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Weekly Update for January 18, 2019

This weekend kicks off the Unity Week Celebration in Spartanburg, as we celebrate the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Also, our next Spartanburg Interfaith Hospitality Network (SPIHN) week begins this Sunday. Thank you to all who have stepped up to feed and spend time with these temporarily homeless children and their families, and let’s all be in prayer for them as they seek to find a stable and safe home.

UNITY WEEK EVENTS
Movie Night – Friday, January 18
6pm at the Spartanburg County Library Headquarters
Documentary: King in the Wilderness
This documentary chronicles the final chapters of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life. Facilitated discussion will be led by Pastor M. Keith McDaniel.

Walk as One – Saturday, January 19
9am at the Spartanburg Public Library Headquarters
Our diverse community joins together to walk as one for a time of fellowship and reflection.

Unity Celebration – Monday, January 21
6:30pm at Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium
Keynote Speaker: Darrin Goss (President & CEO of the Coastal Community Foundation)
Music will be provided by the Sounds of Diversity Choir and Orchestra. Poster Contest winners, Humanitarian Award recipients, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Celebration scholarship winners will be announced.

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 (Social Hall this week)
6:00pm Combined Youth (Social Hall this week)
6:30om Sr. High Youth (Social Hall this week)

(* 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.)

NEXT WEEK
Church Closed on Monday, January 21
in Recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
All are encouraged to spend the day in service to others, remembering Dr. King’s work for racial equality and unity, and reflecting on the racial inequity and barriers that still plague our society today.

JOY Fellowship Trip to the Johnson Collection – Tuesday, January 22
1:45pm at 154 West Main Street
Please join the JOY Fellowship group for our 1st event of 2019! We will see the current exhibition, The Kindred Spirit: William Merritt Chase and His Southern Students . Meet there, 154 West Main Street, or at the church to ride one of our new buses. Contact jshackleton@fpcspartanburg.org to sign up.

Wednesdays at First
5pm in Fogartie Hall
Wednesdays at First resumes next week with a new season of delicious meals, warm fellowship, and informative programming. No reservations are necessary, but if you wish to pre-pay online, you may do so at: fpcspartanburg.org/waf. Cash, check, and credit cards are accepted at the door.

WAF Adult Program: Forgiveness! w/ the Rev. Travis Webster
6:30pm in the Sanctuary & online
Our 2019 WAF Health Series concludes with a program on forgiveness. The first two installments were great, and we encourage you to watch the recordings online if you missed either of them.

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.

Sponsors Needed for Tuesday Community Dinners
In 2018 the Neighborhood Meal Ministry served 36 Tuesday dinners to our friends at the Arthur center. We averaged around 45 guests each week along with 10-12 volunteers. Some of the folks are homeless, some are just low on resources and others enjoy the fellowship. All have shown kindness and appreciation. Several individuals, groups and Sunday School classes have stepped up to make this happen: Jerry Kiehl, Tina Hamilton, Steven Richards, Bill Walters, the Deacons, VBS, the Emmaus Sunday School class and Stephen Ministry and many First Presbyterian volunteers. Most of the Tuesdays for 2019 are already covered but the following are available: January 29, May 21, July16, July 30, September 17, and November 15. If you, your group or your Sunday School Class is interested in hosting one of these dinners please contact John Tatham at jtatham1@charter.net. If you would like to contribute financially to these dinners please make a check to First Presbyterian Church and note for Neighborhood Meal Ministry.

OTHER NEWS
Car Break-In
Thursday evening of last week, a car was broken into in our church parking lot. Please remember to lock your vehicles, and do not leave valuables in plain sight.

Weekday School Sweethearts Celebration – Thursday, February 7
5:30-7:00pm in Fogartie Hall
RSVP by February 4
Enjoy a spaghetti dinner, musical entertainment by Debbie Keiser and a delicious bake sale while helping to raise funds for our Weekday School! Please make your reservation by Monday, February 4, 2019 by clicking HERE .

Tickled Pink Women’s Bible Study Resumes – Tuesday, February 5
9:15-10:30am in Fogartie Hall
Mark your calendars, grab a friend and join Susan Oldham and Ansley Page as they begin a new Tickled Pink study! Each lesson is stand alone, homework is optional, snacks are yummy and the fellowship is the best in town! Look forward to nourishing our souls with together!

Local Missions Lunch-n-Learn – Tuesday, February 5
Noon in the Large Private Dining Room
Come learn more about our local mission partners as well as enjoy a delicious lunch cooked by Jane Mullins for only $7. Come to the Large Private Dining Room (LPDR) in the Family Life Center at Noon on Tuesday, Feb. 5 for a panel discussion. Panelists will include: Adult Learning Center, Mental Health America-Spartanburg, Thornwell, The Shepherd’s Center, and Speaking Down Barriers. Register online here .

Witness Season Programs
Wednesday, February 20 at 6:30pm
Sunday, February 24 at 10am
Every February is Witness Season here at FPC, and this year our Witness Season project is Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA). PDA is the emergency response program for our denomination, committed to the long-term journey of recovery of communities adversely affected by a crisis or catastrophic event. It has designated funds for responding to specific disasters. PDA has been tremendously helpful to the ongoing relief efforts after the flooding in North and South Carolina, and our goal this Witness Season is to raise $25,000 to assist our brothers and sister in Christ who have been affected by the flooding in North and South Carolina. For more information or to give online: https://www.fpcspartanburg.org/events/witness-season-2019

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
January 20-27 – SPIHN
January 21 – Church Closed (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day)
January 27 – Third Grade Bible Presentation
January 27 – Commissioning of DR Mission Team
February 1-3 – Women’s Retreat at Kanuga
February 7 – Weekday School Sweethearts Celebration
February 8-10 – Confirmation Retreat
February 2-9 – DR Mission Trip
February 17 – Blood Drive
February 24 – Witness Season Sunday
February 27 – Healing and Wholeness Service

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