Weekly Update for October 5, 2018

This Sunday is a very special Sunday around the world, as we celebrate our unity in Christ at the table. We will also begin a special time of fellowship in our new gathering space known as the Perrin Room. See below for details.

This afternoon, our youth headed off for their fall retreat. Please pray for the 41 youth and adults, that this may be a time of fun, growth, and safety for them all.

Speaking of the youth retreat, they are riding in two new church buses that our church’s endowment allowed has enabled us to purchase. These busses will mean a huge increase in safety and comfort for our youth, JOY Fellowship, and other groups traveling from the church. Thanks be to God for the saints whose gifts made those possible!

THIS SUNDAY
8:45am    MorningSong* in Fogartie Hall &
                Chapel Worship Service
9:45am    Sunday School for All Ages
11:00am  Sanctuary* Worship Service

(* Services with asterisks will be livestreamed at www.fpcspartanburg.org/live. Bulletins, scripture readings, manuscripts, and video archives can also be found on that page. The MorningSong livestream will resume this week, though it will still be a little rough around the edges as we get the new equipment fully online.)

New Monthly Fellowship Time
10:30am in The Perrin Room
Sunday we will kick off a series of monthly fellowship times in our newly renovated gathering space. Meet in the Perrin Room at 10:30am for doughnuts, coffee, and fellowship with your church family.

World Communion Bread Offering
The first Sunday in October is World Communion Sunday, which celebrates our oneness in Christ with all our brothers and sisters around the world. This year, celebrate World Communion Sunday by bringing bread to the communion table. You may bring your loaf to the table prior to the service or as you come forward to receive communion. Following the service, we will share the bread with those in need in our community.

Faith Driven Sunday School Class Hosts SPIHN Director
10am in Room C210
SPIHN is a temporary homeless shelter for families with children under the age of 18.  Please join Faith Driven(C210) as SPIHN Director Beth Rutherford comes in to talk about what SPIHN provides for these families and how we can help.

NEXT WEEK
Join us for Wednesdays at First!
5pm in Fogartie Hall
Join us for a great meal with your church family each Wednesday. No reservations are necessary, but if you wish to pre-pay online, you may do so at: fpcspartanburg.org/waf. Cash, check, and credit cards are accepted at the door.

Vaccination/Skin Screening Clinic – Wednesday
5:15 – 7:15pm  Vaccinations in the Social Hall
6:00 – 7:15pm  Skin Screening in the Activity Room (Limited screenings available by appointment only)
Vaccinations offered: Flu, Pneumonia, Tdap, Shingles Vaccine (if available)
Check with your Primary Care Provider to determine the vaccinations that you have previously received.
Pre-registration is required. To register contact Beth Cecil (bcecil@fpcspartanburg.org or 208-2136)

WAF Program: Prayer – Finding Your Way Home
Wednesdays, September 12 – October 10
6:30-7:15pm in the Chapel
Led by Kirk Neely
This seminar will be based on the book by Richard Foster, Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home. Foster is a Quaker friend and the best-selling author of The Celebration of Discipline. In his primer on prayer, he helps readers understand, experience, and practice prayer it in its many forms. This is an opportunity to find deeper intimacy with God and deeper purpose in ministry to others. Each session will build upon previous sessions, but each session is designed to be self-contained.

Weekly Sermon Study with Your Pastors
Wednesdays at 6:30-7:15pm in the Parlor OR
Thursdays at 7:30-8:15am in the Parlor
Each week, your pastors will lead a time of prayer and fellowship together. Then we will dive into the biblical text (based on the sermon 10 days from the study date). Together, we will explore the passage and wrestle over what it means for our lives today. All are welcome at either time.

Angels Charge Ministry presents two free events with Becca Stevens,
Founder of Thistle Farms in Nashville, Tennessee
Friday, October 12, 2018

• Community Forum: 8-10am // Episcopal Church of the Advent Parish Life Center Explore the effect of incarceration and recidivism on Spartanburg County. How can we make a difference in our community and state?
• College Talk: 11:30am – 12:30pm // USC Upstate – Library 002-Tukey Theatre Learn about the impact of trafficking and incarceration on our community: What you need to know and how you can make a difference.

For more information go to www.angelschargeministry.org/event.

Positive Parenting Seminars for Parents of Youth – Next Sunday, October 14
5:30-7:30pm in the Mid-High Room Upstairs in the FLC
There will be no Positive Parenting Program this Sunday, but the Hope Center for children will offer its final session of the series of Sunday evening programs for parents of teenagers next Sunday. Next Sunday’s session is entitled “Getting Teenagers Connected”.

Read Through the Bible in 2018
Friday, October 5 – Jeremiah 3, 4 / John 2
Saturday, October 6 – Jeremiah 5, 6 / John 3
Sunday, October 7 – Jeremiah 7-8 /Psalm 114-115
Monday, October 8 – Jeremiah 9-10 / John 4
Tuesday, October 9 – Jeremiah 11-12 / John 5
Wednesday, October 10 – Jeremiah 13-14 / John 6
Thursday, October 11 – Jeremiah 15-16 /Psalm 116
Friday, October 12 – Jeremiah 17-18 / John 7
Saturday, October 13 – Jeremiah 19-20 / John 8

OTHER NEWS
“The Power of Presence: An Evening with Susan L. Taylor and Joy Thomas Moore” – Monday, October 22
6pm at Cornerstone Baptist Church
Hosted by The Spartanburg County Foundation
Enjoy a free discussion on how to be a voice in your child’s ear, even when you are not with them. Learn more at www.spcf.org.

JOY Fellowship – HORSES, BARNS, AND FOOD! – October 25
Join the Joy Fellowship on Thursday, October 25 as they make their way to the new Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, NC where the recent world competition was held. Contact Joanie Shackleton to make your reservation by Sunday, October 21. For more information, visit: https://www.fpcspartanburg.org/events/joy-fellowship-trip-to-tryon-international-equestrian-center.

Cookies Needed for Kairos Prison Ministry – October 31
Cookies are needed for the upcoming fall Kairos Prison Ministry weekend. Many dozens of home-baked cookies are needed for the 4-day weekend at Tyger River Prison. All flavors & recipes are fine, but please no powdered sugar topping or raisins. Brownies and bars are also fine. Please use disposable packaging such as zip lock bags; closed paper containers (e.g. shoe boxes), wax paper layers, or sealable plastic containers like "Glad" brand, but no aluminum foil. Please bring cookies to the church office before noon on Wednesday, October 31. Questions: Contact Doug Baker (dougbaker@bellsouth.net / 864-494-0301). Many thanks helping!

Church Basketball Registration – Register by October 31 Boys & Girls – Grades 1-12 Sign up now for church basketball! Practices will begin in mid-November. Cost is $75. For more information or to sign up online, visit fpcspartanburg.org/basketball. The October 31 deadline is firm, so that we can build our teams.

Winter Warmth needs Volunteers and Donations On the morning of Saturday, November 10, our congregation will distribute winter coats to children in Spartanburg County during our Winter Warmth Mission. It takes many people to lead this event, and we need your help with event set up, registration, fitting children with coats, managing traffic, and clean up. To volunteer, register online at: https://tinyurl.com/y8924mwu. Donations of new or knitted caps, scarves, and gloves are needed to give to the toddlers of Winter Warmth families. Please bring items to donate to the mission closet across from the church library.

Register now for the Dominican Republic Mission Trip
February 2-9, 2019
Cost: $1,500
Please join First Presbyterian Spartanburg on an international mission to the Dominican Republic. FPC has made a commitment to visiting with our sisters and brothers in the Caribbean that need our help. Partnering with Solid Rock International, FPC Spartanburg sends a yearly team of doctors, dentists, nurses and just regular people to provide medical, dental services as well as built construction projects. For more information and to register visit our website at: https://www.fpcspartanburg.org/serve/a-world-in-need/dominican-republic

Thornwell Hope for Children Luncheon – November 7 Thornwell is a home for children in Clinton sponsored by Synod of the Southeast. In previous years, Thornwell enjoyed very generous support from First Presbyterian Church. The manner in which Thornwell serves children continues to evolve and grow; Thornwell continues to use the model of placing children in a   Christian family environment on its campus. FPC would like to sponsor a table at the Hope for Children Luncheon on November 7 at the Embassy Suites in Greenville. The luncheon will be an opportunity to raise awareness and funds. If you are interested, contact Harriet Ike for information at 864-542-8338 or harrietike@gmail.com.

APNC Needs YOUR Input The APNC would like your help to find an Associate Pastor of Young Adults and Mission. Through your own connections, many of you know potential candidates. Please give one of our Committee members the name and contact information and we will follow up. APNC: Mac White, Chair, Cathy Bagwell, Andrew Darr, Kellie Foster, Laura Stille, Alan Workman, Hannah Zimmerman. You may send information to APNC Chair Mac White (MWhite@holcombebomar.com) or contact any committee member via the ShelbyNext Portal (https://www.fpcspartanburg.org/discover/member-login).

Search for Director of Children's Ministries The DCM search team need your help to find our next Director of Children’s Ministries! The very best candidates are often already linked in some way to the congregation they will serve. So please talk to a few people you know, or email them, and let them know FPC is looking for a full-time Director of Children’s Ministries. Or give one of our search team members the name and contact information and we will follow up! People can find the full job description at www.fpcspartanburg.org/dcm. Resumes and cover letters may be sent to Sara Bailey at sara.bailey@ministryarchitects.com. DCM Search Team: Tim Camp, Celia Cogdell, Craig Foster, ,Anne-Marie Glover, Callie Hammett, Arthur Jones, Cesily King, Emily Neely (chair)

LOOKING AHEAD
October 5-7 – Youth Fall Retreat at Camp Longridge
October 7 – World Communion Sunday
October 17 – Evensong Worship Service
October 28 – Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans
November 4 – All Saints Sunday
November 4 – Blood Drive
November 10 – Winter Warmth Distribution
December 2 – Advent Begins
December 2 – Chamber Singers Concert
December 5 – White Gifts Service
December 9 – Chancel Choir Music Services
December 16 – MorningSong Lessons and Carols Service
December 16 – Moravian Love Feasts
February 1-3 – Women’s Retreat at Kanuga

Find out more in First News: fpcspartanburg.org/firstnews