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Weekly Update for December 6, 2019

The season of Advent is in full swing! Join us for Handel’s Messiah this Sunday, and stick around for the Family Advent Celebration! After that, be sure to pick up something for the White Gifts Service on Wednesday and read below for many more ways to enrich your faith and discipleship this Advent!

THIS SUNDAY
8:45am MorningSong* and Sanctuary Worship Services
9:45am Sunday School for All Ages
11:00am Sanctuary* Worship Service
12:00pm Family Advent Celebration (Social Hall)

(* Services with asterisks will be livestreamed at www.fpcspartanburg.org/live. Bulletins, scripture readings, manuscripts, and video archives can also be found on that page.)

Handel’s Messiah in 8:45 and 11am Sanctuary Services
The Chancel Choir along with soloists and a 19-piece orchestra will present portions of Handel’s Messiah during the two Sanctuary worship services this Sunday. Plan to be there and invite a friend to this special service of worship!

Family Advent Celebration
noon-2pm in the Social Hall
There is a beautiful mystery of Christmas, as we wait and wonder in anticipation of our Savior’s birth. The Family Advent Celebration helps us prepare our hearts for this wonderful season. Join us in the Social Hall immediately following our 11:00am worship service for a time of fellowship, singing, and crafting, designed especially for children and families. No reservation is required; please come and go as you can. If you have any questions, please contact Holly Bannan (hbannan@fpcspartanburg.org / 864-583-4531).

Young Adult Christmas Gathering
5:30-8:30pm at the home of Leslie Lang
All young adults (age 22-35ish) are invited to the Young Adult Christmas Gathering at the home of Leslie Lang. Bring your favorite dish to share! RSVP to Leslie at llang@fpcspartanburg.org for directions.

The Bible in Handel’s Messiah
Sundays, Nov. 17 – Dec. 8
10am in Room C210
Hosted by the Faith Driven Sunday School Class
Handel’s Messiah is one of the most-known and beloved musical compositions of all time, but what many do not realize is that the words of Messiah come directly from the Bible. This Sunday, Craig Foster will conclude a four-week exploration of the biblical texts that are brought to life in Part 1 of Messiah, which deals with the prophecy and birth of the Messiah. This is an interesting way to approach and to experience scripture, and will hopefully deepen your appreciation of the Bible and of Handel’s Messiah when the Chancel Choir sings it in worship on Sunday.

No Youth Group on Sunday
Youth are invited to join in the Family Advent Celebration in the Social Hall at noon!

NEXT WEEK
Final Wednesdays at First for 2019! – Wednesday, December 11
5:00-6:15pm in Fogartie Hall
This week we will enjoy a chicken tenders, mac & cheese, and green beans together at Wednesdays at First. No reservations are necessary and most forms of payment are accepted at the door. Meal costs are: $8 for adults and youth (12 and older), $7 for seniors (55 and over), and $5 for children with a limit of $25 per family.

White Gifts Service – Wednesday, December 11
6:30pm in the Sanctuary
Please join us for our annual White Gift Service featuring our children's choirs, but culminates in the giving of gifts, wrapped in white for three local missions: Mobile Meals, Hope Center for Children, and Thornwell. Gift ideas may be found at www.fpcspartanburg.org/events/whitegifts.

ECHOES- Caregiving Support Group – Thursday, December 12
Noon in the Senior High Room (Family Life Center, second floor)
As we care for our loved ones, the holidays bring unique challenges and maybe unexpected blessings. Join with other caregivers to share struggles, encouragement, and the hope we can find in Christ. This group meets the second Thursday of each month. Bring your lunch if you like; drinks will be provided. All are welcome!

Order Christmas Poinsettias by Friday, December 13
Would you like to order poinsettias in memory of or in honor of loved ones? Order online at www.fpcspartanburg.org/grow/event-registrations or fill out the form available in the church office. Please make checks payable to “First Presbyterian Church,” Attn: Lynise Clarke, 393 East Main St, Spartanburg, SC 29302. The cost per plant is $15.00 and orders are due by Friday, December 13. You may pick up your plants in Fogartie Hall anytime after MorningSong on Sunday morning, December 22. If you do not plan to do so, we would appreciate your giving us permission to use your gift for the purchase of cut flowers or greenery to enhance our Christmas arrangement.

Moravian Love Feast – NEXT Sunday, December 15
4pm and 6pm in the Chapel
This annual service features music from the Chamber Singers. Traditional coffee (decaf) and buns will be served with the help of members of the Palmetto Moravian Fellowship.

Sign up for the Youth Progressive Dinner – NEXT Sunday, December 15
5-7pm
All middle and high schoolers are invited to the Youth Progressive Dinner and Ugly Sweater Contest Sunday, December 15 from 5-7pm. Please plan to drop off at the Hallenbeck's at 5pm and pick up at the Johnson's at 7pm. We will walk from house to house!
5:00pm - Appetizers at the Hallenbeck's; 203 Dares Ferry Road
5:45 pm - Main course at the Elliott's; 440 Old Iron Works Road
6:15 pm - Dessert at the Johnson's; 532 Old Iron Works Road

Sign up for the Youth Progressive Dinner at : https://www.evite.com/event/0094X452HDVQQE2ZQEPKCB72NL6K7U/rsvp

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
Find all sorts of ways that you can serve in the Ministry Finder section of the website (under the “Serve” menu). There you can search for service opportunities that match your interests and schedule, and with one tap make contact with someone who can tell you more and/or help you to get involved.

Here are a few of the newest opportunities available within Ministry Finder:

Angel Tree
There are still a few angels left on the Angel Trees in the Tower Room and FLC Lobby! Each Christmas, FPC sponsors children who have a parent in prison. Wrapped gifts with the angel tag attached should be returned by Sunday, December 15.

Haiti Mission Trip – February 29 – March 7, 2020
The international missions committee is exploring the possibility of a combined mission trip to Haiti Feb. 29 - March 7, 2020 with Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church. This trip will focus primarily on medical and construction missions, but is open to anyone with a willingness to help. If you would like to learn more about this opportunity, please contact Emily Neely at eneely@gmail.com by December 15, 2019.

Nap Boule! Hot Sauce (Benefiting Haiti Outreach Ministries)
We are partnering with a sister church to raise money for Haitian Missions. On Wednesdays and Sundays in December, we will sell hot sauce to raise money for our Haitian Mission Project. The Vienna Presbyterian Church (Vienna, VA) began this project by purchasing peppers grown in Haiti, and using their own recipe, bottled the hot sauce for sale. There are three different flavors, and the bottles are $7 each. These make great Christmas gifts, and again, the proceeds will go toward Haiti Outreach Ministries. Hot sauce will be for sale between Sunday morning and Wednesday evening programming.

The Red Coats Are Coming?
We are in need of church members to serve as red coat ushers at the 6:00 pm and 11:00 pm candlelight services on Christmas Eve! If you would like to be part of this special tradition, please contact Peter Neidenbach or Beau Shuler. Our supply of red jackets also needs to be replenished! If you have a red men's sport coat or comparable women's jacket that you could donate to the church, please also contact Peter or Beau.

OTHER NEWS
Music in December
Handel’s Messiah // Sunday, Dec. 8 // 8:45 and 11:00am during the Sanctuary Services
Moravian Love Feast // Sunday, Dec. 15 // 4:00 and 6:00pm in the Chapel
Lessons and Carols // Sunday, Dec. 22 // 8:45am in MorningSong

Service of Comfort and Light - December 18
6pm in the Chapel
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 on Wednesday, December 18, at 6:00pm in the Chapel. This "Service of Comfort and Light," which includes communion and candle-lighting, is especially for those who struggle during the Christmas season. The Health Committee will host a time of refreshments and fellowship following the service in the Parlor.

Memorial Arrangements in the Sanctuary for January and February
There are Sundays available in January and February 2020 for flower memorial arrangements in the Sanctuary. For further information, contact LeAnne Thurmond (leanne.thurmond@gmail.com 864-621-0213).

Ways to Enrich Advent (December 1-24)
Read through the Gospel of Luke: Read chapter 1 on December 1, chapter 2 on December 2, etc. and by December 24 you will have ready the whole Gospel to help you remember exactly who was born that Christmas morning. Need a little help to remember to do this? Sign up at http://eepurl.com/bqtMS9 to get a chapter of Luke delivered to your email inbox each morning, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter to find the readings in your feeds each day.

Reverse Advent Calendar: Instead of taking a piece of chocolate out of a box each day in Advent, our a non-perishable food item into a box each day and bring that full box with you to the Christmas Eve services to share that food though TOTAL Ministries with those in need. A list of items for each day can be found at www.fpcspartanburg.org/reverse-advent or picked up by the large banners in the church.

Presbyterian Outlook Devotions: Short daily readings accompanied by a short reflection and prayer for each day. Pick up a page for each week of Advent from the table outside the Purnell Room

d365.org: Though designed for youth, these year-round daily online devotions are popular among people of all ages. This project is a collaborative effort of the PC(USA), the Episcopal Church, and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

Devotion Books from the Church Library: The Church library has an expanded collection of high-quality devotion books, many from well-known authors, which may be checked out for the season. Look for the cart in the Tower Room or other places around the church.

Come to Church!: Each Sunday in Advent there is something special happening in Sunday morning Worship and/or in the afternoon and evening. There are also special services and activities during the week. Don’t let all the other things that this time of year brings distract you from what matters most!

Christmas Eve Services – Tuesday, December 24 in the Sanctuary
Family Worship (4:00pm)
Come, all you angels, shepherds, farm animals, and kings. Join us on Christmas Eve for our family nativity pageant. Any child may come dressed as the part he or she wants to play from those listed above.

Candlelight Services (6:00 and 11:00pm)
These services, a tradition in our church, feature music by the Christmas Eve Choir. A special message will be delivered and the services will conclude with the Sanctuary bathed in candlelight.

LOOKING AHEAD
(Full Calendar)
December 8 – Handel’s Messiah in Both Sanctuary Services
December 8 – Family Advent Celebration
December 8 – Young Adult Christmas Gathering
December 11 – White Gifts Service
December 15 – Moravian Love Feast
December 18 – Service of Comfort and Light
December 22 – MorningSong Lessons & Carols
December 24 – Angel Tree Distribution
December 24 – Christmas Eve Services (4pm, 6pm, 11pm)
December 29 – One Worship Service (No Sunday School)
February 1-8 – Dominican Republic Mission Trip

Find out more in First News: www.fpcspartanburg.org/firstnews