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Weekly Update for September 4, 2020

Dear Siblings in Christ,

This Sunday, September 6, we will have only one livestreamed service at 11am and no online Sunday School. We hope everyone will have a safe and enjoyable long weekend!

The following Sunday, September 13, will be Pastor Tom’s last Sunday with us. We will again have only one livestreamed service at 11am that day with a congregational meeting via Zoom (Zoom link) immediately after it for the purposes of electing church officers and formally requesting that Foothills Presbytery dissolve the pastoral relationship between Dr. Tom Evans and First Presbyterian Church. See below for information about activities that afternoon to celebrate Tom’s ministry with us and to say goodbye to the pastor who has led us so faithfully through these past eight years.

Craig Foster
Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Communications

Sparkle City Transparent Men – Saturday, September 5 (8:30am)
After months of shut down and not being able to meet, we are excited to gather as a group once again. Sparkle City Transparent Men will meet at First Presbyterian Church in the Family Life Center Parking Lot Saturday, September 5 at 8:30 a.m. Men and youth are invited to join, and breakfast will be provided from Bojangles. Please wear a mask, bring a chair, and fellowship at a safe social distance. Please RSVP to Jimmy Edwards in order to plan accordingly for breakfast.

THIS SUNDAY
11:00am Sanctuary Worship Service ONLINE

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.

NEXT WEEK
Young Adult Game Night – Wednesday, September 9 (8:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.)
There was great interest in another Jackbox game night, so John Sarris has graciously agreed to facilitate again for the Young Adults! Mark your calendars for Wednesday, September 9^th at 8pm. You will need two devices (one for Zoom, and another to play the games). Please email Leslie Lang at llang@fpcspartanburg.org if you would like to participate

ECHOES – Wednesday, September 9 at 7:00 pm (Join) or Thursday, September 10 at 12 noon (Join)
Caring for a loved one who is aging or sick is a special ministry. If you are engaged in this and would appreciate Christian encouragement, please join Rev. Ansley Page, Rev. Joanne Hull, and Parish Nurse Beth Cecil on Wednesday evening or Thursday at lunch via Zoom. From the comfort of your home, you can enjoy this time of devotion, prayer, and sharing with folks in similar circumstance. Let your church family help you in this sacred work. Please register with Joanie Shackleton at jshackleton@fpcspartanburg.org.

Celebrating Tom's Ministry – Sunday, September 13
It is hard to believe that we are just over one week away from Tom leaving us! In the midst of a pandemic, a proper goodbye seems even more difficult, but we think we have come up with a plan! We will say goodbye – COVID style!

Tom’s last Sunday is September 13. There will be one worship service at 11:00am – online only – and a time to say goodbye that same afternoon 2:00-4:00pm (see details below). Tom will be under the Family Life Center Porte-cochère to wish you farewell. 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.

One Service of Worship, online at 11:00am
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

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.

Sunday Night Youth Group Resumes September 13
Sunday Night Youth Group will resume September 13 at the home of Greg and Molly Colbath. We hope you have a wonderful Labor Day weekend!

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)

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
Dedication of The Cleveland Academy Math Lab – Friday, September 11 (9:30 a.m.)
This year’s Witness Season project raised over $54,000 for The Cleveland Academy. To add to your generous donations, an anonymous donor provided a match of $25,000, which allowed the school to create a state-of-the-art mathematics lab. This project has come to fruition, and the FPC congregation is invited to a virtual dedication of The Cleveland Academy Math Lab on Friday, September 11 at 9:30 a.m. Please email Mary Elizabeth Evans at meevans@spart7.org for the Zoom link. Thank you for your generosity!

TOTAL Ministries Drop Off – Sunday, September 13 (2:00-4:00 p.m.)
Thank you to all who donated to our TOTAL Ministries drive in August! There will be another opportunity to donate Sunday, Sept. 13 at 2:00-4:00pm. 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

P.S. I Love You Ministries Virtual 5K – Saturday, September 19
If you're looking for a way to make a difference in the lives of children in the foster care system, sign up for the virtual 5K hosted by PS I Love You Ministries by September 10th. You can walk anywhere and at any time on September 19. Your registration fee will go directly to the organization. (Sign Up)

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
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 Friday, September 11th by contacting Joanie Shackleton at jshackleton@fpcspartanburg.org or 864-208-9132. Please note that registration is limited to 6 participants.

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)

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.

Blood Drive – Thank you!
A huge thank you to all those that came out for the blood drive on August 30th! We had a great turn out and it was wonderful to be able to visit (distantly) with all 43 of our faithful donors. First Presbyterian Church received $20 per donor. The proceeds will be used to fund a special project in our church that will be a reminder of how your donations will continue to give in the future. Make sure you thank those (see the names below) that came to the church to donate when you see them next and remember that you too can sign up for our next blood drive scheduled for Sunday, November 8, 2020.

Many thanks to the following donors:
Holly Bannan, Joseph Biber, Katherine Burns, Shirley Burgess, Betsy Burrell, Anne Cecil, Beth Cecil, Cyndi Chapman, Grant Close, Erika Cox, Tres Cox, Wade Crow, Jon Darrall, Craig Foster, Kellie Foster, Jeannie Gauthier, Libba Glenn, Chris Groke, Dana Halliday, Lou Ann Harrill, John Hill, Jerry Howe, Glen Johnson, Katherine Johnson, Charles Kay, Jerry Kiehl, Cesily King, Tom King, Eunice Knouse, Leslie Lang, Sherron Langley, Bert Moore, John Murphy, Suzan Mason, Kam Popkin, Joy Shackelford, Lee Shirley, Septima Smith, Danny Steadman, Ralph Tesseneer, Molly Walker, Patricia Webster, and Crystal Workman

“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 $3,360,101 in commitments, with just $237,854 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 6 – One Service, ONLINE at 11am
September 9 – Young Adult Game Night via Zoom
September 9 – ECHOES at 7pm (Join)
September 10 – ECHOES at 12 noon (Join)
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
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 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!

Unsubscribing
If you wish to be removed from the mailing list for this weekly email, please simply email Caroline Goodman (cgoodman@fpcspartanburg.org) to make that request. The link below will unsubscribe you from ALL group emails from the church, including many occasional emails you might want to receive!