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Weekly Update for August 21, 2020

Dear Siblings in Christ,

Last Sunday was so very special as we had our first outdoor MorningSong service in the Family Life Center parking lot in the morning followed by the Blessing of the Backpacks/MacBooks that afternoon. It was so very good to see people gathered at the church, and I am looking forward to our second outdoor MorningSong this Sunday and the Vespers service Sunday evening. Make sure you sign up for that Vespers service by noon today, if you want to come.

Please note that we are not livestreaming these initial outdoor MorningSong services as we figure out this setup and how to make it best for those who are there. In the event of a weather cancellation of the outdoor service, we will do our “pandemic-usual” MorningSong livestream-only service from Fogartie Hall. One way or another, we will livestream the outdoor Confirmation service on the morning of August 20, even if it is just me holding a cell phone! But I think we can do better than that!

This week, we are excited to welcome our Weekday School children back to our church campus, under very careful COVID-19 precautions. We are taking every effort to make this a safe and wonderful year for these children. Please continue to be in prayer for that staff and those children, as well as all of those who are going to school and making school happen in new ways all around our community, country, and world.

Craig Foster
Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Communications

THIS SUNDAY
8:45am MorningSong in the FLC Parking Lot
10:00am Adult Sunday School (Zoom)
10:00am Children’s Sunday School
11:00am Sanctuary Worship Service ONLINE
5:00pm Middle School Youth Group (Register Now)
6:00pm High School Youth Group (Register Now)
6:30pm Evening Vespers (Reserve your spot BY NOON TODAY)

All services will be livestreamed at www.fpcspartanburg.org/live and on our Facebook page. We encourage you to join us on Facebook, comment during the live worship service, and help build community. Bulletins, scripture readings, manuscripts, and video archives can also be found our website. Our worship livestreams also appear on YouTube. However you join us, please sign the online guestbook 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 Adult Sunday School (Join in)
Building on Pastor Leslie’s two weeks on the sacrament, this week Pastor Craig will explore the four-part rhythm of Sunday worship as it finds it’s roots in mystery of the human experience of the divine, and especially Isaiah’s experience of the divine described in Isaiah 6.

Sunday Night Youth Group – Sunday, August 23 beginning at 5:00 p.m. (Register Now)
Sunday Night Youth Group resumes in person this Sunday at the home of Jeff and Ann Marie Edwards. Middle Schoolers will meet from 5:00-5:45 p.m. and High Schoolers from 6:00-6:45 p.m. Bring your bathing suit and towel, because we will be swimming (weather permitting). Click the registration link for additional information!

Evening Vespers – Sunday, August 23 at 6:30 p.m. (Reserve Now)
You are invited to an outdoor Vespers Service Sunday, August 23 at 6:30 p.m. near the Family Life Center. Vespers is an evening prayer service, and ours will be simple and only 30 minutes. We will come together for guitar/banjo music with Rafe Andrews and then scripture, devotion, and prayer with Rev. Ansley Page. Hopefully, you will find a respite of joy, hope, and love with your church family – a holy close for the Sabbath and a good start for the week.

Bring your own chair and mask. Registration is required by noon TODAY. More details are on the registration form.

NEXT WEEK
Confirmation Sunday – August 30 (8:45 a.m.) (Reserve Now)
On Sunday, August 30 during the 8:45 a.m. service, our 9^th graders who have been examined by the Session will reaffirm the vows taken at Baptism and will be confirmed for full participation in the mission and governance of the church. The congregation is welcome to join this service in-person that will be held in the Family Life Center Parking Lot. Reservations are limited and are on a first come, first served basis. Please reserve your seat by Thursday, August 27 at noon.

Blood Drive – Sunday, August 30 (12:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.)
The Blood Connection will be in the Family Life Center parking lot Sunday, August 30 from 12:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. and will follow safe pandemic protocols. Please bring a mask to wear. You will receive free antibody testing, and First Pres will receive $20 per viable donation. Two buses will be available during the blood drive to accommodate our members in anticipation of a successful event.

Pre-registration is necessary. Contact Beth Cecil at (864) 641-8772 or bcecil@fpcspartanburg.org. As always, get plenty of rest, eat a hearty breakfast and lunch, and drink a lot of fluids (an extra 8-16 ounces before your scheduled donation). If you are age 16-17, you will need consent from a parent. Everyone must bring a donor card and an identification.

Walking in the Family Life Center (For Members Age 65 and Older)
Members who are 65 or older in age can now reserve a spot to walk inside on the gym floor during select times Monday through Friday. Appointments must be made in advance and no more than four people will be in the gym during the half hour block. Appointments are first come, first served. Please register each individual in your walking party. (Register Now)

Weekly Community Zoom Times for Everyone!
See the full list online at: https://fpcspartanburg.org/events/weekly-zoom

Prayer Gathering with Joanne – Tuesdays at Noon (Join in)
Men’s Bible Study – Wednesdays at Noon (Join in)
Bible Study on the Gospel of Mark with Tom – Wednesdays at 6pm (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
After Math Community Fair
Carver Middle School, August 22 (1:00-3:00pm) and Headquarters Library, August 23 (4:00-7:00pm)
The Local Missions Committee voted to sponsor the After Math Community Fair this weekend, which will help 1,000 students with needed school supplies. Brothers Restoring Urban Hope (BRUH Mentor) needs volunteers to help with the drive-through events on both Saturday and Sunday. There will be limited contact, and safety protocols will be followed. If you are interested in helping with this event, please contact Victor Durrah at (864) 279-4965 or bruhmentor@gmail.com.

Recent Opportunities in Ministry Finder

OTHER NEWS
Christians in the Making Ladies’ Bible Study – Wednesdays in September
Christians in the Making (CITM) Ladies’ Bible Study will meet outside the Family Life Center each Wednesday in September at 10:00 a.m. Please email Shannon Hutcheson at shutcheson@fpcspartanburg.org to reserve your space.

Weekday School Substitute Teachers Needed!
The Weekday School is currently looking for anyone who may be interested in being a substitute teacher. Please contact Kris Graham at 864-208-2148 or kgraham@fpcspartanburg.org if you would like more information.

Vaccination Clinic – Wednesday, October 7 (4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.)
Save the date for the Vaccination Clinic Wednesday, October 7 from 4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. (times may be modified). Available vaccines will be Influenza, t-Dap, Pneumonia, and Shingrix. Contact Beth Cecil at (864) 641-8772 or bcecil@fpcspartanburg.org for more information or to pre-register.

“The Time Has Come” Campaign Pledges Due
All First Presbyterian members are reminded that our commitments to the “The Time Has Come” Campaign (2017-20) are due; the campaign period officially ends as of August 31, but in the current circumstances, payments through December 31, 2020 are considered “on time.” Thanks to everyone who has participated; we received $3,360,101 in commitments, with just $237,854 outstanding to date! All of the church’s prior debt has already been paid off but for $132,000, which will be paid off shortly after the payment period ends. Clearing these commitments will also enable the church to purchase a badly needed new HVAC chiller for $100,000.

Thanks to the generosity of our members in this campaign, magnificent renovations were made to our historic sanctuary space; the courtyard was significantly enhanced and outstanding new reception/gathering space was created; the MorningSong stage was completely replaced; and major sound, lighting and technical improvements were added throughout our worship spaces, making possible the meaningful worship opportunities we are enjoying online today (and probably never anticipated).

We hope to report an outstanding campaign commitment balance of “$0” soon!
Cathy Bagwell and David Beacham, The Time Has Come Campaign co-chairs

LOOKING AHEAD
August 23 – Sunday Night Youth Group Resumes (Register)
August 23 – Evening Vespers Service (Register)
August 24 – Weekday School Resumes
August 30 – Confirmation Sunday (Register)
August 30 – Blood Drive
September 6 – One Service, ONLINE at 11am
September 13 – Pastor Tom’s last Sunday (One Service, ONLINE at 11am)
September 13 – Zoom Congregational Meeting
September 16 – Wednesday Night Youth Group Resumes (Register)
September 20 – Outdoor MorningSong Resumes
October 4 – World Communion Sunday
October 7 – Vaccination Clinic
October 25 – Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans
August 13-15, 2021 – Women’s Connection at Montreat

Many additional events are almost ready to be shared! So check for updates to this Looking Ahead section every week!