Weekly Update for July 30, 2021

Dear Siblings in Christ,

This Sunday we will celebrate the Sacrament of Communion in all three worship services. In Communion (also known as the Lord’s Supper or the Eucharist, which means “thanksgiving”), we remember not only Jesus’s last supper with his closest disciples, but also the feeding of the 5000, all the meals Jesus shared with others, and all the stories Jesus shared about food as part of his earthly ministry. We also remember how the risen Jesus broke bread with those travelers to Emmaus and shared a breakfast on the lakeshore with several of his disciples. We also look forward to what the Bible often imagines as a great banquet with God in heaven. It is “communion” with Jesus and with those who share in the meal (everywhere, in the past, present and future). It is a meal hosted by our Lord. It is a remembrance of thanksgiving for God’s faithfulness and grace. All in a nibble of gluten-free bread and a sip of grape juice!

Remembering such passages as Jesus’s parable of the rich man and Lazarus, we do not only share in this feast of faith together. Following the example of the early church, who shared their Agape feasts with the poor, we also collect food to share with those in need.

Then after worship we will feast in a different way through the Dog Days of Summer event in the gym.

So join us as we feast and share together in community this Sunday!

Craig Foster
Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Communications

THIS SUNDAY – AUGUST 1
All Morning TOTAL Ministries Food Drive
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)
11:30am Summer Sizzle: Dog Days of Summer (Gym)

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.

TOTAL Ministries Food Drive
Please bring your non-perishable food and paper product donations for TOTAL Ministries this Sunday, August 1. Drop items in the bins in the Tower Room, Narthex, or outside of Fogartie Hall either before or after Worship. For a list of current needs, visit www.fpcspartanburg.org/total-ministries.

Hospitality Time
Between Services, 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 a 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.

Dog Days of Summer – August 1 after 10:30am Worship
Summer Sizzles continue Sunday, August 1 with Dog Days of Summer! Join us in the Gym for a delicious hot dog lunch after 10:30am Worship.

NEXT WEEK
New Yoga Class! Tuesdays at 10am in the Activity Room
In addition to Thursday lunch time yoga, Leslie Lehmann will also offer a class on Tuesdays at 10am beginning August 3 in the Activity Room. The cost for yoga classes are $5. Contact Colleen Darrall for more information.

The Perfect Blend – Wednesday, August 4 at 10:30am in the Large Private Dining Room
Join Rev. Joanne Hull and Dr. Lewis Galloway for coffee, friends, and a little spiritual boost for your day!

Celebration of Ministry for Robert and Holly Bannan – Sunday, August 8 at 11:30am in the Gym
Rev. Robert Bannan and Mrs. Holly Bannan have accepted a call to Kingston Presbyterian Church in Conway, SC; Robert as the Pastor and Holly as the Director of Discipleship and Communications. Join us for a reception Sunday, August 8 in their honor at 11:30am in the Gym. If you would like to write them a note, there is a basket in the church office or bring it to the celebration of their ministry on their final Sunday at First Presbyterian Church Spartanburg. Please join us in expressing our gratitude to Robert, Holly, Jacob, Hattie, and Trace and wishing them God's blessing as they make Kingston Church their new home.

Weekday Bible Studies and Other Groups

• Tuesday at 10am – Yoga with Leslie Lehmann in the Activity Room (Cost $5)
• Wednesday Men’s Bible Study: Wednesdays at noon, in person and on Zoom (Join in)
• 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 with Leslie Lehmann in the Activity Room (Cost $5)

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
Mobile Meals Drivers Wanted

After months of adjusting during the pandemic, Mobile Meals plans to resume delivering meals everyday starting in October, and they are looking for more drivers to cover their expanding routes. This is a rewarding volunteer experience that only takes an hour or two out of your week, but it can mean the world to the recipients to receive a warm meal, a friendly smile, and a kind word. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Vivian Tanner at vivian@mobile-meals.org and tell them you are from First Presbyterian Church.

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. Come and join us! Interested? Contact Dana Halliday for more information at danahalliday1@charter.net or (864) 237-0330.

Other Opportunities in Ministry Finder

• Habitat for Humanity Spartanburg
• Cleveland Academy of Leadership
• Hand in Hand
• TOTAL Ministries
• SPIHN

OTHER NEWS
Children’s Choir and First Steps Resume in September! (Registration opens August 1)
Children’s Choir resumes September 15 for ages 4K-5^th grade at 5pm. Register at fpcspartanburg.org/childrenschoir.

Additionally, First Steps for parents and children birth through age 3 will begin mid-September. Class size is limited! Register at fpcspartanburg.org/firststeps. For more information, please contact Marcia Andrews at mandrews@fpcspartanburg.org.

Blessing of the Backpacks – Sunday, August 15 at 10am
We invite children, youth, and teachers to bring their backpacks and/or laptops to the church to be blessed as we embark on a new school year. At 10am, our congregation will gather on the front lawn to celebrate this tradition.

Christmas in August – Preparing for Advent
Monday, August 16 in the Purnell Room
The Sanctuary Guild will meet Monday, August 16 in the Purnell Room at 10am. Everyone interested in enhancing our church campus for special occasions is encouraged to attend. For more information, please email LeAnne Thurmond or call 864-621-0213.

Peace and Justice Taskforce
The Peace and Justice Taskforce of First Presbyterian Church of Spartanburg is a proactive congregational work group for peacemaking and justice issues around racism and discrimination in our community. The next meeting is Friday, August 27th from 12:30-1:30pm in the Purnell Room. Many of the resources that are being discussed and introduced come from our own Foothills Presbytery: https://foothillspresbytery.org/anti-racism-resources/. Recently, we have been discussing the Spartanburg Racial Equity Collaborative, which you can view here.

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.

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
August 1 – Summer Sizzle: Dog Days of Summer
August 1 – TOTAL Ministries Food Drive
August 8 – Celebration of Ministry for Robert and Holly Bannan
August 13-15 – Women’s Connection at Montreat
August 15 – Blessing of the Backpacks (10am on the Front Lawn)
August 20 – Young Adult Fellowship and LIFT Fellowship at the Criterium
August 29 – Rally Day & End of Summer Bash
September 5 – One Worship Service (No Sunday School)
September 15 – WAF Resumes/Children’s Choir Resumes
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.