Weekly Update for November 13, 2020

Dear Siblings in Christ,

This is a big weekend at the church! Today, final preparations are being made for our annual Winter Warmth coat distribution. Things will look a bit different this year, but this mission is no less important or meaningful to those children who will receive those brand new coats on Saturday! We still need some people to help distribute coats. So please click the link below if you can give of your time to help keep kids warm this winter!

Speaking of giving, this Sunday is Stewardship Sunday. In gratitude for all God’s blessings, we invite each of you to prayerfully consider what you can pledge to the church for 2021. If you worship with us in person on Sunday, you may turn in your pledge card at that time. If you cannot be at church in person on Sunday, you may mail in your pledge card or pledge online through the Member Login section of the website or under My Profile in the ShelbyNext app.

Holy cow! This Sunday is also the deadline for the FPC Assessment Survey as well as for nominations for the Pastor Nominating Committee. Look for more information below and be sure to complete all of your homework before Monday!

Craig Foster
Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Communications

Family Advent Workshop – Sunday, November 29 (RSVP deadline is TODAY)
To kick-off Advent, we are having our Advent workshop on Sunday, November 29th (the First Sunday of Advent). The workshop will take place in the gym after our 11AM worship service. For more information and to register, visit: https://fpcspartanburg.org/events/advent-workshop .

Winter Warmth – Volunteers Needed Tomorrow (Sign Up)
Although the Winter Warmth process will be different this year, we will still be serving over 1,000 children through this important mission tomorrow, November 14, at the Family Life Center and the FLC Parking Lot.

THIS SUNDAY – STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY
8:45am MorningSong in Fogartie Hall
10:00am Adult Sunday School (Join on Zoom)
10:00am 4th & 5th Grade Sunday School (Under the tent in the FLC parking lot)
11:00am Outdoor Nursery for children 5 years and younger (Playground beside the Columbarium)
11:00am Sanctuary Service
5:00pm Sunday Night Youth Group

We stream our Sanctuary and MorningSong services live each Sunday. Stream on:

FPCSpartanburg.org/LIVE 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 or
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.

10:00 a.m. Combined Adult Sunday School (Join on Zoom)
Join us this Sunday as Pastor Ansley leads our combined Adult Sunday School class!

10:00 a.m. Elementary Sunday School
The Children’s Ministry will have 4^th and 5^th grade Sunday School under the tent in the FLC parking lot.

11:00 a.m. Outdoor Nursery
Join Mrs. Holly and friends during the 11:00am worship hour for children 5 years and under (must be able to walk). Parents must check their child in between 10:45 and 11:00 on the playground beside the Columbarium. Children are not required to wear masks outdoors, but all adults and nursery workers will be wearing face masks. Please change all diapers before drop off (we will have a portable changing pad for emergencies).

5:00 p.m. Sunday Night Youth Group
The Youth will meet this week per their regular schedule. Check Robert’s Weekly Email for details!

2020 FPC Assessment Survey – Deadline THIS SUNDAY, November 15
First Presbyterian Church has engaged the consulting firm Holy Cow! to conduct an assessment of our members. The results of the survey will help the Pastoral Nominating Committee to call a new pastor for First Pres. We need your participation! Fill out your survey by November 15^th. We have set a very high goal and would like to hear from 80% of our congregation. If you did not receive a survey, please contact Craig Long at scraiglong@gmail.com.

Recommendations for Pastor Nominating Committee – Due THIS SUNDAY, November 15
The Congregational Nominating Committee needs your help recommending members of the church to serve on the Pastor Nominating Committee. Please submit THIS FORM with your suggestion of one name. You may submit as many names as you would like, suggesting any member of First Presbyterian Church, including yourself. Deadline for submittal is Sunday, November 15.

NEXT WEEK
BBC with Kirk Neely – Tuesday, November 17 at 10:30a.m. (Register Now)
First Presbyterian Church offers a book club with Dr. Kirk Neely each month. Currently, the book club is meeting via Zoom at 10:30 a.m. The book for November is Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. All are invited to attend. You do not have to be a member of FPC to participate. To receive the Zoom link, please contact Didi Terry via email at dterry@fpcspartanburg.org.

Young Adult Virtual Game Night – Wednesday, November 18 (Join in)
There will be another opportunity for some Jackbox games and laughs from the comfort of your own homes on Wednesday, November 18th at 8pm. You will either need two devices (computer, tablet, phone), or have a computer where you can have two windows open. Leslie will send out a Zoom link when it gets closer to time. Hope you'll join us!

Order your Food for Wednesdays at First (Order Food)
Tailgate Begins at 5:00 p.m. / Programs Begin at 6:00 p.m.
This week is our last Wednesdays at first of the year. We hope you will join us for dinner and programs for all ages. Please order your food for WAF by Monday, November 16 at noon. Forget to order food? No problem! Drive through your favorite restaurant and tailgate with us anyway!

Walking in the Family Life Center (For Members Age 65 and Older) (Register Now)
Members who are 65 or older in age can reserve a spot to walk inside on the gym floor during select times Monday through Friday. Appointments must be made in advance and no more than four people will be in the gym during the half hour block. Appointments are first come, first served. Please register each individual in your walking party.

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

Prayer Gathering with Joanne – Tuesdays at Noon (Join in)
Men’s Bible Study – Wednesdays at Noon (Join in)
Thursday Book Study – Thursdays at Noon (Join in)
Adult Sunday School – Sundays at 10am (Join in)

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
White Gifts – Begins November 29 (Gifts for Thornwell)
White Gifts will look a little differently this year, but First Pres will continue to bless several organizations with gifts wrapped in white for those they serve. Each Sunday in Advent, we will collect gifts for an identified organization. For the wish lists of each organization, visit www.fpcspartanburg.org/whitegifts.

Other Opportunities in Ministry Finder

OTHER NEWS
Virtual Community Thanksgiving Service – Tuesday, November 24 at 6:30p.m.
Facebook Live and YouTube
The Annual Spartanburg Community Thanksgiving Service, presented by the Spartanburg Interfaith Alliance and The Spartanburg County Foundation, will be virtual this year! The service will take place Tuesday, November 24, 2020, by host-church Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church.

The service will be streamed LIVE at 6:30 p.m. on Macedonia's Facebook page and YouTube channel.

This year's grant recipient is Angels Charge Ministries. Watch the informational video about this year’s service and donate to the grant recipient through this link!

Pastoral Counseling with Dr. Kirk H. Neely
Pastoral Counseling with Dr. Kirk Neely is available by appointment. Currently all counseling is being done by telephone or by Zoom. Personal Counseling, Marriage and Family Counseling, and Spiritual Direction are available by appointment only. This is not emergency counseling. To make an appointment, please contact Didi Terry at dterry@fpcspartanburg.org or you may contact Dr. Neely directly by email at kirkhneely@fpcspartanburg.org.

“The Time Has Come” Campaign Pledges Due December 31
Capital campaign pledge balance: $167,461
As a congregation, we are so close to being debt-free for the first time in two decades! Thank you! If you have pledged to the capital campaign, the deadline has been extended to the end of 2020. Please help us bring this train into the station!

FPC Church Office Staff Onsite Partial Days
While the church office remains “closed” for now, all office staff are onsite half days, continuing to work remotely the other half day. We have put necessary protocols in place to ensure everyone’s health and safety. Some of our schedules are staggered, however the main church phone line (864-583-4531) will be answered Monday-Friday, 9am-1pm. Outside those hours, feel free to leave a voice mail and we will get back to you as soon as we are able. As always, contact information for each staff member can be found at fpcspartanburg.org/staff.

LOOKING AHEAD
November 14 – Winter Warmth (Volunteer)
November 17 – BBC with Kirk Neely
November 18 – Wednesdays at First (Order Food)
November 18 – Young Adult Game Night via Zoom (Join in)
November 24 – Virtual Community Thanksgiving Service (Watch Here)
November 29 – First Sunday of Advent | Family Advent Worship (RSVP Now)
December 6 – Second Sunday of Advent | Communion
December 13 – Third Sunday of Advent | Special Music in the Sanctuary
December 20 – Fourth Sunday of Advent | Lessons and Carols
August 13-15, 2021 – Women’s Connection at Montreat

More activities and events can be found in First News.

Unsubscribing
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