Weekly Update for October 30, 2020

Dear Siblings in Christ,

Hopefully, you all received the word that you no longer need to make reservations for worship. We appreciate your patience as, with each step of bringing people back together on campus, we have begun cautiously with registrations to make sure we have the capacity for everyone, and then after just a few times, when we see that things are running smoothly and safely, we have removed the need for pre-registration. Thank you for bearing with us through that!

And so, we invite you to MorningSong in Fogartie Hall at 8:45am and to the Sanctuary service at 11am. Please remain diligent in wearing masks and maintaining physical distancing so that people will feel safe (and be safe) when they come to worship. Of course, many of you are still not comfortable gathering with groups of people, and we remain committed to providing the best possible streaming experience for you as well!

Craig Foster
Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Communications

Daylight Savings Time Ends - November 1
Daylight Savings Time ends November 1, and it's time to "fall back." Don't forget to set your clocks back one hour on Saturday night!

THIS SUNDAY – ALL SAINTS’ DAY
8:45am MorningSong in Fogartie Hall
10:00am Adult Sunday School (Join in on Zoom)
10:00am 4th & 5th Grade Sunday School (Outside between Clark and Main Buildings)
11:00am Outdoor Nursery for children 5 years and younger (Playground beside the Columbarium)
11:00am Sanctuary Service
5:00pm Youth Halloween Party at the Coleman’s (Rescheduled from last week)

We stream our Sanctuary and MorningSong services live each Sunday. Stream on:

FPCSpartanburg.org/LIVE for bulletins, Bible readings, sermon info, and more.
YouTube on your smart TV, streaming device, or almost any other device.
Facebook to join with a community of people worshipping together online.

However you join us, please:

Check in through the ShelbyNext app or sign the online guestbook to let us know you worshipped with us or
Consider giving online or through the ShelbyNext app as a regular act of worship.

Trouble with the livestreams? Check out this information on the church website.

10:00 a.m. Combined Adult Sunday School (Join in on Zoom)
Join us this Sunday as Pastor Ansley leads our combined Adult Sunday School class!

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.

11:00 a.m. Outdoor Nursery
Our outdoor nursery begins THIS Sunday, November 1^st, during the 11:00am worship hour for children 5 years and under (must be able to walk). Parents must check their child in between 10:45 and 11:00 on the playground beside the Columbarium. Children are not required to wear masks outdoors, but all adults and nursery workers will be wearing face masks. Please change all diapers before drop off (we will have a portable changing pad for emergencies).

5:00 p.m. Youth Halloween Party (Rescheduled from 10/25)
All Youth are invited to our Halloween Party this Sunday at the home of Mark and Carrie Coleman. Middle Schoolers will meet from 5-5:45 pm, High Schoolers will meet from 6-6:45 pm. We’ll have a costume contest with PRIZES, so be sure to come dressed in your Halloween best! Check out Robert’s Weekly Email for more information.

NEXT WEEK
SPIHN
November 1-8 was originally scheduled as one of our weeks to host SPIHN guests, but due to the continued issues with Covid, those families will not be coming to us and are being housed elsewhere. The SPIHN program, however, is now the umbrella for three separate programs: The Family Promise Shelter, Housing Programs, and the Spartanburg Opportunity Center (which has expanded its operation at the city’s request). If you are interested in helping to support SPIHN in lieu of our hosting responsibilities, here are three options: monetary donations (their website is http://www.spihn.squarespace.com), grocery store gift cards (the office address is 899 S. Pine St., Spartanburg), or volunteering at the Spartanburg Opportunity Center.

BBC with Kirk Neely – Tuesday, November 3 at 10:30a.m. (Register Now)
First Presbyterian Church offers a book club with Dr. Kirk Neely on the first Tuesday of each month. Currently, the book club is meeting via Zoom at 10:30 a.m. The book for November 3 is Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. All are invited to attend. You do not have to be a member of FPC to participate. To receive the Zoom link, please contact Didi Terry via email at dterry@fpcspartanburg.org.

Order your Food for Wednesdays at First (Order Food)
Picnic Begins at 5:00 p.m. / Programs Begin at 6:00 p.m.
Thank you to all who have been attending our mid-week activities! We now invite everyone on Wednesdays through November 18. We hope you will join us each week for dinner and programs for all ages. You will only need to register if you would like dinner. The dinner drive through begins at 5p.m. 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. No registration is required to attend the programs. Please order your food for WAF by Monday, November 2 at noon.

The Final Tickled Pink of 2020 - Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.
Outdoors Near the Family Life Center
Ladies, this will be the final Tickled Pink of the year! Join Ansley and Susan for Real Hope for Here and Now: O Happy Day at 9:30 a.m.! "Pink Ladies" will meet outdoors near the Family Life Center, so bring a chair, mask, and Bible. No Registration required!

Blood Drive – NEXT 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.

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 – Volunteers Needed November 13 and 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 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.

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.

FPC Church Office Staff Onsite Partial Days
Since March, your church office staff has been working remotely during the work week, ensuring the safety of our employees, members, and visitors.

The church office remains “closed” for now. All office staff are onsite half days, continuing to work remotely the other half day. We have put necessary protocols in place to ensure everyone’s health and safety. Some of our schedules are staggered, however the main church phone line (864-583-4531) will be answered Monday-Friday, 9am-1pm. Outside those hours, feel free to leave a voice mail and we will get back to you as soon as we are able. As always, contact information for each staff member can be found at fpcspartanburg.org/staff.

We miss seeing your smiling faces and look forward to the day when our church doors are open for you to visit. When this happens, we will shout it from the rooftops. Please bear with us as we navigate this transition; we cherish your continued prayers.

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.

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.

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 December 31
Capital campaign pledge balance: $167,803
As a congregation, we are so close to being debt-free for the first time in two decades! Thank you! If you have pledged to the capital campaign, the deadline has been extended to the end of 2020. Please help us bring this train into the station!

LOOKING AHEAD
November 3 – BBC with Kirk Neely
November 4 – Wednesdays at First
November 8 – Blood Drive (Register Now)
November 14 – Winter Warmth (Volunteer)
November 19 – Young Adult Game Night via Zoom
November 24 – Virtual Community Thanksgiving Service
November 29 – First Sunday of Advent | Family Advent Worship (RSVP Now)
December 6 – Second Sunday of Advent | Communion
December 13 – Third Sunday of Advent | Special Music in the Sanctuary
December 20 – Fourth Sunday of Advent | Lessons and Carols
August 13-15, 2021 – Women’s Connection at Montreat

More activities and events can be found in First News.