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Weekly Update for July 3, 2019

Happy Fourth of July! We hope you have an enjoyable and safe celebration of our nation’s independence. Please note that all church facilities, including the gym, will be closed Thursday, July 4 and Friday, July 5 in observance of Independence Day. Regularly scheduled activities will resume on Saturday.

Please continue to pray for the youth and adults on our Wyoming Mission Trip as they complete their work and journey back home on Friday.

This Sunday we have an opportunity to hear from Pastor Luc Aristhene from Haiti Outreach Ministries, our mission partner in Haiti. He will speak in all three worship services and also lead a Sunday School class in room 2201.

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

(* 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.)

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 7:30 in Twichell Auditorium at Converse College.

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 7: Haiti Outreach Ministries – Pastor Luc Aristhene
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 7: Song of Songs: Hot! Hot! Hot!
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 1st-4th 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).

Undies Sundae Sunday – Next Sunday, July 14
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.

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, 31; August 1, 2, 3)
SPIHN Evening Host (FULL)
SPIHN Overnight Host (July 29, August 1, August 2)
(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.

Weekday School Teachers Needed!
The Weekday School at FPC is still looking to hire a few more teachers and substitute teachers for the 2019-2020 school year. If you are interested in being a teacher or substitute at our wonderful Weekday School, or know someone who would be great, please contact Kris Graham at ( kgraham@fpcspartanburg.org / 864-706-0460).

OTHER NEWS
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:

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

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

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).

Please bring your access cards with you to the church
For the safety of our members, staff, guests, and facilities, an access card is required to enter the building at times other than Sunday morning. Please be sure to bring your FPC access card with you each time you come to the church. If you do not have a card or have lost yours, please see Didi Terry in the church office. Access cards can now be made on the spot while you wait, and cost just $10.

LOOKING AHEAD
June 29-July 5 – Youth Wyoming Mission Trip
July 4-5 – Church Facilities Closed
July 14 – Summer Sizzle: Undies and Sundaes
July 18 – Hangouts with Holly (rising K-2nd)
July 21-27 – Montreat Youth Conference
July 21 – Young Adult Ice Cream Social
July 22-25 – CAST Camp
July 25 – Hangouts with Holly (rising 3rd & 4th)
July 28-August 4 – SPIHN
August 1 – Hangouts with Holly (rising 5th)
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