Weekly eNews
September 22, 2023
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The Fall is one of my favorite seasons in the life of the church. Sunday school classes are back in action, Wednesday nights are alive with good food and fellowship, worship is brimming with familiar and new faces alike, and the list goes on.* Indeed, one of the rich blessings of our congregation is the sheer variety of ministry that happens here every single day – there is a place for everyone at First Presbyterian.
On that note, I especially want to draw your attention to two upcoming happenings. First, as Pastor Leslie wrote about in last week’s eNews, we are excited to have our second annual Day of Service happening on Saturday, October 14. This event is an opportunity for us to not only spend a morning serving, but also learning more about the needs of our neighbors here in Spartanburg. Any and all are welcome to participate, please sign up by next Sunday, October 1.
Second, there will be an informational gathering on Monday, October 2 at 5:00pm for anyone interested in learning more about a congregational trip to the Holy Land being organized for next Fall. Anyone who has ever traveled to that part of the world knows the lasting impact it can have as the people and places of the Bible are brought to life right in front of you. If you are interested in participating, I hope you will come and learn more.
Blessings to you all. See you at church. Invite a friend.
Peace,
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Rev. Alan F. Dyer
Senior Pastor
| *I will confess that the return of college football and cooler temperatures also contributes to my general love of this time of year! |
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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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JOY Fellowship - NASCAR Hall of Fame
Thursday, September 28
You're invited to join our Just Older Youth Fellowship as they visit the NASCAR Hall of Fame Museum in Charlotte, NC. Cost of admission is $24.00 per person. Bring money for lunch at the Pit Stop Café! Space is limited, so click the button below to sign up today!!
Questions? Contact Joanie Shackleton (jshackleton@fpcspartanburg.org / 864-208-2132)
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Wednesdays at First (WAF) | |
Wednesdays at First
Good Food & Fellowship!
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
Fall WAF Program | 6:15-7:00pm in Fogartie Hall
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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Churchwide Day of Service
Sign Up by October 1
On Saturday, October 14, we will be having our second-annual Churchwide Day of Service! We will gather at the church at 8:00am for coffee and a brief devotion then, from 9:00am-12:00pm, people will serve in various local organizations around Spartanburg. Come back at noon for lunch and a debrief together, and we will finish by 1:00pm.
Childcare provided up - upon request - through 8 years old, and there are service opportunities for all ages! You won't want to miss it! Click the button below to register by October 1!
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Hand in Hand Truck Drive
Sunday, October 1
Our Hand in Hand community ministry will be holding a truck drive to fill their pantry with non-perishable food donations to help support Spartanburg families in need!
Bring your food donations to church on Sunday, October 1, and drop them off at the trucks on Chestnut Street or outside Fogartie Hall. To see the full list of suggested donations, go to fpcspartanburg.org/handinhand.
Hand in Hand also accepts monetary donations through the church giving site. Just select "Hand in Hand" from the dropdown box.
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World Communion Sunday
Fresh-Baked Bread Needed
October 1 is our annual World Communion Sunday, when we celebrate our oneness in Christ with all our brothers and sisters around the world.
We encourage our church family to bring a home-baked loaf of bread for communion. That morning, loaves can be dropped off in the Sanctuary, 9:45-10:45am.
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Holy Land Interest Meeting
Monday, October 2
First Presbyterian is organizing a trip to the Holy Land in Fall of 2024. If you are interested in possibly going, come to the Purnell Room on Monday, October 2 at 5:00pm to learn details of dates, itinerary, and costs.
Questions? Contact Ansley Page (apage@fpcspartanburg.org)
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Transparent Men's Breakfast
Saturday, October 7
On Saturday, October 7, at 8:30am the Sparkle City Transparent Men (SCTM) are meeting in the Large Private Dining Room – off Fogartie Hall – for breakfast, fellowship, and Bible study. All men in the church and community are invited to attend.
SCTM has one overriding objective – to build solid friendships across racial lines – and those who invest the time succeed in doing so. Please join us! Questions? Contact Jimmy Edwards (864-415-4999).
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Young Adult Fellowship
Sunday, October 15 | 4:00-6:00pm
All Young Adults are invited for Food and Fellowship at the Breeden’s Pavilion (171 Twin Pond Dr). Fun for all ages! We have BBQ and activities for kids. If you would like to fish, bring your fishing poles and bait!
RSVP to Jane Breeden via text (864-590-4783) or email (jjbreeden@icloud.com).
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Retirement Conversations with Joanne
Monday, October 16
If you are thinking about retirement or are recently retired, join Pastor Joanne for lunch and reflections upon this new phase of our lives. We will explore the change in our identities, how we spend this new found gift of time, what God might be calling and us to be and do, as well as other aspects of the retirement life.
Please click the button below to register today. We will meet in the Large Private Dining Room of the FLC from 12:00-1:30pm.
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Stephen Ministry 30th Anniversary Dinner
Thursday, October 19
Stephen Ministry is celebrating 30 Years at First Presbyterian Church! (1993-2023)
We are honoring all past and present Stephen Ministers with a spectacular celebration on October 19 in Fogartie Hall! Interested in attending? Click the button below to register by October 13.
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Welcome Grace deMaine
Associate Director of Youth Ministry
It is with great joy and excitement that the Youth department announces the hiring of Grace deMaine, Associate Director of Youth Ministry!
Currently a Junior at Wofford College, double majoring in Government and Religion, Grace is originally from Greenville, SC and grew up at John Knox Presbyterian Church. For the last two summers she has served as the Youth Intern at National Presbyterian Church in Washington D.C. and was also the Youth Intern at John Knox last year.
The oldest of 6 siblings, Grace loves being around middle and high school kids and is looking forward to getting to know our Youth! Please help us give her a warm First Pres welcome.
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Upcoming Youth Programming
Tuesday, September 19
7:00am – Java & Jesus (Check your Weekly Youth Email for locations!)
Wednesday, September 20
6:00-7:00pm – Youth Small Groups (2nd floor of FLC)
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Health & Recreation Opportunities | |
Fitness Machine Orientations
Mon & Fri in September
So many gym machines, so little time! Where does one begin?
We invite you to drop by for a machine orientation with Colleen. She will go over sets, reps, and proper form for each of our equipment pieces. No sign up needed. Every Monday & Friday at 10:00am, all month long.
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Vaccination/Skin and Bone Screening Clinic
October 10 & 11
It’s time to start registering for the upcoming Vaccination/Skin Screening/Bone Density Screening Clinic. The Drive-Thru Clinic (Flu shots only) is scheduled for Tuesday, October 10th 5:00 pm–7:00 pm
The Walk-in Clinic with screenings is scheduled for Wednesday, October 11th 5:00 pm–7:00 pm (During WAF). Flu, pneumonia, Tdap, and shingles vaccines will be available. Pending distribution, the new Covid-19 booster may be available for both events!
Please contact Beth Cecil to register (bcecil@fpcspartanburg.org / 864-208-2136).
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Blood Drive
Sunday, November 5
Our next blood drive is scheduled for Sunday, November 05, 2023. If you would like to participate during that event please refrain from donating blood after Friday, September 08, 2023.
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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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WAF Volunteers Needed
Wednesdays at First is back, and we need volunteers! Jobs include: Registration, desserts, serving/prep, kids table, dish washers, and breakdown.
If you're willing to help with any of these tasks, on any week of WAF, please click the button below to sign up. We appreciate your help in serving on our WAF Staff!
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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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2023 FIECP Summit
Thursday, October 19 | 8:30am-2:00pm
On Thursday, October 19 the Faith Initiative To End Child Poverty will host a summit focused on education, especially how congregations can best support students and educators. The Faith Initiative is a consortium of congregations working to end child poverty in Spartanburg. The Summit will be held at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Spartanburg (502 S. Daniel Morgan Ave., Spartanburg, SC 29306). A light breakfast and lunch will be provided. All are welcome.
The Faith Initiative Summit is in partnership with the Spartanburg Academic Movement's 10th anniversary conference the day before, on October 18. This article by Dr. Irvin Scott from the Harvard LIFE (Leadership Initiative for Faith and Education) Program is our framework for the October 19 Summit.
Please RSVP so we can have a good estimate of attendance for food and seating. The Faith Initiative would especially like to invite congregations and educators who are partnered to serve students in our schools throughout Spartanburg County. If you are aware of ministries or congregations that work in partnership with our schools, please share with us who to contact in order to invite them to the Summit.
Click the button below to RSVP for this year's Summit.
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Winter Warmth 2023
Volunteers Needed
We're in need of volunteers to be part of FPC’s largest annual mission project, Winter Warmth, where we distribute brand-new coats to children in need across Spartanburg County.
Volunteer jobs include helping with set-up, check-in, parking lot attendees, translators, and shoppers. We are also accepting donations of new scarfs, gloves, and winter hats.
Winter Warmth will take place on November 11th this year. If you're interested in volunteering, please click the button below to sign up!
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Weekday School
Substitute Teachers Needed!
The Weekday School at FPC is looking for a few more substitute teachers for the 2023-2024 school year.
If you are interested in being a substitute at our wonderful Weekday School, or know someone who would be great, please contact Kris Graham at (kgraham@fpcspartanburg.org / 864-706-0460).
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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. | |
These Days
Daily Devotions for Living by Faith
The October-December edition of the These Days devotional book are now available for pickup throughout the church!
Get your copy today!
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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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October 1 - World Communion
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October 14 - Churchwide Day of Service
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October 25 - Trunk or Treat
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October 29 - Kirkin' o' the Tartans / Stewardship Commitment Sunday
More activities and events can be found in First News.
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