Weekly Update for January 17, 2020

This is a long weekend for many as we celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. There are lots of events planned in our community this weekend and Monday. Whether you join in one of the events listed below or find some other way to serve and to break down the barriers of racism and other prejudice, please find your way to make this world a better place this long weekend! Please note that, with the exception of the Poverty Simulation, the church will be closed on Monday.

This weekend we also commission Susan Oldham for service as a Commissioned Ruling Elder. Please join us at the 11am Sanctuary service for this celebration. There will be a reception in the Perrin Room following the service.

We also still need a few people to help with SPIHN starting January 26. See the “Service Opportunities” section below for details.

THIS SUNDAY
8:45am MorningSong* and Chapel Worship Services
9:45am Sunday School for All Ages
11:00am Sanctuary* Worship Service
12:00pm Reception for Susan Oldham
5:00pm Youth Group

(* 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.)

MLK WEEKEND EVENTS
Walk As One – Saturday, January 18
9 am at Wofford College (starting point)
The City's annual Walk As One event gives members of our diverse community a chance to join together in fellowship to walk together in unity, both in reflection on the legacy of Dr. King and in support of the continuing work to realize his dream of unity and equity. This year, the walk will begin at 9am at the main gate on N Church St near the Burwell Building. We will plan to meet at 8:45am and walk as a group- please contact Leslie Lang if you plan to attend!

Day of Service – Monday, January 20
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day has become an occasion to offer ourselves in service to humanity and our community. The United Way of the Piedmont has collected a variety of ways that you can serve in the community. See the list and sign up at https://uwpiedmont.galaxydigital.com/aem/general/event/?doc_id=5701.

Poverty Simulation – Monday, January 20
The United Way will also be hosting a poverty simulation at our church. This event is open to the community. So spread the word! If you have participated in a poverty simulation like this, you know how powerful and eye-opening is can be, and we encourage you to invite your friends. If you have never been part of a poverty simulation, you won’t regret it! For more information or to sign up: https://uwpiedmont.galaxydigital.com/aem/general/need/?doc_id=5701&need_id=477057

They also need volunteers to help run the event. To volunteer, please contact Hannah Jarrett ( hannah.jarrett@uwpiedmont.org) at the United Way or the Piedmont.

Unity Celebration – Monday, January 20
6:30pm at Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium
Bus from FPC departs at 6pm
The City's Annual Unity Celebration will be held at 6:30pm at the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium. Music will be provided by the Sounds of Diversity Choir and Orchestra. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Gail Christopher, an award-winning social change agent and former Senior Advisor and Vice President of the W. K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF). Transportation will be provided from the church parking lot. Our bus will be located outside of the Family Life Center at 5:45pm, and we will leave promptly at 6pm. Please contact Caroline Goodman ( cgoodman@fpcspartanburg.org) to reserve your place. We look forward to seeing you there!

NEXT WEEK
WAF Dinner – Wednesday, January 22
5:00-6:15pm in Fogartie Hall
This week we will enjoy hot chicken salad, cranberries, and steamed green beans 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.

WAF Program: Brain Hacking – Rescuing our Teens and Ourselves From Social Media Addiction
6:30pm in the Sanctuary
Join us for a two-part health series on social media addiction with Jimmy Deal, Director of SC Occupational Information Center. All adults, especially adults with tweens/teens, should attend. Did you miss last week or the week before? Watch them online at https://fpcspartanburg.org/grow/adults/online-studies.

Other After-Dinner WAF Programming
Christian Recreation for Children (Gym and Activity Room)
Youth Wednesday Night Fellowship (Middle School Room)
Sit ‘n Stitch (FLC Lobby)
Wednesday Walkers (Walking Track)

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.

Recent Ministry Finder Entries:
4^th Tuesday Neighborhood Meal Ministry – January 28

SPIHN – January 26-February 2, 2020
Our next opportunity to host Spartanburg Interfaith Opportunity Network children and their families is coming up at the end of January. For more information or to sign up to volunteer to prepare a meal, visit with families for an evening, provide snacks, or help set up or clean up, please visit www.fpcspartanburg.org/spihn.
Still needed:
Overnight host – Friday 1/31
Evening host – Sunday 1/26, Friday 1/31, and Saturday 2/1
Meal – Friday 1/31

Nap Boule! Hot Sauce – It’s Not Just for Christmas!
We are partnering with a sister church to raise money for Haitian Missions. The Vienna Presbyterian Church (Vienna, VA) began this project by purchasing peppers grown in Haiti, and using their own recipe, bottled hot sauce for sale. There are four different flavors, and the bottles are $7 each. Please see Caroline Goodman at the church if you would like to purchase a bottle (or a case!)

OTHER NEWS
Sanctuary and Flower Guilds Meeting – Monday, January 27
11am in the Purnell Room
This meeting is to plan for Lent and Easter. All are welcome!

Tour The Franklin School – Thursday, January 30
1:30pm at 100 Franklin St. (Meet at the church)
The Local Missions Committee recently gifted funds to The Franklin School to purchase jackets for their students. On Thursday, January 30^th, we have been invited to tour the school as well as take a photo with the students in their new jackets. If you would like to join, please meet at the FLC at 1:30pm to catch the bus to the school. We plan to return around 3pm.

“The Other Boys of Summer” Documentary – February 17 & 18
This program is documentary about racism, segregation and civil rights in America, told through the lives of the Negro League baseball players. A 40-minute film will be followed by a moderated group discussion centered around how racism has evolved and where we go from here.

2pm Mon. 2/17 in the Barrett Room at the Library
6pm Mon. 2/17 at the CC Woodson Community Center
6pm Tue. 2/18 at the SCC Evans Building auditorium

Earth Care
A great way that we can help to reduce plastics in the environment is to cut back on the number of drinking straws that we use. Most of these straws end up in the world’s oceans, where they clot shorelines and gather in thick islands. They end up being mistaken for food by marine life and can cause terrible injury. Alternatives to plastic straws include reusable straws of all types (metal, bamboo, etc.), paper straws, pasta straws (bucatini), or come up with your own fun ideas! Follow this link to learn more about garbage islands that contain plastic straws: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/great-pacific-garbage-patch/

LOOKING AHEAD
January 18 – MLK Walk as One (Wofford College)
January 20 – MLK Day of Service & Poverty Simulation
January 20 – Church Closed for MLK Day
January 21 – Tickled Pink Resumes
January 26 – SPIHN Guests Arrive
January 29 – Celebration of Ministry for Jane Mullins
February 1-8 – Dominican Republic Mission Trip
February 23 – Witness Season Sunday
February 26 – Ash Wednesday Service (6:30pm/Sanctuary)
April 5 – Palm Sunday
April 9 – Maundy Thursday
April 10 – Good Friday
April 12 – Easter Sunday
June 15-18 – Vacation Bible School

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