Weekly Update for October 26, 2018

This Sunday is Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans. This annual service features a procession of tartans and bagpipes and drums and celebrates not only the Scottish heritage of the Presbyterian Church, but also the coming together of God’s people across the lines of clan, nation, or ethnicity that would threaten to sever the unity of Christ. There will be services at 8:45am and 11:00am in the Sanctuary with no services in the Chapel or Fogartie Hall this Sunday. After each service, enjoy fellowship over lemonade and shortbread.

SPIHN also begins this Sunday, and we give thanks to the opportunity to welcome homeless families into our church to provide shelter, food, and fellowship for a week, even as we pray that they may find safe and stable homes soon. Thanks be to God for the members of our church that make SPIHN happen.

Also, don’t forget to sign up for Church Basketball by Wednesday! And check out everything else going on next week. It’s a busy week at the church!

THIS SUNDAY
8:45am    Kirnin’ o’ the Tartans* (Sanctuary)
9:45am    Sunday School for All Ages
11:00am  Kirnin’ o’ the Tartans* (Sanctuary)
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
Grief Support Group First Meeting – Monday
5:30pm in Room 2213
The Bereavement Committee and Health Committee of the Diaconate would like to invite you to participate in its upcoming grief support group. This group serves as an opportunity for those who have experienced the death of a loved one to walk the journey of grief with others. The blessing of support from those walking a similar journey is invaluable and you are invited and encouraged to be a part of this opportunity. Anna Rickell, MSW, LISW-CP, CGP, church member and experienced counselor, and our Parish Nurse, Beth Cecil, RN, will facilitate the group which will meet in Room 2213 located on the second floor of the main building.  This will be a closed group after the first meeting on Monday, October 29, 2019 starting at 5:30 p.m.

Church Basketball Registration – Register by THIS WEDNESDAY, 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.

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 !

Join us for Wednesdays at First!
5pm in Fogartie Hall
Menu: Salad Bar, Baked Spaghetti, Bread, 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 credit cards are accepted at the door. Please note that there will be no Children’s Choirs, First Steps, CRC, or nursery on October 31.

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.

Transparent Men Breakfast – Saturday
8:30am in the Large Private Dining Room
Next Saturday, the Sparkle City Transparent Men will be holding its monthly breakfast meeting in our Large Private Dining Room. Men of all races and denominations are invited for food, Bible study, song and fellowship. You owe it to yourself to give it a try! You will Be glad you did! Call Jimmy Edwards (864-570-2017 or 864-415-4999) for additional info or questions.

Ecumenical Blood Drive – Next Sunday
Our next Blood Drive is scheduled for Sunday, November 4, 7:30am-1:30pm. This is an opportunity to not only benefit three lives but also to financially support physical projects at our church. For every donation made, the Blood Connection will donate $20. The financial gift will help pay for a door assist for the Tower Room doors. For an appointment, contact Beth Cecil (bcecil@fpcspartanburg.org / 208-2136).

Next Sunday - Food Collection – Next Sunday
Next week, we ask that you bring donations of food to help relieve hunger in Spartanburg. Please bring non-perishable food for the holidays, such as sweet potatoes, cranberries, stuffing, green beans, etc. Toiletries are also needed. These donations can be placed in wooden crates outside the entrances to all services on November 4. Questions? Email Juli Robertson (rrobertson30@charter.net).

Monthly Fellowship – Next Sunday
10:30am in The Perrin Room
Next Sunday we will kick off a series of monthly fellowship times in our newly renovated gathering space. Meet in the Perrin Room at 10:30am for doughnuts, coffee, and fellowship with your church family. Parent’s please be sure to pick up your children from Sunday School by 10:30 so that everyone, including teachers, can enjoy the fellowship time together. And everyone, if a child offers you a sticker during that time, take it! And spend a minute talking with that child.

Read Through the Bible in 2018
Friday, Oct 26 – Jeremiah 47, 48 / John 17
Saturday, Oct 27 – Jeremiah 49, 50 / John 18
Sunday, Oct 28 – Jeremiah 51, 52 / Psalm 119:73-96
Monday, Oct 29 – Lamentations 1, 2 / John 19
Tuesday, Oct 30 – Lamentations 3-5 / John 20
Wednesday, Oct 31 – Ezekiel 1 / 1 John 21
Thursday, Nov 1 – Ezekiel 2, 3 / Psalms 119:97-120
Friday, Nov 2 – Ezekiel 4, 5 / James 1
Saturday, Nov 3 – Ezekiel 6, 7 / James 2

OTHER NEWS
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.

List of Veterans and Active Service Personnel Needed by Monday, November 5
In honor of Veterans Day, on Sunday, November 11, we would like to recognize church members who have served OR are currently serving in the military. Please submit church members’ names and branch of military service by Monday, November 5. Please submit names to Joanie Shackleton (jshackleton@fpcspartanburg.org / 208-2132).

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.

Thornwell Hope for Children Luncheon – Wednesday, 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.

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’s UKirk Campus Ministries is holding a “thank you” event on Friday, November 9, 6:30pm, at Second Presbyterian Church (in Pryce Hall) to show appreciation for the continued support provided to campus ministry. This event will be a time to fellowship with local college students, enjoy some coffee and pastries, and listen to special guest Christopher Williams – a songwriter, storyteller, and entertainer. All are welcome; No RSVP's required. If you would like more information about Spartanburg's UKirk Campus Ministries, contact Rachel Epps (repps@fpcspartanburg.org) or Landon Hammett (lhammett@fpcspartanburg.org).

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...

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...).

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