Weekly Update for January 24, 2020

This Sunday is another wonderful celebration of God’s calling as we will ordain and install remaining elders and deacons in MorningSong, and commission our Dominican Republic Mission Team in the Sanctuary. The DR Mission Team departs next Saturday, February 1.

Then Sunday evening, even more members of our congregation respond to God’s call as we welcome guests from Spartanburg Interfaith Hospitality Network onto our campus for a week.

And then on Wednesday, we get to celebrate the ministry of Jane Mullins as she moves to the next stage of God’s call for her life.

Thanks be to God for all of these people who are answering God’s call to serve in Spartanburg, the DR, and elsewhere! Please be in prayer for them as they seek to show God’s love and care to all.

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

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

NEXT WEEK
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!

Celebration of the Ministry of Jane Mullins at WAF – Wednesday, January 29
5:00-7:15pm in Fogartie Hall
This week we will enjoy one final WAF meal prepared by Jane Mullins as we celebrate the wonderful (and tasty!) ministry she has had in our congregation. The meal will include pot roast, rice, and cheesy cauliflower casserole. After dinner, we will all remain in Fogartie Hall for the evening’s festivities. 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.

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)

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.

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:
Evening host – Friday 1/31, and Saturday 2/1

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
Clark Building Elevator is out of service
The elevator in the Clark Building is temporarily out of service. While it is being repaired, if you need an elevator, you may use the one in the Main Building, near the church library, to access the second floor, and then walk down the call to the Clark Building.

Did you miss any of the sessions of our Health Series in WAF?
Watch them online under the Grow menu on the church website or by clicking: https://fpcspartanburg.org/grow/adults/online-studies/health-series-2020

“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 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