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Weekly Update for August 7, 2020

Dear Siblings in Christ,

This week’s email contains a number of signs that we are slowly, cautiously returning to normal. In-person worship will begin next Sunday, August 16 with MorningSong on the front lawn. Pre-registration is required and below you will find the links to sign up for either (but not both!) of the first two services. I can’t wait to see your (masked) faces next Sunday, and hopefully my eyes will show what’s hidden behind my mask – that I will be grinning from ear to ear!

Another sign that things are slowly returning to normal is the return of the “Looking Ahead” section of this weekly update. For several months, conditions have been so unpredictable that we could not plan more than a couple of weeks in advance. Now we are beginning to get some longer-term dates on the books that you should mark on your calendars too. So be sure to read all the way to the bottom!

Blessings and Peace,
Craig Foster
Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Communications

Youth Back to School Supply Drive – Saturday, August 8 at Hatcher Gardens (9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.)
First Presbyterian Youth have been invited to partner with Community for Kids to host a Back to School supply drive this Saturday, August 8th at Hatcher Garden from 9am - 2pm. Masks are required, and other safety precautions will be put in place. Parents and siblings are welcome! We need as many hands as possible to sort and pack supplies. Please contact Robert or Carrie if you would like to participate!

THIS SUNDAY
8:45am MorningSong ONLINE
10:00am Adult Sunday School (Zoom)
10:00am Children’s Sunday School
11:00am Sanctuary Worship Service ONLINE

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.

Worship Guestbook Issues
Over the past couple of weeks many of you have been able to sign the worship guestbook, but some of you have been unable to select the appropriate service and submit the form. We believe this issue is now fixed. Please be sure to sign the guestbook every time you join in an online worship service!

10:00am Adult Sunday School (Join in)
This Sunday in the combined Adult Class via Zoom, Pastor Leslie will be teaching on the sacraments, focusing on baptism on August 9th and the Lord’s Supper on August 16th. Join us virtually to learn more about the history of the sacraments, their meaning, and what their significance is for us during this time of social distancing.

MOVING FORWARD
The Pastors, Staff, and Session of First Presbyterian Church have been praying for and seeking guidance on how to best move forward with in-person worship, fellowship, and other activities. To quote Jon Bon Jovi’s new song, “When you can’t do what you do, you do what you can.” We haven’t been able to do what we do, that is worship and fellowship with our members and guests on our church grounds, since March. However, we are very excited for the plans that lie ahead

MorningSong on the Lawn (August 16 & 23)
We look forward to returning to in-person worship and fellowship, which begins with a MorningSong service on the lawn on August 16 and 23 at 8:45 a.m. Reservations are necessary and will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Chairs will be set up in family circles with proper distancing, and there will be assigned seating. Masks will also be required for everyone age 6 and older.

We will release reservations two weeks at a time, and we ask that you not sign up for consecutive weeks to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to worship in-person. Reservations will close Thursdays at noon and will reopen on Mondays, if applicable.

August 16 – Reserve Now
August 23 – Reserve Now

Please contact Caroline Goodman at cgoodman@fpcspartanburg.org if you have difficulty reserving seats for in-person worship.

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.

While services and events will be different types of gatherings than we are used to, we are moving forward with the second part of Bon Jovi’s line…we are doing what we can! Please join us in praying for our church, city, state, and nation as we move forward. Stay tuned for additional details!

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

Middle School Zoom – Sundays and Wednesdays at 4pm (Email Robert or Carrie for the link)
Prayer Gathering with Joanne – Tuesdays at Noon (Join in)
Men’s Bible Study – Wednesdays at Noon (Join in)
College Students – Wednesdays at 8pm (Join in)
Bible Study on the Gospel of Mark with Tom – Wednesdays at 6pm (Join in)
Summer Hangouts with Holly – Thursdays starting at 1pm (Email Holly for links)

1:00pm Rising 3K, 4K, 5K, and 1^st Graders
1:30pm Rising 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th Graders

High School Zoom – Thursdays at 4pm (Email Robert or Carrie for the link)

Young Adult Game Night – August 10 at 8pm
Young adults, mark your calendars for game night Monday, August 10 at 8pm via Zoom. Christina and John Sarris will facilitate this fun night! You will need two devices (computer, tablet, phone, etc.) – one for Zoom and the other for the games. Leslie will send out a link closer to the event date. We hope you will join in on the fun!

ECHOES (Elder Caregivers Helping Others & Encouraging Self) – August 13 at 12 noon (Join in)
Caring for a loved one who is aging or sick is a special ministry. If you are engaged in this and would appreciate Christian encouragement, please join Rev. Ansley Page, Rev. Joanne Hull, and Parish Nurse Beth Cecil on Thursday, August 13 from 12:00-1:00pm on Zoom. From the comfort of your home, you can enjoy this time of devotion, prayer, and sharing with folks in similar circumstance. Let your church family help you in this sacred work. Please register with Joanie Shackleton at jshackleton@fpcspartanburg.org.

New to Zoom? Having Trouble? Need a Password?
Visit www.fpcspartanburg.org/zoom for tips on how to get the most out of your Zoom gatherings. Please note that if you use any of the links in this email you will not need to input a password. If you use a link on the church website or social media you will need a password. The current password for most church events is “5834531” (which just happens to be the church phone number as well).

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
TOTAL Ministries Food Drop Off – Sunday, August 16 (8:30a.m. – 12:00 noon)
TOTAL Ministries has requested help stocking their pantry as food insecurity increases during Covid-19. On Sunday, August 16th, First Pres will have drop-off bins on campus for you to easily donate needed food items! You can drop your donations off during in-person outdoor worship at 8:45am, or drive by anytime on Sunday morning between 8:30am-12pm. You should be able to see the bins from Chestnut St. If you have questions, please contact Leslie at llang@fpcspartanburg.org.

Needs:
Peanut Butter
Jelly
Rice (1-lb. bags)
Dry Beans (1-lb. bags)
Canned Meat / Tuna / Beef Stew
Grits / Oatmeal / Cereal
Mac & Cheese
Soup
Pasta and Spaghetti Sauce
Canned Vegetables (Peas, Carrots, Potatoes)
Canned Fruit / Applesauce
Paper Towels
Toilet Paper
Hygiene Products

Recent Opportunities in Ministry Finder

OTHER NEWS
“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 16 – First Outdoor MorningSong Service
August 16 – Blessing of the Backpacks & MacBooks (5pm)
August 24 – Weekday School Resumes
August 30 – Confirmation Sunday
August 30 – Blood Drive
September 6 – One Service, ONLINE at 11am
September 13 – Pastor Tom’s last Sunday
September 13 – Zoom Congregational Meeting
October 4 – World Communion Sunday
October 7 – Vaccination Clinic
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!

Unsubscribing
If you wish to be removed from the mailing list for this weekly email, please simply email Caroline Goodman (cgoodman@fpcspartanburg.org) to make that request. The link below will unsubscribe you from ALL group emails from the church, including many occasional emails you might want to receive!