from the Pastor

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he Messenger

November 2016 Vol. 58 No. 11

from the Pastor My dear Church Family,

I send this letter to you today to let you know that, this past Sunday, I accepted a call from the First Baptist Church of Fairhope, Alabama to be their pastor. Part of me grieves to share this news with you. These almost twelve years together have been so rich and so sweet, certainly far beyond anything I deserved. We have advanced the kingdom and watched God do some incredible things. I have raised my two oldest here, and it’s the only home Jake has ever known (he cried his eyes out when we told him, saying, “But I love my church!”). Janet and I have poured our lives out and you have poured your lives into us. Leaving you hurts us and hurting you with our leaving grieves us more. But another part of me rejoices to share this news with you. I can tell you with absolute certainty that God has made crystal clear that this is His will for the Hankins'; therefore, it must also be His will for First Oxford. God has a man in mind to lead you to the great future He has for you, and I wouldn’t want to stand in the way of that for one second. Yours in Him, Bro. Eric

Dedication Sunday

Nov. 13

National Collection Week

Nov. 14-21

Goal for FBC Oxford:

1000 shoeboxes fbcoxford @fbcoxford n www.gotofirst.org 800 Van Buren Ave., Oxford MS 38655 n 662.234.3515 FREE app "First Baptist Oxford MS"

November

Check out featured events at www.gotofirst.org

XYZ Program and Lunch Tuesday, November 1 at 11 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall

November 1

5:30 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 7:15 p.m.

AWANA - Prayer Warrior night Rev.o.lu.tion Youth Worship Adult Bible Study Women’s Explorers Bible Study English as a Second Language Choir Rehearsal Band Rehearsal

11 a.m. XYZ Program & Luncheon

november 10

november 2

5:30 p.m. Grief Share

Noon 5 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 7:15 p.m.

november 11

Prayer Meeting Fellowship Meal AWANA Rev.o.lu.tion Youth Worship Adult Bible Study Women’s Explorers Bible Study English as a Second Language Choir Rehearsal Band Rehearsal

november 3 5:30 p.m. Grief Share

November 5 Daylight Saving Time ends: Fall back 1 hour

Nov. 6 Jeff Holeman will be speaking during both morning services in view of a call to be our Youth and Missions Pastor. november 6 8:30 a.m. 9:45 a.m. 11 a.m. 4 p.m. 5 p.m. 5 p.m. 5 p.m. 6 p.m.

Worship Service Bible Study classes Worship Service Children’s Bible Drill Children’s Choir Youth Packing Party Life U Classes Evening Worship

november 9 Noon 5 p.m.

Prayer Meeting Fellowship Meal

6 p.m. Parents’ Night Out (Registration required)

november 12 7:30 a.m. Men’s Ministry work day

november 13 8:30 a.m. 9:45 a.m. 11 a.m. 4 p.m. 5 p.m. 5 p.m. 6 p.m.

Worship Service Bible Study classes Worship Service Children’s Bible Drill Children’s Choir Life U Classes Evening Worship

november 16 Noon 5 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 7:15 p.m.

Prayer Meeting Thanksgiving Meal AWANA Rev.o.lu.tion Youth Worship Annual Church Conference Women’s Explorers Bible Study English as a Second Language Choir Rehearsal Band Rehearsal

Annual Church Conference Nov. 16 at 6 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall to present and vote on the 2017 church budget.

november 17 5:30 p.m. Grief Share

november 20 8:30 a.m. 9:45 a.m. 11 a.m. 4 p.m. 5 p.m. 5 p.m. 6 p.m.

Worship Service Bible Study classes Worship Service Children’s Bible Drill Children’s Choir Life U Classes Evening Worship

Our Family

Sunday school attendance Oct. 2 - 445 Oct. 9 - 432

Oct 16. - 468 Oct 23. - 426

Budget October 1-23, 2016 Budget Building Designated

$151,398.87 $3,912.83 $7,931.33

November 23

Total

$163,243.03

No activities

Building Fund to date

$5,811,707.83

November 24-25 Thanksgiving Church office closed

november 27 8:30 a.m. Worship Service 9:45 a.m. Bible Study classes 11 a.m. Worship Service No evening activities

november 30 Noon 5 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 7:15 p.m.

Prayer Meeting Fellowship Meal AWANA Rev.o.lu.tion Youth Worship Adult Bible Study Women’s Explorers Bible Study English as a Second Language Choir Rehearsal Band Rehearsal

Nov. Deacons of the Week Oct. 30- Thomas Herrington, Rick Mize Nov. 5 Todd Johnson, Walter Locke Nov. 6-12 Breese Quinn, Brandon Beckett, Jim Vinson, Jamie Hopson Nov. 13-19 Kevin Howell, Martin Locke, Matt Moore, Mike Tomes Nov. 20-26 Hugh Trussell, Will Dabbs, Andy Fields, Brian Harvey Nov. 27- Mark Moore, Mike Quarles, Dec. 3 Dan Reed, Chris Riley

National Goal: $155 million First Baptist Oxford Goal: $90,000

New Member in October Judy Ward

Congratulations

To Rachel & Sean Allen on the birth of a daughter, Eleanor Ruth Allen, on Oct. 5. Proud big brother is Henry Allen.

Our Sympathy

To Ms Pam Abbott and family in the loss of her father, Mr. Richard Allen. To Betty & Henry Jenkins & family in the loss of their son, Mr. Chandler Jenkins. To Mr. Gerald Inmon & family in the loss of his aunt, Mrs. Marguerite Brown. To Mrs. Sue Elmore & family in the loss of her mother, Mrs. Charlene Mize. To Mrs. Charlotte Tubbs & family in the loss of her husband, Mr. R.C. Tubbs. To Angela Robinson, Kimberly Baird, Melissa Hughes, Rusty Tubbs & their families in the loss of their father, Mr. R.C. Tubbs.

Missions update Oaxaca Medical Mission Trip: Feb. 4-11

Please contact Robert Allen or Mike Tomes if you plan on going. We need passports and deposit for airfare by November 15.

Boston Mission Trip: Dec. 9-16

Partnering with Grace Bible Church and North Oxford Baptist Church

Oaxaca Spring Break Trip for College Students: Mar. 11-18 Anyone interested contact Glenn and Ruby Wilson for information.

www.imbpartnerconnect.com For anyone wanting to be more involved in our Oaxaca partnership or to reach out to internationals here at home, Missions College will prepare you to be effective in cross-cultural missions!

Jan. 17-20, 2017 | Richmond, VA $400 per person includes lodging, meals, and airfare from Memphis to Richmond. Please register with Pat Freeman in the church office. $100 per person deposit is due before Nov. 15.

More to LOVE about First

by Brooke Hutson Gibson

There is a hidden jewel in the lower level of our church with a wealth of information. The church library contains nearly 10,000 volumes, including: Bible study books, biblical commentaries, Christian marriage and parenting books, biographies, Christian fiction for teens and adults, and a nice selection of Accelerated Reader books and I Can Read books for children. The library also has several children and family movies available for check-out.

Sylvia Finley has served as the church librarian for

nearly 32 years. “I’ve always loved to read, and I actually worked in my high school’s library a long time ago” said Sylvia. “Our church needed someone to help with the library, and so that’s how I got started.” Sylvia said she likes to help people find what they need, and if the library doesn’t have what you’re looking for, she is always willing to order it. “I just consider it my ministry to the church,” said Sylvia. “I enjoy doing it and love the people.” Stop by and see Sylvia and check out this wonderful, free resource at our church on Sundays from 9:30-11 a.m. and Wednesdays from 5-7:30 p.m. The library is located on the lower level in the Children’s wing. Thank you Sylvia for serving faithfully and making the library one more thing to love about First!

Preschool & Children's News FirstBaptistOxfordPreschoolMinistry Follow us on facebook

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artments hildren’s Dep Preschool & C

t u O t gh i N Parents’ -9 p.m. Nov. 11 • 6

For all kids preschoolers (infants-4 years) & children (K-6th grade)

Contact Kristen or Dina for sign up information.

FBC Children’s Choirs present an evening of

Save the da te!

Christmas Music Sunday, December 4

6 p.m.

Save the date for the FBC Preschool Ministry

Dec. 11, 2016

3:30-5 p.m.

FBC Fellowship Hall

We will be doing Christmas crafts and have pizza and cookies. Siblings are welcome!

Be sure to wear your pajamas!

Youth News

Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Packing Party Nov. 6 at 5 p.m. in the Christian Life Center.