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Weekly Update for May 1, 2020

Dear Siblings in Christ,

The generosity and concern of the First Pres. Family is truly amazing! Over the past few weeks, our congregation has generously given to provide a hotel room and food for our SPIHN week as well as fund 8 weeks of food bags from the Hub City Farmers Market to 12 families in need. Because of all who gave, we have exceeded what we need to help in these ministry areas, raising over $2,200 for SPIHN and $5,500 for Hub City Farm Bags. Thank you for looking out for our neighbors in need during this time!

Blessings and Peace,
Craig Foster
Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Communications

Prepare for Communion This Sunday
If you wish to participate in Communion during Online Worship this Sunday, we ask that you prepare your own elements ahead of time (crackers, a slice of bread, or any type of bread you might have on hand) and a sip of grape juice or wine. You can partake, as directed, during the service, so that even while we are apart, we can enjoy this transcendent, yet very earthly, “communion” together.

THIS SUNDAY
8:45am MorningSong ONLINE
10:00am Adult Sunday School (Zoom)
10:00am Godly Play
11:00am Sanctuary Worship Service ONLINE
4:00pm Middle School Youth Group (Zoom)
5:00pm High School Youth Group (Zoom)

All services will be livestreamed at www.fpcspartanburg.org/live. Bulletins, scripture readings, manuscripts, and video archives can also be found on that page. Our worship livestreams also appear on Facebook and YouTube. Please sign the online guestbook when you join us for worship online and consider making your regular contributions online. Have you been having trouble with the livestreams? Check out this information on the church website.

10:00am Sunday School (Join in)
This Sunday in the combined Adult Class via Zoom, the Rev. Ansley Page will lead us in exploring Luke 24:36-53.

Godly Play with Holly – Sundays on YouTube
Holly Bannan will be recording the Godly Play lesson for children each week and posting it to the church YouTube page. A link to this video is also being sent out to parents each week.

NEXT WEEK
Weekly Community Zoom Times for Everyone!

Adult Sunday School – Sundays at 10am (Join in)
Morning Coffee & Sermon Discussion – Mondays at 10am (Join in)
Calling All Parents of Children and Youth! – Mondays at 4pm (Join in)
Prayer Gathering with Joanne – Tuesdays at Noon (Join in)
Share and Prayer with Ansley – Wednesdays at 10am (Join in)
Bible Study on the Gospel of Mark with Tom – Wednesdays at 6pm (Join in)
· Evening Devotions – Thursdays at 8:30pm on Zoom (Join in)

Share and Prayer Philippians with Ansley – Wednesdays in May
10am each Wednesday in May on Zoom (Join in)
Join Ansley for a faith connection and a Bible Study on Paul's letter about joy in difficult circumstances. There will be time to chat and share prayer concerns, too.
Meeting ID: 828 0903 6239
Password: 5834531

Hangouts with Holly – Monday & Thursday
Starting at 1pm on Zoom (Email Holly for specific times and a link)
All children are invited to join Holly Bannan online for a time of fellowship and learning together.
1:00pm 3K, 4K, and 5K
1:30pm 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd Grade
2:00pm 4^th and 5^th Grade

Youth Group on Zoom
All youth are invited to join Robert, Carrie, and your friends on Zoom throughout the week. More information and links have been sent to youth families. Please contact Robert or Carrie if you have any questions
Tuesdays at 4pm – 9^th and 10^th Graders
Wednesdays at 4pm – Middle Schoolers
Thursdays at 4pm – 11^th and 12^th Graders
Sundays at 4pm – Middle Schoolers
Sundays at 5pm – High Schoolers

National Day of Prayer – Thursday, May 7
This year the National Day of Prayer is Thursday, May 7. The Prayer Committee invites you to participate in the 2020 National Day of Prayer at home with your family. You might begin by asking each family member to help create a list of thanksgivings and concerns that you will bring to God together on May 7. Our prayer is that this experience will bless and strengthen your family.

Mother’s Day Offering – NEXT Sunday, May 10
Mother’s Day has traditionally meant a special offering in our church to support the ministry of Presbyterian Communities of South Carolina, which serves older adults at 6 retirement communities across the state. The Mother’s Day Offering provides charitable care to residents who have outlived their life’s savings due to old age or costly medical bills, so that they can continue to call PCSC “home.”

Although our church cannot gather for worship due to the coronavirus pandemic, the need of these residents for financial assistance remains. Please visit www.prescommunities.org and click on the “Mother’s Day Offering” tab to learn more and to donate online. Or you can send a check to the church with “Mother’s Day Offering” in the memo line. Thank you for keeping this special Presbyterian tradition of caring for older adults alive!

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
Cleveland Academy
The families of Cleveland Academy have an increased need for food right now. They are asking again for large zip lock bags with non-perishable food items, specifically boxed meals like hamburger helper, hearty soups, pastas, canned meats, mac and cheese, oatmeal/grits packets, granola bars, and cereal. These items can be dropped off at 1060 Partridge Road. The bags can be pre-assembled, or any donations will be great. The principal and staff at Cleveland are directing families in need there. For more information, see the page for this opportunity in Ministry Finder.

Donate to Support Those in Crisis Locally
If you would like to help local families deal with the effects of COVID-19, consider giving to the United for All Fund. This fund is managed by United Way of the Piedmont to directly assist local community members affected in times of disaster or crisis. United Way has convened community partners in Spartanburg, Cherokee, and Union Counties to ensure families get the help they need. Funds will directly support families who have been financially affected by the pandemic with expenses like food, shelter, utility assistance, and healthcare.

NEW Opportunities in Ministry Finder

OTHER NEWS
Hardship Survey
As part of Tom Evans’s continuing research on how we experience God, a special committee of the Diaconate was formed to explore how people experience God in times of hardship, not just during this unusual time, but throughout your life. Please take time to participate in this study by May 14^th. Visit https://survey.iad1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3JcQXb3yXn4Az5z.

Young Adult Trivia – Sunday, May 17 at 8:30pm
Landon Hammett has agreed to host a trivia night for the young adults on May 17^th at 8:30pm via Zoom. You will need two devices: a screen to view the questions, and another device like a phone or tablet to submit your answers. There will be PRIZES!

If you are interested in joining, please email Leslie Lang (llang@fpcspartanburg.org) to register and get additional details.

Zoom Security and Privacy
We are closely monitoring the news reports about Zoom, but still believe that it is the right tool for the job. But we are using more of Zoom’s built-in privacy and security features. All newly-created events will now have a password. This password will be embedded in the link in this weekly email and in any other email invitation you get from the church. So still all you have to do is click the link to connect. However, any links shared publicly on the church website will not include the embedded password, and you will be prompted to enter a password of you click a link on the church website. For now, the password for all events is 583 4531 (the church phone number without area code or dashes). See www.fpcspartanburg.org/zoom for more information and tips on using Zoom.

Virtual Poverty Summit
Though our in-person Poverty Summit was postponed, we celebrated the first year of the Faith Initiative to End Child Poverty online! We invite you to check out the Poverty Initiative Facebook page (whether you are on Facebook or not!) for updates and inspirational videos about the Initiative’s progress and the vision for the future. There is also important information about how you can get involved in the Initiative even during this unusual time.