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Weekly Update for April 30, 2021

Dear Siblings in Christ,

This Sunday is Confirmation Sunday, when 25 of our 9^th graders will make their public professions of faith and become full members of this congregation during our 11am Sanctuary service. Because of our distancing requirements, our confirmands and their families will take up the entire front half of the floor level of the Sanctuary! We will have video overflow ready in the Chapel and in Fogartie Hall, but we might suggest that if you do not have a connection to one of the confirmands, you may consider attending one of the two 8:45am services on Sunday in the Sanctuary or Fogartie Hall. This is a joyous milestone for these youth. So please remember them in prayer and thanksgiving.

Craig Foster
Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Communications

THIS SUNDAY – CONFIRMATION SUNDAY
8:45am MorningSong (Fogartie Hall)
8:45am Traditional Worship (Sanctuary)
10:00am In-Person Sunday School (schedule below)
11:00am Traditional Worship (Sanctuary)

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.
Sunday School for all ages will resumed last week, as well as nursery and Children’s Church. Some classes will be combined or relocated. So please pay attention to the information below.

Children & Youth

· Nursery: 6 months – 3 years in Room C105
· Preschool: Room C110
· Elementary: Room C201
· Children’s Worship (11am): Room C207
· Middle and High School: High School Room

Adults

Bible Alive!: Room 2208 (Zoom Option Available – Join in)
Christian Perspectives: Room C212
Emmaus: Social Hall
Faith Driven & Young Adults: Room C210
LIFT: Fogartie Hall
Open Class: Room 2216
Purnell Fellowship Class: Purnell Room
Combined Adult Zoom Class (Join in)

Keeping the Faith: A Story of Forgiveness and Resilience in the Face of Tragedy
7pm at Bethel United Methodist Church (Watch Live)
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. Watch here! If you are interested in attending in person, there are a few spots left. Please RSVP to Pastor Leslie.

NEXT WEEK
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.

Virtual Welcome Class (Register Here)
Tuesdays, May 4-18 at 8pm
You are invited to join us for a virtual Welcome to First Presbyterian Class! Zoom in on Tuesdays May 4, May 11, and May 18 at 8:00pm. The Welcome Class will last about 45 minutes each Tuesday evening. We kindly ask that you register with Joanie Shackleton at jshackleton@fpcspartanburg.org to receive the Zoom link prior to Tuesday, May 4.

The class will be followed by an in-person opportunity to join the church on Pentecost Sunday, May 23.

Wednesdays at First – May 5
Pre-Order Dinner by Monday at noon
You may now register for all three May WAF meals! Payment is required at the time of registration. Refunds or credits will not be issued for any dates you are unable to attend. Registration for the monthly payment option closes at noon on Monday, May 3. For a full list of activities, the monthly menu, and to register/pre-pay for dinner, visit www.fpcspartanburg.org/waf.

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.

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

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) through May 14

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.

ShelbyNext App
We have learned that the ShelbyNext App and iPhones are not getting along; the App is not showing the Directory. Shelby is aware of this issue and is working with Apple to resolve it. There is a projected fix date of “next week”. In the meantime, please feel free to access your ShelbyNext account (including Church Directory) from your internet browser: firstpres.shelbynextchms.com/user/login.

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
Cleveland Academy of Leadership – Kindergarten Reading Tutors
With very low enrollment in 4K this school year, due to COVID, Cleveland is anticipating many Kindergarten students entering school for the first time this fall, with no prior pre-school experience. In order to ensure all students get the best academic start, we are hoping to build a team of volunteer tutors throughout the school morning to work with students one on one with letter identification, letter sounds, and sight words. As well as read aloud to students in a one-on-one setting. To learn more about this opportunity, visit ministry finder. If you are interested in serving in this way, or have any questions, please contact Mary Elizabeth Evans at meevans@spart7.org.

Other Opportunities in Ministry Finder

OTHER NEWS
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 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
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 by May 19)
August 13-15 – Women’s Connection at Montreat

More activities and events can be found in First News.