Weekly Update for December 4, 2020

Dear Siblings in Christ,

This Sunday, our Advent Season of Giving continues as we bring gifts to benefit the children of Cleveland Academy of Leadership. See below for a link for gift ideas or to make an online donation. This Sunday is also a Communion Sunday. So be sure to gather your elements if you are joining us remotely, and if you will be with us in person, note the instructions below to make sure you can fully participate. Finally, join us in-person or online for Shelter on Sunday evening! See below for more information about this special worship service!

There’s lots more going on! Be sure to read below for Angel Tree, church basketball, Sunday nursery, and more!

Craig Foster
Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Communications

THIS SUNDAY – SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
8:45am MorningSong (Fogartie Hall)
10:00am Adult Sunday School (Join on Zoom or in-person in the Social Hall)
10:00am 4th & 5th Grade Sunday School (Bob’s Meditation Garden)
11:00am Nursery for children 5 years and younger (NEW LOCATION! 2^nd Floor of the Clark Building)
11:00am Sanctuary Service
5:00pm Shelter Service (Fogartie Hall)

We stream our Sanctuary and MorningSong services live each Sunday. Stream on:

FPCSpartanburg.org/LIVE for bulletins, Bible readings, sermon info, and more.
YouTube on your smart TV, streaming device, or almost any other device.
Facebook to join with a community of people worshipping together online.

However you join us, please:

Check in through the ShelbyNext app or sign the online guestbook to let us know you worshipped with us or
Consider giving online or through the ShelbyNext app as a regular act of worship.

Trouble with the livestreams? Check out this information on the church website.

Communion this Sunday, December 6

This Sunday, we will be participating in the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. This is a time of thanksgiving and remembrance for the self-offering of Jesus Christ once and for all time on a cross in Jerusalem.

If you are attending in person, please take some time prior to the service and investigate your Individual Communion Set. To open: 1) Hold the edges of the cup, remove the clear cellophane to expose the wafer. 2) Hold the edges of the cup, remove the foil to expose the juice.

If you will be worshipping online, we ask that you prepare your own elements ahead of time (crackers, a slice of bread, or any type of bread you might have on hand) and a sip of grape juice or wine. You can partake, as directed, during the service, so that even while we are apart, we can enjoy this transcendent, yet very earthly, “communion” together.

Advent Season of Giving – Sunday, December 6 (Bring gifts for The Cleveland Academy of Leadership)
This year our annual White Gifts Service has been reimagined and reshaped into an entire season of giving! Each Sunday in Advent, we will collect gifts for an identified organization. You may also give a monetary donation here. If you are unable to attend on Sunday, you may drop off white gifts at the church office between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm Monday through Friday. For the wish lists of each organization, visit www.fpcspartanburg.org/whitegifts.

10:00 a.m. Combined Adult Sunday School (Join on Zoom or in-person in the Social Hall)
Join us this Sunday as Pastor Ansley leads our combined Adult Sunday School class! You may join online or in person in the Social Hall.

10:00 a.m. Elementary Sunday School
The Children’s Ministry will have 4^th and 5^th grade Sunday School in Bob’s Meditation Garden.

11:00 a.m. Nursery
Nursery is moving INDOORS starting this Sunday, December 6. During the 11am worship only, children ages 6months – 3 years of age, are welcome to come to our nursery. Nursery will be on the 2^nd floor of the Clark Building (look for the signs). All nursery staff are required to wear masks throughout the duration of childcare, and parents are required to wear them in the building. No staff, parent, or child will be allowed to stay if they are exhibiting any symptoms of illness. Parents will be asked to monitor their child’s health before arriving at church and is asked to stay home if they show any signs of illness.

5:00 p.m. Shelter: A New Contemporary Worship Experience (Fogartie Hall)
This service is for all who may hear God speak clearest through melody or seek the feeling of his presence in the beating of a drum.

Soaring lyrics and pulsing rhythms will guide us in a conversation with Christ through a unique interweaving of music and scripture, designed as a meditation, celebration and spiritual release as we enter the new Advent season.

Sunday Night Youth Group
All Youth are invited (and encouraged!) to attend the new Shelter Service this Sunday at 5 pm in Fogartie Hall. Afterward, plan to meet us upstairs in the High School Room for games and fellowship! Pick up will be at the back door at 6:30 pm.

NEXT WEEK
Virtual Angel Tree – Deadline Tuesday, December 8 (Sponsor a Child)
This holiday season, First Presbyterian Church will participate in Virtual Angel Tree (no contact) to remind 120 local children of prisoners we support each year that they are loved and not forgotten, not only by their incarcerated parents, but also by their Heavenly Father. Sponsor a child by giving $42 through our online portal, and the sponsored gifts will be sent directly to the Angel Tree kids. Each gift package will include a gift card, a personal message from the parent, an age-appropriate Gospel presentation, and an opportunity to request a Bible.

To sponsor a child, click this link and use the access code: NAYLH. The deadline to sponsor online is December 8. If you prefer to give by check, please read the information on our Angel Tree webpage. If you have further questions, please email Brandt Goodwin.

ECHOES on Zoom – Thursday, December 10 at 7:00p.m. (Join)
Caring for a loved one who is aging or sick is a special ministry. If you are engaged in this and would appreciate Christian encouragement, please join Rev. Ansley Page, Rev. Joanne Hull, and Parish Nurse Beth Cecil on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom. From the comfort of your home, you can enjoy this time of devotion, prayer, and sharing with folks in similar circumstance. Let your church family help you in this sacred work. Please register with Joanie Shackleton at jshackleton@fpcspartanburg.org.

Garage Concert and Carol Sing – Sunday, December 13
Johnson Development Garage (4:00 p.m.)
Join the Chamber Singers with Brass Quartet on Sunday, December 13 at 4:00 p.m. for a short Christmas Concert and a chance to sing Christmas Carols! The event will be in the parking garage directly across Main Street from the Columbarium. The entrance is on Hall Street. Bring chairs or just roll down your windows and enjoy!

Advent Photo-a-Day Challenge
The Advent Season encourages us to prepare for the coming of our Lord. we are inviting you to prepare by hitting the "pause" button...daily. Each day during Advent, we will post a word for reflection on our social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) using a list generated by rethinkchurch.org. Take a moment to pause and reflect on this word, and then share a response to that word through a picture. Post your picture on social media, tag @fpcspartanburg and use #fpcsadvent. Don't worry if you miss a day or two - there is no failing this challenge. We just hope to provide a gift of added meaning to this special season and an additional opportunity to connect with each other.

Walking in the Family Life Center (For Members Age 65 and Older)
Members who are 65 or older in age can walk on the second-floor track during the times of 10am-12noon on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. pre-registration is no longer required, but there is a 4-person limit at one time. Members should enter through the FLC entrance near Mobile Meals.

Weekly Zoom Times for Everyone!
See the full list online at: https://fpcspartanburg.org/events/weekly-zoom

Prayer Gathering with Joanne – Tuesdays at Noon (Join in)
Men’s Bible Study – Wednesdays at Noon (Join in)
Thursday Book Study – Thursdays at Noon (Join in)
Adult Sunday School – Sundays at 10am (Join in)

New to Zoom? Having Trouble? Need a Password?
The current password for most church events is “5834531” (which just happens to be the church phone number as well). Please visit www.fpcspartanburg.org/zoom for tips on how to get the most out of your Zoom gatherings.

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
Fill the Trucks for Hand in Hand – Sunday, December 13
Drop off between 8:30am and 12:00pm in the upper Family Life Center Parking Lot
On Sunday, December 13, we will be taking donations of essential items to support Hand in Hand, a ministry that provides necessities to families and children in need throughout Spartanburg County. Suggested donations are non-perishable food items, cleaning supplies, trash bags, hygiene products, and paper products. Let’s “fill the trucks” with these items! Drop off your donations in the Family Life Center Upper Parking Lot from 8:30am-12:00pm. More information about Hand in Hand.

Other Opportunities in Ministry Finder

OTHER NEWS
Basketball Registration is Open!
We are excited to announce that we will have church basketball starting in January 2021 at FPC! Our focus this year will be on skill development, fellowship among church members, and fun! The season will look a little different. For more information and to register, visit www.fpcspartanburg.org/basketball.

FPC Church Office Staff Onsite Partial Days
While the church office remains “closed” for now, all office staff are onsite half days, continuing to work remotely the other half day. We have put necessary protocols in place to ensure everyone’s health and safety. Some of our schedules are staggered, however the main church phone line (864-583-4531) will be answered Monday-Friday, 9am-1pm. Outside those hours, feel free to leave a voice mail and we will get back to you as soon as we are able. As always, contact information for each staff member can be found at fpcspartanburg.org/staff.

Pastoral Counseling with Dr. Kirk H. Neely
Pastoral Counseling with Dr. Kirk Neely is available by appointment. Currently all counseling is being done by telephone or by Zoom. Personal Counseling, Marriage and Family Counseling, and Spiritual Direction are available by appointment only. This is not emergency counseling. To make an appointment, please contact Didi Terry at dterry@fpcspartanburg.org or you may contact Dr. Neely directly by email at kirkhneely@fpcspartanburg.org.

“The Time Has Come” Campaign Pledges Due December 31
Capital campaign pledge balance: $166,634
As a congregation, we are so close to being debt-free for the first time in two decades! Thank you! If you have pledged to the capital campaign, the deadline has been extended to the end of 2020. Please help us bring this train into the station!

LOOKING AHEAD
December 6 – Second Sunday of Advent | Communion
December 6 – Shelter Service (More Information)
December 8 – Virtual Angel Tree Deadline
December 13 – Third Sunday of Advent | Special Music in the Sanctuary
December 20 – Fourth Sunday of Advent | Lessons and Carols
December 24 – Christmas Eve Services (More Information)
December 27 – One Worship Service (11am in the Sanctuary)
August 13-15, 2021 – Women’s Connection at Montreat

More activities and events can be found in First News.