from the Pastor


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he Messenger

JUNE 2015 Vol. 57 No. 6

from the Pastor

Beginning the first Sunday in June, I will be taking a six-week sabbatical. Because this is not something typical for Southern Baptist churches, I thought it would be helpful to articulate what a “sabbatical” means for us.

For starters, I want to be clear on what it is not about. First, I am not unhappy. My ten years with you have been a joy. Second, I am not burned out. I am thankful to work in a healthy church where I am treated wonderfully and allowed appropriate rest. Third, I am not going somewhere else. Often, people get nervous (or excited!) when the preacher is away because they think he is visiting a new place of ministry, but this is not at all the case. So, what is this sabbatical about? First, it has a strong spiritual component. I look forward to having extended amounts of time with the Lord. I will have a rich opportunity to unplug and “be still” so that I might hear His voice and His alone. As a pastor, I rarely have the opportunity to have someone preach to me, and it will do me good to sit in various churches and be on the receiving end of a sermon! Second, I will really be able to rest. Early on in my minstry, I was warned by my preacherfather about the “relentless return of the Sabbath.” It is hard to “power down” completely when you are in a perpetual state of preparation for the upcoming week. Third, I will have time to catch up on some reading and readying. Our culture is in a massive state of flux, and this break will give me some time to engage these changes at a deep level. Finally, the sabbatical is about vision. The last couple years, I have felt a little lost as to the big picture of our ministry together. I am very thankful that so many individual pieces work so well, but I believe the Lord wants to reveal more fully how it all fits together as we seek to reach a city that is rapidly growing and changing. I am indeed grateful for this gift that very few pastors ever get to enjoy. Thank you so much. I look forward with great anticipation to what the Lord will reveal to us together through this time. Yours in Him, Bro. Eric

VBS IS JUNE 1-5 • 9 a.m.-noon

Open to all kids completing K-6th grades. Register online at tinyurl.com/fbcoxfordvbs

fbcoxford @fbcoxford n www.gotofirst.org 800 Van Buren Ave., Oxford MS 38655 n 662.234.3515

Bulletin Board Our Family STUDENT NEWS @FBCOxfordSM Follow FBC Student Ministry

VBSwag June 8-10!

Speaker: Todd Core, Student Pastor at FBC Columbus, MS. Music by David Ashley. Mess Fest on Wednesday! Sign up on the Youth Board!

the BIG 7 trip June 25-27

in St. Louis, Mo! Balance and Medical Forms due.

XFuge on Mission July 6-10 in Orlando, FL! Participants, notarized Medical Release Forms needed ASAP.

Super Summer 2015

Participants should have all requirements completed. See Brandon if you have questions.

DNow 2015 Aug. 14-16 for more details!!!

Stay tuned

Shuttle Bus drivers needed. If you have or would be willing to obtain a CDL in order to drive the shuttle bus Sunday mornings, please contact Robert Allen (234-3515 or [email protected]). Drivers serve on a rotating basis.

Beginning June 7, Worship Services will broadcast on 93.7 FM.

Library & Media Center Open Sundays 9:30-11 a.m. NEW BOOK:

Blessings Through the Years by Del Aven, longtime member of FBC Oxford

ANNIE ARMSTRONG EASTER OFFERING

First Baptist Amount Given: $21,474.25

Sunday school attendance May 3 - 651 May 17 - 608 May 10 - 534 May 24 - 523

Budget for May 1-24, 2015 Budget $171,648.77 Building $5,998.86 Designated $30,429.91 Total $208,077.54 Building Fund to date

$5,701,679.59

New Members in May Austin Nickolson; Molly Jones; Candis Varnell; Jason, Lona, Sara Katherine, & Mary Marshall Waller; Blake, Katie & Sam Horton; Emma Cox; and Nikki Welch Congratulations To Jennifer & Clint Spencer on the birth of a son, Cannon Thomas Spencer, on April 28. Big sister is Neely Sha Spencer. To Molly & Lee Harwell on the birth of a daughter, Ellaree Lois Harwell, on May 1. Proud siblings are Vivian, Farrah and Hunter. Proud grandparents are Farrah and Larry McAlexander & Melissa and Rickey Harwell. To Amanda & Brandon Becket on the birth of a son, Sims Clark Beckett, on May 12. Proud big sisters are Collier and Mary Charles. To Beth & Paxton Little on the birth of a son, Robert Paxton Little, on May 19. Proud big brother is Harrison. Proud grandparents are Cascielle & Nelson Little. Our Sympathies To Jim Pryor & family in the loss of his sister, Sara Pryor Mauldin. To John Stevens & family in the loss of his mother, Mrs. Lois Stevens. To Steve Martin & family in the loss of his father, Rev. Hugh A. Martin. To Brad Camp & family in the loss of his mother, Mrs. Barbara Fowler. To Tara Scruggs & family in the loss of her father, Mr. Harvey Lofton.

June

Check out featured events at www.gotofirst.org

JUNE 1-5

9 a.m.-noon Vacation Bible School

JUNE 3 Noon

Prayer Meeting

JUNE 7

8:30 a.m. Worship Service 9:45 a.m. Bible Study classes 11 a.m. Worship Service

JUNE 8

5 p.m. Fellowship Meal 6 p.m. Worship Service

JUNE 9

11 a.m. XYZ Program & Luncheon

JUNE 10 Noon

Prayer Meeting

JUNE 14

8:30 a.m. Worship Service 9:45 a.m. Bible Study classes 11 a.m. Worship Service

JUNE 15

5 p.m. Fellowship Meal 6 p.m. Worship Service

JUNE 16

9:30 a.m. Inmon Circle in the Conference Room

JUNE 17 Noon

Prayer Meeting

JUNE 22

5 p.m. Fellowship Meal 6 p.m. Worship Service

JUNE 24 Noon

Prayer Meeting

JUNE 28

8:30 a.m. Worship Service 9:45 a.m. Bible Study classes 11 a.m. Worship Service

JUNE 29

5 p.m. Fellowship Meal 6 p.m. Worship Service

JUNE 21

8:30 a.m. Worship Service 9:45 a.m. Bible Study classes 11 a.m. Worship Service

Marvelous Mondays

Fellowship Meal at 5 p.m. Worship Service at 6 p.m.

(Preschool care provided.)

GUEST SPEAKERS: June 8 Todd Core, Student Pastor at FBC Columbus, MS June 15 David Ard, Retired Minister and former Law Enforcement officer June 22 Larry Taunton, Executive Director of Fixed Point Foundation June 29 An Evening of Music

XYZ Senior Adult Program and Lunch Tuesday, June 9 at 11 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall

Musical program by Abbey and Gracie Swartzendruber, members of the Columbus Suzuki Strings Orchestra and Ensemble, and Abbey is also a member of the LOU Symphony. Invite a “senior” friend and come and join us.

June Deacons of the Week May 31-June 6 Tom Eber, Paul Hale, Kevin Howell June 7-13 Matt Moore, Jim Pryor, Keith Scruggs June 14-20 Hank Addy, Bobby Clanton, Tom Dawson June 21-27 Derrell Doss, Jeff Evans, Brad Golmon June 28-July 4 Victor Newell, Eddie Aune, Brian Harvey

Sunday, June 14 Speaker: Randy Crowe,

Regional Field Officer for the Gideons International. A love offering will be taken for the Gideons.

(USPS 571-680) Published Monthly by First Baptist Church Periodical Postage paid at 800 Van Buren Ave., Oxford, MS 38655-3844