Weekly eNews
November 22, 2023
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Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the 20th century theologian and Christian martyr, once wrote, “It is only with gratitude that life becomes rich.” I pray that tomorrow and all the days ahead will be rich for each of us. After all, everything we have – our families, our friends, our community, our church – is a pure gift from God. And so, on this day before Thanksgiving, I am giving thanks for you! What a rich blessing it is to be a part of the body of Christ that is First Presbyterian.
As you peruse this week’s eNews please make special note of the many end-of-year and Advent opportunities that are right in front of us. I also want to encourage you to remember the church in your year-end giving. We are in strong financial shape but are depending on the generosity of our friends and members to help us cross the finish line in December. If you have not given or have not had a chance to fulfill your 2023 pledge, please consider doing so in the coming weeks! Helpful details on giving can be found below.
On a related note, let me update you quickly on the progress of our 2024 stewardship efforts. To date, we have received 388 pledges totaling $2,488,000, which represents an almost 18% increase over the same point last year. What an incredibly encouraging and hopeful sign! That said, our goal is to reach $2.8 million in total pledging for 2024, so we still have a little way to go. If you have not made a commitment yet and would like to do so, please know that it is not too late. You can return a pledge card to the church office or pledge online anytime. Thank you!
Blessings to you all. See you at church. All are welcome. Happy Thanksgiving!
With a grateful heart,
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Rev. Alan F. Dyer
Senior Pastor
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Happy Thanksgiving!
Church Facilities Closed
In recognition of the Thanksgiving holiday, all church facilities will be closed November 23 and 24. We pray for God's blessings for you and your family, and traveling mercies for those who will be celebrating across the country or around the world.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name. -Psalm 100:4
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Giving Tuesday 2023
Tuesday, November 28
This Tuesday is our annual "Giving Tuesday," where we as a congregation, as well as millions around the world, celebrate generosity. This year, we are asking you to support First Presbyterian Church Community Impact Ministries. Your donation will be divided equally between Hand-in-Hand, our Neighborhood Meal Ministry, and CAST. Details about each of these ministries can be found here.
Our churchwide goal for this year is $6000. Click below for more information, and to even give your gift early!
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Advent Decorating Days
Last Week of November
The Sanctuary Guild has the decorations all fluffed! Thanks to those who worked to accomplish this quickly!
The week after Thanksgiving we will begin putting out the fluffed decorations.
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Monday, November 27 @ 10:00am (Room 2213) - Put garland around Chapel arches, decorate Perrin Room and Parlor and FLC Lobby.
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Tuesday, November 28 @ 10:00am (Sanctuary) - Hang wreaths and swags
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Wednesday, November 29 @ 10:00am (Tower Room) - Fluff Chrismon trees and add garland
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Thursday, November 30 @ 9:00am (Tower Room) - Decorate Chrismon trees and aisle chancels
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Friday, December 1 @ 9:00am (Family Life Center) - Build poinsettia trees in Fogartie and hang wreaths on exterior doors
Interested in helping? Contact LeAnne Thurmond (864-621-0213 / leanne.thurmond@gmail.com) to volunteer. You can also visit fpcspartanburg.org/deckthehalls to see all of our Advent decorating opportunities!
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D.R. Mission Trip
DEADLINE DECEMBER 1
Registration for our Dominican Republic Medical Mission Trip is now open! We are building a team of doctors, dentists, nurses, and just regular people to provide medical, dental services as well as built construction projects and sponsor children in the Solid Rock International schools. The trip will be on February 3-10 - cost is $1700 per person, with a $500 deposit. (Scholarships available - contact Leslie Lang for more info)
Registration deadline is December 1. To sign up or learn more, click the button below, or visit fpcspartanburg.org/DR.
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Wednesdays at First (WAF) | |
Wednesdays at First
Continues on November 29
Come enjoy good food and fellowship time at WAF. Reservations are required for dinner.
Click the button below to make your dinner reservation before 4:00pm Monday.
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Covenant Connections
Concludes on November 29
We tend to hear the story of the Bible in a piecemeal fashion – a story about Paul in Sunday School, a story about Moses in a sermon, a story about Abraham in a Bible study, and then a story about Jesus in a devotional. But how do all those stories fit together?
This fall at Wednesdays at First, we will be exploring how these individual stories connect into a single narrative timeline that enriches our understanding of each of those stories, and allows us to see beyond the trees of individual disconnected stories to the great forest of God’s redemptive work in history.
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YEAR-END CONTRIBUTION DEADLINES
- For credit as 2023 contributions, donations must be received in the church financial office by December 31, 2023, or postmarked by December 31, 2023. Any contributions received or postmarked on or after January 1, 2024, will be considered as 2024 contributions.
- If you make a pre-payment in 2023 toward your 2024 giving, please make certain to write 2024 in the “memo” section of your check.
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 stock that is involved.
- Year (or years) in which to apply your gift and/or whether any special funds are involved.
Please allow 1-2 weeks for completion of any stock transactions.
IRA CONTRIBUTIONS
For those of you with Traditional Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), Required Minimum Distributions paid to a qualified charity, such as First Presbyterian Church, can help avoid taxes.
As with any giving, please consult your financial advisor and/or IRA custodian for specific information and legal/financial advice.
Contact Lynise Clarke (208-2130 / lclarke@fpcspartanburg.org) if you have questions or need additional information.
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Processing Fees on Contribution Statements
Some of you may have noticed Processing Fees on your contribution statement. These are fees that you paid the church to help cover credit card fees (Thank you!). Since you chose to include these fees in your payment, they are considered a contribution to the church.
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Now Accepting Venmo
for Donations/Contributions
We are now accepting Venmo as a payment method for donations and financial contributions.
The QR code can be found at fpcspartanburg.org/give/ways-to-give, or you can find us on Venmo at @FPCSpartanburg.
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Health & Recreation Opportunities | |
Gym Hours (CLOSED November 23 & 24)
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| Sunday | Monday-Thursday | Friday | Saturday | | Closed | 7am-8pm | 7am-2pm | 8am-12pm | | |
Please note: You must bring your church card to have access to the fitness center.
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The Stories That Shape Us
2023 Advent Devotional
The season of Advent is upon us. And with it - a new advent devotional series! The Stories That Shape Us takes us on a journey throughout scripture, sharing the favorite Bible stories from you, the members of First Presbyterian.
Be on the lookout for physical copies around the church, and click the button below to sign up for email devotionals throughout this Advent season!
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Chamber Singers Concert
Sunday, December 3
The First Presbyterian Church Chamber Singers will be presenting J.S. Bach's Magnificat on Sunday, December 3, at 4:00pm in the Sanctuary.
The concert will also feature an orchestra and soloists. We encourage you to join us for this presentation of one of Bach's great compositions.
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Advent Workshop
Volunteers Needed
We are in need of volunteers for our Advent Workshop on December 6, 6:15-7:15pm (after WAF dinner). There will be around 12 crafts being done, so we need a number of volunteers to pull it off! No prior prep needed - just arrive at the gym that evening, ready to help!
If you're interested in helping, or have any questions, contact Kara Clark (kclark@fpcspartanburg.org).
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Columbarium Memorial Wreaths
Order by December 8
This Advent season, we are offering the opportunity to purchase wreaths in memory of those inurned in the Columbarium.
The cost of a memorial wreath is $35. Memorial names will be listed in the bulletin on Sunday, December 17. The deadline for wreath orders is Friday, December 8.
Click the button below to order yours. For questions, please contact Lynise Clarke at lclarke@fpcspartanburg.org.
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J.O.Y. Fellowship Christmas Luncheon
Tuesday, December 12
Join your First Presbyterian friends for food and fellowship in celebration of the season! The J.O.Y. Fellowship will be holding their Christmas Luncheon on Tuesday, December 12 at 11:30am in Fogartie Hall.
Click the button below to save your spot!
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Order a Christmas Poinsettia
Order by December 15
Would you like to order poinsettias in memory of or in honor of loved ones? Click the button below to order yours!
The names of those honored/memorialized will be listed in a commemorative booklet. You may also request that an acknowledgement card be sent to the person or family of those being honored/memorialized.
The cost per plant is $25 and must be ordered by Friday, December 15.
You may pick up your plants in Fogartie Hall or the Tower Room any time after the services on Sunday, December 24.
For questions, please contact Lynise Clarke at lclarke@fpcspartanburg.org.
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Hospitality Golf Carts
Drivers Needed
Our hospitality golf carts are driving toward a return to First Pres! We are excited to announce that you will soon be seeing golf carts in and around the parking lots on Sunday mornings. This service, which was suspended during the pandemic, will be offered again starting this Fall and is available to any and all members who’d like a ride from their car to the 11:00 worship service. Lots of little people to wrangle? Had a recent surgery? Feeling extra tired? We want you to catch a ride!
But FIRST, we need volunteer drivers! We are looking for 8-10 men and women, ages 25+, to drive the golf carts. With this number of volunteers, we expect each driver to be assigned a Sunday no more than once every two months. All drivers will go through a background check for insurance purposes and will be trained and oriented on driving and storing the golf cart.
Click the button below to volunteer for this easy, fun way to get involved!
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Cleveland Academy of Leadership
Kindergarten Tutors Needed!
Are you able to commit to one hour a week to help end child poverty through the gift of literacy?
Kindergarten Tutors are needed every day from 9:00-10:00am at Cleveland Academy to work in small groups with students. Please contact Mary Elizabeth Evans (mewevan@gmail.com) if you are interested and able to help.
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Sunday Greeters Needed!
Looking for an easy way to get involved in the church? Come share your smile and help greet on Sunday mornings! We need three greeters each Sunday- one to welcome those coming to Sunday school from 9:30-9:55 and two to welcome Sanctuary worshippers from 10:30 to 11:00. All you have to do is stand outside your assigned door and welcome people as they arrive! (You are welcome to bring your kids to help as well!) We just ask that you bring your warm smile and friendly face.
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There are many more opportunities for service available in our Ministry Finder. | |
Love Letters for Joanne
Send Your Well Wishes!
At the end of this year, Rev. Joanne Hull will retire after 40+ years of ministry with 10 of those years as Associate Pastor at First Presbyterian Church.
We invite you to write words of well wishes, what she’s meant to you, and perhaps some retirement advice. Joanne and Eddie plan to get out of town whenever they can, so travel tips are appreciated! Place your cards in the designated baskets located in the Perrin Room, FLC Lobby, and the Receptionist’s Office.
Please join us in showing Joanne how much we care for her at First Pres and that our prayers are with her as she navigates through the unknown of retirement life.
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Congregational Nominating Committee
The Congregational Nominating Committee is seeking a slate of nine members (non-officers) from the congregation to replace those who will rotate off at the end of 2023. Members will serve for one year and will be charged with the nomination of Church officers. Please go to fpcspartanburg.org/cnc and complete the form. Deadline is December 31, 2023.
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FPC Congregational Retreat
May 3-5, 2024 | Montreat, NC
Mark your calendars, and plan to attend!
More details to come.
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Fall Focus: "This Is Our Story"
Continues this Sunday
First Presbyterian is embarking on a season of storytelling with a church-wide focus this Fall that we are calling: “This Is Our Story.” Through worship, study, and mission, we will explore the different ways that our individual and collective stories tell the Story of God’s redemptive love at work all around us. We hope you will join us as together we bear witness to the good news that God’s story is very much still being written.
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FPC Spartanburg Sermoncast
Available on All Podcast Platforms
Missed last week's worship service? Want to revisit your favorite sermons while on the road, at work, or anywhere at all? Now you can!
All of it is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you find your podcasts.
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November 23-24 - CHURCH FACILITIES CLOSED
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November 26 - Christ the King Sunday
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November 28 - Giving Tuesday / Combined Diaconate & Session Meeting
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December 3 - Chamber Singers Concert
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December 6 - Advent Workshop
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December 12 - JOY Christmas Luncheon
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December 13 - White Gifts Service
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May 3-5 2024 - Congregational Retreat in Montreat
More activities and events can be found in First News.
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