Worship Schedule Sunday, December 16 Worship Services— 8:45 a.m. &

10:55 a.m.

Fellowship Time—9:30 a.m.

Sunday School—10:00 a.m.

Christmas Potluck Luncheon—

12:00 noon

F.I.S.H.*—5:00 p.m.

*fifth and sixth grades

EMERGE*—5:00 p.m..

*seventh-twelfth grades

Wednesday, December 19 Women’s Prison Ministry—1:45 p.m.

Chancel Choir—6:00 p.m.

At the home of Carol Livingston

237 Logan Lee Loop

Sunday, December 23 Worship Services— 8:45 a.m. &

10:55 a.m.

Fellowship Time—9:30 a.m.

Sunday School—10:00 a.m.

Monday, December 24 Worship Services— 4:00 p.m. &

6:00 p.m.

Wednesday, December 26 Church Closed

Sunday, December 30 Worship Service— 10:00 a.m.

OPEN HEARTS OPEN MINDS OPEN DOORS

December 13, 2012

The O.U. Reporter

Sunday, Dec. 16 Third Sunday of Advent 8:45 & 10:55 Traditional Services—Lessons and Carols

Wednesday, Dec. 19 12 noon Grace Notes Advent Music, First Presbyterian Church Tiffany Gammell, soprano & Price Walden, piano 6:00 p.m. Holy Communion—Claire Dobbs

Sunday, Dec. 23 Fourth Sunday of Advent 8:45 & 10:55 Traditional Services—Warren Black

Monday, Dec. 24 Christmas Eve 4:00 & 6:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Candlelight Services of Holy Communion (nursery provided) Sunday, December 30 First Sunday after Christmas Day 10:00 a.m. One service of Christmas Celebration and Joy led by Claire Dobbs

Advent & Christmas at OUUMC

The church office will be closed Friday at noon, Dec. 21-Wednesday, Dec. 26 for Christmas, & Monday at noon, Dec. 31-Tuesday, January 1, for New Years. The Journey will take a break on the following Sundays: Dec. 16, Dec. 23, and Dec. 30. The Journey services will resume on Jan. 6, 2013.

Celebrate Advent & Christmas with Your O-U Family!

Christmas Potluck Luncheon Sunday, December 16, following the 10:55 service in the Activities Center

A-F—bring a salad G-L—bring a dessert M-R—bring a vegetable S-Z—bring a casserole

Everyone is invited for a holiday celebration. Join us for fun, food, and fellowship!

In this issue… Confirmation 2013, p. 3 Mission Trip Wish List, p. 4 Children’s Christmas Pageant pictures, p. 5

Our Christmas Eve

Communion Offering

will go to Interfaith

Compassion

Ministries to help the

needy in our

community. Thank

you for your

generosity

Christmas Eve Communion

Offering

PRESENCE Sunday Worship

December 2

8:45 a.m. 130

9:00 a.m. 145

10:55 a.m. 381

Sunday School 310

December 9

8:45 a.m. 88

9:00 a.m. 118

10:55 a.m. 350

Sunday School

In Memoriam Mildred Bonds Davis

July 6, 1916-

December 1, 2012

Congratulations to Elizabeth & William Gates whose daughter Elizabeth Fair

was born November 15. She is

welcomed by brothers Billy and

Streety. ∙

Claire & A.J. Kiamie whose daughter Caroline Elise

was born December 3. She is

the granddaughter of Peggy and

Alex Kiamie. ∙

Kevin Cole who received the Outstanding

Band Director award at the Mis-

sissippi Band Association State

Band Clinic. Kevin is the band

director at Lafayette High

School.

PRAYERS

▪Robert Bennett

▪Margaret Anne Boyer

▪Barbara Camp

▪Nancy Hampton

▪Nancy Carole King

▪Cecil Locke

▪Eugenia McLaurin

▪Millie Meaders

▪Glenn Norwood

▪Susie Reagan

▪Lewis Wood

▪Jim Altfilish, Margaret Fields’ son-

in-law

▪Paula Brown, Linda Tatum’s sister

▪Billy Buntin, Tyce Buntin’s nephew

▪Katherine Buntin, Tyce Buntin’s

sister-in-law

▪Laurie Davis, Kitty Mann’s niece

▪Egan Bramlett Delaney, Purves &

Eugenia McLaurin’s great-

granddaughter

▪Joe Ann Farley, Bob Farley’s

mother

▪Jean Halford, Lisa Thompson’s

mother

▪Dennis Hawkins, Ashley

Windham’s father

▪Tina Heath, Earl Dismuke’s mother

▪Drew Knight, Greg and Cindy Sum-

merlin’s nephew

▪James Johnson, Tal Johnson’s father

▪Terry Landrum, Glenda Carroll’s

father

▪Linn Parkinson, Ken Parkinson’s

father

▪Christy Price, Susan Thomason’s

sister-in-law

▪Joanne Rone, Scott Rone’s mother

▪Emel Sanders, Wanda Poole’s son-

in-law

▪Phil Sneed, Claire Hardy’s brother

▪J.D. Wagster, Larry Wagster’s fa-

ther

▪Jack Walters, Jackie Rozier’s father

Page 2 The O.U. Reporter

Altar Flowers

If you would like to place flowers on the altar on March 10,

24; April 14, 21, 28; May 12, 19, or 26 , please call Toya

Bruss at 832-3061.

Budget Information

Every good & perfect gift is from above, coming down

from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change

like shifting shadows. James :17

December 9

Expenses YTD Date $ 1,326,190.23

Received Sunday $ 27,718.17

Received YTD $ 1,342,857.80

Needed Each Week $ 29,071.58

Budget Needed to Date, 2012 $ 1,453,579.00

Shortage, 2012 $ (110,721.20)

Budget Needed to Date, 2011 $ 1,351,771.00

Shortage, 2011 $ (96,824.10)

Stewardship Update

Total Pledges Received

Year Count Dollars

Through 12-12-11 219 $1,107,567.00

Through 12-12-12 207 $1,081,116.00

We are grateful for your faithfulness as we strive to be a

people of God. Through your pledges and gifts, seeds are

scattered. People will know of your generous spirit and

hearts will be touched. “This service that you perform is

not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is

also overflowing in many expressions of praise and thanks-

giving to God”. —2 Corinthians 9:12.

Pledge cards are available in the Narthex or in the church office.

We invite you to join us in the celebration of giving!

Women’s Prison Ministry Join us Wednesdays at 1:45 at the Detention Center. We

would like to have a group of OU ladies help serve com-

munion before Christmas. For more information, contact

Bettye Parham, bparham@ms.metrocast.net or 816-0114.

Never Alone, Never Again, a

Narcotics Anonymous Group, will

add a second meeting at OU

beginning in January. The group

will meet Mondays, 6:00-7:00 p.m.

and Wednesdays 6:00-7:00 p.m. in

Conference 107. For more

information, contact Barry Doughty,

662-9020781.

New Bible Study in January

A new evening Bible study is formulating for anyone who

may be interested. The study will begin in January. Ray

Garrett and Justin Childress are leading this study that will

begin with the book of Matthew. If you are interested and

would like more information, please call 601-953-3897 or

email justinlchildress@gmail.com.

The O.U. Reporter Page 3

NEW MEMBERS AND BAPTISMS Mary Kathryn, Johnny,

& Jennifer Sayle 235 Elm Street

662-209-0116

The Sayles joined OU on

December 2. Jennifer, a

homemaker, comes from

Lifeway Baptist Church in

Senatobia. Johnny comes

from Pine Hill Presbyterian

Church in Oakland, MS and is the owner of Sayle Propane

Company. Mary Kathryn is a sophomore at Oxford High

School.

Amy Catherine,

Ava, John Payne,

and Whitt Wilson 662-607-6574

The Wilsons joined OU

on December 9. They

come by transfer from

Vestavia Hills UMC in

Birmingham. Whitt is a

banker, and Amy

Catherine is an architect and native of Greenville. Their daughter

Ava is six years-old, and their son John Payne was baptized on

December 9. Whitt and Amy Catherine are members of the

Growing in Grace Sunday School class.

Miley Evelyn Stevens

Was baptized on Dec. 9.

She is the daughter of Jill

and Drew Stevens.

January 27-28, 2013

featuring

former Bishop of the Johannesburg/Soweto area

of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa &

Professor Emeritus of the Practice of Christian Ministry at

Duke University Divinity School.

Sunday, January 27

Worship Services: 9:00 a.m., 10:55 a.m., and 6:00 p.m.

Monday, January 28

Brown Bag Q&A, 12:00 noon

Worship Service, 6:00 p.m.

Confirmation 2013 Confirmation begins in January!

Confirmation is a journey by which our children begin to understand and

affirm their Christian beliefs and claim their place in the life of the church.

Parent Orientation is Wednesday, Jan. 9, 5:30 p.m. in Wesley Hall.

Please be thinking of a mentor for your child. If your sixth grader is

not on this list, please contact Claire Dobbs or Pat Forrester,

clairedobbs8@gmail.com, pforrester@ouumc.org, or 234-5278.

Joel Adamson Molly Kate Barns Mary Cannon Barrett

Isabelle Boyd Laurie Branch Adam Cantrell

Madeline Crowe Haley Hewitt Lilly Hunter

Lila Grace Lara John Reece McClure Campbell McReady

Max Mobley Dean Mott Anna Murphy

Katelyn Rock Bo Gatlin Ethan Spencer

Mary Victoria Sullivan Hannah Talavs

Cooper Thomason Hallie Thompson Robert Traylor

If your child is older than sixth grade and wants to go through

confirmation, please contact Claire Dobbs, 801-5608. Adult members

of this church who would like to mentor a child, contact Claire Dobbs

or Pat Forrester.

Page 4 The O.U. Reporter

COLLEGE MINISTRIES

Pantry Volunteers January 2013

OUUMC is responsible for managing the Food Pantry in January

2013. Our work days are every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

The Oxford Pantry is a non-profit community organization that has

been providing food since 1982 on an emergency basis for eligible

residents in Oxford and Lafayette County. Volunteers staff the pantry.

We need many volunteers to ensure that we offer the best service pos-

sible. Your help will be greatly appreciated. Please fill out the follow-

ing and check all dates you are available to help. Leave this slip in the

church office. You may also email or call Barbara Mitchell

(didibird@bellsouth.net, 236-2197) or Ken and Elsie Denzel

(edenzel.microres@outlook.com, 662-550-0721).

Volunteer Dates:

Tuesdays 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. (stock shelves and prepare Pantry)

1/1 1/8 1/15 1/22 1/29

Wednesdays 8:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. (distribute food to clients) 1/2 1/9 1/16 1/23 1/30

Thursdays 8:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. (distribute food to clients)

1/3 1/10 1/17 1/27 1/31

Mission Trip 2013

Thirteen members of O-UUMC will be making a mission trip to

Governor's Harbor, in the Bahamas to work with Bahamas Method-

ist Habitat, a United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM)

project. The team may be assigned to do repairs on storm-damaged

homes or may help to build new homes for needy families.

What can you do to help support the mission trip team that will

represent our entire congregation?

Pray for the mission team.

Contribute articles to be given to local people. A list of needed

items is below. Items may be placed in box in Wesley Hall.

Share a monetary gift to help finance the trip. Checks may be

made to O-UUMC with UMVIM Missions trip on the memo line.

Check out the bulletin board in the hall by the office and look for

more news about the Mission trip.

Building

Equipment

Circular saw blades-

7.25"

Flat and Pry Bars-16"

Utility Knives

Chalk Line Box

#2 Phillip Bis-2"

Carpenters pencils

Paint Brushes &

Rollers

Caulk Guns

Tarps of all sizes

Drill Bit Set

Dry Wall Squares

Needle nose pliers

Cleaning and Health

Supplies

Large Mop

Mop Heads

Disinfecting Wipes

Dish Towels

Latex Gloves

Office Supplies

Post-It Notes

Notepads

Card Stock Paper

Dry Erase Markers

Any old or new

smartphones (that can

be unlocked) with

chargers

Recreation

Equipment

Tetherball

Board Games

Cards

Basketball

Volleyball

Soccer ball

Snorkel and mask

Swim fins

The first Sunday in Advent brought our College Ministry to the

forefront. Students Daven Aldrich, Madeline Ott, Laura Brooke,

and Abraham Kim participated in the liturgy and lighting of the

Advent Wreath. We celebrated with the Wesley Foundation by

commissioning their students as well as Richard Barrett and

Chris Thomas who will be traveling on a mission trip to Hondu-

ras in January. The College Ministry Team hosted a luncheon in

honor of our students and their host families. The students and

host families alike had a wonderful time relaxing after church in

the home of Robert and Roane Grantham. No doubt it was a

super way for the students to begin their exam week - filled with a great meal and the sense that their OU family loves and sup-

ports them. A special thank you to our team - Denise Jennings

(chair), Robert Grantham, Richard Barrett, Bettye Parham, Janis

Black, Will Berry, Chris Thomas, Claire Dobbs, and Claire Har-

dy. We also greatly appreciate Growing and Grace Sunday

School Class for providing side dishes and our Host Families for

being there to celebrate with your students!

CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES

EMERGE: STUDENT MINISTRIES

The O.U. Reporter Page 5

DECEMBER: Sunday, Dec. 16 - Youth Christmas Party. 5 to 7 p.m. Jr. High: Land & Lauren Renfroe’s home, 812 South Lamar Sr. High: John & Melody Webb’s home, 701 Faulkner Woods Place

Sunday, Dec. 23 - NO UMYF

Sunday, Dec. 30 - NO UMYF

December 30-January 1, 2013 (WOW – 2013 already!) – OVERFLOW at Camp Lake Stephens.

This is open to all Jr. and Sr. High students. I will need 2 male and 2 female adult lead-ers for this trip…please respond if you are able to help lead with this event! The cost per student is $40.00 due by Sunday December 16th, 2012.

Weekly Schedule Tuesdays: Junior High Prayer Breakfast - 7 a.m., Youth Center—NEW LOCATION! Wednesdays: Senior High Prayer Breakfast - 7 a.m.., Youth Center—NEW LOCATION! Youth Band - 4 p.m., Youth Center Youth Choir - 5 p.m. in the Choir Room Youth Bible Study - 6 p.m., Youth Center Sundays: Sunday School - 10 a.m. Small Groups - 5 to 7 p.m.

Children’s Christmas Pageant OU’s Children’s Christmas Pageant was held on Dec. 5. Thanks to all our participants! Special thank you goes out to our awesome sixth graders for their commitment to the Christmas Pageant each year: Haley Hewitt, Max Mobley, Lily Hunter, Mary Victoria Sullivan, and Bo Gatlin. We love you!

Return Service Requested

OXFORD-UNIVERSITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

424 SOUTH TENTH STREET

OXFORD, MS 38655

Phone: 234-5278 Fax: 234-4202 Website: http://www.ouumc.org

Our Church Staff: Name Phone E-mail

Pastor Warren Black 234-5278 office@ouumc.org

Associate Pastor Claire Dobbs 234-5278 clairedobbs8@gmail.com

Minister ofVisitation and Homebound Gene Bramlett 832-6616 gbramlett@eclergy.net

Director of Children's Ministries Pat Forrester 234-4293 pforrester@ouumc.org

Director of Preschool Programs Susan Phillips 234-3371 dds@ouumc.org

Youth Minister/Journey Music Coord. Greg Smith 234-5278 gsmith@ouumc.org

College Ministries Coordinator Allyson Willis 231-9929 aew illis@bellsouth.net

Director of Music Lee Uhlhorn 234-7102 leeuhlhorn@gmail.com

Journey Coordinator Julianna Ross 234-5278 juliannaross@hotmail.com

Church Administrator Russ McLellan 234-5278 rmclellan@ouumc.org

Admin. Assistant to the Pastors Barbara Camp 234-2680 bcamp@ouumc.org

Communications Coordinator Emilie Bramlett 234-5278 ebramlett@ouumc.org

Organist Jason Derrick 234-5278 w jderric@olemiss.edu

Receptionist Jan Estes 234-5278 jestes@ouumc.org

Bookkeeper Sylvia Harvey 234-5278 sharvey@ouumc.org

Manager of Buildings and Grounds James Young 234-5278 office@ouumc.org

Assistant Manager of Buildings Lisa Corrothers 234-5278 office@ouumc.org

Custodian Bennie Malone 234-5278 office@ouumc.org

Notes from the Past FIFTY YEARS AGO: The total church offering on the first Sunday in December 1962 was $1,343.86--$1,443.06 in envelopes, $73.44 in

loose offerings, $15 for the Methodist Home, and $$12.36 as a Communion Special.

The December 9, 1962, bulletin announced that “The Explorers’ Church School Class has adopted a needy family to whom they are sending

food and money.”

The December 9, 1962, bulletin reported on “an acute need for blankets for homeless people in eastern Algeria with inadequate clothing and

bedding.” The Council of Bishops asked that Methodist churches send 650,000 blankets.

Ronald Carrier presided at the December 11, 1962, meeting of the Commission on Membership and Evangelism.

Ronnie Franklin sang a solo on December 16, 1962.

The December 16, 1962, bulletin carried this announcement: “The plans for the new Educational Building will be submitted to the Official

Board for its approval.”

The special Christmas offering on December 16, 1962, went to the support of retired ministers and widows of deceased ministers.

At their meeting on December 18, 1962, the Official Board approved the plans for the Church Building Annex, the current Youth Fellowship

Hall. ***

FORTY YEARS AGO: Marion Kazar Short and C. V. Bruce were married in the sanctuary on December 2, 1972.

Soloists at the December 17, 1972, Christmas Vesper Service were Mary Margaret Fisk, Harry Spell, Larry Smith, and Jean Spell. Several

choirs sang as well. Krista Vernon, Bob Kelly, Hale Freeland, Dwayne Sagen, John McCauley, Don Lewis, Jerry Robbins, Ronald Vernon,

Frances Ellis, and Martha Jo Fisk played musical instruments.

Lucy Hathorn, Margie Murry, and Nina Stubblefield sang at the Christmas Eve service on December 24, 1972.

On the evening of December 31, 1972, “the youth of the church and their guests are invited to a Watchnight Party here in the Youth Center.” ***

THIRTY YEARS AGO: “The Little Shepherds” was presented at the Christmas Vesper Service on December 12, 1982. Parts were played by

Lynn Spruill, Lanny Hill, Steven Brammer, Beth Moreton, and John Wilton. ***

TWENTY YEARS AGO: The Advent candles were lighted by the Rupert Bruner family and the Jerry Montgomery family on December 6,

1992; by the Joe Harris family and the Sam Cousley family on December 13; by the David Smith family on December 20; by the Pat Tatum

family at the December 24 service.

Acolytes in December 1992 were Jeremy Bruss, Scott Hale, Emily Tatum, Justin Clisby, Tommy Tosh, Olivia Foshee, and Veazey Greenlee.

Hayley Lane Upton was baptized on December 13, 1992.

Infant William Walton Laurenzo was baptized on December 27, 1992.

***

TEN YEARS AGO: The Hampton family and the Rone family participated in the Call to Worship and Lighting of the Advent Candle on De-

cember 1, 2002; Alan Rice and Jennifer Guckert and the Hale family on December 8; the Barnes family and the Davis family on December

15; the Cumberland family on December 22.

Actors in “The Christmas Lamb” presented on December 15, 2002, were Baker Thurlow, Clara Kinney, Harrison Hopper, Will Laurenzo,

William Harris, Joey Bates, Kaylee Saunders, Jordan Smith, and Madeline Kuluz. Narrators were Austin Smith, Zachary Russell, Clay

McCoy, John Sloan, Clara Kinney, Sterling Davis, and Kate Harris.

An All-Church Christmas Dinner was held on December 15, 2002. Holiday music was provided by John McCauley and Larry Tyler.

Non-Profit Organization

U.S. Postage Paid

Permit No. 89

Oxford, MS 38655