Newsletter

November 3, 2016

Next Stated Presbytery Meeting
The next
FOOTHILLS PRESBYTERY
Stated Meeting #102 
Tuesday, 
February 21, 2017
at 
First Presbyterian Church
393 East Main Street, Spartanburg
In This Issue
Bd of Pensions Deadline
First Greer 175th Anniv
PCUSA Speaker for Short Term Mission
Youth Ministry Cohort
Sr High Retreat
Youth Leaders Round Table
Nativity Scene Props needed!
2018 PW Gathering
Alzheimers Program at EPC
Interim Pastor Training
Employment Opportunities
Resource Center
Upcoming Dates
Christmas Pet & Family Photos
Carolina Bronze Concert
Chamber Singers
Quick Links
  
  
  
  
  
   pdq





Foothills Presbytery Office Hours
9:00am - 4:30pm
Monday - Thursday
Office Closed
on Friday.

******

 
ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING OFFERING 
"SHARING BRINGS JOY. TO OTHERS. TO GOD, AND TO US"
Through abundant and generous gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing, Presbyterians have for many years faithfully heeded God's call to serve people seeking to reclaim and restore their lives.
   
******

thornwell

Thornwell Home for Children
  
--------
SOUTH CAROLINA INN AT MONTREAT

Keep the South Carolina Inn in mind when you start making your summer plans. If you plan to attend a conference at Montreat or just want some time away in the beautiful mountains, you can find room in the South Carolina Inn or the Kirk Apartments. Give Chuck a call to inquire about options and to make reservations - 828-669-7460 or cell phone 828-230-5171.

--------  
  
world

Stewardship of Creation Enabler Connections  


What's New:
Welcome to Foothills
Warm welcome to 

Rev. Hudson Neely, who is called to serve Tyger River Church and will start November 27, 2016

and to

Rev. John Van Deventer, who is called to serve Limestone Church and will start in early 2017.
Board of Pensions!!

*** All Teaching Elders 
Church Employees! ***

Annual enrollment,  now through November 11, 2016 , is the only opportunity for employees to elect and make benefits changes for 2017 (unless you have a qualifying life event during the year). 

New This Year: Online Annual Enrollment
This year, employees must complete the annual enrollment process online
using  Benefits Connect, the Board's secure benefits website.  
During annual enrollment, you
(all teaching elders, educators and church staff who are part of the BOP plan) must log on to Benefits Connect to make elections or confirm coverage for 2017 --  even if you are not making any changes and even if your employer pays the full cost of coverage.
 
If you are not currently registered for Benefits Connect, visit  pensions.org/benefitsconnect today to register and get started.   For more information about annual enrollment, visit  pensions.org .
First Greer 175 Anniversary Celebration

SC Lay School 

The South Carolina Lay Theology School met at Presbyterian College Oct 14-16 and the Foothills was well represented. 

The Foothills usually has about 4-6 people attend and subsequently we have the smallest number of all the presbyteries. This fall we had 12 people and were the 3rd largest. Thank you to all who attended.  

The classes included- Pastoral Care, Preaching, Reformed Theology and the Old Testament book of Exodus. Tom Malone was the professor for the Exodus class and I believe we will be seeing him a bit more as a professor at the Lay Theology School. He has signed up to teach the book of Acts at our spring session.

The Spring session will meet at PC for the weekend of March 31-April 2. The classes offered will be Old Testament, Worship and Sacraments, Presbyterian Polity, Church History, Exegesis, and the book of Acts. Anyone is welcome to take these classes as they are wonderful for continuing education. The Presbyterian Polity class would be suggested for anyone who is a Ruling Elder.

If you have any questions or would like any information on the South Carolina Lay Theology School or the Commissioned Ruling Elder program please contact:
Sarah Cornell, 864-934-6845 email:  poopsy76@hotmail.com
 

PC(USA) speaker on Colombia, South America
Short Term Mission Volunteer
Available to Talk on
Presbyterian  Church Witness in Colombia, South America
 
On behalf of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, Presbyterian Church (USA), Jean Fontaine of Greenville spent the month of June accompanying human rights workers and displaced persons in Colombia, South America.  She will be happy to come to church groups and/or worship services to share word of our faithful, courageous sisters and brothers in Christ in a country long torn by internal violence.  She is available all weekdays, except Wednesday morning, and once a month on Sundays.
 
Jean may be reached by phone at 864-243-8517 or by email at jeanmcleod@gmail.com .
Youth Ministry Cohort 

It's a GO!  We will continue to take up to 15 participants - deadline is November 18!
 
Grief Share at Fair Play
all are welcome to join us for
Surviving the Holidays
with Grief Share
Sunday, November 27
Fair Play Presbyterian Church
3 - 5:00 pm
   
For more information please contact Rev. Mel Davis, 864-972-5958 or meldavis56@hotmail.com
    
Sr High Retreat - Save the Date!
Senior High Retreat
   
March 17-19, 2017
Montreat Conference Center
Theme : "A Balancing Act"

Keynote: Rev. Andy Casto-Waters
Music Leader: Sam Burchfield  
Youth Ministry Leader's Roundtable

Youth Ministry Leader's ROUNDTABLE
will take off the month of November!
  
Please mark your calendars for Tuesday, December 5 
for a holiday gathering
 at the home of 
Debbie Foster

More information coming...
Nativity Scene Props needed!
Nativity Scene Props & Costumes Needed!
   
Belton Presbyterian Church in Belton, SC is hoping to borrow nativity scene props and youth/kids costumes (4 toddler sheep, 3 Wise Men, at least 4 Shepards, David/Mary, etc.) for Sunday, December 18th.   
Please contact Bethany Wiley at bkwiley@charter.net if you have anything available for us to borrow. 

2018 PW Gathering!

Save the date for the 2018 Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women!
 
The 2018 Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women will be held August 2-5, 2018, in Louisville, Kentucky. 2018 is also the year that PW celebrates its 30th anniversary. "Each month for 30 months (one for each year of PW), we'll be sending a Gathering update to help you prepare, promote and plan for the 2018 Gathering. This eighth update lands in your inbox 22 months from opening plenary (give or take a few days)!"


Alzheimers Program at EPC
Hosts an Educational Opportunity:
Alzheimer's and You
  
We will learn about the physiological reasons that people behave the way they do when they experience dementia.    We will take that knowledge and learn how to communicate and interact with people with dementia.  We will discuss the stages of the disease and lastly talk about caregiving and how we have to love ourselves as well as those we are caring for.

Sessions are: 
October 20, 27 and 
November 3, 10, 17
  
Each session will be 6:30-8:00 pm
  
or 864-284-0190

Eastminster Presbyterian Church
2240 Woodruff Road, Simpsonville, SC 29681

Presented by:  
Karen Nichols, RN, Executive Director of Foothills Retirement Community  

Interim Pastor Training

The Georgia Cluster is hosting
Interim Pastor Training, 
January 25 - 29 at Calvin Center (Atlanta). 

This event is perfect for quality individuals looking to expand their skill set. Please find the attached brochure (below) describing this information packed five day event.
The leadership team includes:
  • Rev. Joel Alvis
  • Rev. Tim Rogers-Martin 
Employment Opportunities
New Positions Available!  
 


New in the Resource Center!
Foothills Presbytery  RESOURCE CENTER

Please take a minute 
and visit the new items list 
on the  Resource Center website here!
Coming Up....
Mark your Calendars 
            Dates to Remember

November 3  Committee on Ministry meeting
November 8 Equipping the Saints meeting & Scholarship Task Force meeting
November 10 Christian Educators meeting
November 13 First Church Greer Celebrates 175th Anniversary
November 14-15 Minister/Educator Retreat
November 17 Committee on Preparation meeting

**** 
To see all of the upcoming events with detailed information like time and location, OR to let us know about an event you would like us to share, check out the events page on our website:
    
Christmas Pet & Family Photos - Roberts Church

Carolina Bronze Concert

Chamber Singers

Chamber Singers will be performing in several places this fall!!
  • Biltmore House on Sunday, November 20th for the Christmas Candle light tours. We begin singing at 5:30. 
  • Christmas concert "Tidings of Comfort and Joy," on Sunday evening, December 4th at 7:00. The concert is at the Chapman Cultural Arts Center in the David Reid theatre in Spartanburg. Tickets are $15.00 and proceeds go to benefit Mobile Meals. Tickets are available from FPC and Mobile Meals. This is our 4th Chapman concert.
  • Moravian Candle Love Feast on Sunday, December 18th at 4:00 and 6:00 in the Chapel of FPC. Chamber Singers provide the service music and members of the Palmetto Moravian Fellowship in Spartanburg help serve in the service.
Please checkout their new Facebook page, Chamber Singers, First Presbyterian Church, "Like" us and share our page with your friends.