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

he Messengerfrom the PastorCan you believe that it’s March? Seems like we just rang in the New Year. God has been faithful to First Baptist Church this year by giving us a good start to 2019. I’d like to address a few seemingly unrelated current happenings. First, parking. As you likely know, FBC received permission from the City of Oxford Planning Commission to install parking control mechanisms for our parking lots adjacent to the church. To be

candid, I was surprised and delighted that we received this permission so quickly after our previous rejection in constructing a new parking lot. We thought we’d have several other hurdles to jump, but instead we received permission. Now we are in the process of not only determining dates for installation but our procedures for using these controls. No decisions have been finalized. We will make sure the church is informed as our leadership makes plans for successful implementation. I’m so appreciative of our shuttle drivers on Sundays and Wednesdays who help us address our limited parking space. Second, the Houston Chronicle reported February 10, 2019, on years of sexual abuse in Southern Baptist churches and entities. The article is not only tragic but eye-opening as to the great need to continue to protect vulnerable people in our church. First Baptist Church has many safeguards in place to protect our vulnerable. We must continue to be vigilant. Our church will not tolerate nor cover up abuse. Third, Easter. This year Easter falls later on the calendar, April 21. Once again this year we will have services each night of Holy Week. Plus, on Sunday nights beginning March 3, most of our evening services will feature thoughts on Easter preparation. With this cycle of Life U ending, Sunday evening worship services will begin on March 3. A thread runs through each of the above paragraphs. That thread is the work of God in the world and our church. God continues to move at FBC as parking remains an issue. Aren’t you glad we struggle with parking rather than having plenty of empty parking spaces? And God calls the church to confront real world evil and problems. Our faith is not so private that it has no outward expression. Plus, God has shown His love to the world and Oxford. We see that most clearly in the events of Easter. May God continue to shower His favor on us and give us wisdom for these days.I’ll see you in services on Sunday,Don

MARCH 2019Vol. 61 No. 3

MARCH 2 7:30 a.m. Men’s Ministry Workday

MARCH 3 Baby DedicationChildren’s Choir will sing in both morning services. 8:30 a.m. Worship Service 9:45 a.m. Bible Study classes 11 a.m. Worship Service 3 p.m. VBS Planning Meeting 4 p.m. Children’s Bible Drill 4 p.m. Sunday PM for Youth 5 p.m. Children’s Choir 5 p.m. Evening Worship followed by Special Called Business Meeting

MARCH 5 7:45 a.m. Youth Prayer Breakfast 11 a.m. XYZ Program & Luncheon Noon Prayer Meeting 4:30 p.m. GriefShare

MARCH 6 6:40 a.m. Men’s Explorer’s Bible Study 5 p.m. Fellowship Meal 5:30 p.m. AWANA: Pajama Night 6 p.m. Midweek for Youth 6 p.m. Adult Bible Studies 6 p.m. Women’s Explorer’s Bible Study 6 p.m. Choir Rehearsal 7:30 p.m. Band Rehearsal

MARCH 710 a.m. Preschool Story Time

MARCH 10Move clocks forward an hour for Daylight Savings 8:30 a.m. Worship Service 9:45 a.m. Bible Study classes 11 a.m. Worship Service 4 p.m. Sunday PM for Youth 5 p.m. Children’s Choir 5 p.m. Evening Worship

MARCH 12 Noon Prayer Meeting 4:30 p.m. GriefShare

MARCH 178:30 a.m. Worship Service 9:45 a.m. Bible Study classes 11 a.m. Worship Service 4 p.m. Children’s Bible Drill 4 p.m. Sunday PM for Youth 5 p.m. Children’s Choir 5 p.m. Insanity of God movie

MARCH 185:30 p.m. Outreach

MARCH 19 7:45 a.m. Youth Prayer Breakfast 10 a.m. Morning Outreach Noon Prayer Meeting 4:30 p.m. GriefShare

MARCH 20 6:40 a.m. Men’s Explorer’s Bible Study 5 p.m. Fellowship Meal 5:30 p.m. AWANA 6 p.m. Midweek for Youth 6 p.m. Adult Bible Studies 6 p.m. Women’s Explorer’s Bible Study 6 p.m. Choir Rehearsal 7:30 p.m. Band Rehearsal

MARCH 2310 a.m. Insanity of God Weekend: Brunch with Nik and Ruth Ripken

March Check out featured events at www.gotofirst.org

XYZ Senior Adult ProgramTuesday, March 5

11 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall

Gospel Music program by the Ellis Family

A delicious meal will be provided.

WEEKEND WITH NIK AND RUTH RIPKENFriday, March 22 | 6-9 p.m.

Dinner with college students at the Ole Miss Baptist Student Union.

Saturday, March 23 | 10 a.m.-noon$10 brunch for everyone.

Tickets on sale March 3 and limited to 250.Sunday, March 24 | morning worship

Nik and Ruth will be part of worship at both services.See The Insanity of God movie

March 17 at 5 p.m. in the FBC sanctuary.

gotofirst.org/insanity

Our FamilySunday school attendanceFeb 3 - 609 Feb 17- 541 Feb 10 - 472 Feb 24 - 538

Budget February 2019Budget $200, 946.34 Building $ 2,237.50 Designated $43,969.19 Total $247,153.03 Deacons of the WeekMar. 3-9 Bobby Clanton, Gary Carter, Brad GolmonMar. 10-16 Paul Hale, Nelson Little, Lanny ShackelfordMar. 17-23 Jamie Hopson, Kevin Howell, Martin LockeMar. 24-30 Matt Moore, Bill Rose, Steven RussellMar. 31- Mike Tomes, Jeff Busby, Apr. 6 David Erhart

New Members in Jan./Feb. Chris & Dina Coury; Steve, Lynndy & Ella Beth Hurdle; Natalie Everett; Russell & Nikki Currey; Michaela Williams; Olivia Brown; Brandall Atkinson; and Hunter Larsin.

Our Sympathy To Mr. Buster Hale & family in the loss of his mother, Mrs. Evelyn Hale. To Ms. Polly Guyton & family in the loss of her sister, Mrs. Ida Schnautz. To David Magee & Family & Esther Magee & family in the loss of their mother, Mrs. Betty Magee.To Mrs. Maudann Philips & family in the loss of her father, Mr. Robert Wilson.To Mrs. Marvelyn Greer & family in the loss of her son, Mr. Hal Greer.To Mrs. Betty Wiseman & family in the loss of her sister, Mrs. Jimmie Rose Murphrey.To Mrs. Kinney Ferris in the loss of her grand-father, Mr. Jesse Ray Johnson.To Mrs. Macel Juergens and family in the loss of her mother, Mrs. Joyce Martin.

FBC Oxford Goal: $100,000Given to Date: $95,376.15

MARCH 248:30 a.m. Worship Service 9:45 a.m. Bible Study classes 11 a.m. Worship Service 3:30 p.m. Church Drill: Children & Youth 4 p.m. Sunday PM for Youth 5 p.m. Children’s Choir 5 p.m. Evening Worship

MARCH 255:30 p.m. Outreach

MARCH 26 7:45 a.m. Youth Prayer Breakfast 10 a.m. Morning Outreach Noon Prayer Meeting 4:30 p.m. GriefShare

MARCH 27 6:40 a.m. Men’s Explorer’s Bible Study 5 p.m. Fellowship Meal 5:30 p.m. AWANA: Mustache Night 6 p.m. Midweek for Youth 6 p.m. Adult Bible Studies 6 p.m. Women’s Explorer’s Bible Study 6 p.m. Choir Rehearsal 7:30 p.m. Band Rehearsal

MARCH 304 p.m. Men's Ministry Crawfish Boil

MARCH 317 a.m. Men’s Prayer Breakfast 8:30 a.m. Worship Service 9:45 a.m. Bible Study classes 11 a.m. Worship Service 2 p.m. Associational Bible Drill at Yellowleaf Baptist Church 4 p.m. Sunday PM for Youth 5 p.m. Children’s Choir 5 p.m. Evening Worship

MISSION & MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIESQuestions? Contact Jeff Holeman at 662.234.3515 or wigtake@gmail.com

INTERNATIONAL MISSION TRIPSOaxaca Leadership Training. March 27-April 1.

Contact the church office if you can go.

Brazil Trip. June 8-16. $2200 per person. Contact the church office if you can go.

Italy Trip. December 13-21. $2200 per person. Contact the church office if you can go.

Oaxaca Medical Trip. February 8-14, 2020 Details to come.

$20 for a year of clean water for a family in Peru Sunday, March 3, our Juniors and Seniors will be selling bottles of water for $20 each to pay for water filters for families in Peru.

Help at the Food PantryDuring March, members of FBC will help at the Oxford Food Pantry. Each week, workers will be needed on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, from 8:30-11:30 a.m. On Tuesdays, we will stock shelves and unload supplies from trucks. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, we will help serve the clients and re-stock shelves. For more information, please contact Jim Propes (662-236-4758 or jimcha@bellsouth.net) or Brian Smith (601-594-1165 or brianhs@bellsouth.net)

Food Collection for the PantryFBC will collect food items for the Oxford Food Pantry during March. Collection bins will be in the atrium Sundays and Wednesdays through March. In 2015, we collected our record: over 2000 items! Let’s do better this year! For information contact Jim Propes (236-4758, jimcha@bellsouth.net) or Brian Smith (601-594-1165, brianhs@bellsouth.net).

MONDAY OUTREACH March 18 & 25

TUESDAY OUTREACH March 19 & 26

5:30-7 p.m. Light meal served. Come join us as we call, write, and visit our community. Preschool care begins at 5:45 p.m.

10-11 a.m. Come join us as we call, write, and visit our community. No preschool care.

Winter Jam March 17 at Lander’s Center in Southhaven. Cost is $15. Leave church at 3:30 p.m. Return at 11:30 p.m.

Beach Camp 2019 June 30-July 5 Panama City Beach, FL. $225 is due on April 1!

Student Ministry Prayer Breakfast every Tuesday at 7:45 a.m. at McDonald’s on University Avenue.

Class of 2019 Celebration Banquet Sunday, May 5 at 5 p.m.! Church-wide celebration. Tickets $5 each.

STUDENT MINISTRY NEWS

TUESDAY’S AT 7:45 AM AT MCDONALDS

Library & Media CenterOpen Sundays 9:30-11 a.m. and Wednesdays 5-7 p.m.

New books on display in

the Library recommended by

Pastor Timothy

SATURDAY, MARCH 2Leave church at 12:30 p.m. and return at 5:30 p.m.$30 per student includes gun, paint, protective gear, and pizza dinner.

FBC OXFORD GUYS

WAR

Girls’ Lunch & Shopping SATURDAY, MARCH 2at Tanger Outlets Southhaven Leave church at 11 a.m. and return at 5 p.m. Bring money for lunch and shopping.

WOMEN’S MINISTRY NEWS wmin@gotofirst.org

Saturday, April 6 • 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Last day for ticket sales is March 24!

Ladies, please join us for a

Sip and See to meet Bro. Don and Melinda’s grandson,

Beck GannSaturday, March 9, 2019

Drop by between 9:00-10:30 a.m. | 410 Turnberry Circle Debbie Little* Beth Fitts Candy Mize No gifts please

March 30 • 4-6 p.m. $10 per person

MEN’S MINISTRY NEWS mm@gotofirst.org

Ora Reed International Vocalist/Pianist

presents

An Evening of Inspirational MusicSunday, April 75 p.m. in the First Baptist Oxford sanctuary. Free Admission

Save the date

PRESCHOOL & CHILDREN'S NEWS

PREsCHOOL STORY TIMEThursday, March 7 at 10 a.m.

in the FBC Library & Media Center

Volunteers neededFOR VACATION BIBLE SCHOOLJune 3-7• 9 a.m.-noon

Contact Dina Addy, (662) 837-0797 or diaddy@gotofirst.org for more info

Signup begins Mar. 17!

Preschool & Children’s Departments

PARENTS’ NIGHT OUTApril 5 • 6-9 p.m.

Children’s Choir will present

COPYCATS OF THE KINGMarch 3 during both morning services

Preschool EggstravaganzaSaturday, April 13 at 10 a.m. on the Preschool Playground

Open to all kids currently in Kindergarten-6th grade

Kids and volunteers, sign up at gotofirst.org/vbs

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