Next Week at FPC (May 6, 2022)

Dear FPC Family,

This Sunday is Mother’s Day, and we celebrate and give thanks for all those who have been mother figures in our lives. The next two Sundays after that are also special in their own ways. May 15 will be an outdoor celebration as we enjoy fellowship, light breakfast foods, and worship on the front lawn, with a Chamber Singers concert that night as well. More information is below. Then on May 22, we will have a congregational meeting and be invited to call our next Associate Pastor for Youth and Campus Ministry. Much excitement is ahead!

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

Sparkle City Transparent Men, Breakfast, May 7, 8:30am, FPC, Large Private Dining Room
The Sparkle City Transparent Men is a multi-cultural Christian group that meets for breakfast once a month at various churches throughout the county. This month, the meeting will be held tomorrow – Saturday, May 7, at 8:30am in the Large Private Dining Room (off of Fogartie Hall in the Family Life Center) of First Presbyterian Church. Our goal is simple: To build lasting and solid friendships that make race irrelevant. If interested, please come to the tomorrow morning!

SUNDAY – May 8
8:45am MorningSong (Fogartie Hall)
8:45am Traditional Worship (Chapel)
9:45am Sunday School for children, youth, and adults
11:00am Traditional Worship (Sanctuary)

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

Sunday School
Pre-K & Nursery – Clark Building, First Floor
Elementary – Clark Building, Second Floor
Youth – Family Life Center, Second Floor
Adults:

• Abide – Room 2200 (New permanent location)
• Bible Alive –Room 2208 and on Zoom
• Emmaus – Room 2207
• LIFT – Room 2201

Mother’s Day Offering
Mother’s Day has traditionally included a special offering in our church to support the ministry of Presbyterian Communities of South Carolina, which serves older adults at 6 retirement communities across the state. The Mother’s Day Offering provides charitable care to residents who have outlived their life’s savings due to old age or costly medical bills, so that they can continue to call PCSC “home.” You can donate using the designated Mother’s Day Offering envelopes, by writing a check and adding “Mother’s Day Offering” in the memo, or you can give online at giving.prescommunities.org (and include “First Presbyterian, Spartanburg” in the memo). Thank you for keeping this special Presbyterian tradition alive!

Welcome Class –Sundays through May 22
10am in the Purnell Room (NEW LOCATION!)
This four-week series is a wonderful way to get acquainted with the Presbyterian church, the opportunities available at First Presbyterian, and to meet the church staff. Classes will be held during the Sunday School hour (10:00-10:45am) in the Purnell Room. There is no pressure to join. We welcome non-members, members, and anyone seeking a church family to join us for a fun time of fellowship and learning together! Questions? Contact Rev. Joanne Hull.

Maymester for 5^th Graders – Sunday mornings May 8 and May 22 in Room C212
Being a “tween” between childhood and adolescence is tricky stuff. Maymester is a special class all about God helping you in that time. Fifth graders will have a breakfast snack and conversations about Time for God, Real Friends and How We Treat Others, and Gifts in Me from “Be Tween.” Contact Callie Hammett or Pastor Ansley with your questions.

NEXT WEEK
NEW DAYS/TIMES: Connect over Coffee – Meet Alan Dyer
Alan is looking forward to the opportunity to get to know each member of his new church family and would like to connect with you – over coffee! All gatherings will be held in The Perrin Room.
Choose a Day/Time that suits you!:
q Connect over Coffee (select Tuesdays at 8:00am and select Wednesdays at 10:00am)
q Connect over Afternoon Beverages of Lemonade, Tea, or Coffee (select Monday afternoons)
For All “Connect with Alan” days/times, please RSVP HERE.

Fellowship on Two Wheels
Wednesdays at 5:30pm & Fridays at 12:15pm during May
Leaving from the FLC Parking Lot
May is National Bike Month and a wonderful time of year to get that bike out of the garage, pump up the tires, and enjoy a ride with friends old and new. Each Wednesday evening and Friday at lunchtime in May (weather permitting), Pastor Craig will lead a short bike ride at a conversational pace down to the Rail Trail and the Park Hills neighborhood. (Duncan Park is currently unsafe for riding because of road construction.) All ages and levels of fitness are welcome. No one will be left behind! This will be a great opportunity to learn how to safely ride on the road, on multi-use trails, and in a group, all while enjoying exercise and good fellowship outdoors. Helmets are required. No registration is necessary, but we will leave promptly at the appointed time. Parents with young children can meet us at the Henry St. trail head of the Rail Trail, for a trail-only ride. On Fridays, the locker rooms will be available before and after the ride, if you wish to change and freshen up before heading on to whatever is next. Join us!

NEXT SUNDAY, MAY 15
8:45am Worship in the Chapel
Our Traditional 8:45am Worship service, led by Rev. Alan Dyer, will meet in the Chapel.
10:00am Fellowship with Food and (Church) Family
Enjoy a time of fellowship between the Chapel and the Sanctuary. Light breakfast foods will be available.
11:00 Church on the Lawn
After fellowship, we will celebrate the Lord's Day with Church on the Lawn! This casual service, led by Rev. Alan Dyer, will feature the Chancel Choir and musicians from the MorningSong Band. This will be a delight for all. Chairs will be provided and set up prior to the service. Comfortable dress is encouraged. Invite your friends and neighbors! (Rain Location: Sanctuary)
No Children's Worship; Nursery Provided. There will be a special class for 2K in Room 104 after The Word for Children.
6:00pm Chamber Singers' Concert
Join us in the Sanctuary for the Chamber Singers' Spring Concert. The group will be joined by strings and percussion as they present a musical meditation on time and eternity. This eclectic program will feature music from the renaissance, spirituals, contemporary cinematic, and even an avant-garde composition. You won’t want to miss it!
* No Sunday School; Welcome Class will meet in the Purnell Room at 10am.

Register by Next Sunday for Vacation Bible School!
June 27 – 30 from 9am to 11pm
Please Register by May 15!
Rising 4K to 6^th Grade, come explore how God’s great light shines and how we can reflect that light! We will explore Adventure Island together! Registration is open through Sunday, May 15. Cost is $20.00 per child, with a maximum of $50.00 per family. Register at www.fpcspartanburg.org/vbs and contact Pastor Ansley at apage@fpcspartanburg.org if you have any questions.

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
Prepared to Thrive Book Drive
We know that by third grade, reading proficiency shifts from “learning to read” to “reading to learn.” If children cannot read proficiently in third grade, they fall behind. In Spartanburg County, only 50% of third graders are testing at or above grade reading level. As part of United Way's Prepared to Thrive initiative, they are collecting book donations to support first-year teachers as they establish their classroom libraries. Books donated will be used by local students at Mary H. Wright Elementary and Cleveland Academy as they read in their classrooms this fall! Click here to learn more.

Mobile Meals Volunteers Needed
Mobile Meals has resumed daily deliveries and needs more volunteers! You can sign-up to participate in a regular route or offer to be a substitute driver when it suits your schedule. If you'd like more information, please contact Vivian Tanner at Mobile Meals (vivian@mobile-meals.org)

Support for Ukraine
So many have heavy hearts over the war and violence occurring in Ukraine. We as a denomination invite you to pray for peace and strength, as well as for a change of hearts and minds so that world leaders can reach some agreement. If you would like to support humanitarian relief to those fleeing violence in Ukraine, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) has set-up a fund to support organizations working directly with families on the ground. Donations can be made through a fund at the church at fpcspartanburg.org/give.

Crafters Needed!
Do you knit, crochet, or cross stitch? Would you like to share your gifts and talents with your church family in a meaningful way? The Life Events Committee needs your help! Please contact Scottie Lummus (scottie.stan@gmail.com) or Meg Evatt (m_evatt@hotmail.com) for more details.

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
JOY Fellowship Ladies’ Tea - Thursday, May 19, 4:00 pm
Join the ladies of the church for tea and scones in the Perrin Room and courtyard. Hats and white gloves optional.
RSVP by calling (864) 208-2132 or emailing Joanie Shackleton.

Congregational Meeting – Sunday, May 22
The Session has called a Congregational Meeting, including a meeting of the members of the Corporation (First Presbyterian Church of Spartanburg, SC), for Sunday, May 22, 2022, at the conclusion of the 11:00am worship in the Sanctuary for the following purposes:
a. To elect the Class of 2024 elders and the chair of the Diaconate to the Board of Trustees of the Corporation: Harold Ballenger, Louie Blanton, Blair Clementson, John Faris III, Patti Foy, Callie Hammett, John Harrill Jr, Josh Jones, Cesily King, Andy Lancaster, Cathy Martinez, Paul McKee Jr, Brand Stille, Wesley Stoddard, Charlotte Verreault, and Cheryl Lang.
b. To act on a request from the APNC to call our next Associate Pastor of Youth and Campus Ministries, pending successful completion of the ordination process and transfer of membership to the Foothills Presbytery.

Shelter: A Contemporary Worship Experience – Sunday, May 22, 6pm in Fogartie Hall
Shelter is a special time of worship where connection to God can be found through meditative scripture and reflective songs. The Shelter worship team will guide the congregation through an evening of music, word, and spirit. Rev. Alan Dyer will deliver the message. We encourage you to join us at 6pm in a transformed Fogartie Hall.

VBS Volunteers
There’s room on Adventure Island for lots of helpers. Be a part of our fun and pass along the faith by helping for a day or all week in hands-on-ways or behind the scenes!
Here is the volunteer link: Volunteer HERE!
Contact VBS Co-director, Suzy Cole, with your questions or to find your perfect spot to help: suzyboulwarecole@gmail.com. Thanks for being church family to our little ones!

First Pres “Store”
First Pres Cookbooks: Apparently, word got out that copies of the First Pres cookbook are available! Click here to get your copy!
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.

Peace and Justice Task Force Spotlight:
The purpose of the Peace and Justice Task Force is to educate, and respond to, the issues of peace and justice that affect our community in the spirit of Matthew 25:40. The next meeting is Tuesday, May 17, 12:30-1:30pm via Zoom; please contact Dawn Bingham or Jessalyn Story for more information. And join us in celebrating with our brothers and sisters in Christ at Juneteenth to be held the weekend of June 17-19. This unique educational event will celebrate the African-American experience since the end of slavery in 1865. Expect a weekend full of food, fellowship, and the opportunity to learn via inspirational performances. Stay tuned for mor information! https://www.cityofspartanburg.org/juneteenth


LOOKING AHEAD
May 15 – Church on the Lawn
May 15 – Chamber Singers Concert
May 21 – 250^th Anniversary at Nazareth Presbyterian Church (Our Mother Church)
May 21 – Presbytery Meeting (Clinton, SC)
May 22 – Baccalaureate Sunday
May 22 – Congregational Meeting
May 22 – Blood Drive
May 29 – Memorial Day Weekend (ONE service at 11:00am in the Sanctuary; No Sunday School)
June 5 – Pentecost (ONE Service at 11:00am in the Sanctuary with Sunday School before)
June 12 – Summer Worship Schedule Begins
June 27-30 – VBS

More activities and events can be found in First News.

Unsubscribing
If you wish to be removed from the mailing list for this weekly email, please email Monteigne Campbell (mcampbell@fpcspartanburg.org) to make that request. The link below will unsubscribe you from ALL group emails from the church (and the Weekday School), including emails you might want to receive!