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Next Week at FPC (July 1, 2022)

Greetings to all,

This weekend we celebrate Independence Day on Monday, July 4th. Because of the holiday weekend, we will once again have one worship service at 10:30am in the sanctuary. July 4th is a time to stop and reflect on the freedoms of this country, but also to acknowledge the immense work we have left to live into the belief of “liberty and justice for all.” This work is true in the Church and in the greater world. Our hope lies in communion with God our creator, faith in the resurrected Christ, and the discerned guidance of the Holy Spirit. I pray that everyone has a safe holiday whether traveling, boating, or hanging out!

Peace be with you,
John Daniel DeBevoise
Associate Pastor for Youth & Campus Ministries

UPCOMING SUNDAY LINE-UPS:

Sunday, July 3
10:30am ONE Worship Service (Sanctuary)

Sunday, July 10
8:30am Traditional Service (Chapel)
9:30am Sunday School for All Ages
10:30am MorningSong Worship (Fogartie)
10:30am Traditional Service (Sanctuary)

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

THIS SUNDAY
There will be only ONE Worship Service this Sunday, at 10:30am in the Sanctuary. Then, all church offices will be closed on Monday for the Fourth of July. We pray you have a blessed and safe Independence Day!

NEXT WEEK
Ordination of John Daniel DeBevoise
On Saturday, July 9, John Daniel will be ordained at his home church, Park Lake Presbyterian Church in Orlando, Florida, where his parents, Dan and Helen DeBevoise, have been co-pastors for 29 years. If you would like to view John Daniel’s Ordination, the livestream service can be found on the Park Lake Presbyterian Church Facebook page and YouTube channel. Please be in prayer for John Daniel as he is ordained and begins his ministry at First Presbyterian Church, Spartanburg.

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
There are several opportunities for service available in our Ministry Finder, opportunities like these:

OTHER NEWS
Celebrate College & Grad School Graduates!
We would like to be able to celebrate together as a church the hard work of all our college and graduate school graduates. Please email the names of those in your household who are graduating, as well as the college or university from which they are graduating, to fpc@fpcspartanburg.org by July 1 so that they may be included in the August edition of First News.

Recommendations for Church Officers Needed by Friday, July 15
Your Congregational Nominating Committee needs the help of our members in nominating members of the church to serve as Elders and Deacons. Please submit THIS FORM with your suggestion of one name. You may submit as many names as you would like, suggesting any member of First Presbyterian Church, including yourself. Deadline for submittal is Friday, July 15. For a list of current church officers, please click HERE.

Ordination of John Daniel DeBevoise
On Saturday, July 9, John Daniel will be ordained at his home church, Park Lake Presbyterian Church in Orlando, Florida, where his parents, Dan and Helen DeBevoise, have been co-pastors for 29 years. If you would like to view John Daniel’s Ordination, the livestream service can be found on the Park Lake Presbyterian Church Facebook page and YouTube channel. Please be in prayer for John Daniel as he is ordained and begins his ministry at First Presbyterian Church, Spartanburg.

Remain Cautious of COVID-19
COVID-19 continues to spread locally. If you think that you may have been exposed, have any symptoms, or have a positive COVID test, the Centers for Disease Control dashboard will let you know exactly what to do. CDC recommendations can be found at www.cdc.gov/Covid. You are also welcome to contact FPC Parish Nurse, Beth Cecil, for a confidential consultation (bcecil@fpcspartanburg.org).

Resources Against Gun Violence
Gun violence is a deeply systemic problem that connects to the Matthew 25 emphases of poverty, racism and congregational vitality. How can we as Christians mitigate gun violence and work for gun reforms? Tune in to another helpful resource is “Standing Our Holy Ground,” a web series with 12 episodes highlighting different perspectives on gun violence. Or, watch Presbyterian Disaster Assistance’s 2012 documentary by filmmaker David Barnhart, “Trigger: The Ripple Effect of Gun Violence,”— another media resource that Presbyterians can use to understand gun violence in the 2020s .

Order Your Kirkin’ Tartan – Yes, It is Time! ORDER HERE
First Presbyterian Church will hold its annual Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans Worship Service on Sunday, October 30, 2022. At our Kirkin’ service, we remember ancient times, as well as past and present kith and kin, while asking God’s help and blessings in the future through special music and a procession of bagpipes and tartans. The tartan fabrics are ordered from Scotland, so we need your order and payment by Friday, July 22. The cost of a banner is $135. ORDER HERE
*Some clans have multiple patterns available. If you want a particular pattern, please indicate on the form. Otherwise, we will order the most common pattern for that clan.* ORDER HERE
At the conclusion of the service on October 30, the tartan banners will be given to the sponsor for storage or display until the next Kirkin’. Only the staffs and banner stands will remain at the church.
Questions? Contact Martha Bean at mtbean@icloud.com.

Our New Director of Children’s Ministry
On Sunday, August 7, Kara Clark will begin her ministry with us as our new Director of Children’s Ministry. Kara most recently served as a middle school teacher at McCracken Middle School and for ten years has worked at Montreat during summer camps, most recently as Director of Children’s Camps. We believe that Kara’s extensive experience shepherding children, ability to build strong relationships with families, and high energy with thoughtful purpose make her uniquely qualified to lead our church in this most important work.
Find out more about Kara by clicking here.

Family Life Center SUMMER Gym Hours
The new Summer Hours for the Gym are: Mondays through Thursdays (8am-8pm) and Fridays (8am-2pm). If you have never used the gym facilities, stop by and check it out!

First Pres “Store”
FPC Tartan Ties and Scarves: Ties and scarves in the FPC tartan pattern are once again available for sale. The ties are $25, and the scarves are $35. You can order here or by contacting Lynise Clarke.
Church Ornaments: First Presbyterian Church 175^th anniversary postcard ornaments are available for $10. The porcelain ornaments feature a picture of the Sanctuary with the anniversary date 1843-2018. Place your order here.

LOOKING AHEAD
July 3 – ONE Service at 10:30am, Sanctuary
July 24 – Summer Sizzle: Old Fashioned Ice Cream Party
August 14 – Summer Sizzle: Blessing of the Backpacks/Popsicle Party
August 28 – Ministry Fair (ONE Service at 10:30am, Sanctuary)
September 4 – ONE Service at 10:30am, Sanctuary
September 14 – WAF Begins

More activities and events can be found in First News.