Weekly Update for July 9, 2021

Dear Siblings in Christ,

This Sunday is the 15^th Sunday in what is called Ordinary Time in the church calendar. The liturgical color for Ordinary Time is green, and you will see green paraments, stoles, or projections in each of our services this Sunday. I have heard Ordinary Time described sometimes as “green growing time,” a time when we grow in faith amid the more ordinary routines of daily living between the major Christian holidays. As we move through this summer of Ordinary Time, let us not lose our connection to God or to the church. Join with us in worship, Bible study, service, and fellowship as often as you are able this summer, to keep your faith and this church’s ministry strong and effective in changing our lives and the lives of others.

Craig Foster
Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Communications

Recommendations for Church Officers – SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS TODAY
Your Congregational Nominating Committee needs the help of our members in nominating members of the church to serve as Elders and Deacons. Please submit this form with your suggestion of one name. You may submit as many names as you would like, suggesting any member of First Presbyterian Church, including yourself. Deadline for submittal is today, July 9. For a list of current church officers, please click HERE.

Youth Dinner and Devos TONIGHT
All rising 11^th and 12^th graders as well as 2021 HS graduates are invited to join Robert and Carrie this Friday night, July 9, at 6 pm at Venus Pie for dinner and a quick devotion. Meet in the Family Life Center parking lot, and we’ll walk over together!

THIS SUNDAY – JULY 11
8:30am Traditional Worship (Chapel)
9:30am Sunday School for All Ages
9:30am Refreshments and Hospitality (Perrin Room)
9:45am Summer Choir (Choir Room)
10:30am Traditional Worship (Sanctuary)
10:30am MorningSong (Fogartie Hall)
5:00pm Young Adults: Spartanburgers Game

We stream our 10:30am Sanctuary and MorningSong services live each Sunday. Stream on:

• FPCSpartanburg.org/worship for bulletins, Bible readings, sermon info, and more.
• YouTube on your smart TV, streaming device, or almost any other device.
• Facebook to join with a community of people worshipping together online.

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.

Refreshments and Hospitality
Between services on Sunday morning, stop by The Perrin Room - just down the hallway from the Tower Room - for a cold drink of water or a warm cup of coffee. 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, please come by to have your picture taken; your card should be available within the week. There is no charge for your first card (replacements are $10).

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 Young Adults: Spartanburgers Game
Young Adults and families are invited to go to a Spartanburgers baseball game on Sunday, July 11 at 5pm. If you are interested, please email Pastor Leslie!

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!

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

The Perfect Blend – Wednesday, July 14 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!

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

ECHOES Caregiver Group – Thursday, July 15 at 1:00 pm in the High School Room
Calling all those caring for a loved one either close at hand or from a long distance – you are invited to find spiritual encouragement with others serving God as caregivers. Come for respite and renewal! If you have questions, please contact Joanie Shackleton at jshackleton@fpcspartanburg.org.

Shelter: A Contemporary Worship Experience – Next Sunday, July 18 at 6pm
Have you been to a Shelter Worship Service? Join us on Sunday, July 18 at 6:00pm for a meditative time of worship through contemporary music, prayer, and scripture in a transformed Fogartie Hall.

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

Having Zoom Trouble? Need a Password?
The current password for most church events is “5834531” (which just happens to be the church phone number as well). Please visit www.fpcspartanburg.org/zoom for tips on how to get the most out of your Zoom gatherings.

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
Session Minute Typists Wanted!
Have you ever wanted to know what those weird little abbreviations from the 19th century mean? Do you want to be in on the creation of more accessible historical documents for the church? Do you ever wonder what really goes on in Session Meetings?

Well…THIS is your chance! We are beginning to type handwritten documents from the FPC Session into digital files, which will electronically preserve these documents and enable keyword searching. We are looking for folks that are willing to take home 10-20 pages at a time; completing the typing in about 2 weeks. All typing must be done within WORD. You will be given basic instructions that will include font and layout parameters. Afterwards, just email the documents and, if you would like, pick up additional pages for more typing. Interested? Contact Winnie Walsh at 864-579-1002 (landline) or winwalsh@charter.net.

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.

Habitat for Humanity Work Days
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 located in Spartanburg County with most of the homes in or around the city of Spartanburg. Volunteers are able to 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:

Other Opportunities in Ministry Finder

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

OTHER NEWS
Order Tartan Banner by 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.

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.

ShelbyNext App Now Operating Properly
The ShelbyNext Mobile App is now operating properly!! The Directory with fellow church members’ addresses is available, along with the Church Calendar, Check-In, and Giving. If you have any questions on how to sign-in or get the App, visit fpcspartanburg.org/discover/member-login.

LOOKING AHEAD
July 18 – Shelter Service
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.