Back to Listing

Weekly Update for September 25, 2020

Dear Siblings in Christ,

We are looking forward to all the new programming beginning in just over a week, including Wednesdays at First, a new Tuesdays at First, and in-person Sanctuary worship services, all kicking off the first week of October. Please be mindful that pre-registration is needed for most activities, including worship, but so far we have not run out of available space for any of our activities. Especially note below that the registration for Vespers this Sunday evening closes at noon today. So make sure you sign up and join us!

Craig Foster
Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Communications

THIS SUNDAY
8:45am MorningSong in the Family Life Center Parking Lot (Registration Closed)
10:00am Adult Sunday School (Join in)
10:00am Elementary Zoom SS
11:00am Sanctuary Worship Service ONLINE
5:00pm Middle School Youth Group (Register Now)
6:00pm High School Youth Group (Register Now)
6:30pm Evening Vespers (Register by 12:00 Today)

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 (Join in)
This week, Pastor Craig is preaching AND teaching on Exodus 17:1-7 and Philippians 2:1-13. Come have conversation and dive more deeply into the texts used in worship this week.

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. (Register Now)
Sunday Night Youth Group will be held this Sunday at the home of Kam and Emily Neely. 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!

6:30 p.m. Evening Vespers (Register Now)
Near the Family Life Center
You are invited to an Outdoor Evening Vespers service, Sunday, September 27, at 6:30 pm near the Family Life Center. Vespers is an evening prayer service. Ours will be simple and just 30 minutes. Hopefully, you will find a respite of joy, hope, and love with your church family – a holy close for the Sabbath and a good start for the week. Pre-registration is required by TODAY at 12:00 noon. Bring your own chair and mask. More details are on the registration form.

NEXT WEEK
Tickled Pink – Every Tuesday (Register Now)
Outdoors Near the Family Life Center
Tickled Pink resumed on Tuesdays this past week at 9:30am! Ladies join Ansley and Susan for Real Hope for Here and Now: O Happy Day! 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. Register online each week by clicking this link. Registration will close Mondays at 11:00 am. O happy day to be together again!

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 October 4 (Register Now)
We will continue to worship in the FLC Parking Lot on Sunday, October 4 at 8:45am. Reservations are on a first-come, first-serve basis. Masks will be required for everyone age 6 and older, and we request that physical distancing be maintained throughout your time on campus. 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.

RSVP by Thursday for Sanctuary Worship on October 4 (Register Now)
We will begin to worship in the Sanctuary on Sunday, October 4 at 11:00am. Reservations 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 Thursdays at noon; and re-open for the next service no later than Monday.

New Book Study with Tom and Nan McDaniel on Zoom (Join)
Thursdays Beginning October 1 at 12:00 noon
Thursday Book Study returns with Tom and Nan McDaniel beginning at 12:00 noon on October 1 via Zoom. Through November 19, this group will be 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 (5:30-6:00pm) 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!

Sep. 17 – Intro to ProPresenter 7 (Recording coming soon)
Sep. 24 – Basic Video Switching (Recording coming soon)
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)

Donations for Hand in Hand
World Communion Sunday – October 4, 2020 (Drop off between 8:30am and 12:00pm)
The first Sunday in October is designated as World Communion Sunday, which celebrates our oneness in Christ with all our brothers and sisters around the world. Paul tells us that we are to “discern the body” when we partake of Holy Communion, mindful that we note our relationship to all our brothers and sisters in Christ in the celebration. One is not to go hungry while another is drunk! (I Cor. 11:21).

This year for World Communion Sunday, we will be taking donations to support Hand in Hand, a ministry that provides necessities to families and children in need throughout Spartanburg County. Hand in Hand collects donations and works in collaboration with Spartanburg County School District social workers and volunteers who help distribute essential items to identified families. By providing these necessities, Hand in Hand hopes to relieve daily concerns, improve self-esteem, and allow children to concentrate on their education.

Suggested donations are non-perishable food items, cleaning supplies, hygiene products, and paper products. Let’s “fill the trucks” with these items! Drop off your donations in the Family Life Center Upper Parking Lot from 8:30am-12:00pm Sunday, October 4.

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 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)
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
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.

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
Bill’s Book Club – Tuesday, October 6 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. Our book for October 6^th is Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. 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.

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 at the Arthur Center. Pre-registration is required by October 5. Contact Beth Cecil at (864) 208-2136 or bcecil@fpcspartanburg.org.

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
September 26 – Young Adult Hike (Email Leslie for more information)
September 27 – Evening Vespers (Register Now)
September 29 – Tickled Pink (Register Now)
October 4 – World Communion Sunday (MorningSong Registration) (Sanctuary Worship Registration)
October 6 – Tuesdays at First Begins
October 6&7 – Vaccination Clinic (More Information)
October 7 – Wednesdays at First Resumes
October 8 – ECHOES
October 18 – Youth Sunday
October 18 – Sunday Tailgate (More Information)
October 25 – Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans
October 25 – Evening Vespers
August 13-15, 2021 – Women’s Connection at Montreat

More activities and events can be found in First News.