Weekly Update for August 20, 2021

Dear Friends,

Like the amazing swimmers we saw in the Olympics last month, here we stand, perched on the edge of the pool, ready to jump in and go full speed ahead. Here at FPC, fall programming is just around the corner, with Rally Day on August 29, the return to the fall worship schedule on September 12, and WAF resuming just after that on September 15. Get ready to dive in with us!

Speaking of races, look for FPC friends, old and new, downtown at the Crit this evening!

Craig Foster
Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Communications

Young Adult and LIFT Tailgate at the Criterium
TODAY, August 20 (Main Street near the Imagination Station)
Come experience the exciting cycling races downtown while tailgating with friends from 5-9pm! We will have two tents to gather and share food/drinks. Kid-friendly!

Church Offices/Facilities Closing at 2pm TODAY
Due to the road closures occurring for the Criterium, all church offices/facilities will close at 2pm today.

THIS SUNDAY – AUGUST 22
8:30am Traditional Worship (Chapel)
9:30am Sunday School for All Ages
9:30am Hospitality Time (Perrin Room)
9:45am Summer Choir (Choir Room)
10:30am Traditional Worship (Sanctuary)
10:30am MorningSong (Fogartie Hall)
5:00pm Youth Fall Kick Off Party (FLC Parking Lot)

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.

9:30am Sunday School for All Ages
Adults: “Welcome to the One Great Story” (Social Hall)

Adults: “Mountaintop Moments” (Parlor)

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.

5:00pm Youth Fall Kick Off Party (FLC Parking Lot)
Come enjoy tacos from Taco Bell, an ice cream sundae bar with Bruster’s Ice cream, and lots of fellowship and fun! Email Mrs. Carrie if you’re coming.

NEXT WEEK
Rally Day/Back to School Bash – Sunday, August 29
Summer may be ending, but the beginning of fall brings new adventures for FPC kids as they move into a new school year. During all three worship services, we will commission our leaders in church educational ministry. Join us in the FLC Parking Lot after the 10:30am Worship Services to enjoy Food Trucks, Water Games, and many more fun family activities in the FLC Parking Lot. Please bring lawn chairs and swimsuits for the children.

Shelter – Sunday, August 29 at 6pm (Fogartie Hall)
Shelter is a special time of worship where connection to God can be found through meditative scripture and reflective songs. Rafe Andrews and members of the MorningSong band will lead us in a special time of worship and Rev. Ansley Page will deliver the message. We encourage you to join us at 6pm Sunday, August 29 in transformed Fogartie Hall as we raise Hallelujahs and look to our Everlasting Light for Shelter.

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

• Wednesday Men’s Bible Study: Wednesdays at noon, in person and on Zoom (Join in)
• Bootcamp – Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 7:15 a.m. and 9:15 a.m. (Email Colleen)
• 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
Ushers Needed for September
We are seeking additional ushers willing to help pass out bulletins and assist seating during the 8:45am Chapel Service. Our immediate need is for September, but there are openings for other months as well. Please contact Joanie in the church office and let her know when you are available to help (jshackleton@fpcspartanburg.org; 864-208-2132).

Kindergarten Tutors Needed at Cleveland Academy of Leadership
The Cleveland Academy of Leadership is finalizing its fall schedule for Kindergarten Tutors. This will be a wonderful opportunity to serve and build relationships the students in our community! The time commitment is one hour per week (either 8:30am - 9:30am or 9:15am - 10:15am on any weekday). Please email Mary Elizabeth Evans by Friday, August 27th if you are interested in serving in this way.

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 workgroup 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.

Welcome Class Sessions This Fall
We will be holding two Welcome Class sessions this fall. Classes will be held during the Sunday School hour (10:00-10:45am) in Room 2200. These sessions are a wonderful way to get acquainted with the Presbyterian church, the opportunities available at First Presbyterian, and to meet the staff. There is no pressure to join. We welcome non-members, members, and anyone seeking a church family to join us for a fun time of fellowship and learning together.

• Session 1: September 19, September 26, October 3, and October 10 (joining date)
• Session 2: October 24, October 31, November 7, and November 14 (joining date)

Please contact Molly Colbath, Welcome Class Committee, for 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 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.