Weekly Update for July 12, 2019

Following up on the visit of Pastor Luc last Sunday, we have a number of opportunities to hear about missions, both local and international, this week and the weeks ahead. See below for more information.

We also get the opportunity to participate in a unique mission opportunity this Sunday, as we collect new underwear (a real need that’s not often donated) for those in need (and enjoy ice cream sundaes together too).

THIS SUNDAY
8:30am Chapel Worship Service
9:30am Sunday School for All Ages
9:45am Summer Choir Rehearsal (Choir Room)
10:30am Sanctuary* & MorningSong* Worship Services
11;30am Undies & Sundaes Summer Sizzle

(* 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.)

Spartanburg Opportunity Center Sunday School Program
9:30am in Room 2201
You may remember a past Witness Season project to support the Clean of Heart Opportunity Center, a homeless day center in Spartanburg. Well after lots of hard work, this dream is coming to life this month as the Spartanburg Opportunity Center. Many of you met Karl Rogozenski as part of that Witness Season project. Karl is now the Executive Director of the Spartanburg Opportunity Center and will be with us during the Sunday School hour to give us an update on the opening of this important ministry in our area.

Summer Sizzle! – Undies Sundae Sunday
11:30am in the Social Hall
Bring a new pack of underwear (in children's, men's or women's sizes) to donate, and cool off with sundaes in the Social Hall.

Summer Sunday School – 9:30am
Experiencing God (Room 2201)
Led by Tom Evans and Mission Partners
This Summer Series will explore the ways that we experience God through the lens of Tom Evans’ sabbatical work and through the work of several of our mission partners.

July 14: Spartanburg Opportunity Center – Karl Rogozenski
July 21: Housing – Chris Story (City of Spartanburg), Joe White (Christmas in Action), Lee Close (Habitat for Humanity)
July 28: Foster Care – Chamlee Loscuito (Hope Center) / Jonathon Sampson (Thornwell)
August 4 & 11: Experiencing the Holy – Tom Evans
August 18: Youth Mission Teams
August 25: Experiencing the Holy – Tom Evans

Going to the Good Book (Room 2200)
Led by Ansley Page, Jason Loscuito, John Lefebvre
This summer open your Bible and join three dynamic teachers in studies the Bible together!

Kicking it Old Testament
July 14, 21 & 28: Minor Prophets

James: Faithful Living
August 4: James 1 Faith and Wisdom
August 11: James 2 & 3 Faith without Works /Words Matter
August 18: Joint Class with Youth Mission Report
August 25: James 4 & 5 Patience and Faith

Children’s Sunday School
Birth-age 2 – Clark Building, room 105
Completed 3K-5K – Clark Building, room 110
Completed 1^st-4^th Grade – Clark Building, room 201 (red door)
Rising 6th graders will join the youth classes for Sunday School.

Youth Sunday School
We will have two youth Sunday School classes this summer led by Robert, our youth interns and other volunteer teachers. Rising 6th graders are invited to join the Middle School Sunday School class. Rising 9th graders are invited to join the High Schoolers as well.
July: “Friendships and Peer Pressure” (Proverbs)
August: “Busting Myths” (Ephesians)

NEXT WEEK
All Recovery Addiction Support Group – Wednesdays
6-7pm in the Arthur Center
All Recovery is a F.A.V.O.R. (Faces and Voices of Recovery) support group. The group focus is to have a conversation with each other and learn more about recovery from addiction. This group is for anyone who has suffered from addiction to a substance and/or who has been affected by the symptoms and/or disease of addiction. This includes family and friends. The group meets every Wednesday evening 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. in the William L. Arthur Center. For more information contact Lauren Gilmore (864-357-4376) or Beth Cecil (864-208-2136).

Summer Hangouts with Holly
Come and spend some time with our new Children’s Director, Holly Bannan. Be ready to play games in the gym/outside, share a special snack, and talk about your Summer “God Sightings!” We will meet from 1:00-3:00pm on the following dates:

Thursday, July 18: For rising kindergarten, 1^st and 2^nd grade
Thursday, July 25: For rising 3^rd and 4^th grade
Thursday, August 1: For rising 5^th grade

Please drop your kids off and pick them back up in the gym.

Indian Mission Partner Pastor Suvarna Raju Mallipudi to Visit FPC
Next Sunday, July 21
Pastor Suvarna Raju Mallipudi with Chenaniah Ministries will visit with us on Sunday, July 21. In the last year, our church has provided funding to this ministry to dig a bore well in one of the villages they serve. In addition to the bore well ministry, in 1999, Pastor Raju and his wife Prema started JEM Children’s Home, which is located in the Southeastern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh in a small village named Ponguturu. 48 boys and girls, whose ages range from 4-19, live in the Children’s Home in a temporary shelter built in the compound. Pastor Raju and Prema are seeking to build a permanent residence building which will sufficiently house the current children and provide space for expanding the JEM family. Pastor Raju will speak in worship next Sunday and will be available for conversations in the Perrin Room during Sunday School.

Young Adult Ice Cream Social – Sunday, July 21
3-5pm at Happy Hollow Park in Converse Heights
Bring a topping to share! For questions, contact Leslie Lang ( llang@fpcspartanburg.org).

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.

Bus Drivers
We are frequently in need of drivers for our three church buses. A CDL is not required, but all drivers must be at least 25 years old, submit a background check, and go through a training session with our Facilities Administrator Chris Everette. EVERYONE who intends to drive one of the buses MUST go through this process, regardless of whether you have driven the old buses or the new buses before ! To begin this process, please download and complete the Background Check Authorization and return that along with a copy of your driver’s license and insurance card to Lynise Clarke in the church office. After that, training can be scheduled.

Help needed at SPIHN – Week of July 28-August 4
SPIHN's mission is to help temporarily homeless children and their families become self-sufficient by bringing together community resources to provide essential needs and life skills in a compassionate environment. These families need assistance by providing meals, supplies, and positive interaction. Our next SPIHN week is July 28 - August 4. For more information or to volunteer:
SPIHN Meal Provider (July 29, 30; August 1, 2)
SPIHN Evening Host (FULL)
SPIHN Overnight Host (July 29)
(Three of our usual overnight hosts are out of town!)

Stephen Ministry needs YOU!!
Classes start August 5
If you are looking for a way to serve First Presbyterian that allows you a flexible schedule and once-a-week interaction with someone who is desperately in need of some Christian caring, this is the place for you! The new class starts Monday, August 5 at 5:30. Interested? Call, email or text Dana Halliday ( danahalliday1@charter.net / 864 237-0330) More information can be found in Ministry Finder .

Child Poverty Initiative
The Faith Summit on Child Poverty held in April was only the beginning of a long-term initiative in Spartanburg to end child poverty. If you would like to be involved moving forward and were not able to attend the summit or to put your name on the follow-up list, please contact Caroline Goodman ( cgoodman@fpcspartanburg.org ) and ask to be added. Four focus groups are in the process of forming now, so you can choose your preference: Childcare, Generational Literacy, Living Wage, and Neighborhood Isolation.

OTHER NEWS
Masterworks Festival Continues
The Masterworks Festival is a month-long event for mainly college-age students that combines high level music instruction and faith development. Some of you heard the terrific trio from the festival that helped lead the 10:30 sanctuary service last Sunday. Most events are free and open to the public. Of particular interest are the Saturday evening Symphony concerts, on July 6 and 13 at 7:30pm in Twichell Auditorium at Converse College.

Recommendations for Church Officers Needed by Wednesday, July 31
Your Congregational Nominating Committee needs your help in nominating members of the church to serve as Elders and Deacons. You may suggest any member of First Presbyterian Church, including yourself. Please email Michael Pack, CNC Chair, ( mpack@dsdlegal.com) with the name of the Church Member, which office (Elder or Deacon), and why you think this member should be considered for a Church Officer. Paper nomination forms are available in the worship bulletins and around the church.

Church Retreat: “Family Camp” – September 20-22
Montreat Conference Center
Register by August 16
Come experience time in the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina with your church family! This year’s Church Retreat will be Family Camp for families of ALL ages, shapes, and sizes, with plenty to do together with and among families. There will also be plenty of time to relax and do your own thing as well. This year, we are also opening the retreat up to commuters. We very much hope that everyone who can will opt for the whole weekend, but if you can only come for Saturday, we are glad to welcome you! For more information and to register: www.fpcspartanburg.org/retreat .

LOOKING AHEAD
July 14 – Summer Sizzle: Undies and Sundaes
July 18 – Hangouts with Holly (rising K-2^nd)
July 21-27 – Montreat Youth Conference
July 21 – Young Adult Ice Cream Social
July 22-25 – CAST Camp
July 25 – Hangouts with Holly (rising 3^rd & 4^th)
July 28-August 4 – SPIHN
August 1 – Hangouts with Holly (rising 5^th)
August 5-8 – CAST Camp
August 11 – Summer Sizzle: Dog Days of Summer
August 25 – Last Day of Summer Worship Schedule
August 25 – Summer Sizzle: Wet & Wild Back to School Bash
September 1 – One Worship Service (No Sunday School)
September 8 – Rally Day
September 20-22 – Church Retreat at Montreat
September 20-25 – Cuba Mission Trip
October 27 – Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans
November 3 – Ecumenical Blood Drive

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