Weekly Update for November 21, 2018

Happy Thanksgiving! We hope that you have a joyful and safe celebration of all of God’s blessings in your life!

Please note that the church will be closed on Thursday and Friday in recognition of Thanksgiving. For pastoral emergencies, please call 864-208-2142.

THIS SUNDAY
8:45am    MorningSong* in Fogartie Hall &
                  Chapel Worship Service
9:45am    Sunday School for All Ages
11:00am   Sanctuary* Worship Service
5:00pm     Youth Fellowship

(* Services with asterisks will be livestreamed at www.fpcspartanburg.org/live. Bulletins, scripture readings, manuscripts, and video archives can also be found on that page.)

NEXT WEEK
Service Opportunity: Christmas in Action – Next Saturday, December 1
Sign up by noon on Monday, November 26
Christmas in Action needs out help to pain the exterior of a house. All needed supplies are provided. Now we need a crew to help do the painting on the morning of Saturday, December 1. If you are able to be a part of this service opportunity, please contract Partick Martin (patrickmartin85@gmail.com).

4th Tuesday Soup Kitchen – November 27
We are happy to serve a Thanksgiving meal this month, and we welcome donations and volunteers. The following donations are needed for the meal: turkey, ham, stuffing, corn, peas, sweet potatoes, rolls, pies, and sweet tea. To volunteer or donate, contact Will DeLaney, Beth Perry or Tina Hamilton (4thtuesdaysoupkitchen@gmail.com).

Help Deck the Halls!
The Sanctuary Guild will be decorating our church for Advent and Christmastide. Come join us!

• Wednesday, November 28: 10am // Make wreaths for the aisle candles and bows for big wreaths
• Wednesday, November 28: 6:30pm // Aisle candles & wreath bows in the Sanctuary
• Thursday, November 29: 10am // Chrismon Tree in the Tower Room
• Friday, November 30: 10am // Hang wreaths in the Sanctuary

To sign up, contact Linda Kiehl (jnlkiehl@gmail.com / 864-354-2367) or LeAnne Thurmond Holcombe (leanne.thurmond@gmail.com / 864-621-0213)

Join us for Wednesdays at First
5pm in Fogartie Hall
Menu: Salad Bar, Fried Chicken & Gravy, Copper Carrots, Mashed Potatoes, Bread and Dessert
Costs: $7 for Adults and Youth (12 and older), $6 for Seniors (55 and over), $4 for Children; $20 per family maximum
Join us for a great meal with your church family each Wednesday. The dinner line is open 5:00-6:15pm. No Reservations No reservations are necessary, but if you wish to pre-pay online, you may do so at: fpcspartanburg.org/waf. Cash, check, and debit/credit cards are accepted at the door.

WAF – A Thanksgiving Story or Two – Wednesday, November 28
6:30pm in Fogartie Hall
Join us around the tables after supper for stories about the season of Thanksgiving. Even though Thanksgiving Day will have passed and the first Sunday of Advent is still to come, storyteller Dr. Kirk Neely will share some of his favorites to remind us that Thanksgiving is never out of season.

WAF – Weekly Sermon Bible Study – Wednesday, November 28
6:30 pm in the Parlor
Led by Dr. Tom Evans, this is a time of prayer and fellowship before we dive into the text (based on the sermon 10 days from the study date). Together, we explore the passage and wrestle over what it means for our lives today.

JOY Fellowship Christmas Luncheon – Tuesday, December 4
11:30am in Fogartie Hall
Register by Wednesday, November 28
Please RSVP to Joanie Shackleton (jshackleton@fpcspartanburg.org) by Wednesday, November 28.

Prayer Coffee – Thursday, November 29
11am in the Parlor
Prayer Coffees are held monthly in the church Parlor and are open to all members. Each coffee will be hosted by a member of the Prayer Committee. Participants may pray silently or aloud—however the Holy Spirit leads them. These will be held at 11am on the 4^th Thursday of the month. Time will be limited to 45 minutes. Our final Prayer Coffee for 2018 will be on November 29. Please mark your calendars and join us as often as possible.

Haiti Mission Trip – March 23-30, 2019
Applications due by November 29, 2018
Travel with Converse students and faculty members, Jason Locuito and Patti Foy to Haiti, March 23-30, 2019. The team will be doing projects related to education as well as general mission work (painting, etc). We will plan to take full advantage of the skills of the people who ultimately decide to travel. Three of the Converse participants will be implementing music instruction on the trip--anyone who wants to go who has musical skills is welcome to participate in that activity. The trip is $1,500 and applications can be found in the church office or on our website at https://www.fpcspartanburg.org....

Family Advent Celebration – Sunday, December 2
Noon in the Social Hall
Come and join in the 2018 Family Advent Celebration! This year’s celebration will be held right after the 11 o’clock service on Sunday, December 2.  We’ll have activities— crafts, telling the Christmas story, and singing—for children of all ages, as well as an opportunity to make Advent wreaths.  Light snacks/lunch will be served.
Want to volunteer?: Contact Cesily King (cking@fpcspartanburg.org).

Chamber Singers Christmas Concert – Sunday, December 2
5pm in the Sanctuary
The Chamber Singers Christmas concert, I Am Changed, will be held in the Sanctuary on Sunday, December 2 at 5:00pm. Admission is free, and there will be an offering collected for Mobile Meals. Chamber Singers CD's will also be on sale, with all proceeds going to Mobile Meals.

Read Through the Bible in 2018
Wed, Nov 21 – Ezekiel 42, 43 / 1 John 2
Thu, Nov 22 – Ezekiel 44, 45 / Psalms 129-131
Fri, Nov 23 – Ezekiel 46, 47 / 1 John 3
Sat, Nov 24 – Ezekiel 48 / 1 John 4
Sun, Nov 25 – Daniel 1-3 / Psalms 132-134
Mon, Nov 26 – Daniel 4-5 / 1 John 5
Tue, Nov 27 – Daniel 6-7 / 2 John 1
Wed, Nov 28 – Daniel 8-9 / 3 John 1
Thu, Nov 29 – Daniel 10-12 / Palms 135-136
Fri, Nov 30 – Hosea 1-2 / Jude
Sat, Dec 1 – Hosea 3-6 / Revelation 1

OTHER NEWS.
Angel Tree
Each Christmas, FPC sponsors children who have a parent in prison. Look for the Angel Trees after Thanksgiving and pick-up a tag for a child. Each child will receive one gift not over $25.00. Wrapped gifts with the angel tag attached should be taken to the Perrin Room by Sunday, December 16. If you are interested in delivering gifts on Christmas Eve beginning at 9:00 a.m., contact Brandt Goodwin (brandtgoodwin@gmail.com / 864-542-4764).

Be a Santa to a Senior!
The Shepherd’s Center is partnering with “Be a Santa to a Senior” to provide Christmas gifts to seniors living in a Medicaid-supported facility who may not have Christmas. The Shepherd’s Center has a Christmas tree on the second floor of the main building, near the elevator. Choose a senior from the tree, purchase one or more of the gifts listed and bring the gift back to the box provided near the tree. Help spread the love this holiday season! Gifts are due back by December 3. So don’t delay!

White Gift Service – Wednesday, December 5
6:30pm in the Sanctuary
Please join us for our annual White Gift Service on Wednesday, December 5 in our Sanctuary at 6:30pm. The service features our children's choirs, but culminates in the giving of gifts wrapped in white for three local missions: Mobile Meals, Hope Center for Children, and Thornwell. Gift ideas may be found at www.fpcspartanburg.org/events/....

FPC Women’s Retreat “The With-Us God”– February 1-3, 2019
Kanuga Conference Center, Hendersonville, NC
Led by the Rev. Elizabeth Michael Ross
Early Bird Deadline: December 16  Final Deadline: January 2
As women, we long for fruitful and meaningful relationships with family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors but can easily feel depleted by the demands and to dos. At our weekend-long women’s retreat, February 1-3, the Rev. Elizabeth Michael Ross will lead us in a time of digging more deeply into the relationships in our lives. Come be a part of this wonderful weekend away! For more information: https://www.fpcspartanburg.org...

Weekday School Subs Needed
The Weekday School is currently searching for loving, enthusiastic substitute teachers. We are in need of some dependable women who love children and would be willing to periodically be called upon to assist in a preschool classroom. Each classroom has two teachers, so as a substitute you would be assisting one of the regular classroom teachers. While prior professional experience with children would be wonderful, it is not a requirement. The hours are 8:30 -12:15 and we pay subs $40 per day. There is a VERY brief orientation session and background check. If you are interested, please contact Moira Scheel, Weekday School Director, (mscheel@fpcspartanburg.org / 864-208-2148).

Nursery Staff Needed!
We are looking for some new people who enjoy babies and children to join our paid nursery staff on Sundays and Wednesdays. If you or someone you know is interested, please contact Cesily King (cking@fpcspartanburg.org).

Golf Cart Drivers Needed
Our Sunday morning Hospitality cart needs a few new drivers! If you would like a fun task at the church that enables you to meet lots of church folk, then this is the one for you. Our rotational schedule means you would drive once every 6 to 8 weeks. Contact Bryan Pack at (bryanpack@gmail.com / 864-541-1486) or Marsh Rogers (mrogersjr@tworog.com / 704-438-1298) if you are interested.

Winter Warmth Mission
Our annual Winter Warmth Project was held on Saturday, November 10. Over 500 coats were distributed to children from all seven Spartanburg County School Districts. Now. we need your help. A gift of $35 will provide a new, warm winter coat for a child in need. Donation forms can be found in the Tower Room or you may give online. If you would like to "give" a coat, Acknowledgement Cards are available in the church office for you to send to those whom you are honoring with this gift.

SPIHN Donations Needed
Our church is looking to replace some well-loved items before our next Spartanburg Interfaith Hospitality Network rotation. Please put any donations in the SPIHN crate in the All in Missions room (across from the church library). We are so appreciative of any and all donations!! If you have any questions, please email Crystal Workman workman06@charter.net.

Items Needed:
2-4 pack and play(playpen) sheets in neutral colors
pillows
hand towels
twin sheet sets

Grief and Grace Booklet Available
Grief and Grace: A Faith Journal is now available to you as a resource for your grief journey. The journal is a compilation of stories from church members of their own experiences with grief and healing. Copies are available in displays near the Sanctuary. This booklet is sponsored by the Women’s Ministry Committee in celebration of All Saints’ Day and the 175th Anniversary of First Presbyterian Church, Spartanburg.

APNC Needs YOUR Input
The APNC would like your help to find an Associate Pastor of Young Adults and Mission. Through your own connections, many of you know potential candidates. Please give one of our Committee members the name and contact information and we will follow up. APNC: Mac White, Chair, Cathy Bagwell, Andrew Darr, Kellie Foster, Laura Stille, Alan Workman, Hannah Zimmerman. You may send information to APNC Chair Mac White or contact any committee member via the ShelbyNext Portal (https://www.fpcspartanburg.org...).

Search for Director of Children's Ministries
The DCM search team need your help to find our next Director of Children’s Ministries! The very best candidates are often already linked in some way to the congregation they will serve. So please talk to a few people you know, or email them, and let them know FPC is looking for a full-time Director of Children’s Ministries. Or give one of our search team members the name and contact information and we will follow up! People can find the full job description at www.fpcspartanburg.org/dcm. Resumes and cover letters may be sent to Sara Bailey at sara.bailey@ministryarchitects.com. DCM Search Team: Tim Camp, Celia Cogdell, Craig Foster, Anne-Marie Glover, Callie Hammett, Arthur Jones, Cesily King, Emily Neely (chair).

LOOKING AHEAD
November 25 – Angels Available on Angel Tree
November 29 – Prayer Coffee
December 2 – Advent Begins
December 2 – Family Advent Celebration
December 2 – Chamber Singers Concert
December 4 – JOY Fellowship Christmas Luncheon
December 5 – White Gifts Service
December 9 – Chancel Choir Music Services
December 16 – MorningSong Lessons and Carols Service
December 16 – Moravian Love Feasts
February 1-3 – Women’s Retreat at Kanuga

Find out more in First News: fpcspartanburg.org/firstnews

Craig Foster
Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Communications
First Presbyterian Church
393 East Main Street
Spartanburg, SC 29302
(864)583-4531 x123
cfoster@fpcspartanburg.org
www.fpcspartanburg.org