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Weekly Update for May 21, 2021

Dear Siblings in Christ,

This Sunday is Pentecost, a day when we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the church. Lots of exciting things are happening throughout the day on Sunday in celebration of this special day in the church calendar. Come and celebrate with us on Sunday in the morning, afternoon, and evening, to enjoy lively worship, good food, great fellowship, and wonderful music!

Craig Foster
Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Communications

THIS SUNDAY – PENTECOST
8:45am Pentecost Worship (Sanctuary)
10:00am In-Person Sunday School
10:45am Pentecost Picnic Party begins (FLC Parking Lot)
11:00am Pentecost Worship (Sanctuary)
5:00pm End of the Year Youth Lake Party (Sign Up)
6:30pm Gospel Mass Performance by FPC Chamber Singers (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.

Pentecost Worship – 8:45am and 11:00am in the Sanctuary
This Sunday, 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!

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)

Pentecost Picnic Party – After Sunday School and 11am Worship
After the Sunday School hour and 11am Worship, join the Pentecost Picnic Party for burgers, barbecue, and snow cones. Old School Barbecue, Carolina Gourmet Snowballs, and burgers served by our very own pastor-chefs will be available in the FLC Parking Lot for purchase. Bring a chair and enjoy a special time of fellowship with your church family. Please note that cash or check will be needed for some of the food options.

End of the Year Youth Lake Party and Cookout – Sunday, May 23 at 5-7pm (Sign Up)
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! Please register your attendance so we will know how many to expect.

Gospel Mass – 6:30pm in the Sanctuary
At 6:30pm, we hope you will join us back in the Sanctuary for a special Chamber Singers performance of the Gospel Mass. Gospel Mass is a unique musical setting of the Catholic Mass in the African American Gospel tradition. We are looking forward to live choir music in the Sanctuary again!

NEXT WEEK
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)

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.

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
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

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
Hospitality Cart Drivers Needed
First Presbyterian Church hopes to resume hospitality cart service this spring, and we need drivers! Please contact Marsh Rogers if you are interested in serving the church in this ministry.

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 is 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!

Other Opportunities in Ministry Finder

OTHER NEWS
Women’s Summer Bible Study – Wednesdays beginning June 9 at 6pm
Young Adult women are invited to join a Bible study this summer beginning on June 9 from 6-7:30pm at the home of Donna Pulliam. The study will follow the book “Open Your Bible” by Raechel Myers and Amanda Bible Williams. We will meet each Wednesday in June and July, except for June 16^th. Please contact Leslie Lang if you would like to be a part of this study!

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.

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 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 / Fill the Trucks for Hand in Hand
June 13-16 – FOCUS FPC Family Experience
June 20 – Shelter Service
July 4 – Worship as one in the Sanctuary at 10:30am / Food Drive for TOTAL Ministries
July 11 – Young Adult Social at Spartanburgers Game
July 18 – Shelter Service
August 13-15 – Women’s Connection at Montreat
August 29 – Rally Day

More activities and events can be found in First News.