Weekly Update for the Week of Christmas (December 21, 2018)

It’s almost Christmas, and there’s much happening at the church. See below for information about service times on Sunday and Monday. Also please pay attention to the notices about year-end giving, Winter Warmth, and the upcoming final deadline for the Women’s Retreat.

THIS SUNDAY
8:45am MorningSong* in Fogartie Hall &
Early Sanctuary 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.)

Hot Sauce for Haiti
Here’s a great last-minute gift idea! Nap Boule’! Hot Sauce (which means “Haiti is Hot!” in Creole) is made from Haitian Piman Bouk peppers, a fiery habanero. The mission of Bel Soley, the company that produces this hot sauce, is to create a sustainable change in Haiti through economic development by partnering with small farmers and farm so-ops who specialize in growing this particular kind of pepper. There are three unique flavors of hot sauce. The bottles are $7 each, and all proceeds will go towards OUR Haiti Mission Project. Look for John Tatham in the FLC lobby after MorningSong and in the gathering space for the 11am Sanctuary service this Sunday.

Christmas Eve Choir Rehearsal – Sunday
5pm in the Choir Room
Anyone high school age and above is invited to join the Christmas Eve Choir, which sings for the Candlelight Services at 6pm and 11pm. For more information, contact Holt Andrews ( rhandrews@fpcspartanburg.org ).

CHRISTMAS EVE
Family Worship Service
4pm in the Sanctuary
Come, all you angels, shepherds, and kings, and join us on Christmas Eve for our family nativity pageant. Any child may come dressed as the part he or she wants to play from those listed above and take their place up front as the story unfolds.

Candlelight Services
6pm and 11pm in the Sanctuary
These services, a long tradition in our church, will include the final installment of our sermon series “Who Are You in the Christmas Story?” as well as music by the Christmas Eve Choir. The services will conclude with the Sanctuary bathed in candlelight. Please note that the 6pm service tends to be very heavily attended. If you prefer a little more elbow room, consider ringing in Christmas at the 11pm service instead.

NEXT WEEK
Holiday Hours at the Church
Christmas Day – closed
December 26 – closed
December 31 – open until 5pm
January 1 – closed

Winter Warmth – The Perfect Gift for Anyone on Your List!
Our annual Winter Warmth Project was held on Saturday, November 10. Over 500 coats were distributed to children from all seven Spartanburg County School Districts. Now. we need your help. A gift of $35 will provide a new, warm winter coat for a child in need. Donation forms can be found in the Tower Room or you may give online . If you would like to "give" a coat, Acknowledgement Cards are available in the church office for you to send to those whom you are honoring with this gift.

No WAF until January 9
There’s no Wednesdays at First until January 9, but there’s a great line-up of meals and programs lined up for the new year!

One Worship Service – NEXT Sunday, December 30
11am in the Sanctuary
Let’s all come together one last time in 2018 for a one combined worship service in the Sanctuary on Sunday, December 30! There will be no Sunday School or early services that Sunday.

Read Through the Bible in 2018 – You’re almost done!
Friday, December 14 – Jonah 1-2 / Revelation 10
Saturday, December 15 – Jonah 3-4 / Revelation 11
Sunday, December 23 – Zechariah 1, 2 / Psalms 146, 147
Monday, December 24 – Zechariah 3, 4 / Revelation 17
Tuesday, December 25 – Zechariah 5, 6 / Revelation 18
Wednesday, December 26 – Zechariah 7, 8 / Revelation 19
Thursday, December 27 – Zechariah 9, 10 / Psalm 148
Friday, December 28 – Zechariah 11, 12 / Revelation 20
Saturday, December 29 – Zechariah 13, 14 / Revelation 21

OTHER NEWS
Recommendations for CNC
The Congregational Nominating Committee is seeking a slate of nine members from the congregation to replace members who will rotate off the CNC on December 31, 2018. Members will serve for one year and will be charged with the nomination of Church officers. Please email your nomination(s) to Bert Moore ( bert@diversifiedcolors.com ).

Year-End Giving
For credit as 2018 contributions, donations must be received in the church financial office by 5:00pm on Monday, December 31, 2018 or postmarked by December 31, 2018. Any contributions received or postmarked on or after January 1, 2019 will be considered as 2019 contributions.

Year-End Stock Contributions
By giving appreciated stock to the church for your pledge, you can receive a tax advantage. Please notify Lynise Clarke in the church financial office at the time you notify your broker with the following information: * Name of your broker and the particular stock that is involved and * Year (or years) in which to apply your gift and/or whether any special funds are involved. Please allow 2-3 weeks for completion of stock transactions. For information, contact Lynise Clarke ( lclarke@fpcspartanburg.org / 864-208-2130)

FPC Women’s Retreat “The With-Us God”– February 1-3, 2019
Kanuga Conference Center, Hendersonville, NC
Led by the Rev. Elizabeth Michael Ross
Final Deadline: January 2
As women, we long for fruitful and meaningful relationships with family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors but can easily feel depleted by the demands and to dos. At our weekend-long women’s retreat, February 1-3, the Rev. Elizabeth Michael Ross will lead us in a time of digging more deeply into the relationships in our lives. Come be a part of this wonderful weekend away! For more information: https://www.fpcspartanburg.org/events/womens-retreat-2019

Weekday School Subs Needed
The Weekday School is currently searching for loving, enthusiastic substitute teachers. We are in need of some dependable adults who love children and would be willing to periodically be called upon to assist in a preschool classroom. Each classroom has two teachers, so as a substitute you would be assisting one of the regular classroom teachers. While prior professional experience with children would be wonderful, it is not a requirement. The hours are 8:30 -12:15 and we pay subs $40 per day. There is a VERY brief orientation session and background check. If you are interested, please contact Moira Scheel, Weekday School Director, ( mscheel@fpcspartanburg.org / 864-208-2148).

Nursery Staff Needed!
We are looking for some new people who enjoy babies and children to join our paid nursery staff on Sundays and Wednesdays. If you or someone you know is interested, please contact Cesily King ( cking@fpcspartanburg.org).

Golf Cart Drivers Needed
Our Sunday morning Hospitality cart needs a few new drivers! If you would like a fun task at the church that enables you to meet lots of church folk, then this is the one for you. Our rotational schedule means you would drive once every 6 to 8 weeks. Contact Bryan Pack at ( bryanpack@gmail.com / 864-541-1486) or Marsh Rogers ( mrogersjr@tworog.com / 704-438-1298) if you are interested.

APNC Needs YOUR Input
The APNC would like your help to find an Associate Pastor of Young Adults and Mission. Through your own connections, many of you know potential candidates. Please give one of our Committee members the name and contact information and we will follow up. APNC: Mac White, Chair, Cathy Bagwell, Andrew Darr, Kellie Foster, Laura Stille, Alan Workman, Hannah Zimmerman. You may send information to APNC Chair Mac White or contact any committee member via the ShelbyNext Portal ( https://www.fpcspartanburg.org/discover/member-login ).

Search for Director of Children's Ministries
The DCM search team need your help to find our next Director of Children’s Ministries! The very best candidates are often already linked in some way to the congregation they will serve. So please talk to a few people you know, or email them, and let them know FPC is looking for a full-time Director of Children’s Ministries. Or give one of our search team members the name and contact information and we will follow up! People can find the full job description at www.fpcspartanburg.org/dcm. Resumes and cover letters may be sent to Sara Bailey at sara.bailey@ministryarchitects.com . DCM Search Team: Tim Camp, Celia Cogdell, Craig Foster, Anne-Marie Glover, Callie Hammett, Arthur Jones, Cesily King, Emily Neely (chair).

LOOKING AHEAD
December 24 – Christmas Eve Services (4pm, 6pm, 11pm)
December 25-26 – Church Closed
December 30 – One Service in the Sanctuary (11am)
December 30 – Youth Lock-In/Lock-Out
December 31 – Church Closes at 5pm
January 1 – Church Closed
February 1-3 – Women’s Retreat at Kanuga
February 2-9 – DR Mission Trip

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