First News
February 9, 2023
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“Come and Be Present”
Pancakes, jazz, and dancing will mark the beginning of the Lenten season when we gather on February 21st for Shrove Tuesday. Shrove is the past tense of the word “shrive” which means to be absolved from sin through confession. So, if you are looking for a new way to say “I am forgiven”, (and I am sure you are!), you can say, “I am shriven!”
Ash Wednesday is a service of confession that follows Shrove Tuesday. On Tuesday, before we enter the season of Lenten repentance, we put on our dancing shoes, pile butter on our pancakes, fry up some sausage, and dance the night away. The idea being that the next day, Ash Wednesday, having used up our more indulgent food, we can focus on living more simply or sacrificially. This is where we get the practice of giving up something for Lent. And while I would not suggest putting up your dancing shoes for Lent, I would encourage you to consider giving something up for this season and possibly adding some new discipline as well. Not so that you “may boast,” as Paul would say, but so that each time you crave the thing you have sacrificed or practice the new discipline you have adopted, you may turn that into an occasion for prayerful consideration of Christ’s gracious love for us.
I also encourage you to use this season as a time to be present. If you haven’t been coming to church regularly, make a commitment to come to Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday, the Sundays of Lent, and for Maundy Thursday. And invite friends to come with you! I promise if you journey through Lent in this way, the “Alleluias” of Easter will resonate even more profoundly. Also, if you have been thinking about joining a Sunday school class or trying to get your children here more regularly, jump in and do it. Come to the potluck lunches, attend the Bible study, bring your children to F3 and GROW, encourage your youth to participate in youth activities. Come and be present.
I encourage you to come and be present, not because I want to see the pews and classrooms full, but because your presence here makes the sense of community and fellowship richer. If you are not here, the quilt is missing a square and is not complete. The singing, the liturgy, the community, while still powerful, is not the same. Each of us is a part of the body and you can feel the wholeness that comes when we are all together. I am filled with gratitude to serve such a wonderful congregation and I hope that you will come and be a part of this special season of both repentance and joy.
Grace and peace,
Will
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Philadelphia Eagles or Kansas City Chiefs?! We invite everyone to engage in a friendly Super Bowl competition to benefit our Backback Buddies Pantry! You can help fill the pantry shelves and cheer on your favorite team by bringing food items and placing them in the marked team tubs outside the Dunbar Pantry. Following February 12th worship, you will have an opportunity to donate funds that will directly support our Backpack Buddies ministry. We will track the item and dollar amounts donated for each team and announce a winner on February 19th.
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A Grief Support Group, led by Sandi Little from Gentiva Hospice, begins on Tuesday, February 14th. The group will meet monthly on the second Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the Agape Room.
This is a discussion and sharing group where those who want to share are able to, along with receiving feedback from other members going through the same situation. Sometimes just knowing that others are going through the same issues helps the individual understand what they go through is normal. Material will be sent home with participants to do on their own and bring back and share if they so desire, but it is not required. The first meeting entails building rapport and becoming comfortable with one another and listening to the stories each has to share. All are welcome.
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Join us for our Wednesday morning Lenten Bible Study beginning March 1st at 10:30 a.m. in upstairs Kirk Hall and concluding on April 5th. Reverend Dottie Metropol will lead us through a six-week study centered around the seven “I Am” sayings of Jesus found in the Gospel of John. There is no book to purchase, but material will be emailed to participants each week. If you would like to attend, please email Lisa Johnson at lisaj@fpcgreer.org or call the church office at 864-877-3612.
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This year's Lenten Daily Devotions from The Presbyterian Outlook, "Examen: Inward Work for Outward Living" will be emailed beginning Ash Wednesday, February 22nd. If you prefer a paper copy, please contact Lisa Johnson in the church office.
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The Coffee Cabinet
Has Been Restocked!
Pick up your favorite coffee today and help support
our mission partners
at Frontera de Cristo.
1 pound bags for $10.00
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Beginning February 26th, Maggie Wentzky will facilitate a Sunday School class during Lent using Kate Bowler’s book, Good Enough: 40ish Devotionals for a Life of Imperfection. Participants will read the devotions throughout the week and gather on Sundays to reflect on them. Books can be purchased for $15.00 from the church office and are also available for Kindle on Amazon. Please email Maggie at maggiew@fpcgreer.org if you would like to participate.
Click here to learn more about the book.
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“God is our refuge and strength … though the mountains shake.”
Psalm 46:1-3
The scale of the disaster facing Syria and Turkey after the Feb. 6 earthquake is becoming clearer. The 7.8-magnitude quake and its aftershocks have left more than 11,000 people dead and thousands more injured; these numbers will rise as search and rescue continues. Buildings have been reduced to rubble, and roads and bridges have been severely damaged, resulting in dangerous conditions for first responders. In some places, such as Aleppo, this destruction is compounding the damage of the now 11-year war in Syria.
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) is providing emergency relief and short-term recovery in the impacted areas through long-standing partners in Syria, in addition to ACT Alliance members in Syria and Turkey, all of whom are already on the ground. PDA will remain active throughout the entire recovery process, accompanying our partners in the area as they determine long-term program needs and providing financial support for building and resilience.
GIVE:
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.),
P.O. Box 643700,
Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700.
PRAY:
God of mercy, we join in prayer for our siblings in Syria and Turkey, and all other regions affected. In the face of the terrible images that come to us, we ask that your Spirit, O God, once again move in the midst of chaos and destruction.
May your Spirit be with the first responders, neighbors putting their lives at risk to help those around them, and anyone assisting during this time of emergency. May you provide protection, energy and strength through your presence. Be with them as they search for loved ones, guide them during the long hours and allow them to find hope through your Spirit.
Dear God, as the days go by, provide wisdom and discernment to the local government agencies. May they be instruments of your grace as they care for the people affected. That they may receive help and support from countries near and far, and that, as they provide assistance, may there be enough for everyone.
As the stories are shared, and the recovery process begins, may your Spirit be with those who will be called to listen and to be agents of peace and hope.
Through Jesus, who weeps with those who weep and heals every heart, Amen.
Rev. Edwin González-Castillo, Director, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
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Members of the Resounding Joy Handbell Choir will attend the Lutheridge Handbell Conference the weekend of February 17-19. Thank you for your generous giving that supports this time away for learning, worship and fellowship. We look forward to sharing our music with you in worship upon our return. |
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F3 will gather this Sunday, February 12th following the 11:00 worship service. 3rd through 5th graders are invited to join us for a time of fun, fellowship and faith formation.
SAVE THE DATES FOR THESE UPCOMING EVENTS
F3 on March 12th and April 16th at 12:00 p.m.
Sunday Funday on March 5th at 4:00 p.m.
GROW on April 2nd at 12:00 p.m.
VBS June 12-16
Camp Fellowship June 18-23
Adult Volunteers are needed for Children’s Faith Formation activities on Sundays throughout the next few months. Please email Amy Smith or Maggie Wentzky if you can help. Thank you!
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Super Bowl Parties! Our youth will be having Super Bowl parties from 6:00 p.m. to half-time on February 12th. The Mid-High party is at the home of Craig and Susanne Cash and the Senior-High party is at the home of Travis and Jennifer Olmert. Come join the fun!
Afterschool paint party! Join us on Wednesday February 15th
from 3:30-4:30 for a paint party in the Agape room!
Ski Trip Reminder! The final payment for the ski trip is due on
February 19th. We also need up to date medical forms.
any of these events.
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Please pray for our 8th grade confirmands during these weeks of faith exploration as they study “Big God, Big Questions: Confirmation For a Growing Faith”.
Thank you to this year's Elder Mentors! This is such an important ministry to these young people. The more adults that a young person connects with in the church while growing up, the greater the chance they will connect with a church community when they become adults.
Confirmands and Their Mentors
Hampton Cash - Travis Olmert
Harper Cash - Betsy Porter
Maeve Humphrey - Amy Couch
Marley Mangum - Harriett Williams
William Shelburne - Cal Cannon
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Prayers for the FPC Family
Luanne Baker
Dick & B.J. Baldwin
Jo Earnest
Bill and Barbara Greene
Barry & Diane Groce
June & Joe Johns
John McClimon
Abbie McWilliams
Cindy Moore
Rita Moseley
Bob Schmidt
Ron Vanderhoff
Ron Ware
Patty White
We extend Christian sympathy to Ed Driggers and family at the death of his brother, Jimmy, on January 19th and to Abbie McWilliams and family following John’s death on January 24th.
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Several church members have received text messages recently from someone posing as
"Rev. Will Shelburne". These messages ask the recipient if they are available and once responded to request help in securing gift cards.
This is a scam. Will is not sending out text messages of this nature and the texts are not coming from his cell phone number. If you receive a similar message please report the message as spam if you are able and do not respond.
If you are unsure about any message you receive from a FPC Greer staff member, please call the church office to confirm the text’s validity before responding.
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The next issue of First News is March 16th. If you have content for the newsletter, please email it to Lisa Johnson at lisaj@fpcgreer.org by Monday, March 13th.
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