Back to Listing

Weekly Update for August 28, 2020

Dear Siblings in Christ,

This Sunday we celebrate our 2020 Confirmation class during our 8:45am MorningSong service. The confirmands have all made their professions of faith and been examined by the Session, and we are proud of the work they have done, even amid unusual circumstances this year. So, we are glad to finally be able to welcome these young people into full membership. Physical distancing requirements mean that things will look a little different this year, but we are thankful to be able to celebrate this milestone with them, in-person and with their families with them.

And you can join in online! If the technology all cooperates, we expect to livestream this service for the whole congregation (and more!) on Sunday. Tune in at the usual place on the church website: www.fpcspartanburg.org/live.

Craig Foster
Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Communications

THIS SUNDAY
8:45am Confirmation Service in the FLC Parking Lot
10:00am Adult Sunday School (Zoom)
10:00am Children’s Sunday School
11:00am Sanctuary Worship Service ONLINE
12:30pm Blood Drive (Register)
5:00pm Middle School Youth Group (Register Now)
6:00pm High School Youth Group (Register Now)

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.

Confirmation Sunday – August 30 (8:45 a.m.)
This Sunday, August 30 during the 8:45am MorningSong Worship 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. This service will be broadcast.

If you would like to attend an in-person MorningSong service, but would prefer to completely social distance, we have opened the small parking lot between Mobile Meals and the Arthur Center for drive in purposes. Please feel free to come and park, roll your windows down, and enjoy the service.

10:00am Adult Sunday School (Join in)
This week Pastor Tom will be preaching from the 5^th chapter of Paul’s letter to the Romans, and so many of us have found instruction, comfort, and calling in Romans over the years. In our combined Zoom Adult Sunday School class, Pastor Craig will offer us a brief introduction to the Book of Romans, exploring the historical context, and major themes of the epistle.

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 this Sunday, August 30 from 12:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. and will follow safe pandemic protocols. Pre-registration is required by Saturday, and appointments are currently available from 2:00-5:30 p.m. Contact Beth Cecil at (864) 641-8772 or bcecil@fpcspartanburg.org to schedule your appointment. Please bring your donor card, identification, and 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.

Sunday Night Youth Group – Beginning at 5:00 p.m. (Register Now)
Sunday Night Youth Group will be held this Sunday at the home of Sloan and Mary Elizabeth Evans. Pre-registration is required in order for us to plan safely and accordingly. 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 e we will be swimming (weather permitting). Click the registration link for additional information!

NEXT WEEK
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.

Worship as One – Sunday, September 6 (11:00 a.m.)
Next Sunday, we will livestream the Sanctuary Service only at 11:00 a.m. We hope you will be able to join us from the comfort of your homes.

Family Photo Scavenger Hunt – Sunday, September 6 (4:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m.)
If you are in town for Labor Day weekend, join the FPC Children’s Ministry on Sunday, September 6th at 4:00-5:30pm for a Family Photo Scavenger Hunt around Spartanburg! We will gather in the parking lot (much like we did for the Drive-In), and Mrs. Holly will give you a set of clues. As a family, you will drive around town and try to take pictures of as many clues you can guess. You will send in those pictures to Mrs. Holly, and she’ll tally up the results. There will be family prizes (gift certificates) for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners. Don’t miss this fun event! (Register Now)

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)
Adult Sunday School – Sundays at 10am (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
Dedication of The Cleveland Academy Math Lab – Friday, September 11^th (9:30 a.m.)
This year’s Witness Season project raised over $54,000 for The Cleveland Academy. To add to your generous donations, an anonymous donor provided a match of $25,000, which allowed the school to create a state-of-the-art mathematics lab. This project has come to fruition, and the FPC congregation is invited to a virtual dedication of The Cleveland Academy Math Lab on Friday, September 11 at 9:30 a.m. Please email Mary Elizabeth Evans at meevans@spart7.org for the Zoom link. Thank you for your generosity!

Recent Opportunities in Ministry Finder

OTHER NEWS
Celebrating Tom's Ministry – Sunday, September 13
It is hard to believe that we are two weeks away from Tom leaving us! In the midst of a pandemic, a proper goodbye seems even more difficult, but we think we have come up with a plan! We will say goodbye – COVID style!

Tom’s last Sunday is September 13. There will be one worship service at 11:00am and a time to say goodbye that same afternoon 2:00-4:00pm (see details below). Tom will be under the Family Life Center Porte-cochère to wish you farewell. Since our time is limited, please take the time to write a note to Tom; there will be baskets in which we will collect your letters. A suggested scripture to frame your note is from 2 Corinthians 13:11: “The God of love and peace be with you.”

We will also be taking up a love offering for them as they begin a new chapter in New York! A separate letter has been sent with details on how to contribute; be on the lookout for the letter and instructions to shower them with love!!

One Service of Worship, online at 11:00am
Meet Tom under the Porte-cochère - enter the FLC Parking Lot from the Kennedy Street entrance!
***Last names that begin with A – L, please come 2:00-3:00pm
***Last names that begin with M – Z, please come 3:00-4:00pm

Bring your notes for Tom and place them in the basket

New Book Release by Pastor Tom!
Pastor Tom’s new book, Pathways to God: An Exploration into Our Experience of God and How We Might Grow Closer to the Divine, is now available on Amazon. As a result of his recent sabbatical, this book explores a modern path for the ancient hunger to grow closer to God. Its pages include powerful stories of God’s deep connections with people across the country.

Young Adult Game Night – Wednesday, September 9 (8:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.)
There was great interest in another Jackbox game night, so John Sarris has graciously agreed to facilitate again for the Young Adults! Mark your calendars for Wednesday, September 9^th at 8pm. You will need two devices (one for Zoom, and another to play the games). Please email Leslie Lang at llang@fpcspartanburg.org if you would like to participate.

Grief Support Group – Begins Monday, September 14 (5:30 p.m.) (Register)
A new Grief Support Group will begin Monday, September 14 at 5:30 p.m. in the Cauble Garden. This group will be co-facilitated by an experienced counselor and our parish nurse, this group serves as an opportunity to strengthen individuals who have experienced the death of a loved one and to walk the journey of grief with others. Pre-registration is necessary by Friday, September 11th by contacting Joanie Shackleton at jshackleton@fpcspartanburg.org or 864-208-9132. Please note that registration is limited to 6 participants.

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 30 – Confirmation Sunday
August 30 – Blood Drive
September 6 – One Service, ONLINE at 11am
September 9 – Young Adult Game Night via Zoom
September 13 – Pastor Tom’s last Sunday (One Service, ONLINE at 11am)
September 13 – Zoom Congregational Meeting
September 14 – Grief Support Group (Register)
September 16 – Wednesday Night Youth Group Resumes (Register)
September 18 – Family Movie Night on the Lawn
September 20 – Outdoor MorningSong Resumes
September 25 – Movie Night on the Lawn
September 26 – Young Adult Hike (Email Leslie for more information)
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!