Weekly Update for September 20, 2019

Today we send off our Cuba Mission Team and our Church Retreat participants. We pray for safe travels and a sense of God’s abiding presence for those who are traveling on these trips.

THIS SUNDAY
8:45am    MorningSong* in Fogartie Hall &
                Chapel Worship Service
9:45am    Sunday School for All Ages
11:00am  Sanctuary* Worship Service
12:00pm  Congregational Meeting
5:00pm    Youth Discipleship

(* 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.)

Congregational Meeting
The Session has called a Congregational Meeting to be held at the conclusion of the 11:00am Sanctuary worship service on Sunday, September 22, 2019, 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 2022 and Deacon to the Class of 2020 to fill an unexpired term.

NEXT WEEK
Spartanburg Interfaith Alliance Day Trip to Atlanta – Thursday, October 24
Cost: $100 (includes lunch)
Register by Tuesday, September 24 at 5pm
The Spartanburg Interfaith Alliance invites you to join them as they take a one day trip to Atlanta, Georgia to learn more about the African American struggle for civil rights in America and the role that religion played in that struggle. Learn more about the roots of the man who inspired hundreds to boycott and march for their basic civil rights. There are a limited number of spots available. Registration is on a first come, first serve basis.
For more information, please contact Jasmine Guest at (jguest@spcf.org / (864) 582.0138).
To register online: https://spartanburginterfaithalliancedaytrip.eventbrite.com

Wednesdays at First – Wednesday, September 25
5:00-6:15pm Serving Line Open
Costs: $8 for adults & youth (12+), $7 for seniors (55+), $5 for children, $25 family max
Join us this Wednesday for pot roast, rice, and apples! Then stick around after dinned for a full slate of programming for all ages!
You may pay at the door (cash/check/debit/credit) or skip the line by pre-paying online at www.fpcspartanburg.org/WAF.

WAF Program: Homelessness and Housing in Spartanburg
6:30-7:15pm in the Sanctuary
Hear from three experts on housing in Spartanburg: Beth Rutherford, Executive Director of SPIHN; Martin Livingston, Neighborhood Services Director for the City of Spartanburg; and Kathy Rivers, Director of Community Development for Spartanburg County. We’ve had a great turn out for our first two sessions in this series, but if you missed them or want to watch them again or share them with others, you can find them on the Poverty Initiative section of our website, under the “Serve” menu (direct link).

WAF Program: Weekly Sermon Bible Study
6:30-7:15pm in the Parlor
Led by Tom Evans
This is a time of prayer and fellowship before we dive into the text (based on the sermon 10 days from the study date). Together, we explore the passage and wrestle over what it means for our lives today.

Other After-Dinner WAF Programming
Christian Recreation for Children (Gym and Activity Room)
Youth Wednesday Night Fellowship (Middle School Room)
Sit ‘n Stitch (FLC Lobby)
Wednesday Walkers (Walking Track)

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
Find all sorts of ways that you can serve in the Ministry Finder section of the website (under the “Serve” menu). There you can search for service opportunities that match your interests and schedule, and with one tap make contact with someone who can tell you more and/or help you to get involved.

Find our more about these opportunities and more in Ministry Finder!

WAF Sound Operator
WAF Broadcast Operator
Shepherd’s Center Choir Director
Bus Drivers

OTHER NEWS
WAF Poverty Simulation – Wednesday, October 2
6-8pm in the Gym
Imagine having to choose between paying rent and putting food on the table. Approximately 18% of individuals and 28% of children in Spartanburg County live in poverty - many of them struggling with hunger and homelessness, which become root causes of other significant challenges. United Way's Poverty Simulation is an experience that offers a glimpse into the realities and complexities of living on a low income - all through the eyes of fictional families that are trying to survive from month to month. Space is limited, and you won’t want to miss this special opportunity. For more details and to register, please visit: https://www.fpcspartanburg.org/events/poverty-simulation-registration

Scholastic Book Fair – Wednesday, October 2
5:00-5:45pm on the first floor of the Clark Building
Please stop by our Weekday School Scholastic Book Fair on October 2nd from 5:00-5:45pm on your way to children's choirs and purchase some exciting new books for your family!

Vaccination/Skin and Hearing Screening Clinic – Wednesday, October 9
Vaccinations will be available from 5:15 – 7:15pm in the Social Hall
Skin Screening will be available from 6:00 – 7:15pm. in the Activity Room
Hearing Screening will also be available from 5:15 – 7:15pm at the Family Life Center Activity Desk.
Pre-registration with insurance information is required for vaccinations.
Contact Beth Cecil (bcecil@fpcspartanburg.org / 864-208-2136) to take advantage of the screenings.

Hop on the Bus to THORNWELL! – Thursday, October 10
9am-1:30pm
Join the tour of Thornwell and lunch on October 10. Departure is at 9am from First Presbyterian Church and the tour will return by 1:30pm. Reserve your spot with Caroline Goodman at (cgoodman@fpcspartanburg.org / 864-208-2139).

‘Girl Talk’ with Dr. Dawn Bingham Sunday – October 13
4-6pm in the Arthur Center
Cost is $5.00/child
Girls Talk is an interactive talk for mothers (or grandmothers) and daughters in the 4^th through the 6^th grade on growth and development. Register with Beth Cecil bcecil@fpcspartanburg.org by October 11, 2019.

Sign up now for Church Basketball!
It’s that time again! Church basketball season is just around the corner! Online registration is now open. We are excited for a great year ahead and invite all First Presbyterian Church children and youth to participate in our basketball leagues, as well as non-members. Church basketball is open to boys and girls in grades 1-12. The early registration fee is $75/player. The price will increase to $85/player after October 23, so don’t wait! Final deadline will be Wednesday October 30.
Please see the link below to sign up and pay. If you have more than one child playing, you will need to register each child separately. If your child is trying out for a school team, please go ahead and turn in your form and fee for church basketball. We will gladly refund your money if they make the school team. Sign up and pay here: https://www.fpcspartanburg.org/grow/recreation/fpc-church-basketball

Registration Is Now Open for Fall Youth Retreats
Online registration for our Middle School and High School Fall Retreats are now open! Space is limited so be sure to sign up soon.

Middle School Fall Retreat – October 11-13
Doe River Gorge, TN
Cost: $100 per student
Link to register: https://www.shelbygiving.com/App/Form/6ae9c834-448d-4885-9e0b-997b74f85600

High School Fall Retreat – November 8-10
Awanita Valley, SC
Cost: $100 per student
Link to register: https://www.shelbygiving.com/App/Form/abd2996a-c734-4d47-b4d6-56c425ca8558

We will also need several adult chaperones to make these trips possible! Please contact Robert or Carrie if you are willing to go with us!

Sign up now for the DR Mission Trip – February 1-8, 2020
For more information and to apply for our Dominican Republic Mission Trip, visit www.fpcspartanburg.org/dr2020.

Police Presence on Sunday Mornings
A City of Spartanburg police officer is on duty at the church throughout the morning every Sunday, and are ready to assist when there is a need or concern. If you see anything suspicious, please let that officer know as soon as possible, so that the issue can be dealt with. If the officer is making rounds through the building and not plainly visible outside, please let un usher know so that they can get in touch with the officer.

Access Cards
As programs get started for the year, please remember to bring your church access card with you each time you come to the church. On Wednesday evenings, the monitored front doors of the Family Life Center are unlocked, but for other unmonitored doors around campus, including the Tower Room, Clark Building and Chestnut Street doors, you will need your access card to get in. This is for the protection of all of us, but especially for the protection of the children in children’s choirs on the second floor of both the Clark and the Main buildings. If you do not have your access card with you, please use an interior route to get to after-dinner WAF programming. Access cards can now be made on-site for a cost of $10. Please see Didi in the main church office during normal business hours if you would like to get a new access card made.

LOOKING AHEAD
September 20 – JOY Fellowship Spartanburg Tree Tour
September 20-22 – Church Retreat at Montreat
September 20-25 – Cuba Mission Trip
September 22 – Congregational Meeting
October 2 – Healing and Wholeness Service
October 2 – Poverty Simulation
October 2 – Book Fair at WAF
October 9 – Vaccination/Skin Screening Clinic
October 10 – Thornwell Tour
October 11-13 – Middle School Fall Retreat
October 13 – Girl Talk
October 17 – JOY Fellowship Trip to Hendersonville Mineral and Lapidary Museum
October 26 – Young Adult Wofford Tailgate
October 27 – Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans
November 3 – Ecumenical Blood Drive
November 8-10 – High School Fall Retreat
February 1-8 – Dominican Republic Mission Trip

Find out more in First News: fpcspartanburg.org/firstnews