A Service for the Lord's Day - Seventh Sunday after Epiphany 11:00 AM Sunday, February 20, 2022
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A Service for the Lord’s Day
Seventh Sunday after Epiphany
Sunday, February 20, 2022
11:00 AM
A Service for the Lord’s Day
Lectionary Texts:
Genesis 45:3-11, 15; Psalm 37:1-11, 39-40; 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50; Luke 6:27-38
This church welcomes you no matter who you are, where you come from, or why you are here.
We are Christ’s people, and this is Christ’s place with its doors open wide.
If you are passing through, Godspeed; if you are looking for a home, stay here; if you need instruction,
learn from us as we learn from you. We invite visitors to join us, but most of all, to return often.
† Indicates all who are able may stand.
Assemble in God’s Name
Gathering — Nuptial Song Betty Jackson King
Silent Prayer of Preparation
Living God, come, be known among us. Help us to perceive your presence, as near as breath, yet hidden.
Help us to seek you as you are seeking us. Speak your word of power. Make us true disciples of
Christ. Transform us through your fiery Spirit. All glory be to you, O God, in Christ and the church forever!
Amen.
Chimes of the Trinity
Welcome and Parish Life
Prelude — Solemn Processional Robert A. Harris
Call to Worship
We come seeking the holy love of God, that we may become whole and loving.
As Jesus Christ has shared the life of earth, through Christ we may share the life of God, in
growing holiness, justice, and love.
In awe, faith, and thanksgiving, let us rejoice in God’s presence and share God’s life!
Let us worship God.
† Hymn 37 — Let All Things Now Living ash grove
† Call to Confession
† Prayer of Confession
Merciful God, we confess that we have not followed your ways or trusted your promises. We love
only those who love us; we show kindness only to those who are kind to us; we give only when we
expect to receive. Hear now as we pray to you for healing in our relationships: with you, with our
loved ones, with our friends and associates, with our world neighbors, and with ourselves. Forgive us,
Lord. Fill our hearts with selfless love. Change our lives by your matchless grace. These things we
pray through Christ our Savior. Amen.
2† Kyrie Eleison
† Declaration of Forgiveness
Friends, hear and believe this good news:
In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven! Thanks be to God!
† Gloria Patri Hymnal, 581
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and
ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.
Time with Young Disciples
At this time, all children (pre-K 4 through third grade) are invited to leave the service to attend
“Children’s Time.” Children can be picked up on the second floor of the Fellowship Hall
after the worship service.
Proclaim God’s Word
Prayer for Illumination
Old Testament Reading: Genesis 45:3-11, 15 p. 52
The Word of the Lord!
Thanks be to God!
Musical Meditation — Prelude on We Shall Overcome arr. Adolphus Hailstork
Gospel Reading: Luke 6:27-38 p. 78
The Word of the Lord!
Thanks be to God!
Sermon — “A Higher Standard” Rev. Barrett C. Milner
Give Thanks to God
Moment for Silent Meditation
† Affirmation of Faith The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son, our
Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall
come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the
communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.
Amen.
3Call to Offertory
Offertory — O Radiant Light arr. Norah Duncan IV
O radiant light, O sun divine, of God the Father's deathless face, O image of the Light sublime that fills the
heav'nly dwelling place. O Son of God, the source of life, praise is your due by night and day. Our happy lips
must raise the strain of your esteemed and splendid name. Lord Jesus Christ, as daylight fades, as shine the
lights of eventide, we praise the Father with the Son, the Spirit blest and with them one.
Presentation of Gifts, Tithes and Offerings
† Doxology Hymnal, 606
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost! Amen.
† Offertory Prayer
Prayers of the People and The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as
it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors;
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and
the glory, forever. Amen.
Go and Witness in God’s Name
† Hymn 435 — There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy in babilone
† Benediction
† Congregational Response — God, Be the Love to Search and Keep Me green tyler
Postlude — Postlude on We Shall Overcome arr. Adolphus Hailstork
4Welcome!
First Presbyterian Church warmly invites visitors to become a member of our family of faith. You may do so in
one of the following ways:
• By Profession of Faith - The act of receiving Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and sincerely promising to live for
Him. Previous baptism is accounted as valid, or the Sacrament of Baptism may be administered at the time of
profession.
• By Transfer of Membership - Request our minister to contact your former church for a letter of transfer, where
applicable.
• By Reaffirmation of Faith - If you have been inactive or separated from the church for some time or wish to
rededicate yourself, you may be received by reaffirmation of faith.
Please contact the church office for more information.
Parents of nursery aged children please note: a nursery is provided from 9:15 am-12:15 pm for the following
ages: Infants (0-1 years), Babies (1-3 years), Preschool (3-5 years). The nursery and pre-school rooms are located in
the Education Building, first floor.
The FPC prayer chain is ready if you or someone you know is in need. Please contact Carlisle Wood at
carlislewood@gmail.com or 662-832-8606. All requests are held in strict confidence.
The church has two portable defibrillators on site if a cardiac event occurs. One is located in our office hallway
by the east stairwell; the other is located in the library of the Education Building.
Office Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 am-4:30 pm.
Today’s Worship Participants
Proclaiming the Word............ Rev. Barrett C. Milner
Liturgist.................................. Rev. Deb de Boer
Director of Music................... Creighton R. Holder
Ushers..................................... Drew Mauldin
Katherine Elliott
Allison McCord
Chloe Lloyd
Session Diaconate
CLASS of 2022 CLASS of 2022
Susan Abbott, John Abernathy, Trey Byars, Gabrielle Chiniche, James Day, Sarah McLellan,
Kevin Christian, Greg Patton Cliff Smith, Pattye Wilson
CLASS of 2023 CLASS of 2023
Allyson Ashmore, Kathryn Elliott, Goodloe Lewis, Laura Jackson, Chloe Lloyd, Allison McCord,
Drew Mauldin, Lee Miers Shae Orrell, Adam Quick
CLASS of 2024 CLASS of 2024
Richard DeVoe, Hale Freeland, Bradley Goodwiller, Patrick Bolen, Tommy Cribbs, Lindsey Estes,
Melissa Hall, Catie Hester Kathy Orr Griffith, Jennifer Williams
5Calendar
Sunday, February 20 Wednesday, February 23
9:45 am Sunday School* 8:15 am Men’s Bible Study
9:45 am Confirmation Class 12:00 pm Property Ministry Meeting
11:00 am Worship Service* 6:30 pm Chancel Choir
1:00 pm Eagle Scout Court of Honor 7:00 pm Convictions Book Study via Zoom
5:00 pm PYF Split
5:00 pm Arc Benders Thursday, February 24
5:30 pm Membership and Hospitality Team Meeting
Monday, February 21
Presidents Day
4:30 pm Finance Ministry Meeting
7:00 pm Boy Scouts
Tuesday, February 22
6:00 am Men’s Breakfast @ The Beacon
10:00 am FPC Staff Meeting
6:00 pm UKirk
* Nursery provided
Church Staff
The Congregation Ministers Ext.
Rev. Barrett C. Milner Pastor ......................................... bmilnerfpc@gmail.com 2
Rev. Deb de Boer Interim Associate Pastor ............ ddeboerfpc@gmail.com 5
Rev. Allison C. Wehrung Pastor, UKirk Ministry ............... ukirk.olemiss@gmail.com
Creighton R. Holder Director of Music ....................... cholderfpc@gmail.com 4
Frances Saralvarez Office Administrator .................. fsaralvarezfpc@gmail.com 6
Wade Simpson Property Manager ...................... wsimpson13@yahoo.com
LaShaunda L. Sisk Nursery Director ........................ lsiskfpc@gmail.com
924 Van Buren Avenue • Oxford, Mississippi 38655 • 662-234-1757 • fpcoxford.net
6Things are happening in our church family . . .
Regular Worship Hours: Sunday School starts at 9:45 am followed by one worship service at 11:00 am.
Nursery is provided.
Lectionary Sunday School: In the Fellowship Hall at 9:45 a.m., a casual, drop-in class to discuss the lectionary
passages of the day.
Annual Meeting of the Congregation: The annual meeting of the congregation will take place on Sunday,
February 27 following 11:00 a.m. worship for the purpose of receiving the 2022 budget approved by the session,
and approving changes in terms of call for pastoral staff.
Matthew 25 Opportunities, For the Least of These: Information for the following FPC volunteer mission
activities is available by calling the church office or emailing missionteam@fpcoxford.net. You will be kept
abreast of our congregation's various outreach programs and opportunities to become personally involved.
• Lovepack donations are needed. The list of food items is available in the narthex. Please place your donations
in the narthex or bring them to the church office.
• Family Crisis Services requests new stuffed animals as comforting welcome gift to the 15-20 children the
receive each month. Please bring your donated stuffed animal to the church office.
• In the coming months volunteers are needed for More Than a Meal, Doors of Hope Step 2 dinners, Family
Crisis Services, and Habitat for Humanity. Look for Signup Genius notifications from the Mission Team
email address above. If you have not yet registered with this Mission email, please do so!
Confirmation Class: This year's confirmation class for all current 8th and 9th graders, began this morning and
runs through April 10. We're looking forward to an incredible year!
UKirk Ole Miss is seeking Tuesday night dinner providers for the Spring semester! For more details and a list of
dates, visit ukirkolemiss.org/tuesday-meals. Questions? Contact Allison Wehrung at ukirk.olemiss@gmail.com.
Remember in Prayer
FPC Members: Family of Janet Barnes; Family of Ann Caroline McIntosh; Jerry Wilson; J.T. & Barbara
Davis; Tommy Patrick; Marianna Ochs; Family of Lynton Dilley; Max Williams; Louise & Nolan Waller;
Porter Callery; Teresa Flautt; Lydia Moak; Susan & Tom Meredith; Michele Howie; Margaret Fancher; Fami-
ly of Betty Mullen White; Joe Murphey
Family and Friends: Audrey Holder; Sarah Luchin and Family; Sigrid Morrison Long; The family of John
“Nat” Sumner, Connie Whelan; Lenoir Stanley; Family of Lauren "Lo" Chastain; Peter C. Wood; Doors of
Hope Families; Bob Flautt; Family of Elise & William Winter; Lafayette County Detention Center inmates;
Parchman Prison inmates; Haven House residents; Our Haiti partners; Oxford & Lafayette County First Re-
sponders; Community leaders
U. S. Military: SSgt Jason Freeland, USAF 4th Air Support Operation
Please pray, too, for those with unspecified needs.
7Music Notes
Today we recognize the third Sunday in Black History month and continue our journey with African
American composers. Much of the joy in sacred music comes from deep meditation and interpretation
when connecting with the pieces. For example, the opening works today come from wedding music.
Though there are no weddings in the scripture readings or liturgy, a unifying theme comes through the
melodies: love. We will read about Joseph’s love for his family and Jesus’ teachings to love our ene-
mies. What other themes might you hear in today’s compositions?
As we gather for worship, the congregation will hear a lovely Nuptial Song by Betty Jackson King (1928
-1944). This piece comes from her larger work, The Nuptial Suite, for organ solo, and gradually builds
through subtle harmonic changes and the constant return of distant bells. King was a pianist, choral con-
ductor, educator, composer, and lifelong scholar. Her family’s faith, passed down through her minister
father, influenced her writing and led to her arrangements of spirituals and religious operas, including
her master’s degree composition thesis: “Saul of Tarsus.”
Choral conductor, educator, and composer Dr. Robert A. Harris (b. 1938) is Professor Emeritus of
Northwestern University and frequently presents lectures and masterclasses on African American spirit-
uals. While his repertoire consists mainly of choral works, his first solo organ work, Solemn Procession-
al, is linked to his vocal writing through its close harmonies and beautiful melodic lines. Like the gather-
ing music, this piece was also written for a wedding and carries a sense of grandeur and anticipation as
we enter worship together.
During the meditation (and postlude) we return to Dr. Adolphus Hailstork (b. 1941), an acclaimed com-
poser who studied with prolific conductor and teacher Nadia Boulanger in France. Having written a
plethora of works, including solo, chamber, orchestral, and operatic, his music often returns to influences
from African American spirituals. We Shall Overcome is commonly known for its connection to the Civ-
il Rights Movement as a declaration of solidarity and call for peace, but the spiritual dates to the days of
legal enslavement of persons. The message of the text is reinforced through the emphatic refrain: Oh,
deep in my heart I do believe that we shall overcome someday. The tune’s similarity to SICILIAN MAR-
INERS, a hymn tune attributed to sailors in the 17th and 18th centuries, suggests that it was passed down
through the oral tradition from captives of slaver ships coming to North America. Dr. Hailstork’s stirring
prelude on this piece pays tribute to the marches of the Civil Rights movement through the continuous
pedal figures on each beat coupled with moving harmonies under the solo melody. We’ll walk hand in
hand someday! The postlude calls for present and future action through authoritative spirit and full cho-
rus. We are not afraid today! God will see us through today!
The choral anthem, O Radiant Light, is a recently translated ancient text that comes from the 3rd century.
While holding fast to this beautiful text, composer Dr. Norah Duncan IV (b. 1956?) has set an original
hymn tune, BOOTS, that moves the text forward through gospel harmonies and a gorgeous soprano des-
cant. Dr. Duncan is a Professor of Music at Wayne State University, an organist, and an accomplished
liturgical musician with numerous sacred publications. The buoyant rhythms of O Radiant Light might
cause you to leave the service recalling the music and singing along: Our happy lips must raise the strain
of your esteemed and splendid name!
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