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Weekly Update for January 25, 2019

This is a special Sunday for two groups within our church. During the Sunday School hour our Third Grade Sunday School class will be presented to very specially prepared Bibles during the Sunday School hour. Then during the 11am Sanctuary Service, our Dominican Republic Mission Team will be commissioned for their work abroad starting next Saturday.

Be sure to check out the information about the Middle East series and Youth Century Club on Sunday, and don’t miss a newly-scheduled program this Wednesday!

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
6:30om 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.)

Middle East Series in Christian Perspectives Sunday School
January 27, February 3, and February 10
Starting this Sunday, the Christian Perspectives' Sunday School class will be joined by students and faculty from Converse College and offer their observations and insights on Christianity in the Middle East and the cultural differences between US and Middle East values, institutional roles, and daily livelihoods. Guest presenters will include:

Jacky Torres , a senior at Converse who has recently partnered with a United Kingdom student delegation that traveled to the Saudi Kingdom.
Errin Baylis , a junior politics and theater major, and Danny Morrison, an adjunct professor at Converse, both of whom have extensive experience and time Qatar.
Our own Joe Dunn will spend one Sunday speaking on his trip into Vietnam and Cambodia. In doing so, Joe will share his perspective and knowledge learned about Buddhism and its differences with Christianity.

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 insert in the bulletin with more information and explaining how to join.

NEXT WEEK
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: “Music Therapy – What is it and how does it help?”
w/ Dr. Carol Shultis
6:30pm in the Chapel
Dr. Carol Shultis, professor in the Petrie School of Music at Converse College will be offering a presentation about this rapidly growing field. Music Therapy is a healthcare discipline that uses music as a tool for maintaining health and facilitating healing. Carol will describe music therapy’s basics and share its role in good mental health.

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
Security Improvements at the Church
In a continued effort to improve security and needed access for members, staff, and visitors we will be transitioning from key-access to card-access for all buildings on campus. This transition will both save the church money in false alarm calls as well as better control access to each building. The church can grant access to any member for events whether it be a onetime event or continual, so that all will have the access that they need. This will virtually eliminate false alarms and un-needed charges by the city for these false alarms.

We also need your help for security.

1) When you have a scheduled need for building use (example: the Arthur Building) please let the administrative staff know when you will be leaving so that we can rearm the alarm system.

2) Do not allow anyone that are not members or staff to “follow” you through any outside door. This is a huge security risk to everyone. Staff members will have badges displayed and members are encouraged to display badges always. If you encounter someone wanting to enter, please contact a church staff member to address.

3) Inform the church office if your security badge has been lost or stolen.

Buildings will still be accessible without a card on Sunday mornings. The Family Life Center will be accessible without a card on Wednesday evenings, but you will continue to need a card to access exterior doors on other buildings during Wednesdays at First.

We ask for your understanding and cooperation during this transition so that we will better be able to secure our campus and members.

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, New Day Clubhouse, 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

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 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

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 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
March 17 – Sanctuary Re-Dedication

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