Weekly eNews

January 12, 2024

We are delighted to officially welcome back Dr. Lewis Galloway this week as our Interim Associate Pastor for Congregational Care! After serving as the Interim Senior Pastor in 2021-22, Lewis has returned to help guide our congregational care ministry while we search for our next installed Associate Pastor for Congregational Care. Lewis will be in Spartanburg Sunday to Thursday most weeks helping to lead in worship, visiting church members, supporting the work of the Diaconate, and officiating funerals as needed.

On a related note, please be sure to read the update below from our Associate Pastor Nominating Committee. This group is working hard and meeting weekly as they seek to prayerfully discern who God is calling to come serve amongst us. We are grateful for each member of this committee, and I invite you to continue to hold them and their work in prayer!

There are a lot of good learning, fellowship, mission, and worship opportunities coming up this winter and spring. I especially want to make sure that you have our Congregational Retreat on your calendar for May 3-5 in Montreat, NC. More details will be forthcoming soon, but this is sure to be a fun time – hope you will consider joining us!

And, speaking of Montreat…twenty-one ninth graders will be starting their Confirmation journey this weekend with their own retreat. Our love and prayers are with these young people and their leaders as they take this important next step in their faith journey.

Finally, we celebrate and give thanks for the legacy and Christian witness of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. this holiday weekend. Whether or not you are able to participate in one of the many wonderful community events marking this occasion (see below), let us all strive to follow his example to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God.

Peace,

Rev. Alan F. Dyer

Senior Pastor

This Sunday

8:30am - Early Worship Service (Chapel)

9:00am - Contemporary Worship Service (Fogartie Hall)

10:00am - Sunday School for All Ages

11:00am - Traditional Worship Service (Sanctuary)

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

Want to re-visit sermons on the go? Listen to our Sermoncast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and wherever you find your podcasts.

A Message from the APNC

Happy New Year! After a short break to celebrate Christmas, the APNC for Congregational Care has resumed our weekly meetings. While we must remain confidential about the work that we are doing, we can report that progress has been and continues to be made in our search. We are impressed with the candidates we are meeting, and we appreciate your continued prayers as we discern who God is calling to fill this important role at First Presbyterian Church Spartanburg.

As a reminder, we have an active webpage for candidates who are seeking more information about our church, the position, and Spartanburg. If you would like to share the page, please do so using this link.

We look forward to reporting more on our progress in the near future!

APNC Committee: Craig Long (Chair), Brandt Goodwin, Cheryl Lang, Donna Pulliam, Josh Thompson, Linda West, Elizabeth Young

Ways to Connect at FPC

A Conversation with Jeffrey Blount

January 21, 12:30pm in the Social Hall

You are invited to join in a lively and thoughtful conversation with award-winning author and Emmy award-winning television director Jeffrey Blount Sunday, January 21 at 12:30pm in the Social Hall.

Blount will be discussing his latest novel, Mr. Jimmy From Around the Way, an activist work that confronts many of the big societal issues of today. More importantly, his novel offers a road map to dealing with these struggles, and that journey begins with something we can all support - the Activism of Kindness.

Lunch will be $10. The deadline to register is Monday, January 15. Please click the button below to let us know you are attending and to pay for lunch.

Blount's new book will be for sale at this event, and proceeds will benefit the Faith Initiative to End Child Poverty.

MLK Unity Week Celebration Continues

January 9-15

Spartanburg has celebrated the life and mission of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for over three decades. Sunday, January 14, the MLK Community Celebration will be held at Spartanburg District 7 Fine Arts Center at 3:00pm. A group of members from First Presbyterian will be sitting together. Anyone who wants to join us can meet in the lobby of the Fine Arts Center at 2:45pm on Sunday!

Monday, January 15 (MLK Day Observed), United Way of the Piedmont will hold a Day of Service. Please note that all church facilities will be closed Monday. Click the button below to see the full list of Unity Week events.

MLK Unity Week Events

Wednesdays at First

Faith, Food, & Fellowship!

Come enjoy good food and fellowship time. Please sign up for dinner before 4:00pm Monday. Reservations required for dinner.

Health Series: Financial Health Through the Ages

6:30pm in Fogartie Hall

More things can affect your health than diseases. Our after-dinner programs on January 17 and 24 will feature a panel of experts who will teach us how to fine-tune our financial health. This week, Brooks Crenshaw and Virginia Wood will give us advice on smart investments and planning for retirement.

New Year, New Studies

If you are looking for a Bible or book study group, First Presbyterian offers something for everyone. There are several weekday studies for people of all ages. For a complete list, please visit fpcspartanburg.org/discipleship-groups.

Tickled Pink Returns January 23!

Tuesdays, 9:15-am or 5:30pm

Our 2024 study Better Together: Jesus Leads the Way will explore how Jesus teaches us to strengthen our ties with one another whether family, friend, or unlikely stranger, and how our faith grows in the process. Come for fun and faith!

New Evening Option!

Tuesdays, 5:30-6:30 pm, Middle School Room (#F201)

Questions? Contact Rev. Ansley Page!

God's Trombones: Seven Services in Verse

February 17, 2024 at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church

Sweet Gilliard Productions and New Day Baptist Church proudly present James Weldon Johnson's God's Trombones: Seven Sermons in Verse on February 17 at 6:00pm at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church. James Weldon Johnson was a noted author, educator, lawyer, civil rights activist, and a leading figure in the creation and development of the Harlem Renaissance.

His work God's Trombones was published in 1927 and is seven sermons, written in verse, inspired by the memories of sermons by black preachers heard by Johnson in childhood.

We invite you to this production of James Weldon Johnson's iconic work, which will include eight local pastors preaching through each of the seven sermons.

Tickets are $50 and can be purchased by clicking the button below.

Purchase Tickets

Service Opportunities

DR Wish List

As the DR Mission Trip approaches, we will be collecting "wish list" items for the Guest House in the DR. The full list of requested items can be found here.

Please bring donations to the mission closet across from the library.

2nd Annual Churchwide Day of Service

Saturday, April 13 from 9:00am-1:00pm

Join church members of all ages and volunteer at one of many different ministry partner locations in Spartanburg! We will gather in the morning for prayer, work throughout the day at ministry partner sites, and reconvene at the church for a Chick-fil-A lunch and debrief. Register by March 30 at fpcspartanburg.org/dayofservice.

More opportunities for service are available in our Ministry Finder.

Other News

Exciting News from the Shepherd's Center!

Starting this month, the Shepherd's Center of Spartanburg is partnering with Medicare Advantage plans; Silver Sneakers, Renew Active, Active & Fit, and Silver & Fit! If you have any of these plans available to you, you can now sign up at the Shepherd's Center and your monthly membership fee will be paid by insurance!