Weekly Update for August 13, 2021

Dear Friends,

It is back-to-school time for many within our congregation and community right now. Public school teachers have already gone back, I’ve been seeing all sorts of pictures of college move-ins on social media, and public school students return to school in just a few days. As a congregation, let us pray for and support our educators, school staff, and students as they begin this new school year.

One way you can do that is through the Blessing of the Backpacks this Sunday morning at 10am on the front lawn. Let me highlight that this is an event for everyone, as we all gather to show our support and pray for our students, teachers, and school staff. I hope to see you there!

Craig Foster
Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Communications

THIS SUNDAY – AUGUST 15
8:30am Traditional Worship (Chapel)
9:30am Sunday School for All Ages
9:30am Hospitality Time (Perrin Room)
9:45am Summer Choir (Choir Room)
10:00am Blessing of the Backpacks (Front Lawn)
10:30am Traditional Worship (Sanctuary)
10:30am MorningSong (Fogartie Hall)

While on the Summer Worship Schedule, the 10:30am Sanctuary Worship Service will be streamed on the church website and Facebook, and the 10:30am MorningSong Worship Service will be streamed on the church website and YouTube.

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.

Hospitality Time
Between Services, stop by the Perrin Room - just down the hallway from the Tower Room - for a refreshing beverage. Feel free to take a few minutes to visit with other church members and visitors. If you have any questions about First Presbyterian, our Hospitality Team would like to help you find the answer. Additionally, if you are a church member in need of a Sonitrol Key Card, you may do so during this time at no charge! Please come by to have your picture taken; your card should be available within the week.

9:30am Sunday School for All Ages
Adults: “Welcome to the One Great Story” (Social Hall)
This summer, you are invited to join an adult class on the great sweeping story of the Bible. We will be guided by the new book by Dr. George Thompson entitled "Welcome to the One Great Story." Led by Dr. Lewis Galloway and Dr. Lewis Johnson, the class will help us understand how to interpret the wide variety of literature in the Bible and how the many stories of the Bible come together to tell one great story. This class is designed for all levels of familiarity with the scriptures. Copies of the book will be available for $28 in the Social Hall for those who want to go deeper than what is covered in class.

Adults: “Mountaintop Moments” (Parlor)
Grab coffee and come catch up with church friends in the Parlor. Rev. Ansley Page will offer a devotion and discussion around mountaintop moments in Scripture and how they connect with our stories. A little extra lift for your Sunday morning!

Children & Youth Sunday School
Preschool Sunday School (Room C110)
Elementary Sunday School (Room C201)
Nursery, 6 months – 3 years (Room C105)
Middle School Students – Middle School Classroom
High School Students – High School Classroom

9:45am Summer Choir (Choir Room)
Anyone high school age or older who has been fully vaccinated is welcome to be a part of Summer Choir. Come to the Choir Room at 9:45am, and we will take care of the rest...the music is manageable, and there are experienced singers to make your experience fun and comfortable. Questions? Contact Holt Andrews at rhandrews@fpcspartanburg.org.

10:00am Blessing of the Backpacks (Front Lawn)
We invite children, youth, and teachers to bring their backpacks and/or laptops to the church to be blessed as we embark on a new school year. At 10am, our congregation will gather on the front lawn to celebrate this tradition.

NEXT WEEK
Christmas in August – Preparing for Advent
Monday, August 16 in the Purnell Room
The Sanctuary Guild will meet Monday, August 16 in the Purnell Room at 10am. Everyone interested in enhancing our church campus for special occasions is encouraged to attend. For more information, please email LeAnne Thurmond or call 864-621-0213.

The Perfect Blend – Wednesday, August 18 at 10:30am in the Large Private Dining Room
Join Dr. Lewis Galloway and the Rev. Leslie Lang for coffee, friends, and a little spiritual boost for your day!

Young Adult and LIFT Tailgate at the Criterium
Friday, August 20 (Main Street near the Imagination Station)
Come experience the exciting cycling races downtown while tailgating with friends! We will have two tents to gather and share food/drinks. Kid-friendly!

Children’s Choir and First Steps Resume in September! (Registration NOW OPEN)
Children’s Choir resumes September 15 for ages 4K-5^th grade at 5pm. Register at fpcspartanburg.org/childrenschoir. Additionally, First Steps for parents and children birth through age 3 will begin mid-September. Class size is limited! Register at fpcspartanburg.org/firststeps. For more information, please contact Marcia Andrews at mandrews@fpcspartanburg.org.

Weekday Bible Studies and Other Groups

• Tuesday at 10am – Yoga with Leslie Lehmann in the Activity Room (Cost $5)
• Wednesday Men’s Bible Study: Wednesdays at noon, in person and on Zoom (Join in)
• In person and Zoom Group Workouts – Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 7:15 a.m. and 9:15 a.m. (Email Colleen)
• Thursdays at 12 noon – Yoga with Leslie Lehmann in the Activity Room (Cost $5)
• 6:30am Men’s Bible Study: Fridays in the Small Private Dining Room
• 7:00am Men’s Bible Study: Fridays in the Arthur Center

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
Dominican Republic Mission Trip - February 5-12, 2022
Cost: $1,500
We need you! Please join First Presbyterian Spartanburg on an international mission to the Dominican Republic. FPC has made a commitment to visiting and sharing our resources 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 others to provide medical and dental services as well as build construction projects and sponsor children in the Solid Rock schools. Visit fpcspartanburg.org/DRmission for more information and to register.

Other Opportunities in Ministry Finder

• Habitat for Humanity Spartanburg
• Cleveland Academy of Leadership
• Hand in Hand
• TOTAL Ministries
• SPIHN

OTHER NEWS
Poverty Simulation Opportunity – August 27 (9-11am, T.K. Gregg Community Center)
The United Way of the Piedmont is hosting a poverty simulation on Friday, August 27 from 9-11am at the TK Gregg Community Center. You’re invited to participate! The experience is designed to open people’s eyes to the realities and complexities of living on a low income, so it’s a great way to understand more deeply the WHY behind the work we do.

If you would like to participate, please complete this form. You’re welcome to share the opportunity with your network, but keep in mind that this experience is intended for people over the age of 18. Please be aware that masks will be required.

Peace and Justice Taskforce
The Peace and Justice Taskforce of First Presbyterian Church of Spartanburg is a proactive congregational work group for peacemaking and justice issues around racism and discrimination in our community. The next meeting is Friday, August 27th from 12:30-1:30pm in the Purnell Room. Many of the resources that are being discussed and introduced come from our own Foothills Presbytery: https://foothillspresbytery.org/anti-racism-resources/. Recently, we have been discussing the Spartanburg Racial Equity Collaborative, which you can view here.

JUSTFAITH: Faith and Racial Equity
First Presbyterian Church is offering another JustFaith class in the fall! The group will meet at the church on Thursday evenings from 6:30-8:30pm starting on September 16th through November 11th. If you are interested in engaging with how faith and racism intersect, this is a wonderful opportunity! Please contact Leslie Lang if you are interested or would like more details.

Save the Date! Vaccination Clinic – October 12 and 13
Drive through from 5-7pm Tuesday, October 12 or come to the Family Life Center from 5-7pm Wednesday, October 13 for the FPC Vaccination Clinic. Skin Screening and Bone Density Screening will be available at a date to be determined. Pre-registration is required. Contact Beth Cecil at bcecil@fpcspartanburg.org or 864-208-2136.

Congregational COVID-19 update
With the Delta variant, Covid-19 is once again on the rise. As a congregation, we are continuing to follow CDC guidelines to protect the vulnerable population among us and to promote health and safety for everyone. We encourage everyone age three and above to wear a mask at all indoor church activities. Masks are available at all church entrances.

LOOKING AHEAD
August 20 – All Church Facilities close at 2pm / Young Adult Fellowship and LIFT Fellowship at the Criterium
August 29 – Rally Day & End of Summer Bash / Shelter Worship Service
September 5 – One Worship Service (No Sunday School)
September 12 – Return to Regular Worship Schedule
September 15 – WAF Resumes/Children’s Choir Resumes
September 25 – Young Adult Event: Northside 5k
October 3 – World Communion Sunday
October 10 – Blood Drive
October 31 – Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans

More activities and events can be found in First News.