Weekly eNews
October 13, 2023
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My thoughts this week have been on the horrific events in Israel. Having traveled there twice in the past decade, I have seen first-hand the beauty of that nation and its people as well as the very real complexities and hardships that both Israelis and Palestinians face. My conclusion after both trips is that virtually nothing about that decades long conflict is as black and white as we are often led to believe — it is only shades of gray.
That said, we must be clear about the fact that these recent acts of terrorism committed by Hamas are nothing short of pure evil. I cannot imagine the pain and suffering that so many countless people are now living with as a result of these heinous actions. We stand with and pray for our Jewish brothers and sisters not only in Israel but also here in Spartanburg and across the world.
I had an opportunity to share these sentiments in a conversation with Rabbi Yossi Liebowitz – a friend of First Presbyterian and recently retired rabbi of Temple B'nai Israel here in town – while sitting together at Rotary this past Tuesday. We both lamented the fact that ultimately it is the innocents on all sides of this war who will pay the highest price. I asked Yossi how we can be supportive and three tangible suggestions emerged:
1. Pray. Pray for Jews and Arabs. Pray for Israelis and Palestinians. Pray for all God’s children regardless of faith or nationality who are grieving and hurting. Pray for the captives to be set free. Pray for an end to such senseless violence. Pray for justice to flow like a mighty river. Pray for peace.
2. Reach out to Jewish friends and neighbors whether here in Spartanburg or elsewhere. Sadly, the scourge of antisemitism is everywhere. Expressing support and cultivating deeper relationships makes a world of difference: write a note, take a meal, knock on the door to say hello. And while you are at it, remember that our Muslim friends and neighbors need care and outreach at a moment like this one as well.
3. Consider giving to organizations that are working to cultivate dialogue and demonstrate compassion across ethnic and religious lines in that region. The only pathway to a better future is one where the walls of fear and hatred are dismantled by way of fostering mutual understanding and deeper relationships. Yossi was kind enough to suggest several such organizations that are doing important and faithful work in this space – I have included links to each below.
Ultimately, I suppose the question I have been wrestling with the most this week is simply, “Why do people hate?” Why are humans so prone to twist scripture, history, etc. to justify prejudice along religious, ethnic, racial, gender, or any other lines? Why do we let fear overshadow our mandate to love? I do not think any of us will ever fully understand the answer to that question on this side of eternity. What I do know though is that the greatest command Jesus gives us is to love God with all our heart, mind, and soul, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. That is North Star that disciples of Jesus Christ are called to follow. And so my prayer is that even in the midst of our hurting world, we will each seek to continue walking in that light and to sharing it freely with others.
Blessings to you all. See you at church. Invite a friend.
Peace,
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Rev. Alan F. Dyer
Senior Pastor
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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!
It's not too late to RSVP! Reach out to Jane Breeden via text (864-590-4783) or email (janebreeden5@gmail.com).
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Sunday Night Youth
5:30-6:30pm – Middle School Youth
6:30-8pm – High School Youth
Both groups meet in the Family Life Center weekly unless otherwise communicated! Contact John Daniel DeBevoise, Grace DeMaine or Carrie Coleman for more info!
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Our stewardship season is an invitation to prayerfully consider how each of us can participate and contribute to Living Out God’s Story. By supporting the ministry of First Presbyterian with gifts of time, talent, and treasure, you help to add your story to the Story unfolding all around us. Pledge cards are available on tables throughout the church. You can submit a pledge online or fill out a card with your estimate of giving for the coming year and return it to the church by Stewardship Sunday happening October 29. Thank you! | |
Click the image above to watch this year's Stewardship video. | |
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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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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Trunk or Treat
Wednesday, October 25
It's almost time for our second-annual Trunk or Treat! We need volunteers to help with the event, especially folks who are willing to decorate their trunk!
Click the button below to sign up!
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Kirkin' o' the Tartans
Want to Participate?
If you are a Tartan Banner owner and would like to participate in the 8:30am or 11:00am Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans service on Sunday, October 29, please click the button below to sign up to participate.
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Tartan Donations
If you are no longer interested in marching your tartan banner and would like to donate it as a gift to the church for display at Kirkin’, please email Martha Bean at mtbean54@icloud.com.
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Thornwell Bus Trip
Wednesday, November 1 // 9:15am-2:30pm
Please join your church friends as we take a weekday road trip to Clinton, SC to visit Thornwell and Lush Acres Farm. We will learn more about our church’s long relationship with Thornwell and see their ministry in action. All are welcome!
We will meet in the Family Life Center parking lot at 9:15am. Lunch plans to be determined. Click the button below to sign up, or contact Ian Ritchings (iritchings@fpcspartanburg.org / 864-208-2139).
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Share Your Favorite Bible Story | |
The Stories That Shape Us
During October, we invite all of you to share your favorite Bible story from the Old or New Testament and what that story has meant to you. A selection of the submitted stories will be shared (with your permission) as part of our 2023 Advent Devotion Book: The Stories that Shape Us.
Each submission should include:
- The scripture citation for the story (e.g. Luke 2:1-20).
- A reflection of around 250-400 words about why this story is important to you. You might reflect on how you relate to the story, how it challenges or comforts you, how it inspires you, or how it tells you something about who you are and who God is. You don’t need to tell the story. The Bible reading can do that. Tell why that story is important to you.
- A short prayer (2-5 sentences).
- A couple of sentences about who you are.
Go to fpcspartanburg.org/stories to submit your story. Please contact Craig Foster (cfoster@fpcspartanburg.org) if you have any questions, or if you would like to submit your story in another way. Each story and reflection should be submitted by November 1, so don’t delay!
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Health & Recreation Opportunities | |
Church Basketball Registration
Now Open!
Registration for Church Basketball will be open October 2-30. Sign-ups are open to grades 1-12, boys and girls, members and non-members!
Click the button below to sign up, or go to fpcspartanburg.org/basketball!
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Basketball Coaches Needed
We're in need of coaches for the 2023 Church Basketball Season! Adults of all ages are invited to help coach these wonderful young athletes!
Interested? Contact Recreation Director Colleen Darrall (cdarrall@fpcspartanburg.org)
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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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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. | |
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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Pastor Joanne's Books
In preparing for retirement, Pastor Joanne has many extra books that she does not have room for at her home. You are invited to come look at them and you are free to take some with you. There are commentaries, theology books, church life books and others.
Help Pastor Joanne clear her shelves by the end of October and avoid the recycle bin for some good books! Anything in her office on the single or double shelving units are available. (Please leave anything on the desk or behind the desk on shelves alone.)
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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 19 - Stephen Ministry 30th Anniversary Dinner
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October 25 - Trunk or Treat
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October 29 - Kirkin' o' the Tartans / Stewardship Commitment Sunday
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November 5 - All Saints' Day Observed
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April 13 - Churchwide Day of Service (rescheduled)
More activities and events can be found in First News.
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