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Weekly Update for October 9, 2020

Dear Siblings in Christ,

It was wonderful to have a congregation in the Sanctuary last Sunday! Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we worship together in yet another new way during this pandemic. Registration for next Sunday, October 18 (Youth Sunday!) is now open at https://fpcspartanburg.org/events/rsvp-for-sanctuary-worship.

Remember that outdoor MorningSong no longer requires registration, but we do ask that you bring your own chairs, if you are able. We will have a rack of chairs available on-site, though, just in case. The weather is not looking good for this Sunday with the remnants of Hurricane Delta blowing through. If the MorningSong service has to be cancelled, notification will be sent out by email, text, social media, and the church website no later than 6pm on Saturday. If that happens, the service will happen livestream only.

Be sure you make your dinner reservations for Tuesdays at First (TAF) and Wednesdays at First (WAF) by Sunday! See below for more information on that.

Craig Foster
Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Communications

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.

THIS SUNDAY
8:45am MorningSong in the Family Life Center Parking Lot (If cancelled due to rain, join online!)
10:00am Adult Sunday School (Join in)
10:00am Elementary Zoom SS
10:00am High School Sunday School (Outdoors near the Scout Hut)
10:30am Hymn Sing (Between the Chapel and Sanctuary, weather permitting)
11:00am Sanctuary Worship Service (Registration Closed)
5:00pm Middle School Youth Group
6:00pm High School Youth Group

All services are livestreamed at www.fpcspartanburg.org/liveand on our Facebookpage. 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 guestbookand consider making your regular contributions online. Having trouble with the livestreams? Check out this information on the church website.

10:00 a.m. Adult Sunday School and LIFT (Join in)
Join us this Sunday as John Lefebvre provides an introduction of author C.S. Lewis in preparation for the discussion of his works The Screwtape Letters and The Problem of Pain in the coming weeks.

10:00 a.m. Elementary Sunday School on Zoom
Parents should have all received information about how to connect for Sunday School. If you did not receive an email, please contact Holly for information.

Sunday Night Youth Group – Beginning at 5:00 p.m.
Sunday Night Youth Group will be held this Sunday at the home of the Molly and Greg Colbath. Middle Schoolers will meet from 5:00-5:45 p.m. and High Schoolers from 6:00-6:45 p.m. Check your weekly update from Robert or email Carrie for more information!

Sign up by Sunday for Tuesdays at First & Wednesdays at First (Registration Required for Dinner Only)
Tuesday, October 13 (Register Now) and Wednesday, October 14 (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! Beginning this week, 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 by Sunday, October 11.

NEXT WEEK
RSVP by Thursday for Sanctuary Worship – Youth Sunday on October 18 (Register Now)
Youth Sunday is October 18^th. We will worship in person outdoors at MorningSong at 8:45 a.m. (no registration required and weather permitting) and in the Sanctuary at 11:00am. Register today! Reservations for the Sanctuary Service are on a first-come, first-serve basis and seating is limited. Masks will be required for everyone that enters the building, and we request that physical distancing be maintained throughout your time on campus. Due to logistics, reservations will close at noon on Thursdays.

Sunday Tailgate – October 18 (Register Now)
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! Enjoy boxed lunches made by Pano and the team, music, and socially distanced fellowship. Registration is required by Thursday, October 15.

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

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!

Book Study with Tom and Nan McDaniel on Zoom (Join)
Thursdays at noon, October 1 – November 19
The Thursday Book Study with Tom and Nan McDaniel has resumed on Zoom! The group is discussing the book His Truth is Marching on: John Lewis and the Power of Hope by Jon Meacham. You may purchase your own book at a local bookstore or on Amazon.

Pulling Back the Curtain: The Technology Used in Worship (Join)
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 Making Changes in ProPresenter 7.

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
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.

Become a Mentor at Hope Center for Children
Hope Center for Children (HCFC) is looking for some new mentors for the children in their care! Mentors are paired with a single child and can take them off campus for activities. They are also able to stay in touch with the child as they grow into adulthood, beyond the time they spend at HCFC. Additionally, mentors commit to contacting their youth twice per month for as long as the youth remains in foster care. They must pass an extensive national background check, complete training, and submit monthly progress reports. While this reads as a big commitment, it is a positive life changing experience for both the mentor and mentee and is often critical to the future success of a child. For more information, please email pwright@hopecfc.org or check out ‘Life Support’ at https://fgi4kids.org/volunteer/. Mentor training takes place twice a year and is coming up at the end of September!

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. For more information, visit www.fpcspartanburg.org/spop.

Other Opportunities in Ministry Finder

OTHER NEWS
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 13 – Tickled Pink
October 13 – Tuesdays at First (Register Now)
October 14 – Wednesdays at First (Register Now)
October 18 – Youth Sunday
October 18 – Sunday Tailgate (Register Now)
October 18 – Young Adult Fellowship at FR8yard
October 25 – Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans
October 25 – Evening Vespers
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.