Weekly Update for December 23, 2020

Due to the prospect of rain on Christmas Eve, all outdoor Christmas Eve services have been moved indoors.

See below for times and locations. No preregistration is needed for services and all services will also be livestreamed. Please remember to follow physical distancing and mask guidelines when you are on campus for services.

CHRISTMAS EVE WORSHIP SERVICES

Thursday, December 24
11:00am Christmas Eve Candlelight Service (Sanctuary)
Join us in the Sanctuary for a morning setting of our traditional candlelight service featuring a string quartet.

4:00pm Christmas Eve Family Service (Family Life Center Gym)
Join us at 4:00pm for our Family Christmas Eve service in the Family Life Center Gym. 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!

7:30pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Service (Sanctuary)
Our traditional Christmas Eve candlelight service has been moved back into the Sanctuary because of the expectation of rain. The custodial team will be hard at work cleaning between the 11:00am and 7:30pm services, and the HVAC system and portable ionizers will help clean the air. Overflow seating will be available in the Chapel and Fogartie Hall.

11:00pm Christmas Eve Messiah Service (Online)
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.

THIS SUNDAY
Sunday, December 27
11:00am Online Worship 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:

Check in through the ShelbyNext app or sign the online guestbook to let us know you worshipped with us or
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.

11:00 a.m. –ONLINE WORSHIP SERVICE (www.fpcspartanburg.org/live)
There will be one combined worship service on the morning of Sunday, December 27, which will be livestreamed on the church website, Facebook, and YouTube. Sunday School will not meet.

4:00 p.m. – Foothills Presbytery Worship Service
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!

COMING UP
Online Services Only on December 27, January 3, and January 10
Given the current serious spike in COVID-19 case numbers nationally, in South Carolina, and in Spartanburg County, and given the prospect of further increases following the Christmas and New Year holidays, we feel that the only prudent course of action for First Presbyterian Church, Spartanburg is to alter our worship schedule in the following way: For a period of three Sundays after Christmas, including December 27^th, January 3^rd, and January 10^th we will worship via livestream only (one service on December 27, and both MorningSong and Traditional Sanctuary services on January 3 and 10). These changes were approved after discussion with the Health Cabinet and church staff, and with the support of the Worship Committee.

FPC Church Office Closure and Schedule
The Church office will be closed December 25, December 28, and January 1. Outside of holiday closures, please be reminded that all office staff are onsite half days and continue to work remotely the other half day. The church office remains “closed” for now, but staff are still here to maintain church business. 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.

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

Prayer Gathering with Joanne – Tuesdays at Noon (Join in)
Men’s Bible Study – Wednesdays at Noon (Join in)
No Adult Sunday School – Sunday, December 27

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.

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.

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: $146,422
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!

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 from 8:00 -11:00 a.m. and 1:00-3:30 p.m. 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 p.m. - 7:00 a.m. 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 Leslie Lang.

Other Opportunities in Ministry Finder

OTHER NEWS
An Update from the Interim Pastor Nominating Committee
The IPNC has been diligently working since it was formed by the Session in late September. The group finalized the Ministry Information Form (MIF), an essential component of the pastoral search process in our denomination, and it was approved by the Presbytery in late October. The IPNC has been meeting regularly, has been reviewing and evaluating a large group of potential candidates, and conducting interviews. The IPNC is making good progress and is hopeful that a successful conclusion can be achieved in a reasonable period of time. As this important work continues, this committee would certainly covet your thoughts and prayers.

Thank you for Participating!
Advent Photo-a-Day Challenge
Thank you to all who participated in the Advent Photo Challenge. If you’d like to see each post, visit our social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) and search #fpcsadvent. There are still a few days left to post!

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 24 – Christmas Eve Services (More Information)
December 25 – Church Facilities Closed
December 27 – Online Worship Service (fpcspartanburg.org/live)
December 27 – Foothills Presbytery Online Worship Service (4pm)
December 28 – Church Facilities Closed
January 1 – Church Facilities Closed
January 3 – Online Worship Service (fpcspartanburg.org/live)
January 10 – Online Worship Service (fpcspartanburg.org/live)
August 13-15, 2021 – Women’s Connection at Montreat

More activities and events can be found in First News.

Unsubscribing
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