Next Week at FPC (February 25,2022)

Dear Family in Christ,

In many ways, it feels like we are standing on a threshold. In the liturgical, calendar we are just a couple of weeks away from the season of Lent. In the life of our church, we are getting ready to say goodbye to Lewis and Bunny Galloway, as Lewis will soon be concluding his interim ministry with us. We give thanks for all that he has done during this year with us. At the same time, we are also looking forward to soon welcoming the Rev. Alan Dyer and his family to our congregation. But through it all, the ministry of Christ through First Presbyterian Church continues and thrives. Don’t forget about our month-long Witness Season Project, and find your place in the fellowship and ministry of this amazing family of faith!

Blessings and Peace,
Craig Foster
Associate Pastor for Discipleship & Communications

THIS SUNDAY – FEBUARY 27
8:45am MorningSong (Fogartie Hall)
8:45am Traditional Worship (Sanctuary)
9:45am Sunday School for children
10:00am Witness Season Sunday School (Fogartie Hall)
10:00am Confirmation (Game Room, 2nd floor of the Family Life Center)
11:00am Traditional Worship (Sanctuary)
5:00pm Sunday Night Youth Group (Family Life Center)

Stream our services live on FPCSpartanburg.org/worship, YouTube, or Facebook.

NEXT WEEK
Credo: The 2022 Lenten Devotional Video Series
Get them by email each day
Credo is a Latin word that means “I believe,” but it is not simply something to which you give intellectual assent. Instead, it is something that guides your life and actions. Like all faith, it is something in which you put your trust more than simply a statement you believe to be true. In this video series, we have invited our officers to share one small piece of their faith by video. Those videos will be shared daily by email, on social media, and in the Devotionals section of the church website. Click the link above to sign up to receive these videos in your email inbox every morning throughout Lent. If you have signed up for email delivery of our church devotions in the past, you do not need to do so again. May these daily videos enrich your faith and discipleship this Lenten season!

Ash Wednesday
Imposition of Ashes and Prayer
8:00a.m. - 1p.m. in the Chapel
The Chapel will be open, and a pastor will be present during this time for you to receive the imposition of ashes and for prayer.

Ash Wednesday Service
6:30-7:15pm in the Sanctuary
Join us to mark the beginning of the Lenten season with this brief, family-friendly worship service that will include the imposition of ashes. Nursery provided for infants through age 2. This service will also be livestreamed.

Wednesdays at First – Register Now for Dinner! (Register Here)
Join us Wednesday for Pasta, Meatballs, Alfredo or Marinara Sauce, Greek Salad, Bread, Dessert & Beverage.
Children’s Menu is Pasta, Meatballs, Marinara Sauce, Applesauce, Dessert & Juice Box. Register yourself and/or your family by Monday at 4:30pm.

If you would like to serve as a volunteer in some capacity to ensure WAF runs smoothly, please click here to sign up!

Lewis' Last Sunday – NEXT Sunday, March 6
Next Sunday, Dr. Lewis F. Galloway will complete his ministry with us. What a wonderful year it has been! In his - and Bunny's - honor we will have a reception on Sunday, March 6, after the 11:00am Worship Service. This will be Dr. Galloway's last Sunday in the pulpit. Please join your church family in the Social Hall as we send Lewis and Bunny back into retirement with our well wishes.

Black History Month Series at Wofford College
“Bell hooks and Black Feminism” – Monday, February. 28
6pm in the Olin Theater of the Franklin W. Olin Building
Join a panel discussion with Dr. Bria Harper, assistant professor of English; Dr. Dresden Lackey, assistant professor of sociology and anthropology; Jessica Scott-Felder, assistant professor of studio art; Dr. LaTasha Smith-Tyus, director of Career Services; and Dr. Nancy Williams, associate professor and chair of philosophy.

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
Witness Season 2022 – Angel’s Charge Ministry
Angels Charge Ministry serves our area by helping women re-enter society after incarceration. This mission offers a number of services which require transportation: medical care, job skills training, and education. They are in desperate need of a van for these purposes. This Witness Season, please consider giving to this important project. Your gift will be a blessing to these women, their families, and our community. You can give online at fpcspartanburg.org/give or mark checks as “Witness Season” in the memo line. Stay tuned for more information through the month of February!

Ministry Finder
Find all sorts of ways to get involved in serving God and serving others on the church website through Ministry Finder!

OTHER NEWS
Covid Policy Update
Based on the rapidly declining Covid hospitalization cases and the growing number of individuals who have immunity from vaccination or natural infection, the Health Subcommittee is recommending we amend our current COVID health polices:

1. Masks are optional for all ages and for all church activities – on or off campus – including recreational activities. Masks are optional for children and adult choirs and congregational singing. Of course, those who feel more comfortable wearing a mask, or who are at higher risk (chronic illnesses, seniors, immunocompromised individuals, and cancer patients), are certainly encouraged to wear one.
2. Next month, the Worship Committee will explore returning to pre-COVID ways of celebrating the Lord’s Supper.
3. The Weekday School will continue to follow its current guidelines as recommended by DHEC regarding quarantining when students or teachers test positive.

We are grateful for the work of the Health Subcommittee as we continue to provide a safe and healthy environment for everyone in this ever-changing time of pandemic. The Subcommittee will continue to monitor the situation and offer guidance as needs change. Thanks to the Subcommittee members: Baker Boles, Budge Bean, Greg Colbath, and Beth Cecil. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Dr. Lewis Galloway.

Let’s Bake! Baking Classes

Monday March 7^th, 10am- Noon

Jane Mullins will show us how to make her famous cinnamon rolls and pound cake!

Monday, March 14^th, 10am-Noon

Patricia Webster will share the secret to her scrumptious sugar cookies!

You may attend both sessions or just one. The class size is limited to 8 individuals so pre-registration is required. Register at www.Pano’sKitchen.com

FPC Spartanburg Calls a New Senior Pastor
On January 30, we had a great turnout for our Annual Congregational Meeting and the congregation voted to call the Rev. Alan F. Dyer as our new Senior Pastor and Head of Staff. Alan is currently the senior pastor of St. Simons Presbyterian Church on St Simon’s Island, GA. His first Sunday in our pulpit will be Sunday, March 27, and there will be a welcome reception for him during the Sunday School hour between services. Until then, get to know a little about Alan and his family in this video and on the church website. If you missed the congregational meeting, you can watch a recording of the PNC report here.
Many thanks to the members of our PNC: David Beacham (chair), Bert Barre, Randall Chambers, Molly Colbath, Suzy Cole, Harriet Ike, Whit Kennedy, Craig Kocisko, Carter Smith.

Peace and Justice Task Force Spotlight: Equal Justice Initiative
This month, the Peace and Justice Taskforce is focusing on Isaiah 1:17 as we are called to seek justice and raise awareness. In February we turn our attention to the Equal Justice Initiative, a non-profit organization providing legal representation to people who are illegally convicted, unfairly sentenced, and abused in state prisons and jails. This month, we encourage you to explore the EJI’s website (eji.org) and to educate and raise awareness on EJI’s main focuses of criminal justice reform, racial justice, and public education and awareness through their museum and memorial. If possible, we really encourage visiting the museum and memorial in Montgomery, AL. Please join us at the at the next Peace and Justice Task Force Meeting on Friday, March 25th from 12:30-1:30pm in the Purnell Room (virtual option also available)

LOOKING AHEAD
March 2 – Ash Wednesday
March 6 – Lewis Galloway’s Last Sunday at FPC

March 7 - Let’s Bake! class

March 14- Let’s Bake! class
March 13 – Girl Scout Sunday Celebrated
March 25- Peace and Justice Task Force Meeting; 12:30 in Purnell Room
March 27 – Welcome the Rev. Alan F. Dyer
April 10 – Palm Sunday
April 14 – Maundy Thursday
April 15 – Good Friday
April 17 – Easter Sunday
May 15 – Church on the Lawn
June 27-30 – VBS

More activities and events can be found in First News.

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