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Weekly Update for March 26, 2021

Dear Siblings in Christ,

This weekend, we enter into Holy Week as we celebrate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. And so we invite you to join us for a mix of in-person and online services throughout the week leading us toward our outdoor Easter services. MorningSong is planned to be outdoors, and we invite you to join us in-person! Due to a shortage of palm fronds, we invite you to bring greenery from your home and join in the procession with Bucket the donkey! Please wear your masks and bring chairs, if you are able, and place the back legs of your chairs on one of the lines in the parking lot. The 11:00am service will continue to be an online service for one final week before we get to celebrate Easter in-person together! What a joyous celebration that will be!

Craig Foster
Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Communications

THIS SUNDAY – PALM SUNDAY
8:45am Outdoor MorningSong (FLC Parking Lot)
10:00am Fourth Presbyterian Lecture Series (Sign Up)
10:00am Children’s Sunday School Rotation (Contact Holly Bannan)
11:00am Sanctuary Service (Online Only)
5:00pm Middle School Youth Group
6:00pm High School Youth Group

We stream our 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.

From Lament of Love, The Journey of Pain Seeking Understanding in the Bible – FINAL SESSION
with Dr. William P. Brown
Sunday, 10:00am on Zoom (Registration Required)
This year, Fourth Presbyterian of Greenville, SC has moved their annual lecture series to Zoom, and we are invited! This year’s guest lecturer is Dr. William P. Brown. Many of you will remember Bill as our 2011 Theology Weekend speaker, when he spoke about “The Ecology of Wonder in the Bible.” Registration is required on the Fourth Presbyterian website. From February 21 – March 28, this will take the place of our usual Zoom Combined Adult Sunday School Class. Find out more and watch recordings of past sessions at: https://www.fourthpres.com/pellett-wearn-lectures

10:00 a.m. Children’s Sunday School Rotation
Join Mrs. Holly on Zoom for Sunday School on your special day! We’re dividing into small groups so you can join your friends for Sunday School on those Sundays. Contact Mrs. Holly for more information and the Zoom link.

5:00 p.m. Sunday Night Youth Group – Family Life Center
This Sunday, all Youth are invited to join Pastor Robert for spiritual growth, connection, and FUN! Masks and social distancing required. Middle Schoolers will meet from 5:00-6:00 p.m.; High Schoolers from 6:00-7:00 p.m. Check your Weekly Email and Remind texts for more information! Email Carrie Coleman if you need to be added to either of these distribution lists.

HOLY WEEK AND EASTER SERVICES
Maundy Thursday – April 1
Maundy Thursday Observance with Communion in the Chapel – 8:00am-6:30pm
We will begin the day with an in-person Maundy Thursday Observance with Communion in the Chapel. Beginning at 8:00am through 6:30pm, there will be a series of brief 10-minute service that will start on every quarter of an hour. Ministers will be in the Chapel throughout the day to serve communion to you and your family. This is a wheelchair-accessible event.

Online Worship Service – 7:30pm (Join in)
Join your church family online for this special Worship service with scripture readings, broadcast from the Sanctuary.

Good Friday – April 2
Online Worship Service – 12:00 noon (Join in)
Tune in to watch this service, broadcast from the Chapel, focusing on the Seven Last Words of Christ.

Easter – Sunday, April 4
Sunrise Service – 7:00am
Join us on the lawn between the Chapel and the Sanctuary at 7:00am for this special service.

MorningSong Worship – 8:45am
Bring your chairs to the Family Life Center Parking Lot to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus with your church family. This service will also be Livestreamed for those who choose to worship online with us. The Sacrament of Communion will be observed.

Traditional Worship – 11:00am
Bring your chairs and join your church family on the Front Lawn. This service will also be Livestreamed for those who choose to worship online with us. The Sacrament of Communion will be observed.

Cross of Flowers
The Cross of Flowers is an annual First Presbyterian Easter event. Members and guests are invited to place flowers in the rough-hewn cross, which is erected by the Sanctuary Guild on the Lawn of the church, as they come to worship on Easter. This cross, full of spring flowers, represents the new life we receive through Christ's resurrection.

ALSO NEXT WEEK
Wednesdays at First – March 31
Pre-Order Dinner by Monday at noon
Join us for WAF this Wednesday! Drive through the porte-cochere at the Family Life Center beginning at 5pm to pick up a delicious meal and tailgate in the parking lot. Programs for children, youth, and adults will begin at 6pm. Join Dr. Lewis Galloway in Fogartie Hall for a seven-week series on Galatians entitled “What Does it Mean to be Free?” in Fogartie Hall. For a full list of activities, the monthly menu, and to register/pre-pay for dinner, visit www.fpcspartanburg.org/waf.

Lenten Study Series: Handel’s Messiah – FINAL SESSION
Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom (Join in)
Join Holt Andrews this Wednesday at 7:30pm for a final theological/musical look at Parts II and III of this classic work. Our resource book is “Hallelujah: The Bible and Handel’s Messiah.” While the resource book is very helpful, it is not essential, and anyone may join.

Walking in the Family Life Center
On Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon, we will open the walking track for members 50 years and older. There is no registration required, but we will limit the number of people walking to four at a time. Masks are required at all times in the building.

Workout with Colleen Darrall via Zoom! (Email Colleen)
Zoom Group Classes are free and open to all ages every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (7:15 a.m. and 9:15 a.m.). Each class lasts 30-45 minutes and can be done in your living room utilizing dumbbells and bodyweight exercises. If you are unable to attend during these times, reach out to Colleen Darrall to inquire about private Zoom workouts.

Weekly Zoom Times
See the full list online at: https://fpcspartanburg.org/events/weekly-zoom

Zoom Group Workouts – Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 7:15 a.m. and 9:15 a.m. (Email Colleen)
Prayer Gathering with Joanne – Tuesdays at Noon (Join in)
Book Study with Nan and Tom McDaniel – Tuesdays/Thursdays at Noon (Join in)
Men’s Bible Study – Wednesdays at Noon (Join in)
Lenten Study of Handel’s Messiah (Join in)
Preschool Lunch Bunch – Thursdays at 12:30pm (Contact Holly Bannan for the link)
5^th Grade Hangout with Holly – Thursdays at 4:00pm (Contact Holly Bannan for the link)
Children’s Rotation Sunday School – Sundays at 10:00am (Contact Holly Bannan for the link)
Fourth Presbyterian Lecture Series – Sundays at 10:00am (Registration Required)

New to Zoom? Having 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
TOTAL Ministries Food Drive (List of Needed Items)
Sunday, April 11 (8:30am-12noon)
The need to support food banks grows as more people seek food to feed their families during the pandemic. There will be an opportunity to donate goods on Sunday, April 11 from 8:30am-12:30pm (our first Sunday back indoors!). Please bring your non-perishable food and paper products to drop in the bins that will be both placed near the Tower Room and Family Life Center. You can contact Pastor Leslie at llang@fpcspartanburg.org if you have any questions!

Winter Warmth Committee Seeks a Few Good Leaders
If you are passionate about helping children in our community, we ask that you consider serving on the Winter Warmth Committee. This year, Pat MacBeth will chair Winter Warmth, and she needs help in successfully planning and implementing this important mission of our church. If you are interested in serving in a leadership capacity with Winter Warmth, please email Pat or Leslie Lang.

Cards for Hospital Workers
As many of you know, healthcare workers are emotionally, physically, and spiritually exhausted during this pandemic. The volunteer manager at SRHS has requested notes and cards to remind them that they are loved and appreciated. There will be a drop-off box for cards left outside the Tower Room doors at the church beginning March 4. You can bring cards at any time that is convenient for you. When WAF resumes, we will also plan to have hands-on opportunities to make/write cards onsite (Watch for more information). There are over 11,000 employees, and a note of encouragement could really brighten their day! This is a great project for all ages, so get the entire family involved!

Other Opportunities in Ministry Finder

OTHER NEWS
FOCUS: A Family Experience - June 13-16 (Register Your Family)
Are you ready to deepen your faith as a family this summer? This year, FPC is excited to announce a “family camp” style VBS! Based on Orange’s VBS, we bring you “FOCUS: FPC Family Experience” for Summer 2021. Join us June 13-16 from 5:30-7:30pm to dive deeper in your faith. We will have dinner on the lawn, opening break-out sessions (children, youth, and adult), family-bible/activity time, then have a closing time together. This experience is open to children and youth of all ages. Mark your calendar and join us for this awesome week together!

These Days Daily Devotional Now Available (Secure Your Copy)
The April-June edition of 'These Days' daily devotional is now available. Please note we have a limited amount. Click on this link to fill out a form and we will mail you a copy.

LOOKING AHEAD
March 28 – Palm Sunday
April 1 – Maundy Thursday Communion in the Chapel (8am-6:30pm)
April 1 – Maundy Thursday Worship Service (online) (7:30pm)
April 2 – Good Friday Worship Service (online) (noon)
April 4 – Easter Sunday (In-Person Outdoor Sunrise, MorningSong, and Traditional Services)
April 11 – Indoor Worship Returns
April 11 – TOTAL Ministries Food Drive
May 2 – Confirmation Sunday
May 16 – Baccalaureate Sunday
May 23 – Pentecost
June 13-16 – FOCUS FPC Family Experience
August 13-15, 2021 – Women’s Connection at Montreat

More activities and events can be found in First News.