Weekly Update for June 14, 2019

We had an amazing week of Vacation Bible School this week, as the children explored how God “is able to do far beyond all that we could ask or imagine by God’s power at work within us.” (Eph. 3:20) Thank you to all who made it such a special time for everyone involved!

God Experience Survey
As part of his continuing sabbatical research on how people experience God, Tom Evans has developed a survey with input from around the country. The session approved this survey at its last meeting, and the survey is finally ready to launch. We hope you will carve out a little bit of time to take it. It will help the session, pastors, and program staff better shape our ministries to connect you to our Lord. The survey is confidential, and no one will know your individual answers. Tom will also be sending this survey to congregations around the country. Tom will reflect on the survey and write up the results during the remainder of his sabbatical in July. So please take it right away! The link to the survey is: God Experience Survey .

THIS SUNDAY
8:30am Chapel Worship Service
9:30am Sunday School for All Ages
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.)

Youth Mission Teams Commissioning
10:30am in the Sanctuary
The youth of our church are about to embark in two different mission trips. Next Saturday, a group of our high school youth will head to Aiken, SC to repair homes as part of the Salkehatchie mission camp. Then immediately after they return a group of middle and high school youth will head to Wyoming to work in an Indian reservation. We will commission the youth and adult participants in both of these trips in our 10:30am Sanctuary service this Sunday.

SPARK Coffee Fellowship
Young Adults, ages 22-35(ish), are invited to meet in the Small Private Dining Room of the Family Life Center, 9:45-10:15am, in June for coffee and fellowship (and sometimes snacks). This will be an informal time for fellowship, sharing of joys and concerns, and building connections. Even if you’re only around for a week or two in June, we’d love to have you! (PS – Childcare is provided in the Clark Building during this time). If you have questions, please contact the Rev. Leslie Lang; llang@fpcspartanburg.org.

Summer Choir
Rehearse at 9:45am each Sunday
The Summer Choir meets each Sunday at 9:45 AM through Labor Day. Anyone high school age and above is welcome any Sunday. The choir rehearses music for that day’s service only, and there are experienced singers to sit beside. People who enjoy singing but who aren’t able to be a part of the Chancel Choir on a regular basis, visitors, college students home for the summer, and anyone else interested is encouraged to participate!

Summer Sunday School – 9:30am
Experiencing God (Room 2201)
Led by Tom Evans and Local Missions 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 local mission partners.

• June 16, 23 & 30: Tom Evans: Experiencing the Holy
• July 7, 14, 21 & 28: Local Mission Partners
• August 4, 11, 18, 25: Tom Evans: Experiencing the Holy

Encountering Jesus (Room 2200)
Led by Ansley Page, Jason Loscuito, John Lefebvre
This summer open your Bible! Starting on June 2 and throughout the month of June, this Summer Series will explore five passages from John’s Gospel, using Encounters with Jesus by Francis Taylor Gench as a guide. She writes about John, “when we read it, the person and promises of Jesus Christ seem more immediate and available. Jesus seems up close and personal in John and we find ourselves in direct encounter with him.” Additional chapters of this summer series for July and August are in the works, and may include one of the minor prophets and one of the New Testament epistles.

Other Adult Classes Continuing Through the Summer

• Open Class (Room 2213)
• Purnell Class (Purnell Room)

Children’s Sunday School
The program for Sunday School for children will be condensed beginning May 26. The nursery staff will be in room 105 to welcome all children birth through age 2 (3 year-olds may stay in the nursery during church services as always). The 3K, 4K, and 5K Sunday School classes will meet in room 110. Rising 2nd graders through rising 5th graders will meet as one class in room 201 (the 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. In June, both groups will explore the Book of James in a series called “You Have Issues.” In July, they will look at “Friendships and Peer Pressure” through the Book of Proverbs. Finally, in August, they will do a series called “Busting Myths” and, guided by the book of Ephesians, tear down myths about being a Christian. Come as often as you are able!

NEXT WEEK
Bring Books by Next Friday for the “Book Swap and Coffee Shop”
Do you have some books you’d like to discard or swap? All kinds of books for all ages are welcome and needed. Drop them off at the All In Mission closet, just inside the Chestnut St. door, between now and Friday June 21. On Sunday, June 23 we will have a free book swap in the social hall with coffee and coffee cake after the 10:30 worship services. We hope you will join us as we share our mutual love of books. Besides, summer is a great time to read!

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.

Ushers Needed for October and April
We are seeking additional ushers willing to help pass out bulletins and assist seating during the 11 AM service in the sanctuary. Ushers serve a month at a time twice a year. Find more information in Ministry Finder .

OTHER NEWS
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 22-29 – Youth Salkehatchie Mission Trip
June 23 – Summer Sizzle: Book Swap and Coffee Shop
June 24-27 – CAST Camp
June 29-July 5 – Youth Wyoming Mission Trip
July 4-5 – Church Facilities Closed
July 8-11 – CAST Camp
July 14 – Summer Sizzle: Undies and Sundaes
July 21-27 – Montreat Youth Conference
July 28-August 4 – SPIHN
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
November 3 – Ecumenical Blood Drive

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