Weekly Update for April 16, 2021

Dear Siblings in Christ,

It was great to be able to welcome people back for in-person worship services both in the Sanctuary and Fogartie Hall! Thank you for your continued understanding of the need for COVID-19 precautions, such as masks and physical distancing, whether you are fully vaccinated or not.

This Sunday, we will follow the same pattern as last Sunday, with an 8:45am MorningSong Service and an 11:00am Sanctuary Service with online Sunday School in between. Next Sunday, April 25, will be a bit different, though, as we add in in-person Sunday School, nursery, and Children’s worship. See below for details and locations.

We will also be adding in an additional 8:45am Sanctuary service starting on April 25, to help prevent overcrowding in either our 11:00am Sanctuary Service or our 8:45am MorningSong service. We hope that you will consider taking advantage of this earlier Traditional Worship service. Note that only the 8:45am MorningSong service and the 11:00am Sanctuary service will be livestreamed.

Craig Foster
Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Communications

Confirmation Retreat – Saturday, April 17 (10am-2pm)
The Breeden’s Pavilion

Contact Carrie Coleman if you have questions or need additional details.

THIS SUNDAY
8:45am MorningSong (Fogartie Hall)
10:00am Combined Adult Sunday School (Join in)
10:00am Children’s Sunday School Rotation (Contact Holly Bannan)
11:00am Traditional Worship (Sanctuary)
5:00pm Middle School Youth Group (High School Room in FLC)
6:00pm High School Youth Group (High School Room in FLC)

We stream our Sanctuary and MorningSong services live each Sunday. Stream on:

• FPCSpartanburg.org/WORSHIP for bulletins, Bible readings, sermon info, and more.
• YouTube on your smart TV, streaming device, or almost any other device.
• Facebook to join with a community of people worshipping together online.

However you join us, please:

• Check in through the ShelbyNext app or sign the online guestbook to let us know you worshipped with us.
• Consider giving online or through the ShelbyNext app as a regular act of worship.

Trouble with the livestreams? Check out this information on the church website.

Combined Adult Sunday School (Join in)
LIFT Class and all adults are invited to join Rev. Ansley Page for Resurrection Wonder on April 18 via Zoom. We’ll take a walk through John 20 & 21 and consider how the Risen Christ appears to us in 2021.

10:00 a.m. Children’s Sunday School Rotation
Join Mrs. Holly on Zoom for Sunday School on your special day! We’re dividing into small groups so you can join your friends for Sunday School on those Sundays. Contact Mrs. Holly for more information and the Zoom link.

5:00 p.m. Sunday Night Youth Group
Sunday Night Youth Group returns to the High School Room in the Family Life Center! Middle School will meet from 5-6pm and High School will meet from 6-7pm. Please use the back door for drop off and pick up.

NEXT WEEK
In-Person Sunday School Resumes April 25!
We are excited to welcome Sunday School classes back on April 25! Sunday School for all ages will resume that day, as well as nursery and Children’s Church. Some classes will be combined or relocated. So please pay attention to the information below. More adult classes will resume down the road.

Children

• Nursery: 6 months – 3 years in Room C105
• Preschool: Room C110
• Elementary: Room C201
• Children’s Worship (11am): Room C207

Youth

• Middle and High School students will meet together in the High School Room.

Adults

• Christian Perspectives: Room C212
• Faith Driven & Young Adults: Gather in Room C210 for a time of fellowship and reconnecting
• LIFT: Fogartie Hall
• Open Class: Room 2216
• Purnell Fellowship Class: Purnell Room

Weekday Bible Studies and Other Discipleship Groups

• Tickled Pink (Women Study): Tuesdays through May 4 at 9:30am in Fogartie Hall
• Book Study with Nan & Tom McDaniel: Tuesdays or Thursdays at Noon on Zoom (Join in)
• Christians in the Making (Women’s Study): Wednesdays at 10am in the Purnell Room
• Mom Moment with Ansley Page: Wednesdays at noon on Zoom (Join in)
• Wednesday Men’s Bible Study: Wednesdays at noon on Zoom (Join in)
• 7:00am Men’s Bible Study: Fridays in the Arthur Center starting next week
• Middle School Girl’s Bible Study: Fridays at 4:30pm at Starbucks (E. Main and Montview)

Wednesdays at First – April 21
Pre-Order Dinner by Monday at noon
Join us for WAF this Wednesday! Drive through the porte-cochere at the Family Life Center beginning at 5pm to pick up a delicious meal and tailgate in the parking lot. Programs for children, youth, and adults will begin at 6pm. Dr. Lewis Galloway is teaching a series on Galatians entitled “What Does it Mean to be Free?” in Fogartie Hall. For a full list of activities, the monthly menu, and to register/pre-pay for dinner, visit www.fpcspartanburg.org/waf.

Walking in the Family Life Center
On Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon, we will open the walking track for members 50 years and older. There is no registration required, but we will limit the number of people walking to four at a time. Masks are required at all times in the building.

Weekly Zoom Times
See the full list online at: https://fpcspartanburg.org/events/weekly-zoom

• Zoom Group Workouts – Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 7:15 a.m. and 9:15 a.m. (Email Colleen)
• Prayer Gathering with Joanne – Tuesdays at Noon (Join in)
• Book Study with Nan and Tom McDaniel – Tuesdays/Thursdays at Noon (Join in)
• Mom Moment with Ansley Page – Wednesdays at Noon (Join in)
• Men’s Bible Study – Wednesdays at Noon (Join in)
• Preschool Lunch Bunch – Thursdays at 12:30pm (Contact Holly Bannan for the link)
• 5^th Grade Hangout with Holly – Thursdays at 4:00pm (Contact Holly Bannan for the link)
• Children’s Rotation Sunday School – Sundays at 10:00am (Contact Holly Bannan for the link)
• Combined Adult Sunday School – (Join in)

New to Zoom? Having Trouble? Need a Password?
The current password for most church events is “5834531” (which just happens to be the church phone number as well). Please visit www.fpcspartanburg.org/zoom for tips on how to get the most out of your Zoom gatherings.

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
Cards for Hospital Workers
As many of you know, healthcare workers are emotionally, physically, and spiritually exhausted during this pandemic. The volunteer manager at SRHS has requested notes and cards to remind them that they are loved and appreciated. There is a drop-off box for cards outside the Tower Room doors; bring cards at any time that is convenient for you. During WAF, we will have hands-on opportunities to make/write cards onsite (Watch for more information). There are over 11,000 employees, and a note of encouragement could really brighten their day! This is a great project for all ages, so get the entire family involved!

Other Opportunities in Ministry Finder

• Spartanburg Opportunity Center
• Hope Center
• Hand in Hand
• TOTAL Ministries
• SPIHN
• Mobile Meals

OTHER NEWS
Keeping the Faith: A Story of Forgiveness and Resilience in the Face of Tragedy
Chris Singleton lost his mother in the Mother Emmauel AME shooting in Charleston in 2015. Since then, he has traveled the country sharing his inspirational story of forgiveness and love, and he is coming to Spartanburg! On May 2nd at 7pm, Chris will be at Bethel UMC in person for a socially-distanced event. First Presbyterian Church is helping to sponsor the event, and we have been given space for 25 people to join. The event will also be livestreamed. If you are interested in attending in person, please RSVP to Pastor Leslie. The spots will be first-come, first-serve!

Focus: A Family Experience - June 13-16 (Register Your Family)
Are you ready to deepen your faith as a family this summer? This year, FPC is excited to announce a “family camp” style VBS! Based on Orange’s VBS, we bring you “FOCUS: FPC Family Experience” for Summer 2021. Join us June 13-16 from 5:30-7:30pm to dive deeper in your faith. We will have dinner on the lawn, opening break-out sessions (children, youth, and adult), family-bible/activity time, then have a closing time together. This experience is open to children and youth of all ages. Mark your calendar and join us for this awesome week together!

Memorial and Tribute Floral Arrangements in the Sanctuary
There are Sundays available in June, July, and August for memorial and tribute floral arrangements in the Sanctuary. For more information, contact LeAnne Thurmond at leanne.thurmond@gmail.com or (864) 621-0213.

Giving to First Presbyterian Church – Dropbox available outside of the Tower Room
Thank you for your faithful giving to First Presbyterian Church. For your convenience, we have placed a securely locked drop box outside of the Tower Room. We also receive and check mail daily at the church. Your contributions are safely getting to our financial office. Please continue to drop contributions off at the church in the outdoor drop box or mail to Attn: Lynise Clarke 393 E. Main Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302.

Office Hours
The Church Office is open Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm (closed for lunch, 1-2pm). Please ring the doorbell or call and make an appointment. Additionally, feel free to contact us via email or phone. All email addresses and phone extensions can be found at fpcspartanburg.org/staff.

LOOKING AHEAD
April 25 – 8:45am Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary/In-Person Sunday School Returns
May 2 – Confirmation Sunday
May 16 – Baccalaureate Sunday
May 23 – Pentecost
June 13-16 – FOCUS FPC Family Experience (Register Your Family)
August 13-15 – Women’s Connection at Montreat

More activities and events can be found in First News.