Weekly Update for May 7, 2021

Dear Siblings in Christ,

Happy Mother’s Day to all those who have been mother figures for others (whether related by blood or not), and our prayers are with those for whom Mother’s Day is painful or hard. Please take some time to give thanks to God for all those who have nurtured, supported, guided, and loved you into the person you are today.

Craig Foster
Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Communications

Mother’s Day Offering
Presbyterian Communities of South Carolina has six communities across the state that provide support and enrichment for seniors. In 2020, the Mother's Day Offering provided $1,059,786 in charitable care to Presbyterian Community residents who outlived their resources through no fault of their own. This vital ministry would not be possible without the support of churches and donors through the Mother’s Day Offering. Your gift on Sunday will make a difference for generations to come. Please use the Offering Envelope provided during the services or simply note "Mother's Day Offering" on your check made payable to First Presbyterian. You may also give online or via the ShelbyNext App.

THIS SUNDAY – MOTHER’S DAY
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 12
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.

ECHOES – Thursday, May 13 (Join in)
Caring for a loved one who is aging or sick is a special ministry. If you are engaged in this and would appreciate Christian encouragement, please join Rev. Ansley Page and Parish Nurse Beth Cecil on Thursday, May 13 at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom. From the comfort of your home, you can enjoy this time of devotion, prayer, and sharing with folks in similar circumstance. Let your church family help you in this sacred work. Please reach out to Joanie Shackleton at jshackleton@fpcspartanburg.org if you have any questions.

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.

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. Contact Beth Cecil to make an appointment.

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 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
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.

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:

• Socks
• Lotion
• Washcloths and towels
• Soap
• 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

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

OTHER NEWS
Focus: A Family Experience - June 13-16 (Register Your Family by 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!

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!

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.

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.

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.

Memorial and Tribute Floral Arrangements in the Sanctuary
There are Sundays available in July and August for memorial and tribute floral arrangements in the Sanctuary. For more information, contact LeAnne Thurmond at leanne.thurmond@gmail.com or (864) 621-0213.

LOOKING AHEAD
May 16 – Baccalaureate Sunday
May 16 – Blood Sunday (Make an Appointment)
May 23 – Pentecost
June 13-16 – FOCUS FPC Family Experience (Register Your Family by May 19)
August 13-15 – Women’s Connection at Montreat

More activities and events can be found in First News.