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Weekly Update for September 11, 2020

Dear Siblings in Christ,

Today is, of course, a solemn day of remembrance in our country, as we mourn the tragic events of September 11, 2001. And as we mourn those lost on that day, let us also mourn the hatred and tribalism that led to those events, and let us all repent of that hatred and tribalism that we too often harbor today. And let us also celebrate the unity we found that day across all kinds of differences, and strive to find that unity once more.

Today I also got the pleasure of attending the dedication of the Mathematics Lab at Cleveland Elementary, the product of our Witness Season contributions earlier this year. This congregation blew past our Witness Season goals, just days before this pandemic set in in earnest. And it was so encouraging to see that math lab come to fruition, and to see so many FPC members there at the dedication. Good and important work is happening through our church, my friends!

Finally, this Sunday we bid farewell to Pastor Tom, as we celebrate his ministry with us and pray for his ministry in New York. I hope that you will all join in the streamed service on Sunday. It is going to be a very special service indeed. And Zoom congregation meeting afterward. We have upgraded our Zoom account to make sure we have room for all of you. So please sign in via Zoom for this important meeting. Information on a full Sunday of activities is below.

Craig Foster
Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Communications

THIS SUNDAY
10:00am Adult Sunday School (New Link this week!)
10:00am Elementary Zoom SS
11:00am Sanctuary Worship Service ONLINE
12:00pm Congregational Meeting via Zoom (Zoom)
2:00pm Say Farewell to Tom and TOTAL Ministries Donation Drop Off
5:00pm Middle School Youth Group (Register Now)
6:00pm High School Youth Group (Register Now)

All services are livestreamed at www.fpcspartanburg.org/live and on our Facebook page. We encourage you to join us on Facebook, comment during the live worship service, and help build community. Bulletins, scripture readings, manuscripts, and video archives can also be found our website. Our worship livestreams also appear on YouTube. However you join us, please sign the online guestbook and consider making your regular contributions online. Have you been having trouble with the livestreams? Check out this information on the church website.

10:00 a.m. Adult Sunday School (New link this week!)
Join the LIFT class this week as they study Acts 15.

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 earlier today, please contact Holly for information.

12:00 p.m. Congregational Meeting via Zoom (Join in)
Session calls a Congregational Meeting for Sunday, September 13, 2020, to be held immediately at the conclusion of the 11:00am Worship Service for the purpose of:

Receiving and acting on a report from the Congregational Nominating Committee relative to the election of Ruling Elders and Deacons to the Class of 2023; and
Requesting Foothills Presbytery to dissolve the Pastoral Relationship between Dr. Thomas E. Evans and First Presbyterian Church, Spartanburg.

2:00-4:00 p.m. – Celebrating Tom's Ministry
Join us on Sunday to say goodbye to Tom – COVID style! Tom will be under the Family Life Center Porte-cochère to wish you farewell from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Since our time is limited, please take the time to write a note to Tom; there will be baskets in which we will collect your letters. A suggested scripture to frame your note is from 2 Corinthians 13:11: “The God of love and peace be with you.”

We will also be taking up a love offering for them as they begin a new chapter in New York! A separate letter has been sent with details on how to contribute; click here for more information.

Meet Tom under the Porte-cochère - enter the FLC Parking Lot from the Kennedy Street entrance!

***Last names that begin with A – L, please come 2:00-3:00pm
***Last names that begin with M – Z, please come 3:00-4:00pm

Bring your notes for Tom and place them in the basket

2:00-4:00 p.m. – TOTAL Ministries Drop Off
Please bring items to the bins outside the FLC when you come to say goodbye to Pastor Tom. Contact Pastor Leslie if you have any questions!

NEEDS:
Peanut Butter
Jelly
Rice (1-lb. bags)
Dry Beans (1-lb. bags)
Canned Meat / Tuna / Beef Stew
Grits / Oatmeal / Cereal
Mac & Cheese
Soup
Pasta and Spaghetti Sauce
Canned Vegetables (Peas, Carrots, Potatoes)
Canned Fruit / Applesauce
Paper Towels
Toilet Paper
Hygiene Products

Sunday Night Youth Group – Beginning at 5:00 p.m. (Register Now)
Sunday Night Youth Group will be held this Sunday at the home of Greg and Molly Colbath. Pre-registration is required in order for us to plan safely and accordingly. Middle Schoolers will meet from 5:00-5:45 p.m. and High Schoolers from 6:00-6:45 p.m. Bring your bathing suit and towel, because e we will be swimming (weather permitting). Click the registration link for additional information!

NEXT WEEK
Grief Support Group – Begins Monday, September 14 (5:30 p.m.) (Register)
A new Grief Support Group will begin Monday, September 14 at 5:30 p.m. in the Cauble Garden. This group will be co-facilitated by an experienced counselor and our parish nurse, and serves as an opportunity to strengthen individuals who have experienced the death of a loved one and to walk the journey of grief with others. Pre-registration is necessary by today, September 11th by contacting Joanie Shackleton at jshackleton@fpcspartanburg.org or 864-208-9132. Please note that registration is limited to 6 participants.

Walking in the Family Life Center (For Members Age 65 and Older)
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. (Register Now)

Christians in the Making Ladies’ Bible Study – Wednesdays in September
Christians in the Making (CITM) Ladies’ Bible Study will meet outside the Family Life Center each Wednesday in September at 10:00 a.m.

RSVP by Thursday for MorningSong Worship on September 20 (Register Now)
We will resume Worship in the FLC Parking Lot on Sunday, September 20 at 8:45am. Reservations are on a first-come, first-serve basis. Masks will be required for everyone age 6 and older. If we have to cancel, due to inclement weather, you will be contacted by email and/or cell on or before Saturday evening at 6:00pm. We will also post an update on our website and via social media. Due to logistics, reservations will close Thursdays at noon; and re-open for the next service no later than Monday.

Pulling Back the Curtain: The Technology Used in Worship (Join)
Thursdays, starting on September 17 (5:30-6:00pm)
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! Whether you are just curious about what it takes or you want to help to make it happen, the AV Team invites you to a series of virtual tours of the equipment and software used in the Sanctuary and Fogartie Hall. Each Thursday evening, Pastor Craig and members of the AV Team will cover a different aspect of our AV setups on Zoom. Each session will last just 30 minutes with plenty of time at the end for questions. No technical AV expertise is needed to participate in these virtual tours.

Sep. 17 – Intro to ProPresenter 7 (Projections & livestream text overlays)
Sep. 24 – Basic Video Switching (Changing between cameras & other video sources)
Oct. 1 – Livestreaming & Camera Control (Getting the right shots & getting it out to the world)
Oct. 8 – Basic Audio Mixing (Making sure everyone in the room & online can hear)
Oct. 15 – Making Changes in ProPresenter 7 (Editing & creating content)
Oct. 22 – Intermediate Video Switching (Managing audio, video routing & upstream keys)
Oct. 29 – Environmental Projection (Painting the wall in Fogartie with projected colors, textures, & images)
Nov. 5 – Controls, Lighting & the Little Mixers (What you need to know to run AV all by yourself)

Weekly Community 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)
Adult Sunday School – Sundays at 10am (resumes Sept. 13) (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
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 are able to 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!

2020 Census Deadline – Wednesday, September 30
To date, Spartanburg County has only a 63.5% self-response rate to the census, trailing our 2010 self-response rate of 66.3%.

Enumerators (census workers) are knocking on doors for the remainder of September. They will be wearing a badge and carrying bureau identification. If you do not want a census taker to show up at your door, please fill out the census online or by telephone at 844-330-2020!

The census is the critical data point used for economic development and municipal, state, and federal political representation for the next 10 years. A full count matters for the benefit of us all. The census will determine funding for more than 150 major programs, including public housing, WIC, Title I schools, and Community Development Block Grants. Every person missed equals $3,000 of funding missed/year. Over 10 years, that is $30,000 of community funding for every person missed. 100 people not counted equals $3,000,000 in community funding missed over 10 years.

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.

Recent Opportunities in Ministry Finder

OTHER NEWS
Young Adults Hike – Saturday September 26 (10:00 a.m.)
Get outside and enjoy some fresh air on the Young Adults Hike Saturday, September 26 at 10:00 a.m. Email Pastor Leslie for details!

Vaccination Clinic – October 6 & 7 (4:00-7:00 p.m.)
Save the dates for the Vaccination Clinic October 6 and 7 (4:00-7:00 p.m.). Available vaccines will be Influenza (regular and high dose), tDap, Pneumonia, and Shingles. Drive up stations will be set up in the parking lot outside of the Family Life Center. Pre-registration is required by contacting Beth Cecil at (864) 208-2136 or bcecil@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.

New Book Release by Pastor Tom!
Pastor Tom’s new book, Pathways to God: An Exploration into Our Experience of God and How We Might Grow Closer to the Divine, is now available on Amazon. As a result of his recent sabbatical, this book explores a modern path for the ancient hunger to grow closer to God. Its pages include powerful stories of God’s deep connections with people across the country.

“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 $3,413,887 in commitments, with just $184,068 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)
September 13 – Pastor Tom’s last Sunday (One Service, ONLINE at 11am)
September 13 – Zoom Congregational Meeting (Join)
September 14 – Grief Support Group (Register)
September 16 – Wednesday Night Youth Group Resumes (Register)
September 17 – Pulling Back the Curtain Begins (Join)
September 18 – Family Outdoor Movie Night
September 20 – Outdoor MorningSong Resumes (Register Now)
September 25 – Outdoor Movie Night
September 26 – Young Adult Hike (Email Leslie for more information)
October 4 – World Communion Sunday
October 6&7 – Vaccination Clinic
October 18 – Sunday Tailgate (More Information)
October 25 – Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans
August 13-15, 2021 – Women’s Connection at Montreat

Many additional events are almost ready to be shared! So check for updates to this Looking Ahead section every week!