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Weekly Update for December 18, 2020

See below for upcoming worship services for the week of Christmas. Descriptions of each service can be found below the schedule.

CHRISTMAS WEEK WORSHIP SERVICES

Sunday, December 20
8:45am MorningSong Lessons and Carols (Fogartie Hall)
11:00am Sanctuary Service
5:00pm Rebroadcast of 2019 Moravian Love Feast (Online)

Monday, December 21
6:00pm Service of Comfort and Light (Sanctuary)

Thursday, December 24
11:00am Christmas Eve Service (Sanctuary)
4:00pm Christmas Eve Family Service (Front Lawn)

(Rain location: Gym)
7:30pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Service (Front Lawn)

(Rain location: Sanctuary)
11:00pm Christmas Eve Messiah Service (Online)

Sunday, December 27
11:00am Sanctuary Service
4:00pm Foothills Presbytery Worship Service

We stream our Sanctuary and MorningSong services live each Sunday. Christmas Eve Services will also be livestreamed. Stream on:

  • FPCSpartanburg.org/LIVE for bulletins, Bible readings, sermon info, and more.
  • YouTube on your smart TV, streaming device, or almost any other device.
  • Facebook to join with a community of people worshipping together online.


However you join us, please:


Trouble with the livestreams? Check out this information on the church website.


THIS SUNDAY
Advent Season of Giving – Sunday, December 13 (Bring gifts for Hope Center for Children)
This year our annual White Gifts Service has been reimagined and reshaped into an entire season of giving! Each Sunday in Advent, we will collect gifts for an identified organization. You may also give a monetary donation here. If you are unable to attend on Sunday, you may drop off white gifts at the church office between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm Monday through Friday. For the wish lists of each organization, visit www.fpcspartanburg.org/whitegifts.


10:00 a.m. Combined Adult Sunday School (Join on Zoom)
Join us this Sunday as Pastor Craig leads our combined Adult Sunday School class. Please note that we will not offer the in-person option for the combined Sunday School class for the remainder of December.

10:00 a.m. Elementary Sunday School
The Children’s Ministry will have 4th and 5th grade Sunday School outdoors in Bob’s Meditation Garden, between the Main and Clark Buildings.


11:00 a.m. Nursery
During the 11am worship only, children ages 6months – 3 years of age, are welcome to come to our nursery. Nursery will be on the 2nd floor of the Clark Building (look for the signs). All nursery staff are required to wear masks throughout the duration of childcare, and parents are required to wear them in the building. No staff, parent, or child will be allowed to stay if they are exhibiting any symptoms of illness. Parents will be asked to monitor their child’s health before arriving at church and is asked to stay home if they show any signs of illness.

5:00pm Moravian Love Feast – ONLINE at fpcspartanburg.org/live
This year our Christmas Moravian Love Feast will be a bit different, as are so many of our daily routines during these Covid-19 days. In preparation for the Love Feast rebroadcast, to be live streamed December 20th at 5:00 p.m., you will need to gather a few things: a beverage, small meal or snack, and a candle for each person worshiping. For a bulletin to download and/or print, visit fpcspartanburg.org/lovefeast. Make plans to worship during our Moravian Love Feast, a very special tradition of First Presbyterian Church.

Advent Devotional Reading
Next week’s devotional readings from the Presbyterian Outlook are attached. For more daily readings and activities to mark the Advent and Christmas seasons, visit: https://fpcspartanburg.org/devotionals/2020-advent-devotional-options .

WORSHIP WITH US THROUGHOUT THE WEEK OF CHRISTMAS
Service of Comfort and Light – Monday, December 21
6:00pm in the Sanctuary
Are the holidays made more difficult this year because of a loss or sadness in your life? You are invited to join us for an intimate time of worship in the Sanctuary. This "Service of Comfort and Light," which includes communion and candle lighting, is especially for those who struggle during the Christmas season.

Christmas Eve Worship
11:00am in the Sanctuary
This will be our only planned, indoor service. For those that may have evening plans, please join us for this very special worship service on Christmas Eve Morning in the Sanctuary.


Christmas Eve Family Service
4:00pm on the Front Lawn (rain location: Gym)
Join us at 4:00pm for our Family Christmas Eve service on the front lawn. Instead of dressing as your favorite angel or animal, this year we ask you to make an ornament with your favorite Bible story from this year’s Family Advent celebration. There will be time throughout the service for your family to bring the ornament forward to fill our tree. Use your creativity and share your favorite story!


Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
7:30pm on the Front Lawn (rain location: Sanctuary)
A different take on our traditional candlelight service. Join us in front of the Sanctuary for a candlelight service featuring the spoken word and Christmas music led by brass. Please bring your own chairs and, if needed, flashlights (cell phone flashlights are perfect). Candles will be provided to all participants.


Christmas Eve Online Worship Featuring Music from the 2019 Messiah Service
11:00pm Online at www.fpcspartanburg.org/live
This online-only worship service will feature recordings from the 2019 Messiah Worship Service, set within the context of a new worship service for Christmas Eve night. Stay up late to welcome Christmas, or set aside some time on Christmas Day for special time of worship.

Sunday, December 27 – ONE MORNING SERVICE
11:00am in the Sanctuary

There will be one combined worship service on the morning of Sunday, December 27. Sunday School will not meet that Sunday.

Foothills Presbytery Worship Service – Sunday, December 27
4:00pm online at fpcspartanburg.org/LIVE
This online worship service has been put together by the Worship Committee of Foothills Presbytery and features our presbytery leadership and others from around the presbytery. It is offered as a gift of the presbytery, allowing us to join in this shared time of worship across congregations. Many thanks to all of the congregations that contributed to this service!

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
Volunteers Needed for Witness Season 2021: Ministry of Hope Lesotho
Witness Season 2021 will be here in February! We are looking for volunteers for the Witness Season Committee to help coordinate our response and prayerful giving to Ministry of Hope Lesotho, a mission we have supported for a long time: www.ministryofhopelesotho.org. We need men, women, and youth who want to help for two months on this project!


Lesotho is a small, land-locked country surrounded by The Republic of South Africa. In Lesotho, nearly half of all inhabitants are under 18. These children are at the forefront of vulnerability. MoHL was founded in 2009 by a PCUSA missionary and provides care, shelter, food, clothing, and a path to the future for orphaned children. Some of the children are malnourished, others neglected or abused, still others are caught in the tragedy of HIV/AIDS. If you would like to volunteer to be part of this Witness Season committee, please reach out to Leslie Lang or 2021 Witness Season Chair, Holly Hoenig.


Volunteers Needed for Spartanburg Opportunity Center
The Opportunity Center is expanding their hours! They are open M/W/F mornings from 8 - 11 and M/W/F afternoons from 1:00 - 3:30 and could use help with food distribution, shower scheduling (calling names and handing towels), storage room (giving out their bins), and clothing closet (helping with sorting clothing and supplying the clothing room). Volunteers are also needed to help with laundry each day (no personal contact). When temperatures fall below 40 degrees, they have cold weather shelter open from 8:00 pm - 7:00 am. They Need volunteers for setting up/take down (the next morning), intake (filling out the forms and temp check), and overnight stay. If you are interested or have questions, please reach out to Beth Rutherford at spihn@bellsouth.net or talk to Leslie Lang.


Other Opportunities in Ministry Finder


OTHER NEWS
Recommendations for CNC
The Congregational Nominating Committee is seeking a slate of nine members from the congregation to replace members who will rotate off the CNC. Members will serve for one year and will be charged with the nomination of Church officers. Please submit your nomination(s) here: www.fpcspartanburg.org/events/recommendation-for-cnc. Deadline is Thursday, December 31, 2020.


Advent Photo-a-Day Challenge
The Advent Season encourages us to prepare for the coming of our Lord. we are inviting you to prepare by hitting the "pause" button...daily. Each day during Advent, we will post a word for reflection on our social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) using a list generated by rethinkchurch.org. Take a moment to pause and reflect on this word, and then share a response to that word through a picture. Post your picture on social media, tag @fpcspartanburg and use #fpcsadvent. Don't worry if you miss a day or two - there is no failing this challenge. We just hope to provide a gift of added meaning to this special season and an additional opportunity to connect with each other.

Year-End Giving
For credit as 2020 contributions, donations must be received in the church financial office or postmarked by December 31, 2020. Any contributions received or postmarked on or after January 1, 2021 will be considered as 2021 contributions. For information, contact Lynise Clarke (208-2130 / lclarke@fpcspartanburg.org).

“The Time Has Come” Campaign Pledges Due December 31
Capital campaign pledge balance: $149,545
As a congregation, we are so close to being debt-free for the first time in two decades! Thank you! If you have pledged to the capital campaign, the deadline has been extended to the end of 2020. Please help us bring this train into the station!


Walking in the Family Life Center (For Members Age 65 and Older)
Members who are 65 or older in age can walk on the second-floor track during the times of 10am-12noon on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. pre-registration is no longer required, but there is a 4-person limit at one time. Members should enter through the FLC entrance near Mobile Meals.

FPC Church Office Staff Onsite Partial Days
While the church office remains “closed” for now, all office staff are onsite half days, continuing to work remotely the other half day. We have put necessary protocols in place to ensure everyone’s health and safety. Some of our schedules are staggered, however the main church phone line (864-583-4531) will be answered Monday-Friday, 9am-1pm. Outside those hours, feel free to leave a voice mail and we will get back to you as soon as we are able. As always, contact information for each staff member can be found at fpcspartanburg.org/staff.


Pastoral Counseling with Dr. Kirk H. Neely
Pastoral Counseling with Dr. Kirk Neely is available by appointment. Currently all counseling is being done by telephone or by Zoom. Personal Counseling, Marriage and Family Counseling, and Spiritual Direction are available by appointment only. This is not emergency counseling. To make an appointment, please contact Didi Terry at dterry@fpcspartanburg.org or you may contact Dr. Neely directly by email at kirkhneely@fpcspartanburg.org.


LOOKING AHEAD
December 20 – Fourth Sunday of Advent | Lessons and Carols
December 20 – Moravian Love Feast Broadcast
December 21 – Service of Comfort and Light
December 24 – Christmas Eve Services (More Information)
December 25-26 – Church Facilities Closed
December 27 – One Worship Service (11am in the Sanctuary)
December 27 – Foothills Presbytery Online Worship Service (4pm)
August 13-15, 2021 – Women’s Connection at Montreat

More activities and events can be found in First News.

Presbyterian Outlook Advent Devotion: Week 4

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