Weekly Update for July 16, 2021

Dear Siblings in Christ,

As you see below, we have a full Sunday coming up, including our third Shelter Worship Service! What is Shelter? Rafe and Holly explain in this video. Take note of ALL that is going on this Sunday and join in!

Next week is our second week of the annual C.A.S.T. Camp series. What is C.A.S.T.? Find out more on the church website, and reach out if you can be involved in the mornings! And please pray for the young people and volunteers involved in this important ministry!

In addition to C.A.S.T., there are activities for every age throughout the week. Even over the summer, there really is something for everyone!

Craig Foster
Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Communications

THIS SUNDAY – JULY 18
8:30am Traditional Worship (Chapel)
9:30am Sunday School for All Ages
9:30am Hospitality Time (Perrin Room)
9:45am Summer Choir (Choir Room)
10:30am Traditional Worship (Sanctuary)
10:30am MorningSong (Fogartie Hall)
5:00pm Youth Pizza Pop Up (Game Room)
6:00pm Shelter (Fogartie Hall)

While on the Summer Worship Schedule, the 10:30am Sanctuary Worship Service will be streamed on the church website and Facebook, and the 10:30am MorningSong Worship Service will be streamed on the church website and YouTube.

However you join us, please:

• Check in through the ShelbyNext app or sign the online guestbook to let us know you worshipped with us.
• Consider giving online or through the ShelbyNext app as a regular act of worship.

Trouble with the livestreams? Check out this information on the church website.

Hospitality Time
Between Services this morning, stop by the Perrin Room - just down the hallway from the Tower Room - for a refreshing beverage. Feel free to take a few minutes to visit with other church members and visitors. If you have any questions about First Presbyterian, our Hospitality Team would like to help you find the answer. Additionally, if you are a church member in need of a Sonitrol Key Card, you may do so during this time at no charge! Please come by to have your picture taken; your card should be available within the week.

9:30am Sunday School for All Ages
Adults: “Welcome to the One Great Story” (Social Hall)
This summer, you are invited to join an adult class on the great sweeping story of the Bible. We will be guided by the new book by Dr. George Thompson entitled "Welcome to the One Great Story." Led by Dr. Lewis Galloway and Dr. Lewis Johnson, the class will help us understand how to interpret the wide variety of literature in the Bible and how the many stories of the Bible come together to tell one great story. This class is designed for all levels of familiarity with the scriptures. Copies of the book will be available for $28 in the Social Hall for those who want to go deeper than what is covered in class.

Adults: “Mountaintop Moments” (Parlor)
Grab coffee and come catch up with church friends in the Parlor. Rev. Ansley Page will offer a devotion and discussion around mountaintop moments in Scripture and how they connect with our stories. A little extra lift for your Sunday morning!

Children & Youth Sunday School
Preschool Sunday School (Room C110)
Elementary Sunday School (Room C201)
Nursery, 6 months – 3 years (Room C105)
Middle School Students – Middle School Classroom
High School Students – High School Classroom

9:45am Summer Choir (Choir Room)
Anyone high school age or older who has been fully vaccinated is welcome to be a part of Summer Choir. Come to the Choir Room at 9:45am, and we will take care of the rest...the music is manageable, and there are experienced singers to make your experience fun and comfortable. Questions? Contact Holt Andrews at rhandrews@fpcspartanburg.org.

5:00pm Youth Pizza Pop Up (Game Room)
All youth are invited to join us for pizza and fellowship. We will walk to the Shelter service together!

6:00pm Shelter: A Contemporary Worship Experience (Fogartie Hall)
Shelter is a special time of worship where connection to God can be found through meditative scripture and reflective songs. This Sunday, Rafe Andrews, Holly Bannan, and members of the band will lead us in a special time of worship and Rev. Ansley Page will deliver the message. We encourage you to join us at 6pm in a transformed Fogartie Hall as we raise Hallelujahs and look to our Everlasting Light for Shelter.

NEXT WEEK
Youth Summer Bible Study – Mondays and Tuesdays at noon
Meet at the Family Life Center at 12 noon to walk to a restaurant for lunch and then come back to the church for Bible Study and recreation! Drop off and pick up from the main entrance of the Family Life Center.

• Mondays – Rising 6^th and 7^th Graders
• Tuesdays – Rising 8^th, 9^th, and 10^th Graders

Summer Hangouts with Mrs. Holly – Wednesdays
FPC Kids, join Mrs. Holly for Summer Hangouts on Wednesday nights in July! We will have a FOCUS devotion and play Minute-to-win-It games!

• 5:30-6:20pm – Completed 3K, 4K, and Kindergarten
• 6:30-7:20pm – Completed 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th

Youth Dinner and Devos – Friday, July 23 at 6pm
Rising 11^th and 12^th graders and ’21 high school graduates, join Robert and Carrie for Dinner and Devos Friday, July 23 at 6pm. Meet in the back parking lot of the FLC!

Order Tartan Banner – DEADLINE FRIDAY, JULY 23(Order Here)
First Presbyterian Church will hold its annual Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans Worship Service on Sunday, October 31, 2021. At our Kirkin’ service, we remember ancient times, as well as past and present kith and kin, while asking God’s help and blessings in the future through special music and a procession of bagpipes and tartans. The tartan fabrics are ordered from Scotland, so we need your order and payment by Friday, July 23, 2021. The cost of a banner is $135. For more information, visit fpcspartanburg.org/tartan. If you have any questions, please contact Lynise Clarke.

Weekday Bible Studies and Other Groups

• Summer Women’s Bible Study with Ansley Page: Mondays at 7pm in the Arthur Center
• Wednesday Men’s Bible Study: Wednesdays at noon, in person and on Zoom (Join in)
• Young Adult Women’s Summer Bible Study: Wednesdays at 6pm at the home of Donna Pulliam (Contact Leslie Lang)
• 6:30am Men’s Bible Study: Fridays in the Small Private Dining Room
• 7:00am Men’s Bible Study: Fridays in the Arthur Center
• In person and Zoom Group Workouts – Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 7:15 a.m. and 9:15 a.m. (Email Colleen)
• Thursdays at 12 noon – Yoga in the Activity Room with Leslie Lehmann

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
Habitat for Humanity Workdays
Habitat for Humanity of Spartanburg utilizes volunteers on new home construction as well as smaller exterior projects for our critical home repair program. These homes are in Spartanburg County with most of the homes in or around the city of Spartanburg. Volunteers can participate Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, or Saturdays with the option to volunteer for a full day or a half day. Volunteers must be 16 years of age or older, anyone under 18 years of age must have a volunteering adult accompany them on the work site. Projects are lead under the direction of a construction supervisor. No experience is necessary to participate. Anyone interested in learning more, have questions about specific dates, or would like to schedule in advance for future dates should contact the Volunteer Coordinator, Carrie Vaughn 864-707-0230 or carrie.vaughn@habitatspartanburg.org. Here are current volunteer opportunities for the month of July:

Stephen Ministry Needs YOU!
If you are looking for a way to serve First Presbyterian Church that allows you a flexible schedule, once a week interaction with someone who is desperately in need of some Christian caring, this is the place for you!! A new training class will begin in August 2021. Come and join us! Interested? Contact Dana Halliday for more information at danahalliday1@charter.net or (864) 237-0330.

Other Opportunities in Ministry Finder

• Cleveland Academy of Leadership
• Hand in Hand
• TOTAL Ministries
• SPIHN
• Mobile Meals

OTHER NEWS
Summer Book Discussion – July 29
Join Leslie Lang in the Small Private Dining Room on Thursday, July 29th at 12pm to discuss the book, I'm Still Here by Austin Channing Brown. This book has been on the NY Times bestseller list and was referenced in a recent sermon by Rev Lang. It gives a firsthand account of a black woman growing up in the United States, and how she has experienced racism in her own life. All are welcome. Invite a friend and bring your lunch if you'd like.

Update from the Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC)
In the past couple of months, members of the Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) have listened to and watched hundreds of sermons online and are now working to create a relatively short list of viable candidates with whom they can engage in conversation more seriously. The list of potential candidates is not complete, and they welcome suggestions of names of pastors with whom you may be familiar. Please visit fpcspartanburg.org/pnc for the full update and to contact the PNC with your suggestions.

Next Blood Drive – October 10
Our next blood drive is scheduled for Sunday, October 10. If you gave blood during our last drive Sunday, May 16, you will be eligible to donate again beginning July 12. If you would like to donate at the next blood drive at First Presbyterian Church, please refrain from donating after August 15.

FPC Health Guidelines
First Presbyterian Church is observing CDC Health Guidelines. As Jesus said, “By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Thank you for your understanding.

Questions about your Church Membership?
If you have any questions or comments about your church membership, please email Lynise Clarke. You may also use contact Lynise to update any changes to your information (addresses, phone numbers, etc). Thank you.

LOOKING AHEAD
July 19-22 – CAST Camp
July 25-31 – Montreat Youth Conference
August 1 – Summer Sizzle: Dog Days of Summer
August 2-5 – CAST Camp
August 13-15 – Women’s Connection at Montreat
August 20 – Young Adult Fellowship at the Criterium
August 29 – Rally Day & End of Summer Bash
September 5 – One Worship Service (No Sunday School)
September 25 – Young Adult Event: Northside 5k
October 3 – World Communion Sunday
October 10 – Blood Drive
October 31 – Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans

More activities and events can be found in First News.