Next Week at FPC (October 15, 2021)

Dear Friends,

A lot is happening this Sunday! It is Stewardship Commitment Sunday, when we as a congregation and as households make our commitments to the church for the coming year. This is not only important to our planning as a church for the ministry we will be able to fund, but it is also an important spiritual practice, as you consider the place giving to the church has among the many competing interests in your budget.

This Sunday, we are also thrilled to welcome our children’s choirs, ages 5K- Grade 5, back into our 11:00am Sanctuary worship service. This will be their first time singing in worship live since February 2020!

We are also excited to welcome Nadege Gay from Haiti Outreach Ministries. Nadege will be speaking during the Sunday School hour in Fogartie Hall. All are invited to attend to hear more about what is happening in Haiti right now, and the good work HOM is doing.

Add to that Officer Training, a Young Adult event, and Youth Group in the afternoon and evening, and we have a full day of exciting and important activities for all ages! Thanks be to God!

Craig Foster
Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Communications

STEWARDSHIP COMMITMENT SUNDAY – OCTOBER 17
8:45am MorningSong (Fogartie Hall)
8:45am Traditional Worship (Sanctuary)
9:45am Sunday School
11:00am Traditional Worship (Sanctuary)
4:00pm Young Adult Fellowship at the Breeden Farm
5:00pm Sunday Night Youth Group

Stream our MorningSong and 11am Sanctuary services live on FPCSpartanburg.org/worship, YouTube, or Facebook.

9:45am Sunday School for All Ages

• Children
• Youth
• Combined Adult Sunday School Class: Haiti Outreach Ministries – Fogartie Hall and Livestream
  On Sunday, October 17, there will be a special Sunday School class with Nadege Gay, Assistant Superintendent of Schools for Haiti Outreach Ministries. We hope you will plan to attend and hear the latest updates on Haiti.

Stewardship Commitment Sunday
Your faithful giving helps the ministries of First Presbyterian Church thrive. Please prayerfully consider your 2022 pledge and bring your pledge card to church and turn it in during worship. You may also pledge online at fpcspartanburg.org/pledge.

NEXT WEEK
JOY Fellowship Lunch at Clevedale Historic Inn and Gardens – Thursday, October 21
The JOY (Just Older Youth) Fellowship is BACK! Meet at the church October 21 at 11am to carpool to Clevedale Historic Inn and Gardens for lunch. Register by calling or emailing Joanie Shackleton (864-208-2132/ jshackleton@fpcspartanburg.org) by Monday, October 18.

College Student Care Packages
The Youth will be putting together care packages to send to our current college students next week! If you would like your current college student to receive a package, please fill out this form. Additionally, if you would like to contribute any items for the Youth to send to these students, we are asking for things like bags of Halloween candy, gum, mints, Chapstick, individually packaged Rice Krispy treats (store bought kind), etc. Contributions can be dropped off at Carrie’s desk in the Youth department (right next to Monteigne’s desk in the main office area!)

WAF Dinner and Volunteers Needed (Register Here by Monday)
Join us Wednesday, October 20 for Breakfast for Dinner! Pano will be serving French toast sticks, bacon, tater tots, fruit, and dessert for everyone. We encourage everyone to bring lawn chairs, picnic blankets, and tailgate with us outside for dinner! Register yourself and/or your family by Monday at 4:30pm. Weekly sign-up options are also available through October. We need WAF volunteers. If you would like to serve in some capacity to ensure WAF runs smoothly, please click here to sign up!

WAF Programs – 6:30-7:15pm
CRC – 5K-Grade 5 (Gym and Activity Room)
Youth – Grades 6-12 (High School Room)
Adults

• Poetry and the Language of Faith – Led by Dr. Lewis Galloway (Social Hall)
• The Best Yes Women’s Study – Led by Ashley Millinor and Martha Waters (Library)
• Younger Women’s Bible Study – Led by Donna Pulliam, Carter Smith, and Leslie Lang (Perrin Room)

Other Weekday Bible Studies and Groups

• Tickled Pink Women’s Study: Tuesdays at 9:15am in Fogartie Hall
• Nan & Tom’s Study: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 12 noon via Zoom (Join in)
• 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
• Middle School Boys Bible Study: Wednesdays at 3:30pm (River Birch entrance/Cottonwood Trail)
• Children’s Choir: Wednesdays at 5pm
• Younger Women’s Bible Study: Wednesdays at 6:30pm and Thursdays at 9am
• Bootcamp – Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 7:15 a.m. and 9:15 a.m. (Email Colleen)
• 6:30am Men’s Bible Study: Fridays in the Small Private Dining Room
• 7:00am Men’s Bible Study: Fridays in the Arthur Center
• Middle School Girls Bible Study: Fridays at 3:45pm-5pm at Downtown Starbucks

Welcome Class – Begins October 24
There will be another Welcome Class for those interested in learning more about First Presbyterian Church beginning October 24. We will meet each Sunday through November 14 at 10-10:45am in Room 2200. These sessions are a wonderful way to get acquainted with the Presbyterian church, the opportunities available at First Presbyterian, and to meet the staff. 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. Please contact Molly Colbath for more information.

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
Neighborhood Meal Ministry (More Information)
The Neighborhood Meal Ministry is resumed Thursday, October 14 with adjustments for Covid safety measures. The Ministry has moved to Thursday evenings in the Arthur Center, with food service beginning at 5:15pm. If anyone is interested in volunteering or needs additional information, please contact Mary Lorick Thompson or Betsy Burrell.

Volunteer for Winter Warmth (Sign Up Here)
There is work to be done in our own backyard, and you can help with an important mission of First Presbyterian Church without leaving town. Over 20 years and 36,000 coats later, FPC is still striving to keep Spartanburg County school children warm. This year’s Winter Warmth mission will be held Saturday, November 13. The Winter Warmth Committee needs your help with set up and clean up as well as during the event. Please register to volunteer today! If you would like to make a donation to Winter Warmth, you may do so at fpcspartanburg.org/give.

Dominican Republic Mission Trip - February 5-12, 2022 (Register Here by November 2)
Join First Pres in February for a medical, dental, and construction mission trip in the Dominican Republic! Registration is open now.

Other Opportunities in Ministry Finder

• Earthquake Relief in Haiti (Donate Online)

• Habitat for Humanity Spartanburg

• Hand in Hand

• TOTAL Ministries

OTHER NEWS
Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans – October 31, 2021
The 2021 Kirkin’ of the Tartans will be held on Sunday, October 31, at 8:45am and 11:00am in the Sanctuary. If you are a Tartan Sponsor, please email Martha and Budge Bean to confirm your participation and service preference. It is very important that we know you are coming so that we have a staff and stand for you. *Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the number of marchers will be limited to 28 marchers per service. If you choose not to march this year, we would love to have some banners to display in the Sanctuary and Tower Room. A mandatory rehearsal will be held in the Sanctuary on Wednesday, October 27, at 5:30pm. If you purchased a new tartan this year, plan to arrive at 5:15pm in the Sanctuary where you will get your tartan and the name banner for the staff..

FPC Church Tartan Ties and Scarves (Order Here)
The First Presbyterian Church Worship Committee is excited to present the First Presbyterian Church tartan at the Kirkin' o' the Tartans service on October 31, 2021. This fabric, designed by the committee and woven and registered in Scotland by Lochcarron of Scotland, will appear in numerous ways in the church. We also have ties and scarves for sale. Ties are $25 and scarves are $35. Place your order today for pickup from Lynise Clarke in the church financial office. Note that scarves are sold out! More are on the way, but will likely not be here before Kirkin’.

Girl Talk for Moms and Daughters– Sunday, November 7
Join Dr. Dawn Bingham for Girl Talk Sunday, November 7 from 1-3pm in Fogartie Hall. This is open to girls in grades 4-6 and their mothers. Register by Friday, November 4 with Beth Cecil.

FPC Weekday School Minted Fundraiser (https://www.minted.com/about‐us)
Holiday card season is upon us. Please consider shopping Minted this year using the promo code FUNDRAISEFPCWEEKDAY. You’ll get 20% off Minted stationery, custom gifts, and more - and 15% of each order will be donated back to First Presbyterian Church Weekday School at the end of the year. Every order makes a difference!

The Peace and Justice Task Force Spotlight: Speaking Down Barriers
October’s Spotlight is on Speaking Down Barriers. This group is well-established and respected in our area and across the country. They provide encounters that transform our life together across human difference for healing and justice. Each month they host a number of meetings designed to help participants more clearly see and understand the injustice in our lives and communities. Prayerfully consider joining one or more of these gatherings, which are still being held virtually. Click this link to access all of the community events. Click on the title of the event for more information.

LOOKING AHEAD
October 17 – Stewardship Commitment Sunday
October 21 – JOY Fellowship Trip/Lunch at Clevedale Inn (Register)
October 27 – The Perfect Blend
October 31 – Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans
November 7 – Girl Talk with Dr. Dawn Bingham (Email Beth Cecil to Register)
November 9 – FPC Hosts the Foothills Presbytery Stated Meeting
November 13 – Winter Warmth Distribution
November 28 – First Sunday of Advent
December 5 – Advent Workshop
December 8 – White Gifts Service
December 19 – Moravian Love Feast
December 24 – Christmas Eve Services

More activities and events can be found in First News.