Back to Listing

Weekly Update for November 27, 2019

Happy Thanksgiving! We pray for safe travels and happy times for those who are visiting with loved ones. Don’t forget that even when you travel you can worship with us online at www.fpcspartanburg.org/live!

Speaking of worship on Sunday, we will begin the season of Advent this Sunday. During this season of watching and waiting, we have put together a number of ways to make this season meaningful beyond the rush of parties and shopping. See below for more information. Please note that the 8:45 traditional service will move the Sanctuary for the month of December.

Please note that the church will be closed on both Thursday and Friday in observance of Thanksgiving.

THIS SUNDAY
8:45am MorningSong* and Sanctuary Worship Services
9:45am Sunday School for All Ages
10:30am Monthly Fellowship in the Perrin Room
11:00am Sanctuary* Worship Service

(* 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.)

Monthly Fellowship Time
Starting at 10:30am in the Perrin Room
Drop in to enjoy doughnuts, coffee, and fellowship with your church family!

Reforesting Faith in Christian Perspectives Class
Sundays, Nov. 3, 10, and Dec. 1
9:45am in Room C212
Join the Christian Perspectives Sunday School Class as Peter Neidenbach leads them in exploring “Reforesting Faith: What trees teach us about the nature of God and His love for us” by Dr. Matthew Sleeth.

The Bible in Handel’s Messiah
Sundays, Nov. 17 – Dec. 8
10am in Room C210
Hosted by the Faith Driven Sunday School Class
Handel’s Messiah is one of the most-known and beloved musical compositions of all time, but what many do not realize is that the words of Messiah come directly from the Bible. Over the next four weeks, Craig Foster will help us to explore the biblical texts that are brought to life in Part 1 of Messiah, which deals with the prophecy and birth of the Messiah. This is an interesting way to approach and to experience scripture, and will hopefully deepen your appreciation of the Bible and of Handel’s Messiah when the Chancel Choir sings it in worship on December 8 (the final Sunday of our study).

No Youth Group on Sunday
Enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday with your family!

Ways to Enrich Advent (December 1-24)
Read through the Gospel of Luke: Read chapter 1 on December 1, chapter 2 on December 2, etc. and by December 24 you will have ready the whole Gospel to help you remember exactly who was born that Christmas morning. Need a little help to remember to do this? Sign up at http://eepurl.com/bqtMS9 to get a chapter of Luke delivered to your email inbox each morning, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter to find the readings in your feeds each day.

Reverse Advent Calendar: Instead of taking a piece of chocolate out of a box each day in Advent, our a non-perishable food item into a box each day and bring that full box with you to the Christmas Eve services to share that food though TOTAL Ministries with those in need. A list of items for each day can be found at www.fpcspartanburg.org/reverse-advent or picked up by the large banners in the church.

Presbyterian Outlook Devotions: Short daily readings accompanied by a short reflection and prayer for each day. Pick up a page for each week of Advent from the table outside the Purnell Room

d365.org: Though designed for youth, these year-round daily online devotions are popular among people of all ages. This project is a collaborative effort of the PC(USA), the Episcopal Church, and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

Devotion Books from the Church Library: The Church library has an expanded collection of high-quality devotion books, many from well-known authors, which may be checked out for the season. Look for the cart in the Tower Room or other places around the church.

Come to Church!: Each Sunday in Advent there is something special happening in Sunday morning Worship and/or in the afternoon and evening. There are also special services and activities during the week. Don’t let all the other things that this time of year brings distract you from what matters most!

NEXT WEEK
WAF: Tidings of Comfort (Food) and Joy – Wednesday, December 4
Dinner line opens at 5pm
Join us next Wednesday for a special night of Wednesdays at First. We will enjoy barbecue from Pig Out, music from Foster Gibson, stories from Kirk Neely, and some singing to help us enter into this Advent season. The dinner times and costs are the same as usual. So come be a part of this special evening!

Family Advent Celebration – Next Sunday, December 8
noon-2pm in the Social Hall
There is a beautiful mystery of Christmas, as we wait and wonder in anticipation of our Savior’s birth. The Family Advent Celebration helps us prepare our hearts for this wonderful season. Join us in the Social Hall immediately following our 11:00am worship service for a time of fellowship, singing, and crafting, designed especially for children and families. No reservation is required; please come and go as you can. If you have any questions, please contact Holly Bannan (hbannan@fpcspartanburg.org / 864-583-4531).

Young Adult Christmas Gathering – Next Sunday, December 8
5:30-8:30pm at the home of Leslie Lang
All young adults (age 22-35ish) are invited to the Young Adult Christmas Gathering at the home of Leslie Lang. Bring your favorite dish to share! RSVP to Leslie at llang@fpcspartanburg.org for directions.

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
Find all sorts of ways that you can serve in the Ministry Finder section of the website (under the “Serve” menu). There you can search for service opportunities that match your interests and schedule, and with one tap make contact with someone who can tell you more and/or help you to get involved.

Here are a few of the newest opportunities available within Ministry Finder:

Angel Tree
The Angels Trees are not up in the Tower Room and FLC Lobby! Each Christmas, FPC sponsors children who have a parent in prison. Wrapped gifts with the angel tag attached should be returned by Sunday, December 15.

Haiti Mission Trip – February 29 – March 7, 2020
The international missions committee is exploring the possibility of a combined mission trip to Haiti Feb. 29 - March 7, 2020 with Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church. This trip will focus primarily on medical and construction missions, but is open to anyone with a willingness to help. If you would like to learn more about this opportunity, please contact Emily Neely at eneely@gmail.com by December 15, 2019.

The Red Coats Are Coming?
We are in need of church members to serve as red coat ushers at the 6:00 pm and 11:00 pm candlelight services on Christmas Eve! If you would like to be part of this special tradition, please contact Peter Neidenbach or Beau Shuler. Our supply of red jackets also needs to be replenished! If you have a red men's sport coat or comparable women's jacket that you could donate to the church, please also contact Peter or Beau.

OTHER NEWS
Music in December
Handel’s Messiah // Sunday, December 8 // 8:45 and 11:00am during the Sanctuary Services
Moravian Love Feast // Sunday, December 15 // 4:00 and 6:00pm in the Chapel
Lessons and Carols // Sunday, December 22 // 8:45am in MorningSong

White Gifts Service - December 11
6:30pm in the Sanctuary
Please join us for our annual White Gift Service featuring 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/whitegifts.

Service of Comfort and Light - December 18
6pm in the Chapel
Are the holidays made more difficult this year because of a loss or sadness in your life? You are invited to join us for an intimate time of worship on Wednesday, December 18, at 6:00pm in the Chapel. This "Service of Comfort and Light," which includes communion and candle-lighting, is especially for those who struggle during the Christmas season. The Health Committee will host a time of refreshments and fellowship following the service in the Parlor.

Christmas Eve Services – Tuesday, December 24 in the Sanctuary
Family Worship (4:00pm)
Come, all you angels, shepherds, farm animals, and kings. Join us on Christmas Eve for our family nativity pageant. Any child may come dressed as the part he or she wants to play from those listed above.

Candlelight Services (6:00 and 11:00pm)
These services, a tradition in our church, feature music by the Christmas Eve Choir. A special message will be delivered and the services will conclude with the Sanctuary bathed in candlelight.

LOOKING AHEAD
(Full Calendar)
December 1 – First Sunday of Advent
December 1 – 8:45 Traditional Service Moves to the Sanctuary for Advent
December 3 – JOY Fellowship Christmas Luncheon
December 3 – Joint Meeting of the Session and the Diaconate
December 8 – Handel’s Messiah in Both Sanctuary Services
December 8 – Family Advent Celebration
December 8 – Young Adult Christmas Gathering
December 11 – White Gifts Service
December 15 – Moravian Love Feast
December 18 – Service of Comfort and Light
December 22 – MorningSong Lessons & Carols
December 24 – Angel Tree Distribution
December 24 – Christmas Eve Services (4pm, 6pm, 11pm)
December 29 – One Worship Service (No Sunday School)
February 1-8 – Dominican Republic Mission Trip

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