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Weekly Update for February 22, 2019

This Sunday is Witness Season Sunday, Rick Turner will be with us in worship and in a combined adult Sunday School class in Fogartie Hall this Sunday to share with us the important work that Presbyterian Disaster Assistance does, and we hope that you will help us to meet our goal of $25,000 to help PDA assist when disaster strikes.

Also, our Habitat for Humanity build is officially underway at 123 Salem St in the Duncan Park area! Check www.fpcspartanburg.org/habitat for pictures of the progress and your opportunities to volunteer.

THIS SUNDAY
8:45am MorningSong* in Fogartie Hall &
Chapel Worship Service
9:45am Sunday School for All Ages
11:00am Sanctuary* Worship Service
5:00pm Mid High Youth
6:00pm Combined Youth
6:30pm Sr. High Youth

(* 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.)

Witness Season Sunday School Program
10am in Fogartie Hall
The month of February marks Witness Season at First Presbyterian Church. This year, our church's goal is to raise $25,000 to support Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. This emergency and refugee program of the PCUSA provides long-term recovery support to communities across the globe that have been adversely affected by crises and catastrophic events. PDA continues to respond close to home, in communities in the Carolinas impacted by flooding from Hurricane Florence. Please make plans to attend the combined Sunday school class in Fogartie Hall this Sunday, February 24 to hear Rick Turner, a long-time volunteer for PDA national disaster response, speak about the organization's work at home and abroad. For more info or to give online: www.fpcspartanburg.org/events/witness-season-2019

“Pop-up” First Steps in Faith Sunday School class for 2-year-olds and their parents
Sundays at 9:45am in Room C104
February 17 & 24; March 3 & 10
If you have a child who has turned two but is not yet in the 3-year-old Sunday school class, you may be interested in a short-term class to help you introduce your toddler to concepts like love, faith, and God in a way that is easy for them to understand. Parents and children will meet together at 9:45 in room C104, with the lesson from 10:00 to 10:30, to have fun with a specially selected Bible story. This class will meet on the following Sundays: February 17, February 24, March 3, and March 10. You must register prior to attending by following this link and giving your name: https://www.shelbygiving.com/f/f2?formid=2bfa8e3a-7e59-40db-b71d-ca5cdb2392b2

NEXT WEEK
Healing and Wholeness Service – Wednesday, February 27
5:15pm in the Chapel
This service provides an opportunity to pray for the healing of oneself and others, reflect on the components of healing, receive communion, and experience God's blessing.

Wednesdays at First
5pm in Fogartie Hall
Join your church family for Wednesdays at First! No reservations are necessary, but if you wish to pre-pay online, you may do so at: fpcspartanburg.org/waf.

WAF Program: Local Missions and Poverty Initiative Overview – Wednesday, February 27
6:30pm in the Social Hall
Rev. Christi Brown will be talking about our local mission opportunities and giving a preview for the Faith Poverty Summit that First Presbyterian is hosting in April 10-11.

Youth Spring Beach Retreat “Eyes Above the Waves” – March 15-17
Garden City Chapel, Murrells Inlet, SC
for 6^th-12^th Graders
Sign up by NEXT FRIDAY, March 1
Youth, join your fellow 6^th-12^th graders for an amazing weekend at the beach. The featured speaker will be Chip Herring with music leadership by Danny Nue. The cost is $165, and registration is due by March 1. Chaperones are needed to make this happen. So please let Mark know if you can help! To sign up, visit: https://www.shelbygiving.com/f/f2?formid=9b7cf2f3-bde4-4154-ae87-a6b7b49ad697

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
Find these and more 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.

New First Presbyterian Habitat House – HAPPENING NOW!
We are excited to announce construction of another First Presbyterian Church Habitat Home. This home is being built at the corner of Salem and Maxton Streets in the Maxwell Hills/Duncan Park neighborhood. Faithful members of First Presbyterian have been leaders in volunteer construction during many of the early years and essentially fully built several Habitat homes. To volunteer, email carrie.vaughn@habitatspartanburg.org and note that you’d like to help build the FPC house. For a schedule of jobs see: www.fpcspartanburg.org/habitat

OTHER NEWS
Check Out What’s Happening on Social Media!
The church has accounts onFacebook,Instagram, and Twitter. Just click the links in the last sentence or search for “@fpcspartanburg” in those apps or websites to find us. Recent posts include a story about one of our members who saved a child from choking, pictures of our Habitat for humanity build, pictures and reflections from Tom Evans on his sabbatical, and video of each Sanctuary and MorningSong service (and even some WAF programs). The best thing is that you don’t even have to have an account on any of these social media platforms to access our content! But if you are active on these platforms, be sure to follow us! You can even set Facebook up to show FPC posts first, so you won’t miss a thing! While you are on social media, look for our other church pages and groups, including our youth group, recreation, and Weekday School. Follow them all!

NEW Sunday School Class
LiFT - (mid)Life in Fellowship Together
10:00-10:30am in Room 2212
This new class is made up of those in the center of their lives with older children in and out of the house. Each week will be a stand-alone, Bible-based study from 10-10:30. Join us to find a lift for your spirit and deepen your connection to Christ. Come early at 9:45 for delicious coffee and extra connection!

Youth Century Club
In 2019, the youth ministry looks to take its next big leap forward. 2019 is the first year of what we are calling the “Century Club”. Every person, children to adults, wants to be part of something greater and to find their place. Joining the “club” is one way that the youth ministry and the church family can participate in intergenerational ministry. The Century Club is our inaugural and ONLY fundraiser for the year. Our goal is to have members of the congregation invest $100 a year into the youth ministry. Mark Ashby will be talking about the Century Club in all services this Sunday and there will be an envelope in the bulletin for joining the club.

Sanctuary Rededication – Sunday, March 17
On Sunday, March 17, we will rededicate our Sanctuary at a very special worship service at 4:00pm. Dr. Tom Evans will deliver the message, with festive music featuring the Chancel Choir, Chamber Singers, Children’s Choirs, brass octet, and percussion. A time of fellowship will follow the service.

FPC Thornwell Luncheon – Tuesday, March 26
Join us on Tuesday, March 26^th at noon for lunch in Fogartie Hall’s large private dining room. Thornwell’s president and three staff members will share a variety of programs offered. They will highlight ways Thornwell provides services to Spartanburg County families and children. The 12-1 PM luncheon is sponsored by FPC members, but you must make reservations. To register: https://www.fpcspartanburg.org/events/thornwell-luncheon .

CPR Class – Thursday March 28
An American Red Cross Heart Saver CPR class is scheduled to be taught on Thursday, March 28, 2019 in the Arthur Center. If you are interested in taking this class, please contact Beth Cecil ( bcecil@fpcspartanburg.org / 804-208-2136) to register. Enrollment is limited. The cost is $25.

Vacation Bible School
Mark your calendar now for June 9-13 so that you can be part of this year’s Vacation Bible School. We’ll kick off the week for the children during a special Children’s Worship session (for all ages rising 5K to rising 6 ^th grade) on Sunday, June 9, and continue the fun with our first Summer Sizzle after the service. Want to volunteer? Contact Cesily King ( cking@fpcspartanburg.org ) or one of the leaders, Leigh Anne Langley, Jennifer Hoy, or Molly Jones. We hope you’ll join us as we deepen our faith in God and have fun while we do it!

APNC Needs YOUR Input
The APNC would like your help to find an Associate Pastor of Young Adults and Mission. Through your own connections, many of you know potential candidates. Please give one of our Committee members the name and contact information and we will follow up. APNC: Mac White, Chair, Cathy Bagwell, Andrew Darr, Kellie Foster, Laura Stille, Alan Workman, Hannah Zimmerman. You may send information to APNC Chair Mac White or contact any committee member via the ShelbyNext Portal ( https://www.fpcspartanburg.org/discover/member-login ).

Search for Director of Children's Ministries
The DCM search team need your help to find our next Director of Children’s Ministries! The very best candidates are often already linked in some way to the congregation they will serve. So please talk to a few people you know, or email them, and let them know FPC is looking for a full-time Director of Children’s Ministries. Or give one of our search team members the name and contact information and we will follow up! People can find the full job description at www.fpcspartanburg.org/dcm. Resumes and cover letters may be sent to Sara Bailey at sara.bailey@ministryarchitects.com . DCM Search Team: Tim Camp, Celia Cogdell, Craig Foster, Anne-Marie Glover, Callie Hammett, Arthur Jones, Cesily King, Emily Neely (chair).

LOOKING AHEAD
February 24 – Witness Season Sunday
February 27 – Healing and Wholeness Service
March 6 – Ash Wednesday
March 17 – Sanctuary Re-Dedication
March 24 – Confirmation Sunday
March 26 – Thornwell Luncheon at FPC
April 10-11 – Poverty Summit
April 14 – Palm Sunday
April 18 – Maundy Thursday
April 19 – Good Friday
April 21 – Easter Sunday
June 9 – Pentecost
June 9-13 – Vacation Bible School

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