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Weekly eNews

March 24, 2023

This Sunday we will have a baptism and we will commission three new Stephen ministers in our 11:00am Sanctuary service. What great symbolism there is in that confluence of events! In baptism we are claimed by God as part of the family of faith, and we are called to live lives of faithful discipleship to God and neighbor, which is precisely what we are commissioning those Stephen Ministers to do! This week’s eNews is full of other opportunities to serve, engage, and grow as disciples. I know it’s long, but keep scrolling, and find at least one new place you can grow as a disciple.


Blessings and Peace,

Rev. L. Craig Foster

Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Communications

This Sunday

8:45am - Traditional Worship Service (Chapel)

8:45am - MorningSong Worship Service (Fogartie Hall)

9:45am - Sunday School for All Ages

11:00am - Traditional Worship Service (Sanctuary)


Stream our services live on FPCSpartanburg.org/worship, YouTube, or Facebook.

Holy Week @ FPC

Palm Sunday

Sunday, April 2


8:45am Traditional (Chapel) and MorningSong* (Forgartie Hall) Worship

*Children will participate in a Palm Procession during Children's Time.

9:45am Sunday School

10:30am Blessing of the Palms and Procession (Montgomery Commons)

11:00am Traditional Worship (Sanctuary)

Maundy Thursday

Thursday, April 6


5:30pm Dinner (Fogartie Hall)

6:30pm Worship (Fogartie Hall)

Good Friday

Friday, April 7


12:00pm Mid-Day Prayer Service (Chapel)

7:00pm Tenebrae Worship Service (Sanctuary)

Easter

Sunday, April 9


6:30am Sunrise Worship (Columbarium)

Fellowship, following the service, will be held in The Perrin Room.

8:45am Traditional (Sanctuary) and MorningSong (Fogartie Hall) Worship

10:00am Fellowship with Hot Cross Buns (Front Lawn)

11:00am Traditional Worship (Sanctuary)

All Day Cross of Flowers (Front Lawn)


The Cross of Flowers is an annual First Presbyterian Easter event. Members and guests are invited to place flowers in the rough-hewn cross, which is erected by the Sanctuary Guild on the Lawn of the church, as they come to worship on Easter. This cross, full of spring flowers, represents the new life we receive through Christ's resurrection.

The Great Presbyterian Picture Push

The Great Presbyterian Picture Push

Continues This Week


We are updating church member photos in our Online Pictorial Directory – “Shelby”. Our goal is to get a recent picture of every member in Shelby by mid-April. On Sunday mornings, we will have photo stations set up in the FLC Lobby and in the Perrin Room for us to take pictures of you and/or your family. No need to dress up – come as you are! Additional photo times can be found by clicking here.


Already have a great family photo? Feel free to submit your photo online HERE

Vacation Bible School

VBS Early Registration

Now Open!


VBS registration for Friends of FPC is now open, and runs until this Sunday, March 26! This year's theme is Hero Hotline, and it's going to be a super time for all!


Click the button below to register!

Register for VBS

Endowment Dinner

THANK YOU


We had an incredible time at the 1843 Fund Endowment Dinner this past Tuesday, March 21. Thank you to the volunteers, staff, speakers, and attendees for making this dinner such a success! If you would like to learn more about the 1843 Fund and the newly launched Legacy Fellowship, please visit fpcspartanburg.org/give/the-1843-fund or contact Lynise Clarke at lclarke@fpcspartanburg.org.

This Week

eggs_on_grass.jpg

Easter Eggs Needed

by This Sunday


The Children's Ministry is in need of pre-filled plastic eggs for their March 29 Easter Egg Hunt! Eggs can be filled with stickers, small toys, or candy. Please drop your egg donations off at the church office, or to Kara Clark by this Sunday, March 26.

WDS Moe's Fundraiser

March 28, 12:00-1:00pm


The Weekday School will be having another Moe’s Pop Up Fundraiser on March 28, 12:00-1:00pm in the FLC parking lot! The taco kit feeds 4-6 people, and each kit includes chicken & ground beef, black beans, rice, queso, shredded cheese, shredded lettuce, Pico de Gallo, sour cream, salsa, chips & 12 flour tortillas.


The price is $39.99 plus tax! All orders must be placed by Monday, March 27 at 4:00pm. For each taco kit from 1-50, the WDS will receive $5 and for each kit sold over 51, the WDS will receive $10 back per kit. Our goal is to sell at least 75 kits! If you would like to order a taco kit, please click the button below. Thank you so much for supporting the Weekday School!

Order Your Taco Kit

REMINDER:

Don't forget to make your WAF Dinner Reservation


Click below to make your reservation by 4:00pm Monday.

WAF Reservations

March WAF Series

Wednesday, 6:30pm in Fogartie Hall


Mountains play a central role in the stories of the Hebrew Bible. From Sinai to Nebo and Moriah to Carmel, mountains become central places for God’s activity in the ancient world. Our March WAF series, titled "Seeking God in High Places: Visiting the Mountains of the Old Testament," will take us on a hike through the high ground of the Old Testament and explore how the places and people we meet along the way continue inform our faith today.

Education & Discipleship

Christians in the Making

Wednesdays, 10:00am


Our Christians in the Making (CITM) study group has begun their six-week Lent study, and they invite you to join them! The group will be studying John Indermark's book Gospeled Lives: Encounters with Jesus. CITM meets every Wednesday at 10:00am in the Purnell Room and on Zoom. If you're interested in joining this fun group of believers, please reach out to Jennifer Biber at biber615@charter.net.

Younger Women's Bible Study

Wednesdays & Thursdays


Our Bible study geared towards younger women will meet on Wednesday nights, 6:15-7:15pm, and Thursday mornings, 9:15-10:15am.


For more information, please reach out to Rev. Leslie A. Lang (llang@fpcspartanburg.org).

Tickled Pink Women's Bible Study

Tuesday, 9:15-10:30am


Jesus Connection & One Another-ing: Jesus calls us friends and shows us the way to a life of love and faith. Come explore Gospel accounts of Jesus loving others and teaching us how to build strong faith and friend connections through Him.

 

Tickled Pink is an intergenerational group of women gathered to study the Bible and to grow in faith and friendship through laughter, reflection, and conversation. We will be meeting one more Tuesday, March 28, 9:15-10:30am in Fogartie Hall. All are invited – bring a friend! Wear pink for fun! The more the merrier! Questions? Contact Ansley Page, Susan Oldham, Kathryn Bridges, Scottie Lummus or Jean Palmer

Tuesday/Thursday Bible Study


Join Nan and Tom McDaniel via Zoom for their next book study. They will be studying Tom Evan’s book, “This Way Forward: Sermons that Matter”. 


Please contact Shannon at shutcheson@fpcspartanburg.org for the Zoom link, and information on picking up the book.

Service Opportunities

TOTAL Ministries Food Drive

Next Sunday, April 2


Next Sunday, drop off non-perishable donations for TOTAL Ministries this Sunday in the marked bins in the Tower Room, Narthex, or the Family Life Center Lobby.


For a list of items needed, click the button below

TOTAL Ministries Donation List

Witness Season Update

THANK YOU!


Thank you for donating towards our 2023 Witness Season Project - a water purification system for our sister congregation in Cuba. Our goal was $30,000, and your generous gifts have allowed us to exceed that goal by nearly $12,000! Your faithful giving will benefit not only our sister congregation, but also the entire community at large!

Palm Sunday Volunteers Needed

Sunday, April 2


We need volunteers to help hand out palm crosses and waving palms before each of the worship services on Palm Sunday.


Help will be needed for all of the following services: MorningSong and the Chapel Service at 8:45am, Joint Montgomery Commons Celebration with St. Paul's Catholic Church and The Episcopal Church of the Advent at 10:30am, and Traditional Sanctuary Worship at 11:00am.


Come to the entrances of the worship areas 20 minutes before the service time. Families and youth are welcome! If you are able to help, contact LeAnne Thurmond Holcombe (864-621-0213 or leanne.thurmond@gmail.com).

Flower Cross Volunteers Needed

Easter Sunday (April 9)


We need volunteers to help decorate the traditional flower cross between the Chapel and Sanctuary, hand out flowers, assist those who bring flowers, and tidy up the area.


If you are able to help, contact LeAnne Thurmond Holcombe (864-621-0213 or leanne.thurmond@gmail.com).

Hand in Hand Ministries

Accepting Food Donations


Our Hand in Hand community ministry is always accepting non-perishable food donations to help support Spartanburg families in need! They also accept monetary donations through the church giving site.


To learn more about the mission of Hand in Hand and see how you can help those who need it most, visit their website at handinhandspartanburg.org.

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.

Click Here to Sign Up!

There are many more opportunities for service available in our Ministry Finder.

Other News

Welcome Class

Sunday, April 16


On Sunday, April 16, we will have a special Welcome Class, 12:00-2:00pm in the Large Private Dining Room. Lunch will be included. If you are interested in joining or learning more about First Presbyterian Church, please RSVP to Joanie Shackleton (jshackleton@fpcspartanburg.org / 864-208-2132); this will help us with planning. 

JOY Fellowship Trip

Thursday, April 20


The JOY Fellowship will travel to Chimney Rock Village and Burnt Shirt Winery for lunch and wine tasting on Thursday, April 20. We hope you will join us! Contact Joanie Shackleton (jshackleton@fpcspartanburg.org / 864-208-2132) to reserve your spot on the bus.

Blood Drive

Sunday, June 25


Please mark your calendar for the next blood drive that is scheduled for Sunday, June 25, 2023. If you donated during the February 12 blood drive, you will be eligible to donate again on Tuesday, April 11, 2023. By using code 9BBW, First Presbyterian Church will be credited with your donation.


To donate during the June 25, 2023, blood drive, please refrain from donating after Friday, April 28, 2023.

Montreat Women's Connection

August 11-13


The Keynoter for the 2023 Montreat Women’s Connection Conference is Kate Bowler. Kate is a three-time New York Times bestselling author, podcast host, and an associate professor of American religious history at Duke University. Other conference leadership includes the Rev. Kathryn Johnston as preacher and Dr. Margaret Aymer as Bible Scholar.


First Presbyterian Church has reserved spaces for 28 women to go to the conference. We have also reserved the entirety of the charming, historic, (and air conditioned!) Glen Rock Inn for our group, right in the heart of Montreat, with ample gathering space for participants to enjoy together. Meals will be in Assembly Inn.


For more information about the conference, visit fpcspartanburg.org/events/montreat-womens-connection. Click the button below to register!

Register for the Women's Conference

Stickers Available


We have stickers available around the church! It's a square design with a blue background, featuring our church name and cross symbol.


Get yours from the tables outside of Fogartie Hall or the Perrin Room.

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! Plus: Listen to Rev. John Daniel's new Confirmation Podcast series!


All of it is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you find your podcasts.

Gym Hours

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.

Looking Ahead

  • April 9 - Easter
  • April 22 - Choral Festival Concert
  • April 30 - FPC Homecoming
  • June 5-8 - VBS


More activities and events can be found in First News.

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