Weekly Update for October 12, 2018

There are lots of opportunities just around the corner for missions, fellowship, growth in faith, and worship just around the corner. Read on and fins ways that you can get involved!

THIS SUNDAY
8:45am    MorningSong* in Fogartie Hall &
                Chapel Worship Service
9:45am    Sunday School for All Ages
11:00am  Sanctuary* Worship Service
3:00pm    Walk for Unity
5:00pm    Youth Fellowship
5:30pm    Positive Parenting for Parents of Youth

(* 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.)

Community Walk for Unity
3pm starting at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church
The B:1 Silent Prayer Walk for Unity will happen this Sunday afternoon at 3pm, bringing people of our community together across the racial lines that so often divide us. The walk will begin at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church (445 S. Church St.) and end at First Baptist Church (250 E. Main St.). For more information, see the article on goupsate.com: https://www.goupstate.com/news/20181010/annual-silent-prayer-walk-for-unity-set-for-sunday

Positive Parenting Seminar for Parents of Youth
5:30-7:30pm in the Mid-High Room Upstairs in the FLC
The Hope Center for children will offer its final session of the series of Sunday evening programs for parents of teenagers on Sunday. This Sunday’s session is entitled “Getting Teenagers Connected”.

NEXT WEEK
Join us for Wednesdays at First!
5pm in Fogartie Hall
Join us for a great meal with your church family each Wednesday. No reservations are necessary, but if you wish to pre-pay online, you may do so at: fpcspartanburg.org/waf. Cash, check, and credit cards are accepted at the door.

WAF Weekly Worship Time – Wednesday
6pm in Fogartie Hall
The worship committee continues to seek more opportunities to glorify God as the people of God. As a result, we have decided to replace the Evensong services that were held monthly with a brief 5-minute time of worship every week at WAF. Be sure to be in Fogartie Hall at 6pm to join us in praise.

WAF – “May the Lord Keep Down Hard Feelings”
The 1884 Presbyterian Evolution Controversy in South Carolina
6:30-7:15pm in the Chapel
Dr. Rob McCormick will speak about the 1884 evolution controversy surrounding the teaching of evolution at Columbia Theological Seminary. This evolution controversy featured dynamic debates, captivated South Carolina Presbyterians, and even drew national attention. Rob is a member of First Presbyterian and the Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and a History Professor at USC Upstate.

WAF – Find out how you can brighten someone’s day! – Wednesday
6pm in the Small Private Dining Room
Do you have an hour or two each month to brighten someone’s day? If so, the Visitation Committee needs men, women and couples to visit our members who can no longer get to church but love to connect with the people and activities of the church. You are invited to join the annual meeting of the Visitation Committee this Wednesday to learn about this valuable ministry of our church. 

Weekly Sermon Study with Your Pastors
Wednesdays at 6:30-7:15pm in the Parlor OR
Thursdays at 7:30-8:15am in the Parlor
Each week, your pastors will lead a time of prayer and fellowship together. Then we will dive into the biblical text (based on the sermon 10 days from the study date). Together, we will explore the passage and wrestle over what it means for our lives today. All are welcome at either time.

JOY Fellowship – HORSES, BARNS, AND FOOD! – Thursday, October 25
Sign Up by Next Sunday!
Join the Joy Fellowship on Thursday, October 25 as they make their way to the new Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, NC where the recent world competition was held. Contact Joanie Shackleton to make your reservation by Sunday, October 21. For more information, visit: https://www.fpcspartanburg.org/events/joy-fellowship-trip-to-tryon-international-equestrian-center.

Read Through the Bible in 2018
Friday, October 12 – Jeremiah 17-18 / John 7
Saturday, October 13 – Jeremiah 19-20 / John 8
Sunday, October 14 – Jeremiah 21, 22 /Palms 117, 118
Monday, October 15 – Jeremiah 23, 24 /John 9
Tuesday, October 16 – Jeremiah 25, 26 /John 10
Wednesday, October 17 – Jeremiah 27, 28 /John 11
Thursday, October 18 – Jeremiah 29-31 /Psalm 119:1-24
Friday, October 19 – Jeremiah 32, 33 /John 12
Saturday, October 20 – Jeremiah 34, 35 /John 13

OTHER NEWS
“The Power of Presence: An Evening with Susan L. Taylor and Joy Thomas Moore” – Monday, October 22
6pm at Cornerstone Baptist Church
Hosted by The Spartanburg County Foundation
Enjoy a free discussion on how to be a voice in your child’s ear, even when you are not with them. Learn more at www.spcf.org.

Cookies Needed for Kairos Prison Ministry – October 31
Cookies are needed for the upcoming fall Kairos Prison Ministry weekend. Many dozens of home-baked cookies are needed for the 4-day weekend at Tyger River Prison. All flavors & recipes are fine, but please no powdered sugar topping or raisins. Brownies and bars are also fine. Please use disposable packaging such as zip lock bags; closed paper containers (e.g. shoe boxes), wax paper layers, or sealable plastic containers like "Glad" brand, but no aluminum foil. Please bring cookies to the church office before noon on Wednesday, October 31. Questions: Contact Doug Baker (dougbaker@bellsouth.net / 864-494-0301). Many thanks helping!

Church Basketball Registration – Register by October 31
Boys & Girls – Grades 1-12
Sign up now for church basketball! Practices will begin in mid-November. Cost is $75. For more information or to sign up online, visit fpcspartanburg.org/basketball. The October 31 deadline is firm, so that we can build our teams.

Winter Warmth needs Volunteers and Donations
On the morning of Saturday, November 10, 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 event set up, registration, fitting children with coats, managing traffic, and clean up. To volunteer, register online at: https://tinyurl.com/y8924mwu. Donations of new or knitted caps, scarves, and gloves are needed to give to the toddlers of Winter Warmth families. Please bring items to donate to the mission closet across from the church library.

Spartanburg Ukirk Adopt a Student Ministry
The Adopt a Student ministry aims to pair students with families in our local supporting churches to enter into a mutually beneficial relationship during the student's time at college. For the students, this provides another piece for their support system while away from home, and host families are able to continue fulfilling our baptismal vows by nurturing the student in their Christian faith. Our hope is to match students with a family for the length of their college career. We will be matching up our students with their families by November 9th. If you are interested in this, please contact Rachel Epps (repps@fpcspartanburg.org) or Landon Hammett (LHammett@fpcspartanburg.org).

Spartanburg Ukirk Stakeholders Dinner – Friday, November 9
6:30pm at Second Presbyterian Church’s Pryce Hall
Spartanburg Ukirk is planning a stakeholder "thank you" event to show appreciation for the continued support provided to campus ministry. This event will be a time to fellowship, a time to spend with students, a time to enjoy some coffee and pastries, and a time to hear the tunes of Christopher Williams. Hailing from Nashville, but nothing like your typical Nashville songwriter, Christopher Williams is a songwriter, storyteller, and entertainer - offering songs that are honest and confessional, yet never overbearing; and performances that engage audiences with an appealing mix of intense passion and humor. Please plan to attend!

FPC Women’s Retreat “The With-Us God”– February 1-3, 2019
Kanuga Conference Center, Hendersonville, NC
Led by the Rev. Elizabeth Michael Ross
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/events/womens-retreat-2019

Register now for the Dominican Republic Mission Trip
February 2-9, 2019
Cost: $1,500
Please join First Presbyterian Spartanburg on an international mission to the Dominican Republic. FPC has made a commitment to visiting with our sisters and brothers in the Caribbean that need our help. Partnering with Solid Rock International, FPC Spartanburg sends a yearly team of doctors, dentists, nurses and just regular people to provide medical, dental services as well as built construction projects. For more information and to register: https://www.fpcspartanburg.org/serve/a-world-in-need/dominican-republic

Thornwell Hope for Children Luncheon – November 7
Thornwell is a home for children in Clinton sponsored by Synod of the Southeast. In previous years, Thornwell enjoyed very generous support from First Presbyterian Church. The manner in which Thornwell serves children continues to evolve and grow; Thornwell continues to use the model of placing children in a   Christian family environment on its campus. FPC would like to sponsor a table at the Hope for Children Luncheon on November 7 at the Embassy Suites in Greenville. The luncheon will be an opportunity to raise awareness and funds. If you are interested, contact Harriet Ike for information at 864-542-8338 or harrietike@gmail.com.

Tom Evans’ Sabbatical Project: Experiencing God – Wednesday, November 7
6:30pm
Come to hear Tom talk about his upcoming Sabbatical Project: Experiencing God. Tom will share his tour through Cathedrals in Europe which inspired this topic. Then he will explain the research project he will be conducting: How the church can help people experience God, Walk with God, and Build the Kingdom God. Tom will be conducting research in cities throughout the state and the country, engaging in spiritual reflection through the National Parks while writing on a train trip across the country.

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 (MWhite@holcombebomar.com) or contact any committee member via the ShelbyNext Portal (https://www.fpcspartanburg.org/discover/member-login).

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
October 28 – Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans
November 4 – All Saints Sunday
November 4 – Blood Drive
November 10 – Winter Warmth Distribution
December 2 – Advent Begins
December 2 – Chamber Singers Concert
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