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Weekly Update for April 23, 2021

Dear Siblings in Christ,

This Sunday, we resume the 8:45am Traditional service (in the Sanctuary) and also in-person Sunday School for all ages!

Please note that not all Sunday School classes are meeting, some classes are combined, and some classes are meeting in different rooms. So please check the full list of Sunday School classes below very carefully! Children’s Church will also resume during the 11:00am Sanctuary service, and nursery will be available during Sunday School and the 11:00am service.

It will be so wonderful to see and hear signs of life and activity throughout the building on Sunday!

Craig Foster
Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Communications

THIS SUNDAY
8:45am MorningSong (Fogartie Hall)
8:45am Traditional Worship (Sanctuary)
10:00am In-Person Sunday School (schedule below)
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.

In-Person Sunday School – 10:00 a.m.
We are excited to welcome Sunday School classes back! Sunday School for all ages will resume this week, 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

Bible Alive!: Room 2208 (Zoom Option Available – Join in)
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
Combined Adult Zoom Class (Join in)

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
First Steps in Music (Sign Up by Wednesday!)
First Steps in Music is a program for children birth through age 2. On the first four Sundays of May, classes will be offered for these children and their parents from 5:00-5:30pm at the church. If you have interest in participating in this experience, or if you have any questions, please contact Marcia Andrews by this Wednesday, April 28. Masks will be required of all adults. Enrollment is very limited right now, so sign up quickly!

Wednesdays at First – April 28
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 beginning a series on Philippians entitled “Count it All Joy” in Fogartie Hall. For a full list of activities, the monthly menu, and to register/pre-pay for dinner, visit www.fpcspartanburg.org/waf.

Yoga – Thursdays Beginning April 29
12noon in the Activity Room
Bring your mat, mask, and enjoy lunch time yoga with instructor Leslie Lehman each Thursday, beginning April 29, at 12noon.

Keeping the Faith: A Story of Forgiveness and Resilience in the Face of Tragedy – Sunday, May 2
7pm at Bethel United Methodist Church
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!

Office Hours/Gym Hours
The Church Office is open Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm (closed for lunch, 1-2pm). The gym will reopen on Monday, April 26 from 9am-1pm and 5-8pm Monday-Thursday and 9am-5pm on Friday. Masks are required in all church facilities.

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)
· 6:30am Men’s Bible Study: Fridays in the Large Private Dining Room (Starting May 7)
· 7:00am Men’s Bible Study: Fridays in the Arthur Center
· Middle School Girl’s Bible Study: Fridays at 4:30pm at Starbucks (E. Main and Montview)

Other Weekly Zoom Times

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)

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

OTHER NEWS
Weekday School Taco Tuesday Fundraiser
May 4 (Order Here by May 3)
Taco Tuesday wouldn't be complete without a Moe's taco kit! Pre-order your taco kit by May 3 at 4pm and pick up on May 4 in front of the Family Life Center. Click here for more information. Proceeds will benefit the FPC Weekday School.

National Day of Prayer – May 6
The National Day of Prayer is May 6. The theme, “Lord, pour out your love, life, and liberty,” is taken from 2 Corinthians 3:17, which reads, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” The study of Galatians, led by Dr. Lewis Galloway during Wednesdays at First this past month, has been an excellent preparation for this year’s National Day of Prayer. Please set aside time on May 6 to pray for our nation. We also invite you to pray in the Chapel.

Blood Drive – May 16 (Make an Appointment)
Give blood at First Pres Sunday, May 16 from 8am-1pm in the Family Life Center Parking Lot. Covid Antibody Testing will be offered to those that have had or suspect they have had Covid-19 as well as those who have received a Covid-19 vaccine. A $20 charitable donation will be made to First Pres for every blood donor! Masks are required. Contact Beth Cecil to make an appointment.

Focus: A Family Experience - June 13-16 (Register Your Family by May 19)
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.

LOOKING AHEAD
April 25 – 8:45am Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary/In-Person Sunday School Returns
May 2 – Confirmation Sunday
May 4 – WDS Taco Tuesday Fundraiser (Order Here)
May 6 – National Day of Prayer
May 16 – Baccalaureate Sunday
May 16 – Blood Sunday (Make an Appointment)
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.