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Weekly Update for April 24, 2020

Dear Siblings in Christ,

This week, Joanne Hull will be preaching in both worship services, exploring 1 Peter 2:2-10. Join us for either (or both!) services and don’t miss Sunday School and Godly Play for the younger kids between services.

And check out the revised listing of community Zoom times for everyone. Each online gathering has its own purpose and content, but all will also allow for plenty of time to connect with other members of our church family.

Don’t forget about the Hardship Survey that the Deacons are doing as part of Tom Evans’s continuing research from his sabbatical. More information on that is below.

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

THIS SUNDAY
8:45am MorningSong ONLINE
10:00am Adult Sunday School (Zoom)
10:00am Godly Play
11:00am Sanctuary Worship Service ONLINE
4:00pm Middle School Youth Group (Zoom)
5:00pm High School Youth Group (Zoom)

All services will be livestreamed at www.fpcspartanburg.org/live. Bulletins, scripture readings, manuscripts, and video archives can also be found on that page. Our worship livestreams also appear on Facebook and YouTube. Please sign the online guestbook when you join us for worship online and consider making your regular contributions online. Have you been having trouble with the livestreams? Check out this information on the church website.

10:00am Sunday School (Join in)
This Sunday in the combined Adult Class via Zoom, Dr. Tom McDaniel will lead us in exploring the different accounts of the resurrection in the New Testament. Note that a password has been added to this Zoom call, but the “Join in” link above will get you in without having to type a password. More information (and the password itself) can be found in the section labeled “Zoom Security and Privacy” below.

Godly Play with Holly – Sundays on YouTube
Holly Bannan will be recording the Godly Play lesson for children each week and posting it to the church YouTube page. A link to this video is also being sent out to parents each week.

NEXT WEEK
Weekly Community Zoom Times for Everyone!

Adult Sunday School – Sundays at 10am (Join in)
Morning Coffee & Sermon Discussion – Mondays at 10am (Join in)
Calling All Parents of Children and Youth! – Mondays at 4pm (Join in)
Prayer Gathering with Joanne – Tuesdays at Noon (Join in)
Bible Study on the Gospel of Mark with Tom – Wednesdays at 6pm (Join in)
Evening Devotions – Thursdays at 8:30pm on Zoom (Join in)

ECHOES Caregiver Zoom Meeting – Thursday April 30
Noon -1pm (Join in)
During this stay-at-home time, caregivers carry extra responsibilities. Now is the time to participate in a conversation where folks are in similar circumstances and encourage each other. All you have to do is click the “Join in” link above, but here is additional information, if you need it:
Meeting ID: 865 4777 4030
Password: 024820

Prepare for Communion NEXT Sunday, May 3
If you wish to participate in Communion during Online Worship on Sunday, May 3, we ask that you prepare your own elements ahead of time (crackers, a slice of bread, or any type of bread you might have on hand) and a sip of grape juice or wine. You can partake, as directed, during the service, so that even while we are apart, we can enjoy this transcendent, yet very earthy, “communion” together.

Hangouts with Holly – Monday & Thursday
Starting at 1pm on Zoom (Email Holly for specific times and a link)
All children are invited to join Holly Bannan online for a time of fellowship and learning together.
1:00pm 3K, 4K, and 5K
1:30pm 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd Grade
2:00pm 4^th and 5^th Grace

Youth Group on Zoom
All youth are invited to join Robert, Carrie, and your friends on Zoom throughout the week. More information and links have been sent to youth families. Please contact Robert or Carrie if you have any questions
Tuesdays at 4pm – 9^th and 10^th Graders
Wednesdays at 4pm – Middle Schoolers
Thursdays at 4pm – 11^th and 12^th Graders
Sundays at 4pm – Middle Schoolers
Sundays at 5pm – High Schoolers

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
Farmer’s Market Food Bags
The Local Missions Committee is partnering with Hub City Farmers Market to provide meat and produce bags for 12 families in need. These bags would provide 8 weeks of meat and produce for families the Farmer’s Market has identified. The total cost to fund the bags is $2,220. We need your help to provide these healthy food bags. If you would like to donate any amount, please visit www.fpcspartanburg.org/give.

Cleveland Academy
The families of Cleveland Academy have an increased need for food right now. They are asking again for large ziplock bags with non-perishable food items, specifically boxed meals like hamburger helper, hearty soups, pastas, canned meats and cereal. These items can be dropped off at the Bridge (446 Brawley St) Monday through Thursday 9am-6pm. The principal and staff at Cleveland are directing families in need there. For more information, see the page for this opportunity in Ministry Finder.

SPIHN Needs Your Support!
During this time when houses of worship are shut down, SPIHN is having to house participants in hotel rooms and provide food that is normally provided by host churches. Please consider supporting homeless children and their families during these unusual circumstances. For more information, see the page for this opportunity in Ministry Finder.

NEW Opportunities in Ministry Finder

OTHER NEWS
Hardship Survey
As part of Tom Evans’s continuing research on how we experience God, a special committee of the Diaconate was formed to explore how people experience God in times of hardship, not just during this unusual time, but throughout your life. For more information and to participate in this study, visit: https://survey.iad1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3JcQXb3yXn4Az5z.

Zoom Security and Privacy
We are closely monitoring the news reports about Zoom, but still believe that it is the right tool for the job. But we are using more of Zoom’s built-in privacy and security features. All newly-created events will now have a password. This password will be embedded in the link in this weekly email and in any other email invitation you get from the church. So still all you have to do is click the link to connect. However, any links shared publicly on the church website will not include the embedded password, and you will be prompted to enter a password of you click a link on the church website. For now, the password for all events is 583 4531 (the church phone number without area code or dashes). See www.fpcspartanburg.org/zoom for more information and tips on using Zoom.

Virtual Poverty Summit
Though our in-person Poverty Summit has been postponed, we still celebrated the first year of the Faith Initiative to End Child Poverty online! We invite you to check out the Poverty Initiative Facebook page (whether you are on Facebook or not!) for updates and inspirational videos about the Initiative’s progress and the vision for the future. There is also important information about how you can get involved in the Initiative even during this unusual time.

These Days Devotions Online (Read)
Have you missed being able to pick up a These Days devotion book at the church? Are you wondering what to use to enrich your devotional life each day once the Lent devotions are over? Westminster John Knox Press has made the April edition of These Days available to everyone for free online. Find devotions for April 1-30 here.