Weekly Update for October 16, 2020

Dear Siblings in Christ,

This Sunday is Youth Sunday! We are excited to have our Jr. and Sr. Highs leading both of our worship services this Sunday. Make a point to come, or tune in, to both of these special services!

We have also expanded our physically-distanced seating in the Sanctuary, converting what was overflow seating in the balcony into regularly available seating. Now, if we have walk-ups without registrations, they can join the service by video in the Chapel until they can (hopefully) be seated in a vacant spot in the Sanctuary.

Since we resumed in-person services once in July and then more regularly in August, we have always made space for walk-ups and never turned anyone away! So please continue to make your reservations for the Sanctuary service so that we can continue to have space to do that, and don’t hesitate to call the church if you have any trouble with the online registration form! Our MorningSong service in the FLC parking lot does not require registration, and we can safely sing together outdoors with masks! So, come!

Craig Foster
Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Communications

THIS SUNDAY
8:45am MorningSong in the Family Life Center Parking Lot
10:00am Adult Sunday School (Join on Zoom)
10:00am 4th & 5th Grade Sunday School (Outside between Clark and Main Buildings)
10:30am Hymn Sing (Between the Chapel and Sanctuary)
11:00am Sanctuary Worship Service (Registration Closed)
12:00pm Youth Sunday Tailgate
4:00pm Young Adult Fellowship

All services are livestreamed at www.fpcspartanburg.org/live and on our Facebook page. Bulletins, scripture readings, manuscripts, and video archives can also be found our website. Our Sanctuary service is also streamed on YouTube. However you join us, please sign the online guestbook and consider making your regular contributions online. Having trouble with the livestreams? Check out this information on the church website.

Check in to Worship!
We were delighted to see so many faces in Worship this past Sunday – MorningSong and (finally) Sanctuary! As you have noticed, we are not passing a Fellowship Pad, but would love to have a record of your attendance. We have electronic solutions!

If you are a church member, on your phone, please download the “ShelbyNext | Membership App”. After you download and launch the app, enter "firstpres.shelbynextchms.com" for the domain and your username and password. Click here for instructions on how to get your username and password. On Sunday morning, open your ShelbyNext App and click “Check In” (yes, please allow it to know your location). Then click on “who” you are checking in, choose the worship service you are attending, then “Done”.

If you would prefer not to download this app, or are worshipping online, or you are one of our precious visitors, please check in at fpcspartanburg.org/worship/worship-guestbook.

10:00 a.m. Combined Adult Sunday School (Join on Zoom)
Join us this Sunday as John Lefebvre discusses two books by author C.S. Lewis; The Screwtape Letters and The Problem of Pain.

10:00 a.m. Elementary Sunday School
The Children’s Ministry will have 4^th and 5^th grade Sunday School in Bob’s Meditation Garden.

Sunday Tailgate
Following 11:00 a.m. Worship in the FLC Parking Lot
Drive up to the Family Life Center parking lot after the 11:00 am service on October 18 for a tailgate! Pano is firing up the grill for those who pre-registered. Didn’t reserve a lunch? No problem! Just drive-through someplace and bring it back to the FLC parking lot to be part of the fun of good food and physically-distanced fellowship!

Young Adult Fellowship at FR8yard – Sunday, October 18 (4:00-6:00pm)
The Young Adults are planning to enjoy the fall weather and fellowship at FR8yard on Sunday, October 18 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. (weather permitting). Come have a beverage and enjoy some outdoor socially distant time together. Children are welcome if they will social distance as well! Email Leslie Lang if you have any questions.

NEXT WEEK
Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans – Sunday, October 25
8:45 a.m. in the Sanctuary (Register Now – Reservations close Thursday, October 22)
11:00 a.m. in the FLC Parking Lot (No Reservations Required)
The tartan is a symbol of love and togetherness, no matter what our heritage. In our Kirkin' service, we remember ancient times, as well as past and present kith and kin, while asking God's help and blessings in the future. This year, we will be Kirkin' a little differently. There will be no Tartan Procession, but we will have Tartans on display and a bagpiper and drum at both services!

Please bring your own chair, if you are able, to the outdoor service. We will have a rack of chairs available on-site, just in case

Register for Tuesdays at First & Wednesdays at First (Registration Required for Dinner Only)
Tuesday, October 20 and Wednesday, October 21 (Register Now)
Picnic Begins at 5:00 p.m. / Programs Begin at 6:00 p.m.
It was great to see those who attended this week’s Tuesdays at First and Wednesdays at First! Please remember, you will only need to register if you would like dinner. Drive through beginning at 5pm to get your boxed dinner and enjoy a picnic on the grounds in your car, tailgate, or set up chairs or a blanket in the grass (physically distanced from other households, of course). Beginning at 6pm, our pastors and staff have planned a variety of fellowship and learning opportunities for adults on Tuesday and for all ages on Wednesday. No registration is required to attend the programs. Make sure to sign up for dinner only by Monday, October 19.

Tickled Pink (No Registration Required!)
Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m.
Outdoors Near the Family Life Center
Ladies join Ansley and Susan for Real Hope for Here and Now: O Happy Day each Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.! The fall focus will be Biblical figures in a tight spot, facing challenges, or living the adventure of faith and how God helped them. "Pink Ladies" will meet outdoors near the Family Life Center, so bring a chair, mask, and Bible. No Registration required!

Pulling Back the Curtain: The Technology Used in Worship (Join on Zoom)
Thursdays through November 5 (5:30-6:30pm) on Zoom
Have you ever wondered about the technology that enables our worship services, both online and inside the worship spaces? In The Wizard of Oz, Toto pulled back the curtain and let everyone see what made the “Great and Powerful Oz” happen, and we want to do the same for you! This Thursday will be Intermediate Video Switching.

Walking in the Family Life Center (For Members Age 65 and Older) (Register Now)
Members who are 65 or older in age can now 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
Winter Warmth – November 14
Although the Winter Warmth process will be different this year, we will still be serving families through this important mission. We invite you to participate this year! Adults may join us on Friday, November 13 for set up and on the morning of Saturday, November 14 as we distribute over 1,000 coats to children. Sign up to volunteer here!

You may also drop off new or knitted hats, scarves, and gloves for the toddlers of Winter Warmth families in the marked bins during Tuesdays and Wednesdays at First and on Sunday morning. Finally, you can ensure that one child receives a brand-new, in-style coat to wear during the cold winter months for a donation of $35. Donations in honor of individuals make perfect Christmas gifts both on the individual and corporate level. Click here to make a donation.

Support St. Luke’s Free Medical Clinic
October 18th is known as Saint Luke’s Feast Day, the patron saint of physicians. In honor of this day, St. Luke’s Free Medical Clinic will be having a special giving week. Donate or sign up to become a fundraiser today at https://slfmc.networkforgood.com/projects/112162-st-luke-s-giving-week. With your help, St. Luke’s hopes to reach their campaign goal and can ensure quality medical care is provided to uninsured patients throughout the pandemic and beyond. Thank you!

Help the Cleveland Academy Students with Book Character Costumes!
The Cleveland Academy of Leadership is planning a fun day of learning while celebrating Halloween with their students. On Friday, October 30th, students will come to school in costume dressed as their favorite book character and will participate in Halloween-themed, hands-on academic opportunities throughout the day. There will be some students who are unable to get materials for a costume at home. We need your help! If you are interested in being paired with a student to help provide a book character costume for that day, please contact Mary Elizabeth Evans at meevans@spart7.org or at 864-357-6330.

Volunteer and Donate to the Spartanburg Opportunity Center
The Spartanburg Opportunity Center needs volunteers and donations! They continue to serve people on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings. There is a big need for men’s underwear, socks for all ages, warm clothing, and boy’s clothing. For more information, visit www.fpcspartanburg.org/spop.

Spartanburg Soup Kitchen
The Spartanburg Soup Kitchen needs donations of the following: aluminum foil, baked beans, barbecue sauce, bottled water, breakfast and brown gravy mixes, canned goods, carry out plates, and more. For a complete list, please visit www.fpcspartanburg.org/soupkitchen.

Other Opportunities in Ministry Finder

OTHER NEWS
Recommendation for Pastor Nominating Committee
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.

Interim Pastor Nominating Committee Appointed
The Session has appointed an Interim Pastor Nominating Committee (IPNC) to begin the search for an Interim Pastor, a process projected to take three months. Elders representing committees and ministries of the Session comprise the IPNC: Sloan Evans, Chair (Personnel), Ali Beeson (Worship), David Berry (Education and Discipleship), Muffet Chapman (Missions), Lewis White (Finance), and Lee Close (Clerk of Session).

Family Advent Workshop – Sunday, November 29 (RSVP Now)
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.

This year’s theme is called “God With Us.” Using Katie Pawlak’s family devotional book and ornaments, we will spend our Advent season focusing on the Jesse Tree – following stories in the Bible from Creation all the way to the birth of Jesus. Each day in December, you will have an ornament, a short scripture, devotion, prayer, as well as other family activities you can do if you wish.

During the Advent workshop, you will ‘make’ the ornaments for your Jesse Tree (make = place the sticker on the wood ornament and thread the twine to make a hanger). Our Children’s E&D Committee loved the entire gift set (ornaments + book) so much that we decided to purchase the gift sets rather than color and create our own ornaments. The hope is that this can be a lasting tradition that you can enjoy with our family for years to come.

The gift sets are $45. We are asking each family to pay $20 for the book + ornaments, and the rest will be covered by E&D.

To give us a better idea of numbers of families + kits to purchase, we ask you fill out this form.
The deadline to RSVP and purchase your kit is Friday, November 13th.

Please note: We will also have a drive through option for any family that cannot attend but would like to make their ornaments at home.

Blood Drive – Sunday, November 8
8am – 1pm in the FLC Parking Lot
First Pres will receive a $20 donation for every person who registers and participates. Please contact Beth Cecil at bcecil@fpcspartnburg.org for more information.

The Children’s Music Ministry is Now on Facebook! (Like and Follow)
The Children’s Music Ministry now has a Facebook page for you to keep up with the monthly song, First Steps, and more fun ways to lift your voices. Click this link, like, and follow their page!

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.

“These Days” Daily Devotional
The October-December edition of “These Days” daily devotional is available. Click on this link to fill out a form and we will mail you a copy.

“The Time Has Come” Campaign Pledges Due
All First Presbyterian members are reminded that our commitments to the “The Time Has Come” Campaign (2017-20) are due; the campaign period officially ends as of August 31, but in the current circumstances, payments through December 31, 2020 are considered “on time.” Thanks to everyone who has participated; we received $3,409,857 in commitments, with just $180,038 outstanding to date! All of the church’s prior debt has already been paid off but for $132,000, which will be paid off shortly after the payment period ends. Clearing these commitments will also enable the church to purchase a badly needed new HVAC chiller for $100,000.

Thanks to the generosity of our members in this campaign, magnificent renovations were made to our historic sanctuary space; the courtyard was significantly enhanced and outstanding new reception/gathering space was created; the MorningSong stage was completely replaced; and major sound, lighting and technical improvements were added throughout our worship spaces, making possible the meaningful worship opportunities we are enjoying online today (and probably never anticipated).

We hope to report an outstanding campaign commitment balance of “$0” soon!
Cathy Bagwell and David Beacham, The Time Has Come Campaign co-chairs

LOOKING AHEAD
October 18 – Youth Sunday
October 18 – Sunday Tailgate
October 18 – Young Adult Fellowship at FR8yard
October 20 – Tickled Pink
October 20 – Tuesdays at First
October 21 – Wednesdays at First
October 25 – Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans
October 25 – Evening Vespers
November 8 – Blood Drive (Register Now)
November 14 – Winter Warmth
November 19 – Young Adult Game Night via Zoom
August 13-15, 2021 – Women’s Connection at Montreat

More activities and events can be found in First News.