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Member LoginAdvent at FPC (December 17, 2021)
Dear Friends in Christ,
The season of Advent continues. On our final Sunday of Advent, we will have a full day of music, with the MorningSong Lessons and Carols Service, brass in the Sanctuary services, and then the Moravian Candlelight service in the evening. Come be a part of these Advent services as we prepare for the coming of our Messiah.
Craig Foster
Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Communications
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT – DECEMBER 19
8:45am Lessons and Carols in MorningSong (Fogartie Hall)
8:45am Traditional Worship (Sanctuary)
9:45am Sunday School for children, youth, and adults.
11:00am Traditional Worship (Sanctuary)
5:00pm Moravian Candlelight Service (Sanctuary)
Stream our MorningSong and 11am Sanctuary services live on FPCSpartanburg.org/worship, YouTube, or Facebook.
MorningSong Lessons and Carols
The MorningSong Music Team will lead the congregation in carols of the Advent and Christmas seasons at 8:45am in Fogartie Hall.
Angel Tree Gifts
Thank you to everyone who picked an angel off of the tree to bless a child this Christmas! Please return your gifts to the Perrin Room this Sunday, December 19 so that our team may inventory what is collected and prepare for delivery on Christmas Eve. If you would like to volunteer to deliver gifts on Christmas Eve, please reach out to Brandt Goodwin.
Pick Up Your Poinsettias
If you ordered poinsettias, you may pick up your plants in Fogartie Hall any time after MorningSong on Sunday morning, December 19, or after Traditional worship at noon. If you do not plan to do so, we would appreciate your giving us permission to use your gift for cut flowers or greenery to enhance our Christmas arrangement. Contact Lynise Clarke if you have questions.
Stop by the Perrin Room for a Treat!
This Sunday (and every Sunday during Advent) in the Perrin Room (Welcome Center) we will have lemon squares made from Anne Porchér Perrin's favorite recipe. Please stop by and enjoy this delicious treat and enjoy fellowship with members and visitors!
5pm Moravian Candlelight Service
Celebrate the season in a service inspired by our brothers and sisters from the Moravian tradition. Moravian Christmas hymns are supplemented by music from the First Presbyterian Chamber Singers and guest instrumentalists, and the evening concludes with the sanctuary bathed in light provided by traditional Moravian candles.
NEXT WEEK
Join the Christmas Eve Choir!
Anyone high-school age and above are warmly invited to be a part of the Christmas Eve Choir, which sings at the 7:00 and 11:00 PM Christmas Eve services. The music is beautiful but not too complicated, there are experienced singers to lean on if you need them, and the view of the candlelight portion of the service can’t be beat. There are two rehearsals, right after church on Sunday, December 19, and Wednesday, December 22 at 7:00 PM. Contact Holt Andrews to reserve your spot or with questions.
The Sanctuary Guild Needs Your Help
On Thursday, December 23, join us at 10:00 am in the Sanctuary to prepare for Christmastide. The red bows will be replaced with white, the liturgical color for the 12 Days of Christmas. (Note time change due to afternoon memorial service.) On Tuesday, January 4 at 10:00 am, we will begin to Un-Deck the Halls. On Friday, January 7, the day after Epiphany, at 10:00 am, all remaining Christmastide decorations will be taken down. Contact LeAnne Thurmond at leanne.thurmond@gmail.com for more details and to sign up.
Christmas Eve Services - Sanctuary
Family Worship (4:00pm)
Come, all you angels, shepherds, farm animals, and kings. Join us on Christmas Eve for our family nativity pageant. Any child may come dressed as the part he or she wants to play from those listed above.
Candlelight Services (7:00 and 11:00pm)
These services, a tradition in our church, feature music by the Christmas Eve Choir. A special message will be delivered, and the services will conclude with the Sanctuary bathed in candlelight. Childcare is available for the 7:00pm Candlelight Service in Room 105 in the Clark Building.
Weekday Bible Studies and Groups Next Week
- Women’s Circle 11: First Monday of the month at 10:30am
- Women’s Circles 3, 4, and 5: Second Monday of the month at 10:30am (Circles 3 and 5) and 2pm (Circle 4)
- Wednesday Men’s Bible Study: Wednesdays at noon, in person and on Zoom (Join in)
- Christians in the Making Women’s Group: Wednesdays at 10am in the Purnell Room
- Bootcamp – Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 7:15 a.m. and 9:15 a.m. (Email Colleen)
SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
How Can I Help?
On Friday, December 10, and into the early hours of Saturday, December 11, several tornadoes ripped through multiple U.S. states, resulting in extensive damage and significant loss of life. First Presbyterian Church of Mayfield, Kentucky was completely destroyed. The Presbytery of Western Kentucky has been working with the Mayfield church and is receiving donations on behalf of Mayfield as well as other areas that have been affected. FPC Spartanburg is sending a $5,000 gift to the Presbytery of Western Kentucky. We invite you to join us. You may submit a donation to FPC Spartanburg – noting “Presbytery of Western Kentucky” – or give directly to the presbytery yourself. That address is: Presbytery of Western Kentucky, PO Box 624, Hopkinsville, KY 42241.
Other Opportunities in Ministry Finder
OTHER NEWS
Church Facilities Closed
All Church Facilities will be closed on Monday, December 27 and Tuesday, December 28 for the Christmas Holidays and on Monday, January 3 for the New Years' Holiday. Additionally, the church offices will be closing at 12:30pm on Wednesday, January 5 in order for the staff to attend a Christmas / Epiphany gathering.
Recommendations for CNC
The Congregational Nominating Committee is seeking a slate of nine members from the congregation to replace members who will rotate off the CNC. Members will serve for one year and will be charged with the nomination of Church officers. Please SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATION(S) HERE. Deadline is Friday, December 31, 2021.
The Peace and Justice Task Force Spotlight: Live Healthy Spartanburg
Live Healthy Spartanburg is a merger of Spartanburg’s Way To Wellville and The Road to Better Health and represents a “collaborative with the mission to achieve health equity and improve health outcomes for all Spartanburg County residents.” Please watch this video for an overview of this Hello Family program in partnership with Spartanburg Regional Healthcare. Please join us at the next Peace and Justice Task Force Meeting on January 21st from 12:30-1:30 in the Purnell Room.
LOOKING AHEAD
December 19 – MorningSong Lessons and Carols & Moravian Candlelight Service
December 24 – Christmas Eve Services (4pm, 7pm & 11pm)
December 26 – One Worship Service (11:00am)
December 27-28 – Church Facilities Closed
January 2, 2022 – One Worship Service (11:00am)
January 3 – Church Facilities Closed
January 12 – WAF Resumes
More activities and events can be found in First News.