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Weekly Update for November 8, 2019

This is Veterans Day weekend, and we give thanks to those who have faithfully served our country in the military. This weekend we will also dedicate our beautifully renovated courtyard immediately after the 11am Sanctuary worship service. All are invited!

We are also one week out from our annual Winter Warmth coat distribution. See below for your opportunity to join in this important ministry to the children of our community, and look for opportunities to donate for coats in the near future. Then, right on the heels of Winter Warmth, we will have a special celebration as we ordain Robert Bannan as a Minister of Word and Sacrament next Sunday, November 17.

THIS SUNDAY
8:45am MorningSong* and Chapel Worship Services
9:45am Sunday School for All Ages
11:00am Sanctuary* Worship Service
noon Courtyard Dedication
5:00pm Sunday Night Youth Group

(* 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.)

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.

Courtyard Dedication
The congregation is invited to a ceremony of dedication for our newly-updated Courtyard. The ceremony will take place in the Courtyard immediately following the 11:00 service this Sunday, November 10. Light refreshments will be served. Please join us in honoring the families that made this renovation possible.

NEXT WEEK
Diabetes Expo – Monday, November 11
10am-noon in the Arthur Center
Questions about diabetes? We have answers! Everyone is invited to this free community event featuring a comprehensive look at diabetes prevention, general wellness, and nutrition. Taste chef-inspired snacks, talk to a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator, learn new recipes, and meet community resources that can help you reach your health and wellness goals. Drop in anytime between 10 am and noon. We look forward to seeing you there!

Foothills Presbytery Meeting – Tuesday, November 12
9am at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Greenville
The final hurdle before Robert Bannan can be ordained as Minister of Word and Sacrament is his examination on the floor of presbytery at the stated meeting of Foothills Presbytery at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Greenville on Tuesday, November 12. Anyone is welcome to come to that meeting in support and celebration of Robert’s call to ordained ministry. The meeting begins at 9am, but Robert’s examination is slated for after lunch, around 1pm. Everyone is always welcome to come and observe at presbytery meetings to get a feel for how our connectional church operates.

WAF Dinner – Wednesday, November 13
5:00-6:15pm in Fogartie Hall
This week we will enjoy breakfast for dinner together at Wednesdays at First. No reservations are necessary and most forms of payment are accepted at the door. Meal costs are: $8 for adults and youth (12 and older), $7 for seniors (55 and over), and $5 for children with a limit of $25 per family.

WAF Program: Joe Zimmerman from Solid Rock International in the DR
6:30pm in the Sanctuary.
Joe Zimmerman and his wife Shannon oversee the various programs and ministries in the Dominican Republic. Before working stateside for Solid Rock International, they served for two and a half years as Guesthouse Administrators in San Juan de la Maguana. Join Joe, the Executive Director of Solid Rock International, and hear about the work being done through the organization in the Dominican Republic.

WAF Program: Weekly Sermon Bible Study
6:30-7:15pm in the Parlor
Led by 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.

Other After-Dinner WAF Programming
Christian Recreation for Children (Gym and Activity Room)
Youth Wednesday Night Fellowship (Middle School Room)
Sit ‘n Stitch (FLC Lobby)
Wednesday Walkers (Walking Track)

Winter Warmth needs Volunteers! – Saturday, November 16
On the morning of Saturday, November 16, our congregation will distribute winter coats to children in Spartanburg County during our Winter Warmth Mission. It takes many people to lead this event, and we need your help with registration, fitting children with coats, and managing traffic. To volunteer, please visit www.fpcspartanburg.org/winter-warmth or contact Caroline Goodman (cgoodman@fpcspartanburg.org) in the church office.

The Ordination of James Robert Bannan, Jr. – NEXT Sunday, November 17
ONE SERVICE ONLY
11am in the Sanctuary with reception to follow
We invite you all to celebrate the ordination of James Robert Bannan, Jr. during the 11:00am worship service on November 17, 2019. We will have only one worship service at 11am that Sunday, with Sunday School at its usual time beforehand, so that we can all join together in celebration of Robert’s call to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament. Representatives of Foothills Presbytery will be part of this special service, and the Rev. De’Shun Kilgore will be our preacher for the occasion. There will be a reception after the service in the Perrin Room, Parlor and surrounding areas.

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:

OTHER NEWS
Search for Director of Hospitality
The Director of Hospitality Search Committee needs your help to find our next “Jane Mullins”. So many of you have contacts throughout the community and we value your input and want to hear from you. Please talk to people or email them, and let them know FPC is looking for a full-time Director of Hospitality. People can find the job description at www.fpcspartanburg.org/hospitality. Resumes and cover letters may be sent to Monteigne Campbell at mcampbell@fpcspartanburg.org. Questions? Contact one of the Committee Members: Jane Breeden (chair), Grier Bomar, John Faris, Joanne Hull, Andy Lancaster, Kay McClure, Richard Strasburger, and Sally White.

Community Thanksgiving Service – Tuesday, November 26
6:30-8pm at Central United Methodist Church (233 N Church Street)
The Spartanburg Community Thanksgiving Service is an annual ecumenical service that provides an opportunity for members of the community to worship together and give thanks. A committee of local clergy selects a nonprofit organization each year to receive the offering, which the Spartanburg County Foundation will match up to $5,000. This year’s offering will go to P.S. I Love You Ministries, a faith-based organization whose mission is to support the foster family.

JOY Fellowship Christmas Luncheon – Tuesday, December 3
11:30am in Fogartie Hall
We welcome back Dr. Kirk Neely as our featured storyteller. Please RSVP to Joanie Shackleton (jshackleton@fpcspartanburg.org) by Wednesday, November 27.

New Gym Hours
Monday-Thursday: 7am-9pm
Friday: 7am-5pm
Saturday: 8am-Noon
Sunday: 2pm-6pm

Sunday Security Changes
All entrances to the Clark Building now require key card access on Sundays. The Family Life Center doors will be locked at 10:30am. In the Main Building, all doors will require key cards except for the Tower Room and Narthex's Main Street facing door. The Narthex side doors will lock at 11:15am. On Wednesday evenings, the monitored front doors of the Family Life Center are unlocked, but for other unmonitored doors around campus, including the Tower Room, Clark Building, and Chestnut Street doors, you will need your key card. This is for the protection of all of us, but especially for the protection of the children. Key cards can now be made on-site for a cost of $10.To sum up: All entrance doors are accessible with a member key card. To obtain a key card, see Didi Terry in the church office during the week.

LOOKING AHEAD
(Full Calendar)
November 10 – Courtyard Dedication
November 15 – Winter Warmth Setup
November 16 – Winter Warmth Distribution
November 17 – Ordination of J. Robert Bannan, Jr. (One Worship Service at 11am)
November 26 – Community Thanksgiving Service (Central Methodist)
December 1 – First Sunday of Advent
December 1 – 8:45 Traditional Service Moves to the Sanctuary for Advent
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 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