Weekly Update for September 27, 2019

The church year is off to a fabulous start! Our congregation is building the body of Christ through ministry, mission, and programs. Please look carefully through all the opportunities below to see where God is leading you to participate in the coming weeks. 

Blessings and have a wonderful weekend! 

THIS SUNDAY 
8:45am MorningSong* in Fogartie Hall & Chapel Worship Service 
9:45am Sunday School for All Ages 
11:00am Sanctuary* Worship Service 

(* 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.) 

Youth Sunday 

Due to special programming by our youth in all worship services, there will be no Youth Sunday School or Sunday Night Youth Group. 

Access Cards (New Information) Effective Sunday October 13th, entrance to the Clarke Building, Family Life Center, and Main Building (except for the Tower Room and Sanctuary) will require key card access. 

This Sunday members of the Emergency Preparedness Committee will be available to take photos for access cards. They will be located in the FLC Hallway after MorningSong and in the Receptionist’s Office before and after the 11am Sanctuary Worship Service. You may pick up and pay for your card during normal business hours with Didi Terry. The cost of an access card is $10. 

NEXT WEEK 

Sanctuary and Flower Guild Meeting – Monday, September 30 

11:30am in the Purnell Room

The Sanctuary and Flower Guilds will meet on Monday morning, September 30 at 11:00 AM in the Purnell Room to make plans for decorating the church for Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans and Advent. 

Wednesdays at First – Wednesday, October 2 

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 Wednesday for turkey and dressing, green beans, and cranberry sauce as well as after dinner 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: Poverty Simulation 

6:00-8:00pm 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 

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) 

World Communion Sunday – October 6 

Bring Your Bread Offering 

The first Sunday in October is World Communion Sunday, which celebrates our oneness in Christ with all our brothers and sisters around the world. This year, celebrate World Communion Sunday by bringing bread to the communion table. You may bring a home baked or store-bought loaf of bread to the service of your choice and place in a basket at the front prior to the start of the service or as you come forward to receive communion. The bread will be distributed to various missions in our community who feed the hungry. 

Monthly Fellowship – Sunday, October 6 

Next Sunday, October 6, we will have our monthly fellowship time. Meet in The Perrin Room at 10:30am for doughnuts, coffee, and fellowship with your church family. Parents, please pick up your children from Sunday School by 10:30 so that everyone, including teachers, can enjoy the fellowship time together. 

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 out more about these opportunities and more in Ministry Finder! 
WAF Sound Operator 
WAF Broadcast Operator

Shepherd’s Center Choir Director

Bus Drivers 

OTHER NEWS 
SPIHN Coordinator Transition 

After five years as the coordinators of SPIHN, Alan and Crystal Workman have decided to step down. They are very happy to pass the torch to Tom and Cesily King and are excited to work with them during this transition. Tom and Cesily will shadow Alan and Crystal during the October 27 SPIHN week. Thank you, Workmans, for your hard work and dedication to this important ministry, and welcome Kings! 

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). 

Scholastic Book Fair – Wednesday, October 2 

5:00-5:45pm on the first floor of the Clarke 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. 

‘Girl Talk’ with Dr. Dawn Bingham Sunday – October 13 

4-6pm in the Arthur Center 

Cost is $5.00/child 
Girl 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 Open for Fall Youth Retreats 
Online registration for our Middle School and High School Fall Retreats are 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: 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: 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 an usher know so that they can get in touch with the officer. 

Spartanburg Interfaith Alliance Book Discussion 

Thursday, October 17, 11:00am-12:00pm – Large Private Dining Room 
The Spartanburg Interfaith Alliance will be hosting a book discussion on “Jesus & the Disinherited” by Howard Thurman. This event will be led by Dr. James Hailstock and is open to anyone who would like to attend. This discussion will be in preparation for the Martin Luther King Jr., Day Trip on Thursday, October 24th. Please email Jasmine Guest at jguest@spcf.org if you plan to attend. 

LOOKING AHEAD

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: www.fpcspartanburg.org/firstnews 

Dr. Thomas E. Evans 
Senior Pastor
First Presbyterian Church
393 East Main Street Spartanburg, SC 29302
(864)583-4531
tevans@fpcspartanburg.org 
www.fpcspartanburg.org 

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