
7 a.m. Youth Prayer Breakfast at Chick-Fil-A 9:30 a.m. Inmon Circle in the Conference Room Noon Prayer Meeting
FEB. 18
5 p.m. Fellowship Meal 5:30 p.m. AWANA (Store Night) 5:30 p.m. A Journey through Grief 6 p.m. Adult Bible Study 6 p.m. Women’s Explorers Bible Study 6 p.m. English as a Second Language 6 p.m. Rev.o.lu.tion Youth Worship 6 p.m. Celebration Choir Rehearsal 7:30 p.m. Worship Band Rehearsal
FEB. 22
8:30 a.m. Worship Service 9:45 a.m. Bible Study classes 11 a.m. Worship Service 2:30 p.m. Upwards Awards Ceremony at North Oxford Baptist Church 4 p.m. Youth Bible Drill 5 p.m. Children’s Choir 6 p.m. Evangelism Summit
FEB. 24 7 a.m. Noon
Youth Prayer Breakfast at Chick-Fil-A Prayer Meeting
FEB. 25
5 p.m. Fellowship Meal 5:30 p.m. AWANA 5:30 p.m. A Journey through Grief 6 p.m. Adult Bible Study 6 p.m. Women’s Explorers Bible Study 6 p.m. English as a Second Language 6 p.m. Rev.o.lu.tion Youth Worship 6 p.m. Celebration Choir Rehearsal 7:30 p.m. Worship Band Rehearsal
(USPS 571-680) Published Monthly by First Baptist Church Periodical Postage paid at 800 Van Buren Ave., Oxford, MS 38655-3844
