Weekly Update for May 14, 2021

Dear Siblings in Christ,

This Sunday we will recognize and celebrate with our Class of 2021 graduating seniors during the 11:00am Sanctuary Worship Service. Let us all join in prayer for these seniors as they begin the next stage of their lives.

Be sure to also roll up your sleeve and give blood at church this Sunday. More information on that is below.

Craig Foster
Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Communications

New FPC COVID Guidelines
In light of the revised CDC guidelines regarding COVID, First Presbyterian Church is also revising its health guidelines and policies. The purpose of our polices is to promote and protect the health and well-being of everyone. As Jesus said, “By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” For those who have been fully vaccinated, masks are optional for indoor activities, including worship at the church. For those who are not yet fully vaccinated, please continue to wear masks and practice social distancing for all indoor activities, including worship. This will help us protect the unvaccinated among us. Masks are not required for outdoor activities. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Blood Drive – May 16 (Make an Appointment)
Give blood at First Pres Sunday, May 16 from 8am-1pm in the Family Life Center Parking Lot. Covid Antibody Testing will be offered to those that have had or suspect they have had Covid-19 as well as those who have received a Covid-19 vaccine. A $20 charitable donation will be made to First Pres for every blood donor! Masks are required, per Blood Connection policy. Contact Beth Cecil to make an appointment.

THIS SUNDAY – BACCALAUREATE SUNDAY
8:00am Blood Drive
8:45am MorningSong (Fogartie Hall)

8:45am Traditional Worship (Sanctuary)
10:00am In-Person Sunday School
11:00am Traditional Worship (Sanctuary)

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.

In-Person Sunday School – 10:00 a.m.
In-person Sunday School for all ages has resumed! Nursery has also resumed during Sunday School and worship. Some classes have combined or have relocated. Zoom options are also still available for adults. Follow the links below for the most up to date class schedule.

• Children (Clark Building)
• Youth (High School Room)
• Adults (Main & Clark Buildings)

NEXT WEEK
Wednesdays at First – May 19 (Last WAF until September!)
Pre-Order Dinner by Monday at noon
There are only a few weeks of WAF before summer break! Join us on Wednesdays for food, fellowship, and a time of learning. For a full list of activities, menu, and to register/pre-pay for dinner, visit www.fpcspartanburg.org/waf.

Focus: A Family Experience - June 13-16 (Register Your Family by THIS WEDNESDAY, May 19)
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!

Yoga – Thursdays at 12noon in the Activity Room
Bring your mat, mask, and enjoy lunch time yoga with instructor Leslie Lehman each Thursday at 12noon.

Pentecost – Sunday, May 23
On Sunday, May 23, we will celebrate the birthday of the Christian Church and the power of the Holy Spirit with two services - 8:45am and 11:00am - both in the Sanctuary. The Pentecost service will be a time to open ourselves to God’s creative new future. Music selections will feature a jazz theme, and we are delighted to welcome jazz pianist John Moody as our special guest. Remember to wear red!

Pentecost Picnic Party
After each service, join the Pentecost Picnic Party for burgers and barbecue. The Fudd Truck and Old School Barbecue will be available in the FLC Parking Lot. At 6:30pm, we hope you will join us back in the FLC Parking Lot for a special performance of the Gospel Mass by the FPC Chamber Singers. Gospel Mass is a unique musical setting of the Catholic Mass in the African American Gospel tradition.

End of the Year Youth Lake Party and Cookout – Sunday, May 23 at 5-7pm
All Youth are invited to join us at the home of Kamran and Natalie Popkin for an End of the Year lake party and cookout! We'll have burgers and hot dogs, paddle boarding and canoeing, swimming and a lot of FUN! (Sign Up)

Weekday Bible Studies and Other Discipleship Groups

• Book Study with Nan & Tom McDaniel: Tuesdays or Thursdays at Noon on Zoom (Join in)
• Christians in the Making (Women’s Study): Wednesdays at 10am in the Purnell Room
• Mom Moment with Ansley Page: Wednesdays through May 19 at noon on Zoom (Join in)
• Wednesday Men’s Bible Study: Wednesdays at noon on Zoom (Join in)
• 6:30am Men’s Bible Study: Fridays in the Large Private Dining Room
• 7:00am Men’s Bible Study: Fridays in the Arthur Center
• Middle School Girl’s Bible Study: Fridays at 4:30pm at Starbucks (E. Main and Montview) through May 14

Other Weekly Zoom Times

• 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)

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
Free Food Pantry Update

In an effort to focus our resources on helping our most vulnerable members of the community move towards transformational change, First Presbyterian Church wants to support agencies that are working with our homeless neighbors. Spartanburg Day School is currently storing the Free Food Pantry until they decide the best location for it. If you would like to help provide for our homeless neighbors, there will be a bin in the All In Missions closet (accessible right inside the Chestnut St. door across from the library) where you can donate items that will be taken to the Spartanburg Opportunity Center. Here are the items they have requested:

• New socks
• Lotion and soap
• New washcloths and towels
• New underwear including bras
• Canned food with pop-top lids
• Packaged foods - pop tarts, honey buns, crackers, Nutri grain bars, soft foods

Thank you for continuing to support and care for our homeless neighbors!

Cleveland Academy of Leadership – Kindergarten Reading Tutors
With very low enrollment in 4K this school year, due to COVID, Cleveland is anticipating many Kindergarten students entering school for the first time this fall, with no prior pre-school experience. In order to ensure all students get the best academic start, we are hoping to build a team of volunteer tutors throughout the school morning to work with students one on one with letter identification, letter sounds, and sight words. As well as read aloud to students in a one-on-one setting. To learn more about this opportunity, visit ministry finder. If you are interested in serving in this way, or have any questions, please contact Mary Elizabeth Evans at meevans@spart7.org.

Other Opportunities in Ministry Finder

• Cards for Healthcare Workers
• Hand in Hand
• TOTAL Ministries
• SPIHN
• Mobile Meals

OTHER NEWS
Remembering Their Service and Sacrifice – Respond by May 24
On Sunday, May 30, the church will honor your loved ones who have served in the United States Armed Forces and have now passed on. We will print the information in the worship bulletin. Please contact Joanie Shackleton (jshackleton@fpcspartanburg.org/208-2132) prior to May 24 with the name of the person, their rank, branch of service, and dates of service.

Young Adult Backyard Fellowship – May 26 at 5:30pm
The young adults are gathering on Wednesday, May 26th from 5:30-7pm at Donna and Norman Pulliam's house! There will be live music, appetizers, and fellowship. Bring a friend and come join! Contact Leslie for directions and/or if you are interested in childcare.

Rising 6^th Grade Pool Party – Friday, May 28 at 5-7pm
All rising 6th graders are invited to join us at the Colbath's on Friday, May 28, from 5 - 7 pm for a pool party! Students will have an opportunity to meet Pastor Robert and Mrs. Carrie (the leaders in our Youth Department), learn a little bit about Youth and find out from some of our current students what Middle School is REALLY like! (Sign Up)

Summer Worship Schedule begins June 6
8:30am Early Sanctuary Service
9:30am Sunday School
10:30am Sanctuary and MorningSong Services

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
The ShelbyNext App and iPhones are still not getting along; the App is not showing the Directory. Shelby is aware of this issue and is working with Apple to resolve it. While this is being corrected, please feel free to access your ShelbyNext account (including Church Directory) from your internet browser: firstpres.shelbynextchms.com/user/login.

LOOKING AHEAD
May 23 – Pentecost
May 23 – End of the Year Youth Lake Party (Sign Up)
May 26 – Young Adult Backyard Fellowship at the Pulliams
May 28 – Rising 6^th Grade Pool Party (Sign Up)
May 30 – Memorial Day Service (8:45am and 11am in the Sanctuary)
May 31 – Memorial Day (Church Office Closed)
June 6 – Summer Worship Schedule Begins
June 13-16 – FOCUS FPC Family Experience (Register Your Family by May 19)
June 20 – Shelter Service
August 13-15 – Women’s Connection at Montreat

More activities and events can be found in First News.